Small Group Resources

From Pastor Dan:

1. Philip Yancey's book What's So Amazing About Grace, the more recent
   versions come with discussion questions in the back. infinitely readable,
   filled with stories, and chapters worth group discussion.
   
2. Trinity Forum (Os Guiness & Co.) put out a little series of about 15 or so "readings," each a separate booklet with intro in front and questions at back. excerpts from famous writings and/or complete short stories from well-know authors and classics. not all "Christian" but the questions are clearly faith-related. about $60 for the box. one of my men's groups has used with great interest. you can look at it in my office sometime.

From Pastor Todd:

1. Devotional Classics and Spiritual Classics, edited by Richard Foster |
   (I just included the following blurb in the briefs for February)

   “These are a fabulous anthologies of classic devotional works by a variety of writers. They are a must-read for anyone seeking a new variety in their personal devotions. Each selection includes a reading from the author’s works, a suggested scripture reading, discussion questions, suggested spiritual exercises, and a bibliography of other writings to pursue. These can be easily adapted for use in groups.”

2. Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
   A leader’s guide can also be purchased which offers additional readings from a variety of authors, daily scripture readings, study questions, and group exercises. A Study Guide for Foster’s The Challenge of the Disciplined Life, (also published as Money, Sex, and Power) is also available.
   
3. When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayer, Jerry Sittser
   Very important topic, written from someone who has struggled with the issue. Each chapter offers discussion questions.
   
4. What’s So Amazing About Grace, Phillip Yancey
   Doesn’t offer group questions, but a very helpful window into the Gospel. Inspirational.
   
5. A Spiritual Formation Workbook, James Bryan Smith with Lynda Graybeal.
   (A Renovare publication) Designed for small groups intending to pursue spiritual formation—high intimacy, trust, vulnerability is required. Lots of great questions, readings, exercises. This resource introduces people to six different “traditions” of spirituality: Contemplative, holiness, charismatic, social justice, evangelical, sacramental (or incarnational) traditions.

From LauraLeigh:

1. Richard Foster’s Spiritual Classics and Devotional Classics
   These were both great to read and discuss as a small group.  Spiritual Classics was actually the first thing we did after as a  group and it was a great way to get to know each other.  And it has great discussion questions and very specific exercises, etc.  We did Devotional Classics a few years later and I noticed that with that one our discussions tended to be a little more “intellectual” (although that might be a little bit of a stretch!) and a little less personal.
   
2. The Book that James Wrote by Earl Palmer
   This is a study of James that we enjoyed about a year ago.  It doesn’t have discussion questions (although there may be a separate group leader guide for it), but it was pretty easy to come up with ideas for discussion for each chapter.
   
3. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
   This was something completely different that we decided to read as a group.
   This is a personal reflection, Anne Lamott-type book rather than a study, but it definitely gave us a lot to talk about. (One of our group members did not like the author’s viewpoint at all, which actually led to  some really good discussions.) It was a nice little break for our group to read this between a couple of more
   in-depth Bible studies.
   
4. Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
   We had all read it before, but it was interesting to re-read it as a group and discuss some of the things that stood out to us the second time around.  We try to alternate between doing a straight-forward Bible study and reading something a little different, and this was a good one for that.

From Sam:

1. Serendipity Bible
   
2. Experiencing God

From Marie:

1. What’s So Amazing about Grace, Philip Yancey + leader’s guide
   (Lots to talk about each week, reflecting on the very relevant chapters.)
   
2. The Jesus I Never Knew Philip Yancey. Another great one. Not so much a Bible study, but thought-provoking insights into the person of Jesus.
   
3. Enjoying the Presence of God: Discovering Intimacy with God in the Daily Rhythms of Life, by Jan Johnson. Simple, practical insights into practicing being with God. Refreshing in the ideas it provides to draw closer to God in the everyday aspects of life.
   
4. Gospel Transformation (a workbook/bible study guide from World Harvest Mission). Year-long study (36 lessons) . Truly transforming in my life. “An approach to discipling that centers on the transformation of Christians by believing the Good News.”

From Julia Sensenbrenner:

1. Cry of the Soul, by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman III
   
2. What’s So Amazing About Grace?, by Phillip Yancey
   
3. Life of the Beloved, by Henri Nouwen
   
4. Boundaries, by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
   Rebecca Manley Pippert’s series of “Seeker Bible Discussions” (great for groups that don’t want to prepare ahead but want to do a study when they are together)

From Lindsey

1. The LifeGuide Bible Studies 
   Each one is on a different book of the Bible. We have found it very helpful to just focus exclusively on God's word. 
   
2. Studies by Beth Moore (primarily for women): She does a series of these, one is Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life. Another is Stepping Up: A Journey through the Psalms of Ascent. Her studies are very deep, very challenging, but ultimately highly rewarding.