Church of the Shepherd
Small Group Resources
(revised September 2013)
Additional study resources for many studies can be found at:
Cokesbury.com
Family Christian Stores
CBD.com (Christian Book Distributors)
CBB.com (Christian Books and Bibles)
Amazon.com
Half.com
Life Rules by Andy Stanley
Great beginning series for starters
Everything You Need to Know in Life, You Can Learn Here.
When we were in kindergarten, half the fun of living was breaking
the rules without getting caught. In real adult life, however, there
is nothing fun about broken promises, relationships, or hearts. In
this DVD and study guide from North Point Resources, Andy
Stanley explains God’s set of life rules that can improve current
relationships and mend broken ones. Every game requires
parameters, and in this lifelong journey toward heaven, it's never
too late to learn, relearn, and follow the rules God clearly outlines
for His people; because they set you on the course for success. In
kindergarten, ignoring the rules was a blast; especially if you could get away with it. But
as adults, we understand that rules are for our protection, and that when we break God's
rules we cause heartaches and broken relationships. In this six-part DVD, Andy Stanley
clearly explains God's basic set of life rules which, when lived, hold the power to all your
relationships. It's never too late to learn and follow the parameters God clearly outlines
for His people. This DVD is enhanced with curriculum study sessions that can be used
for small groups or individual study. Each session includes 15-20 minutes of teaching
followed by several discussion questions. The DVD is designed to work with the Life
Rules Study Guide, which will help you apply the principles of this study to your life.
COS resources available: DVD, Study Guides (group facilitator can have study guide –
not needed for all group members unless desired)
40 Days of Love – Rick Warren
Through this six-session small group Bible study, 40 Days of Love, Pastor Rick Warren
teaches you how to make authentically loving God and loving others the deepest desire,
highest aspiration, and constant focus. So what is your number one priority in life? Your
answer to that question reveals your dominant life value. Everyone has one whether they
realize it or not. It's what we unconsciously base our decisions on. God tells us that our
dominant life value is to be loved. Jesus once said that of all the commands in the Bible,
two are most important: Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.
In this six-session study, Rick Warren shares practical, Christ-centered advice on how to
authentically love God and love your neighbor as a normal way of life. With a focus on
the spiritual truths of patience, kindness, truth, and forgiveness, you will learn to make
love your dominant life value. This DVD features six 10-15 minutes sessions of live
teaching from Rick Warren. It's designed to be used with the companion 40 Days of Love
Study Guide. Sessions include: Love Matters Most; Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind; Love
Speaks The Truth; Love Is Forgiving Love Is Not Selfish; The Habits of a Loving Heart.
COS Resources Available: DVD Study and Video Study Guide
The Case For A Creator – Lee Strobel and Garry Poole
Has science finally discovered God? In this compelling 6-session DVD curriculum, Lee
Strobel and Garry Poole explore cosmology, cellular biology, astronomy, evolution,
physics, and DNA research to reveal the incredible complexity of the universe---which is
best explained by the existence of a Creator! Approx. 80 minutes.
Sessions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Science and God - 4:50
Evolution - 7:11
Cosmology - 7:28
Fine Tuning - 7:59
Biological Machines - 7:04
Biological Info - 7:21
COS Resources Available: DVD and Participant’s Guide
Forgotten God – Reversing Out Tragic Neglect Of The Holy Spirit by Francis Chan
A follow up to the profound message of Crazy Love, Pastor Francis Chan offers a
compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in
our lives.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and … the Holy Spirit. We pray in the name of all
three, but how often do we live with an awareness of only the first two? As Jesus
ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit—the Helper—so that we
could be true and living witnesses for Christ. Unfortunately, today’s church has admired
the gift but neglected to open it.
Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to get at the true source of
the church’s power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we’ve ignored the Spirit for far
too long, and we are reaping the disastrous results. Thorough scriptural support and
compelling narrative form Chan’s invitation to stop and remember the One we’ve
forgotten, the Spirit of the living God.
COS Resources Available: Book, DVD, Workbook (used)
Willow Creek Church studies developed by Bill Hybels and colleagues. Each book
includes a 6-session study. One copy of each book is available.
Celebrating God – Discover The Truth of God’s Character
ARE YOU READY TO CELEBRATE? A stadium full of football fans jump to their feet
and cheer with deafening volume when a game-winning pass is caught. Family members
gather every year to give gifts and sing choruses of Happy Birthday. Friends congregate
just to have a party ... they hardly need a reason. In the Bible God instituted festivals and
feasts. There is something in the human spirit that loves to rejoice, shout, and celebrate ...
and God likes it that way. We were created for celebration, and the focal point of our
praise should always be God. When we get glimpses of His character, expressions of joy
should spontaneously erupt. God is a refuge; He is generous and righteous, full of
extravagant love toward us. The Maker of heaven and earth is relational, He guides us,
and He will never leave us. It's time to discover God's character and make Him the focal
point of our celebration.
Getting A Grip – Finding Balance In Your Daily Life
How to gain traction when you're out of control. If you drive anywhere in the snow belt,
you probably know the feeling: rear wheels fishtailing, steering useless, brakes
ineffective---you're out of control. The good news is, life doesn't have to be like a car on
ice. Bill Hybels offers biblical insights and practical steps to securing a Christ-centered
life that will get you where you want to go. Getting a Grip guides you toward wise
choices and disciplined action in five vital areas of your life: your time, your health, your
finances, your spiritual life, and your relationships. As you learn what the Bible has to
say about each of these, you'll discover how able and eager Jesus is to help you obtain
solid traction on the road of life. Interactions---a powerful and challenging tool for
building deep relationships between you and your group members, and you and God.
Interactions is far more than another group Bible study. It's a cutting-edge series designed
to help small group participants develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.
Inseparable – Romans 8
FEEL THE SECURE EMBRACE OF GOD. Where do you find hope, strength, and
comfort in a world where brokenness, separation, and betrayal are spreading like an
epidemic? The world may tell you to look inward, but God says to look upward. Through
faith in Jesus, you can be connected to the heart of the Father with inseparable love. In
Christ you are safe and secure. Romans chapter eight contains a message of hope-filled
optimism. No matter what you have suffered, there is good news. Through the lens of this
powerful chapter of Scripture, life begins to make sense again, hope rises like the sun
after a dark night, and you can feel the strong arms of the heavenly Father wrap around
you. You are a child of God, and the Father will never let go. Nothing can separate you
from the love of God. And, thankfully, there's nothing you can do to change that.
