Good Soil E&D is for Adult Bible Classes
as well as many other kinds of ministries.
As a Bible teacher in a local church, I'm looking for teaching resources that really help adults understand the Bible, but also equip them to get engaged in evangelism and personal discipleship. Can you help me?
I also teach the Bible to adults. I'm looking for Bible teaching resources that balance Bible content with learning activities that get adults inolved in learning the Bible, in creatively interactive ways. Can you help me?
These are the kinds of questions we hear quite often. Our answer is, “Yes, Good Soil can help.”
Bible curriculum for Adult Sunday school classes, Adult Bible fellowships (ABFs), Wednesday or Sunday night adult Bible studies, and other Bible teaching opportunities for ministry with adults.
The Story of Hope
A Bible Class for Equipping Teens and Adults for Evangelism and Discipleship
We have developed a curriculum plan for teaching The Story of Hope in a class setting. Lots of people were teaching it that way, so we decided to make it easier for them and others who would want to do so. A generous donor provided funds so that we could have the class facilitator's guide professionally created and offer it to you FREE—the entire 120 beautifully designed pages!
No boring sessions in this study!
- Lesson plans for 31 class sessions (can be adapted for fewer sessions, or for more sessions).
- Creative learning activities for all sessions that make learning: engaging, interactive, and FUN.
- Strategically designed to equip students to be motivated and confident in using The Story of Hope in evangelistic or discipleship studies.
- "It's Your Time" is the final lesson, where students are launched to use what they have been taught.
- An optional Class Facilitator PowerPoint presentation available for teaching The Story of Hope class, with 400+ slides.
- FREE online access to the online Instructor's Resource Center, with files for class activities.
I have just finished teaching The Story of Hope to a group of leaders in a large local church in the area, of which I am NOT a member, and not supported. It was a big step of faith for me and God is using it. They run an alpha program and there are Chinese people there who are about a -10 to -8 on the Good Soil E&D Scale. They barely speak English. About 40 The Story of Hope books have been “sucked up” into this church already, so let’s see what happens. There were four key (nexus) women in the class, women with a high level of understanding. They will definitely take hold of this tool. It’s already out of control and they are now already ordering their own copies, downloading leader’s manuals etc. The Story of Hope is an excellent tool. The leader’s manual is most helpful, well thought out, and absolutely necessary. The transition from Story of Hope to Way to Joy is viable and strong.
—Missionary on home ministry assignment in Canada
The Way to Joy
Discipling Adults in a Bible Class
The Way to Joy was originally developed to be a one-on-one or small group basic discipleship study. But, many churches found it very useful for teaching in class settings. Now, we have a FREE resource that provides the adaptation and curriculum design work done for you—for teaching a The Way to Joy class. Thanks to a generous donor, we are now able to offer this professionally designed resource to you for FREE.
A fun way to teach a basic discipleship class and train believers to make disciples
No boring sessions in this study either!
- Students learn best when they are having FUN, and this study combines learning with FUN, so the truth sticks!
- Thirteen (or more) class sessions covering topics essential for basic, foundational discipleship.
- Great for baptism or new converts or new members classes, but for equipping disciplemakers as well.
- The final session is called “It’s Your Time” in which students are challenged to put into practice what they have learned, by discipling someone else.
- The 42-page professionally designed Class Facilitator’s Guide is available as a FREE download.
- FREE access to the online Instructor’s Resource Center for The Way to Joy Bible class.
Gaining Ground with Good Soil
Is a Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship seminar in a book.
Everybody loves a good story! And this missionary story teaches many of the Good Soil evangelism and discipleship concepts. It's a good way to get adults thinking about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with their friends, family, and others. It's training in a narrative format!
The audio book can be downloaded to your phone or pad. Audio clips from the audio book can be used to spice up teaching sessions.
The FREE Leader's Guide for teaching the contents of this book in 12 or more class sessions. See the FREE resources below.
Gaining Ground with Good Soil
Want to understand more about Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship? This is the place to start! NEW Visually Enhanced 2016 Edition - An evangelism and discipleship training narrative that is a scaled-down version of the Good Soil E&D seminar in a narrative format. Full color throughout.
Audio Book
Gaining Ground with Good Soil - Audiobook
A 4 hours and 7 minutes audio narrative that will help you understand worldview-relevant evangelism and discipleship and their importance in a world of competing faiths and cultures. A professionally produced audio book version of Gaining Ground with Good Soil.
