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Group Answers Podcast
January 13, 2021

Group Answers Episode 187: Leading in a Deeply Divided World

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris talks to Will Johnston about how we navigate tough conversations in our groups, especially after the events of January 6.

Will Johnston is the Director of Build Community at Eastside Community Church in Anaheim, California. Will graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in theology, did a two-and-a-half year stint on Capitol Hill, and then joined the staff of National Community Church in Washington D.C., where he oversaw small groups.

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Leading Small Groups.

Group Leadership
January 11, 2021

Small Group Launch Checklist

By Group Ministry

By Reid Smith

Leaders launching new small groups want to have a strong start and welcome input on how to do so. Try offering just enough guidance so they know what to do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER their first meeting without overwhelming them. This is an example of a resource you can customize to help small group leaders think through important steps so their new group can launch successfully and stay together for the long-haul.

BEFORE

1.Invite as many of your friends as you can think of…

◦Share your vision for the group—why you’re doing it and what you hope people will walk away with.

◦Try to describe the dynamic of the group and the people who will be a part of it.

◦Create an invitational ripple effect by having your friends and new group members invite their friends too.

2.Invite more people than you have room for (usually only one-half to two-thirds of those who confirm actually show up!). Start with as many people as possible at the beginning because there’s usually some attrition.

3.Tell people this will initially be a short-term experience that you’re confident they’ll love and then they’ll be able to decide if and in what way they’d like to continue.

4.Let them know there will be food…lots of good food! (If group members commit to bring food to the next meeting, this increases the likelihood they will return.)

5.Phone or text those interested a day or two before your first meeting.

6.Pray for your new group and those who plan to come!

7.Review any leader/host material and the upcoming study session in advance.

DURING

1.Welcome and introduce yourself (be relaxed, be real, and have FUN!).

2.Share a little background as to why you chose the focus of the group and tell them basically what each meeting will look like.

3.Allow time for people to introduce themselves and to share why your group stood out to them.

4.Acknowledge God’s Presence with you (Mt. 18:20) and share how you believe the Lord will use your new group experience to transform your lives. Depending on how many people are present who are not a part of your church, you can touch briefly on how your group will help to fulfill your church’s mission by living out the biblical purposes of God together.

5.Model authenticity and affirm each person’s input as you facilitate discussion.

6.Encourage participants to invite their friends, co-workers, neighbors, parents of their kids’ friends, and other unconnected people at your church to future meetings.

7.Close your group time in a brief prayer and get a picture.

AFTER

1.Let your Pastor or Coach know how everything went and how they can pray for you!

2.Follow-up with those who didn’t show up by calling them to let them know you missed them, how great the first meeting was, and also to remind them of when the next meeting is going to be.

3.Spread the word on social media with your photo and welcome people to join you.

4.Remind your new group members of your next meeting (and any food they might be bringing) a day or two beforehand.

5.Review the upcoming session and tailor the discussion questions based on who God has placed in your group.

6.Start pondering and praying about who you believe could co-lead with you and eventually launch out with their own small group.

7.Over time, share bite-size roles and responsibilities with your group members, see what people gravitate toward, and let them run with it! Rotate the facilitation of the study and discussion as well.

Reid Smith has been equipping leaders in churches of all sizes and stages of growth for effective disciple-making since 1996. He lives in Wellington, Florida where he serves as a Groups Pastor at Christ Fellowship. You can find more of his helpful resources at www.reidsmith.org.

Group Answers Podcast
January 6, 2021

Group Answers Episode 186: What We Learned About Groups and Community During This Pandemic

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian catch up with three previous guests about the lessons they learned from doing groups in 2020, and how they are going to apply them in 2021.

 

Ashley Anderson Ashley Anderson is community groups leader at Church of the City in New York, New York.
Dave Enns Dave Enns is the pastor of life group ministries at North Coast Church in San Diego, California.
Jon Hughes Jon Hughes is adult ministries director at Community Christian Church in Chicago, Illinois.

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Leading Small Groups.

