“Engaging with God and one another about your journey together is more important than learning the chapter material. The chapters cover Christian discipleship and leadership topics briefly and with enough foundational material for you to have important conversations together about leading with Jesus.” (Where Jesus Leads)
There may be advantages to reflecting broadly and deeply about where Jesus is leading us and this book is organized by part to consider our roles as Christians in the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, Beloved Community and Leading Communities. Even for those reading all of the chapters, leaders or small groups may only have time to discuss together the topics which seem most important to them at this time.
Most vital, healthy and growing congregations today are focusing on three key areas: Loving Community, Mission and Discipleship.
A loving community responds to our need for belonging and is a community which cares for us. A conversation focusing on sharing God’s love through loving community might be based on the topics, scriptures and questions in the following chapters:
1.4 Accepting God’s Love
2.1 Sharing Christian Love by Listening (or chapters 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4)
3.1 Helping People Experience the Way of Jesus
3.2 Helping People Connect to Community
3.3 Building Community through Small Groups and Ministry Teams
4.1 Leading from Relationship with Jesus
4.4 Developing Followers and Leaders
A missional community responds to our need for purpose and is a community which serves others. A conversation focusing on sharing God’s love through mission might be based on the topics, scriptures and questions in chapters 1.1, 1.5, 2.6, 3.2, 4.3, 4.5 and 4.6.
A discipling community responds to our need for spiritual growth and transformation and is a community which helps us develop and use our individual gifts for ministry. A conversation focusing on sharing God’s love through helping others grow in their spiritual journeys might be based on the topics, scriptures and questions in chapters 1.2, 1.3, 2.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.3 and 4.4.