Bible Studies and Group StudiesHello! The studies listed below are recommended as studies that would be great to do in a group. These studies can be purchased on-line at www.christianbooks.com or www.amazon.com or can be found at your local Christian bookstore. For question or other suggestions of studies please contact Jessica Konker jkonker@mandarinpres.com

Choosing a study

When you are considering what to study select a topic and format that will meet the needs and interests of the majority. If you are studying a book of the Bible you may want to discuss which book they are most interested in. The Gospel of Mark is a good place to learn more about the person and works of Christ if you are new to studying. Shorter New Testament epistles such as Galatians, Ephesians, Thessalonians, Philippians, Colossians, James and the letters of Peter, are also good choices. Old Testament books such as Joshua, Ruth, 1 Samuel, Nehemiah, Amos and Jonah are another good place to start. You can consider studying a character such as Abraham, or Esther or you might study a specific topic. Feel free to shorten or adjust studies to your groups time frame.

Studies for Starting a Small Group

Small Group Starter Kit By: Jeffrey Arnold Want to build significant relationships, grow in your knowledge and understanding of Scripture, and learn how to reach out to others? But you don't know where to begin? This easy-to-use guide gives you everything you need for the first meetings of a small group. Getting acquainted, setting expectations, studying Scripture -- it's all here in a step-by-step format that's sure to get you started on the right foot. 6 Studies for new groups.

One Anothering, vol.1: Biblical Building Blocks for Small Groups By: Richard C. Meyer

The One Anothering series for small groups is a set of practical guides that encourage groups to explore one another's differing views and unique gifts. Each chapter includes a study based on the "one another" verse, a discussion and sharing format, and prayer suggestions. Volume 1 includes eleven sessions, based on such themes as "love one another," "bear one another's burdens," "submit to one another," and "encourage one another." Includes guidelines and basic considerations for group formation. If you like this checkout One Anothering Volume 2 and 3.

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Video Studies

These video studies will provide a great teaching tool for your small group. Make sure you purchase the small group DVD (not the entire curriculum as this is pricey) and take note that some come with participant or leader’s guides and others must be purchased separately. You can decide if you want everyone to get a participant’s guide or not.

The Me I Want to Be, By: John Ortberg Purchase DVD and Participant’s GuideBecoming God's Best Version of You Join bestselling author and pastor John Ortberg as he guides you to discover spiritual vitality like never before. John will challenge you to go deeper and grow stronger in your spiritual walk as you experience God more fully each day.

God Is Closer Than You Think, by John Ortberg

Purchase DVD and participant’s guideIn this DVD, Ortberg is your teacher in six sessions that will help your group experience the intimacy you long for with God--and that he longs to have with you. Also included is a complete Leader's Guide with complete, step-by-step instructions and tips that will equip you, the leader to facilitate each session with ease. Approx. 90 minutes.

When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box: Six Sessions on Living Life in the Light of Eternity by John Ortber

Purchase DVD, and participant’s guideLife is like a game. It moves towards a goal, has rules to follow, and won't go on forever. John Ortberg explains how to play the game of life in When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box. Rather than

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striving to be Master of the Board, Ortberg reminds us that the object of life is to be rich towards God---loving Him and loving others. Everything else---your possessions, your resume, your money, your power---will all go back in the box when your life is over. Learn how to play the game, recognize hazards along the way, and collect eternal trophies when you follow Ortberg's kingdom-based strategy!

The Life You've Always Wanted By: John Ortberg

Purchase Small Group DVD and Participant’s Guide (also we have this at the church if you want to borrow it)In this six-session small group DVD curriculum, award-winning author John Ortberg teaches participants the skills essential to "running the marathon" in the Christian life: slowing down, celebrating joy, practicing prayer, studying Scripture, and trusting God. Running time of each session, approx 15 minutes.

The Divine Conspiracy: Jesus' Master Class for Life PackBy: Dallas Willard

purchase pack included is DVD and Participant’s Guide

Dallas Willard now offers a new six-session DVD study and participant's guide---a timely and challenging call back to the true meaning of Christian discipleship. Based on the Sermon on the Mount, the author calls Christians into a more authentic faith and then offers a practical plan by which we can answer the call.

Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything by Timothy KellerPurchase DVD and participant’s guide Join author and pastor Timothy Keller in an eight-week video-based study of the gospel and how to live it out in everyday life. In week one you and your group will study the city, your home now, the world that is. Week eight closes with the theme of the eternal city, your heavenly home, the world that is to come. In between you'll learn how the gospel can change your heart, your community, and how you live in this world. The Gospel in Life Participant's Guide is designed to help you and your group engage with and discuss the topics presented on the Gospel in Life DVD.

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When God's Spirit Moves: Six Sessions on the Life Changing Power of the Holy Spirit Pack

By Jim Cymbala

Purchase DVD and Participant’s GuidePastor and bestselling author Jim Cymbala shows you how to welcome God's Spirit in a way that can invigorate your church and infuse a fresh sense of his power in your life.

Christian Book Distributor’s DVD study packs include everything you need to lead: 1 DVD with Leader's Guide, and 1 Participant's Guide. Order additional Participant's Guides

for each member in your group.

Sacred Marriage, By: Gary L. Thomas

Purchase DVD and participant’s guideWhat if God designed marriage to make us holy and not just happy? In this 6-week DVD curriculum, Gary Thomas helps you understand the Lord's intention for matrimony. Discover how respecting your partner, forgiving and accepting forgiveness, engaging in intimacy, and building a history with your spouse can release the nature of Christ in your life! Includes leader's guide. A Focus on the Family Recommendation.

