Below you will find a list of recommended studies. There are a lot of studies out there, some worth your time and others, not so much. Though you aren't required to use from this list, we think they are all great resources in helping you in the journey towards Imaging Jesus by Becoming Love. If you have another resource you would like to use, feel free to email kyle@livingspringsairdrie.com
Each description also has a link for a trailer and more information. The resources are listed in no particular order.
Each description also has a link for a trailer and more information. The resources are listed in no particular order.
The Divine Conspiracy (Dallas Willard with John Ortberg) - 6 weeks
Study of a Key Bible Passage: Matthew 5-7 The Divine Conspiracy is a six-session video-based study that offers a timely and challenging call back to the true meaning of Christian discipleship.
https://watch.studygateway.com/the-divine-conspiracy
The New Testament You Never Knew (N.T. Wright & Michael Bird) - 8 weeks
Do you know the real story behind the New Testament? We all share a fascination for discovering ‘the rest of the story.’ Through reading the New Testament we discover that God indeed keeps his promises, but those promises don’t always look like what people expected. Especially when it comes to Jesus. Join well-known Bible scholars N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird as they team up to take you on a tour of the explosive story behind the story of the New Testament.
https://watch.studygateway.com/new-testament-you-never-knew
Live No Lies (John Mark Comer) - 4 weeks
Pain is inevitable in life, but the suffering we experience comes not so much from the source of the pain but from the beliefs we hold. And the beliefs we hold are not always true. Lies have infiltrated our thinking, our perceptions, our attitudes, and our actions. The problem isn’t that we tell lies but that we live them. We let them into our bodies, minds, and hearts—and they sabotage our peace and wreak havoc on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Let's uncover the lies we live, and learn to resist them, combat them, and be set free from them.
https://watch.studygateway.com/live-no-lies
Epic of Eden: Psalms (Sandra Richter) - 8 weeks
This deep dive into the book of Psalms with Bible professor Sandra Richter will do three things: (1) it will tutor us in what honest faith in hard times looks like; (2) we will be reminded of who we are and who God is; and (3) we will see that we do not walk alone, but we will find our way back to the Lord of Heaven and Earth who has never ceased to hear the cries of his people.
https://watch.studygateway.com/book-of-psalms
How (Not) to Read the Bible (Dan Kimball) - 6 weeks
Dan Kimball guides you step-by-step through making sense of the most misunderstood, difficult, and disturbing Bible passages. Whether you’re a Christian, a doubter, or someone exploring the Bible for the first time, this study is your guide to understanding and contextualizing passages in the Bible that seem to be backwards on topics related to women, science, violence, slavery, and world religions.
https://watch.studygateway.com/how-not-to-read-the-bible
Discussing Mere Christianity - 8 weeks
In this 8-session video group study, you will discover why Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is one of the most read and beloved Christian books of all time. But seventy years later from when it was first delivered on radio, what relevance does it have to our world today? Host Eric Metaxas and a variety of Christian leaders (e.g. N.T. Wright, Tim Keller, Lauren Winner, Devin Brown, Paul McCusker, Douglas Gresham) help us understand the timeless message of C.S. Lewis in fresh ways for a new generation. The first purpose of this video study is to explore the positive ideas that C.S. Lewis has so eloquently written about in Mere Christianity for those who already call themselves Christian. The second purpose is to explain in an engaging, winsome and non-threatening way the basic tenants of the Christian faith as illustrated by C.S. Lewis to those who do not claim to be Christian. This study aims to fulfill the vision of C.S. Lewis of reaching people from all faith backgrounds.
https://watch.studygateway.com/discussing-mere-christianity
Love Does (Bob Goff) - 5 weeks
Can a simple concept shift your entire world? Bob Goff certainly thinks so. When it comes to loving your neighbours, instead of focusing on having the “right answers” or checking the “right boxes,” what if you decide to simply do love? To shamelessly show love and grace to those around you—what would that look like? When Love Does, life gets interesting. Light and fun, unique and profound, the lessons drawn from Bob's life and attitude just might inspire you to be secretly incredible, too.
https://watch.studygateway.com/love-does
Everybody, Always (Bob Goff) - 5 Weeks
Bob Goff shares stories from his life that have helped him understand what it truly means to love everybody the way Jesus loved them...without fear, insecurity, or restriction. Following Christ means more than just putting a toe in the water when it comes to loving others. It means grabbing your knees and doing a cannonball! And, as Jesus revealed, it means loving even the difficult ones.