Group Leadership
January 4, 2021

Why I Joined My First Group and Why I Would Do It Again

By Group Ministry

By Cheri Liefeld

Five years ago, I both started and joined my first small group. I wanted friends at my church and desperately needed community. I felt alone in a big crowd, yet each week I ran out the door to my car instead of stopping to get to know other people.

I was going to join a small group until our church launched free-market groups based on interest. I discovered I could start a group based on two passions: being a foodie and my faith. In the weeks leading up to our launch, I worried no one else would share the same desire. To my surprise, six women showed up that first night. They were just like me, longing for connection. For most of them, it was also their first small group.

At the time, I didn’t realize how beneficial joining a small group would be. It ended up being the starting point for reengaging in ministry, deepening my relationship with Jesus, and making Eastside my home. Here are just a few of the reasons I would do it again.

  1. We crave community. Each week we gathered around the table for a meal, shared our lives, and talked about Jesus. I fell in love with small groups and saw the vital role they play in both the church and people’s lives. Most people don’t join a group and lead one, but many people in our churches feel isolated and feel like the community they see around them is escaping them. 

Owning a small business where I worked alone most days made it hard to meet people. Sitting around the table that first night, I realized how much I missed the community of other believers. The laughter and honest sharing around the table each week filled my soul. God did not create us to live life alone. When we come together each week, we find power in encouragement, conversation, and prayer.

  1. Accountability is key. Agreeing to be in a small group brings some much-needed accountability, in a good way. When someone is tired at the end of the day and wants to go home, a text saying, “Can’t wait to see you!” provides the extra motivation to attend. Making plans to sit together at church or worship nights also keeps people on track. Going through a study keeps us in the Word. We can wrestle over passages of Scripture together, allowing people space to work out what they believe.

In a group, we can challenge each other to rethink what is not working in our lives and the next step to bring about healthy change. Most of all, we point people to Jesus. The group is hopefully a safe place to express opinions and doubts. With a mix of love, encouragement, and truth, we can honestly look at ourselves and admit when we need help.

  1. We grow in Groups. One of my favorite things about joining a small group is watching others take the next step on their spiritual journey. I experienced this. My life improved spiritually, socially, and emotionally when I took that first step to join a small group. Each time we launch new groups, I hear stories from other people who experience the same thing. 

We encourage small group leaders to help people take their next step. They will introduce this idea to the group and ask them to pray about where God is calling them to grow spiritually. This exercise helps people intentionally pray and take their next steps. People start reading their Bible, they get baptized, and sometimes they launch a new small group.

When people are isolated, and without community, it’s easy to doubt their value and forget who they are in Christ. As a group, when we see someone’s gifting and encourage it, it’s life changing. As leaders, it is a privilege to encourage people to follow how they feel God is leading. When they nervously take that first step, we are there to cheer them on. My friend Jen kept saying she was not a leader to anyone who would listen. One day she responded to my invitation to join a leadership group saying, “God told me to, but I am not a leader!” Years later, she is still leading a small group of women.

Small groups are natural connections for discipleship to take place outside of small groups. One of our small groups of young women invited a few older women to come and share with their group. After those meetings, connections formed, which built one-on-one discipleship relationships. Mentor moms from our MOPS groups started a yearly 6-week discipleship class. In a church our size, these types of relationships wouldn’t have happened outside of the connections made in small groups.

  1. We long to belong. The first Sunday after our meeting, I ran into two of my new small group members. I found a reason to stay and talk, eventually met more people, and felt like I was part of something bigger. It’s funny how I had gone there for two years, sat in the same section, and had never seen any of them before. 

A sense of belonging is essential. Feeling like we are part of a bigger picture, being known, and valued breaks down walls.

With each new small group I launch, I witness the same phenomenon occur. Group participants are excited to recognize their new friends at a service and soon start making plans to sit together. Being in a small group creates that bridge to making the church feel like home.

  1. We have the opportunity to help others. Every time our group serves together, I am amazed at the depth of bonding that occurs. We want our groups to make a difference and ask that they serve together at least once a session. Coming together to help others is powerful. Small talk combined with the shared experience of serving and making a difference adds a layer to our friendship that doesn’t occur while sitting in a circle each week.