The 5 Love Languages, By: Gary Chapman Purchase DVD and participant’s guideAffirming words, quality time, giving gifts, serving, physical touching---these five special ways of "speaking" will get your new marriage off to a great start or enhance the emotional climate of a long-standing one! Dr. Gary Chapman explains the purpose of each "language" and shows you how to identify the one that is most meaningful to your spouse. Approx. 65 minutes.

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When God's People Pray By: Jim Cymbala

Purchase DVD and Participant’s Guide

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 this DVD, 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. This wonderful teaching on the transforming power of prayer is divided into six sessions of approximately 15 minutes each.

Jesus Among Other Gods DVD SeriesBy: Ravi Zacharias

In a world with so many religions - why Jesus? In his most important work to date, Ravi Zacharias shows how the blueprint for life and death itself is found in a true

understanding of Jesus. With a simple, yet penetrating style, Ravi uses rich illustrations to celebrate the power of Jesus Christ to transform lives. With four 15-24 minute powerful segments and dramatic footage shot in 14 different countries, Jesus Among Other Gods contrasts the truth of Jesus with founders of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, strengthening believers and compelling them to share their faith with our

postmodern world. Purchase includes Jesus Among Other Gods Leader's Guide .

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Small Group Leader KitBy: Peter ScazzeroBegin the journey of applying the profound biblical truths found in EMotionally Healthy Spirituality. Eight studies take you beyond merely reading about emotional health and contemplative spirituality to introduce you to a life with God that goes beyond "tip of the iceberg spirituality".

The Leader Pack includes the same as the Member Pack:

One Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Workbook for individual or group use One Daily Office devotional One Emotionally Healthy Spirituality DVD which contains Introductions for the

eight sessions, and Guidelines for Leaders of Small Groups or Sunday School classes.

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Reason for God Pack, Includes One DVD and One Discussion GuideBy: Timothy Keller

In the New York Times bestselling book The Reason for God, Timothy Keller established himself as a modern-day C. S. Lewis who brings together faith and intellect, theology and popular culture, modern-day objections and historic Christian beliefs. Now fans of the book will find resources to help them engage with those same objections, drawing on recent scholarship and debates. The Reason for God curriculum can be used individually, in groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don't share his or her beliefs. Christians will be challenged to wrestle with their friends and neighbors' hardest questions, and to engage those questions in ways that will spark an honest, enriching, and humbling dialogue. The Reason for God DVD captures a live and unscripted conversation between Timothy Keller and six panelists discussing their objections to Christianity.

Who Is This Man? Participant's Guide with DVD: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable JesusBy: John Ortberg He is history's most familiar figure. His impact on the world is immense and non-accidental. From the Dark Ages to Post-Modernity he is the man who won't go away. And yet ... He did not brashly defend his movement in the spirit of a rising political or military leader. He did not lay out a case that history would judge superior in all future books. He did not start by telling his disciples, 'Here are proofs of my divinity; affirm them and I'll accept you.' In Who Is This Man?, a five-session video-based study, Ortberg shows how Jesus' influence has swept over history, bringing his inspiration to the evolution of art, science, government, medicine, and education. And how his vision for us to lead lives of dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope continues to inspire and challenge humanity today. The Who Is This Man? curriculum pack contains one Who Is This Man? DVD and one Who Is This Man? Participant's Guide.

What's So Amazing About Grace? DVD & Participant's GuideBy Philip Yancey

If you want to know how amazing grace really is, take a good look at the broken world it heals. In this ten-session small group DVD curriculum, award winning author Philip Yancey takes you and your study group for interactive, gut-level encounters with radical, life-changing grace. Includes interviews with Tony Campolo, Patricia Raybon, Ann Spangler,

Debbie Morris, Lewis Smedes, and Mel White. Approx. 140 minutes. 1.

The Path to the Cross, Vol. 11: DVD & Leader's Guide

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Ray Vander LaanThe Path to the Cross, Vol. 11: DVD & Leader's GuideBy: Ray Vander Laan

The desert wanderings of the Hebrew people provide a context for better understanding God's great redemptive plan and the life and ministry of Jesus. Some of those will be the focus of your study here so that you will be able to start shaping a picture of Jesus and his world in light of the exodus. See how the Essenes and John the Baptist are linked to the desert experiences; follow Jesus into the desert where he, like Israel, was tested and prepared for his mission to the world; and consider the events of the Last Supper and the night of watching in Gethsemane against the backdrop of

the exodus experience.

Promised Land Discovery Guide: 5 Faith LessonsAuthor (Vander Laan, Ray) Filmed on location in Israel, Faith Lessons is a unique video series that brings God's Word to life with astounding relevance. By weaving together the Bible's fascinating historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan reveals keen insights into the Scriptures' significance for modern believers. These illuminating 'faith lessons' afford a new understanding of the Bible that will ground your convictions and transform your life. The Faith Lessons video series is ideal for use at home, especially in personal and family Bible studies. Individual believers and families will gain vital insights from long-ago times and cultures through this innovative approach to Bible study. The five sessions include: 1. Standing at the Crossroads2. Wet Feet3. First Fruits 4. Confronting Evil5. Iron of Culture5 sessions; 1 DVD with leader's guide, 110 minutes (approximate).

