Customer Reviews

Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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I am always nervous starting a pre-planned and guided Bible study as a lot of them are very cookie cutter and spiritually bland. I believe this study is the opposite. I wouldn't say it's on a high level but it's not definitely not a low level study either (and that's a good thing). It's very good and I believe it's very biblical. Most of the ideas presented are backed up with scripture and Tim Keller's ideas do not stray far away from the biblical meaning of the verses.

I did this study with a small of group of men (20s-30s). Some have been Christians all their lives and some have recently come into the faith. I can say that there is definitely something for everyone from every walk of life.

The study also places a lot of focus on community which was at first a challenge for me because I can see applicability of the study in a major metropolitan area like NYC or Chicago. I think its applicability would be even more challenging in a rural community. Regardless, there are always needs in any community and how you approach those needs will be different.

As far as actually doing the study:
There is a lot of homework that needs to be done before each session, starting with session 2. On average its about 20-25 pages of reading and answering some questions before the next group meeting. The homework you go through is not necessarily discussed directly in the proceeding session, but provides a good foundation for the upcoming session. I would say the homework will take you anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to fully delve into the material.

According to the study plan, you should only spend about 20 minutes on the Bible Study (or the questions that open the study for the session). I would say that part was a little hard to do (staying on time) with even a small group of 5 guys. There are usually 4-6 questions so that means spending 3-4 minutes on each question, but there was also just so much that we wanted to discuss about things we discovered in the homework. My main point is, if you can afford to spend a little more than 20 minutes on this time and not take time away from another part of the study, please do so. I think a lot of good relationship building and accountability can come out of this time.

Next you watch the 10 minute video on the DVD. Really good stuff. Then you are supposed to spend a suggested 25 minutes with 5-6 questions in the study guide to guide the discussion about what was just watched on the DVD. Once again, we have found this to be bit a challenging because some of the questions really spurn a lot of discussion. Staying on time was not as challenging as it was when we discussed homework and the questions before the DVD.

For Leaders:
At the back of the companion study guide is a guide for leaders. The guide for leaders doesn't so much tell you exactly what to do throughout the study, but rather abstractly explains how the discussion should be guided. So if you are looking for something that's going to tell you exactly what to do and say, this may not be for you. I have noticed on some questions that the guide will tell you that a certain question may create a lot of discussion, and to not spend a lot of time on it. Overall I would say the group leader should already have some good group study leading skills before leading this study.

One thing to note that kind of took me, as a leader, by surprise are that there are some events that you need to plan in advance. For example in one session you will need to have a party (or some similar event) with people from the group and their non-christian friends. Another session requires you to do a community project. So be sure you schedule time for things like that with this study.

Overall I think it's a great study.

P.S. - I know I talk a lot about this study in relation to a group of guys, but this is not a men only study. This study is applicable for men and women, single or married, etc. While any age group could benefit from this study, I personally feel that this study is more suited for young adults in their 20s and 30s.

Keller's Gospel in Life DVD contains eight sessions with each session being approximately 11 minutes long. The sessions focus on city life, our hearts, idols, communities, witnessing, work, justice, and eternity. Although the sessions are short, there is much to reflect on, discuss, pray about, and share with others. Tim Keller is brilliant and knows how to speak to people of all walks of life. I highly recommend the DVD for both individual or group studies.

Session one is called City: The World That is. I prefer living out in the sticks, but God has called me to live in one of the biggest cities in the world. It is a city that has millions of people who don't know the gospel, but my identity in Christ has only grown. We do not have to remove ourselves from the city or resemble it, we need to serve and love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).

Session two is called Heart: Three Ways to Live. This session focuses on the popular parable found at Luke 15:11-32, The Prodigal of the Lost Son. If you have read Keller's book, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith, much of the material found here will be familiar to you. Despite that, we can listen to this message a million times.

Session three is called Idolatry: The Sin Beneath the Sin. What is your worst nightmare? If something was taken away from you and you believe you could no longer go on living without it, that is your god. That is your idol. You feel it justifies your life and gives your life worth and value. We must rejoice and rest in the Jesus' atoning work on the cross so your idols can be replaced

Session four is called Community: The Context for Change. I am so thankful for the community I live in. Meeting with others here helps me to know God at a deeper level. Like Jesus, we are distinct from those around us, but we interact with everyone in service to Him. We are called as a community to respond to the glory of God in every aspect of our lives.

Session five is called Witness: An Alternate City. We are to be a city on the hill (Matthew 5:14). Our lives should shine in a way that points others to Him. What do our lives say to others about what we believe? Do we behave like the world or have we been transformed by the gospel? We need to be gospel-speaking, neighbor-loving, and community-transformed people.

Session six is called Work: Cultivating the Garden. The Bible is a single true story that shares God's perfect plan for the world. God's plan is to establish His Kingdom for His glory. The gospel is the means through which the Kingdom of God is advancing, therefore it should penetrate everything including our work. God is our boss so work for Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Session seven is called Justice: A People for Others. Jesus Christ identified with the poor and the oppressed so we must do the same. When we know the peace of Christ, we will want to share it with all people, not just those we are like. We will share the gospel humbly and seek justice because we have experienced the grace of God.

Session eight is called Eternity: The World That is to Come. Keller takes us to the Book of Revelation and begins talking about the Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem - the home that God is preparing for those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are reminded of a vision of renewed culture, restored shalom, and remarkable spiritual intimacy. I am looking forward to that final chapter.

