Here are a few recommended studies:

• The Purpose of Christmas, by Rick Warren.  If you liked the Purpose Driven Life and 40 Days of Purpose…you’ll probably find this short 3 session study fits nicely right after Thanksgiving.  You can order your materials right here.
• Mirror Image, from Liquid.  This is a DVD-driven study of several of the Jesus’ best known parables (including The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan.  Although some Life Groups picked up this study last year, if yours missed it, this is a great discussion.  You can order your copy right here.
• Guardrails: Avoiding Regrets in Your Life and Taking Responsibility for Your Life are two new DVD-driven studies featuring Andy Stanley, the well known pastor of North Point Community Church in Atlanta.  You can read my review of Guardrails right here and Taking Responsibility for Your Life right here.
• If you’re looking for a Bible book study (like the Gospel of John or Philippians), you can’t go wrong with something from Zondervan’s New Community Series.  You’ll find an extensive selection right here.  If you prefer a DVD-driven study, two new studies from Margaret Feinberg might work for you.  Pursuing God’s Beauty: Stories from the Gospel of John and Pursuing God’s Love: Stories from the Book of Genesis are both very good.

Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Have a question?  Email Me! I can probably help you find just the right study.

Here’s How to Order the Study for Your Group

Here’s the latest information about Love Talk: Speak Each Other’s Language Like You Never Have Before.  As I mentioned last week, this curriculum will accompany Flip This Marriage, a 4 week message series that begins on May 14-15.

There are several things you need to know.  And, to ensure there is material available for your group (if you choose to participate), you’ll need to place your order by Monday, May 2nd at 9:00 a.m. More about that below.

Here are the key things you need to know:

• First, by reducing the required curriculum to the essentials, we’re able to reduce the cost per person to $8 for 1 copy of the Workbook (There are separate workbooks for women and men).  It also covers the cost of the 6 session Love Talk DVD.
• Second, the Workbooks for Women and Men include 20 communication exercises, some of which will be used during group sessions while others provide the practical homework assignments.
• Third, the study is based on Love Talk by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott.  Some of your group members may enjoy reading the book while participating in the study.  While it would enhance understanding of the communication principles and practices found in the study, it is not essential.  Although each of the study sessions will reference specific chapters of the book, it is not required.  We will have special pricing for those that wish to purchase a copy ($13.99).
• Fourth, session three of the DVD mentions the Love Talk Indicator (an online assessment).  Although it is not essential, it will enhance the experience of the study.  The assessment is available a couple different ways.  One code to take the online assessment is included with the purchase of the hardback.  Additional codes (each person needs their own code if they want to take the assessment), are available at RealRelationships.com at $14.95 each (If there is sufficient interest, we’ll be able to purchase blocks of 100 assessment codes at $9.95 each).

Placing Your Order

Click this link to order your workbooks. You’ll need to know how many men’s and how many women’s workbooks you need.  If you place your order by Monday, 5/2 at 9:00 a.m., we’ll have your order for pickup on 5/14-15 (in time to begin at the start of our weekend message series).

There are several things you need to know.  And, to ensure there is material available for your group (if you choose to participate), you’ll need to place your order by Monday, May 2nd at 9:00 a.m. More about that below.

Here are the key things you need to know:

• First, by reducing the required curriculum to the essentials, we’re able to reduce the cost per person to $8 for 1 copy of the Workbook (There are separate workbooks for women and men).  It also covers the cost of the 6 session Love Talk DVD.
• Second, the Workbooks for Women and Men include 20 communication exercises, some of which will be used during group sessions while others provide the practical homework assignments.
• Third, the study is based on Love Talk by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott.  Some of your group members may enjoy reading the book while participating in the study.  While it would enhance understanding of the communication principles and practices found in the study, it is not essential.  Although each of the study sessions will reference specific chapters of the book, it is not required.  We will have special pricing for those that wish to purchase a copy ($13.99).
• Fourth, session three of the DVD mentions the Love Talk Indicator (an online assessment).  Although it is not essential, it will enhance the experience of the study.  The assessment is available a couple different ways.  One code to take the online assessment is included with the purchase of the hardback.  Additional codes (each person needs their own code if they want to take the assessment), are available at RealRelationships.com at $14.95 each (If there is sufficient interest, we’ll be able to purchase blocks of 100 assessment codes at $9.95 each).

Placing Your Order

We’ll have a link available early next week to allow you to place your order.  In the meantime, please check in with your group members to determine whether your group will participate.  Thanks!

1. Application oriented. Although learning about the Bible is a good thing…the study ought to help me take steps to apply what I’m learning.
2. Easy-to-use.  Since the bottom line purposes of a life group are to help me connect in community where I can grow in Christ, learn to love others, and make a difference for the Kingdom…the study should be designed to make it easy for the leader to focus his or her attention on the members (not hours of preparation).
3. Affordable.  Price shouldn’t be an obstacle.  Although there are times when each member might benefit from their own book, there are also times when all the questions are on the DVD.

Frequently Asked Questions About Curriculum

Q: Where can I look for a good study? You’ll find a growing list of recommended studies right here on the blog.  You can also take a look right here on my site for small group pastors.

Q: Are all groups required to use the same material? No.  About once a year we invite all of our groups to join in a church-wide study that goes along with our weekend message series.  For example, in October of 2010 over 300 groups joined in a study of The 40 Days of Purpose.  There were a few groups that continued meeting for a more specialized purpose and did not use the 40 Days study.

Q: Who pays for new study material? It is almost always the responsibility of group members to pay for their own study material.  Although we have a small number of studies available for check-out, they are the exception.   Email the Community Life office to find out if we have a particular DVD available.

