Forgiveness.  What a concept.  If you’re looking for a solid, biblical look at the subject of forgiveness…you need to take a look at Have the Funeral by James MacDonald.  Joining Lifeway’s Platform Series in 2011, this six session study is very solid material.

I reviewed another MacDonald study, Always True: God’s Promises When Life is Hard in September of 2011.  One of America’s most popular Bible teachers, MacDonald is the founding/senior pastor of Chicago’s Harvest Bible Chapel, host of the radio show “Walk in the Word,” and author of several books and Bible studies, including “Gripped by the Greatness of God,” and “Ancient Wisdom.”

The DVD features six excerpts from two messages given at Harvest Bible Chapel.  Averaging 12 to 17  minutes in length, the segments are very compelling, full of great practical application, and fly past.  Important for small group studies…they grab your attention at the outset (there’s a coffin in the background) and never let go.

In addition to the discussion questions, the Participant Guide also provides biblical context and historical background.  A great set of questions takes the teaching and drives immediately to application.  Along with the session activities, the Participant Guide also provides journaling ideas as well as next steps for every session.

While there is no leader’s guide, this is a very straightforward study.  The practical, application orientation of this study should provide a solid basis for discussion for even the newest groups.

If you’re looking for a study that will deeply impact small group members or Bible study attendees, I want to suggest that you take a serious look at Have the Funeral.  This is a study that will leave a powerful impression on leaders and members alike.  I highly recommend it.  In fact, a solid understanding of biblical forgiveness is so important, this study definitely joins the recommended curriculum list for me.  And I hope for you too!

Had an opportunity this week to spend some time with an interesting new DVD-driven small group study from Lifeway.  Rooms: The Small Group Experience is the first study I’m aware of that was inspired by an award-winning novel (Published in 2010, Rooms was named the Best Inspirational Novel of 2010 by the Reviewers’ Choice Awards).

Likened to The Shack, Rooms is the story of “young software tycoon Micah Taylor and a cryptic letter he receives from a great uncle he never knew.  It claims a home awaits him on the Oregon coast.  In Cannon Beach.  The one place he loves.  The one place he never wants to see again.  But strange things happen in the house.  Things Micah can’t explain.  Things he can barely believe.  The locals say that the house is ‘spiritual.’  But Micah slowly discovers the house isn’t just spiritual, it is a physical manifestation–of his soul (from the cover).”

The study is designed to guide groups through four significant themes: woundedness, destiny, (spiritual) warfare, and freedom.  The DVD segments feature a combination of author James Rubart’s teaching/narration against the backdrop of reenacted scenes from the book.

The participant guide provides discussion questions that enable group members to work through the biblical basis for each of the four themes.  Each week also includes four daily devotional experiences, continuing to pursue the theme through the week.

A Leader Guide section is included in the participant guide and provides some important hints for the study.  In addition, each of the four DVD segments includes a “watch me first” moment for group leaders.  In view of the challenging themes developed in this study, it may be too challenging for some leaders.

Although the study was “created so that even someone who has not read the book–or who does not intend to–can still find fresh perspectives and strong biblical content for becoming a more effective disciple,” it will be a far different experience for those who participate without reading the book.  In my mind, the most likely participants of the study will be readers of the book.  I should point out that while I haven’t finished the book, I read the first 20 pages to get a feel for the writing style and the quality of the writing.  It’s an intriguing story-line and caught my attention right away.

This is an interesting new category.  While it’s easy to envision a book club that leads to a four week study, I’m finding it harder to imagine just any group choosing a study based on contemporary Christian fiction.  For the right group, Rooms will be a great experience.

Next in the line of DVD-driven studies from Gabe Lyons and Q Group Studies is Being Countercultural: Restoring Our Identity in a Changing Society.  I think this is an essential study and series if you’re interested in connecting the widening 60% that will never be reached by the attractional model.

Being Countercultural is a five session DVD-driven study with an accompanying Participant’s Guide.  The DVD segments each feature an opening dialogue between host Gabe Lyons and Laura Waters Hinson (film-maker, director and producer of As We Forgive).  Like the other offerings in the Q Group Studies series, three of the five sessions also include a talk from a recent Q Conference.  Being Countercultural features talks by Gabe Lyons (on being countercultural), Andy Crouch (on Power, Privilege and Risk) and Mike Foster (on the People of a Second Chance).

