How your group ends matters. It will shape how you view the entire experience. So, be mindful of these three questions that tend to occur in this order, and some action-points for each, as you approach the patio season in the life cylce of your group. Three big questions people have when ending... 1. Why … Continue reading Ending Well
Sharing Your Story
One of the essential elements of starting well in your group is the exercise of having everyone share their life story. However, for some, if not many in your group, this can be daunting, scary, unknown territory. Below are a number of tips and additional helps in walking you/them through this. 1. Do it! You … Continue reading Sharing Your Story
Suggested Easter Studies
The following suggest studies would be great to use in your Community Group, especially in lead-up or follow-up to Easter. The Resurrection is the defining high-point of our faith, upon which all of Jesus' claims and teachings hinge. These studies either approach the Resurrection from an apologetic standpoint (defending/giving evidence for), or specifically the importance … Continue reading Suggested Easter Studies
Using the Journibles Series
Journibles are an effective way to combine personal Scripture reading and memory, with study and journaling. Inspired by Deuteronomy 17:18, where Moses instructs the future King of Israel to hand-copy the Law, this series provides an easy, but effective way to engage in Scripture in a different way. The format is simple: The right-hand pages of … Continue reading Using the Journibles Series
Starting Point – 2015 Church-wide Study
We're asking all Community Groups to participate in a church-wide study using the study Starting Point, sometime between January and end of April, 2015. Here's everything you need to know! What is Starting Point? Starting Point is an 8-week study intended to help participants explore faith and the Bible in a conversational environment designed to meet … Continue reading Starting Point – 2015 Church-wide Study
Suggested Christmas Studies
Available for checkout from PV Library… The Purpose of Christmas, Rick Warren 4 sessions | DVD/Study Guide Preview at CBD The Christmas Experience, Kyle Idleman 6 sessions | DVD/Study Guide Preview at CBD Access on RighNow Media The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas, Ann Voskamp 4 sessions | DVD/Discussion Guide Preview … Continue reading Suggested Christmas Studies
How to Study a Book of the Bible
- Thank you to Dr. Al Bean, PV Community Group leader and retired Old Testament professor, for major contributions to this resource. The Bible is made up of sixty-six books, each with its own author, time and place of writing, and purpose.* So, studying the Bible book-by-book allows us to see the diversity of God’s … Continue reading How to Study a Book of the Bible
Not Just Another Bible Study
One the biggest challenges in the process of making disciples is helping people move beyond head knowledge to heart knowledge. Transformation happens at the point where the truth of God’s Word intersects with the reality of an individual’s life. We know that happens best in the context of biblical community—believers living in authentic relationships with … Continue reading Not Just Another Bible Study
Thinking Beneath: Pursuing Depth
We’ve all heard people make statements along the lines of: “I just want to go deeper.” I have to be honest though, in my experience it’s one of the most misused and overrated statements in church, because without any kind of context, that statement can mean anything! Does that mean we’re not spending enough time … Continue reading Thinking Beneath: Pursuing Depth
Making the Most of Your Group Study
One of the first questions usually posed by new Community Group leaders is, “What studies do I use?” Because studying God’s Word is an essential part of your group meeting identifying the best study is one of the foundational steps toward seeing transformation take root in the lives of your group participants. That’s why we … Continue reading Making the Most of Your Group Study