All the resources needed for teaching a class with adults!
Chronological Bridge to Life
Teach your class members the BIG Story of the Bible, based upon eight key concepts that emerge chronologically from Genesis through Revelation:
- God
- Man
- Sin
- Death
- Christ
- Cross
- Faith
- Life
A walk through the Chronological Bridge to Life
A great Bible teaching resource to use in teaching and training adults.
Hooks for Hanging the Bible’s Storyline
Believe it or not - in just a couple of hours you can teach people to think their way through the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation! You can do so in this FUN workshop that helps them hang the storyline (the BIG Story plot) of the Bible on 25 “Hooks”—major Bible eras that summarize the Bible, from beginning to end.
The activities for teaching Hooks are FUN for students of all ages, even the teachers.
And there are FREE instructional helps.
A FUN Bible teaching-learning activity to use in your ministry of teaching adults.
The 12 "Hooks" for Hanging the Old Testament Storyline
The 1 + 12 "Hooks" for Hanging the New Testament Storyline
My latest Hooks for Hanging the Bible’s Storyline workshop was last Saturday in a Bible study in the home of the owner of Sam Ash Music Stores in Bayonne, NJ. Several very diverse cultures were represented in the group (Filipino, Russian, German, American, African, Hispanic, Arab, and Jewish). They were amazed and enjoyed it - and everyone understood. Some said, “I finally got it!” “I’ll read my Bible again.”
—Ariel, Filipino visiting in New Jersey
The Roots of Faith Bible Courses
Old and New Testaments
Chronological Bible curriculum, unfolding the BIG Story of the Bible in 100 events and packed with FUN learning activities. 50 Old Testament lessons and 50 New Testament lessons—two full years of Bible curriculum.
Read a Story About The Roots of Faith in a Local Church
Adults in your class can learn…
- Much of the key content in the Old and New Testaments.
- The chronology of 25 major Bible eras and 100 key Bible events.
- The geographic locations of many places where Bible events occurred.
- The BIG Story of the Bible and how it progresses from Genesis through Revelation.
Complete Instructor’s Guide for each course and access to an online Instructor’s Resource Center for teaching-learning activities, lesson commentary, and more.
Bring a group of your class members to The Roots of Faith courses in June - near Harrisburg PA.
Ask us about a group rate.
Or, teach them yourself in your own class setting.
How can you be certified to teach The Roots of Faith Courses?
Option One: Participate in The Roots of Faith Courses
Full Certification
Image of a TROF OT Class at ABWE - FUN Learning
Image of a TROF NT Class at ABWE - Interactive & Engaging Learning
Or, Option Two: Purchase The Roots of Faith Instructor’s Kits
Provisional Certification
LifeStories
FREE Evangelism Resource
106 Professionally Designed Pages - FREE
Designed for evangelism with people who enjoy stories and story telling. Connects “where they are in life” to major redemptive story events in the Bible.
Perfect for informal small groups. Activities engage participants in learning key Bible stories well enough that they can tell the stories to others. Each session also focuses on learning about God—the God of the Bible—who He is, what He is like, and what He has done.
LifeStories is a “stories version” group study of The Story of Hope.
GrowthStories
FREE Discipleship Resource
71 Professionally Designed Pages - FREE
Designed for basic discipleship with Christ-followers who love to learn through hearing or telling stories. A complete curriculum plan for small group gatherings. Loaded with creative FUN activities.
Participants compare their own struggles and steps of spiritual growth with characters in the Bible. Questions-activities provoke them to think of their own lives and what they can do to become more-committed followers of Jesus.
GrowthStories is a “stories version” group study of The Way to Joy.
We all want to share our faith effectively…but how do we do it?
Good Soil Evangelism & Discipleship
Basic Seminar
Certified Good Soil E&D trainers are equipped, resourced, and certified to teach the contents of the Good Soil Basic Seminar in their ministries—church, mission agency, or other organization. Although we teach it in two full days, in May and October at ABWE - the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, near Harrisburg, PA, you can vary the schedule however it best suits your own ministry: an hour or so a week for several weeks, etc.
- Comfortably taught in 14 hours, but can be extended or contracted for many situations.
- Creative learning activities for all sessions that make learning: engaging, interactive, and FUN.
- Strategically designed to equip students to be motivated and confident in using The Story of Hope and The Way to Joy, and other Good Soil resources in evangelistic and discipleship ministries.
