| Bible Study for Young Adults (20-30's) |
| Bible Study for Young Adults (20-30's) |
| Abingdon Press, available from Cokesbury, 800-672-1789, www.cokesbury.com/curriculum.aspx?subsection=9&sid=494. This curriculum is one of Abingdon's 20/30 series for young adults in their twenties and thirties. Each volume includes seven sessions and is intended for small groups in which the participants' questions, goals and beliefs will be honored. Each volume examines a biblical theme such as grace, prayer, community or afterlife, and each volume includes these features:
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| Bible Workbench |
| Bible Workbench |
| The Bible Workbench: Life-Based Bible Resources, 800-624-4644, www.bibleworkbench.com. This weekly Bible study program is designed to help adult study groups understand the meaning of their own experience rather than simply learning about the scriptural text from a teacher. Each week's study focuses on a selection from Sunday's lectionary and includes:
This curriculum can also be used for individual study or sermon preparation. It is published by The Educational Center in St. Louis MO, William L. Dols, Editor. Dols is an Episcopal priest with a PhD in biblical studies and psychology. A team of editors develops each issue. Curriculum parts: Weekly study material (15-20 pages) is designed to fit in 3-ring notebooks. Studies are sold by year or half-year subscriptions or by single issues. |
| Discovery Series: a Christian Journey |
| Discovery Series: a Christian Journey |
| Episcopal Media Center, 800-229-3788, www.episcopalmedia.org. Published by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, the Discovery Series is an invitation to spiritual growth for new Christians as well as for those who want to deepen their faith. Very flexible -- can be used as a whole or in part. There are five courses, which are intended to be led by lay people. The courses are as follows:
Curriculum parts include: 5 courses on film (DVD or VHS) Facilitator's Guide (print) Participant's Guide (print) Facilitator's Guide (film) |
| DOCC (Disciples of Christ in Community) |
| DOCC (Disciples of Christ in Community) |
| DOCC, 800-722-1974, www.sewanee.edu/Theology/DOCCFolder/DOCChome.html. Disciples of Christ in Community (DOCC) is an adult education program which encourages individual spiritual growth as well as providing an experience in building Christian community. It is administered by the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Since faith must be lived, not just learned, the curriculum combines content presentations with experiencing God's love within a small group. The program consists of 21-24 sessions, presented in these units:
Curriculum parts:
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| EFM (Education for Ministry) |
| EFM (Education for Ministry) |
| Education for Ministry, 800-722-1974, www.sewanee.edu/EFM/index.htm. This is a 4-year curriculum designed to train lay people to be effective ministers. It is taught by extension through local mentors by the School of Theology, the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. It combines academic study of the scriptures, Church history and theology with reflection exercises that help participants see God at work in the present time and ways they might respond. In all four years, participants are encouraged to define their ministries. Participants do the study at home and then discuss the reading assignment and reflect in weekly seminars. EFM courses are offered across the U.S.A. and in many other countries. EFM Online now offers the program to people who cannot attend weekly face-to-face meetings. Students enroll in EFM one year at a time. Each year of completed work earns 18 CE credits. A certificate is awarded to persons who complete the four years. Curriculum parts. Each year of the program has a textbook:
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| Emmaus: the way of faith |
| Emmaus: the way of faith |
| Church House Publishing, London; www.chpublishing.co.uk. Available in the United States from Church Publishing, 800-242-1918, www.churchpublishing.org. Emmaus, the Way of Faith is a course designed to welcome people into the Christian faith and the life of the church. It aims to involve the whole Church in evangelism, the nurture of new believers and ongoing Christian discipleship. The course moves through three stages of development: contact, nurture and growth.
