Grace Bible Church Adult Bible Study Resourcesgracebiblelv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Adult-Study...Rev: 012116 Grace Bible Church Adult Bible Study Resources The purpose of this

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Grace Bible Church

Adult Bible Study Resources

The purpose of this resource is to provide studies which have been approved by our church

leadership. Each group is expected to cover at least one study from each category during the

group's lifecycle.

"Get Engaged" (relationship with God) These studies teach us how to have a deeper more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father

through worship and other spiritual disciplines.

"Get Connected" (relationship with other believers) These studies help us get connected with other believers within our church to develop healthy

relationships with those around us, and to lean better how to "be the church" God intends us to be

through serving one another.

"Get Going" (influence with outsiders) These studies show us how to care for people, who are not in our church, through missions, serving

outside the church and evangelism.

Rev: 012116

"Get Engaged" (relationship with God)

These studies teach us how to have a deeper more intimate

relationship with our Heavenly Father through worship and other

spiritual disciplines.

Rev: 012116

Adult Study Resources

"Get Engaged" (relationship with God) These studies teach us how to have a deeper more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father through

worship and other spiritual disciplines.

You and Me Forever

Workbook: Marriage in

Light of Eternity

by Francis & Lisa Chan

Francis and Lisa challenge us to think differently about some of

the most important relationships in our lives. A jealous God asks

us to pursue Him first and most. The way to have a great

marriage is by not focusing on marriage.

The Principle of the

Path

by Andy Stanley

Why is it that so many people start out with a clear mental

picture of where they want to be relationally, financially, and

professionally and yet years later find themselves far from their

desired destination? The Principle of the Path not only explains

the disappointment and regret that characterize the lives of so

many, it provides a way for you to be the exception. This

compelling principle will empower you to identify and follow the

path that leads to your desired destination and enable you to

avoid life-wasting detours along the way.

Permission to Speak

Freely

by Andy Stanley

Could it be that there is more to prayer than we thought? In this

three-part series, Andy Stanley unpacks the words of Jesus to

help us understand what God had in mind when He gave us the

ability and the opportunity to talk to Him.

Respectable Sins

by Jerry Bridges

Navigator author Jerry Bridges addresses the "acceptable" sins

that we tend to tolerate in ourselves, including pride and anger.

He goes to the heart of the matter, exploring our feelings of

shame and grief and opening a new door to God's forgiveness

and grace.

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The Power of a

Whisper

by Bill Hybels

The Power of a Whisper, vision is cast for what life can look like

when God's followers choose to hear from heaven as they

navigate life on earth. Hybels promotes passion in Christ-

followers' hearts for being wide open to hearing from God, and

for getting gutsier about doing exactly what he says to do.

Forgotten God

by Francis Chan

Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to

get at the true source of the church's power—the Holy Spirit.

Chan contends that we've ignored the Spirit for far too long, and

we are reaping the disastrous results. Thorough scriptural

support and compelling narrative form Chan's invitation to stop

and remember the One we've forgotten, the Spirit of the living

God.

Get Out of That Pit

by Beth Moore

Beth's journey out of the pit has been heart-rending. But from

this and the poetic expressions of Psalm 40 has come the

reward: a new song for her soul, given by her Savior and offered

to you here, friend to friend. This is Beth's most stirring message

yet of the sheer hope, utter deliverance...and complete and

glorious freedom of God.

Crazy Love

by Francis Chan

It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe loves us

with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is

our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to

cuss. Whether you've verbalized it yet or not, we all know

something's wrong. And once you encounter His love, as Francis

describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you're

wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

Sacred Rhythms

by Ruth Haley Barton

Spiritual disciplines are activities that open us to God's

transforming love and the changes that only God can bring about

in our lives. Picking up on the monastic tradition of creating a

"rule of life" that allows for regular space for the practice of the

spiritual disciplines, this book takes you more deeply into

understanding seven key disciplines along with practical ideas for

weaving them into everyday life.

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The Grace of God

by Andy Stanley

From the beginning, the church has had an uneasy relationship

with grace. The gravitational pull is always toward graceless

religion. The odd thing is that when you read the New

Testament, the only thing Jesus stood against consistently was

graceless religion. The only group he attacked relentlessly was

graceless religious leaders. The story of grace is your story. And

as you are about to discover grace plays a larger role than you

imagine.

The Good and Beautiful

God by James Bryan

Smith

"God wants me to try harder." "God blesses me when I'm good

and punishes me when I'm bad." "God is angry with me." We all

have ideas that we tell ourselves about God and how he works in

our lives. Some are true--but many are false. James Bryan Smith

believes those thoughts determine not only who we are, but

how we live. In fact, Smith declares, the most important thing

about a person is what they think about God. The path to

spiritual transformation begins here.

Discover the Mystery of

Faith: How Worship

Shapes Believing

by Glenn Packiam

What if the way we worship isn't just an expression of our faith,

but is what shapes our faith? When our worship becomes a rich

feast, our faith is nourished and no longer anemic. The more our

worship speaks of Christ, the more we enter into the mystery of

faith.

Dance Lessons

by Pete Briscoe

Jesus has invited us to a freedom dance, but many of us have

turned our faith into a march of soldiers. Christ offers us

freedom from the need to obnoxiously focus on our own

goodness. Religion, however, makes us obsess over rules and

attempt to make ourselves worthy of salvation by our own

merits. How can we live righteous lives for Christ without

allowing that righteousness to overwhelm our focus?

