You Y’all will be my witnesses.

It’s a story too big to tell alone.

1 FOUNDATIONS

We will help you share your faith— together as a community.

Our witness for Jesus is often stronger when it’s spoken and lived out as a family— the body of Christ.

    • This series highlights 4 key practices.

    • Each practice is deeply rooted in the life and ministry of Jesus.

    • These practices move the gospel deeper into our communal life. They also provide a magnetic, life-changing witness to the world around us.

LET’S BEGIN BY DEFINING A KEY TERM

BODY LIFE WITNESS

“Whenever someone who is not a Christian encounters the gospel as it is spoken and lived out in the communal life of a group of Christians.”

OVERVIEW

  1. Watch - Madison and Chandler (Welcome)   4 min

  2. Discuss - Let’s talk about family  5-7 min

  3. Read - Biblical foundations  2 min

  4. Read And Discuss - Let’s talk about Salvation  5 min

  5. Watch and Discuss - Addie’s Story,   10 min

Today’s Practice

1. Foundations

▼ Watch together.

Meet your hosts

Madison and Chandler

Madison and Chandler are college students in Boston with roots in Texas, Arkansas, and Germany. They will get us started at the beginning of each practice we are learning together.

Let’s talk about family.

5-7min discussion

▼Discuss together

Our families form and shape us. What is one way your family has shaped you?

IDEAS FOR SHARING:

  • a cherished value

  • a tradition you follow

  • a life lesson that guides you

  • an important geographic location

  • a story your family has passed down over the generations

BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS

▼ Read aloud.

We begin by looking at how the Bible describes God’s plan to rescue and heal the world.

We need to understand the bigger story and our role in that story.

It begins and ends with family.

▼ Choose someone to read the following section for your whole group.

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

One of the Bible's foundational themes is God's formation of a people—a family

in this world, for this world.

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

— Genesis 12:2-4

From the formation of the family of Israel

to the formation of Jesus' band of disciples

“Father, I pray that all who believe in me can be one. You are in me and I am in you. I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. ”

— John 17:21

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

— 1 Peter 2:9-10

to the formation of the church by the Holy Spirit.

This one unifying theme of the salvation and formation of a family of God knits 1600 years and 66 books of the Bible in one continuous narrative.

▼ Choose another reader and keep reading below.

let’s talk about salvation

from me and Jesus to we and Jesus.

SALVATION

We often think of salvation as "inviting Christ into my life."

But what if salvation is also an invitation from Jesus into something much greater?

▲ How would you describe what is happening in the illustration above?

▼ read and discuss together.

Practically speaking, what does it mean that your salvation includes being part of the body of Christ— the family of God?

How might a shift from:

  • individualistic “me and Jesus” mindset

  • to a communal “we and Jesus” mindset change how we think about sharing the good news of the gospel?

▼ Watch Addie’s story below and discuss together.

Meet Addie

Addie’s world began to change when she felt like she belonged to something bigger.

▼Share Together

  • Where do you see body life witness show up in Addie’s story?

  • What about you? How has body-life witness played a role in your relationship with Christ?

  • Would you be willing to share a bit of this story?

Next time we meet…

A GREAT FAMILY PARADOX

Ever notice that we, as a Christian community, often want to put our best foot forward? We want to look perfect and put together.

The truth is, we still struggle with sin, doubt, addiction, anxiety, loneliness, and depression. What can we do to turn these examples of brokenness into a magnetic witness to the world?

Next Time: CONFESSION

Last, but not least

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

A diverse group of students and Cru staff designed what you just experienced. We need your help to continue making it even better.

Will you take just a few minutes to evaluate THIS PRACTICE?

Thank you!