(See next page)
Excellent Living – Giving God Your Best
MOVE PAST 'GOOD ENOUGH' TO EXCELLENT! Jesus modeled an excellent life. No
person has ever lived with greater passion and love. When it was time to go to the cross,
Jesus walked the hill of Calvary with excellent compassion and grace. Those who follow
in the steps of Jesus hear the invitation to be like Him and embrace the joy of excellent
living. What does it look like when we seek to give God our best? It means aligning
every part of our lives with His will. It means dreaming about a future that will be shaped
by the holy hands of God. No part of our journey is outside of His view and touch. In the
power of Jesus we can live excellent lives on every level: spiritually, morally,
relationally, financially, directionally, and eternally. This kind of life honors God and
leads to the greatest joy possible.
Influence – Maximizing Your Impact For God
YOUR LIFE MEANS MORE THAN YOU KNOW. God wants you to be a world
changer ... starting right where you are today. Your acts of service, words of truth, love
for God, care for people, and all you do each day can have a transformational impact on
the people around you. In a world filled with darkness and discouragement, the light of
heaven can shine through you. Jesus was the most influential person in human history. He
brought joy to the sorrowful, hope to the broken, purpose to the wandering, and
forgiveness to all who would receive Him. The ministry of Jesus continues today. One
way the Savior brings His world-changing message to this generation is through you and
me. It's time for us to let the Holy Spirit flow freely. It's time to influence the world with
the love of Jesus. It's time to maximize our impact for God!
Transformation – Letting God Change You From The Inside Out
Team up with God for the project of your life. Right now, God is ready to transform your
life. But He wants your partnership. The strength and guidance for transformation come
from Him---but the 'green light' can only come from you. Transformation will help you
recognize and cooperate with God's transforming influence in your life. Each session
focuses on a critical area He has targeted for change and growth. You'll learn proven
ways of responding to God's guidance that will keep you growing closer to Him. You'll
also discover an inspiring picture of what awaits you as a fully devoted follower--membership in a joyous, supportive community of believers, infused with God's love.
Interactions---a powerful and challenging tool for building deep relationships between
you and your group members, and you and God. Interactions is far more than another
group Bible study. It's a cutting-edge series designed to help small group participants
develop into fully devoted followers of Christ.
The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
'There is no writer in the evangelical world that I admire and appreciate more.' Billy
Graham. Philip Yancey helps reveal what two thousand years of history covered up
What happens when a respected Christian journalist decides to put his preconceptions
aside and take a long look at the Jesus described in the Gospels? How does the Jesus of
the New Testament compare to the 'new, rediscovered' Jesus---or even the Jesus we think
we know so well? Philip Yancey offers a new and different perspective on the life of
Christ and his work---his teachings, his miracles, his death and resurrection---and
ultimately, who he was and why he came. From the manger in Bethlehem to the cross in
Jerusalem, Yancey presents a complex character who generates questions as well as
answers; a disturbing and exhilarating Jesus who wants to radically transform your life
and stretch your faith. The Jesus I Never Knew uncovers a Jesus who is brilliant, creative,
challenging, fearless, compassionate, unpredictable, and ultimately satisfying. 'No one
who meets Jesus ever stays the same,' says Yancey. 'Jesus has rocked my own
preconceptions and has made me ask hard questions about why those of us who bear his
name don't do a better job of following him.'
COS Resources Available: Book, DVD, Participant’s Guide
Romans – 18 Studies For Individuals and Groups – N.T. Wright
Perfect for group use or daily personal reflection, Tom Wright's study on Romans uses
the popular inductive method combined with Wright's careful insight. Designed to help
you understand Scripture in fresh ways under the guidance of one of the world's leading
New Testament scholars, this guide can be used on its own or alongside Wright's New
Testament for Everyone commentary on Romans. Includes 18 studies with guidelines for
leaders.
About the N.T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides Series
The guides in this series are designed to help you understand Scripture in fresh ways
under the guidance of one of the world's leading New Testament scholars. Thoughtful
questions, prayer suggestions, and useful background and cultural information all guide
an individual or a group more deeply into God's word. They can be used on their own or
alongside Wright's New Testament for Everyone commentaries. Discover how you can
participate more fully in God's Kingdom.
COS Resource Available: Study Guide (1 copy)
Three Simple Rules – A Wesleyan Way of Living by Rueben Job
In Three Simple Rules, Rueben Job offers an interpretation of John Wesley's General
Rules for today's readers. For individual reading or group study, this insightful work calls
us to mutual respect, unity and a deeper daily relationship with God.
This simple but challenging look at three commands, "do no harm, do good, stay in love
with God," calls us to mutual respect, unity, and a deeper relationship with God.
“Every year I review the three general rules of the United Methodist Church with those
who are being ordained. Now I have a wonderful ordination gift to give them in Bishop
Job’s, Three Simple Rules, to start and deepen the conversation as they enter a new
relationship with the church. Bishop Job has described “by attending upon all the
ordinances of God” to be to “stay in love with God.” It’s a fresh language that speaks
especially to long-time Christians and United Methodists.” Sally Dyck, Resident
Bishop, Minnesota Area
“Three Simple Rules is a new catechism for everyone wanting to follow Jesus Christ.
These practices for holy living should replace the membership vows in every church!
Don’t let the title fool you. Bishop Job writes, ‘The rules are simple, but the way is not
easy. Only those with great courage will attempt it, and only those with great faith will be
able to walk this exciting and demanding way.’”
John Hopkins, Resident Bishop, East
Ohio Area
COS resources available: Books, DVD which includes discussion questions
If You Want To Walk On Water You’ve Got To Get Out of the Boat by John
Ortberg
Out on the risky waters of faith, Jesus is waiting to meet you and
offer you his Holy Spirit power that will change your life forever,
deepening your faith and trust in God.
Winner of the 2002 Christianity Today Book Award!
You're One Step Away from the Adventure of Your Life
Deep within you lies the same faith and longing that sent Peter
walking across the wind-swept Sea of Galilee toward Jesus. In what
ways is the Lord telling you, as he did Peter, "Come"? John Ortberg
invites you to consider the incredible potential that awaits you outside your comfort zone.
Out on the risky waters of faith, Jesus is waiting to meet you in ways that will change you
forever, deepening your character and your trust in God. The experience is terrifying. It's
thrilling beyond belief. It's everything you'd expect of someone worthy to be called Lord.
The choice is yours to know him as only a water-walker can, aligning yourself with God's
purpose for your life in the process. There's just one requirement: If You Want to Walk
on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.