Prophets & Kings Discovery Guide: 6 Faith LessonsAuthor (Vander Laan, Ray) Filmed on location in Israel, Faith Lessons is a unique video series that brings God's Word to life with astounding relevance. By weaving together the Bible's fascinating historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan reveals keen insights into the Scriptures' significance for modern believers. These illuminating 'faith lessons' afford a new understanding of the Bible that will ground your convictions and transform your life. The Faith Lessons video series is ideal for use at home, especially in personal and family Bible studies. Individual believers and families will gain vital insights from long-ago times and cultures through this innovative approach to Bible study. The six sessions

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include: 1. Innocent Blood -- Part 12. Inncoent Blood -- Part 23. Who is God? 4. Wages of Sin5. The Lord is My Shepherd6. God with Us6 sessions; 1 DVD with leader's guide, 110 minutes (approximate).

The Story: Getting to the Heart of God's Story By: Randy Frazee,

Purchase DVD and Study Guide To understand the Bible, says author and pastor Randy Frazee, you need bifocal lenses, because two perspectives are involved. The

Lower Story, our story, is actually many stories of men and women interacting with God in the daily course of life. The Upper Story is God's story, the tale of his great, overarching purpose that fits all the individual stories together like panels in one unified mural. Bestselling author Max Lucado also adds some introductory insights. Through these 31 video sessions, The Story DVD curriculum will open your eyes to God's master-plan as it unfolds in the lives of the Bible's characters.

The Case for Christ, DVDBy: Lee Strobel, Garry Poole

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. 6 sessions; 1 DVD with leader's guide, 90 minutes (approximate). A Case for Christ participant's guide also available separately. If you like this also check out The Case for Easter and The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel.

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You Matter More Than you Think: Leader's Guide by Leslie Parrot

The church owns the DVD and study guides if you would like to borrow them

Do you wonder if your life makes a difference in this world? Do you think you should be a clone of Mother Teresa or a replica of Catherine Booth or at least more like the woman down the street? The truth is, God created each of us as an original. Gold Medallion Award-winning author Dr. Leslie Parrott believes that whether you know it or not, you are already making a distinctive difference by the life you live. In this book she helps you see that the more you understand the difference you are making, the bigger that difference will be. 6 session on 2 DVDs.

Hearing God (DVD): Developing a Conversational Relationship with GodBy: Dallas Willard, Richard J. Foster, John Ortberg

How do we hear God's voice? How can we be sure that what we think we hear is not our own subconscious? What role does the Bible play? What if what God says to us is not clear? The key, says best-selling author Dallas Willard, is to focus not so much on individual actions and decisions as on building our personal relationship with our Creator. In this DVD you and your group can listen in as John Ortberg and Richard Foster dialogue with Dallas Willard on the themes of his beloved classic book, Hearing God. A small group discussion guide is also included, making it easy for group leaders to lead discussion after the video. Read the book together, and then bring Ortberg, Foster and Willard to your next meeting. You might be surprised at what you hear when you really start listening to God in community.

Your Time-Starved Marriage, Groupware DVDBy: Dr. Les Parrott, Dr. Leslie Parrott

Do you feel overscheduled and underconnected? Would you love to bring back the rest and recreation you both crave? Do you wish there was a surefire way to create more meaningful time together each day? Reclaim your time together and all the relational benefits that go with it. This small group DVD curriculum by relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott gives you the tools you need to stay connected as a couple and make every moment together count. Your Time Starved Marriage small group DVD kit includes: Your Time-Starved Marriage DVD-ROM (includes 6 video sessions) and the 32-page Leader's Guide.

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Fathered by God Small Group Video Series Author (Eldredge, John) "New York Times" best-selling author John Eldredge unveils six stages men must complete to become who God designed them to be.

Using a men's small group setting, John takes users through six stages a man goes through as he matures in life and faith, sharing insights and teachings on how each stage can be encouraged and supported. Each session includes a 3-6 minute opening from John followed by 15-20 minutes of a men's small group, led by John, in a "Band of Brothers" way.

Inspiring and challenging for men and the women in their lives, the "Fathered by God Small Group Video Series "delivers a way to forge companionship with God the Father while undergoing a transformation, releasing the fullness of life and the passion God designed them to live.

"The Fathered by God Small Group Video Series "includes:

1 DVD of 8 group sessions

Study Guides

These guides contain questions for you to answer together as you study Scripture and go deeper in your faith. They are listed in alphabetical order. Some are books, but others are just guides to help you in Bible study.

1 & 2 Thessalonians: 8 Studies for Individuals and GroupsAuthor (Wright, N. T.)Study Scripture with N.T. Wright! First impressions stick with us. Paul's first impression of the Thessalonian Christians was an especially powerful one: The gospel message he preached grasped their hearts and minds, and transformed their lives. The memory moves Paul to write to the young church that's bubbling with a sense of the power of the living God. These studies seek to open our lives to that God who leaves a lasting impression also on us.

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1 & 2 Thessalonians: How Can I Be Sure?Author (Baker, Donald) These 11 studies on the Epistles of 1 and 2 Thessalonians are part of LifeGuide, a popular line of Bible study guides which provide solid biblical content and raise thought-provoking issues in an easy-to-lead format.

1 & 2 Thessalonians: Living in the End TimesAuthor (Stott, John R. W.)

In Paul's letters to the Thessalonians, even though Paul is sending corrections and instructions like in other letters, he also loves them, is anxiously concerned for their welfare, begs them to stand firm, teaches them, and prays for them constantly like the pastor he is. They also contain some of the most important New Testament passages about eschatology, the culmination of all things.

1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: 12 Studies for Individuals and GroupsAuthor (Wright, N. T.)

Study Scripture with N.T. Wright! When you need to know how to do something, a manuel is the best place to start. 1&2 Timothy and Titus might be called "the Teacher's Manuel," because so much of what they contain is about the kind of teaching that Christian leaders should-and shouldn't-be giving. Just as Timothy and Titus needed help to lead their young churches well in the midst of powerful cultural forces, we need guidance for correct leading and living in our own context. These

studies on Paul's letters point us in the right direction.

