Bible Study books

[evangelist6589]

Girlfriend hosts Bible Studies in her home. She needs ideas for good discussion based books. Like me we do not like the traditional lecture/shut up student approach that most Fundamentalist prefer. We want interaction, we want to build friendships and pray for people. We want to apply the word of God to our daily lives. We like small groups as do most in our culture. She is more of a conservative SBC while I am in a more moderate IFB church. We both love the NIV as it illuminates the text better in many areas. Most IFB hate the NIV, however. We prefer application based topics. She has fallen in love with MacArthur's Anxious for nothing and Jeremia's Slaying the Giants in your Life. Any ideas for new books with good discussion in a small group bible study format? Thanks..

I warned about some books that are heavy reads, overly complex and not very practical. Unfortunately John Piper has rubbed us both wrong. He is way too deep and not very practical. I also dont think he knows how to write the best. The MacArthur & Jeremiah book I mentioned are good, but she thinks the study guides or lack of one are not the best for a small group home bible study. But she has been very impressed with MacArthur and David Jeremiah's writing abilities. Its just too bad the authors did not invest too much time in a small group discussion based study guide.

I have shown her a James MacDonald book which has a decent discussion guide in the book, but she does not prefer James MacDonald.

 

[Jkdbuck76]

Girlfriend hosts Bible Studies in her home. She needs ideas for good discussion based books. Like me we do not like the traditional lecture/shut up student approach that most Fundamentalist prefer. We want interaction, we want to build friendships and pray for people. We want to apply the word of God to our daily lives. We like small groups as do most in our culture. She is more of a conservative SBC while I am in a more moderate IFB church. We both love the NIV as it illuminates the text better in many areas. Most IFB hate the NIV, however. We prefer application based topics. She has fallen in love with MacArthur's Anxious for nothing and Jeremia's Slaying the Giants in your Life. Any ideas for new books with good discussion in a small group bible study format? Thanks..

I warned about some books that are heavy reads, overly complex and not very practical. Unfortunately John Piper has rubbed us both wrong. He is way too deep and not very practical. I also dont think he knows how to write the best. The MacArthur & Jeremiah book I mentioned are good, but she thinks the study guides or lack of one are not the best for a small group home bible study. But she has been very impressed with MacArthur and David Jeremiah's writing abilities. Its just too bad the authors did not invest too much time in a small group discussion based study guide.

I have shown her a James MacDonald book which has a decent discussion guide in the book, but she does not prefer James MacDonald.

Brother, first of all, re-read your first few sentences: a fundamentalist might think you were taking a cheap shot at fundamentalists. I'm not saying that you are, but I'm saying that someone could very well read that into what you're saying.

Second, don't be afraid of digging deep. If Piper is a little deep, then go slower so people understand. Make sure that you understand Piper! Maybe Piper's job isn't to be practical: have you considered that maybe it is OUR job as readers to make his stuff practical? Is his theology "orthodox" compared to, say, Joyce Meyer? Why?

Like John of Japan, I'm a martial artist. And I've had teachers teach me some of what I would consider impractical stuff. But instead of writing them off, I spent time working on the techniques and I modified their stuff to work for me. Maybe you can do the same with Piper or whomever.

Or maybe people need to have a better grasp of theology? We live in a McInstant gratification culture and a lot of folks aren't willing to invest time wrestling with ideas and actually thinking. But I realize that there IS on one side "Abstract" and "Concrete/Practical" on the other and you must choose which glorifies the Lord while meeting the needs of your students. Always pray about this kind of a thing. Maybe God wants you to work with Piper's book, or maybe He doesn't want you to work with Piper's book---pray!

Now there is one author I like for group study material: http://journeyseries.com/

Now when your book(s) arrive, they are spiral bound and not very impressive to behold, but his material is pretty good, IMO. His study on the Tabernacle is really good and showed me plenty that I didn't know.

One problem of "practicality" is that sometimes preachers degenerate their preaching into "7 Steps on How To Pay Your Bills" and "5 Ways To Apply for a Job" or "3 Biblical Ways to Spice Up Your Marriage."

So I hope I've helped you in some way. I'm not sure I have, but you should check out the journeyseries.com

 

[Amy.G]

Is this a mixed group? Men and women?

 

[preacher4truth]

Have you considered "Counterfeit Gods" by Timothy Keller? It's a good read, not too heavy, and insightful.

http://timothykeller.com/books/counterfeit_gods/

- Peace

 

[evangelist6589]

I have Desiring God and plan to read it in due season. I know there is allot of treasure in Pipers works. But it takes some digging and some work to find it.

Will Marla think the same? Maybe.. I'll let her know later tonight.

Brother, first of all, re-read your first few sentences: a fundamentalist might think you were taking a cheap shot at fundamentalists. I'm not saying that you are, but I'm saying that someone could very well read that into what you're saying.

Second, don't be afraid of digging deep. If Piper is a little deep, then go slower so people understand. Make sure that you understand Piper! Maybe Piper's job isn't to be practical: have you considered that maybe it is OUR job as readers to make his stuff practical? Is his theology "orthodox" compared to, say, Joyce Meyer? Why?

Like John of Japan, I'm a martial artist. And I've had teachers teach me some of what I would consider impractical stuff. But instead of writing them off, I spent time working on the techniques and I modified their stuff to work for me. Maybe you can do the same with Piper or whomever.

Or maybe people need to have a better grasp of theology? We live in a McInstant gratification culture and a lot of folks aren't willing to invest time wrestling with ideas and actually thinking. But I realize that there IS on one side "Abstract" and "Concrete/Practical" on the other and you must choose which glorifies the Lord while meeting the needs of your students. Always pray about this kind of a thing. Maybe God wants you to work with Piper's book, or maybe He doesn't want you to work with Piper's book---pray!

Now there is one author I like for group study material: http://journeyseries.com/

Now when your book(s) arrive, they are spiral bound and not very impressive to behold, but his material is pretty good, IMO. His study on the Tabernacle is really good and showed me plenty that I didn't know.

One problem of "practicality" is that sometimes preachers degenerate their preaching into "7 Steps on How To Pay Your Bills" and "5 Ways To Apply for a Job" or "3 Biblical Ways to Spice Up Your Marriage."

So I hope I've helped you in some way. I'm not sure I have, but you should check out the journeyseries.com

 

[evangelist6589]

Have you considered "Counterfeit Gods" by Timothy Keller? It's a good read, not too heavy, and insightful.

http://timothykeller.com/books/counterfeit_gods/

- Peace

EXCELLENT recommendation brother. I am putting that one on my list of books to read.

 

[preacher4truth]

EXCELLENT recommendation brother. I am putting that one on my list of books to read.

Great. If you choose this I think you will get a lot out of it. It really opens ones eyes to what goes on in our culture, and to what other gods people worship.

- Peace