Join the NC Conference Media Center’s Study Harder Challenge! Your group is invited to expand your circle of influence and try something new by studying resources that apply any of 12 characteristics that will help you think outside the box. Read more about the Study Harder Challenge and download your worksheet.
Challenge: Teacher from a Different Generation
The old and the young have much to learn from each other. Older teachers have completed more study and research, had more time to test their theories, and lived many experiences to provide insight into their crystallized beliefs. Young teachers may be fresh out of seminary full of new ideas, in touch with the current culture, and engaged with new ways of thinking.
If your group is mostly younger folks, consider learning from an older teacher who has much wisdom and experience to share. If your group is mostly older folks, consider learning from a young adult teacher that may enlighten your group with fresh insights. Read our suggested teachers and studies below and request to borrow one for your next small group study.
Older Teachers
Maxie Dunnam. Dunnam has had a prolific career in Methodism including pastoring a very large church, editor at Upper Room Books, creator of the Walk to Emmaus, and president of Asbury Theological Seminary where he now serves as president emeritus. He has written many books, but he has also published a few DVD studies in recent years.
- The Intercessory Life: A Missional Model for Discipleship
- With Jesus in the Upper Room: A Study of His Final Lessons for Today’s Disciples
- This Is Christianity: A Video Study
James “Mickey” Efird. Dr. Efird’s DVD bible studies are collections of his teachings on the bible with extensive workbooks. Many of our pastors received Dr. Efird’s excellent teaching when they were students at Duke Divinity School. Our laypeople are truly blessed to have access to Dr. Efird’s teachings in these DVD bible studies. We have 21 DVD studies by Dr. Efird, so not all of them are listed here. All of these studies are on the bible and most of his studies cover one book of the bible at a time. A selection of these studies is listed below.
- The Gospel of Luke
- The Book of Genesis
- The Book of Revelation
- From Genesis to Revelation: A Comprehensive Overview of the Bible
- How to Get the Greatest Benefit from Bible Study
Dallas Willard. We mourned the loss of Willard in 2013. As a professor of philosophy, he performed much research and published many books on his field of study, as well as on Christian spiritual living. He is well-respected among serious followers of Christ for the depth of insight he provided to a Christian way of living. We have a few DVD studies based on books that he published towards the end of his life.
- Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God
- Living in Christ’s Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God
- The Divine Conspiracy: Jesus’ Master Class for Life
Rueben Job. We mourned the loss of Job in 2015, but he left behind several excellent DVD studies that cut to the heart of the matter on Wesleyan beliefs and the practice of prayer. Job served the church his whole life including as a minister, an Air Force chaplain, on staff of the General Board of Evangelism and Discipleship, district superintendent, and bishop of the Iowa Episcopal Area. He was also world editor of The Upper Room devotional, a position that Maxie Dunnam also served.
- Three Simple Rules for Christian Living
- Three Simple Questions: Knowing the God of Love, Hope, and Purpose
- Listen: Praying in a Noisy World
- Living Fully, Dying Well
Younger Teachers
Adam Thomas. Thomas was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 2008 at the age of 25, making him one of the first priests from the millennial generation. He is tech-savvy and includes an optional online element with many of his DVD studies. The studies listed below have all been endorsed by the UMC Curriculum Resources Committee.
- Digital Disciple : Real Christianity in a Virtual World
- Unusual Names: Studies from the Book of John
- Unusual Questions: Studies from the Book of John
- Unusual Healings: Studies from the Book of John
Shane Claiborne. Claiborne has popularized the new monastic movement with his lifestyle, teachings and bestselling books. Although he grew up Methodist, he now calls Christians to a more radical way of discipleship through The Simple Way and Red Letter Christians communities he helped to create. He is often found co-teaching with his colleagues, Tony Campolo and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.
- Choose Justice: A Daily Lifestyle
- The Awakening of Hope: Why We Practice a Common Faith
- Jesus, Bombs, & Ice Cream: Building a More Peaceful World
- Economy Of Love: Creating a Community of Enough
Hannah Adair Bonner. Bonner is the Curator of The Shout, a community that seeks to reimagine open the microphone to the prophetic voices outside the walls of the church. She also serves as a pastor at St. John’s Downtown in Houston, Texas, a United Methodist congregation. Bonner is a respected speaker, justice advocate, and an integral part of the UMC LEAD leadership team. Her UMC-endorsed DVD study provides a peek into The Shout incorporating art and spoken word into the experience.
Nick Cunningham. Cunningham is the Adult Discipleship Director at Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington, South Carolina. He previously served as the teaching pastor at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio. He is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at United Theological Seminary. His UMC-endorsed DVD studies invite small groups into a deeper commitment and relationship with one another.
- One: A Small Group Journey Toward Life-Changing Community
- Forward: A Small Group Journey Toward a Full Life in Christ
Request These Resources
These resources can be borrowed by anyone associated with the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, free of charge. We can even mail them to you! All you need to do is fill out the Resource Request Form.