Ministry Overview

Community Groups

Leader Page

Curriculum

Suggested Studies

Adult Ministries

Suggested Studies

(Hover your mouse pointer over the images below for series descriptions.)

Deidre's Favorites
A Life Well Lived: Living with a Perfect God in an Imperfect World A Life Well Lived: Living with a Perfect God in an Imperfect World Duration: Twelve sessions Spiritual Depth: deeper level study of Ecclesiastes for more mature Christians Method: After the DVD teaching session by Tommy Nelson, the group discussion follows a well written study guide. The questions are designed to spark conversation. Description: Tommy Nelson presents an in-depth look at Ecclesiastes. In a world such as ours, where the search for meaning and purpose propels mankind to try everything under the sun, Solomon's conclusions ring louder than ever for a people who need answers more than ever. Leader Notes: A Life Well Lived was a life changing study. My "men only" small group used the DVD series and had the work books. Most of the men in our group commented that this study was one of the best we had done and I observed changes in life by several of the men while the doing the study. I cannot recommend this highly enough! —Doug, Community Group Leader	The Life You've Always Wanted Leader's Guide: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People The Life You've Always Wanted Leader's Guide: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People Duration: Six sessions Spiritual Depth: Moderate Method: After the DVD teaching session by John Ortberg, the group discussion follows a well written study guide. The questions are designed to spark conversation. Description: John Ortberg presents readers with what it means to live as Jesus would on a day-to-day basis--one filled with new meaning, hope, change, and a joyous, growing closeness to Christ. Cultivate new intimacy and confidence in prayer. Discover the freedom of secrecy. Taste the benefits of slowing life's frenetic pace. Learn how to be guided by the Holy Spirit...and more.	What's So Amazing About Grace? What's So Amazing About Grace? Duration: Ten sessions Spiritual Depth: Moderate Method: The group agrees to read the book on their own, and discuss it, one or two chapters at a time, at weekly meetings. We’ll use a discussion guide written by Tami Rudkin. Description: Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. If grace is God’s love for the undeserving, what does it look like in action? If Christians are its sole dispensers, how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? “This book is a modern day classic. It will revolutionize your perspective of the central idea of the Christian faith, grace.” —Deidre Franklin
Andy Stanley Series
Breakaway How our core beliefs influence our decisions, which dictate the outcomes of our lives. Breakaway Duration: Six Sessions None of us sets out to be like everybody else, but it happens. Life begins to squeeze us into a mold until one day we wake up feeling trapped. Unfortunately many people think the answer is to run away, but they only end up making the same bad decisions over and over again. How do you break the cycle and break out of the crowd? Andy Stanley will renovate your thinking by exposing you to four core beliefs that have the power to change the trajectory of your life.	Community: Your Pathway to Progress Specifically designed for new groups getting acquainted with one another. Community: Your Pathway to Progress Duration: Eight sessions This curriculum is specifically designed for new groups, so you'll spend the first sessions of the study getting to know your other group members--where they have come from and where they are now. Then, during the remaining sessions, you'll discuss the importance of community and how to stay on course. Study guides are recommended for each group participant. The DVD has been designed to complement sessions 5-7 of the study guide for you to watch as a group, and contains messages by Andy Stanley that will introduce you to the importance of community.	Defining Moments Even when it is hurtful, the truth ultimately sets you free. Defining Moments Duration: Eight sessions It is no secret that what you don't know can hurt you. In spite of that, we still go out of our way at times to avoid the truth. Men avoid doctors and women deny evidence of adultery. While the truth often hurts, deceiving ourselves ultimately will hurt worse. In Defining Moments, we listen in as Jesus introduces some rather perplexing truth to seven individuals who had grown comfortable with their misinformed lifestyles and belief systems. For those who had the courage to embrace the truth, their lives were changed forever. They discovered first-hand that the truth can set you free.
Discovering God's Will God has a wonderful and fulfilling vision for your life. Discovering God's Will Duration: Eight sessions Discovering God's will can be a difficult process, especially when we need to make a decision in a hurry. This study explores God's providential, moral, and personal will and how God uses other people and the principles of scripture to guide us as we attempt to discover the personal vision He has for our lives.	Go Fish Making the sharing of your faith a natural part of your life. Go Fish Duration: Six sessions Fishing stories. We've all heard them. "It was this big." "You should have seen the one that got away." People love to tell stories of their fishing adventures. When it comes to faith, however, most people clam up. Why is it we can't talk about what God has done in our lives as naturally as we can spin fishing tales?	Heroes What does it take to be a hero? Heroes Duration: Four sessions Everyone dreams of being a hero, to act courageously and decisively in the most difficult of situations. While it may seem unrealistic and far-fetched to think you could ever be a hero, the truth is that you will face defining moments throughout your life when opportunities to act heroically arrive at your doorstep. How will you respond? In this series, Andy Stanley studies the examples of biblical figures and modern-day heroes and explains the two characteristics all heroes have in common.
