BMC CARE GROUP BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES
Latest addition June 2009
(I) PILGRIMAGE GUIDES - NAVPRESS
The goal of Pilgrimage Guides is to understand what it means for us to meet and know Jesus. Through an examination of the spiritual disciplines of Bible Study, prayer, and worship, we experience what it means to be a spiritual pilgrim – walking in a new way with God. And we look at how this new way changes the way we view others and live our lives in Christ.
1. Learning to Love Ourselves by Richard Peace
Improper self-love leads to a lifestyle that is selfish and self-destructive. But failing to love ourselves adequately is also self-destructive. Without proper self-esteem, people fail to use their God-given gifts and have difficulty loving others. Jesus calls us to walk the narrow road between selfishness and selflessness. This study will help you do that. You’ll learn how to study the Bible as you examine and discuss topics such as :• Loving Ourselves
• Valuing Ourselves
• Understanding Ourselves
• Behaving Ourselves
• Forgiveness for Ourselves
• Growing Ourselves ?Being Ourselves2. Learning to Love Others by Richard Peace
At the heart of Jesus’ call to us is a call to love others. But this can be so difficult. For one things, others are not always very lovable; for another, loving others sometimes gets in the way of our own self-interests. But if we want to follow Jesus, love needs to be our lifestyle, and the way we treat others really does matter. It’s not all sacrifice and pain, though. To be in loving relationship with others is to be truly alive – and it’s the source of our greatest joy. This study will help you love others the way Jesus desires. You’ll learn how to study the Bible as you examine and discuss topics such as :
• Loving Our Families
• Fellowship with Others
• Getting Along with Others
• Opposition from Others
• Sharing Our Faith with Others ?
• Serving Others(II) SATISFIED HEART TOPICAL BIBLE STUDY SERIES by Aletha Hinthorn
Ready to take the next step in your spiritual journey? Designed for personal spiritual formation, one-on-one mentoring, or group study, this series offers refreshing insights that dare to ‘dig a little deeper.’ An instruction guide for small-group leaders is included.
1. Quietly Resting—Deepening your walk with God through rest
Spiritual rest is unquestionably one of the most needed aspects of the Christian life today. Many Christians know the Lord in forgiveness and healing but have yet to find that perfect rest God provides for effective service and devotion. Only when it is found can one know the fullness of God’s blessing and the freedom of the Holy Spirit.
The author invites readers to examine the wealth of scripture on this vital topic, which she likens to an artesian well : “As long as we allow His life to flow through us because we are continually trusting and obeying, we will experience a quiet rest and an overflow of the fruit of the Spirit.”
2. Joyfully Following— Deepening your walk with God through joy
Finding God’s will and following it – nothing has the potential of bringing more long-term joy and depth to the Christian walk. The believer who desires above all else to love, obey, and please God has discovered life’s supreme relationship.
Author Aletha Hinthorn describes the joy – and absolute necessity – of following the Lord in wholehearted obedience in order to know the power and freedom He desires for all His children. Through personal illustrations and a probing examination of Scripture, she helps the reader realize the limitless riches of God that can be enjoyed by a simple commitment to ‘trust and obey.’
3. Boldly Asking— Deepening your walk with God through prayer
Praying is by far one of the most precious privileges available to the child of God; yet many people have difficulty in maintaining a consistent, meaningful prayer life. Fortunately, God’s Word provides numerous models for effective communication with the Lord.
Through a careful examination of Scripture, this study guides readers to come boldly to God just as a child comes to his or her father.
(III) INTERPRETATION BIBLE STUDIES
Interpretation Bible Studies (IBS) offers solid biblical content in a creative study format. Each volume focuses on ten key passages from a book of the Bible and can serve as the basis for a ten-session study or be easily modified for shorter or longer schedules. Featuring maps, illustrations, definitions of key terms, interesting biblical facts, questions for reflection or discussion, as well as a leader’s guide in each book with suggestions for group use, IBS combines a great heritage of scholarship with a fresh approach to biblical study.
1. Esther and Ruth by Patricia K Tull
The reader is led through a ten-session study of the entire Old Testament books of Esther, with its stories of faithfulness, courage, and survival, and the ethical questions posed by its ending, and Ruth, with its themes of community, loyalty, and relationship.
2. First and Second Samuel by David C Hester
The people have called for a king, and God has listened. But their transition to a monarchy will not be an easy one. During the reigns of Saul and David as recorded in First and Second Samuel, the people of Israel will experience fear, disappointment, heartache, and betrayal. The compelling theme that weaves its way through these two books and into our lives is the need to balance both the gift of life from God and the promise of God’s steadfast love with the ever-present human temptation to take control and usurp God’s authority.
