Connect Church. Curriculum Guide

Transcription

1 Connect Church Bible Book Study Curriculum Guide Hand Me Another Brick (Nehemiah) Chuck Swindoll Our society is overdue for a fresh word on the matter of leadership. We desperately need God s steady, unchanging wisdom in our businesses, homes, ministries, government, and education. Growth in leadership is exactly what Nehemiah provides. Your can rise to the challenge of becoming a dynamic, godly leader. You ll find the insights and help you need in the lessons and special features of this excellent Bible Companion. Join Chuck and Nehemiah now in rebuilding the walls of your life. And when times are tough, don t give up, just look to the Leader of all and say, Hand me another brick! Proverbs: Learning to Live Wisely William Mouser 10 studies each participant needs individual guidebook The book of Proverbs is the Bible s how-to manual. The proverbs teach us how to be successful and prosperous in our work, our dealings with family and friends, and our relationship with God. The direction and guidance they give us is practical, concrete, reasonable and fruitful. By reading Proverbs we discover the vital importance of learning to live wisely. Song of Solomon: God s Best for Love, Marriage, Sex, and Romance Tommy Nelson 11 Sessions - DVD We all have passion and a yearning for intimacy. God designed us this way. Whether you are single or married, how you handle your romantic relationships will change you for better or for worse. But God did not create these desires in us without also giving us the owner s manual for relationships. In fact, He gave us an entire book of the Bible which deals with all the aspects of love, marriage, sex, and romance. It s called the Song of Solomon. This study consists of minute sessions addressing the art of attraction, dating, courtship, intimacy, conflict, romance, and commitment. Tommy speaks directly and humorously on each of these issues. The material is designed for both individual and group study. Whether you are single, married, young or old, this study is for you. Life Application Bible Studies (Mark) Part 1 contains the complete text of Mark from the New Living Translation as well as study notes, covering background, history, geography, and culture, that are easy to use and understand. Part 1 also contains application notes that help you apply God s Word to your life, charts, maps, and profiles of Bible people that present biblical truths in unique and helpful ways. Part 2 has 13 ready to use lessons that stimulate thought, discussion, and practical life application. Study questions are thoughtfully arranged and are suitable for individual or group use. There is generous space for writing answers and special application questions to help you map out your personal action plan at the end of each lesson.

2 Mark: Follow Me James Hoover 20 studies in two parts each participant needs individual guidebook In the book of Mark we meet Jesus, the man who is King. He shatters our expectations. He comes to serve and not to be served. He eats with sinners rather than royalty. And his crown is made of thorns. This is the one who calls us to follow him. Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus come?

3 God, Are You There? (John) Kay Arthur 13 week study with day by day Bible study/reading. Each participant needs individual guidebook. Does He care? Does He know about you? What if God could give purpose and meaning to your life even if you or someone else has really messed it up? What if He could show you how to live today no matter what kind of situation you re in? What if He promised to always accept you and stand by you? If God could do all these things, you d want to get to know Him better, wouldn t you? This study challenges you to take God at His Word and see for yourself if you can rely on Him. This life-changing journey through the Gospel of John is an easy-to-use- quickstart if you re new to God s truth in the Bible and it s designed to work great for group study and discussion. You ll discover that He is there and He knows you, He s done everything to get you out of the mess you re in, He knows what will make you successful in life, and He ll never leave you. Ephesians: Wholeness for a Broken World Le Peau 11 studies each participant needs individual guide book Broken marriages, shattered friendships, racial division, war between nations we live in a fractured world. How can the pieces be put back together? In Ephesians, Paul lifts the veil from the future to allow us to see God s plan to unite everyone and everything in Christ. Studying this book will renew your hope. Freedom in Christ O Donnell, Galvin, Veerman, Barton This study of Galatians and Ephesians is from the Life Application Bible Studies. It has interesting questions, complete lesson format, the full text of the book you are studying, and the most extensive commentary available in a Bible-study booklet. Study notes, with background, history, geography, and culture. Application notes that help you apply God s Word to your life. Charts, maps, and profiles of Bible people that present biblical truths in unique and helpful ways. Thirteen ready to use lessons that stimulate thought, discussion, and practical life application. Study questions thoughtfully arranged and suitable for group u se. Application questions to help you map out your plan of action. Run the Race (Philippians) Hybels Life as a follower of Christ is not a fifty-yard dash. It s a marathon. God offers strength for the race, cold water to quench our thirst, and fresh legs when we grow weary. We never run alone. He is always right beside us cheering us on or ahead of us leading the way. Do you need energy and refreshment for the race of life? In Philippians, you will find all you need to run with strength and confidence. If you desire joy beyond measure, perseverance, a servant s heart, hope for the future, a peace beyond understanding, and lasting contentment, look no further than Philippians. Stand Strong (I Peter) Hybels The floodwaters of life are rising; the current races faster. You feel yourself slipping. You need a secure foothold now. We have all experienced the heart-pounding feeling of losing our stability in the storms of life. You will find a rock-solid basis for living in a precarious and uncertain world. God offers you hope, love, purpose, service, submission, and victory to anchor yourself to the bedrock of Jesus Christ to stand strong against the flood. Bill Bill Live Wisely (James) Bill

4 Hybels In the labyrinth of life, we need practical and clear directions for making wise, Christ-honoring decisions. Which way do we go at the crossroads left, right, straight, or backtrack? What instructions does God offer to guide us along the way? The book of James offers a wonderfully practical collection of wisdom. Build perseverance. Overcome destructive desires. Build confidence as a follower of Christ. James gives clear guidance. Do you need instruction on using your words for good, and growing as a person of Prayer? James has the answers along with how to on choosing wise paths through life s maze.

