I have always believed that using books as curriculum would be a good idea. The reason is simple: my life has been profoundly changed by reading books. Books have been the #1 spiritual influence in my life. More than sermons, seminars, or even personal one-on-one discipleship, it has been the steady diet of good Christian books that has moved me toward spiritual maturity.
I have always thought that if I could encourage people to read great Christian books, it would greatly accelerate and deepen their spiritual growth. A year ago, we decided to give it a try in our group.
So far, we have studied the following books:
- BLESS: 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World by Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson. I chose this book because our group—like most groups—struggles with evangelism. It’s part of a three-year plan (longer if needed) where we do a six-week study on evangelism every fall. We schedule it during prime time—our Sunday School hour—because I want maximum participation.
- The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God’s Best Version of You by John Ortberg. Ortberg is my favorite writer, and this is one of my favorite books. I have never liked the title—it sounds a little too much like a Joel Osteen book—but if you can get past that, it’s a fantastic resource on the basics of discipleship.
- Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters by Charles R. Swindoll. I chose this because we have a lot of people who have been in church for a long time and know the Bible well. This book digs into the more obscure Old Testament characters—perfect for our advanced class.
- Slaying the Giants in Your Life: You Can Win the Battle and Live Victoriously by Dr. David Jeremiah. Some of the giants are fear and worry. Very practical and very needed.
Now, one year into this experiment, I’d say there’s no going back. For the first time in my life, I’m part of a group where people routinely read their lessons. The discussions are richer. The application is deeper. Lives are being changed.
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Why Books Work So Well as Curriculum
1. Books promote deeper engagement.
When people read a book during the week, they come into the group with thoughts already stirred. The material has had time to marinate in their minds. That means when we gather, we don’t spend the first 15 minutes just introducing the idea—it’s already in people’s heads and hearts.
2. Books create a shared learning journey.
When everyone in the room is reading the same author’s thoughts, we’re not just studying a topic—we’re walking alongside a mentor. It’s like bringing John Ortberg, David Jeremiah, or Charles Swindoll into the room with us. That shared experience builds community and unity around the truths we’re learning.
3. Books encourage personal responsibility for growth.
In a traditional lesson format, it’s easy to show up, listen, and go home without much effort. But reading a book makes people active participants in their own discipleship. They’re not just consumers of a Sunday morning talk—they’re seekers, thinkers, and doers of the Word.
4. Books offer a depth and quality of content that’s hard to match.
Great Christian books are often the product of decades of thought, prayer, and ministry experience. By using books as curriculum, you’re putting the very best teaching from the very best Christian minds into the hands of your people.
5. Books keep the conversation going throughout the week.
I’ve noticed that people who read a chapter on Tuesday sometimes bring it up again on Thursday, in conversation or in prayer. It’s not confined to the classroom—it spills over into life.
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If you want to accelerate spiritual growth in your church, don’t just give people another lesson—give them a book that will live in their hands, their heads, and their hearts.
One year in, I can say without hesitation: it works.
If you would like help with Study Guides for popular Christian books, see www.MyBibleStudyLessons.com