A Personal God

by Kerry Shook

Are you moving through life doing the best you can in your own

strength while at the same time longing for purpose and

fulfillment? In this life-changing series, Pastor Kerry explores the

mystery of the Trinity and helps you learn to enjoy true

fellowship with your creator.

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Life: Putting on the

Character of Christ

by James Bryan Smith

"I have never met a person whose goal was to ruin his or her life.

We all want to be happy, and we want it all of the time." So

begins James Bryan Smith in The Good and Beautiful Life. The

problem is, he tells us, we have bought into false notions of

happiness and success. These self-centered decisions lead us

further into the vices that cause ruin: anger, lust, lying, worry

and judging. Eventually we find ourselves living a beautifully

packaged life of self-destruction.

The Pursuit of Holiness

by Jerry Bridges

“Be holy, for I am holy,” commands God. But holiness is

something that is often missed in the Christian’s daily life.

According to Navigator author Jerry Bridges, that’s because

we’re not exactly sure what our part in holiness is. In The Pursuit

of Holiness, he helps us see clearly just what we should rely on

God to do―and what we should take responsibility for

ourselves.

Knowing God

by J.I. Packer

Over the past twenty years J.I. Packer's classic has revealed to

over a million Christians the world over the wonder, the glory,

and the joy of KNOWING GOD. This study guide helps groups of

Christians to understand and apply the essential truths of

KNOWING GOD.

Erasing Hell: What God

Said About Eternity,

and the Things We've

Made Up

by Francis Chan,

Preston Sprinkle

Erasing Hell takes on the topic of hell and our eternal destiny,

with a sense of humility and a deep respect for the inspired

Word of God. They will address questions such as "Will everyone

be saved?" and "Does God Get What He Wants in the End?" as

well as reviewing in depth, everything Jesus said about Hell. Chan

and Sprinkle lay all the evidence on the table and present all the

facts from Scripture, so that people can decide what to believe

for themselves.

A Quest For More

by Paul David Tripp

Paul David Tripp expertly traverses the deepest recesses of the

human heart and compassionately invites fellow Christian

travelers to journey with him into God s bigger kingdom. The

author promises readers that they will be encouraged, excited,

and motivated by hope as they learn how to set aside their little

kingdom attachments which can expertly masquerade within the

church as Christian activism, legalism, emotionalism, formalism,

creedalism, and externalism; in favor of God s expansive and soul

freeing eternal quest.

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The Gospel Project

by Lifeway Church

The Gospel Project for Adults takes men and women on a Christ-

centered journey through the storyline of Scripture. With each

session, participants will encounter God’s plan of redemption in

Scripture through study of Bible narrative, the essential doctrines

of the faith, and the call to join in God’s mission locally and

around the world.

Gospel Revolution

by J.D. Greear

You may understand the gospel. But you have let it completely

redefine your life? Through this discipleship experience, group

members will come to understand how to let the Gospel work in

their heads the way religion never has...or could.

When God's People

Pray

by Jim Cymbala

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.

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

by Jim Cymbala

Pastor Jim Cymbala believes that Jesus wants to renew his

people―to call us back from spiritual dead ends, apathy, and

lukewarm religion. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire shows what the Holy

Spirit can do when believers get serious about prayer and the

Gospel.

Good to Great In God's

Eyes

by Chip Ingram

Are you tired of the status quo Christian life? Do you long for a

spiritual breakthrough? Are you looking to go to the next level or

get a fresh infusion of faith and spiritual passion? Great

Christians live out their faith with purpose. In Mark 10:43, Jesus

says, whoever wants to become great must...Must what? You'll

explore the idea that there are certain practices available to

every believer at every maturity level to move us from good to

great...in God's Eyes.

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Why I believe

by Chip Ingram

What happens when we die? Can miracles be explained? Is there

really a God? Answers to questions such as varied as they are

confusing, and spring from a variety of mystical belief systems.

But the fact is, we can know the truth. There are solid, logical

answers to satisfy the heart and mind of those who are seeking.

Philippians: To

Live Is Christ

to Die Is Gain

by Matt

Chandler

Using Paul's radical letter to the Philippians as his road map, Matt Chandler forsakes the trendy to invite readers into authentic Christian maturity. Chandler offers tangible ways to develop a faith of pursuing, chasing, knowing, and loving Jesus. Because if we clean up our lives but don't get Jesus,

we've lost! So let the goal be Him.

Ruthless Trust

by: Brennan

Manning

In his sequel to The Ragamuffin Gospel bestselling author Brennan Manning shows how true and radical trust in God can transform our lives.

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"Get Connected" (relationship with other believers)

These studies help us get connected with other believers within our church to develop healthy relationships with those around

us, and to lean better how to "be the church" God intends us to

be through serving one another.

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"Get Connected" (relationship with other believers) These studies help us get connected with other believers within our church to develop healthy relationships with

those around us, and to lean better how to "be the church" God intends us to be through serving one another.

Unglued: Making Wise

Choices in the Midst of

Raw Emotions

by Lysa TerKeurst

God gave us emotions to experience life, not destroy it! Unglued

will equip you to: Know with confidence how to resolve conflict

in your important relationships. Find peace in your most difficult

relationships as you learn to be honest but kind when offended.

Gain a deep sense of calm by responding to situations out of

your control without acting out of control.