When we serve, we get to be part of God’s bigger plan. The opportunities to connect locally and globally crack open our hearts and help us discover passions God has placed within. We see the needs in our community.

  1. We need each other. Life is hard and messy. I started taking steps to get involved because I was caring for a parent and had a moment when I realized if anything happened, we didn’t know anyone at our church to turn to for comfort, support, and prayers.

The New Testament has numerous “one another” verses telling us how to care for others. How we care for each other is important to God.

We have the opportunity to care for one another, pray for one another, and celebrate with one another. Whether we are raising kids, caring for aging parents, or facing personal health or financial challenges, we will all find ourselves in need at some point. Small groups keep us from facing these issues on our own. Through our Group Me text chain, one of my group members will jump on and say, “I need prayer right now.” We stop and pray. We have seen the power of prayer and the impact that it has had on our friends and families.

I might have started my first group for personal reasons, but the group changed me. I will never tire of watching people join a group and find their place.

Cheri Liefeld is the Director of Small Groups at Eastside Community Church in Anaheim, California. She was previously Director of Women’s Ministry at Mariners Church. She is a writer and loves to gather people around the table. You can read more at adenturesinthekitchen.com.

Group Answers Podcast
December 30, 2020

Group Answers Episode 185: Bonus Classic with Andrew Peterson

By Group Ministry

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On this classic episode of Group Answers, Brian and Chris talk to author and musician, Andrew Peterson.

Andrew Peterson is an award-winning singer-songwriter and author. The second book in his Wingfeather Saga, “North! Or Be Eaten” (2009) won the Christy Award for Young Adult Fiction, and the fourth, “The Warden and the Wolf King” (2014) won Children’s Book of the Year in 2015 from “WORLD Magazine.”

In 2008, driven by a desire to cultivate a strong Christian arts community, Andrew founded a ministry called The Rabbit Room, which led to a yearly conference, countless concerts and symposiums, and Rabbit Room Press, which has published thirty books to date. He’s been married for 24 years to his wife Jamie, with whom they have three children.

His new book, “Adorning the Dark”, is both a memoir of Peterson’s journey and an encouragement for artists, written in the hope that his story will provide practical tools to others stumbling along in pursuit of a calling to adorn the dark with the light of Christ.

Question asked:

  • Why did you decide to create The Rabbit Room community?
  • Community seems to be important to you – The Rabbit Room, Behold the Lamb of God tour – why is it important to have a community – even in the world of artists?
  • How do you keep a consistent community when you’re constantly on the road as a musician and speaker?
  • What prompted you to write “Adorning the Dark”?
  • For whom did you write this book? Can those who don’t work in the arts and may not consider
    themselves a creative person use this?
  • What is one thing you have learned about creativity and the Christian life in your 20 years as a
    singer/songwriter, that you wish you could go back and tell your younger self?
  • How does our calling as Christians intersect and inform the “great mystery of creativity”?

Resources mentioned:

  • Adorning the Dark book
  • The Rabbit Room community

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Leading Small Groups.

Group Answers Podcast
December 23, 2020

Group Answers Episode 184: Christmas Movies Bonus

By Group Ministry

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On this bonus episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk about their favorite (and not so favorite) non-traditional Christmas movies.

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Leading Small Groups.

Group Leadership
December 21, 2020

Five Methods for Studying the Bible on Your Own

By Group Ministry

By Cheri Liefeld

As small group leaders, one of the best gifts we can give our group members is to teach them how to study the Bible on their own. It is inspiring to watch a Bible study teacher or discuss this week’s sermon, but the benefits of personal Bible study are immeasurable.

If we only surface-read a passage, we can miss out on hearing from God. The Bible says that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5:6). As we’ve experienced God communicating to us while studying Scripture on our own, don’t we want people in our groups to experience that too?”

There is a sense of empowerment when believers can sit down, read the Bible and discover truth for themselves. We each grow closer to God in the process. Time spent studying the Bible equips us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We become more confident in sharing what we know with others and discover that the Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) in our daily lives.