5 Revelation Unveiling the End Chuck Swindoll Revelation 1-5 As one of the most studied yet least understood book of the Bible, Revelation has captivated believers and unbelievers alike with its fascinating language, intriguing symbols, and heartening message. This book of prophetic visions serves as a roadmap for our ultimate destiny and cuts to the heart of our deepest yearnings and questions about life. Ultimately it unveils the central figure of Scripture in all His awesome glory Jesus Christ. This study will help you understand and apply some of the most relevant and challenging words from the opening chapter of this amazing book. Revelation: Unveiling the End Act 2 Chuck Swindoll The Earthly Drama - Revelation 6 13 Revelation. From the day of its writing, believers and unbelievers alike have been captivated by its symbols, intrigued by its language, and stirred by its message. As one of the most studied and least understood books of the Bible, Revelation has inspired art, music, and literature, as well as unparalleled controversy. Yet as a roadmap toward our ultimate destiny, this book of prophetic visions is profoundly applicable for us today. In Act 2, you will understand and apply some of the most relevant and challenging words from its chapters. Are you feeling hopeless? Fretting over the future? Questioning the purpose behind your struggles? This text cuts to the heart of our deepest yearnings and questions about life, unveiling the central figure of Scripture in all His awesome glory: Jesus Christ. Revelation: Unveiling the End-Act 3 Chuck Swindoll The Final Curtain - Rev Revelation. From the day of its writing, believers and unbelievers alike have been captivated by its symbols, intrigued by its language, and stirred by its message. As one of the most studied and least understood books of the Bible, Revelation has inspired art, music, and literature, as well as unparalleled controversy. Yet as a roadmap toward our ultimate destiny, this book of prophetic visions is profoundly applicable for us today. In Act 3, you will understand and apply some of the most relevant and challenging words from its chapters. Are you feeling hopeless? Fretting over the future? Questioning the purpose behind your struggles? This text cuts to the heart of our deepest yearnings and questions about life, unveiling the central figure of Scripture in all His awesome glory: Jesus Christ.

6 Character Studies Images of Christ Dale & Sandy Larsen 10 studies each participant needs individual guidebook Good Shepherd. Branch. Bridegroom. Cornerstone. There are many images of Christ in Scriptures. Some of these word-portraits are easier for us to grasp than others, but each reveals an important aspect of who Christ is. By helping us understand ten different images, these studies by Bible study experts Dale and Sandy Larsen lead us to the reality behind the images Christ himself in new and deeper ways. Why Jesus? David Nassar DVD, participants guide, leader guide 4 Sessions Culture is blurring the lines between different faiths. It is increasingly difficult for people to grasp how their faith in Jesus Christ is unique. In these four powerful sessions, David Nasser addresses the tough questions that people have about Jesus and points them back to the scriptural truths about our Savior. Filmed on location all throughout Israel and includes teaching from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Sea of Galilee, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives and the Mount of the Beatitudes. 1.What s the Big Deal about Jesus? (22 minutes) 2.Was Jesus God, or Just a Good Man? (14 minutes) 3.Were Jesus Miracles just an Illusion? (17 minutes) 4.Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven? (21 minutes)

