Book of Faith Resources for Youth: NOOMA

The Northeastern PA Synod Resource Center has a wide range of materials for youth for Bible study. At the present time, the NOOMA DVDs have been flying off our shelves for youth groups (and adult groups as well). These short DVDs (no longer than 12 minutes) make a faith-life connection in a way that is engaging. A booklet with discussion questions and biblical references accompany each DVD.

Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan, guides viewers through real life situations and makes biblical connections to them. Themes of the nineteen DVDs are (titles are in parentheses):

• God's presence in our suffering (RAIN)
• God, creator of love, wanting us to feel it all in the way it’s meant to be felt (FLAME)
• Looking for meaning in our lives (TREES)
• Christianity beyond Sunday morning - being a disciple (SUNDAY)
• Listening to God (NOISE)
• Trusting God for what's right for us (KICKBALL)
• Vengeance versus forgiveness (LUGGAGE)
• God's faith in us (DUST)
• What it means to love God and others (BULLHORN)
• How God deals with our personal "junk" (LUMP)
• Unpacking what it means to have a relationship with God (RHYTHM)
• Dealing with loss (MATTHEW)
• What it means to be blessed (RICH)
• What it means to be created in the image of God (BREATHE)
• What it means to be Christian (YOU)
• Dealing with anger constructively (STORE)
• Getting beyond wishing for how things used to be (TODAY)
• Accepting ourselves (NAME)
• God's response to our prayer (OPEN)

Visit our resource center website and reserve a copy for your group or class: http://www.rqmweb.com/search.asp?q=nepsynod Type the word NOOMA as the search phrase. Click on the "ResCode" beside the DVD for which you would like a description. Order on line or call the office (610-395-6891) and ask for Debbie or Karen. The only cost for using our resources is shipping and handling charges (very cheap!)

Youth! Youth advisors! Adults! Dig into your Bibles using these DVDs as a starting point.

Have you used these DVDs for Bible study? What is your impression of them? What have you learned? Which DVD "spoke" to you? Post your experiences and reflections.