If you’re like me you’re often asked for a Bible book study recommendation. ”Our group just wants to study a book of the Bible. What do you suggest?” Over the years I’ve accumulated a few favorites. You’ll find some of those reviews right here.
A few weeks ago I reviewed a new Margaret Feinberg study, Pursuing God’s Love: Stories from the Book of Genesis and immediately added it to my recommended list. Over the last few days I’ve had a chance to take a look at another study in the same series, Pursuing God’s Beauty: Stories from the Gospel of John.
New from Zondervan, Pursuing God’s Beauty is a 6 session DVD-driven study featuring the teaching of Margaret Feinberg, named one of the “Thirty Emerging Voices” of Christian leaders under age 40 by Charisma magazine. While not a verse by verse study, the 6 sessions provide a good overview of John’s Gospel while revealing a number of key insights. A look at the table of contents provides a glimpse of the study’s direction:
- Encountering Jesus (John 1-3)
- When God Sees through You (John 4-8)
- Recognizing the Blind Spots (John 9-11)
- When Worship Costs More than Expected (John 12-17)
- Mistakes that Refine Instead of Define (John 18-19)
- The Hope and Healing of Resurrection (John 20-21)
I really like the way the sessions themselves are arranged. The combination of included experiential activities, icebreaker questions, DVD teaching and discussion questions provides the variety that most groups need in order to fully engage. As I mentioned in my previous review, the one aspect I wish was included is a leader’s guide. Although this is not difficult material and new leaders shouldn’t see the material’s content as something too challenging to lead, it is always helpful if a leader’s resource is right at the fingertips.
Along with the sessions themselves, the participant guide also includes Afterhours Personal Studies; short daily studies that allow participants to dive deeper into the Gospel of John (as well as prepare for the upcoming session).
Pursuing God’s Beauty has a lot to offer. Groups looking for a study of John’s Gospel will find a lot to talk about along with some very important application. If you’re looking for a study that will expose your small groups to the beauty of God radiating in the person of Jesus Christ…this is a study you will want to add to your recommended list.
