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Companions in Christ is a small-group resource for spiritual formation. It is designed to create a setting where you can respond to God's call to an ever-deepening communion and transformation in Christ -- as an individual, as a member of a small group, and as part of a congregation. The focus is on your experience of God and your discovery of spiritual practices that help you share more fully in the life of Christ. You will explore the potential of Christian community as an environment of grace and mutual guidance through the Spirit. You will grow closer to members of your small group as together you seek to know and respond to God's will. And your congregation will grow when you and your companions begin to bring what you learn into all areas of church life, from classes and meetings to worship and outreach.

How does Companions in Christ help you grow spiritually? It enables you to immerse yourself in streams of living waters with the spiritual disciplines of prayer, scripture, study, worship, and Christian conversation. These means of grace are the common ways through which Christ meets people, renews their faith, and deepens their life together in love. Though Companions is not a Bible study, group members will spend a good deal of time with scripture and will probably benefit more from this resource if they are familiar with the basic Bible stories. Though this resource is not training in spiritual guidance, members will gain skills and practice in how small groups become settings for spiritual guidance. And though Companions is not an introductory course in Christianity for new Christians, it does help church people take up the basic disciplines of the faith in life-changing ways.

After the original 28 week course the following additional Companions in Christ Short Term Courses are available:

The Way of Forgiveness
uses scripture meditation as well as other spiritual practices to guide groups through an 8-week exploration of the forgiven and forgiving life. Always keeping God's grace and our blessedness in mind, participants examine shame, guilt, and anger before turning to forgiveness and reconciliation. The Participant's Book includes a beautiful reproduction of Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal Son to aid reflection.

The Way of Blessedness
is a 9-week study using The Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The journey invites participants to discover Jesus' vision of the kingdom of God on earth, and to develop a personal "rule of life" that helps us reside in that kingdom. It is recommended that participants complete the original 28-week Companions in Christ course before participating in The Way of Blessedness.

The Way of Grace
is a 9-week small-group study which invites participants to travel with 8 biblical characters (or groups of characters) who discover God's grace through their encounters with Jesus. More than a survey of biblical stories, it is a transforming interaction with the events and characters from the Gospel of John.

The Way of Transforming Discipleship
is a 6-week study which brings a message of vital, transforming discipleship that will take your group on a journey leading to knowing who you are, changing from the inside out, listening to the groans of others, and discovering the spirituality of belonging. The group journey concludes with a closing pilgrimage and retreat that will move your group outside the walls of your church and into places of pain and hope in your community. The Way of Transforming Discipleship is an excellent small group resource for Christians yearning to make a difference in the world.

For more general information about Companions in Christ CLICK HERE.

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