What in your life is unexplainable apart from God?   Is there anything?  Or is there a perfect explanation for everything do?  For your decisions about jobs, your finances, and your relationships?

If this is a question that intrigues you at all, you might want to take a look at a new 8 week DVD-driven study from David C. Cook publishing.  Unexplainable: Pursuing a Life Only God Can Make Possible, by Don Cousins, will not be for every group.  But if your group is looking for a challenge, almost a dare to move towards the life described so vividly in the New Testament, this is a study you need to take a look at.

Unlike most of the DVD-driven group curriculum you’ll find, this DVD features a series of interviews with real people who have begun a new kind of adventure and are living lives and making decisions that are unexplainable…apart from God.  Watching session one and the story of Lee Eilers I couldn’t help but be pulled in to a great story; one man’s story of a decision he made to follow a course that could only be explained by God.

Each of the sessions is designed to be watched after reading the assigned section of the book.  Each section is about 25 pages.  After viewing the DVD segment the group will tackle a discussion of the ideas presented and be encouraged to apply what they’re learning.  I found the questions for session one well written and could imagine a lively discussion as a group wrestled with the question, “What would you like to see God do in your personally that would qualify as “unexplainable apart from God?”

This is probably not a study for a brand new group or a group of brand new Christians.  But if you’ve got groups in your small group ministry, or unconnected adults in your congregation, who are ready for a challenge, Unexplainable may be just the ticket.  I can say that session one and the first chapter already has me mulling over the decisions I’m making and the life I’ve found myself living.  Is it unexplainable apart from God?  Maybe I’ll let you know after I’ve finished the study!  In the meantime, if you want to learn more or pick it up for your group you can do that right here.

Looking for a creative way to jump-start a discussion about finances and stewardship in your congregation?  You may want to take a look at Money Talks, a new 5 week small group study from Liquid.  Similar to other studies in the Liquid series, Money Talks takes a look at the Penders, a California family with an outrageous view of money.  A little different than others in the series, this topic is explored with a twist of comedy…taking a little of the edge off the topic.

Episode one takes a look at Matthew 25 and The Parable of the Talents…but in a way that will capture the attention of your groups and generate a great discussion.  Whether you know your Real Housewives of Orange County or not, there’s a very familiar feel to the interview format that is very engaging.

Each of the 5 sessions follows the Pender family as they encounter the principles of a different New Testament passage.  A short talk wraps each session and sets up an engaging conversation.  The video segments are short…less than 10 minutes.  Just about the perfect length to grab attention, explore the concept, and whet the appetite for discussion.

If you’re looking for a way to help your groups talk about stewardship, Money Talks could be a way to get things started.  You can preview session 2 of the study right here.  Take a look!  I think you’ll like it.

What curriculum helps a group get off to the best start?

I’m asked this question (or one like it) almost every week, so I thought I’d take a day and answer the question.  If you’ve asked it…here you go!  If you already have a favorite…use the comments below to add your favorite to the list!  But before I start naming names, how about a little philosophy?

First, keep in mind the skill level of your new leader.  By “skill level” I mean more than can they read.  I’m talking about their ability to jump-start participation, to grab the attention of new members, and to facilitate interaction.  Unless I know differently, such as in the case of a new group with a seasoned leader, I know I need to choose material that is easy to use.

Second, keep in mind the maturity of the members of the new group.  This is very important.  And by maturity I don’t mean how long they’ve been at your church.  I’m really referring to the fact that they’re already living out a lot of what they’ve learned.  The Apostle Paul points out that you can look like an adult and still need milk (1 Corinthians 3:1) and the writer of Hebrews reminds us that “though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! (Hebrews 5:12).”  Unless they’re already living out what they’ve already learned…I look for material that helps with the basics to get a group started.

Third, I look for a topic that will peak the interest of the new members.  When I’m starting a group for men, I look for a title and topic that will make sense to men.  Same for women, couples, singles, etc.

Fourth, I look for a six week study.  Lyman Coleman said that six weeks is short enough to make a commitment to and long enough to begin to develop a sense of connection (very rough paraphrase).  I’ve found that to be very, very important.  There are some great 12 to 14 week studies.  They do not work well to start new groups.  They seem daunting to new people and they are tough to join after about week 3.  Six weeks is the perfect length.

Fifth, I lean toward a DVD-driven study.  I always say “there’s an upside and a downside to everything.”  The biggest upside of DVD-driven curriculum is that it makes it possible for an ordinary person to start a small group. Think about it…when you bring John Ortberg or Erwin McManus into the living room you allow them to get the discussion started.  That’s a big advantage.  When you’re using a curriculum to implement a strategy to help lots of people test-drive a small group…helping ordinary people open up their home and invite a few of their friends…that is a HUGE advantage.
I’ve found that most groups are ready to set the video aside after two or three series.  Some hang on much longer.  Most discover that they get a lot more out of their own Bible study and discussion.

Looking for a list of studies that work well?  Come back tomorrow!  I’ll publish a list of my favorites.  In the meantime, if you haven’t signed up to get the update…you can do that right here.

Have you heard about Life’s Healing Choices, Saddleback’s newest campaign?  You can hear Rick Warren talk about the study right here.  Looks like a great new resource on a topic that’s been a home run for many churches and is clearly on the easy end of the easy/hard continuum.

An 8 week church-wide study based on The Beatitudes, Life’s Healing Choices features

• DVD-driven small group curriculum
• sermon transcripts for the weekend messages
• a complete campaign kit
• and leverages John Baker’s book by the same name as a companion resource.

You can find out more and sign up at a reduced rate (thru 8/1/2009) right here.

If you’re looking for a DVD-driven study that is provocative, easy to use, and generates great discussion, you’ll love Mirror Image.  From the Liquid series, this is a study of five of Jesus’ best known parables (including The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan) and it is a must-have in our suggested curriculum list.

What makes it so engaging is that rather than a talking head, each session presents the truth of a parable in a dramatic and contemporary retelling.  For example, The Prodigal features a drug-using runaway daughter who returns to the welcoming arms of a mother and the disapproval of an older sister.  There are five sessions and they are all very compelling.

One of the things that I love about this study (and the series) is that it is on what I call “the easy end” of the easy/hard continuum.  It’s not hard to invite a friend to join in, and whether they’re familiar with the parable or not they will find it engaging.  I also really like this study (and the series) because it doesn’t require a teacher.  Group members can take turns facilitating the session and the included questions are very good at driving a great discussion.

Want a sample?  You can watch the trailer and a session right here.