Available for loan to Life Groups
(see contact person listed)
The First Church Library, located on the 2nd floor has several, if not all of the NOOMA Series of study videos.
Let’s Get Down to Basics: An Introduction to Christian Living By Rick Blumenberg
Let’s Get Down to Basics is a book for new Christians who want a good beginning for a life-time commitment to Christ and or mature Christians who want to review some basic teachings of the Christian faith. Thirteen chapters include:
- Bible Study is Basic
- Am I Really a Christian?
- I Am Stronger than Temptation!
- Prayer is My Privilege
- I Can Discover God’s Will
- What Do you Mean…Stewardship?
- A Second Step
- I Have A Spiritual Gift?
- Living Holy
- I Can Tell Others!
- Symbols of My Faith
- My Faith as a parent
- The Last Chapter
Beginning the Journey: First Steps in Your Walk with God By Rick Blumenberg and Brenda Shepard
Based on Let’s Get Down to Basics, Beginning the Journey is in workbook form and contains ten chapters, some of which are taken from Basics, updated and put in workbook form.
Chapters include:
- Beginning the Journey
- The Bible: Light for the Journey
- Prayer: Talking With God
- Quiet Time: Rest for the Journey
- Fellowship: Companions on the Journey
- Stewardship: Managing God’s Resources
- Exploring Spiritual Gifts
- Overcoming Temptation
- Discovering God’s Will
- Inviting Others on the Journey
Purpose Driven Life (Video teaching by Rick Warren)
Based on the book The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, this study can be done as a video study or taught by a Life Group Leader. The Video and Books are available to borrow, or if some (any) want their own copy, the books can be purchased in the Good Word Bookstore.
The “Forty Days of Purpose” study, based on The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
We have videos available so you can let Pastor Warren teach it, and we have small group curriculum available so you can teach it yourself, have one of your group teach it, or you can use both and do a mixture.
There are six lessons if you follow the “Forty Day” plan, so you would finish in six or twelve weeks, or three to six months, but there are forty chapters in the book and they can each be used as a small group study, so it would last for forty sessions, or you could do a combination of that and do it in less time. The book chapters are very short and designed to be read one each day for the weekly study plan, but can be adapted to suit the group.
The following curriculum shown are either down-loadable or printable. If it looks interesting, email Pastor Rick and he'll respond with the email file attached. We have permission to use them up to 1,000 times in our church. Printed copies can be made for your group, contact Pastor Rick.
Beware of Unintended Curriculum by Sam O’Neal Copyright 2008 by the author and Christianity Today International
A one-lesson study on the dangers of teaching something you don’t mean to teach. Good for Life Group Leaders or teacher training, but could be used for a Life Group meeting too.
Creating Community
From BUILDING CHURCH LEADERS, published by LEADERSHIP Resources © 2000 Christianity Today Intl, www.BuildingChurchLeaders.com
Designed for Leadership Training, but could be helpful for a Life Group with several lessons on building community. The lessons are adaptable to church, family life or employment situations. Can be used individually or as a whole.
DNA of Relationships, by Gary Smalley (PowerPoint Lessons)
This PowerPoint is designed for use with church leaders. Approximately 20 minutes long, it can be used before, during, or after a regularly scheduled meeting. The lessons topics cover conflict with a win-win concept. Dr. Smalley believes every conflict situation can be resolved. This PowerPoint lesson has good methods to help you teach that all conflicts can be resolved when approached with a win-win mindset.
Increasing the Evangelistic Impact of Your Group
By Mark Ashton
(Adapted from “Increasing the Evangelistic Impact,” a workshop presented at the Willow Creek Association Small Groups Conference. www.willowgroups.com. Downloaded from Christianity Today
Churches desiring to excel evangelistically need small groups with intentional evangelistic strategies. Help your group gain greater vision and skill in reaching out to seekers by making connections and building relationships. GOAL: To discover ways to increase the evangelistic impact of your small group.
This material is designed for Life Group Leader training, but could also be used in a Life Group that desires to become more evangelistic in their methods.
Can be used as four different lessons, or choose 1 or more lessons to stand alone.
Motivating Leaders (PowerPoint Lessons)
By John Maxwell
Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today International, All rights reserved. For use by purchaser only. No reproduction please. Our church has purchased this material and we have permission to use it in our groups.
Lessons teach leadership development.
Spiritual Growth Assessment Pack
By various authors
Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today International, All rights reserved. For use by purchaser only. No reproduction please. Our church has purchased this material and we have permission to use it in our groups.
Eight lessons include:
- Guidelines for Effective Prayer
- Winsome Faith
- Am I Too Tired?
- Signs of Hurry Sickness
- The Way of Contentment
- What’s Your Orphan Quotient?
- The Four Religious Types
- Four Threats to Quiet Time”
Does Your Life Mirror Your TV?
Course by Community Christian Church www.communitychristianchurch.org , a member of the new thing network. Provided through Christianity Today building church leaders network. Purchased by our church, we have permission to use it 1,000 times.
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Desperate Households
- Extreme Makeover
- The Apprentice
- CSI: My Faith
Based on takeoffs from four TV programs, the lessons challenge how we live our lives and whether we glorify God in our TV habits and other things we do.
Why God Gave you Spiritual Gifts (The obligation and power of putting your talents to work)
Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today International, All rights reserved. For use by purchaser only. No reproduction please. Our church has purchased this material and we have permission to use it in our groups.
