Intensive Discipleship Course 2 In this course, students explore attitudes that will challenge them to prepare their hearts to serve the Lord and allow his nature to be expressed through them. ...[More]

Intensive Discipleship Course 2 In this course, students explore attitudes that will challenge them to prepare their hearts to serve the Lord and allow his nature to be expressed through them. They gain specific guidance in giving godly counsel and ministering to people with common problems. Finally they learn about Bible study preparation, biblical evangelism, discipling new converts, and recognizing their ministry calling.

Series Description: Developed from years of student ministry experience, the Intensive Discipleship Course is designed specifically for high schoolers and college students. Each volume in the Intensive Discipleship Course series is a twelve-week, life-changing exercise of commitment and learning. Students learn principles instead of just facts so that they can apply the Lord's unchanging ways to a rapidly changing world.[Less]

32-page Companion Guide to the DVD curriculum of the same title. The guide includes pre-session questions, relevant...[More]

32-page Companion Guide to the DVD curriculum of the same title. The guide includes pre-session questions, relevant scriptures and questions for discussion. Also includes a Timeline of Key Dates and suggested reading of other books of interest.[Less]

Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God. THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE IS NOT OPTIONAL. IT IS ESSENTIAL. This study guide companion to the DVD version of "Desiring God"--the classic explanation ...[More]

Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God. THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE IS NOT OPTIONAL. IT IS ESSENTIAL. This study guide companion to the DVD version of "Desiring God"--the classic explanation of Christian hedonism by John Piper--will help individuals and groups understand that the supreme calling of life is to "glorify God by enjoying Him forever."

The DVD and this guide create an ideal package for adult and youth Sunday school classes, small groups, retreats, classrooms, families, as well as for individual study.

Topics for this 12-session guided group study include:
- One Great Mission and Motivation
- A Summary of Christian Hedonism
- The Foundation of Christian Hedonism
- The Essence of Christian Hedonism
- The Grand Obligation (Part 1): Commanded to Rejoice
- The Grand Obligation (Part 2): An Essential Element of Faith and Worship
- The Grand Obligation (Part 3): Holy Hedonism Is Love
- The Grand Obligation (Part 4): The Strength for Sanctification and Service
- How Then Shall We Fight for Joy? (Part 1): Know Its Sources and Setbacks
- How Then Shall We Fight for Joy? (Part 2): Make Use of the Means of Grace

Complete with Scripture, key quotations for reflection, penetrating questions, and five daily assignments per week, this study guide will help you understand why God's pursuit of His glory and your pursuit of joy are not at odds--because "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."[Less]

At first glance, Deuteronomy and Hebrews might seem very different from each other. In actuality, however, they're quite similar. Both are records of public addresses delivered at particularly pivotal...[More]

At first glance, Deuteronomy and Hebrews might seem very different from each other. In actuality, however, they're quite similar. Both are records of public addresses delivered at particularly pivotal times in the history of God and his people.

Deuteronomy speaks to those living a generation after the most significant saving work of God in the Old Testament: the exodus. Hebrews speaks to those living a generation after the most significant saving work of God ever: the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both acts of salvation changed the relationship between God and humanity in dramatic ways and provided a new picture of the depths of God's power and love for the people he chose as his own. Deuteronomy and Hebrews, then, are both a call to embrace the new gift of salvation God has given and the new type of relationship God has made possible between himself and sinful humans.

God's great work of salvation in Jesus Christ continues today. These studies not only help us make sense of Deuteronomy and Hebrews but also hold out the same invitation these two books of Scripture extended to God's people generations ago: Accept God's saving acts. Come closer and closer to him. And embrace his continuing work of forming us into a people who make his name known through all generations.

The Understanding the Books of the Bible series moves groups away from a typical Bible study format into a new approach to experiencing the Bible together. Instead of following artificial chapter and verse divisions, these study guides lead groups through whole books following their natural outlines and flow. They pose engaging questions for discussion with personal implications all along the way, leading to a community Bible experience.

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An Intensive Discipleship Course.
• Are you hungry to know God more, to walk in His ways, to dive deeply into His Word?
• Are you ready to be a bold and purposeful disciple o...[More]

An Intensive Discipleship Course.
• Are you hungry to know God more, to walk in His ways, to dive deeply into His Word?
• Are you ready to be a bold and purposeful disciple of Christ?
• Do you want to change your habits and the way you live on a day-to-day basis?
• Do you long to discover God's plan for your life?

