Spiritual Formation Table of Contents

Transcription

1 Spiritual Formation Table of Contents Introduction: These studies focus on intentionally building relationships with God. Below, you will find studies that will help your group grow in the areas of living out your faith, biblical foundations for faith, and spiritual disciplines. Acts of God 3 Battling Unbelief.. 3 The Blazing Center. 3 Breathing Room... 3 The Case For Christ 4 The Case For a Creator... 4 The Case For Faith.. 4 Chasing Daylight Christian 5 The Circle Maker. 5 Crazy Love 5-6 Discovering God s Will 6 Doing Life Together: Developing Your Shape to Serve Others.. 6 Doing Life Together: Growing to be Like Christ 6 Doing Life Together: Sharing Your Life Mission.. 6 Doing Life Together: Surrendering Your Life for God s Pleasure 7 Experiencing God.. 7 Faith, Hope, and Luck. 7 Faith Under Fire (Vol. 1): Faith and Jesus. 7-8 Faith Under Fire (Vol. 2): Faith and Facts. 8 Faith Under Fire (Vol. 3): Tough Faith Questions 8 Faith Under Fire (Vol. 4): A New Kind of Faith Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith. 9 Forgotten God... 9 God is Closer Than You Think... 9 H2O: A Journey of Faith.. 10 If You Want to Walk on Water, You ve Got to Get Out of the Boat The Invisible War 10 It Came From Within The Life You ve Always Wanted 11 Losing Your Religion. 11 The Miracle of Life Change Not a Fan Permission to Speak Freely The Purpose Driven Life r12: True Spirituality The Reason for God.. 13 Simple 13 1

2 Soul Detox True Spirituality According to Jesus What s So Amazing About Grace?.. 14 When God s People Pray.. 14 You ve Got Style.. 14 Homework Rating: Every study is different and requires different amounts of group participation. As a result, we have made sure that there are a wide variety of studies that appeal to groups that like a lot or a little homework. To help, we have created a 4- star system for rating the homework found in each study (See Below). We suggest discussing the homework rating with your group before choosing a study. Also, it may be good to challenge your group to do a study with a little more homework every once in a while. Don't forget to do a lighter study after a heavy homework study. This will help refresh and renew the group. * No homework, only discussion questions ** Study guide for notes, questions, and answers that enhances the group time *** Study guide with optional daily homework (life application, book reading, devotions, Bible study) **** Daily homework required (life application, book reading, devotions, Bible study) 2

3 Acts of God Summary: Perhaps the greatest human question of all is the question of suffering: If God is good, why does He allow so much pain in the world? This is a question not often talked about in church, but Acts of God addresses it head on and doesn't offer trite answers. A cinematic, six- episode small group study, Acts of God offers insight and hope as Pastor Bob Russell uses the biblical story of Joseph to explore how, in the face of personal pain or the suffering of those we love, we can trust in the Lord at all times. Battling Unbelief Summary: Conquer life s greatest struggle. You have the faith that first saved you, but now you struggle to apply that faith in everyday circumstances. You are battling unbelief, fighting lies with the purifying power of God s truth. Popular pastor and bestselling author John Piper will equip you to live by faith in future grace and demolish the struggles that stem from anxiety, pride, impatience, bitterness, lust, and more. Sessions: 10 The Blazing Center Summary: What do you revolve around? All the planets of your life from your labor and leisure to your thinking and feeling are held in orbit by the greatness, gravity, and blazing brightness of Jesus Christ at the center of your life. When He ceases to be the center, the planets of your life fly into confusion, sending a hundred things out of control. John Piper s powerful teaching helps groups discover surprising insights about the reality of sin, how your love for God is really revealed, and how only joy in Him will sustain you through times of suffering. Sessions: 8 Breathing Room Summary: Life is better with breathing room. In our attempt to get the most out of life, it's easy to lose control of our lives. For most of us, breathing room feels more like a luxury than a necessity. In this series, Andy Stanley shows us how to create breathing room in our schedules, our finances, and our relationships. Sessions: 4 3