1 Corinthians: 13 Studies for Individuals and GroupsAuthor (Wright, N. T.)Study Scripture with N.T. Wright! Christianity isn't a philosophy, a set of ideas. It isn't a path of spirituality or a rule of life. It isn't a political agenda. It includes and indeed gives energy to all those things, but at its very heart it is something different. It is good news about an event which has happened, an event because of which the world can never be the same again. And those who believe it and live by it will never be the same again either. This is Paul's message to the Corinthians-and to us today. These studies on 1 Corinthians guide us in leading, loving and worshipping differently as those being transformed by the

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resurrected Jesus.

1, 2, 3 John: How Should a Christian Live?Author (Brestin, Dee)Centuries ago, the apostle John wrote to new believers to instruct them in how to live godly lives. Today, John's words still hold truth and power as Christians struggle and triumph in their desire to "walk in the light" with God and others. 1, 2, 3 John: How Should a Christian Live? invites readers to grow in maturity as God's children while they learn more of what it means to live a radically transformed life.

2 Corinthians: Finding Strength in WeaknessAuthor (Stevens, Paul)We despise our weaknesses; the apostle Paul delighted in his. We beg God to remove obstacles from our lives; Paul thanked God for such opportunities to experience his power. Throughout 2 Corinthians Paul turns many of our values upside down. He teaches us that in all circumstances we can rely on God's promise: "My grace is sufficient for you".

A Heart Like His: Intimate Reflections on the Life of David, Paperback EditionBy: Beth Moore

Take an excursion into the life of David (shepherd, refugee, King of Israel) with Bible teacher, Beth Moore. Now in paperback, each of the 52 chapters in A Heart Like His, explores his relationship with God, from the most virtuous to the most heinous. You will discover that there is no sin that is too great for God to forgive and that you can experience a growing relationship with God despite your circumstances - just as David did. Perfect for personal reflections. Other books by Beth Moore include: Believing God, Beloved Disciple, Daniel, To Live is Christ, A Woman’s Heart.

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Abraham: Hearing God's CallAuthor (Kuhatschek, Jack)It sounded crazy. God had promised Abraham, an old man with no children, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Yet Abraham chose to believe God, embarking on a transforming, lifelong journey of faith and obedience. God has made promises to us as well. As Jack Kuhatschek leads you through this study of Abraham's life, you'll learn to be a person who listens to, obeys and trusts the God who

always keeps his promises.

Acts: Seeing God's Power in ActionAuthor (Peau, Phyllis J.)

Sometimes our lives seem powerless. Not so for the people of the early church. Jesus transformed their lives - and they changed the world! Acts is the extraordinary record of what they did. The power that we see in action in this book is the same power that can transform our lives. Study Acts, and you will begin to understand

what the Holy Spirit can do in you and in the world.

Acts: Seeing the Spirit at WorkAuthor (Stott, John R. W.) In the book of Acts Luke writes about what Jesus continued to do and to teach after his ascension, exercised through his Holy Spirit by his apostles. The many sermons and addresses, especially by Peter and Paul proclaim the gospel of salvation from God in Christ for all people not only to their original hearers, but also to us centuries later. You can explore Acts under the guidance of one of the world's leading and most loved Bible teachers and preachers, John Stott. The eighteen studies include questions in an inductive format, commentary notes, personal application, prayer helps and

leader guidelines.

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Christian Beliefs Author (Eyre, Stephen) Christian beliefs are vital to Christian living. They are the foundation of your relationship to God - and even with others. So... what do Christians believe? In this study guide, Stephen Eyre introduces one by one twelve key tenets of the Christian faith. Here is what you need to know (and tell others) about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, human nature, sin, salvation, holiness, the church, mission, revelation, and last things.

Couples of the Old TestamentAuthor (Larsen, Dale) In the Old Testament there are arranged marriages, fiercely loving marriages, enduring marriages, an instant marriage, a coerced marriage and a perfect marriage--until the couple blew it! Dale and Dandy Larsen lead you to dig deeper into these relationships highlighted in the Bible to learn important lessons about marriage, God and yourself.

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Daniel: Spiritual Living in a Secular WorldAuthor (Connelly, Douglas) A permissive society, a power-hungry people, a nation without God. Daniel's situation in Babylon sounds a bit like our own. In the midst of such forces, how can we remain loyal to biblical values? How can we have a positive impact on those around us? Daniel gives us very practical and personal help. 12 studies.

David: Developing a Heart for GodAuthor (Kuhatscheck, Jack)

Who are your role models? In this study guide, Jack Kuhatscheck introduces you to David the servant and the leader, the sinner and the redeemed, the man and the instrument of God's creative purposes. As you explore David's tumultuous story, you too will discover what it means to have a passionate heart for God.

Ecclesiastes: Chasing After MeaningAuthor (Syrios, Bill) Are you tired of getting pat answers when you ask hard questions about faith? The writer of Ecclesiastes is not afraid to ask the big questions like "Where can I find fulfillment when I seem to be going in circles?" and "Who is really in control when the world looks topsy-

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turvy?" In the process, he discovers how faith in God is

meaningful in the real world.

Elijah: Living Securely in an Insecure WorldAuthor (Connelly, Douglas)

Terrorism. Diseases. Hurricanes. Every day the news reinforces what you want to forget--you live in an insecure world. Elijah's times were no safer. He faced famine, murder and corruption--with both courage and fear. In these eight studies on Elijah's life, Douglas Connelly helps you look beyond the insecurity of the world to our sovereign God who reigns forever.