https://watch.studygateway.com/everybody-always-becoming-love-in-a-world-full-of-setbacks-and-difficult-people
Soul Keeping (John Ortberg) - 6 weeks
Your soul’s resting place is in God. John Ortberg wants to take you there. In this six-session, video-based Bible study, John Ortberg takes you on an exploration of the soul from the perspective of a wise guide who has struggled to understand and care for his own soul. Ortberg highlights his relationship with Dallas Willard, a “professor of the soul,” and what he learned from this man in the midst of his own struggles and hardships. Ortberg shares his honest, funny, moving, insightful, and tender journey with you so that you can better care for your own soul.
https://watch.studygateway.com/soul-keeping
40 Days through the Book: Ephesians (Derwin Gray) - 6 weeks
In a world of division, conflict, and polarization, the same Jesus who united the Jews and Gentiles, enslaved and free people, men and women, and people from every tribe and tongue some 2,000 years ago in Ephesus, is ready to do it again. God is still building his diverse family of faith. It will not always be easy, but when we participate and partner with God in his plans, we bring him glory, bless other believers, and serve as a witness to the world.
https://watch.studygateway.com/40-days-through-the-book-ephesians
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Expanded) (Peter Scazzero) - 8 weeks
For those desiring to take steps in their Christian life and discipleship, to break free from bondage to the past and experience healing, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Expanded Edition (8-week course) integrates emotional health and contemplative spirituality. Many sincere followers of Christ, who are considered "mature" remain stuck at a level of spiritual immaturity—especially when faced with interpersonal conflicts and crises. This different approach to discipleship addresses this void, giving you powerful pathways to transformation that will help you mature into a faith filled with authenticity and a profound love for God.
https://watch.studygateway.com/emotionally-healthy-spirituality
Irresistible (Andy Stanley) - 6 weeks
Once upon a time there was a version of our faith that was practically . . . irresistible.
But that was then. Today we preach, teach, write, and communicate as if nothing has changed. As if “The Bible says it” still settles it. It’s time to hit pause on much of what we’re doing and consider the faith modelled by our first-century brothers and sisters who had no official Bible, no status, and humanly speaking, little chance of survival. What made their message so compelling, so defensible, so irresistible? What did they know that we don’t?
Buckle up . . . you’re about to find out. In this six-session video study, Andy Stanley will invite you to embrace the version of faith that, against all odds, initiated a chain of events resulting in the most significant and extensive cultural transformation the world has ever seen. A version we must embrace if we are to be salt and light in an increasingly savorless and dark world.
https://watch.studygateway.com/irresistible-reclaiming-new-that-jesus-unleashed-for-world
Rhythms of Renewal (Rebekah Lyons) - 5 weeks
As a society, we are in the throes of a collective panic attack. Anxiety and loneliness are on the rise, with 77% of our population experiencing physical symptoms of stress on a regular basis. We feel pressure chasing careers, security, and keeping up. We worry about health, politics, and many other complexities we can't control. Eventually we find our minds spinning, trying to cope or manage a low hum of anxiety, unlike ever before. But it doesn't have to stay this way. Rebekah Lyons draws from her own battle with depression and anxiety and shares a pathway to quiet the inner chaos with four life-giving rhythms: rest, restore, connect, and create.
https://watch.studygateway.com/rhythms-of-renewal
The Bible Jesus Read (Philip Yancey). - 8 weeks
In a series of in-depth interviews and explanations, award-winning author, Philip Yancey, covers five crucial segments of the Old Testament. The Bible Jesus Read, an eight-session, video-based study, approaches each of these major segments from a different point of view. Many Christians tend to ignore the Old Testament or dismiss it as impenetrable and obscure. Philip Yancey's combination of scholarship and insight brings new light to old material and stimulates new discussion, thought, and further study.
https://watch.studygateway.com/the-bible-jesus-read
Vanishing Grace (Philip Yancey) - 5 weeks
In Vanishing Grace, Philip Yancey shows the desperate need our world has for grace, and how Christians can truly make the gospel good news again. Explore what kind of news is good to a culture that thinks it has rejected the Christian version. Hear illuminating stories from former cynics who have been disarmed by expressions of grace, and from radical Christians who have expressed their faith by rescuing the suffering, addressing injustice, forgiving the unforgivable, and in short, believing their gospel is good news.