Loving Our Kids On

Purpose

by Danny Silk

Loving Our Kids on Purpose combines the principles of the

Kingdom of God and revival to form a powerful strategy for

parents. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom (2

Corinthians 3:17). Loving Our Kids on Purpose introduces

paradigms, perceptions, skills, and ideas that will help parents

reduce fear by eliminating the tool of punishment and

strengthening the core character of their children by

empowering their self-control and value for their relationship

with their parents.

Five Things God Uses to

Grow Your Faith

by Andy Stanley

Imagine how different your outlook on life would be if you had

absolute confidence that God was with you. Imagine how

differently you would respond to difficulties, temptations, and

even good things if you knew with certainty that God was in all

of it and was planning to leverage it for good.

Groups

by John Ortberg

Community is God's idea. Step by step, this study will challenge

and encourage you to explore the amazing potential for growth

found in authentic relationships. You'll study the true nature of

friendship. The power of paying attention. The path to intimacy.

The encouragement of being for one another. You'll learn what it

means to live out these and other simple but vital truths for

being all you are, giving all you've got, and receiving all you need

as a member of God's dynamic community, the church.

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The Ragamuffin Gospel

by Brennan Manning

Most of us believe in God's grace—in theory. But somehow we

can't seem to apply it in our daily lives. We continue to see Him

as a small-minded bookkeeper, tallying our failures and

successes on a score sheet. Yet God gives us His grace, willingly,

no matter what we've done. We come to Him as ragamuffins—

dirty, bedraggled, and beat-up. And when we sit at His feet, He

smiles upon us, the chosen objects of His "furious

love."

Love, Sex, and Lasting

Relationships

by Chip Ingram

Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships, helps readers walk a path to

true love that is more fulfilling than they ever imagined. "There's

a better way to find love, stay in love, and grow in intimacy for a

lifetime," says Chip Ingram. It's God's way. Whether single or

married, happy or searching for hope, readers will discover that

by following God's prescription, they can create a love that lasts.

A love that can be enjoyed.

Ruthless Trust

by Brennan Manning

In his sequel to The Ragamuffin Gospel bestselling author

Brennan Manning shows how true and radical trust in God can

transform our lives.

Love & Respect

by Dr. Emerson

Eggerichs

A wife has one driving need to feel loved. When that need is

met, she is happy. A husband has one driving need to feel

respected. When that need is met, he is happy. When either of

these needs isn't met, things get crazy. Love and Respect reveals

why spouses react negatively to each other, and how they can

deal with such conflict quickly, easily, and biblically.

The 5 Love Languages

by Gary Chapman

By learning the five love languages, you and your spouse will

discover your unique love languages and learn practical steps in

truly loving each other. Chapters are categorized by love

language for easy reference, and each one ends with specific,

simple steps to express a specific language to your spouse and

guide your marriage in the right direction.

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For Men Only

by Shaunti & Jeff

Feldhahn

For Men Only, Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn reveal the eye-opening

truths and simple acts that will radically improve your

relationship with the woman you love. Now updated with the

latest scientific research to explain the fabulous female brain

plus an all-new chapter that shows how to decode her most

baffling behavior, For Men Only is your roadmap to making her

happy.

“ 40 D ays o f L o v e”

by Rick Warren

Loving God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself

were Jesus' priorities while here on earth. Learn to love like Jesus

- with patience, kindness, truth, and forgiveness.


Community: Following

the Spirit, Extending

Grace, Demonstrating

Love


Acknowledging that Christians tend to emphasize personal faith

over social justice, or vice versa, Smith shows how to bring

spiritual formation and community engagement together---

learning to live in relationship with others as apprentices of

Christ and impacting the world in which we live.

Beyond the Band Aid

by Kerry Shook

Cuts, bruises and scrapes are a part of life. Every one is unique

with its own story. What's amazing is how fast they seem to heal.

But, what about the "relationship" cuts, bruises and scrapes that

need far more attention - the ones we want healed, but they

never seem to? This powerful two-part series by Pastor Kerry will

help us learn how to move "Beyond the Band-Aide" and discover

true healing that will result in lasting and fulfilling relationships.

Angry Words

by Kerry Shook

In this eye opening 2-part series about conflict, Pastor Kerry

reveals how anger can either destroy the bonds that hold

relationships together, or it can be a building block that makes

them stronger. Learn to fight fair and speak the truth in love.

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The Relationship

Principles of Jesus

by Tom Holladay

What would you give to radically improve, even transform, what

matters most in your relationships? How about forty days of

your time? In forty days, bring new depth and health to your

marriage, your family, and your friendships. Six weeks to explore

and implement six foundational principles that Jesus taught and

lived. You’ll be equipped with insights and a practical path for

fulfilling God’s intention for all your relationships―even the

difficult ones.


Life: Putting on the

Character of Christ


"I have never met a person whose goal was to ruin his or her life.

We all want to be happy, and we want it all of the time." So

begins James Bryan Smith in The Good and Beautiful Life. The

problem is, he tells us, we have bought into false notions of

happiness and success. These self-centered decisions lead us

further into the vices that cause ruin: anger, lust, lying, worry

and judging. Eventually we find ourselves living a beautifully

packaged life of self-destruction.

Resolving Everyday

Conflict

by Peacemaker

Ministries

Resolving Everyday Conflict is an eight-lesson study that unpacks

the amazing things the Bible has to say about conflict and

relationships. As you go through this study, you'll find the

powerful and practical answers you are looking for to forever

change how conflict looks in your life.

