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: UMC-Endorsed
How do you know if a study is endorsed by The United Methodist Church?
Where do you find these studies?
- The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church maintains a
Curriculum Resources Committee that formally endorses resources for use in the Christian education ministry of The United Methodist Church. These resources are listed here on the Cokesbury website. Look for the UMC-endorsed logo in the bottom left corner of the cover image as you browse the site. - The NC Conference Media Center tags all UMC-endorsed resources in our collection. Simply type UMC-endorsed into the search box of our online catalog. Make sure the drop-down box says Anywhere. Use the Refine Search options on the right of the screen to narrow your search results.
(Hint: Under Genre, click Educational films for small-group DVD studies.)
Some UMC-Endorsed Recommendations
Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn’t Say by Adam Hamilton
It is likely that every study by Adam Hamilton is UMC-endorsed. (If you find one that isn’t, post it in the comments!) Rev. Hamilton is pastor of the largest United Methodist congregation in the United States. He has wide appeal for his thoughtful, centrist teachings on a variety of biblical and social topics. Half Truths is a fun and interesting study of his that helps us better understand how to read the bible.
The Wesley Challenge: 21 Days to a More Authentic Faith by Chris Folmsbee
Rev. Folmsbee introduces participants to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, through the 21 questions that the first Methodists asked one another in their class meetings. Folmsbee invites participants into an examined Christian life and a closer relationship with God and one another. (P.S. Folmsbee is a pastor at Adam Hamilton’s church.)
One: A Small Group Journey Toward Life-Changing Community by Nick Cunningham
This study will bind your group together like not many others. While you learn why and how to live in community and practice it in your small group, you will create a Covenant Statement for your group that will define your Core Postures and Practices. Though this study requires more commitment, it is well worth it.
Listen: Praying in a Noisy World by Rueben P. Job
Most of us could use some help with our prayer life even if it’s just a refreshing of our normal practice. This study focuses on listening to God within a structured prayer pattern. The 40-day journey cultivates six specific prayer practices to establish or enrich daily prayer.
Short-Term DISCIPLE Bible Studies
This series makes the in-depth DISCIPLE Bible Study accessible for small groups who need shorter commitments. Each study covers a book of the Bible (Genesis, Psalms, John, Romans) or an overview of the Old or New Testament. The sessions and homework maintain a careful and deep reading of the biblical text that will help participants understand the bible better than ever.
Help Us Out!
Have you done a UMC-endorsed study? Provide your feedback in the comments and give us some more ideas! Or join us for further discussion in our United Methodist Small Group Leaders Facebook group.
Why are all of the authors white men?
Stay tuned for our coming challenges on Female and Non-White Authors! What UMC-endorsed titles can you find that also qualify for these other characteristics? Post them in the comments!
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.