Author and Bible scholar Marcus Borg invites us to join him in revisiting Christianity's most fundamental questions: Who is God? What does salvation mean? What place does Jesus hold in contemporary Christian faith? In this five-session, faith-formation resource, participants enjoy the rare privilege of witnessing Marcus in dialogue with a small, diverse group of adults as they honestly -- and sometimes painfully -- confront the big questions and work together toward authentic answers. Each session includes a 10-minute presentation by Marcus Borg followed by interaction with the group. The program print resources are designed to help your small group "join the dialogue" in your own setting. Thestudy addresses fundamental questions that adults struggle with as faith matures. It can be used as a resource for personal reflection as well as small group experience. The five sessions include: God Jesus Salvation Community Practice Participant Workbook contains all the material needed for use by class participants as well as notes for the class leader to facilitate each session; leadership can be shared among members of the group. SOLD SEPARATELY. Packaged DVD Contains the video for the five sessions"

Walter Brueggemann, arguably America s leading Old Testament scholar and theologian, takes us on a wild ride through the poetic prophecy of the Hebrew Scripture, identifying cultural contexts, putting a framework to Israel s history, and, most significantly and times challengingly drawing connections between Israel s sociological, economic and spiritual status and that of America today. What was the message of these remarkable poet-prophets in their own time and place? What is their message for us today? Who are today s prophetic voices? How has the contemporary church been coopted by culture? What steps can we take to reclaim the prophetic message of distributive justice, nonviolence, loss and hope? And what is "your" role in bringing God s perspective to today s society? Each of the six sessions begins with a 10-15 minute video presentation by Walter Brueggemann, followed by filmed interaction with a diverse small group. This "Participant s Workbook" then helps your own local small group join the conversation. It includes all study materials needed by participants an those who lead. Each participant will need one copy. SOLD SEPARETLY. Embracing the Prophets in Contemporary Culture DVD."

Author, historian and keen cultural observer Phyllis Tickle invites us to join her in examining the changing face of Christianity and culture. Phyllis surveys 2000 years of Western history, identifying the great upheavals that occur in Western culture and Christianity every 500 years. The last was the Great Reformation of the 1500 s; the next is happening now. What are the implications of this Great Emergence, both culturally and spiritually? What are the key questions and issues that need to be addressed? Where might we be headed next? And, perhaps most importantly, where are you, at this moment? Might you be an emergence Christian?

The six sessions are: 1) Emergence 101, 2) Where Now Is the Authority? 3) The 20th Century and Emergence, 4) Gifts from Other Times, 5) How Then Shall We Live? and 6) Hallmarks of Emergence

The Participant s Workbook contains all the material needed for use by class participants as well as notes for the class leader to facilitate each session; leadership can be shared among members of the group.

DVD SOLD SEPARATELY There are six sessions on the DVD. Each session begins with a video presentation by Phyllis Tickle, lasting from 10-15 minutes. Ms. Tickle s presentation is followed by filmed interaction with a small group. The Participant Workbook then helps your small group join the dialogue in your own setting.

Phyllis Tickle, founding editor of the religion department of Publisher s Weekly, is frequently quoted in print sources like USA Today, Christian Science Monitor, and NY Times as well as in electronic media like PBS, NPR, Hallmark Channel and innumerable blogs and websites. She is an authority on religion in America and a much sought after lecturer and workshop leader. In addition to lectures and numerous essays, Tickle is the author of over two dozen books in religions and spirituality."

In this newest installment, Diana Butler Bass expands on the ideas she developed in her recent book, Christianity after Religion, exploring what Christianity may look like beyond religion and beyond the church. Segments include (1) Arriving, (2) Believing, (3) Behaving, (4) Belonging and (5) Awakening. Sold in combination with the Embracing Spiritual Awakening DVD, 846863019830. Buy one DVD per class and one guide per participant and leader."

