Discipleship means taking the gospel (the good news about Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross) and applying it to everyday life experiences like personal growth, serving in the church, driving kids to school, managing a team at work, raising children, and working in the yard.
Discipleship lived out is welcoming, discovering, learning, connecting, becoming a member, engaging in small groups, finding leadership roles, and serving in the church and local community.
Arthur W. Pink: The Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross
Eugene H. Peterson: Perseverance: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Kenneth Boa: Wisdom at Work: A Biblical Approach to the Workplace
Rebecca M. Pippert: Transformation: Developing a Heart for God
One of the best books I have read on sowing the seeds of the gospel in our world, on how to engage culture in significant spiritual conversations, and moving from the sruface, to the real issues, to the gospel is this book from Tim Downs, Finding Common Ground. We have it here in the library at the church, but I woudl recommend you make space for it on your own shelves, very visible, and readily accessible for missional living and the conversations that result:
Take a look.
Looking for book ideas for your small group this fall?
Along the theme of being a missional church, it makes sense to look at small groups as smaller missional communities. To understand this more and to engage in the ministry focus of being missional and incarnational, take a look at these resources. Consider these resources with the lens and back drop of biblical teaching. What do they say about the church, about discipleship, about leadership, about pursuing God? Do you agree, disagree? How do these resources challenge your thinking about life in the church and what it means to be a member, a follower of Jesus, a missional Christian?
We always encourage groups to study scripture using supplemental resources shown on the church website and in the library at church. However, we know that a topical approach to Christian living is a great way to provide solid teaching on an particular subject such as "missional living". Please contact Nate Conrad for more information on these resources for studying scripture.
If you are interested in solid reading on a number of subjects theologically and practically, consider Themelios from The Gospel Coalition.
Themelios is an international evangelical theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith. Its primary audience is theological students and pastors, though scholars read it as well. It was formerly a print journal operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008.
UPDATED: If you are interested in seeing what classes will be offered this fall, click the link below for a one-age printout of the classes. More information will be posted shortly, so watch here and on the main website for more details!
Download AE Fall 2010 Classes Detail NEW
If you are looking for resources for your small group to study and are not sure about which resources to pick up, try browsing our church's library. The library has recently been moved to rooms 040 and 042 below the worship center.
The library has been maintained to provide good resources to our church's members and friends.If you are looking for resources, they have possibly been removed in order to offer the best, most helpful resources to you congregation.
Visit the library and review the books here on a Sunday, or during the week. It will help you save some money on books that maybe you have heard about, but are not sure you want to go out and buy a copy. Resources include books for small group studies, personal growth, reference, audio and video, and more.
Check this list of recommended books for your personal growth and/or group study.
The NIV Study Bible has been around for several years offering students of the Word of God greater clarity in the use of words, ideas, themes and contextual information.
Over 20,000 notes are the handiwork of the same translation team that produced the NIV translation. The same exacting, conservative scholarship that brought you today's most read, most trusted Bible translation went into creating the most celebrated, widely used Bible study notes in existence.
NIV Study Bible Link
The ESV Literary Study Bible combines thousands of insightful notes with the complete ESV text, the new Literary Study Bible will help you understand God’s Word more fully, in all its richness and beauty. You’ll explore in detail the Bible’s story lines, complex characters, historical settings, literary genres, motifs, theological themes, imagery, and important terms, making the Bible come alive with greater clarity and impact.
ESV Study Bible Link
This fall, Crossway books will be releasing the ESV Study Bible. In order to help people better understand God's Word and the context in which it was written including its people and places, Crossway has worked with several scholars to capture text, notes, maps and more to help readers engage with the text.
With completely new notes, maps, illustrations, charts, timelines, and articles, the ESV Study Bible was created by an outstanding team of 95 evangelical Christian scholars and teachers.
ESV Study Bible Link
Another resource you may want to consider this summer in your study of God's Word is the Life Application Bible.
In the newly updated version, the NIV Life Application Bible has over 300 new Life Application notes, nearly 350 note revisions, 16 new personality profiles, updated charts, and a Christian Worker's Resource have been added. The Life Application Study Bible not only explains difficult passages and provides valuable background on Bible life and times but also shows how God's Word speaks to every circumstance and situation of life.
NIV Life Application Bible Link
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