Common barriers people experience include feeling overwhelmed, lacking time, and feeling under-qualified. Learning about different methods and study tools will make study seem more approachable. Experimenting with different study methods helps individuals identify the most accessible study. 

A few tools will help you, no matter what study method you choose:

  • Study Bible (digital or paper)
  • journal or notebook
  • pen or pencil
  • highlighter

For those who prefer to study using a computer or tablet, digital versions of the Bible and resources make in-depth study extremely easy.

Whether you are just starting out or looking for fresh ways to approach your Bible study, let’s look at a few study methods to consider. Whichever method you choose, start with prayer, asking God to give you wisdom and new insights. 

S.O.A.P. Study of the Bible

This devotional style study method is a simple approach to go with your daily Bible reading. SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. 

  1. Scripture: Write the verse in your journal.
  2. Observation: Write down observations about the Scripture.
  3. Application: How can you apply what you observed in your life?
  4. Prayer: Write out a prayer to God based on what you just learned and ask Him to give you opportunities to live out this truth.

Study a Book of the Bible

Select a book of the Bible to read through. Each day read through a passage or entire chapter. Then read through a second time and underline keywords and phrases. 

  1. Write down what God is saying in this chapter and identify a theme.
  2. Take a few minutes to identify the spiritual truth or principles in this chapter that are applicable to your life.
  3. Finally, write down how you will act on the lessons learned in this passage. 
  4. As you work through the book of the Bible, create an outline. 

Topical

When you want to know what the Bible says about a certain topic, use a concordance to search what the Bible says about it. For example, when you look up the word courage in your concordance, you’ll find several references. 

  1. Select a topic and look it up in a concordance.
  2. Choose 10-20 verses on the subject.
  3. Read the verses.
  4. Write down observations.
  5. Make conclusions and identify how you can apply something you’ve read to your own life and also share with others.

Biographical

Did you know that there are more than 3,000 people mentioned in the Bible? The Book of Genesis tells the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. There are epic tales filled with challenges, heartbreak, and family drama. But that is not the end of the story. Each of their stories illustrates how God met these people and tells of promises He made and fulfilled. 

For this method, select a person from the Bible to study. Look at their strengths and weaknesses and consider what could be applicable to your own life. What about them encourages you? Inspires you? A few potential characters to study include Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Ruth, Rahab, Jesus, Mary, Elizabeth, and Paul. 

Here are the basic steps. 

  1. Select a character. Start with someone with a few references you can easily study. Save characters like David and Paul for later.
  2. Read the passages of their story and create a timeline.
  3. Note their background, key events, relationships, and the challenges they faced.
  4. Identify their strengths and weaknesses. Try to imagine what it might have been like to be in their shoes, 
  5. What Biblical truths do you discover while researching this person’s life?
  6. Write out a personal application for your own life. 

As you conclude, ask yourself if you see any of yourself in this person’s story. How might God be leading you to make a change or take the next step? What impressed you about their story and how does it challenge you and your choices? 

Inductive

If you want to take a deep dive into Scripture, along with its historical and cultural context, the inductive method might be right up your alley. This method examines a passage and its context to determine what it says, what it meant to the original audience, and what it means to us today. 

  1. Start with observation. Approach the passage like a journalist asking the five “W” and “H” questions. As you continue along, note key words, contrasts, and comparisons. Keywords are words that point to biblical truth and are often repeated for emphasis. If there are time and geographical references, write them down. 
  2. Next, look to interpret the passage to understand the deeper meaning. Ask questions like: 
  1. What is the cultural and/or historical context of this passage? 
  2. What else do I know about the book, author, and broader context of the passage?
  3. What other Scripture passages might help me better interpret this one?

Is there anything you have overlooked, and have you made any underlying assumptions that filter your interpretation?

Summarize what you see as the clearest meaning of the text based on your research.

  1. Finally, you’ll want to apply what you have learned. Ask yourself what the biblical truths you have discovered mean to your life, your priorities, and your relationships. This application step can be uncomfortable, for it is where truth and life might conflict. Don’t stop; it is important, and it is worth it. 