7 Spiritual Formation/Discipleship Connect with Others: Sermon on the Mount Hybels The quality of our lives--our health, growth, happiness, even life itself hinges on our relationships. Jesus considered human relationships so vital that he dealt with them extensively in his most celebrated teacher. He painted a compelling portrait of how we are to conduct ourselves with each other and with a non-christian world. The six sessions in this book explore what Jesus has to say about mercy, peacemaking, authentic faith, healing, connection, lust versus love, truth-telling, judgmentalism, and other relational essentials. Connect with God: Sermon on the Mount Hybels Jesus laid out principles for a relationship with God that differed radically from anything people had ever heard. Making God s kingdom accessible not to the outwardly holy but to the inwardly hungry, Jesus challenged religious elitists who seemed to have their act together and brought hope to people who knew they didn t. Learn the importance of unpretentious prayer, faith, and giving. Find out Jesus prescription for worry. Discover what it means to live for God s approval only, and other secrets to cultivating a relationship with him that brings joy to you both. Downpour He will come to us like the rain Bill Bill James McDonald 12 Sessions DVD Are you spiritually dry and thirsty for more of God? The landscape of our lives has become dry and scorched. But heaven is bursting with the blessings God wants to rain down on us not a drizzle but a deluge. With its powerful call to revival, James MacDonald s study leads believers to lift up their eyes and return to the Lord. When we do, He will heal us revive us and restore us. That was the message God gave Hosea, and it s still true today. So if your church is thirsty for spiritual renewal, there s a downpour on the horizon. Essential Christianity Hybels 6 Sessions - Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth- Participants Guide Available THE ESSENTIALS OF FAITH YOU CAN BUILD A LIFE ON THEM. Like a house built on a firm foundation, the Christian faith is founded on some key, enduring truths. Do you know what they are? If not, you owe it to yourself to find out whether you re building your life and your eternity on solid ground. Essential Christianity is your invitation to spiritual discussion with others as you explore the basics of faith principles deeper and more far-reaching than you may have imagined. You ll learn what it means to really know Christ. You ll discover the secret to confident living, how to grow spiritually, how to handle your failures, how to follow Jesus in a world that s anything but devoted to Him, and the different ways God wants to guide you in the practical concerns of life. Getting Through the Tough Stuff Bill Chuck Swindoll Best used with each member having an individual workbook. Life is Tough. It s that simple. If you don t agree, you haven t lived long enough, because when we stop to think about the trials that life send our way, it s always something. Despite our deepseated and very natural desire for a trouble-free, happy, secure existence, Christians everywhere face family struggles, financial crises, debilitating diseases, and crushing disappointments. So what do you do when life gets so tough you think you can t endure another minute? Feeling

8 sandwiched between aging parents and teenagers? Stretched beyond your limits at work? Dazed and emotionally bruised by events in your family? This workbook offers special features including Getting to the Root, which explores biblical words and concepts, and Taking Truth to Heart, which guides you into personal reflection and application. Forgiveness: Making Peace with the Past Douglas Connelly 8 studies each participant needs individual guidebook Forgiveness is a door. It s the way to peace and joy. But it s a small door, and it can t be entered without stooping or kneeling. When we hurt the people we love, how do we go about restoring the relationship? When we suffer the pain of betrayal or injury or rejection from someone else, how do we deal with the anger and resentment we feel? This study guide will help us discover the biblical response.

9 Chase the Lion (stepping confidently into the unknown) Mark Batterson 6 sessions each participant needs individual guidebook Leader kit contains audio, video, and written tools to empower your small group members to change fear into opportunity by identifying the lions in their lives and engage them rather than run in fear (based on 2 Samuel 23:20). In a Christian culture built on passivity, lion-chasers are in short supply. No sensible person would confront something as risky as a lion, much less chase after it. But what if the life you really want, and the future God wants for you, I s hiding right now in your biggest problem, your worst failure, or your greatest fear? Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be those lions you didn t chase. You will look back longingly on risks not take, opportunities not seized, and dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what cares you the most, and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path. God, Are You There? Kay Arthur 13 week study with day by day Bible study/reading. Each participant needs individual guidebook. Does He care? Does He know about you? What if God could give purpose and meaning to your life even if you or someone else has really messed it up? What if He could show you how to live today no matter what kind of situation you re in? What if He promised to always accept you and stand by you? If God could do all these things, you d want to get to know Him better, wouldn t you? This study challenges you to take God at His Word and see for yourself if you can rely on Him. This life-changing journey through the Gospel of John is an easy-to-use- quickstart if you re new to God s truth in the Bible and it s designed to work great for group study and discussion. You ll discover that He is there and He knows you, He s done everything to get you out of the mess you re in, He knows what will make you successful in life, and He ll never leave you. Meeting the Spirit Douglas Connelly 10 studies each participant needs individual guide book Who is the Holy Spirit? How does he change our lives? How does he work in the world? This study will help you examine these and other critical questions. The Spirit of God is eager to work in your life and draw you to God. NOOMA (DVD & Discussion Guide) Rob Bell Jesus lived with the awareness that God is doing something, right here, right now, and anybody can be a part of it. He encouraged his listeners to search, to question, to wrestle with the implications of what he was saying and doing. He inspired, challenged, provoked, comforted, and invited people to be open our eyes and join in. NOOMA is a series of short films that explore our world from a perspective of Jesus. NOOMA is an invitation to search, question, and join the discussion. Rain 001 Rob Bell Things don t always work out the way we want them to, or the way we think they will. Sometimes we don t even see it coming. We get hit with some form of pain out of nowhere leaving us feeling desperate and helpless. That s the way life is. Still, it makes us wonder how God can let these things happen to us. How God can just stand by and watch us suffer. Where is God when it really hurts? Maybe God is actually closer to us than we think. Maybe it s when we re in these situations, where everything seems to be falling apart, that God gets an opportunity to remind us of how much he really loves us. Running time: Approx. 11 minutes. Flame 002 Rob Bell