Developed from years of student ministry experience, this Intensive twelve-week Discipleship Course is designed specifically for high-school and college students--individuals and groups--whose answer is yes to these questions.

In Developing Godly Character, students will establish a firm foundation for effectively studying the Bible, developing a strong prayer life, serving in humility, overcoming sin, and growing spiritually. Students will learn from:

• Challenging weekly teachings
• Daily Bible reading
• Scripture memory
• Prayer and fasting
• Spiritual growth questionnaires
• Missions and book reports
• Resources for continued growth[Less]

Restoring Our Vision. Though we say God is loving, trustworthy and all-powerful, our actions and thoughts reveal the subtle and not-so-subtle lies we're believing: that God is impossible to ple...[More]

Restoring Our Vision. Though we say God is loving, trustworthy and all-powerful, our actions and thoughts reveal the subtle and not-so-subtle lies we're believing: that God is impossible to please, manipulative and likely to abandon us. Written with compassion and conviction, these eight studies bring to light our distorted thinking and point us to the truth of who God is--the great healer who knows us intimately and pursues us with love.

CONTENTS
1. The God of Impossible Expectations Versus the God of Compassion
Psalm 103:1-14
2. The Emotionally Distant God Versus the God of Empathy and Grace
Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1-10
3. The Inattentive God Versus the God Who Knows Us Intimately
Psalm 139:1-18
4. The Abusive God Versus the God Who Heals Us
Matthew 20:29-34
5. The Unreliable God Versus the God Who Is Trustworthy
Psalm 145:1-16
6. The God Who Abandons Versus the God Who Pursues
Luke 15:1-7
7. The God Who Withholds Versus the God Who Provides
Matthew 6:25-34 and 7:7-11
8. The God Who Is Weak Versus the God Who Is All-Powerful
Luke 8:22-56
Leader's Notes[Less]

Your Study Guide To The Lausanne Covenant (The Didasko Files). The Lausanne Covenant is widely regarded as one of the most significant documents in modern church history. This study guide, writ...[More]

Your Study Guide To The Lausanne Covenant (The Didasko Files). The Lausanne Covenant is widely regarded as one of the most significant documents in modern church history. This study guide, written with the sharp mind and the pastoral insights of John Stott, can be used personally or in groups - in a weekly church setting, in campus fellowships or in seminaries. Each section is followed by stimulating and searching questions. The Lausanne Covenant has been a great rallying call to the evangelical Church around the world. It defined what it means to be evangelical, that is, what it means to have Scripture as final authority in what we believe and in how we live. It is a covenant with one another and a covenant with God himself.John Stott was chief architect of The Lausanne Covenant. He has taught and preached globally and is author of over 50 books. He was Honorary Chairman of The Lausanne Movement.[Less]

Christianity is a lifelong endeavor. The act of becoming more like Christ is not simple. The Freedom in Christ discipleship program communicates to new and mature Christians alike the essential truths...[More]

Christianity is a lifelong endeavor. The act of becoming more like Christ is not simple. The Freedom in Christ discipleship program communicates to new and mature Christians alike the essential truths of the Christian faith. What are the next steps after we have taken that first step of giving ourselves wholly to God? Understanding these truths will help believers--from new converts to those whose walk may have become stagnant--to resolve personal and spiritual conflicts through genuine repentance and learn to experience freedom in Christ.[Less]

God's Heart for the Nations rips apart the old, traditional understandings of God's plan and purpose for our lives. In eight lessons, author and global activist, Jeff Lewis, lays bare the heart and mi...[More]

God's Heart for the Nations rips apart the old, traditional understandings of God's plan and purpose for our lives. In eight lessons, author and global activist, Jeff Lewis, lays bare the heart and mind of God as he combines powerful Bible passages with challenging and provocative questions. Each lesson is followed by a time of .meditation and focus on an unreached people group. If you really knew the heart and mind of God, would you dare to follow him?[Less]

Part of the Kingdom Lifestyle Bible Studies. The concept of the Kindom of God is one of the most confusing and misunderstood ideas in the Bible. Yet it's indisputable that the kingdom of God wa...[More]

Part of the Kingdom Lifestyle Bible Studies. The concept of the Kindom of God is one of the most confusing and misunderstood ideas in the Bible. Yet it's indisputable that the kingdom of God was the central theme of the teachings of Jesus. The phrase "kingdom of God" or "kingdom of heaven" appears 98 times in the New Testament.

This profound study explores the kingdom of God, helping believers build a biblical understanding of the vision for which Jesus lived and died - a vision that transforms individuals, families, churches, and whole nations.

