Listen Up! | Bible Studies

About Listen Up! God's word is alive, with something new to say to all of us. That's why the Listen Up! Bible studies do more than teach information about the Bible. They listen to God speaking through it. In these Bible studies, you will be encouraged to listen: listen to the Bible, listen to your own questions, and listen to the honest sharing in your study group. In the mix of biblical text, personal engagement, and honest listening, God's word may be heard speaking challenge and comfort. A Leader's Guide is included in every study. The Listen Up! Studies Genesis From the first light of creation to the launching of the ark, from the call of Abraham to the dreams of Joseph, Genesis raises essential questions: Who are we? Why are we here? What does God want with us? (Parts 1, 2 and 3) Exodus Exodus is a constant call to remember our identity and vocation as people of God, following God into the holy wilderness rather than settling for the world's oppressive status quo. (Parts 1 and 2) Job The story of Job is a challenging examination of the spiritual season between the "falling apart" of the old world and the "building up" of the new. Job is an icepick of a book (a la Kafka) that can break up the frozen sea within us. Ecclesiastes Sometimes considered curmudgeonly, Ecclesiastes is praised for telling it like it is: the vanity of ambition, the age of anxiety, the fruitlessness of overworking. Ecclesiastes also reminds us that the great joys in life are simple and God-given. Mark Mark wastes no time! From the very first verse, Mark's Gospel has one purpose: to show that Jesus is the One—the One worth listening to, the One worth following, the One worth committing your life to. (Parts 1 and 2) Luke Luke stresses issues of social and political significance: the plight of the poor, the prejudices of ethnicity, and the power structures of social mores. Luke sounds the call to liberation louder than any of the other Gospels. (Parts 1 and 2) John "What are you looking for?" (John 1:38) Are you looking for comfort & solace? For resistance to a broken world? For a life-interpreting lens of love and mercy? John asks: When you find what you're looking for, what will you do? (Parts 1 and 2)  Acts Looking for an exciting church where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are crucial? Interested in a church where God is doing a new thing? The Book of Acts has stories for you that are relevant to the church today! (Parts 1, 2 and 3) 1 Corinthians Whether or not your congregation has experienced division, you'll find the study of 1 Corinthians to be a rich reflection on what it means to be the church and how a congregation's health can be undermined from within. 2 Corinthians To quote biblical scholar Eugene Peterson, "All who are called to exercise leadership in whatever capacity—parent or coach, pastor or president, teacher or manager—can be grateful to Paul for this letter and to the Corinthians for provoking it." Philippians With Paul's letter to the Philippians, we are reminded why community and cooperative sharing are foundational in Christian discipleship and daily encouragement.  PDF Downloads These Bible studies are PDFs. Please purchase one PDF per reader/study group member. Each purchase of a Listen Up! PDF includes permission to print or digitally save one copy of the study. For example, an order of 10 Listen Up! PDFs allows 10 copies of the study to be printed for study group use. Purchased PDFs will be emailed to you. Nothing will be shipped. Once you place your order, you will receive a link via email to download the PDF.