General Resources

The following resources have been found to be useful to a number of our smaller churches.  If you have come across any others which you think would be valuable in to smaller churches, please contact Hilary Taylor.
 

Worship Resources

	Worship leading course A seven session course that looks at some of the theological and practical issues around leading worship.
	Engage Worship training, workshops and events Training, input and inspiration in creative, innovative worship for your worship group, leadership team or church network
	Resound Worship A collective of British worship songwriters seeking to resource the church with songs that engage heart, mind and soul. Their desire is to share these songs as widely as possible, so many of their resources are completely free.
	Musicademy training days Each year Musicademy offers a small number of 'public' training days of worship training seminars.  In addition, their team are available for bespoke training at your church.  They also provide a range of resources for musicians in the 'products' section of the website.
	Sermon Illustrations Sermonspice offers sermon illustration videos, worship backgrounds, and church countdowns
	Preaching.com Sermon.com provides tools and ideas for pastors and church leaders to help them lead well. From ideas on sermon topics, to sermon outlines, to insightful articles on preaching, teaching, church growth and more.
	Graphics and Media Resources Share Faith offers all-in-one church worship and outreach resources to engage and grow disciples
	Sermon Central Equipping a worldwide community of Pastors and Ministry Leaders with free sermons for preaching inspiration
	Resources for Deaf Church Resources from Open Hands - a British Sign Language (BSL) church community which meets Rising Brook Community Library
	Fuelcast A free inspirational discipleship video every weekday of the year

 

Prayer Resources

Prayer course An 8 week journey through the Lord’s Prayer with Pete Greig

 

Small group study resources

	LIFEsize A study guide to encourage groups from smaller churches to recognise their strengths, develop their relationships and serve their community.  A five-session course with accompanying videos for download: Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4 and Session 5
	Christianity Explored A relaxed and informal way of sharing the best news you can ever hear, giving people space and time to think about the big questions of life, through seven sessions in Mark’s Gospel.
	Life explored Seven interactive sessions based on stunning films shot all over the globe will help people uncover what they’re really living for, and see how, in Christ, God meets their deepest desires for happiness.
	Discipleship explored An eight-session journey through Paul’s letter to the Philippians is ideal for believers at any stage of the Christian life. It features documentary-style films and inspiring real-life stories from around the world, Bible studies and weekly reading plans, and a Handbook.
	The Bereavement Journey This seven-session series of films and facilitated discussion helps people bereaved in any way and at any time to process their loss. The final optional session also gives them a chance to explore faith questions arising in their bereavement from a Christian perspective. ‘It creates space to understand the powerful emotions we all feel when someone close dies’. Oakes Baptist Church in Huddersfield has run the The Bereavement Journey five times - click here to read more about it from Trustee Richard Waller.
	The Word one to one The Word One to One has everything you need to take a friend through the book of John. Each booklet divides the gospel into accessible, bitesize chunks - called which take 20 - 30 minutes to work through together.
	Known and loved 6 session course to prepare you to show and tell others that they are known and loved by God. Free on website to download (Chris Duffett/Light College)

 

Books

	Small Church Essentials Affirming small church leaders and showing them how to identify what they do well, and how to do it even better. Author: Karl Vaters Published: Moody Press (2018) ISBN: 978 08024 1806 7
	Ready Steady Grow Looks realistically at the barriers to growth, as well as the hurdles of reorganisation and structural changes that growing churches inevitably face. Author: Ray Evans Published: IVP (2014) ISBN: 978 17835 9113 8
	Messages that move A practical guide to the art of preparing and delivering Bible talks that lead to genuine transformation through the gospel. Author: Tim Hawkins Published: The Good Book Company (2013) ISBN: 978 19087 6237 5
	Refresh How to stop going to church and instead be the church.  A not-so-new guide to being church and doing life Authors: Michael Moynagh and Rob Peabody Published:  Monarch Books (2016) ISBN: 978 08572 1765 3
	Personal Transformation Personal Transformation: Christ In Us Author: Yinka Oyekan Published:  CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2018) ISBN: 978-1987766912

 

Other Resources

	Facebook Check out these Facebook groups: Baptist Small Churches Network Small Church Connexion Baptist Collaboration Group
	ASLAN A ministry to those with additional needs which offers free material for an alternative Sunday School experience for 5-19 year olds with special needs
	Where do we grow from here? Explore Ken Benjamin's theme during his year as President of Baptists Together (2019-2020) which included looking at Whole-Life Discipleship and Missional Communities
	New Housing Hub A Network for Christians of all traditions who have a vision for engaging with new housing communities
	Mark’s Gospel monologue Howard Jones would be happy to bring his performance of Mark's Gospel to other community settings.  Tickets can be booked by phone 07980 365140 or on revhcj@gmail.com
	Rural Ministries Rural Ministries has a range of publications, guidance, policies that can help equip you for the pastoral and practical side of your ministry.  It also offers training and conferences that are practical, relevant and affordable.
	Faith in Later Life Inspiring and equipping Christians to reach, serve and empower older people in every community. They have free resources, practical ideas and lots more.
	Faithspace Resources for ‘non churchy’ gatherings
	The Resources Cupboard An organisation to help churches to start children or youth work. Family, school, community & church. Ideas for all those areas.
	In-Reach Churches get stuck – how to breakthrough and move forward? 18 month course (Yinka Oyekan/How Do We Grow From Here?)
	Advent Resources  North Western Baptist Association has produced Advent and Christmas resources - here, here and here