https://watch.studygateway.com/vanishing-grace
Sacred Marriage (Gary Thomas) - 6 weeks
Sacred Marriage is a six-session video-based study that invites you to see how God can use marriage as a motivation to know him more.
https://watch.studygateway.com/sacred-marriage
Taste and See (Margaret Feinberg) - 6 Weeks
Discover the secret to savouring every day. The Psalmist declared, "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps 34:8), so Margaret Feinberg decided to take the invitation literally. She embarked on a global culinary and spiritual adventure to discover the truth in such a simple verse. With each person she encountered, she asked, "How do you read the Scripture in light of what you do every day?" Their answers will change the way you read the Bible forever…and the way you approach every meal.
https://watch.studygateway.com/taste-and-see
The Book of Hebrews - (DERWIN GRAY) - 8 weeks
The book of Hebrews was written to people in crisis. They were persecuted, tempted by the rampant sin around them, and doubting their faith in Jesus. It was not so different than what many of us go through today.Join Dr. Derwin Gray in this eight-session series as he walks through Hebrews, teaching us how to live for Jesus in every season of life. Hebrews shows us that Jesus is better than anything the world can offer. We simply need to answer, “Am I willing to trust him above everything else?”
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/510603?session=511961
Study Guide: https://reader.rightnowmedia.org/1419/511959
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - (JOHN MARK COMER) - 5 weeks
We are all busy. Some of us can't remember the last time we rested or even had free time. Our busyness can feel productive but it is a toxic distraction, sapping our spiritual, physical, and emotional vitality. It may seem like we have no choice but to live at a frantic pace, but God has a better path for us. Join pastor and author John Mark Comer in this five-part series as he addresses one of the greatest threats to our spiritual lives: hurry. Instead of allowing our calendars and screens to control our lives, Jesus offers us a new rhythm of life, overflowing with grace, peace, and beauty.\
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/729101
Study Guide: https://reader.rightnowmedia.org/1790/729102
Forgotten God (FRANCIS CHAN) - 7 weeks
In this dynamic companion to the book Forgotten God, breakthrough author Francis Chan reminds us of the true source of the church's power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we've ignored the Spirit for far too long, and that without Him, we operate in our own strength, only accomplishing human-sized results. This seven-session video resource offers a compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit's direction in our lives. It is designed to initiate and facilitate discussion, interaction and practical application of the message of Forgotten God. Francis' thought-provoking teaching makes this a valuable resource for small groups, churches, youth groups, and college campus ministries.
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/145
Study of a Key Bible Passage: Matthew 5-7 The Divine Conspiracy is a six-session video-based study that offers a timely and challenging call back to the true meaning of Christian discipleship.
https://watch.studygateway.com/the-divine-conspiracy
The New Testament You Never Knew (N.T. Wright & Michael Bird) - 8 weeks
Do you know the real story behind the New Testament? We all share a fascination for discovering ‘the rest of the story.’ Through reading the New Testament we discover that God indeed keeps his promises, but those promises don’t always look like what people expected. Especially when it comes to Jesus. Join well-known Bible scholars N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird as they team up to take you on a tour of the explosive story behind the story of the New Testament.
https://watch.studygateway.com/new-testament-you-never-knew
Live No Lies (John Mark Comer) - 4 weeks
Pain is inevitable in life, but the suffering we experience comes not so much from the source of the pain but from the beliefs we hold. And the beliefs we hold are not always true. Lies have infiltrated our thinking, our perceptions, our attitudes, and our actions. The problem isn’t that we tell lies but that we live them. We let them into our bodies, minds, and hearts—and they sabotage our peace and wreak havoc on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Let's uncover the lies we live, and learn to resist them, combat them, and be set free from them.
https://watch.studygateway.com/live-no-lies
Epic of Eden: Psalms (Sandra Richter) - 8 weeks
This deep dive into the book of Psalms with Bible professor Sandra Richter will do three things: (1) it will tutor us in what honest faith in hard times looks like; (2) we will be reminded of who we are and who God is; and (3) we will see that we do not walk alone, but we will find our way back to the Lord of Heaven and Earth who has never ceased to hear the cries of his people.
https://watch.studygateway.com/book-of-psalms
How (Not) to Read the Bible (Dan Kimball) - 6 weeks
Dan Kimball guides you step-by-step through making sense of the most misunderstood, difficult, and disturbing Bible passages. Whether you’re a Christian, a doubter, or someone exploring the Bible for the first time, this study is your guide to understanding and contextualizing passages in the Bible that seem to be backwards on topics related to women, science, violence, slavery, and world religions.