Q: Money is tight.  Is there an affordable solution for study material? One very affordable option is to use our Weekend Sermon Study Questions.  Developed most weeks to go along with the weekend message, this is a great way to deepen your understanding and application of the weekend message.

Q: How Do I Order New Material for My Group? Although there are times when Parkview makes it easy to pick up or order (for example, when we do a church-wide study like The 40 Days of Purpose), most of the time it will be the leader’s responsibility to order the new materials.

Q: Is there a recommended retail source? We’ve found great prices for many studies at Amazon and CBD.  In addition, you can purchase material directly from Lifeway, Zondervan, and many other publishers.  Remember, you’ll also find a list of recommended studies right here and also right here (on my site for small group pastors).

Most of them are DVD-driven and your group could borrow the DVD.  You’d need to purchase the individual study guides.  Here’s what I have.  In most cases the link is to my review.  You can Email Cyndee if you’re interested and want to check it out.

• BASIC: Who Is God? by Francis Chan.
• The Prodigal God by Tim Keller.
• Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado.
• CRAVE: The Exploration of the Human Spirit by Erwin McManus.
• Life’s Toughest Questions by Erwin McManus.
• Walking with God in the Desert by Ray Vander Laan.
• The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels.
• Unexplainable: Pursuing a Life That Only God Can Make Possible by Don Cousins.
• Why? Pursuing Answers to Life’s Biggest Questions by Jud Wilhite.
• Made: Created to Make a Difference by Jud Wilhite.
• One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook.

Lifetogether has produced several of the best selling DVD-driven small group curriculum titles.  There are two main series available.  Doing Life Together and Experiencing Christ Together each have 6 books and each book is 6 sessions long.

Developed by several of the team members that produced the 40 Days of Purpose, both series have a purpose-driven flavor.  Each series features an overview book (covering all 5 purposes) and then one book on each of the 5 purposes (i.e., Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, Mission, and Worship).

Both series are application oriented, easy to use, and reasonably priced.  In most cases, we have a DVD that we can loan you.  Your group would be responsible for paying for the individual study guides.

A key distinctive to the Lifetogether material is that each study features 6 different communicators on the DVD.  For example, Beginning Life Together, the overview book from the first series, features Steve Arterburn, Steve Farrar, Doug Fields, Chip Ingram, Anne Ortlund, and Bruce Wilkinson.

We have several of the titles in stock and available for purchase on a first come, first serve basis.

Beginning Life Together (this is the overview book for the Doing Life Together series).  $6 per book (13 copies).  We’ll loan you the DVD.

Growing in Christ Together (this is on the discipleship purpose).  $6 per book. (7 copies) We’ll loan you the DVD.

Developing Your Shape to Serve Others (this is on the ministry purpose).  $6 per book. (4 copies) We’ll loan you the DVD.

Sharing Your Life Mission Every Day (this is on the evangelism purpose).  $6 per book. (2 copies) We’ll loan you the DVD.

Surrendering Your Life for God’s Pleasure (this is on the worship purpose).  $6 per book. (3 copies) We’ll loan you the DVD.

Connecting in Christ Together (on the fellowship purpose) $6 per book. (3 copies) We’ll loan you the DVD.

Surrendering to Christ Together (on the worship purpose) $6 per book. (3 copies) We’ll loan you the DVD.

Connecting with God’s Family features some real advantages:

1. DVD-driven: Each session is taught by a well-known speaker or author (John Ortberg, Doug Fields, Henry Cloud, and Steve Farrar).
2. The study is designed in an easy-to-use format that is plug and play, requiring very little preparation.
3. Each session focuses on application and next steps.
4. The book includes a spiritual health assessment and plan; designed to help each member identify practical growth steps.
5. Leader’s notes and helps make it easy for groups to begin rotating facilitation right away, as part of the normal way a group happens.

Ordering Information:

Interested in using Connecting with God’s Family in your group?  The easiest way to order is to go straight to Lifetogether’s shopping cart. Click Here to order a Group Kit (1 DVD and 10 study guides).  If you just need to order the study guide(s), you can often get them for less at ChristianBook.com.  Click Here to order just the study guides.

This is a first pass at a list of recommended studies:

• Most of our weekend messages have study questions for groups.  They can be found on the literature racks in the grand foyer.  They can also be downloaded from the “Watch Messages” section of the ParkviewChurch.com website (Click here to go there).   Once you’re there, click on any message title and then look for Study Guide Download just below the video screen.
• Doing Life Together: This series has become the best selling small group curriculum.  Rick Warren said, “Doing Lifetogether is a breakthrough – It is the first small group curriculum built completely on the purpose driven paradigm.”  Each of the six books includes six sessions.  There is an overview book and one on each of the five biblical purposes.  It is a DVD-driven study.  The DVD for each study features a collection of well known Bible teachers and authors.
• Experiencing Christ Together: This is the follow-up series to Doing Life Together.  Covers a lot of the same ground with a different list of teachers and authors.
• Liquid: Very engaging.  Each of the studies from this partnership between Mariners Church in Southern California and Thomas Nelson Publishers is designed to generate great discussion and application.  Presented in a very contemporary style, each study takes a contemporary look at a biblical teaching.  For example, Mirror Image is a 5 session study that focuses on some of Jesus’ best known parables, but presents them in a way that will open the eyes of your members to aspects of the story that are often overlooked.
• InterActions: This is a topically based series.  Published by Zondervan, you can pick them up from ChristianBook.com for $5.99 each.  There is an extensive list of topics to choose from.  You can take a look at the table of contents and an excerpt from any of them.
• New Community Series: Also from Zondervan, the New Community Series is a pretty extensive collection of book studies (books of the Bible).  If your group is looking for a solid study of a book of the Bible that leads to application…this is a great list to choose from.

Do you have a favorite study that ought to be included?  Email our team with your recommendations!