Let's talk about what Jesus XP is not. It's not a Bible study. It's not a curriculum in the traditional sense. We believe Jesus XP is more accessible. It’s not so cookie-cutter that it won't surprise us. It's going to take us down some paths that we may not even see coming. It also doesn't require an expert; it's not for the experts.
So, what does that mean? The beauty and reality of Jesus XP is that it acknowledges and expects that Jesus is the Master in his own story, and he invites us into his story. He's the Lord, and none of us is, so we need to lay down even the notion that someone would be an expert.
It's not Bible study. It's not for the experts. It's also not only for the Church. Jesus XP may very well do best when it's not inside the walls of a church! Or at least if it's in a church, it moves out of a church and into communities. That's part of the process. This is the essence of it: it's the Jesus way; it's the thing that spreads. It can't help it.
Jesus XP is about sparking life, possibility, a new imagination. So, it's not distracting.
It's not about performance or production. It's not about any of those things.
Jesus XP is life with Jesus at its core. And the framework for it is the Gospels: checking in with one another, doing it in community. We believe the Gospels are a community story. We make room together, and we pay attention to what Jesus says.
Jesus XP is permission to ask questions. Questions about what Jesus is saying through what we read and what we will do with what he says. Jesus XP has a bias toward practice, and a bias towards curiosity—deep curiosity. People who have asked questions about Jesus or want to ask better questions are experiencing fractures in their relationship because they may have previously felt too certain.
Jesus XP is a framework:
1. Check in with each other.
2. Read a passage together.
3. Practice the core practices.
4. Ask questions.
5. Slow down.
6. Practice what you’ve learned throughout the week.
7. Be prayerful.
8. Experience Christ.
9. Watch and celebrate the spiritual formation and transformation in one another.
10. Become more like Jesus.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus calls disciples to be with him and to go preach. That includes all you who are weary, all who are lost, all who are lonely, all who are broken. Jesus’ invitation: “Come to me.” Jesus XP is a vehicle for what will surely be a spiritually formative journey as we draw near to him and to one another.