4 The Case For Christ Summary: Is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God? Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, Lee Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, cross- examines several experts with doctorates from schools like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis who are recognized authorities in their own fields. Strobel s tough, point- blank questions make this six- session video study a captivating, fast- paced experience. But it s not fiction. It s a riveting quest for the truth about history s most compelling figure. The Case For a Creator Summary: Former journalist and skeptic Lee Strobel has discovered something very interesting about science. Far from being the enemy of faith, science may now provide a solid foundation for believing in God. Has science finally discovered God? Certainly new discoveries in such scientific disciplines as cosmology, cellular biology, astronomy, physics and DNA research are pointing to the incredible complexity of our universe, a complexity best explained by the existence of a Creator. In this six- session DVD study, Lee Strobel investigates the latest scientific discoveries to see whether they form a solid basis for believing in God. The Case For Faith Summary: Doubt is familiar territory for Lee Strobel, the former atheist and award- winning author of books for skeptics and Christians. But he believes that faith and reason go hand in hand, and that Christianity is a defensible religion. In this six- session video curriculum, Strobel uses his journalistic approach to explore the most common emotional obstacles to faith in Christ. These include the natural inclination to wrestle with faith and doubt, the troubling presence of evil and suffering in the world, and the exclusivity of the Christian gospel. They also include this compelling question: Can I doubt and be a Christian? Through compelling video of personal stories and experts addressing these topics, combined with reflection and interaction, Christians and spiritual seekers will learn how to overcome these obstacles, deepen their spiritual convictions, and find new confidence that Christianity is a reasonable faith. Chasing Daylight Summary: Adventure awaits opportunity is all around us. In Chasing Daylight, Erwin McManus calls us to risk everything for a life of genuine purpose. The biblical character of Jonathan was a man on a mission. In faith and doubt, he stepped out to 4

5 launch a daring attack that energized his people. With that attitude, we can be movers and shakers rather than moaners and slackers. Chasing Daylight uses the biblical characters of Jonathan and Saul to demonstrate the difference between living a life of purpose and moaning over missed opportunity. Focusing on one crucial moment in Israel s war with the Philistines (1 Samuel 14), McManus artfully illustrates the eight characteristics of an adventurer s heart. Sessions: 10 * Christian Summary: What does it mean to be a Christian? Ask 100 people that question and you are likely to get 100 different answers. In Christian, an eight- session DVD Bible study, pastor and bestselling author Andy Stanley explores the one word that Jesus gave his followers that should define them. Sessions: 8 The Circle Maker Summary: In Matthew 21, Jesus tells us, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." However, most of the time we pray, we only ask for the small things. We're afraid to ask for what we really want, or to be passionate in our petitions. Do you ever sense that there's far more to prayer, and to God's vision for your life, than what you're experiencing? What impossibly big dream is God calling you to draw a prayer circle around? In The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson introduces you to the possibility of a deeper, more passionate, persistent, and more intimate prayer life. Sharing powerful insights from the true legend of Honi the circle maker, a first- century Jewish sage whose bold prayer ended a drought and saved a generation, you will learn a new way to pray. Discover the power of bold prayer and even bolder faith in God's promises. Sessions: 4 * Study Guides: Download off DVD Curriculum Book: Can be purchased at Crazy Love Summary: If we really understood God s love for us, would we be living such passionless lives? The God of the universe is crazy about you! His love is the most powerful thing in the world and He wants to give it to you, so you can live for Him. Now you can enter into discussion, interaction, and application as Francis Chan shares from his own life struggles, sacrifices, and issues a call for selfless, Christ- like living. Let the love you have received from God impact your life like never before. This study includes ten 10- minute segments corresponding with the 10 chapters of the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Sessions: 10 5