10 I love those shoes. Really? The same way I love my wife? What s up with the word love? It doesn t have much meaning when we use it so loosely. Maybe we don t really get it. Maybe we don t understand what real love is. What it involves to really love somebody. What it means to give yourself to someone else. We mistake things like friendship, commitment, or lust for love, but God wired us a certain way to experience all that love was really meant to be. Not to hold us back or to make us miss out on the best that life has to offer. God created love, and wants us to feel it all in the way it s meant to be felt. Running time: Approx. 11 minutes. Tree 003 Rob Bell We want to know why we are here. If our lives really matter. How our religion is relevant to this life. Toady. We want to understand what significance this minute, hour, week, month, and year has to our lives. To our world. We need a God who cares about this life, in this world, right now. We want to understand why everything we think, everything we say, and everything we do matters. We don t want to just sit back and wait for something to happen or someday to come. We want to know if all the choices we make now will shape our world and lives for eternity. Because we want our lives to have meaning today, and our lives today to have meaning forever. Running time: Approx. 13 minutes. Sunday 004 Rob Bell Why do we do the things we do? Why do we go to church or give money away? Because we re supposed to or because we think God needs it? Do we honestly put on our best clothes for an hour once a week, stand and sit at all the right times, and sing all the appropriate songs for God s sake, or because it ll make us look better to the world around us? We re tired of all the empty rituals and routines. And so is God. God hates it when we call ourselves Christians but ignore all the things he really cares about. He hates it when we go through hollow religious routines out of some feeling of duty or obligation. God doesn t want the meaningless rituals. God wants our hearts. Running time: Approx. 12 minutes. Noise 005 Rob Bell Why is silence so hard to deal with? Why is it so much easier for us to live our lives with a lot of things going on all the time than to just be in silence? We re constantly surrounded with voices that are influencing us on how to think, feel, and behave. Movies, music, TV, Internet, cell phones, and a never-ending barrage of advertising. There s always something going on. Always noise in our lives. But maybe there s a connection between the amount of noise in our lives and our inability to hear God. If God sometimes feels distant to us, maybe it s not because he s not talking to us, but simply because we aren t really listening. Running time: Approx. 10 minutes. Kickball 006 Rob Bell We always think we know what s missing from our lives in order to really make us happy, don t we? If only I had that car, or that job, or if only I could lose those 15 lbs, then I d be happy. Really? How often do we want something only to find out that it wasn t that great after all? Sometimes we ask God for things and if he doesn t deliver right away, we start questioning whether God really understands or even cares. Do we really trust God? Do we trust that God is good and sees a bigger picture than we ever could? It s easy to want what s right in front of us, but maybe God knows what s better for us, and sometimes we just can t see it. Running time: Approx. 11 minutes.

11 Luggage 007 Rob Bell Maybe a friend turned his or her back on you. Maybe someone you loved betrayed you. We all have wounds and we end up carrying around these things that people have done to us for weeks, months, and sometimes even years. It isn t always easy to forgive these people and after a while these hurts can get really heavy. So the only way to feel better seems to be somehow getting back at the people that hurt us, to get revenge. But does revenge ever truly satisfy? Maybe forgiving isn t something you do for someone else to let them off the hook. Maybe forgiveness is about you. God didn t create you to carry these wounds around. God created you to be free. Running time: Approx. 13 minutes.

12 Dust 008 Rob Bell Believing in God is important, but what about God believing in us? Believing that we can actually be the kind of people we were meant to be. People of love, compassion, peace, forgiveness, and hope. People who try to do the right thing all of the time. Who act on the endless opportunities around us every day for good, beauty, and truth. It s easy for us to sometimes get down on ourselves. To feel not good enough or feel like we don t have what it takes. But maybe if we had more insight into the culture that Jesus grew up in and some of the radical things he did, we d understand the faith that God has in all of us. Running time: Approx. 14 minutes. Bullhorn 009 Rob Bell God loves everyone, so a Christian should, too. In fact, Jesus said that the most important thing in life is to love God with everything we ve got and love others the same way. But it s not always easy to love everyone around us, is it? Sometimes we strongly disagree with other people s political views, religious beliefs, behaviors, or something else, and it makes it hard to love them when we feel like we re right and they re very wrong. But Jesus doesn t separate loving God and loving others. So maybe the best way or us to show our love for God is actually by loving other people no matter how hard it sometimes is. Maybe it s the only way. Running time: Approx. 12 minutes. Lump 010 Rob Bell A lot of us have done things in our lives that we re ashamed of it. Some are small things, and some of us have really big and devastating things. Some of us even have things that people close to us don t know about. Personal junk that we keep to ourselves so we don t have to deal with it. Because we don t know how to deal with it, do we? We re afraid that if we try it s just going to make everything worse. But no matter how big our junk is, no matter how much what we ve done has impacted the way other people feel about us or how we feel about ourselves, it hasn t changed how God feels about us. God loves us, he always has and always will, and there s nothing we can do to change that. Running time: Approx. 12 minutes. Rhythm 011 Rob Bell What does it mean to have a relationship with God? What does it look like? For a lot of us it s a hard thing to fully understand. If God is an infinite spirit with no shape or form, how can we possibly relate to that? And what about Jesus? He said he came to give everyone life in its fullest. He came to show us how to live a life of truth, love, justice, compassion, forgiveness, and sacrifice that we have a relationship with God. Maybe the way we live every day, every single choice we make, determines how in tune with God we are. Running time: Approx. 12 minutes. Matthew 012 Rob Bell Suffering the loss of someone we love can be the most difficult thing in life to deal with. One moment we have them and the next they re gone. What are we supposed to do? How are we supposed to feel? The truth is, there s no certain way we re supposed to feel. Whatever we re feeling, it s okay. It s okay to feel shock, anger, denial, or whatever we may feel. It s okay. And if we don t feel anything at all, that s okay too. It s okay to have no answers and no explanations, because sometimes all the reasoning and comforting words in the world just aren t what we need. What might help us, however, is to understand how Jesus dealt with this kind of loss. Running time: Approx. 14 minutes.

