Dot Com(unity) Week 2: Grow in Faith

Faith can be a terrifying choice, but it brings big rewards.

by Sam O'Neal

Just a reminder, we're on week 2 of our Dot Com(unity) co-learning experience studying John Ortberg on Understanding God. If you don't know what Dot Com(unity) is, click here.

Okay, let's get to it.

The Big Idea
Okay, after reading through the study, here's my take on the Big Idea that Ortberg is working to get across through the three teaching points: Faith is hard, but the results are worth it. (What do you think? Agree with that assessment? Disagree?)

As you read through the study, try to think about which of the three teaching points would be most applicable to your group members. That's the one you should probably focus your energy on in preparation, and that's the idea you should try to spend most of your time on during the actual study.

For me and my group, that would be Teaching Point Two: "Faith means choosing to follow Jesus." I have always thought that Peter gets a bum wrap from the whole walking-on-water story, and I love the way Ortberg approaches his decision as a "successful failure," for lack of a better term. This is where I would spend the bulk of my time with my group.

And just for fun, here are a few thoughts regarding the other teaching points:

If your group members will not be reading the study material on their own, you might have some success summarizing Orberg's story about the hot-air balloon. Especially the quotes about the pilot. And the story does make a good transition into a discussion about faith.