Why Study Books?

My life has been profoundly impacted by books. Books are great source of supplementary, background material for Bible Study. (The Bible is always the main source of study.) Here are five reasons books make great curriculum.

1. Depth and Richness of Content

Books by Christian authors often delve deeply into theological topics, practical discipleship, and spiritual challenges. Unlike some lesson plans that skim the surface, books allow for a deeper exploration of issues that resonate with adults. Authors like John Ortberg (The Life You’ve Always Wanted), Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), or Francis Chan (Crazy Love) provide rich, thought-provoking content that sparks deeper conversations.

2. Can Be Targeted to the Specific Needs of the Group

Books provide an opportunity to address the unique needs of your group. Whether your class is navigating grief, exploring discipleship, or seeking practical ways to live out their faith, there’s a book tailored to meet those needs. This targeted approach makes the material more relevant, ensuring the group engages deeply and personally.. This variety helps everyone engage at their own pace and comfort level.

3. Encourages Personal Growth Between Meetings

A book-centered curriculum encourages participants to reflect during the week. Reading a chapter before class helps them wrestle with the ideas personally before coming together for group discussion. This individual engagement fosters deeper transformation and accountability.

4. Great for Discussion-Based Learning

Books naturally lend themselves to a question-and-answer format, making them perfect for discussion-based classes. This approach encourages participation, allowing everyone to share insights and apply the content to their lives.

5. Accessible and Affordable

Books are easy to access and often budget-friendly. Many Christian titles are available in print, e-book, or audiobook formats, making them accessible to everyone in your group.

Conclusion

Using books as curriculum for adult Sunday School blends the best of personal reflection, group discussion, and spiritual growth. It equips participants to think deeply, wrestle with real-life applications, and engage with Scripture in fresh ways. If you’re looking to spark lively, life-changing conversations in your class, start with a great book—you might be surprised at how it transforms your group.

In this study...

Paul, Lesson #1
May I Introduce to You,
Saul of Tarsus… 

Paul, Lesson #2
The Violent Capture of a Rebel Will 
Acts 22

Paul, Lesson #3
The Memorable Faith of a
Forgotten Hero
Acts 9.10 – 16

Paul, Lesson #4
The Necessity of Solitude, Quietness, and Obscurity
Galatians 1.10 - 17

Paul, Lesson #5
Mission Underway… Thanks to the Lesser-Known
Acts 9.19 - 31

Paul, Lesson #6
Out of the Shadows
Psalm 27.14; Psalm 37.7, 37;
2 Corinthians 12. 1 – 10 

Paul, Lesson #7
Finding Contentment in God’s Grace
2 Corinthians 4.7 – 11; Book of Job;
2 Corinthians 12.7 – 12; Colossians 1.24

Paul, Lesson #8
The Pleasure of Being in Ministry Together
Ecclesiastes 4.9 – 10; Mark 6.31; Acts 13.1 – 3

Paul, Lesson #9
Released in Order to Obey
Jeremiah 18.1 – 6. Acts 13.1 - 3

Paul, Lesson #10
Released
Acts 13.4, 5; Acts 14.19, 20 

Paul, Lesson #11
A Game Plan for Facing Extreme Circumstances
Acts 13

Paul, Lesson #12
The Day Two Missionaries Duked It Out
Acts 15.35 – 41

Paul, Lesson #13
Traveling as Paul Traveled
Acts 16

Paul, Lesson #14
Preaching As Paul Preached
2 Timothy 4.1 – 5; Acts 17

Paul, Lesson #15
Leading as Paul Lead 
1 Thessalonians 2

Paul, Lesson #16
Responding as Paul Responded 
2 Corinthians 1.8 – 9; 1 Samuel 30.3 – 6; 2 Corinthians 4.5 - 12

Paul, Lesson #17
Thinking as Paul Thought
Acts 22

Paul, Lesson #18
Dealing with Critics as Paul Did
Acts 24

Paul, Lesson #19
Standing Tall as Paul Did
Acts 25, 26

Paul, Lesson #20
How to Handle a Shipwreck
Acts 27, 28

Paul, Lesson #21
Arrested, Confined, but Still Effective
Acts 28.11 - 30

Paul, Lesson #22
Shackled, Deserted, but Still Undaunted
2 Timothy 2

Why Every Christian Should Study the Life of Paul

If you could spend 22 weeks learning from almost anyone in history, who would you choose?

You might choose Abraham Lincoln for leadership, Winston Churchill for courage, or C. S. Lewis for wisdom. But if your goal is to grow spiritually, it would be hard to find anyone more influential than the apostle Paul.

Apart from Jesus Himself, no person has shaped Christianity more than Paul.

His missionary journeys carried the gospel across the Roman Empire. He planted churches in strategic cities. He trained leaders. He defended the faith against false teaching. He endured imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks, rejection, and hardship, yet never lost sight of his mission.

Perhaps most significantly, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote a large portion of the New Testament. Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon all came from his pen. If you want to understand the Christian life, there is simply no way around Paul.

Yet Paul was not born an apostle.

He began as the church's fiercest opponent.

He hunted Christians. He approved of Stephen's execution. He believed he was serving God while fighting against the very Messiah God had sent.

Then everything changed on the road to Damascus.

God took the church's greatest enemy and transformed him into its greatest missionary.

That alone makes Paul's story worth studying.

But there is much more.

As we follow Paul's life through the book of Acts and his letters, we discover practical answers to questions every believer asks:

• How does God change a person?

• How do you recover from failure?

• How do you know God's will?

• What gives people courage during suffering?

• How do healthy churches grow?

• How do ordinary believers make an extraordinary difference?

• What does it really mean to live by grace?

Paul's life is not merely ancient history. It is a living classroom for every follower of Christ.

As you study him, you will find your faith challenged, your priorities sharpened, and your understanding of the gospel deepened.

A Bible Study Designed for Discussion

This study is part of the Good Questions Have Groups Talking Bible Study series.

Rather than relying primarily on lecture, each lesson uses carefully crafted discussion questions to help people discover biblical truth together. Participants think more deeply, engage more personally, and remember more because they are actively involved in the learning process.

Teachers appreciate the studies because they:

• Save hours of preparation time.

• Make leading a class much easier.

• Help everyone participate.

• Encourage meaningful discussion rather than one-way teaching.

• Lead to genuine life change, not just more information.

Whether you teach an adult Sunday School class, a home Bible study, or a small group, these lessons are designed to help your group talk, think, and grow.

The study on Paul is available individually through Amazon. It is also included as part of the Good Questions Subscription, which gives churches and leaders ongoing access to the complete Good Questions Have Groups Talking series.

If you have never taken your class through the life of Paul, this may be the perfect time. Spend a few weeks walking beside the man who helped shape the early church, and you may discover that God uses his story to shape yours as well.

If you would like to explore this new study, it is available on Amazon, as well as part of Good Questions Have Groups Talking