Revolutionizing the lives and renewing the minds of believers and local churches from North America to Africa, the Kingdom Lifestyle Bible Study series helps people grow in their relationships with the King and His kingdom. Each tested, insightful study is designed for group or individual use and equips believers to engage in a vibrant life with Christ and offer healing to a broken world.[Less]

Grace Changes Everything. Designed for use with the Gospel in Life DVD. Join author and pastor Timothy Keller in "Gospel in Life"--an eight-week video based study of the gospel and how to live ...[More]

Grace Changes Everything. Designed for use with the Gospel in Life DVD. Join author and pastor Timothy Keller in "Gospel in Life"--an eight-week video based study of the gospel and how to live it out in your 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. Designed for use with the "Gospel in Life Participant's Guide." Gospel in Life session titles (approx 10 min each):

- Session 1, City-The World That Is
- Session 2, Heart-Three Ways to Live
- Session 3, Idolatry-The Sin Beneath
- Session 4, Community-The Context for Change
- Session 5, Witness-An Alternate City
- Session 6, Work-Cultivating the Garden
- Session 7, Justice-A People for Others
- Session 8, Eternity-The World That Is To Come[Less]

God's Help in Times of Sorrow. A friend moves away. You get laid off. Cancer takes the life of a family member. We all experience grief and loss in some form. Whether you're supporting a grievi...[More]

God's Help in Times of Sorrow. A friend moves away. You get laid off. Cancer takes the life of a family member. We all experience grief and loss in some form. Whether you're supporting a grieving friend or mourning a loss of your own, these nine studies from Psalms will help you express what you're feeling and lead you to the arms of our compassionate God, who weeps with us, listens to our cries and understands our pain.

Getting the Most Out of Grief
1. Denial Psalm 46
2. Fear Psalm 62
3. Anger Psalm 77
4. Guilt Psalm 32
5. Sadness Psalm 31
6. Hope Psalm 33
7. Faith Psalm 100
8. Acceptance Psalm 37
9. Praise Psalm 71
Leader's Notes
Appendix
Suggested Resources[Less]

Isaiah is a story of crisis. Two crises, in fact. In the first, the Israelites are facing the threat of conquest and exile by the mighty Assyrian empire. Unlike their earlier enslavement in Egypt, thi...[More]

Isaiah is a story of crisis. Two crises, in fact. In the first, the Israelites are facing the threat of conquest and exile by the mighty Assyrian empire. Unlike their earlier enslavement in Egypt, this time they have no one to blame but themselves. They have deliberately disobeyed God and the prophet is pleading with them to repent before they receive the consequences of their actions. Through poems, songs, and stories, he delivers hard words to a defiant people.

But tenderness and hope are also present in the book of Isaiah. Speaking to a second crisis 150 years later, it reminds the people of Judah, exiled in Babylon, that the God who has called them is faithful, tender, and compassionate toward those he calls. God has a plan not just for their redemption and return, but for the redemption of the entire created world.

Between these historical shifts and its unfamiliar poetic forms, Isaiah can be a challenging book for today's readers. This guide will help us make sense of its parts so that we can understand the scope of Isaiah's message and its importance in the overall story of God's work. And, for a people facing our own crises, these studies will point us to the God who is still faithfully, compassionately speaking and redeeming the creation and people he loves.

The Understanding the Books of the Bible series moves groups away from a typical Bible study format into a new approach to experiencing the Bible together. Instead of following artificial chapter and verse divisions, these study guides lead groups through whole books following their natural outlines and flow. They pose engaging questions for discussion with personal implications all along the way, leading to a community Bible experience.[Less]

The events of Jesus' final week of like---Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the trial, Jesus' death and his resurrection---are foundational to our Christian lives and to our salvation. Focusing on these e...[More]

The events of Jesus' final week of like---Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the trial, Jesus' death and his resurrection---are foundational to our Christian lives and to our salvation. Focusing on these events day by day brings new understanding to who Jesus is and how he loves us. Eight studies for individuals and groups.

1. Sunday: Triumphal Entry
2. Monday: Clearing The Temple
3. Tuesday: Teaching At The Mount Of Olives
4. Thursday: The Last Supper
5. Thursday: Betrayal And Arrest
6. Friday: Trial
7. Friday: Crucifixion
8. Sunday: Resurrection[Less]

The book of Job will take you through a timeless and hauntingly beautiful poetic discussion of the nature of suffering and the causes of evil. The individual sessions follow the book's natural divisio...[More]

The book of Job will take you through a timeless and hauntingly beautiful poetic discussion of the nature of suffering and the causes of evil. The individual sessions follow the book's natural divisions and demonstrate its character as an unparalleled example of dramatic wisdom literature.

