Some Help please!

[Aymn27]

As most of you know I've been attending a Vineyard Church for the past few months - and I must say, I absolutely love it! (I only wish they were more sacramental)...

My wife an I attended and introductory course this weekend to VBI (Vineyard Bible Institute) - which is an online/extension program to train Vineyard leadership. After the session we spoke with the pastor and his wife and they told us of how they were trying to start an adult education program for new believers - and they felt that VBI would be "too doctrinal" for the groups they are reaching (this church has grown from 30 to over 300 weekly attendees in the past two years). Without getting into all the details, they asked me to come up with some books/ideas on educating "brand new" Christians.

I could easily come up with this for an RCC program - as I looked through all of my books I would recommend, they were extremely Catholic. I was wondering what books you all would recommend for a new believer in an evangelical/charismatic church. This is all I have for now and was hoping you could give some input/suggestions, etc:

Knowing God - JI Packer
Mere Christianity - CS Lewis
The Holy Spirit and You - Dennis and Rita Bennett
Power Healing - Jon Wimber
Doing Church (a Vineyard book I've recently read that is sort of the Vineyard ideology/theology book)

I'd like some OT and NT books - this is where I need some real help. Also on evangelization.

Remember - New Believers (assuming little to no Christian background) in an evangelical (not fundamentalist though)/charismatic church.

Thanks for ANY input ideas!

[SumTinWong]

I would say the case for faith and the the case for Christ books by Lee Strobel are brought up quite a bit in these kinds of circles. I really enjoyed the case for faith, and the case for Christ is pretty good, but not as meaty.

[TomUK]

What's so Amazing about Grace? by Yancey.
God's big picture - can't remember who that's by.

[karen freeinchristman]

Without getting into all the details, they asked me to come up with some books/ideas on educating "brand new" Christians.


That's easy! Just refer them to CF!!! That would be an education. ;)

[No Swansong]

That's easy! Just refer them to CF!!! That would be an education. ;)

And send them running

[Aymn27]

That's easy! Just refer them to CF!!! That would be an education. ;)
Umm..that would probably be a better idea for those who have "stepped" up a notch or two - we wouldn't want to alienate the new babes..lol

[RedneckAnglican]

Knowing God - JI Packer
Mere Christianity - CS Lewis

I can vouch for those...good stuff...

[Tomoz]

I'll definitely second Tom's suggestion of 'What's So Amazing About Grace', that is an awesome book and was the one that really convinced me to go with Jesus. I'm a bit of a Philip Yancey fan though - for OT, he has written a book called 'The Bible Jesus Read' which is a really good one. And 'The Jesus I Never Knew' gives some really good insights into the gospels. Whats great about all these books is that they are really engaging and very easy to read, so perfect for people who are new to Christianity.

[angloluthcath]

The "RAGGAMUFFINS GOSPEL" BY Brennan Manning,the best book i,ve ever read about god,s unwavering love and grace for us as we are.it has been described as outluthering Luther in describing salvation by faith thru grace! go well, alc

[AngCath]

Amazing Grace - Kathleen Norris

a great book about the "vocabulary" of faith.

[Aymn27]

Thanks all!! You've been very helpful!

[GlobalNomad1960]

As most of you know I've been attending a Vineyard Church for the past few months - and I must say, I absolutely love it! (I only wish they were more sacramental)...

My wife an I attended and introductory course this weekend to VBI (Vineyard Bible Institute) - which is an online/extension program to train Vineyard leadership. After the session we spoke with the pastor and his wife and they told us of how they were trying to start an adult education program for new believers - and they felt that VBI would be "too doctrinal" for the groups they are reaching (this church has grown from 30 to over 300 weekly attendees in the past two years). Without getting into all the details, they asked me to come up with some books/ideas on educating "brand new" Christians.

I could easily come up with this for an RCC program - as I looked through all of my books I would recommend, they were extremely Catholic. I was wondering what books you all would recommend for a new believer in an evangelical/charismatic church. This is all I have for now and was hoping you could give some input/suggestions, etc:

Knowing God - JI Packer
Mere Christianity - CS Lewis
The Holy Spirit and You - Dennis and Rita Bennett
Power Healing - Jon Wimber
Doing Church (a Vineyard book I've recently read that is sort of the Vineyard ideology/theology book)

I'd like some OT and NT books - this is where I need some real help. Also on evangelization.

Remember - New Believers (assuming little to no Christian background) in an evangelical (not fundamentalist though)/charismatic church.

Thanks for ANY input ideas!
What about any of John Stott's writings?

[karen freeinchristman]

How's it going, Aaron? Have you made any choices yet?

[Father Rick]

As most of you know I've been attending a Vineyard Church for the past few months - and I must say, I absolutely love it! (I only wish they were more sacramental)...Just so you know, a number of years ago, Vineyard split into two entities. One is still known as Vineyard, the other is now "Calvary Chapel" (and almost all of their churches bear that name). Calvary Chapel is much more sacramental and the leadership actually had some serious meetings with Old Catholic leaderships at one time as they were considering coming into apostolic succession en masse.

[Aymn27]

How's it going, Aaron? Have you made any choices yet?
No - I haven't met with the Asst Pastor. He has a "skeleton" plan in place and I don't want to step on any toes, etc. The leadership is supposed to meet and then get with me to get with him. But pretty much everything that's been suggested here is going to be on the list. I think he, I and the youth minister are going to read the books and then outline/choose the most important points and come up with an official program - at least that's how I understand it's going to happen.

[Aymn27]

Just so you know, a number of years ago, Vineyard split into two entities. One is still known as Vineyard, the other is now "Calvary Chapel" (and almost all of their churches bear that name). Calvary Chapel is much more sacramental and the leadership actually had some serious meetings with Old Catholic leaderships at one time as they were considering coming into apostolic succession en masse.
Well, I knew there was a split, but I had no idea about them being more sacramental - I will look into that for sure. Thanks Fr. Rick.

[karen freeinchristman]

Just so you know, a number of years ago, Vineyard split into two entities. One is still known as Vineyard, the other is now "Calvary Chapel" (and almost all of their churches bear that name). Calvary Chapel is much more sacramental and the leadership actually had some serious meetings with Old Catholic leaderships at one time as they were considering coming into apostolic succession en masse.
That is really interesting. I know that in my home state of California, at least in the area where my family is, the Calvary Chapel is very big. They were the ones who sponsored the Delirious Concert we went to in Auburn two years ago. They seem like a really good church. I phoned them from England to get info about the concert prior to our holiday over there, and I told the church secretary that I was in the Church of England. We had a good chat.

[erin74]

I know a great set of studies just for this purpose.

Just for Starters.
http://secure.fellowworkers.com/cgi-bin/mmstore/jfsr.html

Now in its 3rd Edition, Just for Starters, (or 'The 7 Basic Bible Studies' as it is sometimes known) looks at what the Bible teaches on seven fundamental topics: Saved by God, Trusting in God, Living God's Way, Listening to God, Talking to God, Meeting with God's family, Meeting the World.

[Aymn27]

I know a great set of studies just for this purpose.

Just for Starters.
http://secure.fellowworkers.com/cgi-bin/mmstore/jfsr.html
Hey Erin,
I was only able to browse for a second but that entire site looks fabulous! Thanks for the link!

Aaron

[erin74]

We go broke there on a regular basis - enjoy it! I think they are/have set up a US based site too.