3. Isaiah by Gary W Light
Many of the verses of Isaiah are familiar to us as beloved passages we read and sing each Christmas and Easter season. But Isaiah is more than just holiday season reading.
Thought by some church fathers to be the first and greatest apostle and evangelist, Isaiah speaks of God’s relationship to the prophet, the people, the kings, and the servant. Isaiah’s message invites us to explore God’s personal character and develop a deeper understanding of the living God, the Holy One of Israel.
4. Jeremiah by Robert Laha
This is a ten-session study into the stories of suffering, blame, and ultimately, hope found in the book of Jeremiah. In an attempt to bring some clarity to this at times confusing book, Laha discusses Jeremiah’s world and God’s judgment; prophetic signs and false prophets; unfaithfulness and lament; and consolation and hope.
5. Romans by Art Ross & Martha M Stevenson
The letter to the Romans is the pinnacle of Paul’s writing, and thinking. Within its pages are profound insights into living faithfully, passionate debates about the fate of the Jews, and cherished messages of comfort and love. At some points more difficult to understand than a theology textbook and at others a favourite for bedsides and funerals, Romans is placed first among the letters because of the scope and significance of its topics. Paul instructs his readers, both then and now, to be transformed from this world into living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, following the example of Jesus Christ.
(IV) BIBLE STUDY SERIES – JILL BRISCOE
Designed for groups or individuals who are at different levels of spiritual maturity, each study provides a devotional narrative, suggestions for group discussion and prayer, a Bible study to guide you in digging deeper into God’s Word, and a Tool Chest with explanations of Bible Study aids that will help you get to know the Scriptures even better.
1. The Heartbeat of Jesus – studies on the Life of Jesus
(8 sessions)
“As we listen to the heartbeat of Jesus, as we follow Him through the Gospels, we can learn to know Him more deeply, love Him more freely, and follow Him more closely day by day,” says Jill Briscoe. What motivated Him to ‘be about His Father’s business’ may then motivate us to do the same.
2. WOMEN IN THE LIFE OF Jesus – a look at the significance of women in Christ’s life and ministry
(8 sessions)Shaped and suited to their tasks at home, at work, at all of life’s crossroads – women are among God’s favoured creatures. In this series of Bible Studies, Jill Briscoe introduces you to some of the many different women whose lives were touched by Jesus during His earthly ministry.
(V) OTHERS
1. The Eye of the Storm – JOB (6 sessions) by Bryson Smith
These sessions in the study of Job take us to the heart of Job, and to the valuable lessons it teaches us about life and suffering and the true wisdom of God.
2. Walking Together – Building an intimate marriage in a fallen world (12 sessions) by Jack & Cynthia Heald
“Our highest purpose as husbands and wives is to be an instrument for promoting our partner’s spiritual and personal welfare.” – Dr Larry Crabb
Walking Together combines the Healds’ personal life experiences with an enriching biblical study on marriage and its true foundation – intimacy with God. Each chapter will help you understand yourself and whether or not your actions and expectations are based on nurturing your spouse or protecting yourself.
3. The Power of a Woman’s Words by Sharon Jaynes
Our words have the power to change the course of a day … the course of a life. Spend time with several women from the Bible to discover the lasting impact their words had on those around them and how those words have lingering effects even today ….
• How did Rachel’s words affect her son’s character?
• How did Delilah’s words affect her husband’s future?
• How did Elizabeth’s words affect her friend’s confidence?4. Fix Your Eyes on Jesus – Running the Race Marked Out for You by Kirkie Morrissey
Experience the power of an eternity-focused heart. Find freedom from the fear of the unknown, the weariness of the difficult, and the distractions of the temporary world around you. Learn to keep your destination at heart as you run your race.
(VI) DVDs
1. Risky Creation – Six sessions on the Lives of Adam and Noah (Genesis 1 – 9)
2. Promises, Promises – Six sessions on the Life of Abraham (Genesis 12 – 22)
3. The Prayers of Jesus
Six in-depth look at the prayers of Jesus will give you new insights into prayer, the character of God, and how to deepen your relationship with Him.
4. The Miracles of Jesus
6 Sessions. This unique, in-depth look at the miracles of Jesus will open your eyes to their impact on the lives He touched, what they reveal about God’s heart, and their significance for us today.
5. Take It To The Limit – How to get the most out of life
In this six-part DVD, Andy Stanley explains that the secret to getting more out of life is not doing more, but doing less. We must learn to create margin to live the life God intended for us.
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