Comments on: Mixed Bible Reading Groups http://b2g.org/blog/resources/mixed-bible-reading-groups/ Just another weblog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:25:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dean http://b2g.org/blog/resources/mixed-bible-reading-groups/#comment-107 Dean Tue, 13 May 2008 19:45:49 +0000 http://b2g.org/blog/resources/mixed-bible-reading-groups/#comment-107 You have asked some good questions. In the section I believe you are referring to, this article says that a "Bible reading group is not a door to something more formal." It has been my and others' experience that when we draw a line too sharply between what followers of Christ and what other friends might need, both groups can loose something. The idea of a "mixed" group is that everybody can benefit: those with a lot of experience with the Bible and those with little can both be stimulated by an approach that asks "what is being stirred in your heart today?" So, I would not call this an evangelistic tool. I would call it an approach to the Bible that invites learning and honest questions and believes that the Holy Spirit can be trusted to use the Bible and work in the lives of people (that's what the author says in "Foundational Assumptions"). As God works, there should be no reason for people to need to "graduate" or move on to something else. Of course, some folks might decide to pursue God in more ways than this group, but that is another issue. Re b2g and The Navigators, we like to describe b2g as a movement of the Gospel that is supported by The Navigators. We hope that the ideas we have gathered around are bigger than any organization could ever be, so we encourage people to own for themselves, enjoy and carry with them everywhere their calling. So, while The Navigators have worked to pull this network together and continue to encourage and support people in it, in a very real way, this movement is not owned by The Navigators. It may seem like a subtle difference, but I believe it is important. You have asked some good questions. In the section I believe you are referring to, this article says that a “Bible reading group is not a door to something more formal.” It has been my and others’ experience that when we draw a line too sharply between what followers of Christ and what other friends might need, both groups can loose something. The idea of a “mixed” group is that everybody can benefit: those with a lot of experience with the Bible and those with little can both be stimulated by an approach that asks “what is being stirred in your heart today?” So, I would not call this an evangelistic tool. I would call it an approach to the Bible that invites learning and honest questions and believes that the Holy Spirit can be trusted to use the Bible and work in the lives of people (that’s what the author says in “Foundational Assumptions”). As God works, there should be no reason for people to need to “graduate” or move on to something else. Of course, some folks might decide to pursue God in more ways than this group, but that is another issue.

Re b2g and The Navigators, we like to describe b2g as a movement of the Gospel that is supported by The Navigators. We hope that the ideas we have gathered around are bigger than any organization could ever be, so we encourage people to own for themselves, enjoy and carry with them everywhere their calling. So, while The Navigators have worked to pull this network together and continue to encourage and support people in it, in a very real way, this movement is not owned by The Navigators. It may seem like a subtle difference, but I believe it is important.

]]> By: Luther Fransen http://b2g.org/blog/resources/mixed-bible-reading-groups/#comment-104 Luther Fransen Fri, 09 May 2008 19:49:29 +0000 http://b2g.org/blog/resources/mixed-bible-reading-groups/#comment-104 This is a new concept to me. I am assuming that this is an evangelistic tool to be used to lead a person to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, however the article describing the reading group emphasizes that it is not a gateway to anything else. What is the plan if one comes to Christ? Is B2g an organization, separate from the Navigators? This is a new concept to me. I am assuming that this is an evangelistic tool to be used to lead a person to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, however the article describing the reading group emphasizes that it is not a gateway to anything else. What is the plan if one comes to Christ? Is B2g an organization, separate from the Navigators?

]]>