These were your favorite resources in the past year.
| posted 1/01/2013
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Liturgy for Lent, Even If You're Non-Liturgical
Single-Session Bible Study
Liturgical churches help lead the faithful to deeper, biblical lessons through seasons in order to prepare for major Christian observances. Through experience and practice, the 40 days of Lent can help Christians to prepare spiritually for the central moment of the Christian year: Easter. Yet many Christians have not prepared for the joys of Easter by simplifying the life of faith, deepening prayer and Bible reading, practicing Christian disciplines, and engaging in a sacrificial life. A liturgical Lent makes a profound difference in a believer's life. Even if liturgy has not been part of your tradition, you can learn from its practice.
Resting in the Work of God
Christianity Today Bible Study
I need to pray more. I should study my Bible more. Maybe I should try fasting. Spiritual disciplines are always flashing on our "To Do" lists. We know they're valuable, but sometimes they can feel like monkeys on our backs. "These activities help deepen our devotion to Jesus Christ," writes Kevin Emmert, of PreachingToday.com. "But if we're honest, we also do these things in part because we believe that they contribute to our sanctification. After all, in order to become more like Christ you have to imitate him, right? … Amid all the devotion, however, the last thing we think of adding to our … disciplines is observing the Sabbath. This is surprising, since the Bible seems to think that rest may be the most significant and transformative activity of all."
Exegesis and Hermeneutics for Small Groups
Spiritual Formation Booklet
Exegesis and hermeneutics are terms often found only in seminary textbooks. Many Christians have never even heard these words. But they are vital principles for understanding the Bible, because they concern how we interpret the Scriptures. The fact is, we all interpret the Bible every time we read it, so we need to have some principles to rely on so that we're interpreting it correctly. Use this resource with your small group, your entire church, or for your own instruction.
1 Peter: Walk the Talk
7-Session Bible Study
Transformation—the process of becoming holy—begins in your mind. The apostle Peter shows us how to begin to think differently, which will radically affect our behavior. We all make split-second decisions in any given moment to do right or wrong. To choose right, we must learn to be obedient to God, which will give us an appetite for being good. This kind of obedience will create a radical change in our relationships, so that our quality of life will improve. Finally, we will learn how to prepare for the suffering that inevitably comes to everyone, as we trust a loving God who has promised to take care of us.
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