Ephesians: 11 Studies for Individuals and GroupsAuthor (Wright, N. T.) Have you noticed how sometimes you have a story in the back of your mind that keeps coming up, even when you're talking about something else? In Ephesians, throughout its worship, prayers and instructions for living, Paul can't contain his joy and amazement at the larger story of God's plan to save us in Jesus the Messiah. These eleven studies from Tom Wright will help us see the significance of our role in God's grand narrative, and encourage us to live more fully as people who are lavishly loved by God.

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Ephesians: Building a Community in ChristAuthor (Stott, John R. W.)

We long to belong. We crave unity. We want to be loved and accepted by others. Paul's letter to the Ephesians is about uniting all things in Christ. Here we learn how to break down what separates us from God, one ethnic group from another, husband from wife, parent from child, employer from employee. These studies provide a vision of the new society God has planned in his church. John Stott is one of the world's leading and most loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years

of immersion in God's Word.

Ephesians: Wholeness for a Broken WorldAuthor (Le Peau, Andrew T.) Broken marriages, shattered friendships, racial divisions, war between nations--we live in a fractured world. How can the pieces be put back together?In the New Testament book of 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.

Everybody's Normal 'Til You Get to Know ThemBy: John OrtbergSince Christians often talk about community as one of their highest ideals it is shocking when they realize that, as Henri Nouwen insightfully noted, "Community is the place where the person you least want to live with always lives." Fortunately, John Ortberg shares our passion for community and is able to teach us how to live with and love one another. With the insight of a counselor and the heart of a pastor, Ortberg has written one of the best contemporary

considerations of community.

Experiencing God Workbook: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Member Book, UpdatedBy: Henry Blackaby

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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 with miraculous results. The revised Member Book has been updated with new illustration and testimonial content that demonstrates how this study contributed to some truly miraculous results.

Exodus: Learning to Trust God (Lifeguide Bible Studies)

James W. Reapsome

Trust God. Sounds simple, right? Yet, you know it is often very, very difficult to trust God with the things that matter most to you--money, career, marriage, health. As you study the book of Exodus, you'll see that Israel faced similar struggles to trust God completely. In this story of hardship and hope, you'll discover along with Israel that God--and God alone—is worthy of our trust.

Faith and Doubt By John Ortberg

What if the most important word is the one in the middle? We often think of doubt as the opposite of faith, but could it actually strengthen our relationship with God? According to John Ortberg, best-selling author and pastor, the very nature of faith requires the presence of uncertainty. In this refreshingly candid look at a life of faith, he traces the line between belief and unbelief: less a dividing line between hostile camps than a razor's edge that runs through every soul. His findings point us toward the relief of being totally honest. Questions can expand our understanding, uncertainty can lead to trust, and honest faith can produce outrageous hope. Written from Ortberg's own struggle with faith and doubt, this book will challenge, comfort, and inspire you with the

truth that God wants all of us---including our doubts.

Fearless Small Group Discussion Guide: Imagine Your Life Without FearAuthor (Lucado, Max) In six stand-alone sessions, Lucado takes a close look at people's greatest fears and offers scripturally based reassurance and guidance through even the toughest moments. This guide can be used for personal journaling or to aid in small-group discussion.

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Fruit of the SpiritAuthor (Offner, Hazel) Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. To be spiritually mature is to show the fruit of the Spirit of Christ in our lives. These studies drawn from nine New and Old Testament passages highlight each quality and allow the Spirit's fruit to ripen in our lives.

Galatians: Why God Accepts UsAuthor (Kuhatscheck, Jack) The human acceptance we long for often comes only if we are attractive, smart, wealthy or powerful. And God's standards seem even higher. In Galatians Paul shows us the true source of our acceptance -- Jesus Christ.

GenesisAuthor (NavPress) In these LifeChange lessons on the book of Genesis, the student examines the events and personalities in this extraordinary book that give form to the entire Bible--right to the end of Revelation and God's plan for a new beginning.

Genesis: God's Creative CallAuthor (Hummel, Charles) Genesis tells us that even the giants of faith -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph -- struggled to obey their Creator. But Genesis also reveals the amazing truth that the God who called the world into being also calls each of us to serve him.

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Growing Older & Wiser: 9 Studies for Individuals or GroupsAuthor (Larsen, Dale)

These nine studies offer a biblical perspective on aging and show how powerfully God can use those who have grown wiser with the years. (Biblical Studies)

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha WorldBy: Joanna Weaver

The life of a woman today isn't really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord's feet...but the daily demands of a busy world just won't leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him...yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy. Then comes Jesus, right into the midst of your busy Mary/Martha life---and he extends the same invitation he issued long ago to the two sisters of Bethany. Tenderly he invites you to choose "the better part"---a joyful life of "living-room" intimacy with him that flows naturally into "kitchen service" for him. Now updated with a new 12 week companion Bible study.

HebrewsAuthor (NavPress) The letter to the Hebrews reigns unchallenged as the New Testament's finest commentary on the relationship between Christ and the Old Testament. Its stirring message will challenge you to live wholeheartedly for him in every situation.

Hebrews: Race to GloryAuthor (Reapsome, James)

These 13 lessons from the Book of Hebrews are part of LifeGuide, a popular line of Bible study guides which provide solid biblical content and raise thought-

provoking issues in an easy-to-lead format.

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IsaiahAuthor (NavPress) The LifeChange Series of studies on individual books of the Bible can help you grow in Christ-likeness through encounter with God's Word.