Cheri Liefeld is the Director of Small Groups at Eastside Community Church in Anaheim, California. She was previously Director of Women’s Ministry at Mariners Church. She is a writer and loves to gather people around the table. You can read more at adenturesinthekitchen.com.

 

Online Bible Study
December 17, 2020

Online Bible Studies Are Moving!

By Deborah Spooner

January is one of the best times for starting online Bible studies. 

As the new year rolls in, many of us experience waves of excitement and hope for what’s to come. We plan practical steps for growth, goal achievement, and making the year a great one. But, it can be difficult to keep resolutions. We often lose steam by the time February arrives. 

Online Bible studies are a practical step to ensure you don’t lose momentum on your Bible reading goals and plans. 

What’s changed for 2021?

Historically, we’ve hosted our online Bible studies in two ways. We initially ran our studies through a blog platform (like this one). More recently, we’ve held online Bible studies through Facebook Groups. Although these have been solid options that have been useful to facility great study and discussion, we are getting an OBS hosting facelift for 2021. We’re joining LifeWay’s Online Bible Study platform.

What is this “new platform”?

If you’ve done a LifeWay associated Bible study in the past, you may already have experience with the platform! The LifeWay Online Bible study platform, which previously only hosted LifeWay Women’s studies, has undergone changes to be able to include both men’s and women’s studies, as well as studies suitable for a mixed audience. Further changes have updated the user experience to be even more welcoming and easier to use!

When can I try it out?

Two Bible study options will give you a chance to try a Groups Bible study on the updated OBS platform, starting this January. Don’t miss out!

Battle Plan for Prayer (Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick)

Launching Tuesday, January 5, 2021

This is an eight-week video-based Bible study that helps you develop a deeper walk with God as you seek the Lord for your battles. Through this study, you’ll be equipped to create their own prayer strategy, learning to be specific and deliberate in prayer. This study features teaching by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick on the following topics: what prayer is and is not, why God wants us to pray, specific areas of prayer, specific strategies for prayer, and more.

U-Turns (Tony Evans)

Launching Wednesday, January 6, 2021

This is a six-week video-based Bible study about God’s direction over your life. Dr. Tony Evans shows you the reality of human freedom, the consequences that come from bad choices, and the way to reverse the consequences. By aligning your life choices under God’s Word and pursuing an intimate relationship with Him, you can experience the abundant life Jesus has for you. You get to choose whether or not you want that and sometimes, you get to witness God change the direction of your life.

How do I sign up

It’s simple. Click on the study titles above to visit the associated Online Bible study’s page on the updated platform. On that page, you’ll see instructions about how to register and how the Online Bible study experiences work. If you have more questions about online Bible studies, check out this post.

What is an online Bible study?

If you’re not familiar with this type of study, our online Bible studies are simple to understand and easy to join. Each study corresponds to a printed (or digital version) of a Bible study from LifeWay groups. When you sign up for the OBS, you gain access to the teaching videos that are typically 10 – 20 minute sessions that are typically accessed through purchasing a Bible study leader kit. But, with OBS, we offer these videos for free!

Each week, we post a video that corresponds to a session in the printed (or digital version) of the Bible study and post questions. Anyone joining the OBS is able to answer questions and comment back to others who also answer. These studies build community with people across the US (and abroad!) and encourage an enriching Bible study experience within the virtual group.

You don’t want to miss out. See you there!

Group Answers Podcast
December 16, 2020

Group Answers Episode 183: Reid Smith on Leader Self-Care

By Group Ministry

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to Reid Smith about how small group leaders can keep themselves spiritually healthy — especially during this season.

Reid Smith has been equipping leaders in churches of all sizes and stages of growth for effective disciple-making since 1996. He lives in Wellington, Florida where he serves as a Groups Pastor at Christ Fellowship. You can find more of his helpful resources at www.reidsmith.org.

Resources Mentioned

Small Group Leader Self-Care Blog Post

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Leading Small Groups.

Group Leadership
December 14, 2020

Bible Studies for the New Year

By Deborah Spooner

Who’s ready for 2021? This question might have the most unanimous answer we’ve heard this year.