6 * Study Guides: Download off DVD Curriculum Book: Can be purchased at Discovering God s Will Summary: Discovering God s will can be a difficult process, especially when we need to make a decision in a hurry. This eight- session study series explores God s providential, moral, and personal will and how God uses other people and the principles of scripture to guide us as we attempt to discover the personal vision He has for our lives. (North Point Resources Andy Stanley) Sessions: 8 Doing Life Together: Developing Your Shape to Serve Others Summary: The way you re wired is no accident! God designed your unique mix of gifts, natural abilities, personality, values, and life experiences to play an essential part in His Kingdom. These six sessions will help you develop your God- given design at home, at work, at church, and in your community in a way that extends God s love to others and enriches your own life immeasurably. Doing Life Together: Growing to be Like Christ Summary: Spiritual maturity doesn t happen by accident. The six sessions in this study equip you for the basic habits of spiritual growth: relying on the Holy Spirit, cultivating time in the Bible and prayer, seeing life s obstacles as opportunities for growth, and partnering with Christians who are committed to supporting your growth. Here is a realistic, practical path to growing strong in faith and Christian character. Doing Life Together: Sharing Your Life Mission Summary: Sharing your life mission every day just isn t that hard. You need a few skills, a few friends for support, and a glimpse of God s heart for those who don t know Him. These six sessions will equip you to extend love to seekers around you and talk about your experience with God in ways that people will understand. God doesn t ask you to do it alone discover the power that comes from teaming up! 6

7 Doing Life Together: Surrendering Your Life for God s Pleasure Summary: What does it mean to surrender to God? These six sessions will help you experience the transforming power of a surrendered life. As you learn to worship Christ throughout you daily life, you will come to trust Him with the experiences of your past, the precious things of your present, and your hopes for the future. What are you holding onto? Discover the peace of laying it at God s feet. Experiencing God Summary: While many people ask God to bless their plans, Experiencing God helps lead believers into a deeper love relationship, teaching them to pray to and hear from God, and to join with God in accomplishing what He purposes to do. For more than 15 years, God has used Experiencing God in His work, showing believers how to know Him intimately while encouraging them to step out in faith and join Him in His work. Sessions: 13 * Faith, Hope, and Luck Summary: Our faith in God often hinges on his activity or inactivity in our daily experiences. When our prayers are answered, our faith soars. When God is silent, it becomes harder to trust him. When God shows up in an unmistakable way, our confidence in Him reaches new heights. But when he doesn t come through, our confidence often wanes. But it doesn t have to be that way it s not supposed to be that way. This study is guaranteed to transform your thinking about FAITH. As you listen or watch, you will discover the difference between faith and hope. You will be presented with a definition for FAITH that will shed new light on both the Old and New Testaments. Andy Stanley explains what we can expect of God every time we come to him with a request. In addition, he exposes the flaws in what some have labeled The Faith Movement. This content is foundational for everyone who desires to be an informed follower of Christ. (North Point Resources) Sessions: 5 Faith Under Fire (Vol. 1): Faith and Jesus Summary: Based on Lee Strobel s popular TV program Faith Under Fire, this cutting- edge curriculum features spirited discussions between well- respected Christians, people of other faiths, or people with no faith at all on important spiritual and social issues. Session 1: Is the Supernatural Real? Featuring Edward Tabash and J. P. Moreland Session 2: Is Jesus a Prophet or the Son of God? Featuring Mike Licona and Shabir Ally 7