Like the other studies in the Q Group Studies series two of the five sessions do not include a DVD segment.  Instead, session two includes a Q Short (a 15 page reading) by Jason Locy and Tim Willard (authors of Veneer) and session five guides the group to select a culture shaping project.  Putting the topics from the study into practice is an important aspect of the Q Group Series strategy, so the suggested projects include an anticonsumerism emphasis (spending time and money for the sole benefit of someone else), a creative power effort (using the gifts and talents of the group to create something for the good of the city or community), and a gift of grace extended to a person or group that has been judged or condemned by the church.

This is a powerful study and a powerful series.  If you want the groups in your small group ministry to experience something beyond their own sense of community, Being Countercultural will provide some of the necessary ingredients.  I love the Mike Foster line from his segment.  ”If we’re going to be people of the second chance we need to chase prodigals.”  Chasing them requires developing compassion and developing compassion almost certainly requires understanding.  This study will help you grow in your understanding.

My first encounter with Ed Dobson was in 1993 when I read Starting a Seeker Sensitive Service.  Pastor Emeritus of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, you may have run across Dobson in his 2009 book, The Year of Living Like Jesus: My Journey of Discovering What Jesus Would Really Do.

My most recent encounter with Ed Dobson was at The Story conference in Chicago.  As his session began…it was immediately obvious that something had happened.  In the first sentence or two I learned that he had ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).  For the next ten minutes or so, I heard…and observed…the damage of the disease.  Amazingly, I also heard…and observed…the power of God.

Flannel’s 2011 release of Ed’s Story: A Film Series about Hope (1-3), a mesmerizing example of story-driven visual-media, pulls you steadily into the story.  A series of short films (five of seven are currently finished and separately available as 1-3 and 4-5), each one tells a piece of the story and all of them are very immersive.  Something about the pacing, the intelligent spacing of speech to video (almost like white space) and the camera placement and shot selection itself, create a backdrop against which an irrepressible hope stands firm.  Sometimes all the description in the world fails what a sample will do.   You can watch the first short film right here.

Ed’s Story wrestles with the issues suffering raises: worry, identity, forgiveness, gratitude, and healing.  Accompanied by a personal reflection guide, there is a powerful discussion to be had.  Although deeply biblical, this isn’t your typical set of small group questions complete with directly referenced scripture.  While a leader’s guide would help ensure direction, the video content along with a thought-provoking set of discussion questions will open the door for some very memorable meetings.

This is a powerful experience; one that I want my group to have.  I have a feeling you’ll want your groups to have it, too.

I review a lot of curriculum every year.  Some DVD-driven.  Some homework intensive.  Some story-driven visual media.  I review everything.

Although my blog is sponsored by several of the larger publishers (much appreciated), it was interesting to see that 2 of the 3 most popular reviews I did were for Not a Fan and Basic: Who Is God; both from publishers that don’t sponsor me (hint).

Why did I rank these reviews separately from yesterday’s top 10 posts of 2011?  I decided that this list may be an indication of sales strength.  8 of 2011′s 10 most popular reviews were written in 2011.

1. Review: Not a Fan (posted in September, 2010)
2. New from Beth Moore | James: Mercy Triumphs
3. Basic: Who Is God (by Francis Chan)
4. The Story: A New Church-Wide Campaign from Zondervan
5. Review: Life’s Toughest Questions (from Lifeway’s Platform Series) (Posted in August, 2010)
6. New Church-Wide Campaign from Bill Hybels: The Power of a Whisper
7. Crave: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (a 7 session study from Lifeway)
8. Review: Walking with God in the Desert
9. Courageous: A New Church-Wide Campaign (based on the movie)
10. Review| Gospel Revolution: A New DVD-Driven Study from J.D. Greear

If you’re looking for a study that will help your groups understand spiritual warfare, you need to take a look at Victory in Spiritual Warfare by Dr. Tony Evans.  An 8 session DVD-driven study featuring the teaching of Dr. Evans and based on his 2011 book, Victory in Spiritual Warfare: Outfitting Yourself for the Battle…this is a powerful study.

