John Ortberg - Eternity Is Now in Session Participants Guide: A Radical Rediscovery of What Jesus Really Taught about Salvation, Eternity, and Getting to the Good Place

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Eternity Is Now in Session Participants Guide: A Radical Rediscovery of What Jesus Really Taught about Salvation, Eternity, and Getting to the Good Place

Copyright 2018 by Dallas Willard Center. All rights reserved.

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Edited by Jonathan Schindler

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ISBN 978-1-4964-3169-1

ISBN 978-1-4964-3406-7 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4964-3405-0 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4964-3407-4 (Apple)

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Thank you for choosing to use Eternity Is Now in Session for your group. This participants guide is designed to accompany the Eternity Is Now in Session DVD Experience and the book Eternity Is Now in Session by John Ortberg. This study guide is five sessions long and will help participants grow closer to God as they rediscover what Jesus really taught about salvation, eternity, and getting to the good place. The sessions will show participants what it means to follow Jesus in discipleship through the stages of awakening, purgation, illumination, and union.

Each session follows a similar format: there is a video with teaching from John Ortberg, discussion questions for group reflection, and a key activity that invites participants to go deeper into the topic studied. There are also suggestions for ways that participants can engage this study throughout the week (including reading corresponding chapters in the book Eternity Is Now in Session) and Scripture passages that follow the theme of the session.

Your group should have a leader who is responsible for starting the video, prompting participants with the discussion questions, and directing the key activity. The leader should also monitor the time and can adjust the sessions activities and discussion accordingly. (See Leader Tips on page .)

John writes, God is not waiting for eternity to begin. God lives in it right now. It is the interactive fellowship and joy that exists between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Eternity is rolling right along, and we are invited to be part of it now. Are you ready to join in?

Eternity is now in session!

This Eternity Is Now in SessionParticipants Guide is intended to accompany the Eternity Is Now in SessionDVD Experience and the Eternity Is Now in Session book. Each session of this curriculum is intended to last sixty to ninety minutes. In order to get the most out of this study, we recommend that you have the following materials present at your meetings:

• One copy of the Eternity Is Now in Session DVD Experience for the group
• A copy of the Eternity Is Now in Session book and this participants guide for each person
• A DVD player and TV or a computer (to watch the video component for each session)
• A clock (to monitor time)
• A pen or pencil for each person (to take notes during the video and for use in each sessions key activity)
• A Bible for each person

The following are some tips that will help you as you lead your group through the Eternity Is Now in Session study:

• Watch the video (if possible) and look over the study notes, discussion questions, and activities in the participants guide in advance of the meeting.
• Pray by name for each person who will be at the session and ask that God would open new avenues for intimacy with this person through the study.
• Consider preparing (or appointing someone to prepare) a snack for the session. Snacks can loosen an atmosphere and make people more comfortable with sharing.
• Make sure the materials needed (page ) are present at every session. Its a good idea to arrive early in case of problems.
• Encourage study participants to read the chapters in Eternity Is Now in Session in advance of your meetings. While reading the chapters isnt necessary to use the participants guide or DVD, participants will get the most out of the experience by following along in the book.

• Be sure to welcome each person to the group when they arrive, and carry that spirit of welcome throughout the session.
• Try to encourage each person to speak during the discussion.
• Dont be afraid to adapt the material provided in this study cutting questions or lingering on a topic to provide the best experience for your group.
• Be mindful of participants time, and do your best to keep the study within the parameters youve set for the group. That being said, if the Holy Spirit is moving, do what you can to allow extra time and space to minister.
• Remind participants of the homework activities that accompany each session, which can be accomplished throughout the week. Highlight one or more of these activities and request reports at your next session.
• Consider taking prayer requests at the close of your session or breaking into smaller groups for prayer.