Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs by Bill Hybels. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. c2008. 218 pp. ISBN: 978-0-310-28259-4

 

The Book of Proverbs is unique in that it serves up weighty Godly wisdom in bite-size chunks. Likewise, this book also serves axioms or leadership proverbs in memorable sound-bites that can be easily recalled to inform a critical decision. The pithy, powerful axioms are supported by scriptural verses and personal stories and speak directly into the daily issues and challenges every leader faces. The axioms are divided into four categories: Vision and Strategy, Teamwork and Communication, Activity and Assessment, and Personal Integrity. Each axiom chapter ends with a “Links” section that leads you toward other similarly themed axioms. Recommended for anyone in any form of leadership: church, professional, small groups or community projects.

 

 

A Love Worth Giving: Living in the Overflow of God’s Love by Max Lucado. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson. c2002. 218 pp. ISBN: 13-978-0-8499-1346-4.

 

 Do you long to be more loving? Want to learn to forgive? Finding it hard to put others first? This book provides the answers not only to these questions but sets you towards the secret to loving - living loved. It reminds you of God’s love that you cannot resist and shows you how Jesus Christ loved us first. This book starts with the 7:47 Principle (Luke 7:47): Receive first, love second. It then expands one step at a time what is hailed as the finest chapter on love in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13. Each chapter takes on a characteristic of love, beginning with patience, then kindness, no envy, no boasting, all the way to an enduring Love that never fails. A Discussion Guide on each chapter is found at the back of the book, where challenging questions are presented to help you understand better love at its deepest level. Highly recommended.

 

 

The Parables of Jesus: Participant’s Guide: Six In-Depth Studies Connecting the Bible to Life by Matt Williams, General Editor. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. c2007. 137 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0-310-27191-8   

 

This participant’s guide on six parables of Jesus, one of the Deeper Connection series, is written by six biblical professors to communicate the Bible in a clear, practical and understandable manner. It helps you gain new insights into the parables to achieve a better understanding of the Kingdom of God as well as appreciate more fully their relevance for your life. The sessions on the parables are as follows: 1) Weeds, Mustard Seed and Yeast; 2) Two Debtors; 3) the Prodigal Son; 4) Treasure and Pearls, 5) The Wedding Banquet; and 6) Sheep and Goats. Each session/chapter consists of three components: historical and cultural background; a closer look at the biblical text and its meaning; and relevant application of the Bible’s message to your life today. The video discussion questions for each session are challenging and thought-provoking, and may be discussed by a small group, even without a video. 

 

DVD Love Talk: A Six-Session Guide to Speaking Each Other’s Languages by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. c1993, 2001. LMD055.

 

The video consists of a six-session curriculum with communication at the heart of a successful marriage. Each session features Les and Leslie Parrott and interviews with small group couples as well as other creative elements. Some of the sessions are based on more than one chapter from the book Love Talk. However, even if you have not read the book, the companion workbook is useful because it contains discussion questions for the DVD curriculum that are requisites to a healthier, stronger relationship. Each video of 10 to 15 minutes presents basic principles on: communication 101, foundation of every great conversation, your personal talk style, secret to emotional connection, when not to talk, and the most important conversation you’ll ever have.

 

Love Talk: Workbook for Women, Speak Each Other’s Language Like you Never Have Before by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott. Grand Rapids, Michigan. c2004. ISBN: 978-971-0470-24-2

 

 This companion workbook to the video is ideal for individual and small group couple’s study. It helps women personalize the concepts in the book to fortify their relationships. The workbook contains exercises, self-tests and discussion questions to internalize and guide you in learning more about communication in marriage.  Topics are varied such as communication goals, identifying your talk style, reading your partner’s body language, wanting to read his mind, avoiding unwanted advice, and your strengths chart. The strengths chart is the most enjoyable exercise in this workbook. Women are encouraged to share the strengths chart with the partner to improve mutual respect with each other.

 

A small group discussion guide with the DVD curriculum can be found at the back of the book to draw the couples closer to each other.     

 

Love Talk: Workbook for Men, Speak Each Other’s Language Like you Never Have Before by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. c2004. 87 pp. ISBN: 978-971-0470-25-9

 

This companion workbook to the video can be used individually or in a small group setting. The concepts, exercises and discussion questions in this workbook for men are duplicates of the contents of the workbook for women, except for changes in prepositions like he instead of she, and him instead of her.