Isaiah: Trusting God in Troubled TimesAuthor (Peskett, Howard) These 24 lessons from the Book of Isaiah are part of LifeGuide, a popular line of Bible study guides which provide solid biblical content and raise thought-provoking issues in an easy-to-lead format.

Images of Christ: 10 Studies for Individuals or GroupsAuthor (Larsen, Dale) Good Shepherd. Branch. Bridegroom. Cornerstone. There are many images of Christ in Scripture. This LifeGuide Bible Study by Dale and Sandy Larsen examines the various pictures, names and images of Christ in Scripture, leading you to get to know Jesus in new and deeper ways.

JobAuthor (Navigators) This Bible study on the book of Job delves deep into the Scripture to see how brokenness can yield hope and a new maturity in Christ.

Job: Wrestling with GodAuthor (Stevens, R. Paul)

Paul Stevens helps you dig for the answers to the question "Why do faithful people suffer?"

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John by NT Wright

When you read detective stories, you quickly learn that what may look like an irrelevant little detail may actually be the clue to solving the mystery. A good writer will put in all kinds of detail; nothing is there by accident. Nothing in John's Gospel is there by accident either. And all the details in John are designed ultimately to come together. In these studies we discover the clues John gives that we

might see even more clearly the reality of who Jesus is, the new creation

he inaugurates and the difference that all makes.

JohnAuthor (NavPress) These studies in the Gospel of John are part of the LifeChange Series, designed to help the earnest believer grow in faith and in obedience to the requirements of Christian life.

John: The Way to True LifeAuthor (Connelly, Douglas) These 26 lessons on the Gospel of John are part of a popular line of Bible study guides which provides solid biblical context and raises thought-provoking issues in an easy-to-read format.

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Joseph: How God Builds CharacterAuthor (Borthwick, Paul) Features & Benefits- Over 8 million in print- 85 titles now available- Features the popular inductive study approach- Includes helpful notes for group leaders- Includes approach questions to start group discussion and application questions to help you act on the lessons- Field-tested by individuals and groups prior to publication

Joshua: The Power of God's PromisesAuthor (Baker, Donald) The book of Joshua reads like an exciting novel -- from the miraculous crossing of the Jordan to the crash of the wails of Jericho and the sun stopping in the sky. Through it all, God displays his faithfulness and power. Studying Joshua encourages us to persevere in our own daily battles, arming us with the powerful weapons we need -- God's promises.

Judges: Returning to GodAuthor (Baker, Donald J., Jr.) About LifeGuide Bible Studies We're updating and revising our bestselling LifeGuides to make them even more effective for small group Bible study! New features of the revised LifeGuides include special options for group activities, additional questions for personal reflection, a "Now or Later" section with practical follow-up activities for use after the study or between sessions, expanded and improved leaders' notes and an attractive, redesigned format for easier reading. This guide tells the story of Israel as told in the book of Judges. As Donald Baker leads you to examine it for yourself, you may discover that it is your story as well.

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Knowing ScriptureAuthor (Nystrom, Carolyn) A six-session guide to studying Scripture, getting an overview, looking for details, discovering meaning, learning to apply, and praying the Scriptures.

Leaving a Godly Legacy: Give the Inheritance That Really MattersAuthor (Stanley, Charles F.) Revised and updated, Dr. Charles Stanley's well-loved Life Principles study guide series has taken on new life through refreshed content. Small groups and individuals who want a Bible study that's spiritually sound and practical will find a wealth of ideas to help them understand and apply the Scriptures to the real world.

Leaving a LegacyAuthor (Graham, Billy) Based on the culmination of a lifetime of experience in ministry, Billy Graham guides the reader through a study guide series that explores the joys, triumphs, and conflicts that you will encounter along the journey of your spiritual life.

Mark: 20 Studies for Individuals and GroupsAuthor (Wright, N. T.)This is a wonderful study of Mark that you can do all of or part of.

It includes wonderful insights from leading New Testament Scholar N.T. Wright that will make the book of Mark come alive and challenge that way you live for Christ.

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Mark: Follow MeAuthor (Hoover, James)

In the New Testament Gospel of Mark, we meet Jesus, the man who is King. But this king comes to serve--not to be served. He eats with sinners rather than royalty. His crown is made of thorns instead of gold. This study guide introduces you to the compassionate, suffering, astonishing king who calls us to follow him.

Old Testament Stories from the Back Side by J. Ellsworth Kalas

Popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas brings a new perspective to selected Old Testament stories by approaching them from the back side through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new lens, or the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character. Also check out Parables from the Back Side, Easter from the Backside, and Ten Commandments from the Backside

The Lord's Prayer: Praying with Power

By: John Ortberg, Kevin G. Harney, Sherry Harney

If you could ask the first disciples, "What was the Savior's secret to living in alignment with the Father's will and with power to face life's challenges?" they would have answered with one word, "Prayer!" From the beginning to the end of Jesus' ministry, his disciples had a front-row seat to watch the greatest pray-er who every prayed. This study of the Lord's Prayer gets right down to the heart of life and faith. It looks at our deepest passion and longing...to know and experience God. Just like his followers asked him to teach them to pray two thousand years ago, we can make the same request today.

Prayer: does it make any difference? By Philip Yancey

Yancey probes the most fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding aspect---the very heartbeat---of your relationship with God: prayer. In theory, prayer is the essential human act, a priceless point of contact between you and the God of the universe. In practice however, prayer is often frustrating, confusing, and fraught with mystery. Prayer: Does

It Make Any Difference?

