James: Showing Our Faith in Jesus [With DVD]

by Group Publishing

Taste, touch, smell, hear, and see God's Word as you study an entire book of the Bible. This book-of-the-Bible series engages participants in creative, new encounters with the Word of God. Open your t This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764432427
• ISBN13: 9780764432422
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Group Publishing (CO)
• Length: 111 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.7" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Best Contemporary Christian Bible Study Series!

I lead a small group Bible study at my interdenominational (Vineyard) church, for couples and singles age 20 to 35. This series was perfect for us. My favorite thing was how it uses different ways of teaching/learning. Visual learners: DVD with scripture reading. Audio learners: reading the scripture outloud again in the group. Tactile learners: hands-on object lessons. Everyone: discussion quesitons. Each week you have the same components provided for you: DVD, snack suggestion with object lesson, props/supplies for hands-on object lesson, lots of discussion questions, ideas for applying what you have learned, include group events/outside activities/servant evangelism ideas, etc. In addition, there is a section with historical background to the book: who is the book written to, when, why, what was going on in the Jewish/Roman society at that time that is helpful to understand. There are also applicable contemporary quotations or insights. On the DVD, the scripture verse for the week is read outloud in New Living Translation, with the words captioned on the screen on a background of photos and video loops to go along with the words. We found some of the video clips a bit cheesy, eliciting embarrassed laughter from the group at something that wasn't supposed to be funny. However, it was worth it to have the visual learning experience and variety, much more exciting than listening to the group leader reading an entire chapter of scripture outloud. To give you an idea (the examples that follow are from their lesson book on Ephesians, since our group just finished it and it's fresh in my memory). The book of Ephesians discusses some challenges in the Ephesian church between the Jews and Gentiles. Paul encourages them to accept each other, because through Jesus, we are all equals. One of the object lessons from a particular week: use 50 cardboard boxes to build a wall across the room, dividing the group in half. Discuss how the Jews and Gentiles were divided, as the group is divided, by the wall of boxes. Ask discussion questions about what divides us from other people today. Then take the wall down and build a room/house that the entire group has to squeeze into. Discuss what it will take to overcome our differences and treat all people, even those we usually would reject, as equals in Christ. Some examples from the snacktime: one healthy but ugly snack (fresh broccoli, celery), and one unhealthy but attractive snack (turtle cheesecake). Group members can only choose from one platter. Discuss how we make choices on a daily basis between two good things/good things and bad things, etc. This study series could be used by age groups above or below ours, but it defintely was a perfect match for us. There's also some helpful tips on how to organize the 8-week study and use the materials, coordinate your group members to take turns bringing the snacks, props, etc. Couldn't say enough about how balanced, meaningful, and applicable

Excellent Bible Study series!

This is one of the best - if not the best - series of inductive Bible studies I have ever used. As a pastor's wife I am often leading small groups of women in study of God's Word. (This is not just for women. That is the context in which I have used it. It would be great for men or mixed groups as well!) This series offers many choices of Bible Books to study. The guides are easy to use and very relational and applicable. Each book includes a DVD with the week's scripture passage on it. These DVD's are amazing! The scripture is read word for word while set to beautiful music and lovely pictures. (A great resource for all participants but especially for those that may have trouble reading.) Each week begins with a snack that somehow connects with the lesson! For example, week 2 discusses James 1:19-27 and our 'reflection'. So the snack involves participants making a 'snack self portrait'. :) Following that you watch the DVD scripture passage, read some background information and then spend 30 minutes digging into the passage itself with questions for discussion. Finally you look at the Make it Personal section where each participant chooses a way that week to apply what they have learned - either as a group or individually. The learning is done with friends and is immediately applied. I also highly recommend Ephesians: Seeing Ourselves in Jesus with DVD (Group's Biblesense) and 1 John: Living in the Light of Jesus with DVD (Group's Biblesense)