SG Curriculum - (1) Foundation for Christian Faith

BIBLE OVERVIEW

1. The Bible in 90 Days** (D)

The Bible in 90 Days is both a Bible and a curriculum that allows individuals to complete what for many Christians has been a life-long goal -- to read through the Bible completely, from “cover to cover,” in a manageable time frame.
The basic plan consists of reading 12 pages a day of this specially prepared large-print Bible—a task that usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour—to help readers achieve their goals. Many people spend more time than that commuting back and forth to work every day!
This 14-week curriculum kit is designed to help people read through the entire text of the Bible with an opportunity to discuss their reading in a community setting.
Developed, field-tested, and used by its creator, Ted Cooper, a Houston businessman, this curriculum has proven successful at many different churches and with a range of denominational affiliations.








2. The Bible Jesus Read ***

Join award-winning author Philip Yancey for a grand tour of the Hebrew Scriptures! In eight thought-provoking sessions, he'll lead your group through Job, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the prophets. When you see how the entire "plot line" leads to Christ, reading the Old Testament will become a rewarding experience. Includes a leader's guide, hardcover book, participant's guide, and a 96-minute videocassette.
Sessions Include:
 Is the Old Testament Worth the Effort?
 Understanding the Old Testament
 Job: Seeing in the Dark
 Deuteronomy: A Taste of Bittersweet
 Psalms: Spirituality in Every Key
 Ecclesiastes: The End of Wisdom
 The Prophets: God Talks Back
 Advance Echoes of a Final Answer




3. Willow Creek Bible 101 Series *

Bible 101 provides a solid, foundational understanding of God's Word in a format uniquely designed for a small group setting. Each study guide includes six sessions. The series includes and overview of the major sections of Scripture, an understanding of why the Bible is a reliable source, and much more.
Includes the following titles from the Bible 101 series:
1. Cover to Cover
2. Foundations
3. Great Themes
4. Interpretations
5. Parables and Prophecy
6. Personal Devotion
7. Study Methods
8. Times and Places




4. Who Wrote the Bible *** (B)

"It is a strange fact that we have never known with certainty who produced the book that has played such a central role in our civilization," writes Friedman, a foremost Bible scholar. From this point he begins an investigation and analysis that reads as compellingly as a good detective story. Focusing on the central books of the Old Testament--Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy--he draws upon biblical and archaeological evidence to make a convincing argument for the identities of their authors. In the process he paints a vivid picture of the world of the Bible--its politics, history, and personalities. The result is a marvel of scholarship that sheds a new and enriching light on our understanding of the Bible as literature, history, and sacred text.

NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS
Study guide and curriculum are available for the following books:
The Gospels, Acts, Corinthians, Timothy/Titus/Jude, & Revelation



OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS
Study guide and curriculum are available for the following books:
Exodus, Deuteronomy, Judges, Pslams, Isaiah



THEOLOGY

1. Belief Matters *

As incredible as it may seem, our churched young people are not embracing true Christianity. Research shows that:
· 63% of our kids don’t believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God
· 58% believe that all faiths teach equally valid truths
· 51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead
· 68% don’t’ believe the Holy Spirit is a real entity.
But does any of this really matter? Studies consistently show that what a person believes translates into attitudes and behaviors. The vast majority of our young people have distorted beliefs about Christ and Christianity. Those with such distorted views are:
· 200% more likely to physically hurt someone
· 300% more likely to use illegal drugs
· 600% more likely to attempt suicide

Beliefs do matter! And in this video series Josh McDowell will help you know how to reverse our young people’s distorted beliefs and deepen their convictions about who Christ really is – the one true Son of God and Savior of the world.

Session 1: The Crisis of Beliefs
Session 2: The Relevance of Christ to our lives
Session 3: The Evidence of Christ as God
Session 4: Beliefs and Relationships
Session 5: Beliefs: Real and Relevant

2. The Jesus I Never Knew ***

Welcome to a journey that will challenge you – and change you.
A journey that will expand – and very likely redefine – your understanding of the person, teachings, and the life of Jesus Christ.
One that will lead you beyond familiar images of Christ to discover Jesus as you’ve never known him: radical, compelling, compassionate, bold, incisive, and ultimately satisfying.

Prepare yourself for life-changing encounters with the Jesus of the Gospels…and discoveries as refreshing, unpredictable, and exciting as the person you’re about to meet.

3. Jesus 101**
Six sessions in each guide:

Authentic Leader
Leaders do well to consult their predecessors – to seek ancient wisdom – for help in guiding people into the future. Authentic leaders recognize that they need the insights and counsel of others. We have in Jesus Christ an authentic leader, one who is truthful and honest about the pasts, connects to the present, and points his followers to a future that builds on both. His leadership is demanding and challenging, yet grace-filled and Spirit-lead. He is a leader worth following, and his leadership is worth emulating.

Compassionate Healer
Acts of compassion have the potential to heal wounds, restore relationships, dispel hatred and curb violence. No one person embodied God’s compassion more than Jesus of Nazareth. His heart broke for the sick, the poor, the hungry, the outcast and the weary. And his heart is moved toward us as well. In our pain and grief, our confusion and suffering, Jesus meets us with healing grace and love. Are you ready to meet the Compassionate Healer?

Extreme Forgiver
Jesus is the one who can make us right with God. He is the gentle pastor who hears our confession and then invites our repentance. On the cross he took our punishment. By his blood we are redeemed. Come and meet Jesus the forgiver.

Provocative Teacher
A teacher with unconventional wisdom. This look at Jesus will shatter your illusions about religious leaders. And as you clear your mind, you will find unexpected hope that can replace illusion. Come and meet Jesus the teacher.

Relentless Lover
Jesus is a relentless lover without limits. Even when we cannot, or will not, return his love, Jesus continues to love us despite our actions and our words, our ignorance and rebellion. Yet we cannot seem to fully believe it. We wonder if he will one day leave us, disgusted with our sin and many failures. Yet he remains at our side, loving his way into our lives. In this study, we will discover how Jesus expresses his love for us, and we will learn how amazing that love truly is.

Sacred Friend
Jesus is the Lord of the universe, and yet he desires our companionship. He is the one who can share our suffering, understand our weaknesses and always keep our trust. God made us to desire relationship and gave us his Son to fulfill our deepest needs. Come and meet Jesus, our Friend.

Supreme Conqueror
Jesus’ strategy was countercultural. The Bible describes him as a conquering hero – but a hero who had to die first. In our world, conquering heroes achieve victory by force, not submission; with power, not weakness; with superior weapons and troops, not alone and empty handed. But Jesus conquered through weakness, submission and death. Jesus is the Supreme Conqueror, and in these pages, you can explore the results of his victory for yourself.

Truthful Revealer
Our closest friends are the ones who will tell us the truth about ourselves. Jesus is that kind of friend. He reveals our identity, makes sense of our history, exposes our needs and points us toward our destiny. When we meet Jesus the revealer, we discover ourselves.




*Please consult Anders before officially using any curriculum for your small group.