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ProverbsAuthor (NavPress) The book of Proverbs contains a wealth of practical wisdom for everyday living. Its teachings are timeless, and they provide helpful guidelines on almost every aspect of personal conduct imaginable, including: folly, sin, wealth, justice, and many more.

Psalms: Heart to Heart with GodAuthor (Kaiser, Walter C., JR.) Using a short, practical format, this study provides twelve lessons to unlock the meaning and heart of the book of Psalms. 12 SESSIONS

Psalms: Prayers of the HeartAuthor (Peterson, Eugene H.) The Psalms show us how to relate to God as we pray our doubt, fears and anger. They show us how to respond to God in praise. Here we find the best place to explore who we are and what God means to us.

Revelation: The Triumph of God In every age people have felt certain that the book of Revelation described events in their time. As nations arm themselves for war, we think of Armageddon. As evil rulers grow in power, we look for the anitchrist. As the powers of darkness threaten to overwhelm us, we cry, "Come, Lord Jesus!" Amid the uncertainties of our age,

Revelation assures us of the ultimate triumph of God.

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Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God's WordAuthor (Warren, Rick) Learn how to study the Bible the way Rick Warren does. With simple, step-by-step instructions, America's pastor guides you through twelve different approaches to studying God's Word for yourself. Doing so will help you fulfill the third purpose of The Purpose-

Driven Life: becoming more and more like Jesus.

Romans

In Paul's Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle reveals God's way to righteousness and tells how we can be reconciled to God and be transformed into the people He means us to be. Sin, salvation, grace, death, and resurrection--these are the weighty matters that Romans illumines.

Romans N.T. Wright

Designed especially with everyday readers in mind. Perfect for group use or daily personal reflection, this study uses

the popular inductive method combined with Wright's thoughtful insights to bring contemporary application of

Scripture to life.

Ruth/Esther: Doing God's Will Whatever the Cost (Wiersbe, Warren W.) Perfect for group or individual study, this 8-week study on Ruth and Esther contains stories, illustrations, and practical questions to help the reader explore these two powerful accounts of faithfulness in the worst of timesand causes the reader to consider how they would respond to such a call.

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Ruth: Relationships That Bring LifeAuthor (Barton, Ruth Haley) Bring Hope, Faith, and Love to Your Relationships. The biblical character of Ruth was striking in her capacity to bring life to her relationships. Even in the midst of tragedy and difficulty, her presence blessed and influenced friends and strangers in her community, the man she grew to love, her children, and her in-laws. This six-week Fisherman Bible Studyguide uses Ruth's story to help you reflect on your own relationships and the ways in which God might be inviting you to move different ways--ways that will lead you into life-giving patterns of relating with others.

Sabbath: The Gift of RestAuthor (Baab, Lynne M.) The studies in this guide by Lynne M. Baab will help you to learn more about what sabbath is and how to practice it. More people of all ages are finding the sabbath to be a gift from God that brings a renewed awareness of who God is and who we are as God's beloved children. Come and discover God's gift of rest.

Sacred Rhythms Participant's Guide: Spiritual Practices That Nourish Your Soul and Transform Your Life Author (Barton, Ruth Haley) This participant's guide from Ruth Haley Barton, designed for use with the six-session Sacred Rhythms DVD study, provides guidance for you and your group in a way that links the disciplines of the Christian faith to the most compelling desires of the human soul.

SanctificationAuthor (Holladay, Tom) Foundations is a complete resource for teaching believers the essential doctrines of Christian faith, providing the theological basis for living a purpose driven life

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Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ: Study Guide Developed by Desiring GodAuthor (Piper, John) Pastor Piper unveils the person of Christ so that everyone can understand Jesus' deity, power and wisdom. This accessible volume can awaken unbelievers and sweeten any Christian's view of the Lord's character. (Practical Life)

Self-Esteem: Seeing Ourselves as God Sees UsAuthor (Kuhatscheck, Jack) What does God think of you? What is your true worth? As Jack Kuhatschek leads you through nine Bible studies on self-esteem, you'll gain an essential understanding of who you are and how God is restoring you to wholeness.

Sermon on the MountAuthor (Stott, John R. W.)

Jesus' answers amazed those who first heard the Sermon on the Mount. Here you too will be amazed and challenged by the greatest sermon ever preached.

Service: Living a Meaningful LifeAuthor (Eastman, Brett)

This 6-volume series is a look at more complex issues through the lens of individual Bible characters, asking more penetrating questions with unique learning experiences.

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Shameless: An 8-Week Study to Freedom Through God's RedemptionAuthor (Vanderslice, Debbie) Each of us carry around a certain amount of shame that prevents us from being used as the vessels God intended. If you and the women you know are carrying around shame, then Shameless will help you overcome your feelings of guilt. This eightweek study looks at three parts of shame the biblical origins, the lives of eight women who bore shame and yet were used by God for His glory, and the cumulative aspects of shame.

Sharing Your FaithAuthor (Nystrom, Carolyn) A six-session study on how to face fears about evangelism, consider Christ's commands to share our faith, and understand a nutshell version of the gospel message.

Singleness: A Life Grounded in LoveAuthor (Goring, Ruth) In ten studies Ruth Goring leads you to explore God's "word" for your life in singleness. You will learn to listen deeply to God, identify the gifts your life offers, cope effectively with temptation, make space for relationships, and grow into a sense of belonging.

So What's the Difference? How World Faiths Compare to Christianity, Revised and ExpandedBy: Fritz Ridenour

In easy-to-understand chapters, the author explains the basic beliefs of Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, New Age and a dozen other belief systems of the world. It will help you recognize the real differences and make it easier to explain and share your faith with others.

