They Like Jesus but Not the Church Participants Guide: Six Sessions Responding to Culture's Objections to Christianity

by Dan Kimball

Overview

In this six-session small group Bible study, They Like Jesus But Not the Church, Dan Kimball explores and addresses the most common objections and misconceptions about Christianity.

Ask someone today if he or she likes Jesus, and the answer is usually yes. But ask if that person likes the church, and chances are you will get a far less favorable response.

Led by author Dan Kimball, this six-session small group Bible study will help you explore and respond truthfully, caringly, and engagingly to the most common objections and misunderstandings culture has about the church and Christianity. Through interviews with those who like Jesus but not the church and teaching by Dan Kimball, this small group Bible study will teach you how to respond to the common objections of the faith. Includes discussion questions and resource listings.

This Participant Guide is designed for use together with the They Like Jesus But Not the Church DVD (sold separately) and includes discussion questions for individuals and groups. When used together, they provide you with a practical tool than can strengthen your faith.

Sessions include:
1. The Danger of the Christian Bubble
2. Is the Church Negative, Judgmental, and Political?
3. Does the Church Restrict and Oppress Women?
4. Is the Church Homophobic?
5. Do Christians Arrogantly Think All Other Religions Are Wrong?
6. Are Christians Fundamentalists Who Take The Whole Bible Literally?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310277941
Publisher:	Harpercollins Christian Pub
Publication date:	03/01/2008
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.38(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dan Kimball is the author of several books on leadership, church, and culture. He is on staff at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California, and is a professor at George Fox University. He enjoys comic art, Ford Mustangs, and punk and rockabilly music. His passion is to see the church and Christians follow and represent Jesus in the world with love, intelligence, and creativity. His website and blog are at www.dankimball.com.

Read an Excerpt

They Like Jesus but Not the Church Participant's Guide Six Sessions Responding to Culture's Objections to Christianity

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By Dan Kimball Zondervan Copyright © 2008 Dan Kimball
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-310-27794-1

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Chapter One SESSION 1

THE DANGER OF THE CHRISTIAN BUBBLE

In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring, Galadriel, the elf queen played by Kate Blanchett in the movie, says a classic line about the changes happening in Middle Earth. She says to Frodo, "The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air." THEY LIKE JESUS BUT NOT THE CHURCH, P. 15

DVD SEGMENT #1

Let's watch as Dan Kimball talks to various students at a local college campus about their impressions of Jesus and then discusses their responses. With each video clip throughout the study, space for note-taking is provided here in the participant's guide.

DVD Notes

Students' impressions of Jesus

Students' impressions of Christians

The four phases of being a Christian

Phase 1: We become Christians

Phase 2: We become part of church life

Phase 3: We enter the Christian bubble

Phase 4: We become Jonah Christians

The Christian bubble

GROUP STUDY AND DISCUSSION #1

1. If you were to ask the same questions from the DVD presentation at a local college campus in your community, do you think you would hear similar answers or different ones? Explain.

2. Why is it is so easy to be in the Christian bubble? Are there benefits of being in the bubble?

3. Do you think you could possibly be in the bubble yourself or headed that direction? Identify ways you may be in the bubble or approaching it.

4. Look up the following Scriptures. What does each reveal about what it means to be living outside of the bubble and escaping the bubble if you need to?

Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 28:16-20

John 17:15-18

EXTRA: What do you think Jesus meant in this passage by "the world"? What do you think he meant by "evil"? (See appendix, pages 107-108, for responses.)

Acts 1:7-8

EXTRA: In this passage, what was the primary reason Jesus said the Holy Spirit was going to be sent?

5. Jesus said we are to be salt and light to our culture, but Scripture also tells us to support and care for the community of believers. How do we balance both of these roles in our week-to-week lives?

DVD SEGMENT #2

Let's watch as Dan Kimball talks about how even the pop culture versions of Jesus can become a launching point to talking about issues of faith.

DVD Notes

Jesus bobblehead and Pink Jesus

Starting point for a conversation about Jesus

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from They Like Jesus but Not the Church Participant's Guide by Dan Kimball Copyright © 2008 by Dan Kimball. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Introduction     7
How to Use This Study     11
The Danger of the Christian Bubble     13
Is the Church Negative, Judgmental, and Political?     29
Does the Church Restrict and Oppress Women?     41
Is the Church Homophobic?     53
Do Christians Arrogantly Think All Other Religions Are Wrong?     69
Are Christians Fundamentalists Who Take the Whole Bible Literally?     85
Closing Thoughts and Prayer     101
Suggested Answers to Cross-Referenced Questions in Each Session     105

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Dan helps us understand issues we must address regarding the church and emerging generations. This book will help you strategize your journey out of the institution and into the mainstream of the movement.” -- Reggie McNeal

“A tough-minded, clear-sighted look at authentic Christian living in the twenty-first century.” -- Leonard Sweet

“With insight, gentleness, and an unswerving commitment to the wisdom of the past, Dan Kimball shows us what we don’t want to see but must if we care about the Great Commission in the twenty-first century.” -- Gregory Koukl

“I really appreciate Dan Kimball’s passion. It’s important to listen to and wrestle with him in order to develop ministry models that proclaim an ancient message through relevant and flexible methods.” -- Efrem Smith

“I felt like I was sitting in a coffeehouse with Dan, having a three-hour conversation about things my heart yearned to explore. This book is beyond timely. Carry it with you into the future.” -- Rudy Carrasco

“The good news is that Dan is right. More people are open to Jesus, giving us an opportunity to shed our skins of tired traditions and return to our call, a Christlike nature.” -- Alan Nelson

“While he might not use the term, Dan Kimball is a gifted missionary-evangelist. Thoroughly Christological and missional.” -- Lon Allison

“What a hopeful reminder that Jesus is not as far away from most unchurched people as church leaders think. If every church leader will heed Dan’s message, emerging generations will find faith in the real Jesus through his real church.” -- John Burke, Author

“God is speaking to his church, and he’s using those who don’t even attend one to be his spokespeople. Listen up! Thanks to Kimball, new voices are directing the church toward renewal and spiritual growth.” -- Michael Frost, Author