Peacemaker

by Ken Sande

Experience the healing power of biblical peacemaking as you

learn to apply scriptural principles to conflict in the world around

you. Parse the elements of arguments and begin to see that

there's not really any difference that can't be overcome with the

right perspective. It's practical guidance for resolving all types of

conflict and hope for relationships you thought were

unsalvageable.

It Starts at Home

by Matt Chandler

Our children can grow up smart, athletic, popular and polite but

lack a vibrant relationship with Christ. The few hours they spend

in church each week can be helpful, but it cannot nurture a faith

in our kids that will withstand the trials that are on the horizon.

Church alone cannot teach them, we must start at home. But

many parents feel ill equipped to develop the faith of their

children.

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One.Life

by Scot McKnight

What does it look like to follow Jesus, and how will doing so

change the way we live our life—our love.life, our justice.life, our

peace.life, our community.life, our sex.life—everything about

our life. One.Life will open your eyes to the full, compelling

immensity of what it means to be a Christian. “Jesus offers to us

a kingdom dream that transforms us to the very core of our

being,” says Scot McKnight.

No Perfect People

Allowed

by John Burke

This study shows you how to deconstruct the five main barriers

standing between emerging generations and your church by

creating the right culture. What makes this book both unique

and extremely helpful is that it is filled with real-life stories of

post-Christian people becoming followers of Jesus—not just

statistics or data about them.”

Life's Healing Choices

by John Baker

The road to spiritual maturity is paved with life-changing

decisions. Travel toward wholeness, growth, and freedom by

following Jesus' signposts along the way! Drawing on the

Beatitudes, Baker reveals eight positive principles to guide you in

making wise choices---leading to hope, healing, and happiness.

Discover how to admit your needs, let go, repair relationships,

and more.

Effective Parenting In A

Defective World

by Chip Ingram

In this day and age, children face a far more defective world than

the children of previous decades. Parents are left helpless, as

every godly principle of this defective world. But the truth is, God

has a plan for effectively raising your children and you can learn

it. Chip Ingram shares the life lessons from his personal

experience of raising four children. He describes his failures and

the challenges of teenage rebellion. And he teaches the

principles for successful parenting as revealed through God's

Word.

The Gospel Project

by Lifeway Church






around the world.

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S.H.A.P.E.

by Erik Rees

Erik Rees helps you discover God’s unique purpose for your life

based on the way God has shaped you. He made you

marvelously unique for a reason.

Philippians: To

Live Is Christ

to Die Is Gain

by Matt

Chandler

Using Paul's radical letter to the Philippians as his road map, Matt Chandler forsakes the trendy to invite readers into authentic Christian maturity. Chandler offers tangible ways

to develop a faith of pursuing, chasing, knowing, and loving

Jesus. Because if we clean up our lives but don't get Jesus,

we've lost! So let the goal be Him.

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"Get Going" (influence with outsiders)

These studies show us how to care for people, who are not in our church, through missions, serving outside the church and

evangelism.

Rev: 012116


"Get Going" (influence with outsiders) These studies show us how to care for people, who are not in our church, through missions, serving outside the

church and evangelism.

Blue Like Jazz

by Donald Miller

In Donald Miller's early years, he was vaguely familiar with a

distant God. But when he came to know Jesus Christ, he pursued

the Christian life with great zeal. Within a few years he had a

successful ministry that ultimately left him feeling empty, burned

out, and, once again, far away from God. Miller describes his

remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving

God. Blue Like Jazz is a fresh and original perspective on life,

love, and redemption.

Just Walk Across the

Room

by Bill Hybels

What if you knew that by simply crossing the room and saying

hello to someone, you could change that person's forever? All

you need is a heart that's in tune with the Holy Spirit and a

willingness to venture out of your 'Circle of Comfort' and into

another person's life. Just Walk Across the Room brings personal

evangelism into the twenty-first century.

Start Becoming a Good

Samaritan

by Michael Seaton with

John Ortberg

What does it take to 'love your neighbor' in a global community?

Becoming a Good Samaritan—an unprecedented initiative to

help Christians live out Christ's love in world-changing ways right

where they live. This study takes Christians out of the pews and

into the streets where, as the hands and feet of Christ, they will

live out the gospel, positively impacting those suffering from

poverty, social injustice, pandemic diseases, and more.

Like Your Neighbor?

By Stephen W.

Sorenson

The Bible tells us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves--

but do we like our neighbors? Do we take the time to build

relationships with people who are not Christians? This book is

about sharing your faith--and much more. Your relationships can

have eternal impact and enrich your life too!

Roaring Lambs

by Robert Briner

Christians can and ought to be the movers and shakers of social

change—'roaring lambs' who infiltrate and make an impact on

their workplace and world with their faith. Roaring Lambs was

written from Briner's personal experience as an Emmy Award-

winning television producer. It takes you into the work world

strategies anyone can use.

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Follow

by Andy Stanley

Regardless of what you believe, regardless of how you behave,

Jesus invites you to . . . follow.

Nehemiah

by Kelly Minter

Nehemiah's heart was so broken for those in need that he left

the comfort of his Persian palace to help them. You'll find

authentic Bible teaching, recipes, and a relational approach.

Nehemiah also includes seven video sessions and real-life ways

to put feet to your faith. Are you ready to let God break your

heart for a hurting, lost world and move you in compassion to be

the hands and feet of Jesus?