COS resources available: Books, Leaders Guide, Participants Guides, DVD
Just Walk Across The Room – Simple Steps Pointing People To Faith by Bill Hybels
What if you knew that by simply crossing the room and saying hello to someone, you
could change that person's forever? Just a few steps to make an eternal difference. It has
nothing to do with methods and everything to do with taking a genuine interest in another
human being. All you need is a heart that's in tune with the Holy Spirit and a willingness
to venture out of your "Circle of Comfort" and into another person's life.
Just Walk Across the Room brings personal evangelism into the twenty-first century.
Building on the solid foundation laid in Becoming a Contagious Christian, Bill Hybels
shows how you can participate in the model first set by Jesus, who stepped down from
heaven 2,000 years ago to bring hope and redemption to broken people living in a fallen
world. Now it's your turn. Your journey may not be as dramatic, but it can have a lifechanging impact for someone standing a few steps away from you--and for you as well,
as you learn the power of extending care, compassion, and inclusiveness under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The highest value in personal evangelism is cooperating with the Spirit, says Hybels.
This means playing only the role you're meant to play--walking when the Spirit says to
walk, talking when he says to talk, and falling silent when he suggests that you've said
enough. Hybels encourages you to "live in 3D" ...Developing friendships Discovering
stories Discerning appropriate next steps ... as a means of learning to understand the Holy
Spirit's promptings.
With fresh perspectives from his own reflections and experiences collected during his
most recent decade of ministry, Bill Hybels shows with convincing and inspiring clarity
the power of thispersonal, richly relational approach to evangelism. The stakes are high.
The implications are eternal. And you may be only a conversation away from having an
eternal impact on someone's life--if you will just walk across the room.
COS resources available: DVD, Book, Participants Guide
Defining Moments - What To Do When You Come Face to Face With The Truth by
Andy Stanley
Embrace the Truth: It’s no secret that what you don’t know can hurt you. In spite of that,
we still go out of our way at times to avoid the truth. Men avoid doctors and women deny
evidence of adultery. While the truth often hurts, deceiving ourselves will ultimately only
worsen the situation. In this nine-part DVD and eight-part companion study guide, we
listen in as Jesus introduces some rather perplexing truth to seven individuals who had
grown comfortable with their misinformed lifestyles and belief systems. Readers will
discover firsthand that the truth can set you free. And for those who have the courage to
embrace it, their lives will be changed forever. Face the Truth: Life is full of defining
moments. Like landmarks on a road map, these moments mark key points along your
life’s journey. A defining moment happens when you come face-to-face with a truth that
invites you to change the way you live. It demands that you make a decision. And
regardless of the choice you make, you will never be the same. Bestselling author Andy
Stanley examines several such moments as depicted in the lives of people from scripture;
the kinds of moments many of us will experience in our lifetimes. And if you are willing
to look at truth honestly, these moments can change your life forever. In addition to
containing the original series messages, this DVD is enhanced with curriculum study
sessions that can be used for small groups or individual study. Each session includes
twelve to fifteen minutes of teaching followed by several discussion questions. The DVD
is further enhanced when combined with the Defining Moments Study Guide, which will
equip you to embrace the truth.
COS resources available: DVD, Study Guide (can be used by facilitator – participants
do not need Study Guide unless desired)
God Is Closer Than You Think by John Ortberg
What Are You Waiting For? Intimacy with God can happen right now if you want it. A
closeness you can feel, a goodness you can taste, a reality you can experience for
yourself. That's what the Bible promises, so why settle for less? God is closer than you
think, and connecting with him isn't for monks and ascetics. It's for business people, high
school students, busy moms, single men, single women ... and most important, it's for
YOU.
God Is Closer Than You Think shows how you can enjoy a vibrant, moment-by-moment
relationship with your heavenly Father. Bestselling author John Ortberg reveals the face
of God waiting to be discovered in the complex mosaic of your life. He shows you God's
hand stretching toward you. And, with his gift for storytelling, Ortberg illustrates the
ways you can reach toward God and complete the connection--to your joy and his.
COS resources available: Book, DVD, Participants Guide
Your Move by Andy Stanley
We are all faced with decisions that we never anticipated having to make. And, we
usually have to make them quickly. In this four session video group study, author and
pastor Andy Stanley discusses four questions that will help participants make sound
decisions with God's help. Follow Andy as he teaches how every decision and its
outcomes become a permanent part of your story, what to do when you feel the need to
pause before taking action, and how to make more of this life by making sound decisions.
COS Resources Available: DVD and participant guide (can be used by group leader)
Go Fish by Andy Stanley
This study by Andy Stanley will take the struggle out of sharing your faith. Go Fish
offers a new perception of the word "evangelism" by showing how believers can make it
natural, easy part of everyday life. Divided into a six-session study, participants will
enjoy the DVD lessons and thought-provoking study guide that help change the way they
view sharing their faith.
COS resources available: DVD, Study Guide (can be used by group facilitator to
stimulate discussion – not necessary for participants to have study guides unless desired)
Christianity’s Family Tree – What Other Christians Believe and Why by Adam
Hamilton
In this book, Adam Hamilton presents a welcoming, inspiring vision of eight Christian
denominations and faith traditions. Comparing the Christian family to our own extended
families, he contends that each denomination has a unique, valuable perspective to offer
on the Christian faith.
The traditions he examines are Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism,
Anglicanism, Baptists, Pentecostalism, and Methodism. For each group, Hamilton gives a
brief history, outlines major beliefs, and describes some things we can learn from that
tradition to strengthen our own Christian faith.
COS resources available: Book, DVD, Leaders Guide
Life’s Healing Choices - Freedom From Your Hurts, Hang-Ups and Habits by John
Baker
Eight simple yet powerful choices are the basis of this promise-filled book, in which
author John Baker reveals God's enlightening passageway to wholeness, growth, spiritual
maturity, and yes, real happiness. Rather than focusing on the past, these eight choices
provide an optimistic view to the future and authentic hope for lasting change. The reader
will discover the answers that have already brought freedom and healing to hundreds of
thousands who were searching for liberation and peace. These eight positive principles
are based on the Beatitudes of Jesus, offering hope, new life, and spiritual healing.
Choice by choice, readers will learn how to deal with past choices, take control where
they can, and make choices that will change their lives forever.
Based on Rick Warren's sermon series" Road to Recovery" Life's Healing Choices
promise freedom from life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits. And just in case there is any
doubt that these choices really work, dramatic and inspirational stories of real life people,
who have found healing in these eight choices, are included at the conclusion of every
chapter.
Encouraging and Biblically based, these tried-and-proven eight principles--such as
admitting need, finding help, and letting go-- provide real hope, real answers, and a real
future for those who desire a lasting change in their lives. It all comes one choice at a
time. Choices that lead to a life worth living.
