This Renovare book, by James Bryan Smith, is an excellent introduction to Christian faith and practice. It includes 9 chapters to be used in 10 sessions, covering wrong ideas about God and correcting them with biblical ideas. This book also includes spiritual formation exercises that lead to lasting spiritual growth. The online leader resources are truly excellent. Best used by small groups with 90 minute sessions, but can be squished into 60 minutes.
Includes key scriptures plus questions for reflection thoughtfully exploring: Why does God call us? What is a call? Who are the called? How am I called? When am I called? And How do I live out the call?”
“Johnson explores the biblical foundations of divine communication, tracing the ways God has spoken to humankind from the calling of Abraham, to the appearance of Jesus, to the continuing work of the Spirit in the early church. He then gleans important lessons about Gods languages from a wide range of Christian figures throughout history.” Ben Johnson is retired professor of Christian Spirituality at Columbia Theological Seminary, and a personal friend of Jane Hubbard.
“After many years in business Laurie Beth Jones was struck by the notion that Jesus’ leadership approach with his staff ran counter to most of the management styles and techniques employed today. Jones has made it her goal to help empower people at all levels of leadership by encouraging them to review the divine excellence in themselves and in those they serve…”
“Robert Boyd Munger (a Presbyterian minister) imagines for us what it would be like to have Christ come to the home of our hearts.Room by room we consider with our Lord what he desires for us.Are we prepared to meet with him daily in our living room?”
“ Thousands of people each year accept the invitation to the Christian spiritual life, delving into her clear, practical, and inspiring discussions on prayer, worship, fasting, self-examination and hospitality.Offering a framework for understanding the spiritual disciplines and instructions for developing and nurturing those practices…”
“This study covers what it means to live as Jesus would on a day to day basis—one filled with new meaning, hope, change, and a joyous, growing closeness to God.”
This resource is a fantastic guide to the fundamentals of Christian discipleship, both beliefs and practices. It includes discussion guides and life guidance to form the foundations of a Christian’s journey with God.
Presents spiritual disciplines as the key to becoming the people God created us to be. This book clearly describes a number of spiritual disciplines—inward disciplines, outward disciplines, and corporate disciplines. It presents both how to practice the discipline and the positive impact that discipline can do in your life.
The secret to a happy lifelong marriage? Women want love, and men want respect. This series outlines how men and women can faithfully love and respect their partners, building a marriage that brings joy to both for a lifetime.
A great book about the true meaning of the Great Commission: forming disciples who live by Jesus’ teachings. This book contains essays about a number of facets of Christian living, asking how we can more closely follow Jesus.
Challenges Christians to experience fullness of a life lived in a fellowship with the loving, personal God. God reveals Himself to each of us in special and exceptional ways, so we all have unique perceptions…”
Presents various spiritual disciplines as a key to the life God desires for us, “the life you’ve always wanted.” Ortberg has called the book “Dallas for Dummies,” referring to the teachings of his mentor Dallas Willard.
Renews our understanding of discipleship and the true nature of the teachings of Jesus, who intended that his followers become disciples and taught that we have access to now to the life we are too eager to relegate to the afterlife. The author calls us into more authentic life and offers a practical plan by which we can live more like Christ. This is a truly deep book that is sure to mature disciples.
Dvd: On the Divine Conspiracy, there is a DVD with both Willard and Ortberg which goes along with Willard's Book, The Divine Conspiracy: Jesus' Master Class for Life **Study Guide: There is also a study guide for the book.
“Francis Chan wants you to experience God’s love to the fullest. He’s so passionate about you understanding this ‘crazy’ kind of love that sometimes his words are difficult to hear. He’s not afraid of stepping on toes or making you shrug in your seat.”
“Includes 24 real-life stories weaved throughout in addition to the exclusive interviews with financial expert, Dave Ramsey, and his wife, Sharon, and two-time Super Bowl MVP, Kurt Warner, and his wife, Brenda.”
“This study will forever change the way you view true Christianity. Tim Keller will open your eyes to the reality that the parable of the prodigal son is Jesus’ best know parable but it’s often the most mistaken.” Excellent discussion of God’s grace and our desperate need for it.
This video series “Creates an environment where viewers can examine the teachings of Jesus and discover ways these teachings are relevant to us, both today, and for our future.” These are basically 10-minute video sermons that inspire fresh ways to see our faith.
Beth Moore’s many series have inspired countless women’s groups. There is usually extensive homework, but well worth it for a life-changing encounter with Scripture.
This is a good book for small group study using the 6-session DVD and Participant’s Guide. The book provides a lot of detail to enhance the study. The DVD sessions are only a few minutes in total length and include pauses for group discussion.
The study does not provide easy answers about prayer. Yancey’s focus is on prayer as communion with God, not as a spiritual to-do list. Prayer is our way to know God intimately, as our Savior and Friend. Yancey gives examples of how prayer has transformed people all over the world and has been the catalyst for miracles in unlikely places and times. Yancey also points to Jesus’ own prayer life as a model for our own.
