Pain is difficult, but is also a catalyst for spiritual growth.
by Brett Eastman
Nobody likes pain, and nobody likes to experience pain alone. Even Christ, while hanging on the cross, asked God, "Why have you forsaken me?" Yet God often uses it to trigger some of the greatest life-giving moments.
We often fail to appreciate that pain points out a problem that's blocking personal growth. In order for God to deal with certain areas of our life, he allows certain levels of discomfort ...
Five ways your small groups can turn this movie into an opportunity for ministry.
by Brett Eastman
This Easter may be the biggest opportunity for small group ministry, yet.
Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ grossed $23.6 million opening day. This one-day sale rivals blockbusters like The Matrix Revolutions, The Lord of the Rings, and The Phantom Menace. The numbers may baffle Hollywood, but for months churches across the nation have been anticipating America's rush to the theaters.
Download this hymn for free to enhance your group worship time.
The Hymn Project
Worship should be an essential part of most small groups. However, few group leaders are professional musicians, and many feel nervous or inadequate when it comes to leading other people in song. Fortunately, SmallGroups.com has partnered with The Hymn Project to bring you a variety of classic hymns that can be used in your group. Each hymn includes an MP3 track played on solo piano, as well as the ...
This four-session course takes an in depth look at Easter week.
Holy Week changed the world, with the Cross as the turning point for all humankind. But it is also six days of amazing contrasts—from the joyful celebration of the Triumphal Entry to the Passion only days later. In between are days of both high drama—as in the confrontations in the temple—and high pathos—as in the Upper Room and Gethsemane. For people who have never thought ...
This six-session course shows how Christ's death and resurrection has changed the world.
The last week of Jesus' life—the Passion, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection—is recorded at the end of the Gospel of Matthew. The events in chapter 26 all take place on Saturday through Thursday. Chapter 27 takes place on what we call Good Friday. Chapter 28 chronicles Easter Sunday, the day of the Resurrection. This study will investigate the deity, majesty, and royalty of Jesus. We ...
Let the Nicene and Apostles' creeds increase your group's knowledge of the Christian faith.
"What do Christians believe? With so many denominational divisions in the church, what do we all have in common? The Nicene and Apostles Creeds have served the church more than 1500 years, providing just such a foundational set of beliefs. This nine-session course will help you familiarize yourself with not only the creeds themselves, but with the biblical foundations for these truths.
The season of Lent is a season for searching the soul. As you study Matthew 26–28, you will search your own soul through the lenses of the people closest to Jesus in his last hours. The last three chapters of Matthew are a juxtaposition of stories.
This seven-session course will address Communion, Jesus' deserters, his submission to the Father, and his crucifixion. While the theme of rejection ...
As we celebrate Easter, we remember the most important event that has ever occurred in human history: Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. But that sacred day was the explosive finale of an entire string of events, all of which contain important lessons for you ...
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