This online study is delivered directly to your email address!

When was the last time attendance at your adult study increased six times over?

“Never,” said a Minnesota pastor recently, whose adult study attendance did just that when the topic of discussion was The Davinci Code. Like most congregations, the small adult study group usually met on more traditional faith topics and wondered, “Why don’t more people care more about adult studies?” It’s obvious from the explosion in book and movie ticket sales that adults are curious consumers and anxious to explore – just not about things the church has expected them to. More often than not, the church responds in the form of a negative critique that puts the church in the position of defending the faith and trying to shut down the conversation.

Logos believes the excitement generated in culture can be a remarkable gift to the church. In response, we have looked for ways to see this as an opportunity to build a bridge between the buzz of popular culture, the themes that capture the imagination, and the faith tradition deep within. In addition to offering resources from various publishers, Logos has begun a series of studies designed as an alternative to the “shut-down” approach, called The Nicodemus Project. These studies tap into cultural energy and open dialog. The goal is to foster honest and respectful conversation, making room for faith transformation.

Nicodemus
Nicodemus noticed the signs of his times. He had questions that threatened his faith community, so where could he turn? In similar ways, our culture’s books, movies, and media can also provoke us and stretch the comfort zone of our beliefs. We’re curious and interested, but we notice that the church sometimes prefers to put up barriers to ideas from popular culture rather than welcoming our interest.

The Nicodemus Project

The Nicodemus Project is a new series of studies that encourages a church to make room for adults and older youth to talk about things that matter to them. Conversations already buzzing about fiction, fantasy, and film are linked to broader human experience, and to even deeper faith questions. And, like Jesus, the church can receive the conversations and empower participants to look more deeply at ways God may be speaking to them.

The Nicodemus Project is only available online at www.logosproductions.com. The study guides facilitate discussion and exploration around interests people have regarding the content in popular media – leaving room to discover God speaking. These guides are developed by a small group of clergy and laypeople that gathers to discuss popular books and movies. The goal is to provide content that will help study groups explore – as opposed to answer – questions that are raised by the material. A group leader can facilitate the studies, or copies can be distributed to all group members for a shared leadership approach. When you purchase any of these online studies you have permission to make as many copies as needed. And you can reuse the study as often as you like. To view a sample, click here.

• The DaVinci Code
   
• The Passion of the Christ
   
• The Lord of the Rings
   
• Left Behind
   
• Harry Potter

Over time, The Nicodemus Project will add studies on new books and movies. Check the website for new topics.

Goals of these studies:
Each kind of study group has its own goals and The Nicodemus Project is no exception. Think about the faith development needs of adults and older youth groups in your congregation and consider how these goals match your needs.
1. We affirm that these discussions are not really questioning God or our faith; they are exploring how we, as humans, are seeking to understand God.
2. As we discuss, we assume we will spend more time in speculation and exploration than we will in coming to conclusions. Our mutual hope is to share faith perspectives while we come to our own unique understandings.
3. When discomfort or passion arises around a topic, we will seek ways to explore the deeper, underlying questions. For example: “Why is it interesting to consider…” or “What do you think is at stake for people who believe…” rather than “Do you think it is correct that…”
4. Resisting the urge to be the “expert,” we will each spend more time listening than we do talking.
5. Meeting together in an atmosphere of honest and respectful conversation, we affirm that not all group members will arrive at the same faith-based conclusions.