Faith Formation: Small Groups

Understanding Christian Nationalism: An invitation to explore the movement shaping American politics

Diana Butler Bass's three-essay exploration of the history, theology, and social movement that has brought us to where we are, today. Read all three. Study with others. Discussion questions are included in this post.

After the Altar Call is a free, downloadable resource from the West Virginia Annual Conference of the UMC. It is created with a mentor/mentee relationship at its core, but can be adapted for use with one adult and a small group of confirmands.

Each session includes Scripture reading, Spiritual Practices, learning/activities, and discussion/reflection. A take-home Scripture reading guide and workbook are to be completed between sessions. The 11-week course includes one introductory week then covers the 7 themes of: Creation, Crisis, Covenant, Christ, Church, Calling, and Completion.

All-ages curriculum include:

• Adult-membership-class curriculum
• After-the-Altar-Call Confirming-Your Faith curriculum
• After-the-Altar Call Scripture Workbook

Learn more here.

Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding is a series of biblically based short-term courses that provide adults with a foundational understanding of the Reformed faith. Each six-session study—written by well-known and respected scholars—features Scripture, prayer, in-depth commentary, and questions for reflection. Lessons include a Participant and Leader's Guide. The main structure is the rubric Head, Heart, and Hands.

All Living the Questions curricula are available to stream or download; includes a variety of progressive topics.

Free streaming videos featuring nearly 30 contributors; adaptable for groups online with downloadable Discussion Questions.

In the Works Series

This five-session series explores how Christians can be part of God’s mission in the world. Each title includes five inspiring daily readings for each week; five easy-to-use discussion guides (with activities, Bible study, and discussion activities); and follow-up action options to apply the study to real-world life.

Sessions include:

• How Do I Begin? Sharing Your Faith
• How Do I Make It Right? Doing Justice in a Broken World
• What Do I Do with My Life? Serving God through Work
• What Do I Owe? Managing the Gifts God Gives You
• Where Do I Come in? Joining God's Mission

Sparkhouse's Three Separate Dialogues On Curricula: Race, The Refugee Crisis, & Sexuality

PC(USA) shares small group discussion guides for their publications and a downloadable free chapter of Walter Brueggemann’s, Materiality as Resistance. Available ebooks include:

• Materiality as Resistance: Five Elements for Moral Action in the Real World

• Truth & Hope: Essays for a Perilous Age

• Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

• The Spirit of Hope: Theology for a World in Peril

Feasting on the Word is a lectionary based curriculum that allows all ages to study the same text each week. Preparatory materials equip leaders with the biblical background they need to feel confident with any age group.

Sample Sessions are available for:

• Grades (K)1-2
• Grades 3-4
• Tweens (Grades 5-6)
• Multi-Age (Grades K-6)
• Youth
• Young Adult
• Adult
• Pastors

The Free Guide offers tips for online use.