Conversation Peace

by Mary A. Kassian

Mary Kassian masterfully presents the biblical principles to help

women revolutionize their speech habits and improve their

relationships by focusing on ways to positively avoid sharing

gossip, throwing negative barbs, or snapping sarcastic replies

throughout everyday life.

Abba's Child

by Brennan Manning

Many Christians feel broken and angry but don't think they can

express these real feelings around others—or to God. So we put

on a mask to hide our identity. Author Brennan Manning

encourages you to let go of this stressful, unreal impostor

lifestyle and freely accept your identity as a child of God. Find the

rest that you long for as you grow in character and accept His

lordship.

I Am Church

by Louie Giglio

Jesus loves the Church. Established and redeemed by Christ, the

Church is an avenue through which He reveals Himself and is the

foundation on which He displays His glory.

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Sharing Life

by Pete Briscoe

The prospect of evangelism scares many of us. We know that we

should tell others about Jesus, but don't always feel comfortable

doing so. Have you ever tried to share your faith but felt more

like you were giving a sales pitch or struggling to remember

apologetic facts and verses? What if our approach to sharing the

gospel has been misguided all this time?

The Reasons for God

by Tim Keller

Timothy Keller, addresses the frequent doubts that skeptics and

non-believers bring to religion. Keller explains how the belief in a

Christian God is, in fact, a sound and rational one. To true

believers he offers a solid platform on which to stand against the

backlash toward religion spawned by the Age of Skepticism. And

to skeptics, atheists, and agnostics he provides a challenging

argument for pursuing the reason for God.

Gospel in Life: Grace

Changes Everything

by Tim Keller

This study is about 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.

Why Jesus?

by David Nassar

Culture is blurring the lines between different faiths. 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, the Sea of Galilee, the

Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives and the Mount of

the Beatitudes.

No Plan B

by Todd Phillips

War, poverty, despair … the world's problems seem

overwhelming. Where do we even start? Bono, Oprah and other

celebrities have the resources to make a difference … should we

just leave it up to them? Or does God have a role for each of us?

Todd Phillips travels to Rwanda and the Republic of Congo to

explore how he will make a difference to people looking for hope

and help. Todd uses Biblical teaching to reveal the important role

God has for each of us to rescue the world.

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When Helping Hurts

by Brian Fikkert

When Helping Hurts is a paradigm-forming contemporary classic

on the subject of poverty alleviation. Rather than simply looking

at the economics, it looks at the poverty of relationships

between man and God, man and man, man and creation, and

man and self. Utilizing free, online video lessons set both in

Africa and the United States, the Small Group Experience is the

ideal resource for small groups, Sunday school classes,

parachurch and non-profit ministries, ministry training, and even

individuals.


Community: Following

the Spirit, Extending

Grace, Demonstrating

Love


Acknowledging that Christians tend to emphasize personal faith

over social justice, or vice versa, Smith shows how to bring

spiritual formation and community engagement together---

learning to live in relationship with others as apprentices of

Christ and impacting the world in which we live.

Apologetics

by Matt Chandler

Matt Chandler provides powerful teaching from Scripture and

helps people understand why believing in God and the Bible is

not only reasonable, but also essential. And that's what

apologetics is all about. Knowing what you believe and why you

believe it, and then being able to share with others why you

think your beliefs are reasonable.

One.Life

by Scot McKnight

What does it look like to follow Jesus, and how will doing so

change the way we live our life—our love.life, our justice.life, our

peace.life, our community.life, our sex.life—everything about

our life. One.Life will open your eyes to the full, compelling

immensity of what it means to be a Christian. “Jesus offers to us

a kingdom dream that transforms us to the very core of our

being,” says Scot McKnight.

No Perfect People

Allowed

by John Burke

No Perfect People

Allowed shows you how to deconstruct the five

main barriers standing between emerging generations and your

church by creating the right culture. What makes this book both

unique and extremely helpful is that it is filled with real-life

stories of post-Christian people becoming followers of Jesus—

not just statistics or data about them.”

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Mud And The

Masterpiece

by John Burke

The reason “sinners” ran from the religious, yet ran to Jesus had

everything to do with his heart’s attitude toward people. Unlike

the Pharisees, who could only see the mud of sin, Jesus saw a

masterpiece under the mud that was so valuable, he was willing

to give his life to restore messy people to the original work of art

he created them to be. This insightful book encourages readers

to see the masterpiece beneath the mud in everyone.

Lead Like Jesus

by Ken Blanchard & Phil

Hodges

With simple yet profound principles from the life of Jesus and

dozens of stories and leadership examples from his life Ken

Blanchard guides readers through the process of discovering how

to lead like Jesus. He describes it as the process of aligning two

internal domains-the heart and the head-and two external

domains-the hands and the habits. These four dimensions of

leadership form the outline for this very practical and

transformational book.

Work As Worship

by Mark Russell

The time has come for us to see a purpose for business that goes

beyond money and that has a vision for this economy that goes

even beyond this earth. This study opens our collective eyes to

the spiritual nature and mission of our daily work. Work as

Worship creates a space for ongoing community and

conversation on these important issues.

The Gospel Project

by Lifeway Church






around the world.

Life On Mission

A Simple Way to Share

the Gospel

by Lifeway Church

Approximately 259 million people in the United States and

Canada do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Living a life on mission is the story of everyday, ordinary

believers leveraging whatever levels of influence they have to

bring unbelievers to faith in Christ. This five-session Bible study

will not make you into an evangelist. However, it will invite you

to connect with God's mission and equip you with tools to live a

life that matters.