Join interfaith commentator Eboo Patel as he explores what it means to be "literate" about other faiths, how interfaith cooperation "works" and why, the skills needed for interfaith cooperation and the significant role that our institutions, including colleges and faith communities, can play in this process. This resources contains all he material needed by class participants and the group facilitator. SOLD SEPARATELY. Embracing Interfaith Cooperation DVD. This resource features five 10-15 minute presentations by Eboo Patel, each of which is followed by video of Patel interacting with a small, diverse group of adults and young adults as they respond and discuss interfaith issues. Eboo Patel believes religion is a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division. Inspired by his faith as a Muslim, his Indian heritage and his American citizen ship, he speaks to his vision of interfaith harmony at places like he Clinton Global Initiative, The Nobel Peace Prize Forum, as well as college and universality campuses across the country. He is a regular contributor to the Washington Post, USA Todayand he Huffington Post."

5- to 10-week study for adults and young adults with appealing video format that prompts engagement and response Each participant uses his/her own journal for study and reflection Newest installment in the successful Embracing series Each program in this series features two components sold separately: (1) A DVD with five 10-15 minute presentations (one per group), in this case showing Fr. Richard Rohr interacting with a small group of adults, and (2) a participant workbook containing all the material needed by class participants as well as for the facilitator (one each). In this edition, Richard Rohr explores five topics central to Franciscan theology and practice: Atonement Theory Eco-Spirituality The Christ who Existed before Christianity Orthopraxy vs. Verbal Orthodoxy (Living Like Jesus) Mysticism over Moralism DVD sold separately- item 846863020065"

Join popular speaker and author Barbara Crafton as she explores forgiveness in the newest Embracing study. Like other programs, it features two components, purchased separately: (1) A DVD with five 10-15 minute presentations, followed by a video of the guest lecturer interacting with a small group as they discuss the issues, and (2) a participant workbook containing all the material needed by class participants as well as for the facilitator. 5- to 10-week study for adults and young adults Unique DVD-workbook format is like having Barbara Crafton sitting in with your small group, sharing insights and inviting you into discussion The newest installment in the successful Embracing Series. Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, begins the study Embracing Forgiveness, with clarity that eases the guilt often associated with the lack of forgiveness by saying what it isn't. It is not a job or task; it is not a conditional act to earn God's love. It is, Crafton believes, a spiritual gift given freely by a God who simply wants to connect with us. Over the course of the study, she shows how forgiveness can remove the tumor of anger from our hearts to become a means of grace that gives us back our humanity. Crafton's thoughtful insight allows participants to weigh the transforming power of forgiveness in their own lives. -Dorothy Linthicum, Instructor/Program Coordinator, Center for the Ministry of Teaching, Alexandria, VA With wisdom, wit, and theological depth Barbara Cawthorne Crafton explores the perennial topic of forgiveness from the perspective of gift rather than duty. Along the way, she exposes patterns of resistance and popular understandings that undermine our ability to receive and share the gift with others. Her informal and accessible style, together with the questions and responses of those taking part in the video recorded sessions, open the way for groups, aided by the accompanying workbook, to expand the exploration with their own insights and reflections. This study is both timely and urgently needed in a world in which judgment again and again trumps forgiveness, and Christ's work of reconciliation is held at bay. -Frank T Griswold, 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

Best-selling author Kathleen Norris provides a unique viewpoint of what matters most, including: Belief Matters: Why does belief matter? To what do we give our hearts? What is the core message of what we believe creeds or commitment? To what extent is to believe also to belove ? The Bible Matters: The Bible is our collective story. How is that story reflected in our daily lives? What is it about the Bible that always seems to address our present moment? Community Matters: In community, individualism and imperfection meet grace and acceptance. What is our part in the Body of Christ? Place Matters: In what ways is faith set within the physical space of home, church, land and people? We Matter: What it means to remain in God s image and to counter our selfishness by embracing the world and its needs? Ideal for adult and young-adult small groups, Christian educators, clergy, chaplains and campus ministries. SOLD SEPARATELY. Also available is the Embracing a Life of Meaning Small-Group DVD.Each of the five DVD sessions begins with a 10-15 minute video presentation by Kathleen Norris followed by filmed interaction with a diverse small group of adults. This "Participant s Workbook" then helps your own local small group join the conversation. This book includes all study materials need by participants and those who lead. Each participant will need one copy."