Tools, Collections
Helpful things we have assembled over the years

• SHORT PITHY SAYINGS - collection of 70 short quotes. (used as messages on sign in front of our church) read collection

• James Choung's "Big Story" Diagram - Choung has created a drawing (simple enough to fit on a napkin) that communicates the whole of Jesus' message or what Choung calls the Big Story. Our congregation did a friendly revision.
  read instructions for drawing the diagram, and accompanying script
  
  
• Tim Keller's "Reasons for God" lecture - Dr. Keller gave a lecture tour on the publication of his book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. His lecture succinctly distills the heart of the matter!
  read a summary sheet with audio and video links

• Small Group LEADERS' MANUAL - loads of tips and principles for small groups with deep and honest sharing--authentic and fresh prayer times--practical and vigorous Bible study--groups that are Jesus-dependent rather than leader- dependent. read resource
  
  
• ICE-BREAKER QUESTIONS for Small Groups - mega-collection of sharing questions which I picked up "here, there and everywhere" for the small group leaders of our church. Tips for using them. read collection

• excerpts from Frank Laubach's Letters by a Modern Mystic - Dr. Laubach visited 103 countries -- perhaps the most traveled man of his time -- as he tirelessly worked for literacy. In 1930, at age 45, he resolved to live in "continuous inner conversation with God" -- what he called The Ultimate Experiment. Excerpts chosen by Richard Foster. read resource
  
  
• The Anabaptist Vision by Harold S. Bender - a classic essay defining the spirit and purposes of the original Anabaptists in the 16th century:
  
  discipleship - Christianity is following Jesus in everyday life;
  church - believers commit to each other as well as to Christ;
  love and nonresistance - followers of Jesus reject involvement in violence and warfare.
  Originally given as the presidential address to the American Society of Church History in 1943, this Anabaptist Vision became "a slogan and a gentle battle-cry for a whole generation of Mennonites." read resource
  
  
• A Bible study on why women can lead and preach in our congregation. Biblical headship frees women to lead and minister alongside men -- just as Christ as head of the church raises the church to reign with him. read Bible study
  
  
• A summary that draws on Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages and a tool for discovering one's personal love language. We all use all the languages, but really thrive on one or two. Since we want our love for another to register as fully as possible, we want to speak to persons in their primary language.
  love-languages_p1&2(test).pdf and love-languages_p3&4(tips).pdf
  
  
• Tool to help engaged couples prepare financially for marriage. Lots of insightful discussion starters and wise counsel in this pamphlet, Before You Say I Do, from Crown Financial Ministries. read resource