This is a Workbook is an in depth course on the Biblical Gospel is to be lived out in all of your life--internally, and externally (in your community and in the world). It is specifically designed for use in a small group that is working through the companion DVD called "Gospel in Life." If you want to have a better understanding of how the gospel applies to your life not in the past, and not in the future, but NOW - then look no further than this book.

Anything Tim Keller writes is theologically deep, contains biblically sound teaching, and is penetratingly Christ-centered. This study guide is no exception - as a matter of fact, I almost wish it wasn't a study guide - so more people would read it, and work through it as a workbook. In my opinion he is the finest communicator of the gospel in America today.

There are 8 Studies in the Guide that are designed for use with the Gospel in Life DVD:

1) The City - The World That Is
2) The Heart - Three Ways To Live
3) Idolatry - The Sin Beneath The Sin
4) Community - The Context For Change
5) Witness - An Alternate City
6) Work - Cultivating The Garden
7) Justice - A People For Others
8) Eternity - The World That Is To Come

Each session contains an inductive Bible study on the theme, discussion questions based on the DVD, and home studies consisting of exercises, projects, readings, questions, and quotations to help you dig deeper into the topic at hand. A very helpful extensive section of notes is included for those who lead the small group through this study.

I can't recommend this DVD and Study Guide highly enough - I think it's a Top 5 (along with His study on "The Prodigal God" and "The Reason for God") resource to be used in any church that is serious about the Gospel, being missional, church planting, living in community, and fulfilling the great commission.

I'm always on the lookout for a good video series, particularly for young adults. Some have great content, but are damaged by cheesy presentation or horrible production values. This series by Tim Keller is one of the best I've seen, and we're getting a lot out of it.

Tim Keller is an excellent theologin and I love to listen to him. However, this DVD was basically preaching on camera. Listen to Tim online and save your money.

We did this as a study with our home group. It was church wide. Brought new insight to The Word.

The Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything, a DVD series by Timothy Keller is a must for some groups of individuals, but I would suggest passing over on it for other individuals.

The content is great. I am not sure anyone in today's churches are more qualified and able to do such a series. I am sure it was a significant challenge for Keller to break down this series into 8 small bites. Each segment is about 10 minutes in length and seeks to share how the gospel changes hearts of individuals, communities of individuals and then how those communities change the world.

The segments break down as follows:

1. City: The World That Is
2. Heart: Three Ways to Life
3. Idolatry: The Sin Beneath The Sin
4. Community: The COntext for Change
5. Witness: An Alternate City
6. Work: Cultivating The Garden
7. Justice: A People For Others
8. Eternity: The World That Is To Come

I did not go through this study in any group, but just by myself. The DVD's were very well done. You don't get lost in the video having to disregard the content. I am no cinematographer, but I felt that the DVD's contributed to my learning experience. Once again, to include so much good content in 10 minutes must have been difficult, but I am sure Keller did not intend this study to be an end in itself, but a launching pad for future study on the gospel and its implications individually, communally and for the world as a whole.

The Study Guide added to the value of this study in two main ways. First, each section contains a short treatise to prepare the reader/viewer for what he or she is about to see on the video. It is a short theology/biblical study on the topic that Keller would be teaching on during the video. This helps a lot to give a bit of a foundation for the viewer, especially valuable for someone without much church experience. Secondly, the Study guide helps the viewer/reader to reflect on the teaching session with some pointed questions, delving into the heart issues surrounding each topic of teaching.

I would highly recommend this resource to a number of different types of groups. The Gospel is key to all that the church does as well as to what we do as individuals within and outside the church. This resource would be good, first, for individuals who are interested in learning about the Gospel and Christianity. As noted above, it is not exhaustive, but it is a good foundational work to lead someone into learning more about the Gospel and what God has done. Second, this work would be good for churches, especially churches who might be looking for resources to share in a new believers class, assimilation ministry, or membership class. Understanding the key components of the Gospel are pertinent to how churches function and what believers do. It is out of the gospel that we are to do anything. Third and finally, I would recommend this to small groups. As a small group this resource would be great to unify, clarify, and go out into the world with a message to share. The Gospel is a work of God, but it is also a message to share, that believers have been commanded to share more importantly, and Keller's work here would be a great foundational tool.
Please do not disregard the value this work would have for someone who has been in the church for a while, understands the gospel and or has studied a fair amount. The Gospel is for everyone, unbeliever and believer. We all need the Gospel. We all need reminders and if a reminder is what you need, please pick up this work as well!

How does the Gospel affect the entirety of one's life? How does the Gospel change hearts, communities, and the entire world? How does the Gospel create communities that in turn declare the Gospel? How does the Gospel shape our work lives and our understanding of loving our neighbor? Tim Keller, in his DVD teaching, Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything, walks through these questions and more, challenging the core of how we understand the Gospel working in our heart. Keller's intensive teaching includes eight sessions, all of which are approximately 10-12 minutes each.

I thoroughly enjoyed each session, especially session four on community. For those familiar with Keller's works and teachings, the first few sessions will sound familiar (on the city, heart, and idolatry); however, the sessions nicely fit into the flow of the rest of Keller's driving point: Gospel grace changes the inworking and outworking of one's life. The only reason I didn't give the DVD a perfect 5 stars was because of the semi-steep cost in relation to what you get ($20 for a hour-and-a-half teaching) and because the lighting was terrible in session three. Overall, great stuff.