COS resources available: Books, Small Group Study Guides, Journals
Beginnings: Introduction To Christian Faith – Along The Way by Andy Langford
and Mark Ralls
How can you begin to teach seekers and new Christians who have little or no prior
exposure to religion?
How do you condense the many years of Bible teaching we take for granted, and
answer the most important questions of Christianity…in just a few sessions?
Where do you start?
Beginnings:
An Introduction to the Christian Faith.
The 12 sessions of this study introduce the most basic themes of Christianity and explore
the most fundamental questions of religion, such as –






What is Sin?
What is Salvation?
Who is Jesus and What Did He Do?
Can I Be Forgiven?
What Happens When I Die?
Why Should I Join a Group?
Beginnings: An Introduction to Christian Faith
is a 9-12 week small-group study about basic Christian beliefs.
It is intended for adults hungry for an intentional walk with God that encourages a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It targets inquirers, explorers, seekers, and new
church members and is designed to begin where these adults are on their spiritual
journey.
COS resources available: DVD, Leaders Guide, Participants Guides
The Relationship Principles of Jesus by Tom Holladay (Teaching Pastor at
Saddleback Church)
What would you give to radically improve, even transform, the one thing in your life that
matters most--your relationships? How about forty days of your time? Forty days that
can bring new depth and health to your marriage, your family, and your friendships. Six
weeks to explore and implement six foundational principles that Jesus taught which can
equip you with both the insights and a practical path for fulfilling God's intention for all
of your relationships--even the difficult one. Shaped after Rick Warren's monumental
bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life, and used as the center piece for Saddleback Church's
40 Days of Community campaign, the relationship Principles of Jesus guides you day by
day on a journey that will profoundly shape how you view and how you do relationships.
COS resources available: Book which includes discussion questions
Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups by Jean E.
Syswerda
As you immerse yourself in their lives, you'll see more and more places where your life
intersects with theirs. Focus on fifty-two female heroes in Scripture, and you'll discover
yourself in the process. Women of the Bible: 52 Studies for Individuals and Groups is
designed especially for those who want to delve more deeply, either alone or in a group,
into the lives of women like Ruth, Anna, Esther, Leah, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, and
other women who encountered the living God. This study edition of the best-seller
Women of the Bible, includes an introduction to each woman, major Scripture passages,
study materials, and cultural backgrounds. There are fifty-two studies, one for each week
of the year. Newly gathered study aids include helpful charts as well as a complete listing
of all women of the Bible, with pertinent Scripture references. Space is included to record
your thoughts and insights. Each timeless biblical story mirrors the challenges and
changes today's women face. Through understanding these women's lives, this easy-touse study resource will help you discover the God behind their stories---and yours.
COS Resources Available: The book contains scripture readings and discussion
questions. Pages can be copied for group members.
Christianity and World Religions by Adam Hamilton
Christianity and World Religions: Wrestling With Questions People Ask is a video-based
small-group study and outreach program that explores four major world religionsHinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism – and compares the beliefs of each with those
of Christianity. This six-week study deals openly and honestly with questions people ask
about other religions, including why we should believe the claims of Christianity over
those of other faiths. As part of the study, author and presenter Adam Hamilton
interviews a religious leader from each tradition. He treats the world religions with great
respect, recognizing the unique contributions of each.
In examining these major world religions and the beliefs of their followers, the Reverend
Hamilton urges us as Christians to build bridges with others so that we might grow in our
faith, seek peace in our world, love our neighbor, and find positive ways to share the
gospel.
For group or individual study, the book can be used by class participants during the study
group meeting or at home for additional reflection. Includes detailed content for the six
sessions.
COS Resources Available: Books and Leaders Guide
Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned But I Have Several Excellent Excuses by James. W. Moore
Why do we try to justify anything and everything we want to do? We use words,
scapegoats, blaming other people, circumstances, past events, even evil spirits (“the devil
made me do it!”) to attempt to excuse bad choices we make with our own free will.
Moore challenges readers to recognize such situations and to grow beyond them. He
addresses such “sin” as half-heartedness, spiritual arrogance, deception, overreaction,
hostility, presumptuousness, losing spiritual balance, and more.
He reminds us what our faith tells us about excuses, which is God…
sees through.
is more interested in forgiving us than in hearing our excuses.
wants penitence – not excuses – from us.
In his warm, embracing style, James Moore encourages us to seek forgiveness. After all,
we are justified by the grace of a loving, caring, forgiving, God and not our eloquent
excuses.
Perfect as a 12 session small group study using the Leader Guide in back.
COS Resources Available: several books, including discussion questions
An Ordinary Day With Jesus by John Ortberg
In the routine moments of an ordinary day . . . you can experience the reality of God's
presence. Christ entered our broken world to give us life in all its fullness. Not just in
pinnacle experiences, but in every situation, every relationship, every activity. As you
learn to recognize and welcome Christ's presence into every moment, ordinary days
become filled with a tangible sense of God's presence. Suddenly, you are experiencing all
of life with God--not just Sundays or "quiet times." Even more, he is transforming you in
the process. You begin to experience the kind of ongoing, close connection to God you've
longed for. An Ordinary Day with Jesus show you how to: invite Christ to work
alongside you; recognize and hear the Holy Spirit's voice; use the spiritual pathways that
best connect you to God; eliminate hurry and simplify your pace of life; wake up and go
to sleep in Jesus' name; open everyday relationships to him, learning even from difficult
people; spend soul-replenishing time alone with God; plan, commit to, and actually
experience an entire day with Jesus. Experiencing God's presence in your everyday life
doesn't necessarily mean doing new things. It means doing the things you already do in
new ways--with him. An ordinary day with Jesus truly can be the greatest day you've
ever had. Best of all, it can lead to an extraordinary life!
COS resources available: Participants Guides – include items for individual study and
discussion questions
The Purpose Driven Life – What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren
Another landmark book by Rick Warren. You are not an accident. Even before the
universe was created, God had you in mind, and he planned you for his purposes. These
purposes will extend far beyond the few years you will spend on earth. You were made to
last forever! Self-help books often suggest that you try to discover the meaning and
purpose of your life by looking within yourself, but Rick Warren says that is the wrong
place to start. You must begin with God, your Creator, and his reasons for creating you.
You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make
sense. This book will help you understand why you are alive and God's amazing plan for
you--both here and now, and for eternity. Rick Warren will guide you through a personal
40-day spiritual journey that will transform your answer to life's most important question:
What on earth am I here for? Knowing God's purpose for creating you will reduce your
stress, focus your energy, simplify your decisions, give meaning to your life, and, most
importantly, prepare you for eternity. The Purpose-Driven(TM) Life is a blueprint for
Christian living in the 21st century--a lifestyle based on God's eternal purposes, not
cultural values. Using over 1,200 scriptural quotes and references, it challenges the
conventional definitions of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism.
