Ship of Fools: Books for house groups

Thread: Books for house groups Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

Anyone got some ideas of useful books that house groups could follow in the absence of theologically trained leaders?

About half our congregations belong to house groups. They are liberal and reasonably well educated so simple or evangelical books wouldn't suit them.

Some lent books have questions at the back. That might help.

An example of what has gone down well is Marcus Borg's Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time.

Posted by The Midge (# 2398) on :

How About:
"The Divine Conspiracey" Dallas Willard
ISBN 9780006281146

Richard Foster/ Renovare stuff
Such as "Celebration of Discipline" ISBN 9780340979266

Eugene Peterson is good if you want to study a book/ scripture
e.g. "The Word Made Flesh" ISBN 9780340996174
or
"The Journey" A Guide for the Pilgrim Life a take on psalms of Acsent ISBN 0551029773

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :

I can recommend Borg's similar book on the Bible.

Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :

This went down well at ours. Schmemann's For the life of the world

Thurible

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

"Traveling Mercies", by Anne Lamotte.

Favorite of many shipmates. It's an account of how she came to faith, in the midst of substance abuse, becoming a single mom, and other issues. It's down-in-the-trenches, nitty gritty. E.g., she says once that she'd done something so bad that "it made Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish"!

She's born again, but liberal. IIRC, I think the church she attended at the time was either Episcopal or Presbyterian.

Posted by cliffdweller (# 13338) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:
"Traveling Mercies", by Anne Lamotte.

Favorite of many shipmates. It's an account of how she came to faith, in the midst of substance abuse, becoming a single mom, and other issues. It's down-in-the-trenches, nitty gritty. E.g., she says once that she'd done something so bad that "it made Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish"!

She's born again, but liberal. IIRC, I think the church she attended at the time was either Episcopal or Presbyterian.

Presbyterian-- she and Eugene Peterson are about the best thing we have going! 2nd the recommendation.

For similar reasons, Kathleen Norris' Amazing Grace is excellent.

I also really like NT Wright's stuff. Simply Christian would be a nice starting point.

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. He was a French soldier who came to faith while recovering from war injuries. He'd expected his new life to be very grim, and was pleasantly surprised. He became a much-desired spiritual director, because his approach was gentle and compassionate.

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek or Holy the Firm, by Annie Dillard. Spiritual reflections, wrestling with God, and seeing God in nature. Wonderful writing!

Posted by Emily Windsor-Cragg (# 17687) on :

If your desire is to get communicants thinking about things, why not John Shelby Spong?

http://www.starcourse.org/spong/cenreview.html

Then instead of a coffee afterward, you can have a food fight and work it off.

Seriously. He raises issues.

Emily

Posted by Hart (# 4991) on :

We found ARISE helpful. It's a method for forming small Christian communities outlined in a book rather than a book to study.

Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Emily Windsor-Cragg:
If your desire is to get communicants thinking about things, why not John Shelby Spong?

He'd be prime fodder for a heresy drinking game, which I suppose you could describe as "fellowship" for a home group.

Posted by South Coast Kevin (# 16130) on :

A 'heresy drinking game' - what an entertaining idea! Would something have to be considered heresy by most Christian groups, or is it enough for there to be an accusation of heresy from just one or two mainstream theologians?

Being more serious, I think looking at controversial material could be really worthwhile. There might be something of merit in there, or at least it would get people thinking about why we hold to the orthodox position. It'd shake us up from unthinkingly accepting the conventional views of our denomination / group, wouldn't it?

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

I'm coming to the conclusion that publishing houses don't publish much other than evangelical/conservative stuff that is suitable for small groups these days. That's what makes money.

I have revisited some old books which I still think are suitable. They are (with links to further thoughts of mine):

The Bible as the Church’s Book – P. Bird

Becoming Human – Letty Russell

The Power of God and the gods of Power – D. Migliore

and

Living a Biblical Faith – D. Juel

Posted by Arethosemyfeet (# 17047) on :

quote:
Originally posted by South Coast Kevin:
A 'heresy drinking game' - what an entertaining idea! Would something have to be considered heresy by most Christian groups, or is it enough for there to be an accusation of heresy from just one or two mainstream theologians?

If it's Spong, I think the former; I'm not sure any home groups' livers would be up to the latter.

I think the way it would work is that when one person correctly names the heresy being perpetrated, everyone else has to drink. If you incorrectly call a heresy, then you have to drink.

[ 12. July 2013, 16:24: Message edited by: Arethosemyfeet ]

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :

Marcus Borg also has Speaking Christian, which is very accessible.

For something a little different, you could try The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. It starts out as a comedic exploration of biblical law, and then the secular Jewish author surprises himself by becoming more deeply involved than he thought possible. Then Rachel Held Evans has produced a female equivalent called The Year of Biblical Womanhood. The snippets I've read look very good indeed.

Posted by Bostonman (# 17108) on :

There's a great collaboration between Borg and Wright on he historical Jesus, which is very accessible but excellent for thinking, and written from a position of both men's deep faith. It will certainly provoke discussion.

Posted by Custard (# 5402) on :

Why not just get them to do group lectio divina?

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Arethosemyfeet:

quote:
Originally posted by South Coast Kevin:
A 'heresy drinking game' - what an entertaining idea! Would something have to be considered heresy by most Christian groups, or is it enough for there to be an accusation of heresy from just one or two mainstream theologians?
If it's Spong, I think the former; I'm not sure any home groups' livers would be up to the latter.

I think the way it would work is that when one person correctly names the heresy being perpetrated, everyone else has to drink. If you incorrectly call a heresy, then you have to drink.

Aw maaaaaan. That would be so much fun!!

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

Also

New Life in the Spirit – Leonard I. Sweet
and

Last Things First – Gayraud Wilmore

Posted by daronmedway (# 3012) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Custard:
Why not just get them to do group lectio divina?

Agreed. Eugene Petersen's Eat this Book is a good introduction to this way of reading the Bible. Or, for a Roman Catholic - and IMO excellent - perspective on Lectio Divina I'd recommend Praying the Bible by Mariano Magrassi.

Posted by AgnosticJim (# 12955) on :

Worked through "How to be a Bad Christian... but a Better Human Being" by Dave Tomlinson recently with a house group. It was well received.

Posted by wishandaprayer (# 17673) on :

Because what we all need are to read books that confirm that we were right after all.........

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :

Some friends and I read Henri Nouwen's Reaching out recently, over three sessions. We're moving on to Jean Vanier's Becoming Human, again a section at a time. You could also try the Return of the Prodigal Son a chapter at a time.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

More up to dats than the other ones I suggested, from the USA, that proves that TEC has some serious theology:

A Practical Christianity – J. Shaw

Posted by gog (# 15615) on :

To cover some basics

D. Densil Morgan's "Humble God: The Basics of Christian Belief" http://www.canterburypress.co.uk/books/9781853116704/Humble-God

Also Dave Tomlinson's "Re-enchanting Christianity" might be an interesting one

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