Convergence: Where Faith and Life Meet

You know how there’s that space between the victory Christ has accomplished and the future glory that awaits us? For all practical purposes, that gap is the place where we live out our faith. It’s where Jesus calls us to live here on earth, “as it is in heaven”. It’s always on our radar, and in some form or another, is behind most small group discussions.

Convergence is designed to create conversations around that spot where heaven and earth collide. It’s a brand spanking new DVD-based small group curriculum hosted by communicator and author of one of my favorite books A Million Miles in a Thousand Years Donald Miller.

One part of the curriculum called Breaking The Ice: Learning To Share Our Stories is on the importance of story. Donald Miller sits down with author Phyllis Tickle to discuss why our stories are so important.

“The only way you have to give yourself is through story. You can list facts forever… but the story is how you occupy your life.”

Stories communicate message and emotion; they are our personal facts packed with meaning. Think back on your life, what are some of the most formative experiences you have had? What are the stories associated with them? Do you share your stories? Why or why not?

The ability to reflect and construct stories is what makes us… human. We’re designed to know others and to be known.

Breaking The Ice is about finding and stewarding your story. Stories help us understand ourselves, and they help us share our lives.

Maybe that’s why I like books and curriculum like Donald Miller and Phyllis Tickle’s. They are packed with stories that pass on spiritual truths, all-the-while validating my own story and challenging me to live a better one in light of God’s redemptive story.

Trailer- Learning how to Share Our Stories from All Things Converge on Vimeo.

Convergence is fantastic for all levels of faith - I'd really encourage you to try it in your small group. My favorite thing about this curriculum is that it is profound and thought provoking. And let’s be honest: it’s hard to live in the gap. This is a study about real faith. To check out more Convergence topics, go to www.allthingsconvergence.com.

A few practical reasons why this is great material:

• Conversation. Each series has videos similar to this one – they’re conversational and best processed within the context of conversation.
• Price. Each full study is only $14.99. OR, download an individual video for $3.99.
• Simple. There is no homework. Each video is about 15-20 minutes long, so it allows an ample amount of time to watch and then discuss in your group.
• Leader Friendly. The prep work is minimal. Download the discussion guides for free for both leaders and participants.

Try it FREE!! Creative Trust is giving away one download to the first 25 people to visit www.allthingsconvergence.com and enter my last name (“Stout”) as the code for payment. You choose the video.

Finally, there are some pretty awesome small group gurus on this blog tour. Check out the next post from Sam O’Neal on December 3 to learn more about Convergence.

And if you haven’t read Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in A Thousand Years, for goodness sake get yourself an early Christmas present. It’s phenomenal.