In the tradition of Oswald Chambers, Rick Warren offers distilled wisdom on the essence
of what life is all about. This is a book of hope and challenge that you will read and reread, and it will be a classic treasured by generations to come.
COS resources available: Book, 40 Days of Purpose Small Group Curriculum
Come Thirsty – No Heart Too Dry For His Touch by Max Lucado
Are you a dry sponge? Edgy and rigid? Ineffective? Would you like to be softened up
some? Would you like to be more useful in the hands of the One who made you? Then
come to the well, says Max Lucado. Scientists assure us that humans can't live without
water, and we don't even attempt it. But survival without God? Oh, we sip, we taste, but
we're prone to go extended times without a good drink from the well of the Lord. And we
pay the price for doing so. We shrink. We coil and re-coil against the world... organs
harden... hearts harden.
In this renewing and life-giving book, Max Lucado, leads us to the four essential
nutrients needed by every soul. Come to the cross and know that your sins are pardoned
and your death is defeated. Receive Christ's energy and believe that you can do all things
through the one who gives you strength. Receive his Lordship, knowing that you belong
to him and that He looks out for you. Receive his love and feel confident that nothing can
separate you from it.
Come, with Max, to the WELL... to Christ's Work on the cross, his energy, his Lordship
and his Love.
COS resources available: Book, Participant Guides, COS Sermon Series CD
Invitation To Romans by Pamela Eisenbaum
Invitation To Romans
8 sessions, 60-90 minutes
Experience required: In Depth
Exploring how people have interpreted Romans through the ages is a good lens to view
the history of Christianity itself. Compare what Paul writes in Romans to what
theologians like Augustine, Luther and Calvin say in trying to understand Paul in their
time. At the end of this study your group will have a more informed commitment to
Paul’s radical vision of God’s relationship to both Christians and Jews and to their
relationship to each other, thanks to the "love of God in Christ Jesus."
The weekly video segments first present text read aloud against a backdrop of a wide
variety of church settings followed by a conversation between a church historian and a
church theologian about the text. The second weekly video is led by story teller, Michael
Williams, who shares snapshot views of how Romans has been read through history.
This study is meaty and extremely enjoyable for those students with some familiarity of
Romans and with a strong biblical foundation to rely on.
COS resources available: DVD, Leaders Guide, participants are advised to purchase
Participant Guide
God’s Answer To Life’s Difficult Questions by Rick Warren
How can I ... cope with stress? rebound from failure? defeat depression? have peace of
mind? Life's difficult questions have answers. Answers from the Bible that can change
your outlook---and your life. Rick Warren writes, 'In each of these studies, you will
discover simple ways to apply God's truth to your personal life, your family, and your
job. The way to get the most out of this book is to act on it.' Rick Warren takes you inside
the Scriptures to see what they reveal about twelve of the most pressing questions people
ask. They are questions you yourself either have asked or most likely will ask. This book
provides simple, straightforward answers you can begin to apply right away to move past
your worst sticking points and enjoy a life of purpose, peace, and significance.
COS Resources Available: DVD and books
The Volunteer Revolution – Unleashing The Power of Everybody by Bill Hybels
Living Beyond Myself – Discover Joy Through Serving Others by Bill Hybels
Bill Hybels believes that we are living in a time of unprecedented spiritual opportunity.
However, he also realizes that world crises and a sluggish economy have left many
churches with half-filled collection plates and budgets that are stretched far too thin. In
this challenging environment Hybels believes that the church will only flourish if she
learns to develop her most important resource: people! In The Volunteer Revolution
Hybels will show you how attracting, connecting, training and commending volunteers
will help the church to bring meaning into the lives of its members and more glory to
God the Father. Seize this opportunity to learn how to invest in your most indispensable
resource!
Living Beyond Myself: Launching a Volunteer Revolution is a step-by-step 4-week
church experience designed to raise the value of servanthood and volunteerism in the
local church. The Participant's Guide is a necessary resource for each individual to grow
and develop their full serving potential while engaging in the church experience. (cont.)
In using the guide, you will ...





Learn how your gifts can be revealed and utilized
Understand how you fit into the body of Christ
Discover new ways to use your strengths
Experience freedom to explore serving opportunities
Be challenged to be formed more into the image of Christ through serving
Participant's Guide includes:



Individual Reflection, Questions, and Activities
Journaling pages
Small Group discussion questions
COS Resources Available: The Volunteer Revolution Book; Living Beyond Myself
Participants Guide
Treasures of the Transformed Life – Satisfying Your Soul’s Search For More by
John Ed Mathison
Help the members of your congregation begin 40 days of transformation by using this
book to unify them in study. The daily readings are centered on the themes of Prayer,
Presence, Gifts, & Service. Each reading helps the reader focus on discerning God's
plan for them individually and how they can help live out God's plan for the church.
COS resources available: Books, Leaders Guides, Participants Guides, DVDs
Recovering From Losses in Life by H. Norman Wright
Life is marked by a variety of losses, says certified trauma specialist H. Norman Wright.
Some are life-changing, such as leaving home, the effects of natural disasters of war, the
death of a loved one, or divorce. Others are subtle, such as changing jobs, moving, or a
broken friendship. But whether readers encounter family, personal, or community
disaster, there is always potential for change, growth, new insight, understanding, and
refinement. Writing from his own experience, Wright covers such issues as the meaning
of grief, blaming God, and learning how to express and share in times of loss. Now
repackaged and updated with additional material, Recovering from Losses in Life will
help readers find hope in difficult times. Study questions included.
COS resources available: Book with study questions
Mayberry Bible Study Volume 3 – Courage, Folly, Gossip, Discernment by Stephen
Skelton
In this National Bestseller, one of the most beloved television programs of all--time
yields a celebrated 3-volume video based Bible Study. Join Andy, Opie, Barney, and
Aunt Bee for the parables of Mayberry.
COS resources available: DVD and study guide
Primal - A Quest For The Lost Soul of Christianity by Mark Batterson
Our generation needs a reformation.
But a single person won’t lead it.
A single event won’t define it.
Our reformation will be a movement of reformers living creatively, compassionately,
courageously for the cause of Christ.
This reformation will not be born of a new discovery. It will be the rediscovery of
something old, something ancient.
Something primal.
