I Am a Christian Participant’s Guide

What does it really mean to be a Christian?

In a world where everything from sports to politics, social media to podcasts, and movies to television vies for our attention, we need to get back to what is essential. This eight-session participant’s guide designed for use with the companion video series helps people grasp who they are in Christ and what their participation means to their local church.

Based on the book I Am a Christian, by respected author and church consultant Thom Rainer, this guide is a great resource for any Christian. Designed to be used with groups or individually, I Am a Christian Participant’s Guide will

·       help you clarify your purpose and mission

·       encourage you to become a committed church member

·       help Christian communities become healthy places so they can make a significant impact on the world

Includes eight sessions:
Session 1: The Kickoff Meeting
Session 2: I Am a Believer
Session 3: I Am a Church Member
Session 4: I Am a Disciple
Session 5: I Am a Servant
Session 6: I Am a Witness
Session 7: I Am a Prayer Warrior
Session 8: I Am a Christian

Designed for use with the I Am a Christian book, I Am a Christian Streaming Collection, and I Am a Christian DVD Experience, each sold separately.

 

-          Features:

·       Eight teaching videos from Thom Rainer, approximately 8-13 minutes each, available for additional purchase individually or as one complete series

·       Group leader’s guide

·       Questions for group study and personal reflection

·       Prayer journal

 

-          Video Session summaries

o   Session One: The Kickoff Meeting (8:52)— As Christians, we ought to know what it means to be a Christian, and we ought to understand why being connected to a local church is essential to realizing our full potential in Christ. In this session, we start this process by considering what the phrase “I am a Christian” means to each of us.  

o   Session Two: I Am a Believer (12:58)— Thom introduces four beliefs that identify us as followers of Jesus and three key practices that mark the life of a believer. By embracing these beliefs and becoming committed to living them out, we will experience an activation of our faith, and spiritual fruit will show itself in our lives.

o   Session Three: I Am a Church Member (10:12)— When we become Christians, we become part of a forever family—the universal church. Plugged-in family members who actively participate in Jesus’ church embrace five important practices; they gather, serve, give, unify, and pray.

o   Session Four: I Am a Disciple (9:06)— Choosing to follow Jesus orients our lives in a specific direction: toward growth in Christlikeness. In discipleship, we cooperate with God to allow his transformative power to work in our lives and look for ways to disciple others by teaching them about their identity in Christ. 

o   Session Five: I Am a Servant (9:45)— Being a servant is not just choosing to be last; it is desiring to be last. When we store up our treasures in heaven instead of on earth, we are free to lay down our preferences for the sake of others and become full-heartedly involved in God’s Kingdom.

o   Session Six: I Am a Witness (9:58)— In his final words before ascending to heaven, Jesus commanded us to share our faith with a world in need. As we take the Great Commission seriously, we can be assured that God will give us everything we need to be a witness for him and all the opportunities for talking about him that our obedience will allow.

o   Session Seven: I Am a Prayer Warrior (12:10)— To be a Christian is to be engaged in a fierce spiritual battle. We can stand firm by putting on God’s armor and intentionally choosing to pause and pray when confronted with the forces of evil.

o   Session Eight: I Am a Christian (9:19)— By earnestly following Jesus and investing ourselves in the life of our local church congregations, Thom assures us that we will see growth in three key aspects of our Christian lives: faith, hope, and love.