Chapter 2: God's Powerful Tools

Chapter 2: God's Powerful Tools
(The published questions are a little thin this chapter. Feel free to respond to anything additional that was stirred by the chapter.)

• What are some strengths you have that God may want to use? What are some examples of God using those strengths?

• In what ways do you long to see God's Kingdom come?
  

Chapter 1: Joining God in His Work

Here's some of the questions presented at the end of Chapter 1. By no means do you have to answer all of them, but please find a few that seem particularly relevant to your experience and how the book challenged you.

• Gary talks about "seeing what God is doing" and "joining him in his work".
• How do you respond to this concept?
• Is this something you are comfortable with and practice or something you would like to learn?
• Did God bring someone across your path this past week who may have presented you with an opportunity to do just that ? Share the experience and how you responded.

• If you did not respond in the way you think God may have been asking:
• What held you back?
• Are there fears you need to dare to face?
• Is there sin you need to repent of?

• Share a time when you did respond to God's direction.

• Why is the Good News good to you? Share specifically.

Introduce Yourself

Please take a second and introduce yourself to the rest of the group. Some relevant info might be where you're from, what you're currently doing with your life, how long you've been a part of i61, reading interests, favorite TV Christmas special...that sort of thing. Ready. Go.

FREE BOOK!*

In these rough economic times, everyone's looking for freebies, so here's your chance to get a free book.

How? Find Mark Leyen or myself (Bobby Erskine), ask, and you shall receive. But yes, there is a bit of a catch (That's why there's an asterisk!). If you take a free book, you must commit to the following:

- Read it!

- Comment at least once per week regarding the questions posed at the end of each chapter.

- Reflect and respond to at least one other person's comment per week. (This should be done in a way that reflects love, but doesn't always have to be in agreement. Comments should pertain to your own reflections and not try to "put down" others comments. Let's be a community that encourages one another and is willing to be vulnerable in sharing our own thoughts and struggles.)

That's it. Not too difficult. Our goal in setting these stipulations is not to make you feel like you're in school following some syllabus, but an effort to make sure the we use our resources (the books) wisely and that those who really want to take part in this are able.

Email me if you have any questions. ( rerski44@hotmail.com )

Naturally Supernatural by Gary Best

Here's the description of the book we will be reading. I have not read it myself yet, but I'm very excited to get started. Gary Best taught one of the VLI intensives and it still stands out to me as one of the best in the entire program. As the description says, he's very theologically sound but communicates in very practical ways.

(from the back of the book)

NATURALLY SUPERNATURAL
by Gary Best
Experiencing the power of the Father's love

How good is Jesus' Good News?
Are you stirred by a persistent hope that it was intended to be far better than what you are experiencing?
That it can make a real difference in your world?
The refreshing mix of real-life stories and sound theology makes Naturally Supernatural immediately accessible.

This "must read" will revive your hope that:

• God can work in and through us, more powerfully than we imagine;


• The life of Jesus is accessible, and


• We get to join God in the demonstration of this Good News.

God may be closer than you think!

Gary Best and his wife Joy are National team leaders of the Vineyard Family of Churches in Canada. Like most old people, Gary likes telling stories. This book is full of them.

"I picked up my copy of Naturally Supernatural and was literally unable to lay it down. It immediately touched something deep in my heart... this is Gary at his best, presenting the kingdom at its best."
Bert Waggoner ~ National Director, Vineyard Churches USA

"Widely illustrated with present-day stories, Gary¹s book brings heaven to earth and shows that Jesus makes the supernatural natural for all believers, even today."
Jackie Pullinger-To ~ St. Stephen's Society Hong Kong