8 Session 3: Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Featuring Richard Carrier and William Lane Craig Session 4: Do All Roads Lead to God? Featuring Gregory Koukl and Kenneth Bowers Sessions: 4 Faith Under Fire (Vol. 2): Faith and Facts Summary: Based on Lee Strobel s popular TV program Faith Under Fire, this cutting- edge curriculum features spirited discussions between well- respected Christians, people of other faiths, or people with no faith at all on important spiritual and social issues. Session 1: Is The Bible Bogus? Featuring Michael Shermer and Ben Witherington III Session 2: Is Heaven Real? Featuring Randy Alcorn Session 3: Hell: Fact or Fiction? Featuring Gary Amirault and Jerry Walls Session 4: Does Science Point to a Creator? Featuring Michael Shermer and Stephen Meyer Sessions: 4 Faith Under Fire (Vol. 3): Tough Faith Questions Summary: Based on Lee Strobel s popular TV program Faith Under Fire, this cutting- edge curriculum features spirited discussions between well- respected Christians, people of other faiths, or people with no faith at all on important spiritual and social issues. Session 1: Is Anything Beyond Forgiveness? Featuring Henry Cloud and Father Frank Pavone Session 2: Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering? Featuring Julia Sweeney and Craig Detweiler Session 3: The Mystery of the Trinity with Rabbi. Featuring Tovia Singer and William Lane Craig Session 4: Do Christian and Muslims Worship the Same God? Featuring Deborah Caldwell, Ergum Caner and Hesham Hassaballa Sessions: 4 Faith Under Fire (Vol. 4): A New Kind of Faith Summary: Based on Lee Strobel s popular TV program Faith Under Fire, this cutting- edge curriculum features spirited discussions between well- respected Christians, people of other faiths, or people with no faith at all on important spiritual and social issues. Session 1: Must Christianity Change or Die? Featuring John Shelby Spong and Albert Mohler Session 2: The End of Faith? Featuring Sam Harris and Hugh Hewitt 8

9 Session 3: Time for a New God? Featuring Mark Mittelberg and Irwin Kula Session 4: Is Christianity Arrogant? Featuring Rick Warren Sessions: 4 Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith Summary: Your faith in God matters to God. In fact, God is most honored through your living, active, death- defying, out- of- the- box faith. That being the case, he s committed to growing it Big. Imagine how different your outlook on life would be if you had absolute confidence that God was with you? Imagine how differently you would respond to difficulties, temptations, and even good things if you knew with certainty that God was in all of it and was planning to leverage it for good. In other words, imagine what it would be like to have PERFECT faith. In Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith, Andy Stanley builds a biblical case for you guessed it five things God uses to grow BIG faith. (North Point Resources) Forgotten God Summary: In this dynamic companion to the book Forgotten God, breakthrough author Francis Chan reminds us of the true source of the church s power- the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we ve ignored the Spirit for far too long, and that without Him, we operate in our own strength, only accomplishing human- sized results. This seven- session video resource offers a compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit s direction in our lives. It is designed to initiate and facilitate discussion, interaction and practical application of the message of Forgotten God. Sessions: 7 God is Closer Than You Think Summary: Do your days sometimes feel like a page from a where s Waldo adventure and your heavenly Father is nowhere to be found? John Ortberg reveals the truth that God stretches out to reach us and is an active presence in our lives. In God Is Closer Than You Think Ortberg takes your home life group on a journey that will help you to: experience His presence in your busy life, hear Him speak in ways you understand, and discover God s desire to be with you in this moment. 9

10 H2O: A Journey of Faith Summary: DISCOVER THE ONE DRINK THAT CONNECTS YOU WITH GOD S POWER. Like a fast- paced drama, your life cuts from one scene to the next with hardly a moment to breathe. The H20 DVD is a 10- week video series that reflects your lifestyle and helps you know how to quench your thirst for life s satisfaction. Nothing drenches your soul like a life fulfilled by God. Through each video, Kyle Idleman uses carefully crafted storytelling to reach a media- savvy generation. Sessions: 10 Study Guides: Can be purchased at If You Want to Walk on Water, You ve Got to Get Out of the Boat Summary: Do you want to know Jesus like never before? Then step over the gunwales the Master of the sea is waiting for you! In this 6- session journey on learning to trust God, John Ortberg teaches water walking skills: finding your call, transcending fear, risking faith, managing failure, and waiting on Christ. The Invisible War Summary: Beneath our tangible landscape lurks an invisible spiritual realm where unseen battles rage. It s real. And it s dangerous. If you re prepared to remove the blinders and gaze into the unseen world, Chip Ingram is ready to take you there. Hang on to your seat. It s going to be a journey inside the very folds of our Bibles, a journey that will teach us about our greatest foe, Satan, also known as Lucifer, Dragon, Serpent, and Son of the Morning Star. Although this lying thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, God details in His Word the battle plan to uncover Satan s cunning deceptions and to resist his sinister schemes. The cosmic conflict exploding all around us will have eternal implications, for us and those we love. This series by Chip Ingram will help you prepare to do spiritual battle with the enemy of your soul and win! You ll learn to clothe yourself with God s spiritual armor so you can be confident of your certain victory over the scheming enemy. Sessions: 8 It Came From Within Summary: You know that dreaded, sinking, I- can t- believe- I- said- that- out- loud feeling? It s a disconnect between your attitude and your actions. Or is it? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks, states Matthew 12:33. Scary, but true: The words you accidentally speak and the actions you later regret are actually in keeping with what s hiding in your heart. In this five- part series, Andy Stanley examines four conditions of the heart that are the root of sour attitudes, hurt- filled relationships, and regretful actions: guilt, jealousy, greed, and anger. These 10

