What is Real?
“What is real?” asked the Velveteen Rabbit. The Skin Horse said, “Real isn’t how you are made, it is a thing that happens when you are loved for a long, long time. Generally, by the time you are real most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are REAL you can’t be ugly except to those who don’t understand.
Once you are real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.”
Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit
“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”
II Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG
What Does it Mean to Be a “Real” Christian?
Pandemics. Politics, Social struggles. Global tragedies. These past years have felt unreal. But what has been most crazy making for me is the deep divisions in the Church. How can we find our way back to loving each other and our neighbors and seeking His Kingdom? I need reality checks: Scripture; honest, diverse community; prayer. I need to continually recalibrate back to the Christ revealed in Scripture.
Now Available!
Reality Christianity: A Study of II Corinthians
Radiating Christ in Our Cracked Lives
It's a perfect time to sink into II Corinthians. This epistle presents what "reality Christianity" is and how a "real" Christian lives, loves, and ministers. (P.S. It's hard and messy.) It is Paul's most personal letter to one of his most difficult churches. It reveals the paradox of living out the Christian faith.
Reality Christianity: A Study of II Corinthians / Radiating Christ in Our Cracked Lives is now available on Amazon. (If you would like bulk orders, contact me at nancy@nancywcarroll.com)
Through this study in II Corinthians, I pray you will:
Know and love the real Christ, and relish and radiate Him.
Know and love the real “you,” and drop veils to reveal yourself to others.
Embrace the reality that “real” ministry is through Christ’s power in your brokenness and weakness.
How do we live in the tension of the “both/and” life Christ offers us? In this 13-week study, you will discover how God enters into your hardest realities.
The Reality of Suffering/The Reality of Our Comforting God
The Reality of Failure/The Reality of Our Faithful God
The Reality of Our Inability/The Reality of Our Covenantal God
The Reality of Cracked Pots/The Reality of Our Radiating God
The Reality of Brokenness/The Reality of Our Reconciling God
The Reality of REALationships/The Reality of Our Redeeming God
The Reality of Reaping/The Reality of Our Enriching God
The Reality of Spiritual Warfare/The Reality of Our Powerful God
The Reality of Weakness/The Reality of Our Sufficient God
The Reality of “REALigion”/The Reality of Christ IN Us
Ephesians Study Also Available!
I'm thrilled with the different groups around the country studying Ephesians God's Great Mystery Revealed: In Christ, In His Church. It is available on Amazon or by contacting me at nancy@nancywcarroll.com. Here's some of the feedback on the study:
"Nancy does such a great job of making the study very 'user friendly.' She has an amazing ability to communicate and teach that is applicable for all spiritual ages. Thoroughly enjoyed the Ephesians study and can’t wait for her other studies to be published!"
"This study was an answered prayer. I was looking to dive deeper in the word & WOW did this exceed my expectations. The prompts allowed for personal reflection & growth. It is a great reminder of who we are in Christ and how to live as a believer. Nancy has a wonderful gift for words and creating the image of how each of us fit into the bigger piece of God’s masterpiece. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
"A great tool to dig into Ephesians verse by verse. Wonderful morning quiet time; the questions relating to the Scriptures were relevant and applicable. Great for a discipleship group."
The Ephesians and II Corinthians studies are part of the 10-book "Beholding-is-Becoming" series which connects people to the love of Christ through intimate, intelligent, and accessible Scripture studies using an integrated head/heart/hands rhythm with:
10-minute daily devotional questions (and an “express” version for those overwhelmed by life)
Discovery sheets for deeper, personal connection with Scripture
Concise commentary
Guides for teachers and facilitators
