There Are No Ordinary People
£14.99 (Approx)
3.8Get the resource >
Overview
What does it say on the tin?
Four-session group resource. Join Jeff as he explores how God uses each detail of our everyday lives in a beautiful, extraordinary way. Find out what makes us significant through the story of Barnabas, the Bible’s ‘son of encouragement’, who has much to teach us. See for yourself how this seemingly ordinary man became central to God’s plans, playing a vital role in the beginnings of the Early Church.
What do you get?
DVD which is ‘based on Jeff’s popular book of the same name, this great resource for both groups and individuals contains four sessions of approximately twenty minutes each, entitled:
- Living the Ordinary Life Beautifully
- The Power of Kindness
- Healthy Church
- Navigating Conflict
Challenging and thought-provoking questions are provided on screen as starting points for discussion at the end of each session.
Who is it for?
Small groups, adult, Growing.
Review
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What is the overall quality of material presentation?
Innovative exploration of the New Testament character Barnabas via DVD, focusing on his admirable characteristics for us to emulate, and the implicit challenges to the local church community.
How clear are its aims and outcomes?
No particular information, apart from the direction that questions are provided on screen. Themes are flagged up with on-screen headings.
How accessible are the leader's notes?
No separate notes for leaders. All on screen – five questions appear after each talk. Good, open questions. Straight-forward and very easy to use.
Who could lead it?
Any leader who can make the most of the talk-plus-five-questions format.
How helpful are the participants' resources?
Just the DVD, with questions provided on-screen.
How good is any digital material?
Presented by Jeff Lucas, standing in front of a night sky backdrop. DVD presentation range from fifteen to twenty-five minutes. Mixture of Lucas talking, text of Bible quotes and others, headings to themes; then ending with five questions. Fairly static, but Lucas is an interesting, gentle and engaging speaker. Gathers pace through the sessions – stick with it!
How much prep will I have to do?
Watching the first session would give a leader the flavour of the input, and the style of the questions.
Is there website support? Links?
No direct website support, though CWR runs smallgroupcentral.org.uk with other resource ideas.
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How well does it encourage interaction with the group?
Shared watching of DVD; good, open questions following the theme of the talk. All other interaction will have to be provided by the leaders. Leader may want to add some more questions perhaps, depending on the group.
How well does it cater for a variety of both learning and delivery styles?
Mix of listening to Lucas and discussing the questions, so fine as long as your group would enjoy that.
How adaptable is it to my situation?
A resource with wide application which would suit most adult groups.
How well does it encourage people to work together in applying the material?
Not a focus, apart from the questions.
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How much of the material is Bible-based?
Dives straight into the Bible stories about Barnabas from Acts 4.
How well is the biblical material presented and used?
Mix of text and Lucas exploring the themes which they raise. Lucas brings some of the background of Acts to life very well, and has an implicit grasp of the whole story of the Bible.
How well does it apply biblical material to everyday life?
Lucas makes deliberate and helpful connections between the Bible stories about Barnabas, around the themes. Questions add to this very well. Grounded, honest and helpful. Particularly strong about church character, and handling conflict.
Is there a particular theological perspective?
No.
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How well does it inspire people towards whole-life discipleship?
Gentle but searching exploration of the themes raised by Barnabas stories. These cover both his characteristics, such as generosity and kindness, and those of one of the churches he encouraged, in Antioch. Applicable to us all – personally and as an expression of the church together.
How well does it encourage and enable people to grow in their faith?
Good education about Barnabas, and memorable challenges to the way we treat others. Encouragement to be strategic and thoughtful in response.
How well does it stretch faith and vision of God and his purposes?
Looking at emulating Barnabas (for the most part), and considering what makes the local church healthy, are profoundly important topics. Lucas' passion for great church life comes across especially well. Well-rounded vision for growing church life, and not just individual disciples. Very strong input on dealing with conflict.
How well does it connect with real life issues?
Lucas is unashamedly realistic about everyday life, and the challenges of demonstrating Barnabas-like characteristics in the face of big and small issues of daily life. We start from a position of brokenness, not perfection. Barnabas and Paul's partnership ending is explored as an example of this: handling conflict is the focus of the final session. Some fabulous, realistic input.
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How well does it encourage personal evangelism?
Implicit throughout, and illustrated through some of the stories which Lucas tells. Asks the question ‘Whatever happened to evangelism?' head-on. Suggests that we need to recover natural ways of doing this.
How well does it encourage local or network-based community involvement?
Encourages treating people with respect and attention, in all our relationships, including community ones. Highlighted here is the church as a gathered community rather than a collection of individuals.
How well does it connect with global issues?
Realistic about some of the current world challenges. Rooted well in reality.
How well does it encourage global mission?
Implicit, and explored theologically through a summary of salvation history.