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Small Group Ideas from the Vanderbilt Graduate Christian Fellowship
January 2004
Below is a list of book discussions/Bible studies done by various small groups as part of the Vanderbilt Graduate Christian Fellowship. Participants and/or leaders who were in the group wrote the summary and reviews. Some of these have "leaders notes available," meaning the leader created handouts or discussion questions or some sort of resource in Word that can be passed on to you. If you would like a copy of the "leaders notes," email Don Paul Gross .
The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, by Mark Noll (Leaders notes available) A classic for discussions of the intersection of faith and scholarship. This book is a survey and criticism of recent Christian intellectual history from a noted Wheaton College professor. It explores the history anti-intellectualism in American evangelicalism and seeks to set a new direction for the church and Christian academics. A must read for all Christian graduate students. Links to related articles that serve as good "closers":
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/10/wolfe.htm http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0101/opinion/noll.html http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/142/11.0.html A Primer on Postmodernism, by Stanley Grenz (Leader’s notes available) This is an introduction to modern & postmodern philosophy, book-ended by introduction and conclusion with a view to application from a Christian perspective. Easy (and fun) to supplement with movies &/or literature illustrating the relevant points (eg The Matrix, Star Trek (original vs. newer), The Thin Blue Line, Brazil, short stories of Jorge Luis Borges; now would also consider Being John Malkovic, Memento). Well-received by participants although some struggled with the middle section, in which the Christian perspective is not overt; important to outline motivation/goals of study initially. Could potentially be a very welcoming study for nonbelievers. Meditative Prayer: Entering God’s Presence, by Richard Peace This book is a guide that enables you and your group to explore different types of prayer. We did this with a men’s group and really enjoyed it. For most of us, it was our first experience with types of prayer that are Biblical but not commonly practiced in modern American Christianity. This book was done in a men’s group in the late 90’s. The book is one of four in Nav Press’s "Spiritual Formation Study Guide’s." Contemplative Bible Reading: Experiencing God through Scripture, by Richard Peace This book is a guidebook. It helps the group explore prayer and Bible study in a blended fashion that really encourages listening to God. It explains and teaches the Lectio Divino approach the Scriptures. This way of mixing reading with prayer is common in church history, though rare in protestant American Christianity. This was used in a men’s group and was enjoyed so much that they continued to do the same approach for another year, finding other passages to pray over and study. Confessions, by Saint Augustine This is a classic in Christian literature and a must read. It was done in the men’s group. The book not only told the spiritual journey of a saint, it also helped us better reflect on God’s hand up on lives over the years. It is not a quick easy read, but worth the effort. Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life, by Marjorie Thompson This book is an excellent introduction into thinking about spiritual disciplines in a way that is inviting, inspiring, and non-condemning. Each chapter focuses on a discipline (such as fasting, prayer, etc.) and provides a history, a theology, and a practical guide for incorporating it into a spiritual journey. A favorite feature of the book is Thompson's generous quoting from spiritual leaders throughout history and across Christian traditions. Our small group formed accountability groups to help us put into practice the spiritual disciplines we read about.
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, by J. Piper (Leader’s notes available) Piper's exposition of what it means to be a "Christian Hedonist" best summed up by Piper himself in that our joy as Christians is the most complete when we are most "satisfied in Him"--i.e. God is the center of our lives. The author presents the God-centered theology of Jonathan Edwards in contemporary language. Scripture-rich. Great book for discussion. Several complementary resources available at www.desiringgod.org
Civility, by Stephen L. Carter (Leader’s notes available) This book is a wide-ranging issues-oriented commentary from a hybrid classical liberal/Christian perspective, excellent for promoting discussion. Many participants voiced frustration with the book itself, but still felt the discussions were useful & edifying. Perhaps more appropriate for a group that has already studied another book together, in that the material is bound to highlight differences in perspectives.
Neither Poverty nor Riches, by Craig Blomberg. This book is a great exposition of the Biblical perspective of money/wealth/materialism and the applications thereof. It is a good stepping stone for conversations about missions, our personal lives and spiritual formation, and for helping us to think about what it means to live in the world but not of it and as a follower of Christ. Highly recommended.
Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, by Richard Foster— Foster explores the types of prayer and their individual role in our spiritual formation and the different periods of our lives. Highly recommended for those who are struggling with their prayer lives and/or the feeling of being stagnant in your walk with Christ. It provides great material for discussion.
Screwtape Letters, by CS Lewis and A New kind of Christian, by Brian McLaren
Both of these works dove-tail (placed back-to-back) easily in terms of theme and length for a semester. Screwtape Letters is a classic that all Christians should read. This book provided many discussions of what it means to be a Christian ready for spiritual warfare and about the role that post-modern thought is having in the present-day church/church movements. It has also been suggested to combine A New Kind of Christian with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together. Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky This book is probably too long for a single semester although we did tackle it. The small group dynamics and commitment were well-established at this point and the leader’s role was more that of coordinator than leader. Despite the length, it was great fun, although it's hard to pinpoint what exactly we may have learned - perhaps a greater sensitivity to the pervasiveness of our sinful nature & an increased awareness of God's grace. As an aside, the book is also uproariously funny. Nehemiah (Leader’s notes available) This Bible study (available on request) goes through the whole book of Nehemiah. The book of Nehemiah recounts the rebuilding of the wall when some of the exiles returned from Babylon. It has fascinating parallels to life today for Christians who face opposition to their calling and who need to look to God for direction and security. Other groups: Darwin On Trial, by Phillip Johnson Future of an Illusion, by Sigmund Freud Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women: Case Issues in Biblical Interpretation, by Willard M. Swartley Straight & Narrow: Compassion and Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate, by Thomas E. Schmidt Intellectuals Don't Need God and Other Modern Myths, Alister E. McGrath The Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy: The 3 Essential Books in 1 Volume/The God Who Is There/Escape from Reason/He Is There and He Is Not Silent, by Francis A. Schaeffer
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