Stranger Than Fiction Resources

    08.29.16 |

    Weeks:1-3

    The underbelly of the American dream says, "It’s my life. I can do what I want, when I want, with whomever I want.” Most of us believe that as long as no one else gets hurt, that’s true. We think getting our “wants” leads us to a life of freedom, but what we don’t realize is that there is always fallout. This series will focus on stories in the book of Judges that are so outrageous, you’ll be asking, “Is that fiction?! Did that really happen?” They aren’t. They did. And they still do today, even to people like us. We hope you’ll join us and bring a friend.

    Overview of the book of Judges

    The Stranger Than Fiction series focuses on stories found in the book of Judges. This book is in the Old Testament. It’s filled with chaos and many of the characters are rebels. Judges sometimes reads, as you will find out, like a fiction novel. This overview will break down the main themes of the book and can be a great place to start before moving on to the reading plan below.

    Reading Plan

    This includes a 21-day reading plan for the book of Judges with corresponding devotional content.

    Right Now Media Channel 

    This is a curated channel of video studies. Our partners at RMN offer more than 10,000 videos on all sorts of topics. We’ve dubbed them the “Netflix” of Christian videos. Our leaders have selected some videos to correspond with the content in the Stranger Than Fiction series. We hope you enjoy them!

     

    Week 4 (Haircut) Resources:

    Bible Reading Plan for Sexual Integrity

    Sex is everywhere. And it can be so easy to fall into the trap of masturbation, lust, and sexual impurity. God does expect us to remain pure, to rely on His Spirit and to develop self-control. This 7-day plan can start you on a path of purity and living up to the standard God has set before us. Find someone you trust and go through these passages together, because accountability is crucial when it comes to sexual integrity.

    Book: Every Man’s Battle

    From the TV to the Internet, print media to videos, men are constantly faced with the assault of sensual images. It is impossible to avoid such temptations...but, thankfully, not impossible to rise above them.

    Shattering the perception that men are unable to control their thought lives and roving eyes, Every Man's Battle shares the stories of dozens who have escaped the trap of sexual immorality and presents a practical, detailed plan for any man who desires sexual purity-perfect for men who have fallen in the past, those who want to remain strong today, and all who want to overcome temptation in the future.

    This book includes a special section for women, designed to help them understand and support the men they love.

    Book: No Stones: Women Redeemed from Sexual Addiction

    Marnie Ferree offers a unique resource for women struggling with sexual addiction. Taking her book's title from the parable where Jesus extends grace to the woman caught in adultery, Ferree shares her own story of sexual addiction, recalling her years of shame from living a double life and the moment when she ultimately had to tell the truth.

    More than just offering her story as a hopeful example of God's transforming power, Ferree uses her clinical expertise on female sexual addiction accessibly and gently, providing a much-needed resource for women struggling with any degree of relational or sexual addiction.

    Ferree is a counselor who understands the condition from the inside out, No Stones offers practical help for those battling sexual addiction. It also includes a specific chapter for anyone in close relationship with an addict, whether a spouse, family member, or friend, who wants to come alongside women as they seek help.

    Article: “Help for Female Sex Addicts”

    This is an article written for the website Pure Intimacy by Rob Jackson, a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in intimacy disorders, including sex addiction and codependency.

    CR Sexual Addiction Group:

    This group meets Tuesdays at The Ridge as a part of our CR program. Join us in the student space at 6:30 p.m. for large group time and then break out into this smaller group from 7:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, check out this brochure.

    Accountability Software:

    Find Peace of Mind with Internet Accountability Software. This technology monitors the websites visited, the search terms used, and the YouTube videos watched, and lists them in an easy-to-read report that is designed to start a conversation about healthy online habits.

    Parents, see where your kids go online. Adults, reduce Internet temptations and protect the relationships you value most.

    Online Resources:

    Porn addiction is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome, but XXXchurch is your online resource for pornography addiction help. They help people prevail over sex and porn addiction through awareness, prevention, and recovery.

    Life’s Healing Choices:

    Life happens. We've all been hurt by other people, we've hurt ourselves, and we've hurt others. And as a result, every single one of us ends up with some sort of hurt, hang-up, or habit. But the question we all face is; where do we go from here?

    Life's Healing Choices is our summer session for Celebrate Recovery and it offers freedom from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits through eight healing choices that promise true happiness and life transformation.

    In addition to practical, encouraging biblical teaching, this series will include real-life stories of men and women whose lives have been transformed by living out the eight choices in this series. Through making each of these choices, you too will find God's pathway to wholeness, growth, spiritual maturity, happiness, and healing.

    You'll find real answers, real hope, and a real future -- one healing choice at a time.

    *Childcare is available.

     

    Feel free to show up any week. Click HERE for more information.

    Book: Life’s Healing Choices, which is available at our Resource Center for $10.