—Mark Batterson, Primal
“Mark weaves us through the Great Commandment with insights that are both winsome and wise, piquing
both curiosity and conviction. He calls us to a discipleship free of the trappings of shriveled self-concern,
drawing us to give ourselves, with abandon, to others as we heed Jesus’ call to love God above all. This
book will fuel clarity of call and persevering strength for those who will journey in obedience to the
Gospel—in its wholeness of justice, mercy, and faithfulness—for a lifetime.”
—GARY HAUGEN, president and CEO of International Justice Mission and author of Good News
About Injustice, Terrify No More, and Just Courage
“Too many of us are doing life at an unsustainable pace and losing sight of our first love. In his new book,
Primal, Mark Batterson invites you to rediscover the reality of Christ and His passions. This book will
challenge you, push you, and stretch you. You will walk away righteously aggravated, but catapulted into
action.”
—CRAIG GROESCHEL, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv
COS Resources Available: DVD, Leaders Guide, books
Invitation to the Old Testament by Celia Brewer Marshall and Dr. James D. Tabor
Invitation To the Old Testament
8 sessions, 60-90 minutes
Experience required: Moderate
Explore the Old Testament’s story of God and God's calling of the people of Israel
through the many "voices" of the biblical text. Hear the magnificence of a Creation
hymn, discover the law and wisdom teachings, listen to the warning of the prophets and
explore the poetry of the Song of Solomon.
In the two weekly video segments, first gain insight from biblical scholars and then take a
visual tour of archaeological sites, ancient artifacts, and other physical remains, related to
and illuminating scripture and events.
Participants gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Old Testament as an
integral part of the Christian Bible and a renewed discovery of our identity in God and
God’s vision for all things.
This study is ideal for adults with a strong Sunday school or personal study background.
COS resources available: DVD, Leaders Guide, participants are advised to purchase
Participants Guides
Parenting 101 – The Basics of Becoming A Proactive Parent by James Williams
Parenting 101 helps parents outline a plan for parenting based on their family's priorities
and values. Offers sessions on finding your "North Star," writing a family mission
statement together, balancing time and commitments, and keeping the family strong.
Each DVD contains four sessions with 15 minutes of video--including three segments of
video for each class.
With the ProActive Parenting series, you don't have to be a "parenting expert" to lead a
class or small group. With DVD segments from Jim Williams, a well-known author and
national speaker, it's easy to coordinate a class, facilitate discussions, and help lead a
group of parents through a period of leaning, growing, and sharing.
COS resources available: DVD, participants guide
Beginnings – The Spiritual Life by Andy Langford, Mark Ralls and Rob Weber
The Spiritual Life centers on a series of questions, one per session:










Where is the Spirit in Spirituality? (Introduction to the Spiritual Life)
How much am I willing to risk? (The Spiritual Habit of Courage)
What is most important to me? (The Spiritual Habit of Loving)
Can I find balance in a whirlwind world? (The Spiritual Habit of Centering)
What do I want to be when I grow up? (The Spiritual Habit of Simplicity)
How do I keep my possessions from possessing me? (The Spiritual Habit of Giving)
How do I get ahead? (The Spiritual Habit of Serving)
Can I go deeper without going under? (The Spiritual Habit of Trusting)
What can I do with my doubts? (The Spiritual Habit of Questioning)
Can a change in me change the world? (The Spiritual Habit of Engaging)
COS resources available: Small Group Leaders Guide, Participant Guides
Companions In Christ – The Way of Blessedness - A Small Group Experience in
Spiritual Formation by Stephen D. Bryant
The Way of Blessedness helps small groups unearth the kingdom of God that Christ
speaks of in the beatitudes. In this third release in the Companions in Christ series, we are
called to let go of pride so that we can become people openly dependent on God and
others. Blessedness asks us to be transformed into people who are not too proud to value
all people equally, who are not too proud to forgive and accept forgiveness from all, who
are not too proud to live simply and receive graciously from others. The Way of
Blessedness participant’s book follows the same daily and weekly rhythm as the other
books in the series. The Way of Blessedness leader’s guide offers rich group experiences
for each of the 8 weeks as well as helpful tools for leaders.
COS resources available: Leaders Guide
How Can I Forgive by Joretta L. Marshall
As a part of the Faith Questions study series, “How Can I Forgive?” is designed to meet
the needs of people who have questions about the Christian faith and who desire a deeper
engagement with scripture and with discipleship as they explore studies of issues in
theology, ethics, missions, Bible interpretation, and church history. It seeks to equip a
new generation of church leaders to appreciate the eternal message of the gospel and to
develop the skills to articulate its relevance in our contemporary context. The series
would be a good choice for users who have completed Disciple.
Life is full of incidents that either call for us to forgive or to be forgiven. Sometimes
forgiveness is very difficult because of the nature of the offence. Does the process of
forgiveness require us to excuse such actions as battering or sexual abuse? Does
forgiveness mean that a Christian must remain in a life-threatening or otherwise
unhealthy situation? How can I forgive someone who has betrayed me? What do I
forgive, the action or the person? How do I seek forgiveness when the person I wronged
will not speak to me? What are the roles of restitution, restoration, and reconciliation in
forgiveness? If I say I’m sorry, does that mean I can do as I like? As we celebrate
communion we hear the glorious words, “You are forgiven!” (UM hymnal p. 8). Do we
view these words as a practice that holds promise for contemporary Christians to live into
the fullness of our faith? These are the questions that this study will explore. The study
will develop a way of talking about forgiveness that makes sense in the contemporary
world and explore practical advice for receiving and offering forgiveness through the
grace offered by God in Christ. The 7 sessions will include:
- Bible study of texts on forgiveness
- an overview of theological guidelines for forgiveness
- a consideration of roadblocks to forgiveness
- an exploration of ways to accept forgiveness
- strategies for offering forgiveness to others
- ways to work toward creating a forgiving world
- and a celebration of the grace of a forgiving God.
COS resources available: study guide
Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed – A Study of David by Kay Arthur, Beth Moore,
and Priscilla Shirer
Taped at the 2007 Deeper Still event, three women explored their lives and the life of
David. Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David contains the audio and
video portions of the Deeper Still conference featuring Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer,
and Kay Arthur.
You’ll laugh with them, cry with them, and learn to love God with them. These authors'
messages are divided into three segments, two lessons each. Each segment focuses on the
life of David at a different stage of his life: as a young man (by Priscilla Shirer), as a
middle-aged man (by Beth Moore), and as a man facing the final third of his life (by Kay
Arthur).
Member Book provides six weeks of interactive, in-depth Bible study and includes
group leader helps.
