Publisher's Synopsis
Key to my living and enjoying the Christian faith has been to know Jesus Christ on a very personal level. I know Him as my friend, as my teacher, as my shepherd and so many other close relationships. This little book is written in a conversational style and it describes both what I mean by some of those relationships, and how I developed them. My hope is that you will begin to understand and to develop such a close and personal relationship yourself.The book is a good resource for a small group adventure, and it includes a ten week outline for a group to follow.We had better accept that we live in an age of skepticism about the Christian faith. While there are a number of reasons for that, I suggest two paths that have led us down to this point. The first is the view that the message of Jesus Christ is simply too good to be true. The idea that a trust in Christ will keep us out of trouble and will spare us from pain and disappointment and the myriad of difficulties that life brings, has been rejected by many people. They will say that there is simply too much pain in the world, and especially in their own lives, to make such a claim believable. The second path is based on the view that Jesus Christ is a remote and out-of-date disciplinarian who has given us a set of commands that are impossible to follow - that He is someone who wants to take away much of the pleasures of life. For many people, such a view of a Christian life is darkened by a cloud of 'thou shall not' and of judgment and hell and damnation. They will say that they already have quite enough of all of that going on in their lives now thank you, without having to worry about the future.There have been times in my life when I have ventured along both of those paths. Thankfully, each time I did that the Holy Spirit led me back to the right path. And each time the Spirit did that through close friends who lovingly showed me the truth.That truth being that both of those paths are based on total misconceptions. Christ did not promise that we will never be hurt or let down. He promised to always be with us and to show us how to get back on our feet and get on with life. He promised to provide a light for us during dark times. He promised complete love - both now and eternally. And while it is true that Christ has given us very clear instructions on what to do and what not to do, they are given so that we can enjoy life to the full - not to rob us of pleasure!Key to my knowing and living that, has been to know Jesus Christ on a very personal level. Again then, my hope is that this book will help you to begin to understand and to develop such a close and personal relationship yourself.