11 messages will help you fight these creatures where they live by going right to the heart of the matter. (North Point Resources) Sessions: 5 Homework Rating: * or **** Book: Can be purchased at The Life You ve Always Wanted Summary: What does true spiritual life really look like? How can you pursue it? If you re tired of the status quo if you suspect there s more to Christianity than what you ve experienced John Ortberg invites you and your small group to join him on a road to transformation that anyone can take. As in a marathon, the secret lies not in trying harder, but in training consistently. Proven by followers of Jesus over the centuries, the spiritual disciples are exercises that strengthen your endurance race on the road of growth. As you and your group continue down that road, you ll see the signposts joy, peace, kindness, and all the hallmarks of a faith that s vital, real, and growing. Losing Your Religion Summary: What religion is powerless to do, GOD did! Face it. Religion can get pretty strange pretty quickly. Mystical. Superstitious. Legalistic. Judgmental. Hypocritical. But religion isn t going away. The human race has an insatiable curiosity regarding the divine. Since the beginning of time, men and women have established elaborate rituals and traditions in an attempt to bridge the gap between the seen and the unseen; between the sacred and the secular. And while each of these systems provided formulas for communicating with and securing the blessings of a particular deity, none provided the one thing humankind most desires assurance. But with the birth of Christianity, all of that changed. In this study, Andy Stanley explains how the message of Christ serves as the fulfillment of religion. (North Point Resources) Sessions: 4 Homework Rating: * The Miracle of Life Change Summary: Is life change really possible? If honest, most of us would answer, No. You ve tried numerous programs that promise big changes, but in reality, deliver very little results. You long for transformation, but don t know where to begin. There s good news for you life change is possible! You were made to grow, to change, experience intimacy and adventure. In The Miracle of Life Change 10- part DVD series, Chip Ingram unpacks Ephesians 4 and shares how life change can happen to you. You ll learn how to break out of a destructive lifestyle and become the person you ve longed to be. You ll also learn to identify barriers that have held you back from receiving God s best. Sessions: 10 11

12 Not a Fan Summary: If Jesus were to sit down with you right now and have a DTR (Define the Relationship) conversation, how would you respond? Are you truly his follower or just a fan- or perhaps someone who doesn't even care about the difference? Not a Fan invites you to make Jesus not merely the object of your admiration, but the very center of your life. Through biblical teaching, anecdotes, and humor, Kyle Idleman explores what it means to truly be a follower of Christ. He also shares several powerful Not a Fan stories- - testimonies from fellow followers who turned to Jesus. Don't miss this wake up call to radical discipleship! * Permission to Speak Freely Summary: Two thousand years ago, Jesus pulled His disciples aside and taught them to pray. In examining His instructions, we find disconnect between His teaching and the way we typically approach prayer. We discover that there are some things about prayer we think are important but aren t, and there are some things we don t think are important that are. Could it be that there is more to prayer than we thought? Andy Stanley unpacks the words of Jesus to help us understand what God had in mind when He gave us the ability and the opportunity to talk to Him. (North Point Resources) Sessions: 3 Homework Rating: * The Purpose Driven Life Summary: The Purpose Driven. Life Small Group Curriculum is a six- week, video- based home life group study of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. The six video lessons are taught by Rick, and are supplemented by group discussion material in the accompanying study guide. When combined with the reading of The Purpose Driven Life, this study will give your home life group the opportunity to discuss the implications and applications of these life- changing truths. You ll see the big picture of what life is all about and begin to live the life God created you to live. r12: True Spirituality Summary: Being a genuine disciple of Christ flows out of a relationship with Him. It s about experiencing God s grace, not earning His love through performance. A real relationship with Jesus Christ will produce a follower whose life looks progressively more like His life. Romans 12 provides a relational profile of an authentic disciple. Christians who live out this kind of lifestyle are what we call r12 Christians. God is 12

