Starting Point: A Conversation about Faith
I spent some time this week with a resource I think you should know about and if you already know about it, maybe rethink how it might be used. Starting Point: A Conversation about Faith is not a new resource, although this is a revised version. And I have to be honest. I had heard about it many times over the last few years, but I had never looked at it.
Starting Point is an 8 week DVD-driven study featuring Andy Stanley that is based on the understanding that many of us might need a new starting point for our faith. I like the way the cover of the conversation guide puts it: “Everything has a starting point–your life, your relationships, your education, your career. Sometimes we forget that faith has a starting point as well. For some of us, our faith journeys began in childhood as a set of beliefs handed to us by a parent, teacher or pastor. Maybe you developed a framework of faith based on personal experience. Or maybe you had no faith at all. Too often, a faith formed in childhood isn’t strong enough to withstand the pressures of adult life.”
The DVD features Andy Stanley and the video is taken from a series of messages delivered live at North Point. Each of the segments is 22 to 25 minutes delivered by one of the most compelling communicators in America and they easily hold attention. As is the case on most North Point studies, the DVD also includes full messages in addition to the segments.
The DVD also includes a downloadable leader’s guide and a collection of additional resources (banner ad, templates for bulletins, postcards, and posters, as well as a powerpoint template). The leader’s guide is very thorough on it’s own, but also includes a link to an online leader’s resource that is even more complete.
The conversation guide includes everything you need for a great experience. Designed a little differently than many study guides, the intent is that members spend some time each week in preparation for the group meeting, work their way through a short set of readings and questions for reflection, and then come to the meeting prepared to talk about what they’ve learned.
If your church is looking for a way to help seekers (those who are curious about God, Jesus, the Bible or Christianity), starters (those who have just begun a relationship with Jesus Christ), or returners (those who have some church experience but have been away for awhile), Starting Point is a fantastic resource. I also think this is a great study for individual small groups that are comprised of seekers, starters, and returners. I love this new edition and I think you’ll agree that it is a great resource.
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