New Ministry Resources

John Ward & Jeff Pries

Mirror Image is the story of a family from Orange County who faces dramatic events and must choose how to respond. Based on some of the most famous biblical parables, Mirror Image reminds us that Jesus' teachings ask us to change the way we think in order to be salt and light in the world.

LIQUID is a DVD-based experience featuring five 10-minute episodes in each series, as well as a 112-page Reflection Guide with questions and leader's tips. Each episode introduces present-day characters whose problems and struggles mirror biblical stories, illustrating that God's word is as true today as it was when it was written. With emotionally provoking videos, introspective questions, and tips for leading a small group, LIQUID is the perfect experience for individual growth or small group study.

View more from the LIQUID series

John Ward & Jeff Pries

Live at Five is the story of Natalie Neff and her struggles to discover purpose and direction in her life. Just out of college, she's faced with daunting challenges both personally and professionally. Based on the book of James, Live at Five portrays the practical advice of James in a light-hearted, culturally relevant way.

LIQUID is a DVD-based experience featuring five 10-minute episodes in each series, as well as a 96-page Reflection Guide with questions and leader's tips. Each episode introduces present-day characters whose problems and struggles mirror biblical stories, illustrating that God's word is as true today as it was when it was written. With emotionally provoking videos, introspective questions, and tips for leading a small group, LIQUID is the perfect experience for individual growth or small group study.


View more from the LIQUID series

Gordon MacDonald

Has your Church been Hijacked?

Millions of people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies feel their churches have been hijacked by church-growth movements characterized by loud praise bands, constant PowerPoint presentations, and cavernous mega churches devoid of any personal touch. They are bewildered by the changes, and are dropping out after thirty, forty, or fifty years in a congregation. It's a crisis!

In this fictional story, pastor and author Gordon MacDonald uses topical examples and all-too-familiar characters to reassure readers that it is possible to embrace change, and to demonstrate how that change can actually be a positive influence in their church. The church, he says, has always been in a state of change; it has been changing for the last two thousand years. It is time to embrace that change and use it further the Kingdom of God.

Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck

The emergent church is a strong voice in today's Christian community. And they're talking about good things: caring for the poor, peace for all men, loving Jesus. They're doing church a new way, not content to fit the mold. Again, all good. But there's more to the movement than that. Much more.

Kevin and Ted are two guys who, demographically, should be all over this movement. But they're not. And Why We're Not Emergent gives you the solid reasons why. From both a theological and an on-the-street perspective, Kevin and Ted diagnose the emerging church. They pull apart interviews, articles, books, and blogs, helping you see for yourself what it's all about.

Jim Putman

To win the game, you need the whole team

Pastor Jim Putman, a former wrestler and coach, helped his staff build Real Life Ministries into an army of thousands. But there was a problem. Early on too many sat on the sidelines. Not enough wanted a piece of the action. His voice was faltering from so many sermons and he teetered on the edge of burnout thanks to the mixed blessing of an enormous but needy flock. So he hit his knees. Hard.

God's solution surprised him. Putman and his entire leadership team stood before the congregation and gave up. They were done carrying the whole load. There were too many spiritual babies and they needed mature believers to step up. They knew there must be some raw talent hidden in the pews.

God led them to use a Bible-based strategy for ministry revitalization that can help bring your church to the next level. Whether you're a burned-out leader or someone ready to tackle an active role in your congregation, Church Is a Team Sport will lead you to both personal growth and renewed spiritual strength. If you're ready to get the whole team in the game, this is the playbook that will show you how to make it happen.

John C. Maxwell

Leadership Gold took leadership guru John C. Maxwell a lifetime to write, and it delivers his most valuable lessons from forty years of leading.

A leader among leaders, John Maxwell promised himself early in his career that he wouldn't write this book until he was sixty. And now it's finally here. Leadership Gold took Maxwell a lifetime to write, and it delivers his most valuable lessons from forty years of leading. With his signature style, Maxwell comes alongside like a mentor, candidly taking readers through what feels like a one-on-one leadership program. Leadership Gold offers the best of the best, the tried-and-true lessons that no one but Maxwell can share.

Thom Schultz

Easy Recruiting Commercials for Children's Ministry

Humorous, emotional, and thought-provoking....these powerful commercials immediately encourage and motivate new and veteran volunteers to get involved in children's ministry - and play an important role in kids' lives!

