Radical

This coming Sunday (May 8th) we will start our new study on the book Radical by David Platt. Below is a description from the website:

In Radical, David Platt invites you to encounter what Jesus actually said about being his disciple, and then obey what you have heard. He challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated a God-centered gospel to fit our human-centered preferences. With passionate storytelling and convicting biblical analysis, Platt calls into question a host of comfortable notions that are common among Christ's followers today. Then he proposes a radical response: live the gospel in ways that are true, filled with promise, and ultimately world changing.

Books are available in the Mt. Bethel Book store.

~L

24 Hours That Changed the World

Starting on Sunday April 3rd, we will begin our new study titled 24 Hours That Changed the World by Adam Hamilton. Amy Goodman will be leading us through this study. We will condense this study into 4 weeks, and we will intentionally be studying around the Easter season.

Below is a description of this book (taken from Cokesbury.com):

No single event in human history has received more attention than the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. In this book, Adam Hamilton guides us through the last twenty-four hours of Jesus' life. Each chapter is designed to help the reader experience and understand the significance of Jesus' suffering and death in a way you have never done before. Whether readers are long-time Christians or simply curious about the story of Christ's crucifixion, they are invited to join the author in retracing the last 24 hours of Jesus' life.

You can find out more about the auther, Adam Hamilton on his website:
http://adamhamilton.cor.org/


~ Lauren

Ch 10 - Crazy Love by Francis Chan

This week wraps up our study on Crazy Love! Thank you to everyone who taught - this was a great study for our class.

~Lauren

Ch 9 - Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Ch 8 - Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Crazy Love Chapter 7

This week we had a great discussion around chapter 7 of Francis Chan's Crazy Love. Below are some topics we discussed. Have your answers / thoughts on these questions changed has you've thought about them some more this week?

• "Christians today like to play it safe. We want to put ourselves in situations where we are
safe 'even if there is no God. But if we truly desire to please God, we cannot live that way. We have to
do things that cost us during our life on earth but will be more than worth it in eternity." What are some
ways we/you play it safe?

• God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him completely--so much so that
we do not hesitate to put ourselves in situations (with His guidance and blessing, of course) where we
will be in trouble if He does not come through. What are you doing right now, at this season in your life
that requires that radical kind of faith in God?

• Do I really think of each person I come in contact with as if they were Christ? How would my
life change if I did?
-Matthew 25:45 (Least and Lost)


• What do you make of the statement “something is wrong when our lives make sense to
unbelievers?” Do you think that is true statement? Does your life make sense to unbelievers?

• Read 1 John 3:16-20 aloud. What standard does Christ call us to as believers?

• Rather than talking about the sinfulness of owning and buying things, talk about the silliness
of the things you own in light of eternal rewards. What are some of the “silly” things you own. Why are
they special?

~Lauren

Crazy Love Chapter 6

Ch 5 - Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Ch 4 - Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Ch 3 - Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Crazy Love - Chapter 2

This week we studied chapter 2 of Crazy Love, "You Might Not Finish This Chapter".
We discussed living every day as if you might not be here tomorrow. You can view the video that goes along with this chapter below.

Here are some questions / points we discussed today.
• When do you have your time with God? Do you do it every day? Is it sometimes hard to focus?
• James 4:13-14 – "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
• Think about some people in your life who have died abruptly. What were some of their achievements in life and what were their regrets?
• If today was the day you died, what would you regret and why? What can you change about our life today to avoid those regrets?





Next week we will be studying chapter 3.

~Lauren

Crazy Love Chapter 1

The Awe Factor Of God / Crazy Love by Francis Chan / Chapter 1

The Awe Factor of God

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

We started our new study this past Sunday – we are reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan.
We had a great discussion. If you missed it, here some things that we challenged each other to think about:

• What do you think would come out of your mouth the moment you saw God?
• How did the video "The Awe of God" (see videos in following post) make you feel?
• What is it that "gets you" about God's beauty that makes you think "wow"?
• Why is loving God so hard?
• Hebrews 4:13 says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eye of him to whom we must give account." Does this intimidate you? Is it meant to intimidate?
• How do you questions God?
• How was your relationship with God and your prayer life different this week?
• If it wasn't different enough, how would you like to see it change?

In case you missed the first chapter discussion, check out the following videos. We'll be studying chapter 2 this Sunday! View other supplemental videos and read more about Francis Chan here.



~Lauren