You'll follow the extended conversation in the book step by step as Job's friends describe how God's ways are disclosed through the workings of nature and expressed in the accumulated wisdom of experience and as Job appeals in response to the mystery of unexplained suffering. Through this guide, individuals and groups will better appreciate the complexities behind their own unanswered questions about suffering, and they will discover, with Job, that the universe is still governed by an all-knowing and compassionate God.[Less]

Becoming all you were meant to be (LIVING ENCOUNTERS; six-session Bible Study series). In this installment in the Living Encounters series, Christians are given questions to meditate on that will gui...[More]

Becoming all you were meant to be (LIVING ENCOUNTERS; six-session Bible Study series). In this installment in the Living Encounters series, Christians are given questions to meditate on that will guide them to their God-given purpose.

"I know I'm here for a reason -- but what?" Good question: What's your purpose in life? If you haven't discovered the answer yet, you're about to. And if you're not certain you even have a purpose, get ready for a wonderful surprise. Because you were carefully and lovingly created to reflect God's glory and do his work in ways that are uniquely you. And as these six sessions reveal, God is fully able to strengthen your character, call forth the gifts he's given you, and set you firmly on a path towards fulfilling your destiny. 112 pages[Less]

Exploring The Essentials Of Christianity. Easy to use and accessible, the Living Faith leader's guide will help pastors and small-group leaders foster open and honest conversations about Christ...[More]

Exploring The Essentials Of Christianity. Easy to use and accessible, the Living Faith leader's guide will help pastors and small-group leaders foster open and honest conversations about Christianity, God and the Bible. Organized to correspond with the Living Faith DVD.[Less]

Much of today's culture defines bridge-building and reconciliation as a one-way street that leads to full theological, political and social agreement. Yet Christ demonstrated a different path of relig...[More]

Much of today's culture defines bridge-building and reconciliation as a one-way street that leads to full theological, political and social agreement. Yet Christ demonstrated a different path of religious and cultural engagement to establish his kingdom here on earth. In light of such countercultural principles, the Christian community needs a new view on the issues that divide conservative believers and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. Using the practical applications Andrew Marin has learned over the last decade of living and working in the LGBT neighborhood of Chicago called Boystown, as well as his international speaking and consulting ministry, this six-session, video-based study offers a variety of practical teachings, insights and life lessons. Rather than avoiding the topic of homosexuality, Love Is an Orientation aims to equip the Christian community to bridge the gap between LGBT and religious communities. This is not a group study about 'fixing' gay people. It's about getting to know them, engaging them, and loving them like Jesus does. After this study, you, your small group and your church will know what it means to peacefully and productively build bridges with the LGBT community.

Contributor Bio:
Andrew Marin is president and founder of The Marin Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to build bridges between the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and religious communities. He is the author of Love Is an Orientation.[Less]

In his Gospel, Mark doesn't tell us much about himself. Scholars have managed to glean information about him from the text--like the fact that he was a good friend of Simon Peter's--but Mark himself i...[More]

In his Gospel, Mark doesn't tell us much about himself. Scholars have managed to glean information about him from the text--like the fact that he was a good friend of Simon Peter's--but Mark himself is not very forthcoming about where he's writing from or even the audience he's writing his Gospel for. The reason, perhaps, is because the story he's telling is not about himself. His story is all about Jesus.

This new guide in the Understanding the Books of the Bible series will help you grasp Jesus' passion and power as well as the urgency and beauty of the kingdom he brought to earth. But Mark's fast-paced narrative doesn't just tell a story; it also asks a question. Will you fully give your life to Jesus? Will you join his kingdom for the long-haul? Or will you choose fear, wealth or power over him, and miss out on the abundant life--the peace, the joy, the purpose--he gives? The answer is as important today as it was for Mark's original audience. Let this fresh approach to Mark's masterfully written Gospel help you see a fuller picture of Jesus, and let Jesus lead you more fully into life in his kingdom.

The Understanding the Books of the Bible series moves groups away from a typical Bible study format into a new approach to experiencing the Bible together. Instead of following artificial chapter and verse divisions, these study guides lead groups through whole books following their natural outlines and flow. They pose engaging questions for discussion with personal implications all along the way, leading to a community Bible experience.[Less]