The Discipleship piece of the wheel is the traditional Bible study.  It enables members of small groups to cultivate a biblical perspective and focus their faith.  Small groups are encouraged to consider studying the weekly sermons, published bible study curriculum or even using a concordance for creating their own bible study.

 

What…	Discipleship
Synopsis…	The Discipleship piece of the wheel is the traditional Bible study.  It enables members of small groups to cultivate a biblical perspective and focus their faith.  Small groups are encouraged to consider studying the weekly sermons, published bible study curriculum or even using a concordance for creating their own bible study.
Study Resource…	Choosing a resource can be difficult for a leader because of the large amount of resources available.  The church has an extensive collection of small group resources in the library.  This is a great place to start.  In addition, some items are available for purchase through the library.  In addition to the study guides, many books in the library have questions in them that can be used to generate discussion within your small group. Local Christian book stores have a large selection of study guides as well as going online.  Here are some pointers for selecting resources for your group. ·        Ask your group what topics or books they are interested in learning about? ·        Is there a felt need within the group such has each person desires to grow in prayer life or they are struggling with their marriage? ·        How much homework are the small group members willing to do?  Do they have time to do daily reading or do they just want to show up and learn? Once you narrow down your search to a few study guides, some other questions you may want to consider are. ·        How easy is the study guide to lead?  Some of the multimedia kits almost lead themselves, others require a facilitator. ·        What is the time commitment to complete the Bible study?  Some study guides last 3 sessions, some may last 40 sessions. ·        What types of questions are in the study guide?  Some study guides have very factual questions, pursuing deeper understanding of the Bible.  Other study guides focus on the application of what they have learned into their everyday life. ·        Based on the spiritual maturity of the group, will the study guide allow the members of the group to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ? ·        Is the study guide appropriate for the season of the group or the length of time the group has been meeting?  For example, a new group may be uncomfortable sharing personal stories with others in the group.
Additional Resources…	The following pages are a list of the small group resources at the church.  There are new small group materials added to the library all the time.  If you are interested in a certain topic or author, please use the card catalog in the library.  The card catalog is the 6-drawer unit on top of the desk in the Adult Library.  Look in the ‘S’ drawer, under the heading SMALL GROUPS to see all of the things that are available to you.  You may also look up any subject.  The subject is always on the top line of the card in CAPITAL LETTERS.  If you prefer, you can look in the appropriate catalog drawer under the last name of an author, or you may look in the catalog for a specific title. If the first word in the title is A, An, The, look under the second word.  Always refer to the topmost line on the catalog card first. Clear as mud?  Please ask, the librarians are very happy to assist. The SMALL GROUP section in the Adult Library is easy to spot.  Just look for the green sign.  Also, notice the subsection of shelving titled, ‘Getting Started – Ideas for Leaders’. The following bibliography is sorted into the following categories: ·        Books of the Bible ·        Christian Foundation – Suited to New Christians or Basic Christian Principles ·        Leadership Resources ·        Lutheranism ·        Personal Struggles ·        Relationships ·        Spiritual Growth