13 Rich 013 Rob Bell There s a popular bumper sticker that reads God Bless America, but hasn t America already been blessed? It s easy for us to fall into a mindset of viewing our world as the world, because it s all we generally see. We re constantly bombarded with images of the latest styles and models of everything, and it can easily leave us feeling like what we have isn t enough because we see people that have even more than us. But how does what we have compare to what most people in the world have? Maybe what we have is enough; maybe it s more than enough. Maybe God has blessed us with everything we have so we can bless and give to others. Running time: Approx. 12 minutes. Breathe 014 Rob Bell With everything that we ve got going on every day, how many of us ever think about our breathing, about the meaning of breathing? Yet, for thousands of years, people have understood that our physical breath is a picture of a deeper spiritual reality. In the Bible, the word for breath is the same as the word for spirit. There s an inherent dilemma at the core of what makes us human. We ve all been created in the image of God and possess immense power and strength. And at the same time our lives are incredibly vulnerable and fragile. Maybe if we had more insight into the meaning of breathing, we would better understand how God created us as human beings. Running time: Approx. 14 minutes. You 015 Rob Bell Some of the central claims of the Christian faith are the source of many discussions and heated debates. But are we always debating the right things? Maybe some of our discussions would change significantly if we had more insight into the actual circumstances that surrounded the first people of the Christian movement if we had a better understanding of the things they did in the context of the world they lived in. Maybe some of the claims of the Christian faith that we typically perceive to be unique aren t really that special at all. And at the same time maybe we don t always put enough emphasis on the things that truly should matter in our lives. Running time: Approx. 13 minutes. Store 016 Rob Bell We all get angry about things from time to time some of us more often than others. For some of us, it feels like we re constantly on the brink of losing it, where it doesn t take much to get angry about anything. And this kind of anger can be seen everywhere we go at work, in traffic, at the store, at home. But what is really at its root? Anger is often looked at as a bad thing, but are there things actually worth getting angry about? Maybe if we had a better understanding of our anger and where it comes from, we can learn how to channel it toward something constructive something that s bigger than ourselves. Running time: Approx. 14 minutes. Today 017 Rob Bell How much time and energy do we spend wishing things were how they used to be? We often think about times in our past when things were different and want our lives to be like that again. Some of us have even come to believe that our best days may actually be behind us. But if we re in some way hung up on the past, what does that mean for our lives now? How are we and those around us affected, if we re not fully present? If we re longing for the way things used to be, what does that really say about our understanding and appreciation of our lives today? Maybe we need to learn to embrace our past for what it is, in order to live our lives to the fullest, right here, right now.

14 Running time: Approx. 11 minutes. Name 018 Rob Bell We all compare ourselves to others. We spend our lives wondering what others think and say about us. Some of us even wish we were someone else. We question why we are the way we are and not the way we wish we could be. Some of us have let the expectations of others dictate who we ve become. We act a certain way to be accepted but know that we re being untrue. But why are we so concerned with what other people think, say, or look like? What does it say about us if we are unable to accept who we are? Maybe if we really knew our true selves, we wouldn t give so much attention to other peoples lives and live more in tune with the life God wants for us. Running time: Approx. 11 minutes.