How To Be Rich Think you’ll never be rich? Think again. How To Be Rich Duration: Six sessions You can find plenty of advice on how to get rich. But where do you learn to be rich? And how do you define "rich" in the first place? In this series, Andy Stanley moves beyond the "get rich" mentality and explains God's instructions for the vast majority of us who are already blessed with more than we need.	It Came From Within! Words you "accidentally" speak and the actions you later regret are actually in keeping with what's hiding in your heart. It Came From Within! Duration: Five sessions Where did that come from? You know that horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn't expect - that is just so unlike you. Did you know those words are a reflection of a bigger problem lurking beneath the surface? "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks," states Matthew 12:33. The scary truth is that the words you "accidentally" speak and the actions you later regret are actually in keeping with what's hiding in your heart.	JUDGMENT Call Don’t just stand there. Say something. JUDGMENT Call Duration: Four sessions Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ instructions not to judge others. But what exactly did he mean? Are we supposed to look away when a close friend or family member is doing something dishonest or immoral? Are there times when it is wrong not to judge? In this series, Andy Stanley tackles this confusing and often misunderstood topic. We learn the steps to take before confronting others—and how to react when someone judges us.
Life Rules God has given us a set of life rules that can improve our relationships. Life Rules Duration: Six sessions When we were kids, half the fun was breaking the rules without getting caught. In life though, there's nothing fun about broken promises, broken relationships, or a broken heart. In this series, Andy Stanley explains that God has given us a set of life rules that can improve our current relationships and help restore a damaged or broken one.	LO$T How to find out where we are financially and how to get where we need to be. LO$T Duration: Six sessions When it comes to finances, it is easy to be lost and not even know it. There are many ways we become financially lost - sometimes we start off with a bad map, or perhaps we take a wrong turn accidentally, or maybe we get distracted by something we think we need. Whatever the reason, once we realize we are lost, we wonder how we got lost, and wonder even more how we can find our way back. The task can be daunting, but the good news is that God has given us clear directions to guide the way.	On Location What it means to be salt and light on location. On Location Duration: Six sessions When you stop to consider the decaying moral and ethical climate in our culture and in our world, you may be tempted to wonder, "Is there any hope? Will things ever improve?" Two thousand years ago Jesus addressed a handful of men and women who had the same questions, doubts, and fears. Imagine their surprise when he announced, "You are the salt of the earth...You are the light of the world." Translated, you have been strategically placed by God to preserve culture and illuminate God's will for man. In this series, Andy Stanley unpacks what it means to be salt and light on location; where we live, work, and play.
Pause A closer look at temptations. Pause Duration: Five sessions In this series, Andy Stanley takes a closer look at the temptations Jesus faced in the desert to identify the driving forces behind the temptations we face every day. Once we realize what is behind temptation, and what is at stake every time we're tempted, we can find the confidence to respond as Jesus did.	Permission to Speak Freely Understanding why God gave us the ability to talk to Him. Permission to Speak Freely Duration: Three sessions Two thousand years ago, Jesus pulled His disciples aside and taught them to pray. In examining His instructions, we find a disconnect between His teaching and the way we typically approach prayer. We discover that there are some things about prayer we think are important but aren't, and there are some things we don't think are important that are.	Playing God What God had in mind when he gave us power. Playing God Duration: Six sessions Have you ever taken a moment to think about how much power you have? Even if you're not a world leader, you have power over family members, co-workers, neighbors, or even strangers. The question is: what will you do with that power? Will you leverage it for good? Or will you fall under its subtle spell?
Simple The compelling simplicity of Jesus’ message: Follow. Believe. Obey. Simple Duration: Six sessions In a time when religious leaders and a religious system made it increasingly complicated to connect with God, a teacher appeared whose message was profoundly...simple. Jesus arrived on the stage of world events and announced that God's intent was to connect with, not confuse, mankind. To those who were considered most distant from God, Jesus offered this simple invitation, "Follow me." People who accepted his offer found themselves captivated by an extraordinary faith leading them to adopt a lifestyle that turned the world upside down.	Take It To The Limit Wisdom for those whose schedules are too full and whose checking accounts are too empty. Take It To The Limit Duration: Six sessions A series for those whose schedules are too full and whose checking accounts are too empty! Our culture encourages us to live as if we have no limits. So we fill up our schedules and empty our bank accounts. We do as much as we can, spend as much as we can and acquire as much as we can. Life on the edge means life with no margin. Life without margin is a recipe for personal disaster. Margin is the space between your current performance and your limits. When you reach the limit of your resources, strength, capacity or self-control, you have no margin. And without margin, you have no room for error. The consequences of margin-less living are most apparent in our relationships. Love, intimacy, and friendship happen in the unstructured, unhurried world of margin. Together, we will explore God's answer to our self-destructive propensity to live as if we have no limits.	Taking Care of Business Problem areas from exemplifying Christ, to balancing our work and home life. Taking Care of Business Duration: Six sessions Work. For most people, it's a necessity. For some, it's a passion. And for others, it's a four-letter word to be avoided as much as possible. But for all of us, only one perspective on work really matters: God's.