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The Gospel According

to JONAH

A New Kind Of

Obedience

by J.D. Greear

This study invites group participants into a world fraught with

missteps, disobedience, idolatry, and mistaken "identity." It's a

world most of us would recognize in our own lives. But in the

world of Jonah, we also get more than a foreshadowing of Jesus

and a God that pursues us relentlessly. Through this study,

individual participants can recognize the "Jonah" in themselves

and channel this revelation into a greater passion for asking

others into the same assurance.

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Books of the Bible

If you are going to study a particular book of the bible you can use this section to determin which category each book would

respresent.

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Old Testament - Books of the Bible

Genesis

Genesis speaks of beginnings and is foundational to

the understanding of the rest of the Bible. It is

supremely a book that speaks about relationships,

highlighting those between God and his creation,

between God and humankind, and between human

beings.

"Get Engaged" (relationship with God),

"Get Connected" (relationship with believers),


Exodus

Exodus describes the history of the Israelites

leaving Egypt after slavery. The book lays a

foundational theology in which God reveals his

name, his attributes, his redemption, his law and

how he is to be worshiped.




Leviticus

Leviticus receives its name from the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the Old

Testament) and means "concerning the Levites"

(the priests of Israel). It serves as a manual of

regulations enabling the holy King to set up his

earthly throne among the people of his kingdom. It

explains how they are to be his holy people and to

worship him in a holy manner.


"Get Connected" (relationship with believers)

Numbers

Numbers relates the story of Israel's journey from

Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab on the border of

Canaan. The book tells of the murmuring and

rebellion of God's people and of their subsequent

judgment.



Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy ("repetition of the Law") serves as a reminder to God's people about His covenant. The

book is a "pause" before Joshua's conquest begins

and a reminder of what God required.



Joshua

Joshua is a story of conquest and fulfillment for the

people of God. After many years of slavery in Egypt

and 40 years in the desert, the Israelites were

finally allowed to enter the land promised to their



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Judges

The book of Judges depicts the life of Israel in the

Promised Land—from the death of Joshua to the

rise of the monarchy. It tells of urgent appeals to

God in times of crisis and apostasy, moving the

Lord to raise up leaders (judges) through whom He

throws off foreign oppressors and restores the land

to peace.



Ruth

The book of Ruth has been called one of the best

examples of short narrative ever written. It

presents an account of the remnant of true faith

and piety in the period of the judges through the

fall and restoration of Naomi and her daughter-in-

law Ruth (an ancestor of King David and Jesus).




1 Samuel

Samuel relates God's establishment of a political

system in Israel headed by a human king. Through

Samuel's life, we see the rise of the monarchy and

the tragedy of its first king, Saul.



2 Samuel

After the failure of King Saul, 2 Samuel depicts

David as a true (though imperfect) representative

of the ideal theocratic king. Under David's rule the

Lord caused the nation to prosper, to defeat its

enemies, and to realize the fulfillment of His

promises.



1 Kings

1 Kings continues the account of the monarchy in

Israel and God's involvement through the

prophets. After David, his son Solomon ascends the

throne of a united kingdom, but this unity only

lasts during his reign. The book explores how each

subsequent king in Israel and Judah answers God's

call—or, as often happens, fails to listen.




2 Kings

2 Kings carries the historical account of Judah and

Israel forward. The kings of each nation are judged

in light of their obedience to the covenant with

God. Ultimately, the people of both nations are

exiled for disobedience.



1 Chronicles

Just as the author of Kings had organized and

interpreted Israel's history to address the needs of

the exiled community, so the writer of 1 Chronicles

wrote for the restored community another history.



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2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles continues the account of Israel's

history with an eye for restoration of those who

had returned from exile.



Ezra

The book of Ezra relates how God's covenant

people were restored from Babylonian exile to the

covenant land as a theocratic (kingdom of God)

community even while continuing under foreign

rule.




Nehemiah

Closely related to the book of Ezra, Nehemiah

chronicles the return of this "cupbearer to the

king" and the challenges he and the other Israelites

face in their restored homeland.




Esther

Esther records the institution of the annual festival

of Purim through the historical account of Esther, a

Jewish girl who becomes queen of Persia and saves

her people from destruction.




Job

Through a series of monologues, the book of Job

relates the account of a righteous man who suffers

under terrible circumstances. The book's profound

insights, its literary structures, and the quality of its

rhetoric display the author's genius.




Psalms

The Psalms are collected songs and poems that represent centuries worth of praises and prayers to

God on a number of themes and circumstances.

The Psalms are impassioned, vivid and concrete;

they are rich in images, in simile and metaphor.



Proverbs

Proverbs was written to give "prudence to the

simple, knowledge and discretion to the young,"

and to make the wise even wiser. The frequent

references to "my son(s)" emphasize instructing

the young and guiding them in a way of life that

yields rewarding results.



Ecclesiastes

The author of Ecclesiastes puts his powers of wisdom to work to examine the human experience

and assess the human situation. His perspective is

limited to what happens "under the sun" (as is that

of all human teachers).




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Song of

Solomon

In ancient Israel everything human came to

expression in words: reverence, gratitude, anger,

sorrow, suffering, trust, friendship, commitment. In

the Song of Solomon, it is love that finds words–

inspired words that disclose its exquisite charm and

beauty as one of God's choicest gifts.