13 willing to go deeper and grow you into a real disciple are you ready? Chip Ingram unpacks and dives in Romans 12 in this 10 sessions study. Sessions: 10 Study Guides: Can be purchased at The Reason for God Summary: How could a loving God send people to hell? Why does he allow suffering? Can one religion be "right" and the others "wrong"? Responding to the questions of open skeptics and ardent believers, Keller draws from literature, philosophy, reason, and real- life conversations to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief. Simple Summary: In a time when religious leaders and a religious system made it increasingly complicated to connect with God, a teacher appeared whose message was profoundly simple. Jesus arrived on the stage of world events and announced that God s intent was to connect with, not confuse, mankind. To those who were considered most distant from God, Jesus offered this simple invitation, Follow me. People who accepted his offer found themselves captivated by an extraordinary faith leading them to adopt a lifestyle that turned the world upside down. Andy Stanley unpacks the compelling simplicity of Jesus message: Follow. Believe. Obey. (North Point Resources) Homework Rating: * Soul Detox Summary: Every day we're infected with spiritual toxins from our corrupt culture. How can we purify ourselves from poisonous influences, emotions, and behaviors? Shining the light of truth on moral ambiguity, Groeschel encourages you to embrace the radical new life Jesus calls you to, and become cleansed as you immerse yourself in the waters of holiness. Sessions: 5 True Spirituality According to Jesus Summary: Romans chapter 12 is the START HERE for the Christian life. What most Christians sadly misunderstand is that God isn t into religious activities or performance- based Christianity. Instead, Romans 12 reveals to us a relational profile of what it means to be a disciple, as well as a proven pathway to becoming more like Jesus every day. If you ve become stagnant in your spiritual growth. START HERE. 13

14 If you ve become disengaged with your church experience. START HERE. If you are a new believer and unsure how to grow spiritually. START HERE. If you are a mature Christian and are looking for a pathway to disciple others, START HERE. True Spirituality According to Jesus is a small group study that complements the Living on the Edge book by Chip Ingram, and looks at what Jesus said and modeled for us about the principles in Romans 12. Taken together, this is a dynamic study that will encourage you to become an r12 Christian. What s So Amazing About Grace? Summary: In this study based on What s So Amazing About Grace? Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. If grace is God s love for the undeserving, he asks, then what does it look like in action? And if Christians are its sole dispensers, then how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? Yancey offers compelling, true portraits of grace s life- changing power. He asks, how can Christians contend graciously with moral issues that threaten all they hold dear? And he encourages groups of all sizes to discuss ways to become living answers to a world that desperately wants to know, What s So Amazing About Grace? Sessions: 10 When God s People Pray Summary: This home life group study will help your group tap into the transforming power of prayer. Discover the power of God to restore hope, ignite faith, work miracles, and change lives through prayer. What are the keys that unlock its power, that turn prayer from a mere activity into a vital link with God and all his resources? In this DVD, Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, shows you and your small group truths about prayer that God has used to turn his own church from a tiny, struggling inner- city congregation into a vital, thriving community of believers who pray with passion, focus, and faith. You ve Got Style Summary: We call it style and we all have one. Even the way we draw near to God has a style. Quiet loud outside within in word or deed. Our expressions of worship can be as varied as we are, but which way is the right way? This five- part small group study explores the various styles of drawing near to God. The answers may surprise you! Sessions: 5 Homework Rating: * 14