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| Genesis to Revelation |
| Genesis to Revelation |
| Abingdon Press, available from Cokesbury, 800-409-5346, www.cokesbury.com. This is a comprehensive verse-by-verse, book-by-book study of the Bible using the New International Version of the Bible. The class studies each section of scripture text in three Dimensions, as follows:
Curriculum parts:
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| Kerygma Program |
| Kerygma Program |
| The Kerygma Program, 800-537-9462, www.kerygma.com. Kerygma offers a selection of group study resources designed to teach the basics and complexities of the Bible, develop skills for interpreting scripture, and apply learnings from the Bible to life in today's world. Studies range from "foundational" one-year studies -- including Discovering the Bible and The Bible in Depth -- to shorter courses of seven sessions each, such as:
Curriculum parts. For each study, there is a:
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| Lesson Plans for Small Congregations. |
| Lesson Plans for Small Congregations. |
| Office of Children's Ministry and Christian Education, Episcopal Church, 800-334-7626, downloadable free from http://www.episcopalchurch.org/50534_ENG_HTM.htm. Age Levels: Adult (also younger and older children) This curriculum is based on the Revised Common Lectionary in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Each week's lesson lists all the Sunday readings for the day, gives a brief commentary on the Gospel, and usually bases the lesson plan on the Gospel reading. The lesson plan is simple and specific, including how to start and end class, prayer, story, and activities. Activity choices are limited, and some teachers may wish to supplement them. |
| Living The Good News |
| Living The Good News |
| Living the Good News, 800-824-1813, www.livingthegoodnews.com. This is a lectionary-based curriculum available in several versions including Episcopal (Book of Common Prayer lectionary), Lutheran, Catholic and Revised Common Lectionary. Sold by the quarter, fall through spring, it provides a lesson plan for each Sunday based upon the three readings and the psalm. For enrichment, the lesson plan also includes poems, art (on posters) and music (from CD). In addition to the Adult version, this curriculum is available in all age levels from Nursery (ages 2-3) through High School (grades 10-12). Curriculum parts for adult classes:
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| Living the Questions |
| Living the Questions |
| email: livingthequestions.com LLC or www.livingthequestions.com. This is a 12-session web & DVD-based curriculum, designed for small group discussion, which the producers describe as "an unapologetically liberal alternative to the Alpha course." It makes a case against fundamentalism and certainty, and encourages people to "live the questions" instead. Presenters on the DVDs include such well-known names as Marcus Borg and Bishop John Spong, as well as two dozen other professors, artists, and church leaders who call themselves "progressive Christians." Sessions cover such topics as the Role of Biblical Authority; Thinking Theologically; Creativity & Stories of Creation; Evil, Suffering and a God of Love; Intimacy with God; Social Justice, and a Kingdom without Walls. Each DVD segment is about 30 minutes. Each session is expected to take 2.5 hours including a light meal, DVD segment, discussion, wrap-up & closing. Component parts:
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| Seasons of the Spirit |
| Seasons of the Spirit |
| Logos Production, 800-328-0200, www.spiritseasons.com Seasons of the Spirit is an ecumenical, international lectionary-based curriculum that strives to build strong faith communities by integrating the ministries of Christian education, worship, and service. This curriculum invites the entire church community to imaginatively engage scripture through activities that pay particular attention to multiple learning styles, discussion of current events that are connected to each session theme, and the arts, which are at the heart of each bible study. In addition, Seasons of the Spirit uses art from many cultures for its posters and focuses on providing inclusive images, language and stories to promote the love of God to all. Online help is also provided. In addition to the Adult version, Seasons is available for these age groups: Birth to Age 2 Ages 3-5 Ages 6-8 Ages 9-11 Ages 12-14 Ages 15-18 Multiage (5-12) Curriculum parts include:
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| The Thoughtful Christian |
| The Thoughtful Christian |
| The Thoughtful Christian, 800-624-2412, www.thethoughtfulchristian.com. This website provides lesson plans on timely topics for adult Sunday School or Bible study groups. Developed by Westminster John Knox Press, the publishing arm of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., it is an ecumenical site with writers from various denominations and backgrounds. Its mission is to help Christians wrestle with difficult questions by stimulating informed conversation and reflection about living faithfully in a complex world. New studies, including rapid responses to current events, are being added on a regular, ongoing basis. The studies are grouped into these six categories:
Curriculum parts. Each study includes: Leader's Guide (2-5 pages) Participant's Handout (3-4 pages) |
| Via Media -- a Place to Ask 21st Century Questions |
| Via Media -- a Place to Ask 21st Century Questions |
| Every Voice Network, 415-550-8007, www.everyvoice.net/viamedia/html/contact.htm. The Via Media:Basic is an eight-week evangelism curriculum with an Episcopal focus. A panel discussion with lay and ordained Episcopalians is provided on DVD to launch discussion at each of the eight sessions. Participants encounter basic principles of Christianity through the Anglican approach of scripture, traditions and reason. Rather than give easy answers to the hard questions people are asking, Via Media models through the film and the table discussions afterwards that understanding grows through conversation and community. The eight session topics are: 1. An Anglican Way of Being Christian 2. God and Creation: The Abundance of God's Goodness 3. God in Jesus: An Incarnational Faith 4. God the Holy Spirit: The Breath of New Life 5. The Bible: The Word of God for the People of God 6. Sin: Roadblocks to Abundant Life 7. Thy Kingdom Come: The Promise of Christian Hope 8a. So What? What Does it Mean to be a Christian 8b. So What? What Does it Mean to Participate in the Eucharist Via Media: Expanded offers the opportunity to extend the curriculum to 16 or 24 sessions. It uses the same film material but adds more written material and discussion. Curriculum parts. In addition to the DVD, there are written parts which are delivered by CD or download. They are:
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