The DVD format, along with daily homework and scripture memory will make this study very appropriate for many on-campus studies and classes as well as groups that are looking for deeper content.

There are several keys to the study.

First, the DVD features significant portions of the teaching of Dr. Evans.  At an average length of 30 minutes, I think they’ll seem much shorter.  The first African-American to graduate with a doctoral degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, he is widely regarded as one of the very best communicators in America.

Second, the participant guide, the Field Guide for Battle (included in the Leader Kit), includes a several important ingredients:

• a section for taking notes during each of the DVD segments,
• a short set of discussion questions, and a verse for scripture memory
• a very thorough set of daily studies for each of the 8 weeks.  Deeply biblical, the daily studies will give group members an in-depth understanding of spiritual warfare.

A Personal Note: In my opinion, Dr. Tony Evans is one of the most memorable preachers in America.  I will never forget a message I heard him give at a Promise Keepers event in the late 90s.  Whether you add this curriculum to your recommended list or feature it in an on-campus study or class…I’m confident it will have the same effect on many participants.  They may have never shouted out, “Amen!” or “That’s right!” before…but they will when they get caught up in the enthusiasm of this teaching.

Looking for a way to help group members understand their Muslim neighbors?  You might want to take a look at Muslims, Christians and Jesus, a new DVD-driven study from Zondervan.  Based on the acclaimed 2008 book by Carl Medearis, an international expert in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations, it is one of the most engaging studies I’ve come across in the last year…on any topic.

A four session study, each of the sessions feature a kind of fireside chat by Medearis, as well as interviews with Muslim religious leaders, Christian religious leaders and authors, as well as political experts.  The average length is about 20 minutes, normally a little longer than ideal, but I think your members will be amazed at how quickly the minutes fly by.

The Participant’s Guide is designed to allow note-taking while viewing the DVD and also includes discussion questions that will help your members dive into the presentation.  On the heels of the DVD segment, there is a very good Bible exploration section, designed to open eyes to Jesus’ teaching and personal involvement with people from other faiths (for example, John 4 when He talks with the woman at the well).  Finally, a personal reflection section and steps to take on your own, provide an opportunity for personalized response.

This study provides a very healthy way for group members to begin to understand the basics of Islam, the difference between ‘moderate’ Muslims and actual terrorists, the Muslim view of Jesus, and how we as Christians should respond to our Muslim neighbors, friends, and co-workers as well as current events.

If you’re looking for studies that will open your member’s eyes to other world religions and worldviews, Muslims, Christians, and Jesus is an excellent resource and I highly recommend it.  They’ll come away with a much better understanding, some very practical next steps, and best of all, eyes to see and ears to hear as they get to know their Muslim neighbors.

There are several common misconceptions about DVD-driven small group curriculum.

But first, a little history:

In January of 2001, when Saddleback took the energy and resources that were producing their mid-week service (Side Note: averaging about 1,000 adults in attendance) and shifted that energy and those resources into producing video-driven small group curriculum, two important things happened:

1. It made it possible for ordinary people with HEARTS for unconnected people to OPEN their homes, SERVE a few refreshments, and TURN on the VCR (Note: the origin of the HOST acronym).
2. It made it possible for the most gifted communicators to launch discussions about God’s word in over 800 homes throughout the Saddleback Valley (Side Note: approximately 8,000 people).

Full Disclosure: I vividly remember the very first time our groups were provided a video based study.  My initial reaction?  Wait!  I love teaching!  I would rather teach the thing myself!  Remember that day like it was yesterday.  You know what happened?  I took a step back and thought about how many of the leaders in my small group system could do what I could do.  And there were some…but not many.  Only after gaining a sense of who I was did I reach the point where I became an advocate of DVD-driven curriculum.

And now to the misconceptions about DVD-driven small group curriculum:

Misconception #1: It limits the development and use of the teaching gift. I think the biggest misconception about DVD-driven material is that using it somehow limits the development and use of the teaching gift.  In my opinion, nothing could be further from reality.  The best DVD-driven material provides a discussion opener that presents God’s truth in a creative way and launches an engaging discussion that leads to genuine understanding and personal  application.  The best DVD-driven material averages 12 to 15 minutes in length.  At its best it is an opener.  Since most group meetings last 75 to 90 minutes…there is still plenty of time for the teaching gift to be exercised.