Commercials:

• Media Messages
• Leave a Legacy
• S.W.A.T.
• Just For You
• Serengeti Eddy
• Find Purpose
• Dear Donna

Andrew Root

Relational youth ministry, also known as incarnational ministry, can feel like a vicious cycle of guilt: "I should be spending time with kids, but I just don't want to." The burden becomes heavy to bear because it is never over; adolescents always seem to need more relational bonds, and once one group graduates there is a new group of adolescents who need relational contact.

It may be that the reason these relationships have become burdensome is that they have become something youth workers do, rather than something that youth workers enter into.

In Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry, Andrew Root explores the origins of a dominant ministry model for evangelicals, showing how American culture has influenced our understanding of the incarnation. Drawing from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose work with German youth in troubled times shaped his own understanding of how Jesus intersects our relationships, Root recasts relational ministry as an opportunity not to influence the influencers but to stand with and for those in need. True relational youth ministry shaped by the incarnation is a commitment to enter into the suffering of all, to offer all those in high school or junior high the solidarity of the church.

Group Publishing

Ten front-line Children's Ministry experts peeked out over the horizon to identify ten trends shaping ministry in the next ten years.

See inside to discover...

How current culture is rewiring kids' brains--and secrets for connecting with children
The latest education trends embraced by schools--and how they'll impact your Sunday school
Morphing Children's Ministry into Family Ministry--and how that supersizes your impact
What kinds of children are about to land in your ministry--and how to be ready for them
Plus six more must-know insights--and practical activities that help you take advantage of shifting trends in your Children's Ministry.

Mike Harder

InTransit - What Do You Do With Your Wait?

The Leader Kit is designed specifically to help small group leaders create a close-knit community among their group as they delve deeper into three truths about waiting.

The Leader Kit contains a Member Book, enhanced CD-ROM & a DVD.

The Enhanced CD includes:
Track 1. “Sleepwalkers” by Spur58 (Sleepwalkers)
Track 2. “Seasons” by Go Deep (Velocity)
Track 3. “Desperate” by Phil Joel (deliberate People)
Track 4. “My Offering” by The Longing (The Longing)

Audio Track Session 1: An Interview with Emily
Audio Track Session 2: An Interview with Brad
Audio Track Session 3: The Quest for Happiness

The DVD contains four short video segments to promote conversation among the group members as well as bonus features and promotional tools. The videos are:
Video Segment: Bus Stop
Video Segment: The Weight of Empty Arms
Video Segment: Dude! Are You Listening?

Also includes bonus features, promotional tools, and more.

Mike Harder

InTransit - What Do You Do With Your Wait?

Young adults often feel that they are waiting for real life to begin. This 6 session study introduces young adults to three truths about waiting as it traces the lives of David, Jesus, and Joseph—who were promised great things concerning their lives and waited, sometimes painfully, to see God’s promises come to pass.

InTransit: What Do You Do with Your Wait? helps participants understand that waiting without purpose leads to loneliness and doubt, but purposeful waiting brings a sense of fulfillment and an awareness of God’s timing and faithfulness.

Companion journal in the back of this book gives you the opportunity to process what God’s telling you along the way.

Ron Keck

In action movie style, Mark chronicles Jesus' daring rescue behind enemy lines amidst adversity, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns.  Mark: Beyond the Red Letters has been created to guide you on an expedition into a magical realm where the unseen becomes seen even if only for moments at a time and the Larger Story that is being revealed by God takes the form of flesh and blood.

In this group bible study on Gospel of Mark, you'll uncover the depth of God's heart as well as your own.  As you travel this journey together, learn to expect more.  More freedom.  More adventure.  More passion.  More connection and intimacy.  More meaning and purpose.  More life!

Various

6 sessions

The MORE Series from Serendipity House offers context, experience, and other intricacies that all go in to understanding the Word of God by reunifying the cognitive aspect with an experiential dynamic, allowing the truths of Scripture to come alive in unexpected ways. This small-group series:

• Embraces a balanced approach to inductive study by including experiential elements
• Creates a "macro-struction" model that builds Scripture up into the context of the larger story
• Introduces a more complete approach to the inductive Bible-study method

Beth Moore

Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent explores Psalms 120-134.  Traveling pilgrims sang these psalms both on the way to the great festivals of the Jews and as key elements of the worship at those festivals.  Students will interact with Beth Moore and the Scriptures in new ways.  They will gain a new appreciation for the life of faith as a journey to greater fellowship with a worship of God.