Study Guides
Work through our written materials and/or videos at your own pace. Some, though not all, of these materials have been turned into Courses on Zoom. If you’d like coaching on how to lead these materials in your own context, we’d be happy to do so. Connect with us using the form at the bottom of this page.
God’s Justice is Restorative
One of our three Foundations. God has a vision for relationship involving all things. God calls for human partnership to restore that vision. God’s justice is restorative, not retributive, and centered in Jesus. It will help you understand and participate in God’s restorative justice. See more.
Jesus Healed the Human Heart for Us
The word “atonement” means to make two parties “at one” with one another. In biblical language, “atonement” means that there is a problem in the relationship between human beings and God, which is resolved by Jesus of Nazareth. See more.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Convictions rest on a foundation. The convictions that God’s justice is restorative, not retributive, and that Jesus’ atonement is a medical, not penal, substitution, rest upon the foundation of the doctrine of the Trinity. See more.
Why Jesus?
If you’re getting to know Jesus, exploring why he is real, important, and personally knowable, our Why Jesus? Study Guide can help.
Abortion Policy
Not sure about the “pro-life” vs. “pro-choice” binary? See this Study Guide. Session 1 examines Scripture and science, for pro-contraception. Session 2 critiques the Reagan coalition tying abortion to criminal justice policy rather than economic welfare. Session 3 explains why a pro-woman argument is more faithful than retributive “Christian nationalism.”
A Long Repentance
Trying to understand and engage our political and racial climate? Examine U.S. history as church history. Christian heresies influence our modern political and racial challenges, in housing, schooling, policing, and business systems. Christians must take responsibility for these heresies in the framework of repentance. If you can’t join the Zoom discussion, use the study guide with the blog posts for personal reflection or discussion in your family, church, organization, etc. .
The Bible in the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Examine three major biblical themes — land, enemies, and temple — and the role of Calvinist theology in the formation of Protestant Christian Zionism. Shared prosperity is possible. But it takes a consistent approach to the Bible — reading the full story. See more here.
Big Questions About God
Do a head-to-head comparison of quotes on the following topics: Who caused this mess? From what does Jesus save us? Can a loving God have a hell? What about the people who died before Jesus? Does God predestine people to hell? Why does God want our worship? What’s my motivation to obey Jesus? Is God’s justice restorative or retributive? And more. See the Guide.
Christian Restorative Justice & Human Trafficking
In 2023, we led a class especially for professionals in the anti-trafficking effort. This is a series of four video recordings with pre-readings. We covered biblical foundations for why God’s justice is restorative and not retributive. We also covered how the early Christians treated prostitution and poverty with love, sensitivity, and courage. See more.
C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce
Explore why hell is an acquired condition of eternal conscious resentment. See the course. Or see a bit more on the book and its background.
Does the Bible Have Evidence of Supernatural Design?
Why does Genesis 2 say that marriage must take priority over family of origin in terms of relational priorities, contrary to every other ancient culture? Etc. These case studies compare the Bible to other cultures to show the human authors of Scripture were not easily bullied by their cultural context. The vision expressed by the Bible is unexplainable on naturalistic grounds; a good God co-authored it.
The Emotions of God
Jesus demonstrated very human emotions and called forth our participation in God’s joy, sorrow, etc. In fact, Jesus’ emotions seem to heal and shape our emotions. The passages in this series of Bible studies and reflections give us valuable insights into God’s character and love for us. See more here.
The Enneagram and The Great Divorce
The Enneagram is a tool for self-reflection and spiritual growth. We think the Enneagram can be used with discernment, and that it has a historic Christian source. Find out more here.
It’s a Man’s World
Explore the causes, effects and cure for gender hierarchy in eight video episodes covering areas including: moral responsibility; work and compensation; reproduction and parenthood; civic life; education; marriage; sexual agency. Learn the surprising truth about why patriarchy happens, how it’s developed and mutated throughout history, and how Christians can honor God’s original plan for gender equality and co-rule while living in “a man’s world.” For more information, read more here.
Jesus Heals Our Sin-Sickness
This is our Evangelism 101 training. Wondering how to share about Jesus and your experience of him? Wondering how to share about Jesus and your experience of him? This is a workshop in four sessions with take-home assignments. Read more here.
Lazarus at the Gate
Plantation Capitalism vs. Jesus’ Jubilee Economy
Explore this public good approach to Christian ethics, especially in the United States. This series highlights twelve key relationships distorted by Plantation Capitalism, where elites exploit people and the planet, corrected by Jesus in his Jubilee Economy. See the series.
Reconstruction: Early Christianity
Have you been deconstructing Christian faith and practice but wondering what we can know and invite others into? Wondering what early Christian thought and practice can teach us? You will be inspired by the early Christian record of abolition of slavery and women in leadership. You’ll learn how to share Jesus, proclaim the gospel, and understand hell as the love of God. And more. Click here.
Scapegoating as a Spiritual Formation Problem
Why is it so easy for people — including Christians, especially Christians — to scapegoat people who are considered other for their own feelings of anxiety, anger, and disgust? See more about the course. See more about the overall topic.
Shame and Glory
While healthy shame means regret, toxic shame is the desire to hide the self. Either way, glory is the response of God to invest Himself in us and renew His image in us. See more here.
Towards a Jubilee Economy
This is a financial and economic literacy course. It is designed for use by church small groups because it asks people to discuss the emotions of money as they become more financially transparent to each other. See more.
Welcoming the New Kid
Public education is an investment in all our children. Christians have a rich history of supporting educational efforts for all, starting in the 3rd-4th century AD in Alexandria, Egypt when they developed an early form of braille. See more.
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Send Us Your Questions & Comments
We periodically lead online classes using these materials. We can also coach you to do so. Please let us know if you would be interested in either. Or, just let us know your questions and comments.