15 Open 019 Rob Bell Many of us have experienced situations where we ve prayed and it felt like God wasn t listening. And yet other times we ve prayed or known someone that prayed and the situation changed. Does God answer prayer? Sometimes but not all the time? Or does God always answer prayer and it s just that sometimes God says no? Some of us are angry with God for not answering the prayers we ve prayed for years. Why did he answer their prayer but not ours? What if there s more to prayer than just God listening and answering? Maybe if we understood how Jesus prayed, our concepts and expectations of prayer would change. Running time: Approx. 12 minutes. Shells 020 Rob Bell Do you often find yourself saying, I m so busy or I just have so much to do? It s easy to get overwhelmed with appointments, gatherings, to-do lists. But what are we really doing with our time? Many of us are running from place to place and it seems like life is just passing us by. We re doing so many things, a little bit of everything, and yet it doesn t feel like much of a life. But most of us find it hard to say no. We feel obligated. There are so many good things to do. So many good causes to join. But while we re busy doing all these good things, are we missing out on something great? Maybe saying no would be easier if we knew what it meant to say yes. Running time: Approx. 11 minutes. She 021 Rob Bell We didn t have anything to do with our birth. We are all here because some woman somewhere gave us life. Her pain, her effort, for our life. And when a mother gives like that to a child, she is showing us what God is like. But sometimes this part of God s nature is overlooked. A lot of us are comfortable with male imagery for God. But what about female imagery for God? Is God limited to a gender? Or does God transcend and yet include what we know as male and female? Maybe if we were more aware of the feminine imagery for God we would have a better understanding of who God is and what God is like. Running time: Approx. 13 minutes. Tomato 022 Rob Bell We all get consumed with ourselves; sometimes we re not even aware of it. We learn from a young age that life is about winning and impressing. We pick up that our worth and value come from how good, how smart, and how skilled we are. So, we twist things in our favor, making us look like we have it all together. Every day we have the choice to prop up these false ideas about ourselves or to let go of them. Jesus invites these parts of us to die, the parts of us that tell us our worth comes from the things we say and do. Maybe it s only when we let these things die, that we truly begin to live. Running time: Approx. 13 minutes. Corner 023 Rob Bell Why is it that often when we get what we want, we still feel empty? We work so hard to succeed, but our lives just end up becoming more about us. Can success turn on us? Can we get caught up in a smaller world where our lives are all about the things that we want? Or is there another way to live? Where life is about more than just us. Where we see people in need and we do something about it. Where our world is expanding because we are sharing our success. And maybe in attempting to save someone else from their suffering, we find out that we are actually the ones being saved. Running time: Approx. 11 minutes.

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17 Whirlwind 024 Rob Bell A lot of us have gone through times in our lives that are difficult. Some have been small and hard to understand and some have been big and overwhelming. During these times we want answers, don t we? We want to know why. Why do we have to suffer? Why do bad things happen to good people? We just want someone to make sense of it all. But we don t always get the answers, do we? Sometimes we are left wondering. And those can be some of the most difficult times. Maybe there are times we need to be released from having to have all the answers. Any maybe it s when we re released that we are able to see there may be more going on here than we realize. Running time: Approx. 12 minutes. Prodigal Perspectives Chris Seay DVD, participants guidebook, leaders guidebook 3 Sessions Guilt, shame, entitlement, bitterness, grief-stricken our relationships with others surface a variety of feelings. In these three sessions, viewers will experience unique perspectives from the Prodigal Son story in the Bible through the eyes of the younger son, the elder son and the father as performed in separate, dramatic films by professional actor/writer, Jason Hildebrand. Session 1: The Younger Son (13 minutes) Session 2: The Elder Son (11 minutes) Session 3: The Father (16 minutes) After each short film, Chris Seay will walk us through the Scripture helping us to understand how jealousy, selfishness and forgiveness effect our own lives and relationships. So, You Want to Be Like Christ? Chuck Swindoll Best used with each member having an individual workbook. Remember when you were a new believer in Christ, and your love was simple, your devotion pure, your passion blazing, and your eternal hope high? Do your friends have a marvelous idea about how godly you are, when in truth you fell stagnant and frustrated? Returning to a deep, intimate relationship with the Lord can be achieved with the help of these essential spiritual disciplines: intimacy, simplicity, silence and solitude, surrender, prayer, humility, self-control, and sacrifice. Spiritual Friendship Mindy Caliguire We are tired. Many of us long for sources of nurture for our weary souls, but we don t know where to turn. We ve tried various Christian plans for growth, yet sometimes these programs leave us even more drained and frustrated. Interestingly, the answer can be found in our everyday lives: ordinary relationships can restore life and health to our depleted souls. So why do we resist intimacy with others if it s part of our soul s architecture? Because people also cause us pain. Four experiences are covered, each in 5 parts, which can be daily readings in each of 4 weeks.! A Source of Spiritual Power! Barriers to Soul Friendship! Forging a Soul Friendship! Going Deeper Starting Point: Find Your Place in the Story Louie Giglio (Media kit & individual workbooks) A conversational environment where people can explore faith and experience community. In

18 preparation for each group meeting, there will be a chapter to read and a few questions to answer in this conversation guide. Each chapter contains four components:! The Story Unfolds: narrative introduction! The Story Behind the Story: key Scripture text! Tensions in the Story: thought-provoking questions! Continuing the Story: additional resources There are audio, video, or other experiential components to do each week. Discussion and dialogue will be a priority of group meetings. The Three Habits of Highly Contagious Christians Garry Poole The three sessions included in this guide have been specifically designed to sharpen your thinking about reaching out to seekers for Christ and to ignite your heart to do it. Living an intentionally contagious Christian life really matters! It is, without a doubt, worth all the effort and risks involved. This study will equip and inspire you to make an eternal impact through: 1. Building relationships with seekers 2. Sharing a verbal witness with seekers 3. Bringing seekers to outreach events, services, and small groups You will discuss effective ways to make a difference in the lives of people you know. Few things in life are as important as implementing the habits to become highly contagious. The Great Omission Dallas Willard The last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call for Christians to make disciples of all the nations. But Christians have responded by making Christians, not disciples. This, according to brilliant scholar and renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church s Great Omission. Willard boldly challenges the thought that we can be Christians without being disciples, or call ourselves Christians without applying this understanding of life in the Kingdom of God to every aspect of life on earth. He calls on believers to restore what should be the heart of Christianity being active disciples of Jesus Christ. Willard shows us that in the school of life, we are apprentices of the Teacher whose brilliance encourages us to rise above traditional church understanding and embrace the true meaning of discipleship an active, concrete, 24/7 life with Jesus.