- Developed to equip Christ-followers to share God's story of hope in a world of competing faiths and cultures.
- Great way to start in mobilizing your class members to become personally involved in Great Commission ministries.
- FREE instructional resources available to certified Good Soil trainers.
How can you be certified to teach the Good Soil Basic Seminar?
Begin by attending a Good Soil Basic Seminar
Then participate in a Good Soil Trainer Certification Workshop
Personal Evangelism FREE Curriculum Guide
For Teaching the Good Soil Seminar Contents in 30 Class Sessions
- Establish a Biblical theology of evangelism and discipleship (E&D) as the foundation for the methodologies and resources presented in this class.
- Teach students to understand and practice E&D in ways that are worldview-relevant, training them to share God’s story of hope in a world of competing faiths and cultures.
- Equip students for ministry in international missions, as well as in multi-faith North American communities.
-
Introduce students to resources that have been broadly tested internationally with people of various worldview contexts and that are available in numerous languages.
Great for use in Bible Institute or Bible College evangelism classes.
More Good Soil Resources for Evangelism and Discipleship
Good Soil provides an entire toolbox of resources for ministries with adults
For a complete overview of our Good Soil resources:
More Good Soil E&D Stories from Ministries with Adults
As you know, I am using The Story of Hope with my Bible study with women. I have eight more lessons to do...the ladies have responded very, very well and I believe that one of the "mothers" is close to accepting the Lord. I had a good talk with her the other night. She is a woman executive of a large company and a mother of one of the ladies that come regularly. Just wanted to tell you I am one of the many that are encouraged about The Story of Hope. God bless you all.
—Ruth, in Pennsylvania
Thank you for sending these books! We will be sending them to our son in Johannesburg to use in a Bible study he teaches. I have been using them for several years now in my ladies Bible study. We enjoy them so much.
—Pat, Hebron NH
I just went to the Good Soil training in May and my women's Bible study at church wants to do The Story of Hope as a summer Bible Study. Wasn't sure how God wanted to use the training in my life and this is an answer to prayer.
—Kathleen, Hockessin, DE
God has put it on my heart to do a young ladies Bible study. My pastor's wife helped me find this book which is great.
—Gloria, Tunkhannock, PA
I used the Story of Hope in my adult Sunday school class and found it very beneficial. I am now going to China for the next three years on assignment and plan on using the materials there to evangelize and disciple as the Lord opens doors for ministry. Thanks, Good Soil, for producing great materials. May the Lord continue to richly bless your ministry.
—Michael, Carrollton, GA
Good Soil Stories from Adult Bible Classes
Teaching and Training
Creative Methods for Making Bible Learning Fun for Teens & Adults
“The FUN theory” says that FUN is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better. In 2009, Volkswagen came up with this theory: “People prefer fun activities over virtually identical activities that are not as much fun.” Then, they set out to prove it by setting up a FUN stairway side by side with a normal escalator. The experiment: Would people rather ride up a boring escalator or walk up a stairway that is FUN? Here’s what they learned.
Read more
Teaching and Training
How to Teach the Bible So Teens & Adults Understand It & Enjoy It
It probably does not surprise you that the rate of Biblical literacy is decreasing steadily in North America. But what may (or may not) surprise you is that Biblical ignorance among regular church attenders is following the same pattern. Here’s a scary thought: What happens to evangelical Christianity in general, and our churches in particular, if Biblical literacy among Christians continues to decline—if we fail to stop the erosion of Biblical knowledge among our fellow believers and in our churches? But how do we teach the Bible to TEENS and ADULTS so they will understand it, and even enjoy it?
Read more
How to Share Your Faith
How to Teach the Bible to the Unsaved
“We are seeing a great appetite to read and understand the Bible.” --Roy Peterson, President of the American Bible Society Secularization (“religion isn’t important”) and religious pluralization (“all religions are equally true and valid”) are specters that intimidate Christians and church leaders in North America: “People aren’t interested in the Bible or Jesus anymore!” “How can we share the gospel, since Americans don’t believe in the Bible now?!” “So many people have their own religious beliefs now and don’t want to hear about Christianity.”
Read more
Stories
The Roots of Faith – in a Local Church
The Roots of Faith Old Testament and New Testament courses – will they work in a local church? The response has been tremendous, as many people who had been Christians and regular church attenders for many years eagerly joined in along with folks who had had little Bible teaching. During the first 40 lessons the Sunday school attendance increased and people regularly commented on how much they were learning.
Read more