https://watch.studygateway.com/how-not-to-read-the-bible
Discussing Mere Christianity - 8 weeks
In this 8-session video group study, you will discover why Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is one of the most read and beloved Christian books of all time. But seventy years later from when it was first delivered on radio, what relevance does it have to our world today? Host Eric Metaxas and a variety of Christian leaders (e.g. N.T. Wright, Tim Keller, Lauren Winner, Devin Brown, Paul McCusker, Douglas Gresham) help us understand the timeless message of C.S. Lewis in fresh ways for a new generation. The first purpose of this video study is to explore the positive ideas that C.S. Lewis has so eloquently written about in Mere Christianity for those who already call themselves Christian. The second purpose is to explain in an engaging, winsome and non-threatening way the basic tenants of the Christian faith as illustrated by C.S. Lewis to those who do not claim to be Christian. This study aims to fulfill the vision of C.S. Lewis of reaching people from all faith backgrounds.
https://watch.studygateway.com/discussing-mere-christianity
Love Does (Bob Goff) - 5 weeks
Can a simple concept shift your entire world? Bob Goff certainly thinks so. When it comes to loving your neighbours, instead of focusing on having the “right answers” or checking the “right boxes,” what if you decide to simply do love? To shamelessly show love and grace to those around you—what would that look like? When Love Does, life gets interesting. Light and fun, unique and profound, the lessons drawn from Bob's life and attitude just might inspire you to be secretly incredible, too.
https://watch.studygateway.com/love-does
Everybody, Always (Bob Goff) - 5 Weeks
Bob Goff shares stories from his life that have helped him understand what it truly means to love everybody the way Jesus loved them...without fear, insecurity, or restriction. Following Christ means more than just putting a toe in the water when it comes to loving others. It means grabbing your knees and doing a cannonball! And, as Jesus revealed, it means loving even the difficult ones.
https://watch.studygateway.com/everybody-always-becoming-love-in-a-world-full-of-setbacks-and-difficult-people
Soul Keeping (John Ortberg) - 6 weeks
Your soul’s resting place is in God. John Ortberg wants to take you there. In this six-session, video-based Bible study, John Ortberg takes you on an exploration of the soul from the perspective of a wise guide who has struggled to understand and care for his own soul. Ortberg highlights his relationship with Dallas Willard, a “professor of the soul,” and what he learned from this man in the midst of his own struggles and hardships. Ortberg shares his honest, funny, moving, insightful, and tender journey with you so that you can better care for your own soul.
https://watch.studygateway.com/soul-keeping
40 Days through the Book: Ephesians (Derwin Gray) - 6 weeks
In a world of division, conflict, and polarization, the same Jesus who united the Jews and Gentiles, enslaved and free people, men and women, and people from every tribe and tongue some 2,000 years ago in Ephesus, is ready to do it again. God is still building his diverse family of faith. It will not always be easy, but when we participate and partner with God in his plans, we bring him glory, bless other believers, and serve as a witness to the world.
https://watch.studygateway.com/40-days-through-the-book-ephesians
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Expanded) (Peter Scazzero) - 8 weeks
For those desiring to take steps in their Christian life and discipleship, to break free from bondage to the past and experience healing, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Expanded Edition (8-week course) integrates emotional health and contemplative spirituality. Many sincere followers of Christ, who are considered "mature" remain stuck at a level of spiritual immaturity—especially when faced with interpersonal conflicts and crises. This different approach to discipleship addresses this void, giving you powerful pathways to transformation that will help you mature into a faith filled with authenticity and a profound love for God.
https://watch.studygateway.com/emotionally-healthy-spirituality
Irresistible (Andy Stanley) - 6 weeks
Once upon a time there was a version of our faith that was practically . . . irresistible.
But that was then. Today we preach, teach, write, and communicate as if nothing has changed. As if “The Bible says it” still settles it. It’s time to hit pause on much of what we’re doing and consider the faith modelled by our first-century brothers and sisters who had no official Bible, no status, and humanly speaking, little chance of survival. What made their message so compelling, so defensible, so irresistible? What did they know that we don’t?