19 Topical-Other Faith Under Fire Lee Strobel Does the Christian faith stand up to scrutiny tough scrutiny? How credible is the Bible and how seriously should you take it? Can you entrust your eternity to its message? Based on Lee Strobel s provocative national TV program of the same name, Faith Under Fire, features fascinating debates and riveting interviews with Christians, atheists, Muslims, and proponents of other faiths as they tackle today s hottest spiritual topics., Interviewer and facilitator Lee Strobel concludes each session by offering his own perspective. Faith Under Fire - Faith and Facts Participants Guide Available -- 4 Sessions on the Bible, Heaven, Hell, and Science 1. Is the Bible Bogus? Michael Shermer, Ben Witherington III 2. Is Heaven Real? Randy Alcorn 3. Hell: Fact or Fiction? Gary Amirault, Jerry Walls 4. Does Sceince Point to a Creator? Michael Shermer, Stephen Meyer Faith Under Fire - Tough Faith Questions Participants Guide Available-4 Sessions on Forgiveness, Pain and Suffering, the Trinity, Islam 1. Is Anything Beyond Forgiveness? Henry Cloud, Father Frank Pavone 2. Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering? Julia Sweeney, Craig Detweiler 3. The Mystery of the Trinity? Rabbi Tovia Singer, William Lane Craig 4. Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God? Deborah Caldwell, Ergun Caner, Hesham A. Hassaballa Conversation Peace Mary Kassian Have you ever left a conversation feeling like shredded wheat? Stuck your foot in your mouth? Been at a loss for words? Had difficulty getting your point across? Or been talked into doing something you didn t want to do? Do you suspect that your speech patterns are hindering your relationships? If you re the type that can t resist sharing gossip, negativism, or sarcasm, this study will revolutionize your speech habits and improve your relationships. Let God s Word change you from the inside out!! Discover seven powerful speech-transforming elements! Master the skills of effective communicators! Strengthen your vocabulary with Words from the Word! Freshen Your Breath with weekly Scripture memory Just Walk Across the Room Hybels (DVD, hardback book, and consumable participants guide) This natural and empowering approach to evangelism is modeled after Jesus himself. This dynamic four-week experience will equip and inspire you to follow his lead by taking simple walks across rooms to extend care, compassion, and inclusiveness to people who might need a touch of God s love today. Discover how to partner with the Holy Spirit in a way that allows him to accomplish his kingdom-building activity through you. You can make the difference of an eternity for someone standing near you. This is something you can do, and it all begins with a simple walk across the room. Bill

20 Keep Climbing Todd Phillips DVD, participants guide, leaders guide 4 sessions Why doesn t God take away our hardships? Why doesn t God give us what we think we need when we re in the middle of difficult situations? There are times when we wish God would just flatten the mountain and get rid of the problem. It s natural to beg that He take the hardship away or to plead for immediate answers. It is in trials where our faith is shaken and we re forced to abandon our comfort zones. When we re torn from that security, we can realize our trust must be found completely in Christ. As we learn to trust and depend on God, regardless of our circumstances and feelings, we start looking a little more like Him each day. Our prayers to God aren t so much about what He will do for us, but about His presence. He knows us best and wants us to get to know him better. That s why He s called us to keep climbing, even in the terrifying storms of life, and to continue in what we know is truth. (Filmed in Russia on Mount Elbrus, Todd uses a perilous trek as a backdrop to explore how God works with us through the challenges in our lives.) The Parables of Jesus Williams Matt DVD and participants guidebook 6 Sessions Jesus communicated deep spiritual truths through simple, vivid, and engaging stories. Woven from the stuff of everyday life, the parables of Jesus made the kingdom of God understandable and accessible to his listeners. In six engaging, interactive small group sessions, this Deeper Connections DVD will give you new insights into his parables and their meanings that will help you to appreciate more fully their relevance for your own life. The Ever-Loving Truth Voddie Baucham DVD and participants guidebook God s Word commands believers to contend for the Christian faith. In today s culture. that may mean doing battle in the marketplace of ideas. In The Ever Loving Truth, Bible teacher Voddie Baucham arms believers for the battle. Through this inductive Bible study participants will discover God s answers to questions like these: Does truth exist? We have our faith should we try to convince people that ours is right? While we believe the Bible, other people believe their holy book. Who can say that ours is correct? Who is Jesus? What are the implications of our beliefs about Him? Participants will learn how to defend and share the truth. Staying on the conviction that the truth must not be compromised, participants will be ready to contend for the faith in today s diverse and sometimes hostile marketplace of ideas. Fearless ~ Imagine Your Life Without Fear Max Lucado DVD and participants guidebook - $10 6 Sessions Each sunrise seems to bring fresh reasons for fear. They re talking layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East, and upswings in global worming. But what if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, and doubt, what would remain? Ludaco s timely book, Fearless, addresses these questions and more, taking an honest and hopeful look at what can happen when fear meets faith.