Instead of focusing on the challenges, loss, and grief of 2020, we want to look ahead. What might 2021 bring? How can we take positive steps in what we can impact even if what we cannot control still seems chaotically out of control?

We’ve done some work for you.

Here is our round up of our top studies for the New Year. Studies that will help you make a fresh start. Studies that will guide you in going deeper into God’s word. Studies that show you Jesus in scripture’s storyline or teach about specific biblical figures–all year long.

Let’s choose to grow in our faith in 2021.

Bible Studies to give you a fresh start

My New Life
A New Christian’s Guide to Building Your Life on God’s Word
The new Christian can become easily overwhelmed trying to figure out how to be a Christ-follower. For the believer to grow, it’s necessary to have an understanding of God’s Word, God’s character, prayer, the gospel, and so much more. This study explains these deep truths in short and simple to understand chapters. Whether completed individually or with a mentor, this study, it will help a new believer grow in knowledge of God’s Word and provide a foundation on which daily trust in Jesus will grow for the rest of their lives. (6 sessions)

The Good Life (Derwin Gray)
What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness
Everyone wants to be happy. We spend our money, time, and energy chasing our version of the good life. And on the way, we run ourselves into physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. But what if the happiness we’re all striving for isn’t the happiness we were created for? In the Beatitudes, Jesus revealed the shocking, countercultural path to true flourishing. It comes not through wealth, fame, or laughter but through poverty, obscurity, and mourning. True happiness comes from a heart directed toward the kingdom of God and satisfied in Jesus the King. This study demonstrates how Jesus taught us to search for, find, and hold on to the good life. (8 sessions)

Bible studies by popular and trusted authors

James (Matt Chandler)
Faith Works
This 13-session study examines the core message of James: the relationship between faith and works. In our own ability, we cannot stand in the face of adversity. Without faith we could never find the strength to trust God. We would never be able to see above the trials we meet and to keep our eyes focused on the King while counting our trials as joy. This is the essence of James. We don’t work to be saved; we work because we are saved. Faith apart from works can never be sustained. (13 sessions)

Something Needs to Change (David Platt)
A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need
When David Platt took a trip to the Himalayan mountains, the staggering hardship he witnessed transformed the trajectory of his life. Now, in this study, he’s inviting you to reflect and wrestle with him as he describes his life-altering trek through the Himalayas. You’ll ask hard questions alongside Platt about human need, suffering, faith, the gospel, and our role. For Christians, ignorance of profound human need is not an option. Neither is indifference. It’s time to explore what it means to follow Jesus in a world of urgent physical and spiritual needs. (8 sessions)

No More Excuses (Tony Evans)
Be the Man God Made You to Be
Sometimes circumstances in life make it difficult for men to be all God wants them to be. But Tony Evans urges men to stop looking at their circumstances as excuses and instead to see them as challenges and opportunities for success. Exploring the examples of men of God throughout the Bible, this study will challenge you to lay down your excuses, stop compromising, and fight to be a man of character and commitment. Despite your setbacks, failures, and pressures, you can still find purpose, meaning, and direction in life and become the man God has called you to be. (8 sessions)

Bible studies to keep you learning all year

Characters
A Year-Long Exploration of the Bible Through the Lives of Its People
This new seven-volume series progresses through the Bible by focusing on key characters in Scripture. By studying these individuals, we can learn from their examples and see God loves His people and works through us for His glory in the world. Each volume contains six-sessions.

Gospel Foundations
A One-Year Journey through the Storyline of Scripture
From cover to cover, the Bible is the story of God’s plan to redeem sinners through Jesus—the gospel. Gospel Foundations tells that story. From the creators of The Gospel Project, this six-volume resource is comprehensive in scope yet concise enough to be completed in just one year. Each seven-session volume is video-enhanced to help your group engage in discussion with a clear understanding of how each text fits into the storyline of Scripture.

One choice at a time, we can strive to have a Christ-centered 2021. Here’s to the new year (and the same, life-giving, awe-inspiring gospel)!

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