Isaiah

Isaiah son of Amoz is often thought of as the

greatest of the writing prophets. His name means

"The Lord saves." Isaiah is a book that unveils the

full dimensions of God's judgment and salvation.




Jeremiah

This book preserves an account of the prophetic

ministry of Jeremiah, whose personal life and

struggles are shown to us in greater depth and

detail than those of any other Old Testament

prophet.



Lamentations

Lamentations consists of a series of poetic and

powerful laments over the destruction of

Jerusalem (the royal city of the Lord's kingdom) in


Ezekiel

The Old Testament in general and the prophets in

particular presuppose and teach God's sovereignty

over all creation and the course of history. And

nowhere in the Bible are God's initiative and

control expressed more clearly and pervasively

than in the book of the prophet Ezekiel.



Daniel

Daniel captures the major events in the life of the prophet Daniel during Israel's exile. His life and

visions point to God's plans of redemption and

sovereign control of history.



Hosea

The prophet Hosea son of Beeri lived in the tragic final days of the northern kingdom. His life served

as a parable of God's faithfulness to an unfaithful

Israel.



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Joel

The prophet Joel warned the people of Judah

about God's coming judgment—and the coming

restoration and blessing that will come through

repentance.


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Old Testament - Books of the Bible Amos

Amos prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah over

Judah (792-740 B.C.) and Jeroboam II over Israel

(793-753).




Obadiah

The prophet Obadiah warned the proud people of Edom about the impending judgment coming upon

them.


Jonah

Jonah is unusual as a prophetic book in that it is a

narrative account of Jonah's mission to the city of

Nineveh, his resistance, his imprisonment in a great

fish, his visit to the city, and the subsequent

outcome.




Micah

Micah prophesied sometime between 750 and 686

B.C. during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and

Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Israel was in an apostate

condition. Micah predicted the fall of her capital,

Samaria, and also foretold the inevitable desolation

of Judah.




Nahum

The book contains the "vision of Nahum," whose

name means "comfort." The focal point of the

entire book is the Lord's judgment on Nineveh for

her oppression, cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness.



Habakkuk

Little is known about Habakkuk except that he was

a contemporary of Jeremiah and a man of vigorous

faith. The book bearing his name contains a

dialogue between the prophet and God concerning

injustice and suffering.


Zephaniah

The prophet Zephaniah was evidently a person of

considerable social standing in Judah and was

probably related to the royal line. The intent of the

author was to announce to Judah God's

approaching judgment.



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Haggai

Haggai was a prophet who, along with Zechariah,

encouraged the returned exiles to rebuild the

temple. His prophecies clearly show the

consequences of disobedience. When the people

give priority to God and his house, they are

blessed rather than cursed.



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Zechariah

Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Zechariah was not only a

prophet, but also a member of a priestly family.

The chief purpose of Zechariah (and Haggai) was to

rebuke the people of Judah and to encourage and

motivate them to complete the rebuilding of the

temple.




Malachi

Malachi, whose name means "my messenger,"

spoke to the Israelites after their return from exile.

The theological message of the book can be

summed up in one sentence: The Great King will

come not only to judge his people, but also to bless

and restore them.



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New Testament - Books of the Bible

Matthew

Matthew's main purpose in writing his Gospel is

to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their

Messiah. He does this primarily by showing how

Jesus in his life and ministry fulfilled the Old

Testament Scriptures.




Mark

Since Mark's Gospel is traditionally associated

with Rome, it may have been occasioned by the

persecutions of the Roman church in the period

c. A.D. 64-67. Mark may be writing to prepare his

readers for such suffering by placing before them

the life of our Lord.




Luke

Luke's Gospel was written to strengthen the faith

of all believers and to answer the attacks of

unbelievers. It was presented to debunk some

disconnected and ill-founded reports about Jesus.

Luke wanted to show that the place of the

Gentile (non-Jewish) Christian in God's kingdom

is based on the teaching of Jesus.




John

John's Gospel is rather different from the other

three, highlighting events not detailed in the

others. The author himself states his main

purpose clearly in 20:31: "that you may believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that

by believing you may have life in his name."




Acts

The book of Acts provides a bridge for the

writings of the New Testament. As a second

volume to Luke's Gospel, it joins what Jesus

"began to do and to teach" as told in the Gospels

with what he continued to do and teach through

the apostles' preaching and the establishment of

the church.




Romans

Paul's primary theme in Romans is presenting the

gospel, God's plan of salvation and righteousness

for all humankind, Jew and non-Jew alike.




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1 Corinthians

The first letter to the Corinthians revolves around

the theme of problems in Christian conduct in

the church. It thus has to do with progressive

sanctification, the continuing development of a

holy character. Obviously Paul was personally

concerned with the Corinthians' problems,

revealing a true pastor's (shepherd's) heart.



2 Corinthians

Because of the occasion that prompted this

letter, Paul had a number of purposes in mind: to

express the comfort and joy Paul felt because the

Corinthians had responded favorably to his

painful letter; to let them know about the trouble

he went through in the province of Asia; and to

explain to them the true nature (its joys,

sufferings and rewards) and high calling of

Christian ministry.




Galatians

Galatians stands as an eloquent and vigorous

apologetic for the essential New Testament truth

that people are justified by faith in Jesus Christ—

by nothing less and nothing more—and that they

are sanctified not by legalistic works but by the

obedience that comes from faith in God's work

for them.




