How does your church launch small groups for the fall?
I had the opportunity to hang out with the ladies from Mission Hills Church in Littleton, Colorado, during their fall Bible study kick-off. They had the best idea for launching small group ministries, I just have to share.
Each Bible study option for the fall is denoted by one of three colors displayed by matching balloons at each sign-up table:
Blue: A Low Intensity Study
A great place if you’re just starting out in Bible studies, or if spending time in homework is an issue each week. Homework time is less than 30 minutes per week.
Green: A Mid Intensity Study
This is a great fit for those who want homework a few days a week. These studies include less than 1 hour of homework per week.
Red: A High Intensity Study
These studies are designed for those who really want to dive into the Word and study hard. The High Intensity study includes less than 2 hours of homework per week.
In celebration of the Annual Fall Sale happening THIS WEEK ONLY at MargaretFeinbergStore.com, we want to make it super-duper-extra-easy for you to pick out the Bible study that is right for your group:
VERBS OF GOD: HOW GOD MOVES ON OUR BEHALF
No. of Sessions: 4
DVD Teaching Time: 12-15 minutes
Filming Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
Fun Features: Ice breakers
Homework: 5-10 minutes per session
What You’ll Need: 1 DVD Kit per group; each participant should have their own workbook
Focus: This study encourages participants to look at the verbs in Scripture to discover that God is always active and engaged in our lives. Even when we can’t see or feel God, He is constantly on the move.
Click here to order Verbs of God for your small group. Save 40% this week only on the Verbs of God Kit: $59.99 (regularly $99.99).
GOD’S LIVING WORD: RELEVANT, ALIVE, ACTIVE
No. of Sessions: 12
Fun Features: Digging deeper, personal challenges, Bible reading tips, spiral bound
Homework: 5-10 minutes per session
What You’ll Need: 1 workbook per participant
Focus: In this unique study, participants will explore the genres of writing in the Old and New Testaments, such as law, narrative history, wisdom writings, and epistles. Books of the Bible that may have seemed hard to read or disconnected from our modern world will suddenly come alive in a whole new way. Along the way, we will begin to lay hold of depth and delight of God’s Word—not just as ancient writings, but as a book that is living, active, and more relevant to our daily lives than we ever imagined.
Click here to order God’s Living Word for your small group. Save 30% this week only on God’s Living Word: $6.99 (regularly $9.99).
THE ORGANIC GOD: FALLING IN LOVE WITH JESUS ALL OVER AGAIN
No. of Sessions: 6
DVD Teaching Time: 8-12 minutes
Filming Location: Alaska
Fun Features: Scripture Memorization
Homework: 5 minutes per session; 30 minutes reading in the book per week
What You’ll Need: 1 DVD Kit per group; each participant should have their own workbook and book (30% off this week!)
Focus: Participants will examine the attributes of God including His generosity, wisdom, big-heartedness, beauty, and more. This is an invitation for friends to know God like they’ve never known Him before and find themselves falling in love with Christ anew.
Click here to order The Organic God for your small group. Save 30% this week only on The Organic God Kit: $69.99 (regularly $99.99).
THE SACRED ECHO: HEARING GOD’S VOICE IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE
No. of Sessions: 6
DVD Teaching Time: 15-20 minutes
Filming Location: The Rocky Mountains of Colorado
Fun Features: Deeper Walk Reflections
Homework: 5-10 minutes per session; 30 minutes reading in the book
What You’ll Need: 1 DVD Kit per group; each participant should have their own workbook and book (30% off this week!)
Focus: God often says the same thing through a sermon, Scripture, a chance conversation, or an unexpected encounter. When we begin looking for these sacred echoes, we are better able to recognize God’s voice. Participants will begin to develop a more vibrant prayer life and recognize the repetitive nature of God’s voice in their lives.
Click here to order The Sacred Echo for your small group. Save 30% this week only on Sacred Echo Kit: $69.99 (regularly $99.99).
PURSUING GOD’S BEAUTY: STORIES FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
No. of Sessions: 6
DVD Teaching Time: 15-20 minutes
Filming Location: Art studio
Fun Features: Ice breaker questions, Experiential Activities, Notable, Quotables, Bonus Activities
Homework: Five nights of homework, 15-20 minutes per night
What You’ll Need: 1 DVD per group; each participant should have their own workbook
Focus: An eloquent weaving of art, Scripture, and spiritual insight, this study explores the riches of the Gospel of John. Filmed in an art studio, participants will find breathtaking portraits of salvation, redemption, and restoration. The entire gospel of John is covered in these six weeks through the teaching and homework. Those who want to dive into this book of the Bible will discover what it means to celebrate and radiate the beauty of Christ in their lives.
Click here to order Pursuing God’s Beauty for your small group.
PURSUING GOD’S LOVE: STORIES FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS
No. of Sessions; 6
DVD Teaching Time: 15-20 minutes
Filming Location: Around Denver, Colorado
Fun Features: Ice breaker questions, Experiential Activities, Notable, Quotables, Bonus Activities
Homework: Five nights of homework, 15-20 minutes per night
What You’ll Need: 1 DVD per group; each participant should have their own workbook
Focus: The book of Genesis reminds us that God has been telling our love story since the foundation of the world. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and abounding in imagination, creativity, mystery, and wisdom. Even when we question God’s love or act in disobedience, God pursues us. This study is designed to take participants through the entire book of Genesis and explore the unflinching love of our Creator.
Click here to order Pursuing God’s Love for your small group.
SCOUTING THE DIVINE: MY SEARCH FOR GOD IN WINE, WOOL, AND WILD HONEY
No. of Sessions: 6
DVD Teaching Time: 8-11 minutes
Filming Location: Fields, farms, and vineyards
Fun Features: Experiential Activities, Fun Outing Suggestions, Scripture Memory, Notable, Quotable, Bonus Activities, and more
Homework: 1-1.5 hours per week for each session in the workbook; 30 minutes reading in the book
What You’ll Need: 1 DVD Kit per group; each participant should have their own workbook and book (30% off this week!)
Focus: Inviting groups to dive deeper into the Scripture by exploring the agrarian themes of Scripture. Participants will find the Bible coming alive as they learn about Scripture through the eyes of a shepherd, a farmer, a beekeeper, and a vintner.
Click here to order Scouting the Divine for your small group. Save 30% this week only on Scouting the Divine book & workbook combinations: $18.99 (regularly $26.99).
WONDERSTRUCK: AWAKEN TO THE NEARNESS OF GOD
No. of Sessions: 7
DVD Teaching Time: 18-23 minutes
Filming Location: The Breathtaking Canadian Rockies
Fun Features: Experiential Activities, Biblical Background Insights, Scripture Memory Cards, Wonderstruck Journal, Notable, Quotable, & Bonus Activities.
Homework: Five nights of homework, 15-20 minutes per night; 30 minutes reading in the book per week
What You’ll Need: 1 DVD Kit per group; each participant should have their own workbook and book (30% off this week!)
Focus: Inviting groups to go on a walk with Margaret and recognize the wonders of God all around them—in their triumphs and tragedies, joys and tears. We do not serve a God who is far off, but one who is near and wants to reveal Himself as “Wonderful.” Anchored in the Scripture, participants will become more aware of God’s presence in their lives, recognize what’s holding them back in their prayer, be encouraged to go deeper in their friendships, and challenged to walk deeper levels of forgiveness, grace and joy.
Click here to order Wonderstruck for your small group. Save 30% this week only on Wonderstruck book & workbook combinations: $19.99 (regularly $27.99).
Do you have any great small group kick off ideas?
Share them in the comments below.