The Best Question Ever A single question to revolutionize the way you make decisions. The Best Question Ever Duration: Six sessions We've all made dumb decisions. No matter who you are, this is something we all share in common. There are purchases we wish we hadn't made, loans we regret signing up for, people we wish we hadn't dated, parties we wish we hadn't gone to , jobs we wish we hadn't taken...the list goes on. Imagine if we could learn to see clearly before we make some of our dumb decisions? Well, not only is that something we desire, it's what God wants for us as well.	The Legend of Joe Jacobson How God uses the most difficult times to deepen our faith. The Legend of Joe Jacobson Duration: Six sessions Think of the struggles and conflicts in your life and ask yourself, "What would I do or say in those difficult moments if I were absolutely confident that God was with me?" In this study, we witness Joseph's unwavering faith. Even in the midst of unjust and seemingly hopeless circumstances, Joseph remained faithful and obedient. If we were able to follow Joseph's example, how would it impact our circumstances? More importantly, how would it impact our faith and our relationships? Featuring a hilarious take on the major events of Joseph's life, this series will entertain and inspire you.	The Sinai Code Today’s lessons from the Ten Commandments. The Sinai Code Duration: Six sessions Thirty-five hundred years ago Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with a short list of rules that has shaped the values of men and nations for centuries. We know them as the Ten Commandments, but do we really know them? Some would argue that it is the Ten Commandments that set the stage for mankind to feel as if we must perform our way into God's good graces, but was that the reason they were given? In this series, Andy Stanley dispels the common misconceptions about the Ten Commandments and reveals the role that they should play in our lives today.
Twisted Discover how the truth has been twisted, and how it impacts our lives and culture. Twisted Duration: Five sessions In this five-part series Andy Stanley reveals common ways the truth gets twisted. Each one has the potential to destroy your relationships, cloud your decisions, and distort your perspective of God. Discover how the truth has been twisted, and how it impacts our lives and culture.	You've Got Style Various styles of drawing near to God. You've Got Style Duration: Five sessions Fashion - home decor - accents and attitudes - different ways of expressing ourselves. We call it style and we all have one. Even the way we draw near to God has a style. Quiet - loud - outside - within - in word or deed. Our expressions of worship can be as varied as we are, but which way is the right way? This five-part small group study explores the various styles of drawing near to God. The answers may surprise you!
Andy Stanley Marriage Series
Celebrate Differences Learn how to celebrate your differences. Celebrate Differences Duration: Two/three sessions By God's design, men and women are very different. As couples we can use our differences to complement and serve each other, or they can be used to drive us apart. Often we try to change our spouses in the name of love. But, we believe a better option is to love our spouses, even if they never change. We feel it is crucial for couples to seek to understand and accept each other's differences. We want you to...Celebrate Differences.	Finish Together Instruction and exercises that will challenge and encourage you to Finish Together. Finish Together Duration: Three sessions Most of us believe passionately in the idea of a man and a woman staying together, "'til death do us part." But for many of us, this great idea for marriage is becoming less and less of a reality. In this DVD, Ted Lowe offers exercises, teaching, and questions that will challenge and encourage you to Finish Together. Designed for a couple or a small group of couples.	iMarriage The secret of removing the big “I” from marriage. iMarriage Duration: Six sessions Imagine what would happen if you and your spouse focused on fulfilling one another's dreams rather than piling on expectations. Possible? Absolutely! In this study, Andy Stanley reveals the secret of removing the big "I" from marriage.
MarriedLife...Because Great Marriages Don't Just Happen Six essentials of a healthy marriage. MarriedLife...Because Great Marriages Don't Just Happen Duration: Two sessions Includes a comedy,"Slam'd," a reality show with a twist. What happens to couples who have chosen a way of life that keeps them from having a great marriage? One couple just can't seem to make their great marriage happen. Watch as they are coached through the 6 essentials of a healthy marriage and learn to make it happen.	Nurture Romance Teaching and discussion on the topic of romance. Nurture Romance Duration: Two/three sessions For most of us, the word “romance” leaves us feeling guilty or lacking in our marriages. Learn a new definition that will leave you both feeling truly “Romantic.” Includes two DVD's containing a discussion between a married couple on the topic of romance as well as teaching by Ted Lowe/Director of MarriedLife at North Point Community Church. Both parts are accompanied by discussion questions.	Trust God Trusting God to call the shots. Trust God Duration: Two sessions Who's directing the scenes of your marriage? Often we nominate ourselves as a director and star in our own marriage movie. Many times, this leaves us exhausted and disappointed with how our life is being played out. Maybe we should trust God to call the shots; perhaps His bigger perspective will leave us with great scenes we never believed possible. In this DVD, Ted Lowe offers exercises, teaching time, and questions that will challenge and encourage you to Trust God. Designed for a couple or a small group of couples.
Parental Guidance Required When it comes to parenting, God has much to say about how to navigate the road ahead. Parental Guidance Required Duration: Six sessions While the culture around you may offer many suggestions about parenting, God has much to say about how to navigate the road ahead of you. Through this study, God may give you clarity and insight into your relationship with your children as well as your children's relationships with others.