COS resources available: workbook
Sisters – Unfailing Love: Growing Closer to Jesus Christ by Rebecca J. Laird
COS resources available: Workbook
Women of Faith Bible Studies





Knowing God’s Word
Receiving God’s Love
Living A Life of Balance
Giving God Your All
Living Beyond Myself
COS resources available: study guides
The Presence Based Church by Terry Teykl
While other churches are seeking more people, the Presence based church is seeking
more of God. The Presence of God on the Ark of the Covenant was Israel's provision,
authority, identity and joy. Today the same divine Presence is perfected and glorified in
the Ark of the New Covenant -- Jesus Christ. We are to put Him at the very center of our
camp and minister first to Him, as a living offering of worship. He is the source of our
provision, authority, identity and joy. He is the reason we exist as a church.
COS resources available: Books, Study Journals
Parenting The Other Chick’s Eggs by Ruth Ann Clurman (member of COS)
COS resources available: Book/Workbook
Old Testament Stories From The Backside by J. Ellsworth Kalas
Using an approach similar to that in his book Parables from the Back Side, popular author
J. Ellsworth Kalas brings a new perspective to selected Old Testament stories by
approaching them from the back side through a unique starting point, a creative retelling,
a new lens, or the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character.
COS Resources Available: Books, which include discussion questions
More Parables From the Backside by J. Ellsworth Kalas
J. Ellsworth Kalas presents new insight into twelve of Jesus parables by entering them
through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new lens, or the eyes of a minor or
unsympathetic character.
COS Resources Available: Books, which include discussion questions
Faith Is The Answer, But What Are The Questions by James Moore
The Christian gospel says to us, “Here is the One who can deliver you! Here is the One
who can save you. Follow him, and you can live. He will lead you to commitment, to love,
and to life.”
I believe that with all of my heart, but I also know that there are still a number of tough
questions we grapple with daily in these challenging times. How does faith help us when
problems arise? How does the Christian faith strengthen us when suffering or tragedy or
heartache explodes into our lives? How does the Holy Spirit help us? Did Jesus really
mean for us to love everybody? In this hectic world, with so many things crying out for
our allegiance and support, whom can we trust?
Faith is the answer, of course, but still…what are the questions? And how do we
respond to them honestly, creatively, and redemptively? That is the adventure before us.
These, and other questions, we will deal with in this book.
—James W. Moore, adapted from the introduction
COS Resources Available: Book, which includes a study guide
24 Hours That Changed The World by Adam Hamilton
No single event in human history has received more attention than the suffering and
crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. In this book, Adam Hamilton guides us through the last
twenty-four hours of Jesus' life. Each chapter is designed to help the reader experience
and understand the significance of Jesus' suffering and death in a way you have never
done before. Whether readers are long-time Christians or simply curious about the story
of Christ's crucifixion, they are invited to join the author in retracing the last 24 hours of
Jesus' life.
COS Resources Available: DVD, COS sermon-series CDs
Final Words From The Cross by Adam Hamilton
In life and in death, Jesus’ words were powerful and meaningful. Despite the serious
effort and increased pain required for Jesus to speak as he hung on the cross, Jesus spoke
seven “final words”—statements that have much to teach us about Jesus, his Father, and
ourselves:
Father Forgive Them
Behold Your Son…Behold Your Mother
My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?
Today You Will Be with Me in Paradise
I Thirst
It Is Finished
Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit
In 24 Hours That Changed the World, Adam Hamilton took us on a Lenten journey
through the last day of Jesus' life. Now in this inspiring follow-up book, Hamilton
explores these final words as seen and heard through the eyes and ears of those who stood
near the cross.
Each chapter begins with the biblical account followed by a first-person story as might
have been told from the viewpoint of one of the characters at the cross. Then the chapter
explores the meaning of Jesus’ dying words for our lives today. Following the last
statement, a postscript recounts the words Jesus spoke following his resurrection,
including what truly were the final words Jesus spoke while walking this earth.
Join the crowd now and experience the final words from the cross.
COS Resources Available: DVD with Leader’s Guide, book
The World Shattering Ministry of Jesus by Crumpler and Gooch
This 7 session study focuses on Jesus as a revolutionary figure and change agent, both in
his own context and in ours and will help adults understand the radical nature of Jesus’
ministry for and among all people, including the “outcast,” and how Jesus models for us a
ministry that challenges and pushes the limits.
COS Resources Available: small group guide
Enough by Adam Hamilton
Money has great power in our lives. Used wisely, it is one key to accomplishing our
goals, providing for our needs, and fulfilling our life purpose. In recent years, many of us
ignored the wisdom of the past when it came to managing and spending our money.
Credit card debt soared, savings rates plummeted, and our home equity became
something to be tapped into and spent rather than a source of security in retirement. We
felt an insatiable desire for more. And we found ourselves spending tomorrow’s money
today in order to have what we hoped would satisfy. The result of all of this was not
greater happiness and satisfaction, but greater stress and anxiety.
Enough is an invitation to rediscover the Bible’s wisdom when it comes to prudent
financial practices. In these pages are found the keys to experiencing contentment,
overcoming fear, and discovering joy through simplicity and generosity. This book could
change your life, by changing your relationship with money.
COS Resources Available: Books with Discussion Questions; COS Sermon Series CDs
When Christians Get It Wrong by Adam Hamilton
More and more young adults have opted out of Christianity and the church. The
reason? Christians.
When young adults talk about the problems they have with Christianity and the church,
they often name certain attitudes and behaviors they believe are practiced too often by
Christians: judging others, condemning people of other faiths, rejecting science, injecting
politics into faith, and being anti-homosexual. With his familiar style, Adam Hamilton
tackles these issues and addresses the how’s and why’s of Christians getting it right when
it comes to being Christ in the world.
Those who read When Christians Get It Wrong will gain a different way of understanding
the issues that keep people away from Christianity and keep Christians from living a
more compelling faith. Because, honestly, if we don’t start getting it right, we may lose
an entire generation.
COS Resources Available: Books, DVD with Leader’s Guide
Old Testament Challenge – Life Changing Words From The Prophets by John
Ortberg
Discover the Life-Changing Relevance of the Old Testament. Does God really speak to
people? Can we still hear his voice and follow his leading in a way that will bring
transformation to our lives? Do the words of God connect in a way that will penetrate the
human heart and shape us into all we hope and dream we can become? The answer is a
crystal-clear yes! The words of the prophets trumpet across the centuries, calling us to
authentic spiritual lives. God longs to see his character mirrored in each of us. This small
group study takes you though the words of the prophets and unveils truths that will help
you enter new levels of spiritual maturity. The Old Testament Challenge small group
series is a high-impact tool for discovering the power and relevance of the Old
Testament. This innovative series combines Bible study with an enjoyable, interactive
format to help you and your group experience God's Word as it really is: energetic,
immediate, and life-transforming.