21 Prayer When God s People Pray Jim Cymbala DVD and individual participants guide book Prayer can change lives and circumstances like nothing else can. 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 When God s People Pray, Jim Cymbala, pastor of the 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. Featuring teachings by Jim Cymbala and video interviews of ordinary people who have received extraordinary answers to their prayers, these six sessions will help you pray with new confidence.

22 Relationships/Marriage Love, Sex, & Lasting Relationships: God s Prescription for Enhancing Your Love Life Chip Ingram The pursuit of true love is everywhere you look! So why is true love so elusive? What does real love look life? In this 10 part small group curriculum, you ll discover that there is a better way to find love, stay in love, and grow in intimacy for a lifetime. Chip Ingram unpacks Ephesians Chapter 5 and delivers to us God s prescription for building relationships that last a lifetime. Preparing for Marriage Boehi, Nelson, Schulte & Shadrach The study includes six fun, romantic sessions and five special projects that will prepare you as a couple for a loving, lasting marriage firmly established in your Lord Jesus Christ. Best studied with both engaged/serious man and engaged/serious woman having personal copies. Refrigerator Rights Dr. Will Miller and Dr. Glenn Sparks How many people in your life right now have refrigerator rights in your home free access to the refrigerator? How many of the people you encounter every day see you unshaven or without makeup? How many people do you live life with? The premise of this book study is that modern life has been profoundly affected by the loss of refrigerator rights relationships. Lost through increased mobility, heavy social emphasis on individualism, and emotionally numbing distractions. This book aims to show the connection between our loss of intimacy with people in our lives and the stress and disconnection that we feel in everyday life. This book is for all people who sense a gap between their level of personal and career achievement and their sense of inner peace and contentment. Song of Solomon: God s Best for Love, Marriage, Sex, and Romance Tommy Nelson 11 Sessions We all have passion and a yearning for intimacy. God designed us this way. Whether you are single or married, how you handle your romantic relationships will change you for better or for worse. But God did not create these desires in us without also giving us the owner s manual for relationships. In fact, He gave us an entire book of the Bible which deals with all the aspects of love, marriage, sex, and romance. It s called the Song of Solomon. This study consists of minute sessions which address the art of attraction, dating, courtship, intimacy, conflict, romance, and commitment. Tommy speaks directly and humorously on each of these issues. The material is designed for both individual and group study. Whether you are single, married, young of old, this study is for you. The Five Love Languages Gary Chapman He sends you flowers when what you really want is time to talk. She gives you a hug when you really need is a home-cooked meal. What speaks volumes to you may be meaningless to your spouse. But here, at last, is the key to understanding each other s unique needs. Apply the right principles, learn the right language, and soon you ll know the profound satisfaction and of being able to express your love and feeling truly loved in return. Sex What s God Got to Do With It? Rick Richardson

23 6 Sessions Participants Guide Available Perhaps you ve thought or heard statements like these: God doesn t like sex. Christianity is sexually repressive and oppressive toward women and gays. Here s an opportunity to explore what the Bible actually says about sexuality. The key questions in this guide are: Is God against sex and pleasure? Is there help for sexual mistakes and regrets? Is there healing for sexual hurts? Is there hope for sexual struggles? Is premarital sex wrong if you care for the person? How do I find sexual integrity and fulfillment? You may be surprised at what you discover. Boundaries in Marriage Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend Only when a husband and wife know and respect each other s needs, choices, and freedom can they give themselves freely and lovingly to one another. This study gives the couples in your group the tools they need. By applying the powerful biblical and relational principles presented, couples can make a good marriage better and even save one that s headed for disaster. This kit maximizes interaction, support, and insights within your group and minimizes the preparation required of you as leader. Exercises and activities in each of the eight sessions help partners connect principles with marriage-strengthening application. This study will move couples to mutual care, respect, affirmation, and intimacy. Building Teamwork in Your Marriage 6 Sessions David Sunde (HomeBuilders Series) Men and women are different. Sometimes these differences can bring tension to a marriage. The good news is that by using biblical teamwork principles, couples can use these differences to make their marriage thrive. Solid Biblical instruction and convenient individual workbooks make this study a necessity for married couples in small groups. Together with other couples, you and your spouse will learn how to! Understand and appreciate one another more! Explore what the Bible has to say about the responsibilities and responses husbands and wives are called to! Build respect and sensitivity toward one another! Learn principles for using differences to grow closer and become a team Building your Marriage Dennis Rainey (HomeBuilders Series) 7 Sessions Workbook This study is designed to bring husbands and wives closer to each other, closer to God, and closer to other couples. You will study God s Word, share in your challenges and successes and build a marriage that will last. Together with other couples, you and your spouse will learn how to! Increase intimacy and rekindle romance! Grow together spiritually! Develop meaningful friendships with other couples! Learn to apply biblical truths to your marriage! Understand and appreciate each other even more