Ephesians

Unlike several of the other letters Paul wrote,

Ephesians does not address any particular error

or heresy. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of

his readers, so that they might understand better

the dimensions of God's eternal purpose and

grace and come to appreciate the high goals God

has for the church.




Philippians

Paul's primary purpose in writing this letter was

to thank the Philippians for the gift they had sent

him upon learning of his detention at Rome.

However, he makes use of this occasion to fulfill

several other desires: (1) to report on his own

circumstances; (2) to encourage the Philippians

to stand firm in the face of persecution and

rejoice regardless of circumstances; and (3) to

exhort them to humility and unity.

"Get Engaged" (relationship with God), "Get Connected" (relationship with believers)

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Colossians

Paul's purpose is to refute the Colossian heresy.

To accomplish this goal, he exalts Christ as the

very image of God, the Creator, the preexistent

sustainer of all things, the head of the church, the

first to be resurrected, the fullness of deity (God)

in bodily form, and the reconciler.



1 Thessalonians

Although the thrust of the letter is varied, the

subject of eschatology (doctrine of last things)

seems to be predominant in both Thessalonian

letters. Every chapter of 1 Thessalonians ends

with a reference to the second coming of Christ.


2 Thessalonians

Since the situation in the Thessalonian church has

not changed substantially, Paul's purpose in

writing is very much the same as in his first letter

to them. He writes (1) to encourage persecuted

believers, (2) to correct a misunderstanding

concerning the Lord's return, and (3) to exhort

the Thessalonians to be steadfast and to work for

a living.


1 Timothy

During his fourth missionary journey, Paul had

instructed Timothy to care for the church at

Ephesus while he went on to Macedonia. When

he realized that he might not return to Ephesus in

the near future, he wrote this first letter to

Timothy to develop the charge he had given his

young assistant. This is the first of the "Pastoral

Epistles."



2 Timothy

Paul was concerned about the welfare of the

churches during this time of persecution under

Nero, and he admonishes Timothy to guard the

gospel, to persevere in it, to keep on preaching it,

and, if necessary, to suffer for it. This is the

second "Pastoral Epistle."



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Titus

Apparently Paul introduced Christianity in Crete

when he and Titus visited the island, after which

he left Titus there to organize the converts. Paul

sent the letter with Zenas and Apollos, who were

on a journey that took them through Crete, to

give Titus personal authorization and guidance in

meeting opposition, instructions about faith and

conduct, and warnings about false teachers. This

is the last of the "Pastoral Epistles."



Philemon

To win Philemon's willing acceptance of the

runaway slave Onesimus, Paul writes very

tactfully and in a lighthearted tone, which he

creates with wordplay. The appeal is organized in

a way prescribed by ancient Greek and Roman

teachers: to build rapport, to persuade the mind,

and to move the emotions.


Hebrews

The theme of Hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as revealer and as

mediator of God's grace. A striking feature of this

presentation of the gospel is the unique manner

in which the author employs expositions of eight

specific passages of the Old Testament

Scriptures.



James

Characteristics that make the letter distinctive

are: (1) its unmistakably Jewish nature; (2) its

emphasis on vital Christianity, characterized by

good deeds and a faith that works (genuine faith

must and will be accompanied by a consistent

lifestyle); (3) its simple organization; (4) and its

familiarity with Jesus' teachings preserved in the

Sermon on the Mount.


1 Peter

Although 1 Peter is a short letter, it touches on

various doctrines and has much to say about

Christian life and duties. It is not surprising that

different readers have found it to have different

principal themes. For example, it has been

characterized as a letter of separation, of

suffering and persecution, of suffering and glory,

of hope, of pilgrimage, of courage, and as a letter

dealing with the true grace of God.




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2 Peter

In his first letter Peter feeds Christ's sheep by

instructing them how to deal with persecution

from outside the church; in this second letter he

teaches them how to deal with false teachers and

evildoers who have come into the church.


1 John

John's readers were confronted with an early

form of Gnostic teaching of the Cerinthian

variety. This heresy was also libertine, throwing

off all moral restraints. Consequently, John wrote

this letter with two basic purposes in mind: (1) to

expose false teachers and (2) to give believers

assurance of salvation.



2 John

During the first two centuries the gospel was

taken from place to place by traveling evangelists

and teachers. Believers customarily took these

missionaries into their homes and gave them

provisions for their journey when they left. Since

Gnostic teachers also relied on this practice, 2

John was written to urge discernment in

supporting traveling teachers


3 John

Itinerant teachers sent out by John were rejected

in one of the churches in the province of Asia by

a dictatorial leader, Diotrephes, who even

excommunicated members who showed

hospitality to John's messengers. John wrote this

letter to commend Gaius for supporting the

teachers and, indirectly, to warn Diotrephes.


Jude

Although Jude was very eager to write to his

readers about salvation, he felt that he must

instead warn them about certain immoral men

circulating among them who were perverting the

grace of God. Apparently these false teachers

were trying to convince believers that being

saved by grace gave them license to sin since

their sins would no longer be held against them.


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Revelation

John writes to encourage the faithful to resist

staunchly the demands of emperor worship. He

informs his readers that the final showdown

between God and Satan is imminent. Satan will

increase his persecution of believers, but they

must stand fast, even to death. They are sealed

against any spiritual harm and will soon be

vindicated when Christ returns, when the wicked

are forever destroyed, and when God's people

enter an eternity of glory and blessedness.



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