Connecting in Christ

"Connecting in Christ" is number 2 in the series. It is an excellent study to help a group develop the value of caring and community for one another. It can stand on it's own, or be used with the other 5 studies in the series. Brett Eastman, former Small Group champion at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, and then at Saddleback Church in southern California, has released another 6 interactive, DVD based small group studies. Two years ago his very popular Life Together series introduced hundreds of thousands to an extended follow up of the Purpose Driven Life concept. As with his previous series, each study comes in six sessions, for a total of 36 all together. The DVD (sold separately) is a must and features six nationally known Bible teachers, such as John Ortberg, Doug Fields, Chip Ingram, and others. The video teaching segments seem just the right length to lay out the principles for a home group. On campus groups limited to one hour may find they have to break the sessions in two. A new feature of the "Experiencing Christ" series is the inclusion of three worship/DVD videos instead of just one, as with the first series. I've found that if we put them on, crank up the volumn (so I can't really hear how off key I am) and use the disclaimer, "You can just listen or hum along if you like," that adults soon start singing along and really enjoy using these as a part of the group time.