Good Books: Not a Fan

Not a Fan, by Kyle Idleman 
If Jesus were to sit down with you right now and have a DTR (Define the Relationship) conversation, how would you respond? Are you truly his follower or just a fan-or perhaps someone who doesn't even care about the difference?

Not a Fan invites you to make Jesus not merely the object of your admiration, but the very center of your life. Through biblical teaching, anecdotes, and humor, Kyle Idleman explores what it means to truly be a follower of Christ. He also shares several powerful Not a Fan stories--testimonies from fellow followers who turned to Jesus. Don't miss this wake up call to radical discipleship!

Not a Fan calls you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple. With frankness sprinkled with humor, Idleman invites you to live the way Jesus lived, love the way he loved, pray the way he prayed, and never give up living for the One who gave his all for you.

For more information or to order, click here.

Resources: The 4-Step Method that Works for Any Group

A simple but revolutionary way of doing small groups is sweeping the world. It started in India, but you can also find it in the suburbs of San Francisco, throughout the slums of South America, and among the Muslim tribes of Africa. Through this simple method, the lost are being won, disciples are being mobilized, and churches are multiplying. The Disciple-Making Movement (DMM) is a modern-day phenomenon, but it's really just a return to principles Jesus taught 2,000 years ago.

To learn more about this method and whether it might energize your group, click here.

Resources: Shepherding New Believers

According to recent Barna research, only 1 percent of church leaders believe the church is "doing very well at discipling new and young believers." Ouch! But we also know the reality of that struggle. It's difficult to disciple new believers in meaningful ways, and it's even more difficult to measure whether we're being successful.

 Making things even more difficult, many Christians see discipleship as a solo activity, according the same Barna research, but it's pretty difficult to disciple yourself as a new believer. We need others to walk alongside us, people we can trust, emulate, and ask questions of. That's why a lot of discipleship—even informal discipleship—happens in small groups. After all, group members look up to and trust the leader. That makes group leaders the perfect people to help new believers grow in their faith.

To learn more about this new Small Group resource or to order online, click here.
 

Good Books

Who Moved the Stone, by Frank Morison
This investigation into the events of Christ's final days is perfect for groups looking to find new insights into the familiar Easter story. Considered by many to be a classic apologetic on the subject of the resurrection, Who Moved the Stone provides a vivid and poignant account of Christ's betrayal, arrest, trial and death. Morison's penetrating insights into the motives of each of the key players in this drama--the women, the disciples, Pilate, the Jewish leaders, and Christ himself--breathe new life into the Easter story, while at the same time providing convincing evidence to its truthfulness.

For more information or to purchase, click here.

Resources: In Our Father's House

"Stewardship" is one of those words that often sends Christians ducking for cover. Most often we hear it in connection with setting church budgets or raising money for charity. When we hear the word, we instinctively know that a call to dig deeper can't be far behind. But there's far more to this very rich and meaningful word. Its true significance goes right to the heart of what it means to be a child of God. In this 4-week study, we delve into history, literature, and most importantly, Jesus' parables in an attempt to understand what the biblical call to stewardship means and how and why we should respond. This study, suitable for individual daily devotions or for use in your small group, is intended as a companion to the message series we have planned to coincide with our own annual stewardship campaign. It might just change the way you think about the role God has assigned to you. Click here to view the devotional guide.