The Holy Spirit gives God’s people extraordinary personal gifts to serve Christ and to shape our churches into the image of Christ. But what happens if Christians do not know or use their gifts?
(Note: This study is not clearly divided into lessons, so the leader would need to do some preparation. It is based on a Bible study article by J. I. Packer.)
Handling Conflict in Small Groups
From Building Small Groups Copyright © 2008 Christianity Today International, All rights reserved. For use by purchaser only. No reproduction please. Our church has purchased this material and we have permission to use it in our groups.
Conflict is an inevitable part of any successful small group. The good news is that group conflict can be managed effectively by any group leader, and can even strengthen relationships within a group. With practical advice from experts like Joel Comiskey, Mark Bonham, and Teena M. Stewart, "Handling Conflict in Small Groups" is a great resource for anyone involved in small-groups ministry.
This study is helpful for any Life Group Leader for their personal growth, but all or part of it could be used for Life Group studies. Recommended that the leader review material for personal study prior to presenting to a group.
These are eight different lessons by different people—a package of lessons rather than a whole. Leaders can pick and choose to use any one, or as many lessons as they choose.
Contact Debbie Gearhiser at the church office or or the following curriculum:
“The Jesus I Never Knew” - Philip Yancy
4-Part Video Resource for Small Groups
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Discover a More Accurate, Dynamic and Biblical Portrait of Jesus
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Strip Away Layers of Tradition, Stereotypes, and Clichés
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Gain New Confidence in the Person of Christ
(Contains the full book, a leader’s guide and a participant’s guide)
“Half Time” - Bob Buford
5 sessions (The second half of your life can be better than the first.) (Video, Book, Leader’s Guide)
“Carpe Diem -Seize the Day” - Tony Campolo
2 videos and a workbook (Sessions are approximately 40 – 48 min. long)
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Video 1, Session 1: The Last Great Idea
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Video 1, Session 2: Seize the Moment- with Passion
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Video 2, Session 1: Seize the Kingdom – It’s a Party!
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Video 2, Session 2: Compassion for All Creation
“Love is a Decision” – Gary Smalley
2 videos, 6 sessions
Reproducible study guide and Book, “Love is a Decision”
“The Man God Uses” – Henry and Tom Blackaby
Video and audio cassette, Workbook guide
“21 Laws of Irrefutable Leadership” – John Maxwell
5 single video cassettes, Study guide, Bonus Introductory video, Hardcover book
“Becoming a Contagious Christian” – (University Edition) – Young adults
Young Adult Video - Communicating Your Faith in a Style that Fits You
CCN Church Communication Network – Bill Donahue and Carl George
3 Video tapes
Seeking God’s best for Your Life
BOOKS:
Purpose Driven Group Resources (Small Group Bible Studies)
(One copy of each of these books are in Debbie Gearhiser’s office. You are welcome to look at them, but if you decide to use them you will need to purchase at least one copy for the leader, and each individual or couple can purchase their own copy).
Begin – Beginning Life Together (Six sessions on God’s purposes for Your Life)
Connect – Connecting with God’s Family (Six sessions on Fellowship)
Grow – Growing to Be like Christ (Six sessions on Discipleship)
Develop - Developing your Shape to Serve Others (Six sessions on Ministry)
Shape – Sharing Your Life Mission Every Day (Six sessions on Evangelism)
Surrender – Surrendering Your life for God’s Pleasure (Six sessions)
Contact Sandy Mason at the Church Office for the following resources.
Beginning Life Together: Purpose Driven Life Series, DVD
Each study session contains a theme-introducing video (3-4 minutes long) and a 10- to 15-minute long teaching segment. On-screen questions that match those found in the study book are also included, as is a song, if a group chooses to worship in music. The remaining time on the DVD is for leader training each week.
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The Goal of Life
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Connecting with God’s Family
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Growing to Be Like Christ
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Developing Your Shape to Serve
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Sharing Your Life Mission Every Day
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Surrendering Your Life for God’s Pleasure
Participant’s Guide and DVD for 6 week study
Contact Bob Confer at the Church Office
Faith Lessons by Ray Vander Laan (Formerly: “That the World May Know”)
Video Series with Leader’s Guides, (Participant Guides available separately)
Volume 1:
Faith Lesson on the Promised Land (5 sessions)
• Standing at the Crossroads
• Confronting Evil
• Wet Feet
• First Fruits
• Iron of Culture
Volume 2:
Faith Lessons on the Prophets & Kings of Israel (6 sessions)
• Innocent Blood (part 1 & 2)
• Who is God?
• The Wages of Sin
• The Lord is My Shepherd
• God With Us
Volume 3:
Faith Lessons on the Life & Ministry of the Messiah (8 sessions)
• No Greater Love
• In the Shadow of Herod
• My Rock and My Fortress
• The Time Had Fully Come
• The Rabbi
• Language of Culture
• Misguided Faith
• Living Water
Volume 4:
Faith Lessons on the Death & Resurrection of the Messiah (10 sessions)
• The Weight of the World
• When Storms Come
• Piercing the Darkness
• Gates of Hell
• City of the Great King (part 1 & 2)
• The Lamb of God
• Roll away the Stone
• Power to the People
• Total Commitment
Volume 5:
Faith Lessons on the Early Church (5 sessions)
• The Salt of the Earth
• Where Satan Lies
• The Mark of the Beast
• Hot or Cold
• Everything to Lose, Nothing to Gain