I'd Like You More if You Were More like Me Member Connect Guide: Getting Real about Getting Close
By John Ortberg
()
About this ebook
Following the ideas of John Ortberg’s book, I’d Like You More if You Were More like Me, this six-week study includes biblical insights, group questions, personal journaling prompts, and at-home activity ideas. Small-group members will learn how to connect on a deeper level with the people God has placed in their lives, both inside and outside the group, as they grow closer to the One who made them for relationships.
This is more than a small-group study. It is an invitation to develop the kinds of relationships that change lives—starting with the smallest daily interactions.
John Ortberg
John Ortberg is the senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church (MPPC) in the San Francisco Bay Area. His bestselling books include Soul Keeping, Who Is This Man?, and If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. John teaches around the world at conferences and churches, writes articles for Christianity Today and Leadership Journal, and is on the board of the Dallas Willard Center and Fuller Seminary. He has preached sermons on Abraham Lincoln, The LEGO Movie, and The Gospel According to Les Miserables. John and his wife Nancy enjoy spending time with their three adult children, dog Baxter, and surfing the Pacific. You can follow John on twitter @johnortberg or check out the latest news/blogs on his website at www.johnortberg.com.
Read more from John Ortberg
Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Who Is This Man?: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWho Is This Man? Bible Study Guide: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Life-Changing Love: Moving God's Love from Your Head to Your Heart Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Life-Changing Love: Moving God's Love from Your Head to Your Heart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Love Beyond Reason: Moving God's Love from Your Head to Your Heart Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Look Through God-Colored Glasses Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5God Is Closer Than You Think Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Soul Keeping Bible Study Guide: Caring for the Most Important Part of You Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Is God's Will for My Life? Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Faith and Doubt Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Have a Soul: It Weighs Nothing but Means Everything Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYou Have a Soul: It Weighs Nothing but Means Everything Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to I'd Like You More if You Were More like Me Member Connect Guide
Related ebooks
Trust: A Study of Joseph for Persevering Through Life's Challenges Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'd Like You More if You Were More like Me Leader Connect Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI'd Like You More If You Were More like Me: Getting Real about Getting Close Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Do I Know If I’m Really Saved? Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What Is God's Will for My Life? Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Faith and Doubt Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What If . . . God Has Other Plans?: Finding Hope When Life Throws You the Unexpected Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All the Places to Go . . . How Will You Know?: God Has Placed before You an Open Door. What Will You Do? Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Long Obedience in the Same Direction Bible Study Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finding God When You Need Him Most Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of Peter Scazzero's Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Power of One-on-One: Discovering the Joy and Satisfaction of Mentoring Others Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Finish the Christian Life: Following Jesus in the Second Half Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Old Testament Characters Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Don't Give Up: Faith That Gives You the Confidence to Keep Believing and the Courage to Keep Going Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The End of Me: Where Real Life in the Upside-Down Ways of Jesus Begins Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Power of Desperation: Breakthroughs in Our Brokenness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFive Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith Bible Study Participant's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Deadliest Sin: A Penetrating Look at the Poison of Pride in a Leader Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAltitude: Your Next Move Changes Everything Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJesus and Peter: Growing in friendship with God Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGod Is Closer Than You Think Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Refuel: An Uncomplicated Guide to Connecting with God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5AHA: The God Moment That Changes Everything Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stop Your Complaining Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Surprising Grace of Disappointment Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Christianity For You
Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5NIV, Holy Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind... Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Confessions Of Saint Augustine Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better (updated with two new chapters) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for I'd Like You More if You Were More like Me Member Connect Guide
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
I'd Like You More if You Were More like Me Member Connect Guide - John Ortberg
At David C Cook, we equip the local church around the corner and around the globe to make disciples. Come see how we are working together—go to www.davidccook.com. Thank you!
I’D LIKE YOU MORE IF YOU WERE MORE LIKE ME
MEMBER CONNECT GUIDE
Published by David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.
David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England
The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.
All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION and NIV are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. ® Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica, Inc.
ISBN 978-1-4347-1191-5
eISBN 978-1-4347-1258-5
© 2017 John Ortberg
Material in this resource is adapted from: I’d Like You More if You Were More like Me: Getting Real about Getting Close. Copyright © 2017 by John Ortberg. Published by Tyndale Momentum, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. Used by permission.
Related titles:
I’d Like You More if You Were More like Me Leader Connect Guide
I’d Like You More if You Were More like Me DVD
I’d Like You More if You Were More like Me Small Group Connection Kit
I’d Like You More if You Were More like Me Church Connection Kit
All epigraphs and feature quotes within this book, unless otherwise noted, are excerpted from I’d Like You More if You Were More like Me: Getting Real about Getting Close, by John Ortberg.
The Team: Laura Derico, JamieLyn Heim, Toben Heim, Verne Kenney, Nick Lee, Wendi Lord, Dave Thornton
Cover Design: Nick Lee with Jacqueline L. Nuñez
Cover Photo: Shutterstock/Ermolaev Alexander
CONTENTS
How This Works
Session 1. Around the Table
Session 2. Created for Connection
Session 3. Compassion and Commitment
Session 4. Walls and Cracks
Session 5. Wounds and Healing
Session 6. Real and Close
HOW THIS WORKS
Whether you are a man or a woman; whether you’re the life of the party or a wallflower; whether you’re a thinker or a feeler or a category not yet known to social science, you were made for connection. You were made for relationships. You were made for intimacy.
Welcome! Whether this is your first time working through a small group study or your thirty-first time, you are sure to have some new experiences here. Some of those experiences will make you feel right at home. And that’s a good thing. Some of those experiences may make you feel a little uncomfortable. That’s good too. But we don’t want to lose you right off the bat, so here’s how this thing is meant to work.
Your group will likely have a leader. With any luck, this person will be good at the job, and be someone you can go to if you have any questions. But even if your leader is lost, you don’t have to be. Just follow along in this guide—when have we steered you wrong before?
Every time you meet with your group, you’ll spend some time getting to know one another and getting to know the subject of the particular session through discussion and group exercises. Check out the Session Menu to get an idea of what to expect.
SESSION MENU
In Group
Open Up: eat, watch video, talk, pray
Connect: discuss, do exercises
Bible Connect: group Bible study
Go Out: pray and go
Out of Group
Pray, do exercises, think about questions, reflect on experiences
Here are your responsibilities:
• Participate.
• Listen.
• Be open.
Let’s face it—group discussions in which no one talks are extremely painful and awkward—and not the good kind of awkward that we’ll talk about later in this book. So be willing to say something. Anything. Share a thought. Ask a question. Comment on someone’s answer. Grunt in the affirmative. And if you are one of those people who break out in hives even at the thought of speaking in front of others, know this—you are in the right place. This is a group who cares what you think and how you feel. It’s a safe place for you to speak. And who knows? Someone else in your group may also be breaking out in hives—the least you can do is compare spots.
Now, if you are one of those people who could talk all day about anything at all and be thrilled to do it—you are also in the right place. However, try to be aware of the room. Let others speak. Invite others to speak. You don’t have to be the leader to lead your fellow group members into the conversation.
So that’s part one of this study—In Group. Part two is equally important. But for that, you’re on your own. Well, sort of. We hope you’ll realize as you go through this guide that you’re never on your own. You have a fellow traveler who is always with you, and always ready to hear from you. But even God is not going to fill out this guide and do the exercises for you.
You might be saying at this point—You mean, we have homework?
Don’t worry. There are no hundred-question-long surveys that try to get you to discover if you’re more like a seal or a camel. What you’ve got here is