Living Faith: Invitations from the Cross
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Overview
What does it say on the tin?
This Lent, discover how the words Jesus spoke as He was crucified were invitations to each of us – invitations to a dynamic, living faith in Him.
Each of these six Bible study sessions explores one of the sayings of Jesus from the cross, and looks at how we can respond in ways that will not only transform our relationship with Him, but potentially the world around us.
In his direct and honest style, Krish Kandiah reflects on how the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion present His invitations to us, and how He calls us to forgiveness, service, hope, adoption, empathy and trust.
What do you get?
Glossy A5 booklet. Six sessions:
- Introduction
- Invitation to forgiveness – ‘Father, forgive them’
- Invitation to service – ‘I am thirsty’
- Invitation to hope – ‘Today you will be with me in paradise’
- Invitation to adoption – ‘Here is your son… Here is your mother’
- Invitation to empathy – ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’
- Invitation to trust – ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’
- Leader’s notes
Who is it for?
Both groups and individuals: Adults, older youth; Enquiring, Beginning, Growing.
Review
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What is the overall quality of material presentation?
Krish Kandiah employs his trademark empathetic and engaging style to bring us an innovative yet challenging look at the words of Jesus from the cross. A memorable and thought-provoking Lent journey.
How clear are its aims and outcomes?
Kandiah’s introduction includes the hope that we would ‘discover another level of living faith’ through the studies.
How accessible are the leader’s notes?
The booklet is beautifully laid out, as the Cover to Cover series always are, with super-clear icons and headings guiding the way through each session. Warm Up contains good, relevant icebreakers relevant to the theme; Opening Prayer has a written prayer to be used; Eye Opener is a short story or contemporary illustration of the theme; Setting the Scene is a longer passage doing just that; Bible Readings – two each time, one from the Gospels, with the particular saying of Jesus from the cross, and one from elsewhere in the Bible, which expands the thinking on the theme; Session Focus is a couple of pages of input on the theme from Kandiah, presumably to be read aloud or personally; Discussion Starters which comprise eight questions; Final Thoughts, a paragraph from Kandiah; Closing Prayer, again, scripted; Further Reflection end the session with suggestions for more exploration of the theme, through books and biblical material.
At the end of the book are some suggested ‘answers’ to the Discussion Questions. There are no other guiding notes regarding leading.
Who could lead it?
Any leader or member of the group. The main challenge will be to keep the pace up, as there is a good amount of written input. It is all excellent, however, so reading in advance, sharing out the paragraphs or other ways to keep interest going would be worth it.
How helpful are the participants’ resources?
Same booklet. If the leader chooses to ask the group members to read the input in advance, then everyone will need their own copy.
How good is any digital material?
N/A
How much prep will I have to do?
There is a clear pathway through the notes, but it may well be that the leader chooses to condenses some of the written input, or picks out some of it rather than using it all.
Is there website support? Links?
N/A
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How well does it encourage interaction with the group?
Good engagement from the start with the easy icebreakers, prayers and then later, the discussion.
How well does it cater for a variety of both learning and delivery styles?
Reading, discussion, prayer and icebreakers. Quite a lot of listening, potentially.
How adaptable is it to my situation?
Would suit groups who are happy with written word-based material.
How well does it encourage people to work together in applying the material?
Discussion questions would encourage this; extending the closing prayer time to praying specifically for issues that arise would be great too.
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How much of the material is Bible-based?
All material thoroughly based on a saying of Jesus from the cross, plus a supporting passage.
How well is the biblical material presented and used?
Kandiah explores the theme of the saying both in its context, and how it might apply to us today.
How well does it apply biblical material to everyday life?
Really well done – examples, questions and stories are powerful and memorable. This is not just about the theory but very much about how it impacts our lives.
Is there a particular theological perspective?
Broadly applicable.
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How well does it inspire people towards whole-life discipleship?
Kandiah gets to the heart of the issues and draws us in to consider how each saying of Jesus is relevant to all of us.
How well does it encourage and enable people to grow in their faith?
Solid, practical and inspiring.
How well does it stretch faith and vision of God and his purposes?
As each saying is explored, we are invited to consider what it says about the nature of God, as well as how it resonates in our lives.
How well does it connect with real life issues?
The connection is seamless, and ranges from deep questions about adoption and fostering – Kandiah’s particular passion and calling – to the imperative yet difficulties of forgiveness.
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How well does it encourage personal evangelism?
Great questions about how we view this, and the balance between showing God’s love through words and deed.
How well does it encourage local or network-based community involvement?
Home for good, the charity that encourages and enables adoption and fostering, that Kandiah founded, is certainly up there as far as community involvement is concerned. He invites us to consider the part we might play.
How well does it connect with global issues?
Direct consideration of suffering, which includes the persecution of Christians around the world, and how we might respond.
How well does it encourage global mission?
Implicit.