Buckle up . . . you’re about to find out. In this six-session video study, Andy Stanley will invite you to embrace the version of faith that, against all odds, initiated a chain of events resulting in the most significant and extensive cultural transformation the world has ever seen. A version we must embrace if we are to be salt and light in an increasingly savorless and dark world.
https://watch.studygateway.com/irresistible-reclaiming-new-that-jesus-unleashed-for-world
Rhythms of Renewal (Rebekah Lyons) - 5 weeks
As a society, we are in the throes of a collective panic attack. Anxiety and loneliness are on the rise, with 77% of our population experiencing physical symptoms of stress on a regular basis. We feel pressure chasing careers, security, and keeping up. We worry about health, politics, and many other complexities we can't control. Eventually we find our minds spinning, trying to cope or manage a low hum of anxiety, unlike ever before. But it doesn't have to stay this way. Rebekah Lyons draws from her own battle with depression and anxiety and shares a pathway to quiet the inner chaos with four life-giving rhythms: rest, restore, connect, and create.
https://watch.studygateway.com/rhythms-of-renewal
The Bible Jesus Read (Philip Yancey). - 8 weeks
In a series of in-depth interviews and explanations, award-winning author, Philip Yancey, covers five crucial segments of the Old Testament. The Bible Jesus Read, an eight-session, video-based study, approaches each of these major segments from a different point of view. Many Christians tend to ignore the Old Testament or dismiss it as impenetrable and obscure. Philip Yancey's combination of scholarship and insight brings new light to old material and stimulates new discussion, thought, and further study.
https://watch.studygateway.com/the-bible-jesus-read
Vanishing Grace (Philip Yancey) - 5 weeks
In Vanishing Grace, Philip Yancey shows the desperate need our world has for grace, and how Christians can truly make the gospel good news again. Explore what kind of news is good to a culture that thinks it has rejected the Christian version. Hear illuminating stories from former cynics who have been disarmed by expressions of grace, and from radical Christians who have expressed their faith by rescuing the suffering, addressing injustice, forgiving the unforgivable, and in short, believing their gospel is good news.
https://watch.studygateway.com/vanishing-grace
Sacred Marriage (Gary Thomas) - 6 weeks
Sacred Marriage is a six-session video-based study that invites you to see how God can use marriage as a motivation to know him more.
https://watch.studygateway.com/sacred-marriage
Taste and See (Margaret Feinberg) - 6 Weeks
Discover the secret to savouring every day. The Psalmist declared, "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps 34:8), so Margaret Feinberg decided to take the invitation literally. She embarked on a global culinary and spiritual adventure to discover the truth in such a simple verse. With each person she encountered, she asked, "How do you read the Scripture in light of what you do every day?" Their answers will change the way you read the Bible forever…and the way you approach every meal.
https://watch.studygateway.com/taste-and-see
The Book of Hebrews - (DERWIN GRAY) - 8 weeks
The book of Hebrews was written to people in crisis. They were persecuted, tempted by the rampant sin around them, and doubting their faith in Jesus. It was not so different than what many of us go through today.Join Dr. Derwin Gray in this eight-session series as he walks through Hebrews, teaching us how to live for Jesus in every season of life. Hebrews shows us that Jesus is better than anything the world can offer. We simply need to answer, “Am I willing to trust him above everything else?”
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/510603?session=511961
Study Guide: https://reader.rightnowmedia.org/1419/511959
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - (JOHN MARK COMER) - 5 weeks
We are all busy. Some of us can't remember the last time we rested or even had free time. Our busyness can feel productive but it is a toxic distraction, sapping our spiritual, physical, and emotional vitality. It may seem like we have no choice but to live at a frantic pace, but God has a better path for us. Join pastor and author John Mark Comer in this five-part series as he addresses one of the greatest threats to our spiritual lives: hurry. Instead of allowing our calendars and screens to control our lives, Jesus offers us a new rhythm of life, overflowing with grace, peace, and beauty.\
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/729101
Study Guide: https://reader.rightnowmedia.org/1790/729102
Forgotten God (FRANCIS CHAN) - 7 weeks
In this dynamic companion to the book Forgotten God, breakthrough author Francis Chan reminds us of the true source of the church's power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we've ignored the Spirit for far too long, and that without Him, we operate in our own strength, only accomplishing human-sized results. This seven-session video resource offers a compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit's direction in our lives. It is designed to initiate and facilitate discussion, interaction and practical application of the message of Forgotten God. Francis' thought-provoking teaching makes this a valuable resource for small groups, churches, youth groups, and college campus ministries.
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/145