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Books > Christianity > Christian life & practice > Christian religious instruction
How many programs does it take to change a youth group? That
question has bothered youth workers for decades, and the cracks in
its logic are beginning to show. In place of the contrived,
artificial mechanisms employed so widely in modern youth outreach
and discipleship, Mike King proposes a ministry centered in the
presence of God. Young people encounter Christ not in the flash and
pop of arena ministry, but in the sacred shadow of his presence.
They learn what it is to love and follow Christ by observing others
loving and following Christ--letting Christ shape their worldviews,
their habits, their virtues. Presence-Centered Youth Ministry gives
shape to such ministry through the classic disciplines and potent
symbols and practices that have sustained the church over the
centuries. The sound and fury that has characterized youth ministry
for so long has left too many youth workers tired and too many
young people disillusioned. Come explore the deeper terrain; your
students are sure to follow.
"The time has come to reimagine how we picture and practice sharing
the good news about Jesus. The time has come because the old
pictures and practices aren't wearing well and aren't working well.
People in our culture aren't responding. And people in the church
aren't excited or engaged. . . . The time has come because our
culture is shifting." (Rick Richardson, Reimagining Evangelism)
Sometimes talking about Jesus with friends can feel like trying to
close a deal on a sales call, pushing something on people they may
not really want. But what if we thought of it more like inviting
friends on a spiritual journey? The Reimagining Evangelism
Participant's Guide, in conjunction with the Reimagining Evangelism
DVD and Rick Richardson's book Reimagining Evangelism, will help
you to reframe evangelism as inviting friends on a journey toward
meeting and following Christ. The seven one-hour sessions found in
this Participant's Guide are 1. Do What You Love 2. Use Your Gifts
3. Ask Good Questions 4. Respond to Tough Questions 5. Share Your
Story 6. Communicate the Good News 7. Invite Response Each session
incorporates animated short or live-action video, an introductory
discussion of the session's topic, a Bible study, a teaching video
and interactive learning. If you are looking for a fresh way to
share your faith, you will find the Reimagining Evangelism
curriculum a freeing and insightful guide to evangelism in our
rapidly changing culture.
"The finest statement of the Christian message I have read!" -Dr.
Barry Bailey, retired pastor of one of America's largest United
Methodist churches (First UMC, Ft. Worth)
"An exceptional challenge by a devoted Christian scholar!" -Dr.
Robert Richardson, retired executive, Mercer University, Macon,
Georgia
There are truths and falsehoods, treasures and trash, in what we
call the Holy Bible and "Christianity." Separating those elements
is not always easy. Through the centuries, our churches have added
a multitude of beliefs and practices to the life and religion of
Jesus of Nazareth. Some of those beliefs and practices are
appropriate expressions of Jesus' mind and spirit. Others are far
from, even caricatures of, what Jesus would want. For eighty years
I have learned and taught about "Christianity," at personal,
community, church, college, university, state, national, and
international levels. I have learned that there are many
"Christianities," some loving, some hateful, some intelligent, some
stupid, some healing, some hurtful. If we are going to live our
Christianity-in our small and big worlds-may God help us get it
"right! "
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