LUKE The two volumes of Luke-Acts have been combined in The Books of the Bible and placed first because they provide an overview of the entire New Testament period. Luke wrote this two-volume history to serve several important purposes: He wanted to assure followers of Jesus that what they had been taught about him was…
You Were Made for This Moment: Cozy in the Culture
Esther 1:1-2:18 WELCOME The middle school lunchroom. Do you remember the place? Plastic trays, mystery meat, mini-milk cartons, soggy potato chips… and you. You’re a twelve-year-old kid who has just made it through the lunch line and is now standing, tray in hand, looking over a sea of students and strangers who have already…
Out of the Cave: Even Prophets Get Depressed
After getting all fired up, it was almost inevitable that Elijah would cave in. Depression often comes on the heels of a spiritual and emotional high. Welcome No matter how strong your faith may be, you likely experience times when frantic thoughts keep you awake at night. Times when your emotions overwhelm you and…
Philippians: A Love Letter
Philippians 1:1-8 As followers of Jesus, we have heard the call to love God with all that is in us and to love our neighbors as ourselves. In this letter, we get a vision of how we should feel about other followers of Jesus and how we should express these feelings openly to them. WELCOME…
So Long Normal: What’s So Bad about Normal?
INTRODUCTION Leader, read this section aloud to the group: Have you ever tried to grab your breath on a cold morning? It may seem like an odd question, but it’s undoubtedly something we’ve all tried to do at some point in our lives. Catching our breath is like trying to maintain a sense of “normal.”…
Beautiful Word Ephesians: Chosen
Opening Group Activity (10–15 MINUTES) What you’ll need: ⊲ Sheet of blank paper for each person ⊲ Pens, markers, and/or watercolors Each participant is invited to use the paper and drawing/writing tools to create a picture (words or images) of someone whose head is held high, one who is held somewhat up, and someone whose…
Captivating: The Heart of a Woman
GROUP STUDY “Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman.” ~ Tammy Wynette Welcome! Welcome to Session One of Captivating. If this is your first time together as a group or there are new members in your group, take a moment to introduce yourselves to one another before watching the video. We suggest you simply…
The Heart of a Man
A man’s heart reflects the man… — Proverbs 27:19 NIV WELCOME Welcome to session 1 of Wild at Heart. This first session covers chapter 1, “Wild at Heart,” and chapter 2, “The Wild One Whose Image We Bear,” of John’s book. If there are new members in your group, take a moment to introduce…
More Than a Decision
“Questions are places in your mind where answers fit. If you haven’t asked the question, the answer has nowhere to go… You have to ask the question — you have to want to know — in order to open up the space for the answer to fit.” ~ Clay Christensen, Harvard Business School Professor SESSION…
When to Walk Away: Follow Jesus’ Example
Jesus walked away from toxic people and let them walk away from Him. We can learn to follow His example. INTRODUCTION For the first fifteen years of their marriage they served the church in two dramatically different ways. Both David and Ginny had gifts for ministry, loved people, and felt honored to serve the same…