As mentioned earlier, the LEAD! Bible Study is a tripod, built on three legs:
- theological education
- character formation
- skill development
We are over half-way through, so Part B will be ending soon — and Part C starts a week or two after that, so I need to get ready!
Here is the initial outline I used:
- Personal Bible Study: Understanding Scripture for ourselves
- Warfare Prayer: How to shake the heavens.
- The Slow Fast: Emptying ourselves to be filled.
- Memorizing the Word: Sharpening the Sword for battle.
- Daily Journaling: Tracking God’s activity over time.
- Cultivating Spiritual Gifts: For what has God made us?
- Failing Courageously: Taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from them.
- Good Things in Small Groups: Building missional communities.
- Constructive Criticism: ‘Tis as important to receive as to give
- Counseling and Discipleship: Helping people reflect God’s glory and grace.
- Friendship Evangelism: How to get Jesus into people’s hearts.
- Public Speaking: Communicating clearly and concisely.
Here’s the list the church originally proposed:
- Daily Journaling
- Devotional Prayer & Bible Study
- Fasting
- Bible Memorization
- Relating to Spiritual Authority
- Developing Spiritual Gifts
- Spiritual Warfare
- Dealing with Failure
- Sharing Your Faith
- Counseling
- Public Speaking
- Leading a Small Group
The challenge is to find a book or two to use as background reading that covers (or at least is relevant to) most of these topics. Any suggestions from my loyal readers?
Read more for a review of some possibilities, after the break…
Several of these are from the excellent list: Amazon.com: “Books That Drastically Draw You Closer to Christ”
Amazon.com: Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth: Richard J. Foster: Books
I. Inward
- 1. Meditation
- 2. Prayer
- 3. Fasting
- 4. Study
II. Outward
- 5. Simplicity
- 6. Solitude
- 7. Submission
- 8. Service
III. Corporate
- 9. Confession
- 10. Worship
- 11. Guidance
- 12. Service
- 13. Celebration
Amazon.com: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life: Donald S. Whitney: Books
- Purpose
- Bible Intake (2)
- Prayer
- Worship
- Evangelism
- Serving
- Stewardship
- Fasting
- Silence & Solitude
- Journaling
- Learning
- Perseverance
- Transformation
- Goal
- Training
- Celebration
- Slowing
- Prayer
- Servanthood
- Confession
- Guidance
- Secrecy
- Scripture
- Rule of Life
- Suffering
- Longing for More: An Invitation to Spiritual Transformation
- Solitude: Creating Space for God
- Scripture: Encountering God Through Lectio Divina
- Prayer: Deepening Our Intimacy with God
- Honoring the Body: Flesh-and-Blood Spirituality
- Self-Examination: Bringing My Whole Self Before God
- Discernment: Recognizing and Responding to the Presence of God
- Sabbath: Establishing Rhythms of Work and Rest
- A Rule of Life: Cultivating Rhythms for Spiritual Transformation
- Discipleship
- Repentance
- Providence
- Worship
- Service
- Help
- Security
- Joy
- Work
- Happiness
- Perseverance
- Hope
- Humility
- Obedience
- Community
- Blessing
Amazon.com: In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership: Henri J. M. Nouwen: Books
- Relevance to Prayer (Contemplation)
- Popularity to Ministry (Confession)
- Leading to be Led (Reflection)
Amazon.com: Spiritual Leadership (Commitment To Spiritual Growth): J.Oswald Sanders: Books
…
- Prayer
- Time
- Reading
- Improving
- Cost
- Responsibilities
- Tests
- Art
- Replacing
- Reproducing
- Perils
Amazon.com: The Empowered Leader: 10 Keys to Servant Leadership: Calvin Miller: Books
- Servant Image
- Self-Perception
- Networking
- Vision
- Decision
- Defining, Structuring & Motivating
- Grace and Power
- Difficult People
- Delegation and Team Spirit
- Surviving Mistakes
- Shepherd as Leader
- Needs
- Immortals
- Paths
- Valley
- Alongside
- Tools
- Conflict
- Irritants
- Supply
- Vision
- Loyalty
Radically Happy 