Small Groups

Below you will find Small Group resources that Abiding Hope has used in the past.

Books for Spirituality, Faith, and Personal Development 

Grateful: the Transformative Power of Giving Thanks  by Diana Butler Bass, along with these study resources: https://dianabutlerbass.com/books/grateful-the-transformative-power-of-giving-thanks/resources-for-reading-and-studying-grateful/ 

The Wild Land Within: Cultivating Wholeness Through Spiritual Practice by Lisa Colon Delay (this book includes spiritual practices that the end of chapters that would be great for group study)

Everything is Spiritual: Who We Are and What We’re Doing Here by Rob Bell, as well as this accompanying tour film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT09JbaEh_I 

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown 

Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It by Brian McLaren, as well as this talk: https://faithmatters.org/faiths-dance-with-doubt-a-conversation-with-brian-mclaren/ 

Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey

The Book of Awakening (daily devotionals) by Mark Nepo 

Books for Bible/Theological Study

The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr, as well as the companion book Everything is Sacred, which includes prayers and activities to go along with the book.

Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor, along with this study guide: https://dk4dsgfbgkmll.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/21175157/SG_LearningToWalk2.pdf 

Inspired by Rachel Held Evans, along with this reading guide: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/4f63ddf524ac9f2c23f422a4/t/5b2d7992575d1fa3bfec04b7/1529706902655/Inspired+Reading+Guide.pdf 

Freeing Jesus by Diana Butler Bass, along with this study guide: https://dk4dsgfbgkmll.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/26162206/FreeingJesus_SGG.pdf 

Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s Views of Women, as well as this interview with the author: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/takeandread/2014/03/jesus-feminist-a-conversation-with-sarah-bessey/ 

What is the Bible? by Rob Bell

Love Without Limits: Jesus’ Radical Vision for Love with No Exceptions by Jaqueline A. Bussie, as well as this study guide: https://ms.broadleafbooks.com/downloads/Love_Without_Limits_Discussion_Guide.pdf

ELCA Resources

Women of the ELCA Resource Library: https://www.womenoftheelca.org/resources

ELCA Bible Studies: https://www.elca.org/Resources/Bible-Studies

Online Resources

Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations: https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/ 

Sparkhouse Resources: https://www.wearesparkhouse.org/ 

Portraits in Faith: https://portraitsinfaith.org/about/description/ 

Center for Courage and Renewal: http://www.couragerenewal.org/ 

A lot of great resources, including all of the work and writings of Parker J. Palmer

Sarah Bessey’s Field Notes newsletter: https://sarahbessey.substack.com/ 

Have a Little Faith Video Series with Nadia Bolz Weber (content warning: language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQI6xLNUjs0&list=PLru7kHs-GAekz7ouRTsIBJBGLc36vtcUy 

Tara Brach talks and meditations: https://www.tarabrach.com/talks-audio-video/ 

 

Podcasts

Another Name for Every Thing (Richard Rohr’s podcast series): https://cac.org/podcast/another-name-for-every-thing/ 

The RobCast by Rob Bell: https://robbell.com/podcast/ 

Learning How to See with Brian McLaren: https://cac.org/podcast/learning-how-to-see/?fbclid=IwAR2F2SM7RopzGuelD8HOshRFUCxhf9yg0wT9wz6lKWRSy9S6IO0Jnz2DX80 

Now and Then by the Henri Nouwen Society: https://henrinouwen.org/resources/now-then-podcasts/ 

Evolving Faith with Sarah Bessey and Jeff Chu: https://evolvingfaith.com/podcast 

On Being with Krista Tippett: https://onbeing.org/series/podcast/ 

For the Love with Jen Hatmaker: https://jenhatmaker.com/podcast/ 

Everything Happens with Kate Bowler: https://katebowler.com/podcasts/ 

The Confessional with Nadia Bolz Weber: https://nadiabolzweber.com/podcast/