Roots: Our Free Course for New Inquirers
Welcome to our 9-lesson course for inquirers and new followers. “But the seed on good soil stands for If you’re wondering what the Bible is all about, what God is like, what following God is like, this course is for you! It’s written especially for people who are new to all these things, who want to learn the basics, who may have not yet decided whether they believe God. “Roots” is not about “selling God” to you – we don’t believe in doing that. Many people know very little about God – and so they don’t know what to believe or do with Him. “Roots” will “show you the roots,” i.e. will give you clear information so that you can decide for yourself what you want to believe and do about Him. If you’re wondering what comes after being baptized, this course is also for you! It also addresses people who have recently been baptized, or who are considering being baptized and would like to have an idea of what’s next. Even if you’re just curious and not yet ready to think about being baptized, you will find a lot here that will help you. There are no special requirements to take “Roots.” There is no cost. You are not required to already believe in God. You don’t have to attend this church, though you are welcome if you’d like to visit to see what it’s like. The only thing we want you to bring is a desire to learn. If you have that, we can help. Many people who have taken this course before, want to take it again. So much of the information is new, and they’ve discovered that they’re interested. You are welcome to take this course as often as you wish. Course outline: there are nine topics which we will cover, taking whatever time we need to finish them. 1. God’s Heart for People: The Big Picture: what in the world is happening? What is God doing about it? Where does my life fit in God’s plans? 2. God’s Heart for People: The Good News of Jesus Christ: what is God doing now? How can I get into what He’s doing? How does this affect my life here? 3. Hearing God’s Voice in the Bible: how does God communicate with us in the Bible? How can I begin to understand it? What resources are available for me to grow in learning? 4. God Hears Your Voice: Learning to Pray: how can I talk to God? What should I say? How should I say it? 5. Saying “Yes” to the Holy Spirit: how can I say “Yes” to what God wants to do in my life? 6. The “One Another Way”: all these new friends! What do I do with them? What will they do with me? 7. Serving Like Jesus Does: how can I learn to treat people like Jesus does? How can my life help people the way Jesus does? 8. Your Place in God’s New Family: where do I fit with all these people on Sunday? What do we do together on Sunday, and why do we do it? How does the “faith-family” work? What opportunities are there to do good things for other people? 9. Growing Up Holy: what does life that’s being changed by God “look like”? how is it different from the way I used to live, and the way everyone else lives? what can I do to continue growing up in new life from God? The course layout: each lesson has study material. Some have worksheets. Some also have supplements of material you can look into later. In each lesson there will be something you can do to begin moving the teaching into your life. Your questions are welcome! We won’t always know the answers, but we will do our best to help. Questions are excellent tools for learning! There is no need to be embarrassed for not knowing – that’s why we teach the course: so we can learn. Time & location for sessions: We’re starting on Sunday, January 15, 2012, 2:30 p.m. Be sure to contact us if you’d like to participate. We meet at the South Burnaby Church of Christ building in the lower fellowship hall. Click here for an easy map to our location. We’ll begin at 2:30 and run until 3:10 – a 15-minute break will be followed by more class time until 4 p.m., when the class session will be finished. You’re welcome to stay longer for more discussion time afterward. If you’d like to come, but your schedule would make you late for the sessions – or if you would have to leave before the sessions are finished – you are still welcome to attend. Please let us know before the class session begins, so that we can make it easier for you and everyone else. Very important: if you’d like to come and you need child care, please contact us – child care “might” be available if we can arrange it well before the classes. If you have more questions, contact us and we’ll do our best to give you helpful answers.
those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it,
and by persevering produce the desired results.” Luke 8.15
This course will show you some of the basic things you can do in order to grow in your relationship with God, to increase your ability to “receive” from God, and to increase your ability to share God’s love with other people. It’s learning new information – it also points the way to become equipped and empowered to live out of the heart of God in your everyday world.
We do provide the best-quality material that we can give for our learning together; but there is no requirement to attend all course sessions. Come for as many sessions as you can.
