Church-wide Program

There's something exciting and motivating about taking part in a program with the entire church. And that's how The Essential Jesus Challenge is designed—to be a church wide Bible reading experience helping your entire church explore the "Bible's Greatest Story" together.

Take advantage of the excitement of a church wide program. Use all means available to publicize and promote it (there are posters, bulletin inserts and other promotional material available on this website). Get as many key people involved in planning and promoting the Challenge as possible, from the Pastor(s) and other church leaders right on down to Sunday School teachers and small group leaders. Having them involved in planning and implementing The Challenge will help insure the widest participation throughout the church.

Helping your congregation get a complete picture of Jesus from the Scriptures will significantly deepen the spiritual life of your congregation. For the greatest effect, you'll want as many Challenge participants as possible to have a copy of the book, The Essential Jesus. It offers insightful comments on each of the 100 passages and provides discussion questions that can be used in your church's small groups, also. You'll want to order copies to have available 2-3 weeks before the "kick-off" date so that everyone can have one when the program begins.

Any time of the year is a good time to take The Essential Jesus Challenge and focus your church on getting to know Jesus better. But whenever you decide to take The Challenge, pray, work and plan to see your congregation get excited as they discover—many for the first time—what the Bible really says about Jesus and who
he really is.

SOME TIPS TO HELP GET YOU STARTED:

Develop Your Plan

When during the year will the program run? Will it run for 100 days, 20 weeks, during Lent or some other amount of time? Who'll lead it? Part of your plan will also include how you'll follow up after The Challenge. Scripture Union's daily Bible reading guides, Discovery and Encounter with God (www.ScriptureUnion.org.) are great follow up tools.

Gather Your Resources

Most of what you need_ invitation cards, sign up sheets, posters, bulletin inserts, etc.-- are all downloadable from www.EssentialJesusChallenge.com. And be sure to order sufficient copies of The Essential Jesus from the website or by calling 1-800-621-LAMP (5267). There are quantity discounts available.

Promote. Promote. Promote!

Start well ahead of "kick-off" to let people know The Challenge is coming and encourage them to sign up. Build excitement and encouragement for everyone to participate.

Have a "Launch Sunday"

That day, the service and the sermon can be built around discovering more about the most influential person in history. It's a great way to "kick-off" The Challenge together as a church.

Periodically, "Pump up The People"

Plan to periodically remind the congregation of the on-going Challenge through newsletters, or having participants share during worship what they've discovered about Jesus so far. Countdown the days to the end. Keep the excitement building!

Celebrate Reaching Tthe Finish Line

Plan a special celebration event! Be sure to publicly affirm all who took leadership in planning and implementing The Challenge, but also recognize everyone who completed it. And announce the follow up plan at this time, too.