COS Resources Available: Discussion Guides
Books that can be used for group discussion and study (books can be
purchased online or at bookstores)
The Shack – Wm. Paul Young (COS Sermon Series CD available)
Mackenzie Allen Phillips's youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family
vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an
abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in this midst of his
great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back
to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on wintry
afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change his
life forever.
Dinner With A Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth
The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card
applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has
already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what
kind of plot his colleagues have hatched…
The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into
an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who comfortably discusses everything
from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself
Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.
Day With A Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
The conversation continues.
What if a stranger knew you better than you know yourself?
Exasperated by her husband’s sudden new obsession with Jesus, Mattie Cominsky views
an out-of-town business trip as a welcome opportunity to reflect on their marriage—and
to decide if it’s time to put an end to this painfully unrewarding relationship.
Aboard the plane, Mattie is relieved to find herself seated next to a passenger who shares
her scorn for religion. After she confides her husband’s unexpected turn, their
conversation soon leads to a fascinating exploration of spirituality, God, and the quest for
meaningful connection.
Mattie’s skepticism softens under the perceptive insights of this stranger, and she finds
herself confronting the unspoken longings of her soul. As his comments touch on
personal issues he couldn’t possibly know about, she begins to wonder if she’s misjudged
not only Nick but also the God he now claims to believe in.
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis (COS Sermon Series CD available)
The young man at the center of this extraordinary and moving story will one day be
among the most highly paid athletes in the National Football League. When we first meet
him, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his
real name, his father, his birthday, or any of the things a child might learn in school such
as, say, how to read or write. Nor has he ever touched a football.
What changes? He takes up football, and school, after a rich, Evangelical, Republican
family plucks him from the mean streets. Their love is the first great force that alters the
world's perception of the boy, whom they adopt. The second force is the evolution of
professional football itself into a game where the quarterback must be protected at any
cost. Our protagonist turns out to be the priceless combination of size, speed, and agility
necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side.
Five Practices of Fruitful Living by Bishop Robert Schnase (Missouri Conference)
How do I cultivate a life that is purposeful, deep, and fruitful? What are the
commitments, critical risks, and personal practices that open me to God's grace? How can
I discover the spiritual life and the difference God intends for me to make in the world?
- Radical Hospitality.
- Passionate Worship.
- Intentional Faith Development.
- Risk-Taking Mission and Service.
- Extravagant Generosity.
Five Practices of Fruitful Living provides an honest, practical, and winsome guide to the
spiritual journey. By repeating and deepening certain fundamental practices, we
cooperate with God in our spiritual growth. These five practices - to receive God's love,
to love God in return, to grow in Christ, to serve others, and to give ourselves fully - as
we attend to them and develop them, help us settle ourselves in God and become
instruments of God's grace. Following Christ will change your heart; and through you,
God will change the world.
Renovate or Die by Pastor Bob Farr (former COS Lead Pastor and Director of
Congregational Excellence for the Missouri Conference)
Be the Church Jesus calls us to be.
Bob Farr asserts that to change the world, we must first change the Church. As Adam
Hamilton says in the Foreword, “Read [this book] carefully with other leaders in your
church. . . . You’ll soon discover both a desire to renovate your church and the tools to
effectively lead your church forward.” If we want to join Robert Schnase and claim
radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission
and service, and extravagant generosity, we must also engage pastors and motivate
churches. We must renovate and overhaul our churches and not merely redecorate and
tinker with our church structure.
With straightforward language and practical tips, this book will inspire and help you
organize your church for new life on the mission field. Learn how to grow your church
and discover the commitments that denominational leaders must make to guarantee the
fruitfulness of local congregations.
The Case For Christ and The Case For Faith – by Lee Strobel
The Case For Christ: A seasoned journalist chases down the biggest story in history--is
there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the son of god?
Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, Lee Strobel, former legal editor
of the Chicago Tribune, cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools
like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis who are recognized authorities in their own
fields. Strobel challenges them with questions like: How reliable is the New Testament?
Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the
resurrection was an actual event?
Strobel's tough, point-blank questions make this Gold Medallion-winning book read like
a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it's not fiction. It's a riveting quest for the truth about
history's most compelling figure. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ?
The Case For Faith: Was God telling the truth when he said, 'You will seek me and find
me when you seek me with all your heart'? In his #1 bestseller The Case for Christ, Lee
Strobel examined the claims of Christ, reaching the hard-won verdict that Jesus is God's
unique son. In The Case for Faith, Strobel turns his skills to the most persistent emotional
objections to belief---the eight 'heart barriers' to faith. This Gold Medallion-winning book
is for those who may be feeling attracted to Jesus but who are faced with difficult
questions standing squarely in their path. For Christians, it will deepen their convictions
and give them fresh confidence in discussing Christianity with even their most skeptical
friends. 'Everyone---seekers, doubters, fervent believers---benefits when Lee Strobel hits
the road in search of answers, as he does again in The Case for Faith. In the course of his
probing interviews, some of the toughest intellectual obstacles to faith fall away.' ---Luis
Palau 'Lee Strobel has given believers and skeptics alike a gift in this book. He does not
avoid seeking the most difficult questions imaginable, and refuses to provide simplistic
answers that do more harm than good.' ---Jerry Sittser, professor of religion, Whitworth
College, and author of A Grace Disguised and The Will of God as a Way of Life
COS Resources Available: Books
Seeing Gray In A World Of Black And White by Adam Hamilton
Everyone agrees that America is polarized, with ever-hardening positions held by people
less and less willing to listen to one another. No one agrees on what to do about it. One
solution that hasn't yet been tried, say Adam Hamilton, is for thinking persons of faith to
model for the rest of the country a richer, more thoughtful conversation on the political,
moral, and religious issues that divide us.
Hamilton writes: I don't expect you to agree with everything I've written. I expect that in
the future even I won't agree with everything I've written here. The point is not to get you
to agree with me, but to encourage you to think about what you believe. In the end I will
be inviting those of you who find this book resonates with what you feel is true, to join
the movement to pursue a middle way between the left and the right --to make your
voices heard-- and to model for our nation and for the church, how we can listen, learn,
see truth as multi-sided, and love those with whom we disagree.
Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery. An upscale
art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel. A gutsy woman with a
stubborn dream. A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it.
It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana . . . and an East Texas honky-tonk
. . . and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda . . . an
upscale New York gallery . . . a downtown dumpster . . . a Texas ranch.
Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, this true story also shines with an unexpected,
life-changing love.