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 Small Groups

Catalogue

• Back to Faith (download the .zip file) – A 6 week series for those who are new in their faith or attempting to revisit and reclaim their faith.
• Spiritual Well Being (download the .zip file) - The series is organized to offer your church an individual study session or an entire year of Bible study.  The larger .zip file (all RTF files for easy formatting!) is  organized into two sections: Administration and Lessons.  The Administration folder includes your reference bibliography (.doc, .rtf, .pdf), a sample schedule flyer for a year-long series (.doc, .rtf), and a sample bulletin insert to advertise the year-long series (.doc, .rtf).     In the Lessons folder you will find each lesson set, including questions to prompt discussion.  You may also download each lesson set individually below!  The series has been compiled and provided to the Region 7 Office by Rev. Charles Garrison, Pastor of Central Texas MCC from the Heart in Waco, TX.
  • God is My CEO (.doc, .rtf, .pdf) – A 5 week series that includes topics like Success, Courage, Patience, Yielding Control and Tough Decisions
  • Talking About Genesis (.doc, .rtf, .pdf) – A 6 week series that explores very important but often “touchy” subjects, including Creation and the Apocalypse.
  • A Study of Other Faiths (.doc, .rtf, .pdf) – A 5 week series that offers a comprehensive look at other Communities of Faith and what they believe.  This is an opportunity for myths to be unraveled and respect to be garnered for our brothers and sisters in other religious traditions.
  • Life:  The School of Experience  (.doc, .rtf, .pdf) – Part I of this series includes 5 lessons about the some of the common, yet difficult, experiences of life.  Part II covers 3 lessons of additional topics.  Together they include Loneliness, Friendship, Love, Sorrow, Regret, Pain, etc.
  • Parables of Jesus (.doc, .rtf, .pdf) – A 4 week series that includes reflection on the parables of the Sower, Good Samaritan, Widow and the Unjust Judge, and the Father and his Two Sons.
  • A Study of Job (.doc, .rtf, .pdf) – A 4 week series that honestly explores suffering and our freedom to ask God, “Why?”
  • A Transgender Study (.doc, .rtf, .pdf) – A 4 week series that explores the issues that surround transgender issues and some of the Biblical stories that give light and insight to transgender sacredness.

The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation and
Developing a Strategy for Success

by Rev. Nancy Horvath-Zurn

This study takes small groups through an eight week survey of church practices of leadership, relationship, ministry, theology, and mission.  Together with the Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation; Developing a Strategy for Success, this program will assist your lay leadership in understanding the patterns of ministry in your church as well as in other parts of their lives.  Then, the program will walk your congregation through a planning course designed to outline your church's strategy for building your Healthy and Thriving congregation! 

This Small Group resource includes:

Study Materials
Leader's Guide
Pocket Reminders

Download the entire resource in .doc or .pdf here and print immediately!

This study follows the eight week survey of church practices of leadership, relationship, ministry, theology, and mission in The Eight Essentials for a Healthy and Thriving Congregation (below).  The program walks your congregation through a combination of skits, discussion, and facilitated Q&A sessions to outline your church's strategy for building your Healthy and Thriving congregation! 

This resource includes:

Leader's Guide
Pocket Reminders

Download the entire resource in  .doc or  .pdf here and print immediately!