For the last year and a half, I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the Small Group Ministry at Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ. This summer, we are trying something new by encouraging our groups to choose a book rather than having all groups study the same book. As the Small Group Ministry grows and develops, future terms will bring a mix of all groups studying the same material and groups choosing their content.
As someone wearing many hats in this ministry (small group host, small group facilitator, and leader and resource to other small group facilitators), I’m pleased to share the news that this summer the group my wife and I host and that I facilitate along with a few other groups (both online and in person) will be studying Diana Butler Bass’ book Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence (HarperOne, 2021).
Invitation
You are welcome to join one of the three small groups for this summer study that begins June 28 (Online), June 29 (Arlington, Texas), or June 30 (Dallas, Texas) and runs for eight weeks. To enroll, simply select the desired group from this page then enter your contact information.
About Diane Butler Bass and Freeing Jesus
I’ve learned a great deal from Diana Butler Bass over the years, including from reading her books and articles, listening to her lectures and sermons, and engaging with her directly. In 2019 (not long before she wrote Freeing Jesus), I named Diana one of my Top Authors noting that her books had made my Top Ten Books of the Year list three times (2012, 2015, 2018). She’s since been named to that list a fourth time (2021) for Freeing Jesus. (check out my review). Additionally, I recognized Freeing Jesus as one of the two most impactful books of 2021.
Nearly a decade ago, Diana had a unique encounter with Jesus while in the National Cathedral. For the first time in her life, she heard Jesus speaking directly to her, using five powerful words: “Get me out of here. Freeing Jesus is an invitation to meet Jesus again for the first time by encountering many Jesuses. Readers, regardless of their location on the theological continuum, will be inspired to get Jesus out of the unhelpful confines they (and/or their tradition) have constructed for him. Diana reflects on her own experiences of Jesus by rediscovering the Jesuses who had the greatest impact on her life: Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence (while also mentioning other, even more personal Jesuses: Lover, Word, Wisdom, and Sustenance).
Resources
I recognize many people will read this post who will be unable to be a part of one of this summer’s small group experiences (including many who will read this well after that has ended). In keeping with my commitment to openly share resources I develop for the greater good, I’ve created a Freeing Jesus resource page here at So What Faith to house the materials I create. On that page, you’ll find some of the information from this post, a schedule, and two handouts for each session (a discussion guide for participants and a leader’s guide with facilitation tips).
If you are looking for additional resources for your small group ministry or adult discipleship more generally, I invite you to check out the page I developed for Future Faith: Ten Challenges Reshaping Christianity in the 2st Century by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson (Fortress Press, 2018) – a book I named one of my top two books of 2018.