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Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual GrowthBy: Richard J. Foster

Hailed by many as the best modern book on Christian spirituality, Celebration of Discipline explores the classic "Disciplines," or central spiritual practices, of the Christian faith. Along the way, Foster shows that it is only by and through these practices that the true path to spiritual growth can be found. If you enjoy this also check out Freedom of Simplicity, and The

Spiritual Formation Workbook

The Christian Atheist: Believing in God But Living as If He Doesn't ExistAuthor (Groeschel, Craig) This honest, hard-hitting, and eye-opening look into the ways people believe in God but live as if he doesn't exist is a classic in the making.You believe in God, attend church when it's convenient, and you generally treat people with kindness. But, have you surrendered to God completely, living every day depending upon the Holy Spirit? In this six-session DVD group

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study pastor and author Craig Groeschel will urge you and your group to be more than just 'Christian' in name, to be honest before God, and to break free of hypocrisy to live a more authentic, God-honoring life. Designed for use with The Christian Atheist Participant's Guide

The Screwtape Letters Progeny Press Study Guide book by C.S. LewisThe Screwtape Letters imagines what if hell were organized as a fiendish bureaucracy with managers and field agents? Meet Screwtape, upper management and

uncle to Wormwood. Hell shares no love, but it is full of advice on the weaknesses of humanity, and it is extremely practical. Through Screwtape's letters of advice to Wormwood, Lewis wittily and sometimes painfully reveals our too-human weaknesses. Other books by C.S. Lewis to study if you enjoy this are Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, God in the Dock.

The Cross: 13 Studies for Individuals or GroupsAuthor (Stott, John R. W.) John Stott presents Bible studies on the meaning and purpose of the cross in our lives.

The Epistle of JamesAuthor (Blackaby, Henry) The lessons include: Leader's notes 7 studies based on reference materials included in the Blackaby Study Bible An explanation and interpretation of Scripture A story that illustrates the passage in focus Other Bible verses related to the theme Questions for reflection Suggestions for application in everyday life

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The Essentials of Effective Prayer Author (Arthur, Kay) Can You Know for Certain God Hears Your Prayers? Do you sometimes wonder if God hears-let alone answers-your prayers? Do you ask yourself, "What's the point of praying? " Do you long to experience the power of prayer in your daily life?Find the keys to an effective prayer life in this compelling study that explores both God's expectations of you and His promises to you when it comes to prayer. Through a detailed examination of the Lord's Prayer and other examples of prayer throughout the Bible, you'll discover a model for talking with God. You'll also learn key principles of prayer and gain a deeper understanding of how prayer can

draw you closer to His heart.

The Faith: Six SessionsAuthor (Colson, Charles) The Faith is a curriculum for our troubled times and for decades to come, for Christians and non-Christians alike. Chuck Colson and Gabe Lyons will lead you through six thought-provoking, soul-searching, and powerful sessions on the great, historical central truths of Christianity that have sustained believers through the centuries. Brought to immediacy with vivid, true stories, here is what Christianity is really about and why it is a religion of hope, redemption, and beauty.Six sessions include: 1. What is Christianity?2. The Fall and God's Response3. The Cross and Reconciliation4. The Nature of God 5. The Community of God 6. The Joy of Orthodoxy

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The First, Second, and Third Epistles of John and JudeAuthor (Blackaby, Henry)

The lessons include: Leader's Notes 7 studies based on reference materials included in the Blackaby Study Bible An explanation and interpretation of Scripture A story that illustrates the passage in focus Other Bible verses related to the theme Questions for reflection Suggestions for application in everyday life.

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The Ten CommandmentsAuthor (Suggs, Rob)

Rob Suggs looks one by one at God's commandments--along with a Bible passage that will better help you understand how to apply God's law and encounter God himself!

To Be Told: Know Your Story, Shape Your Future Dan B. Allender

It is your privilege to listen to your own story so you can live boldly for the sake of the Greatest Story, the good news of Jesus Christ. God reveals himself to you–and to others–through the story he has written in your life.In this insightful and compelling book, Dr. Dan B. Allender shows you how to read the stories of your life. He helps you understand the meaning that God has written into every detail of who you are. As a result, you can share your story with others and listen to their story, revealing unique aspects of God’s hand at work.

Women of the New Testament Author (Le Peau, Phyllis J.) As Phyllis J. Le Peau introduces twelve significant women of the New Testament, she invites you to enter into their lives and learn from them what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Women of the Old Testament Author (Hunt, Gladys M.) As you explore with Gladys Hunt the stories of twelve fascinating women, you will come to understand the far-reaching consequences of your own everyday choices and actions

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Workplace Grace: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work

Author (Peel, William Carr) INCLUDES: 1 PARTICIPANT'S GUIDE* DVD with Leader's Guide sold separately .IDEAL FOR: * groups large or small* Sunday school* retreats

Worship: His Love Endures Forever Author (Frasier, Sundee Tucker)

In eight studies Sundee Tucker Frazier helps you dig into the Bible, learning how to worship with your whole life and taking you to the heart of the matter--the

character of the God who loves you.

Parenting Books

The Mentoring Mom- 11 Ways to Model Christ for your Child by Jackie Kendall

Bringing Up Kids without Tearing Them Down- How to Raise Confident, Successful Children by Dr. Kevin Leman

Train Up a Mom by Vollie Sanders

Making Children Mind without Losing Yours by Dr. Kevin Leman

The Power of a Praying Parent- by Stormie Omaritian (also available The Power of a Praying Husband, The Power of a Praying Wife, The Power of a Praying Woman).

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