Lent 2012: The Gospel-Centered Life
On First Sunday of Lent (February 26th) we begin a nine week small group study, The Gospel-Centered Life. The Gospel-Centered Life is intended to help Christians understand how the gospel shapes every aspect of life and conduct. Colossians 1:6 says that the gospel is "continually bearing fruit and increasing" in and among us, even after we first believe it. How does that happen? Why is a continual rediscovery and application of the gospel so important? How will our personal growth and missional life be stunted if we don't grasp the gospel deeply? These are the questions that Gospel-Centered Life seeks to answer.
What to Expect
Expect to be challenged…
most of us have reduced the gospel to something much less than it is. As you work through each lesson, expect your thinking about the gospel to be challenged and expanded.
Expect the Holy Spirit…
to be the one ultimately responsible for the growth of your group, and for the change in each person's life—including your own. Relax and trust him.
Expect your group's agenda to include…
an open, give-and-take discussion of the article, the questions, and the exercises. Also expect times of prayer at each meeting.
Expect a struggle…
and don't be surprised to find that your group is a mixture of enthusiasm, hope, and honesty, along with indifference, anxiety, skepticism, guilt, and covering up. We are all people who really need Jesus every day. So expect your group to be made up of people who wrestle with sin and have problems—people just like yourself!
With simple and direct language, The Gospel-Centered Life helps people understand and effectively apply the gospel to their lives, regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey. It's one of the few resources out there that explicitly challenges others to reach out with the gospel, even as it is growing deeper into their own lives. Look for more information as Ash Wednesday draws nearer.
