Answering an Important Question

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog that’s not young enough to know everything.

I’m thrilled to hear all the positive responses from those of who you have been watching the new 10-part video podcast that I announced on Monday. It took months to create the videos, so I’m encouraged that so many people are finding them valuable.

This article is a reply to a question that some of you sent me regarding the new book, The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded.

Here is one such question from a reader:

“Thank you for writing this book! It truly has expanded my understanding of the New Testament and the importance of context. Do you have any suggestions of how to use it in a small group study with questions for reflection?”

As promised last month, I DO have a suggestion. But I’ll begin by doing some bulldozing.

Almost half the books I’ve published have discussion guides that can be downloaded on the fancy supplemental websites for each title.

But not a single soul has ever dropped me a line saying, “Hey Frankie V., we actually used your book discussion guide.”

The response has been crickets.

To my mind, book discussion guides are like those motivational Instagram quotes you screenshot and never look at again—impressively formatted time-vampires that make you feel intellectual for exactly 2.7 seconds before you realize you’d rather watch people argue with strangers in YouTube comments.

The truth is, the only book discussion guide that would actually work would just ask: “Did you even read the darn book!? No? Cool, here’s what to say in the group so everyone thinks you did.”

That said, I have a better idea than a lamo book discussion guide that is about as popular as a root canal at a party.

How to Use My New Book in Groups, Churches, and Study Circles

The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded is structured as a chronological, narrative-driven journey through the New Testament era, weaving Acts and the Epistles into a single, coherent story.

For your group, a clear and manageable plan is a good idea to foster both understanding as well as meaningful and edifying discussion.

Today is your lucky day, because I’ve created such a plan.

And it’s not your grandma’s snooze-fest “discussion guide” packed with questions that could put a coffee addict to sleep.

No, it’s something different.

So if you are one of the many readers who is going through the book with a group, church, or study circle OR you plan to create one to discuss the book, GO HERE FOR THE READING PLAN.

Next Thursday, I plan to feature an article on a topic that’s dear to my heart.

Stay tuned.

fv