Misconception #2: It stunts group member’s ability to use their own Bible.  Okay…that might be even a little further from reality.  In my experience, the best DVD-driven material opens the door and points the way for group members to want to “examine the scriptures” for themselves.  Does it require a group leader willing to help less knowledgeable members find the chapter and verse?  Yes, but that’s part of the fun!

Misconception #3: DVD-driven studies can’t be used for discipleship.  Really?  I think that might just reflect a limited imagination.  I like Jim Putman’s thinking on the three keys to Jesus’ success as the “greatest disciple-maker in history:

1. Jesus was an intentional leader in every sense.
2. He did His disciple-making in a relational environment.
3. He followed a process that can be learned and repeated (p. 35, real life discipleship).”

DVD-driven material allows the disciple-maker to be very intentional.  Using a tool like the Purpose Driven Life Health Assessment allows the group leader to choose the best material for the needs of the individual group.  DVD-driven material allows the group leader to focus more energy on creating a highly relational environment and leave the creative opener and direction-setting teaching to the most gifted communicator.  Further, DVD-driven material allows the process to be easily learned and repeated.

A little more history:

If Jesus was “the greatest disciple-maker in history,” I think you can argue that the Apostle Paul was only a few steps behind.  What made Paul such an effective discipler?  What do you think has had the greatest impact on the largest number of people?  The live teaching/disciple-making he did while alive or the impact of the teaching in his letters to 1st century churches and individuals?  If Paul were here today, what medium do you think he would use to guide the discipleship efforts of believers everywhere?

Want do you think?  Want to argue?  You can click here to jump into the conversation.

Although for many of us, John Ortberg’s best-seller, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, might be shelved neatly in betweeen If You Want to Walk on the Water You’ve Got to Get out of the Boat and The Me I Want to Be…I’m thinking it might really be begging for a second look…as a church-wide campaign.

The winning combination of:

• a great topic (especially a great first of the year topic)
• author name recognition (there are few better)
• a very marketable title (think about what this title promises)
• easy-to-use DVD-driven material (this is essential for the kind of church-wide campaign that can include everyone)
• an easy-to-read trade book that provides more for those who will invest the time in between sessions

Advancing the Common Good, the latest in the Q Studies series from Zondervan, wrestles with the big idea that the role of Jesus’ followers is not simply to announce his message of redemption and restoration to the world, but to live out that message for the world.

Advancing the Common Good is a five session study that leverages a combination of video, reading and discussion that will  introduce and deepen a counter-cultural worldview that reframes the Gospel and restores the Christ-followers role in culture.

The Q Group Study Series is unique in both format and content.  A DVD-driven study, the DVD sessions open with a kind of dialogue between host Gabe Lyons and Chris Heuertz, an activist and Executive Director of Word Made Flesh, a non-profit organization existing to serve among the most vulnerable of the world’s poor.  Fascinating on their own merit, these opening dialogues serve as introduction for a powerful selection of  talks and interviews from the annual Q event.

Advancing the Common Good includes DVD segments by three very diverse speakers as well as a reading and culture-shaping project:

• Session One features a talk by Jo Saxton, a director of 3DM, a movement/organization  helping church leaders make discipleship and mission the heartbeat of the local church.  Saxton gives a talk entitled Being Provoked to Engage.
• Session Two is driven by a Q Short (a 9 page reading) on the sanctity of human life.   Written by David P. Gushee, the Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, the reading is found in the Participant Guide and also on the DVD-rom.
• Session Three features Eboo Patel, the founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit building the interfaith youth movement. He is the author of, Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim.  His talk is on An Interfaith Dialogue.
• Session Four features an interview with Shannon Sedgwick Davis, a partner at Bridgeway Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc. The Houston-based investment firm commits one-half of its annual profits towards philanthropic endeavors that focus on eliminating genocide as well as the promotion of peace, reconciliation, and human rights around the world.   A passionate advocate for social justice and international human rights her entire professional career, her interview is entitled Not on Our Watch.

Whether you are providing curriculum guidance for small group leaders longing to engage their culture or you’re working to reshape understanding of mission, Advancing the Common Good is a study you’ll want to add to your recommended list.