- Participants deepen their understandings of Good Soil theology and missiology of evangelism and discipleship and seminar content.
- Participants become certified to teach the Good Soil Basic Seminar in their own ministries.
- Participants become eligible to purchase Good Soil Basic Seminar workbooks.
- Participants are granted access to the online Instructor’s Resource Center, which includes instructional resources used in Good Soil training.
Campus Ministries
Reach students for Christ.
Good Soil Evangelism & Discipleship can help you with campus ministry resources and training campus ministry team members.
The Story of Hope
Evangelistic Bible Study Workbook
The Story of Hope was specifically created for evangelism (or discipleship) with people from non-Christian worldview cultures, as well as for people who have some basic understanding of Christianity.
- It begins with the assumption that Bible study participants know little or nothing about the true God, the Bible, or Jesus Christ.
- It begins with Genesis 1:1 and unfolds the BIG Story of God’s plan of redemption, from Genesis through Revelation. In doing so, it provides the overall context in which the gospel of Jesus Christ makes sense, even to people from other faith backgrounds.
- It engages participants in direct Bible study, allowing them to have “Aha!” moments about the truths of Scripture, especially regarding Jesus Christ—His claims and His provision for the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.
- It is visually and colorfully illustrated and designed for easy understanding.
- It is time-flexible. You can use it in one-on-one studies, in groups studies, or individuals can use it for self-study.
- There is also a Global English Edition available.
- Generous quantity pricing
- Available in many languages. Helpful for international students.
- There is a FREE downloadable Leader’s Guide available.
FREE Leader's Guide
103 Professionally Designed Pages
103 professionally-designed pages of answers to the Bible study questions contained in The Story of Hope and suggestions as to how to deal with some of the common questions you may face, as well as many other tips for making your study successful. Download it for FREE and see for yourself.
FREE Leader's GuideThe Story of Hope Class Facilitator Guide - FREE
A FREE curriculum guide for teaching The Story of Hope in a class or group setting. 120 beautifully professionally-illustrated pages. Students in your campus group will enjoy the activities used throughout the class—they are FUN and interactive and engaging. And you can purchase the Class Facilitator PowerPoint that contains 400+ beautiful slides to illustrate the lessons!
400+ beautiful slides in this Class Facilitator Presentation!
*Download also available
No boring sessions in this study!
- Lesson plans for 31 class sessions (can be adapted for fewer sessions, or for more sessions).
- Creative learning activities for all sessions that make learning: engaging, interactive, and FUN.
- Strategically designed to equip students to be motivated and confident in using The Story of Hope in evangelistic or discipleship studies.
- "It's Your Time" is the final lesson, where students are launched to use what they have been taught.
- An optional Class Facilitator PowerPoint presentation available for teaching The Story of Hope class, with 400+ slides.
- FREE online access to the online Instructor's Resource Center, with files for class activities.
The Bible's BIG Story PowerPoint CD
The Bible’s BIG Story PowerPoint CD contains three PowerPoint presentations of the Bible’s story of redemption, from Genesis through Revelation:
20 Events - to use with short presentations and The Story of Hope Condensed.
40 Events - to use with medium-length presentations and The Story of Hope.
100 Events - to use with more extended presentations of the Bible’s BIG Story.
Each Bible event is beautifully illustrated with an image from the Good Soil Redemptive Art Series. Also, included in each presentation are slides of Bible maps and the Chronological Bridge to Life.
All text can be exchanged with your translated text on the PowerPoint slides.
*Also available as a download
Sample Old Testament Images
Eve and serpent in Eden
Abraham & Isaac
Sacrifice of lamb at altar in front of tabernacle
Sample New Testament Images
John the Baptist
Resurrection of Jesus
Believers in heaven - around Jesus - the rapture scene
Dave, a missionary administratorFriday evening’s meeting with the Chinese Fellowship at Colorado State University was great. Meeting in a small apartment, some of the Christians were sent to another meeting to make room for the non-Christians. There were about 25 present, 13 of whom were non-Christians. Everyone intently listened to the presentation of The Story of Hope and there were many questions. Twelve of the non-Christians wanted a copy of The Story of Hope to study more about the “Big Story” of Christianity. It was a wonderful and humbling experience to be a part of that evening. The leader of the fellowship wrote: It was a wonderful chance for nonbelievers to know the whole story of the Bible and for Christians to reassure our faith base.
The Way to Joy
The Story of Hope is a basic discipleship resource for new believers, or for people who have professed faith in Jesus Christ but have never been discipled—never been taught the basic steps in beginning to follow Jesus Christ. The ten-lessons study begins with a chronological overview of the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, and the Chronological Bridge to Life. Then, it introduces the participant to these key foundational discipleship topics:
- Assurance and Security of Salvation
- Reading and Studying the Bible
- Prayer in the Believer’s Life
- The Holy Spirit in the Believer’s Life
- Personal Purity and Holiness
- Learning to Share Your Faith
- The Place of the Church in the Believer’s Life
- Becoming Involved in Serving Jesus
Two “Guiding Options” for Using The Way to Joy in a Small Group Studies
One: A Questions-Based Discussion Study
If you want to lead a very simple discussion study, based on The Way to Joy, you will want to use the Leader’s Guide for The Way to Joy—a FREE download. The guide provides answers to the questions in the workbook, as well as an instructional guide for when to do what, and how to do it. The Leader’s Guide makes it easy, for even novice study leaders, to conduct small group discussions.
It’s great for one-on-one discipleship or for very small groups. But, if you want to lead a more lively, creative kind of study, you might want to consider the Class Facilitator’s Guide.
The Leader’s Guide is a 44 page professionally designed document and FREE for you to download.
FREE Leader’s Guide
Two: A More Creatively-Interactive Study
If you prefer to lead a study that is more active, with a wide variety of learning activities that get your members moving around the room, interacting with various other participants, and keeps the class atmosphere light and lively, then the Class Facilitator’s Guide is probably your best option.
This guide is a complete curriculum plan for 13 group sessions. Not only does it cover the content in the workbook, but it is also designed to equip and encourage group members to use The Way to Joy to disciple others. The final session, for example, is called “It’s Your Turn.” It’s a great resource for making disciples who make disciples.
- FREE Class Facilitator’s Guide — 42 professionally designed pages
- FREE access to an online Instructor’s Resource Center with downloadable activities to use throughout the study.
LifeStories
FREE Evangelism Resource
106 Professionally Designed Pages - FREE
Designed for evangelism with millennials or others who enjoy stories and story telling. Connects “where they are in life” to major redemptive story events in the Bible.
Perfect for informal small groups. Activities engage participants in learning key Bible stories well enough that they can tell the stories to others. Each session also focuses on learning about God—the God of the Bible—who He is, what He is like, and what he has done.
LifeStories is a “stories version” group study of The Story of Hope.
Download the FREE LifeStories Leader's GuideGrowthStories
FREE Discipleship Resource
71 Professionally Designed Pages - FREE
Designed for basic discipleship with Christ-followers who love to learn through hearing or telling stories. A complete curriculum plan for small group gatherings. Loaded with creative FUN activities.
Participants compare their own struggles and steps of spiritual growth with characters in the Bible. Questions-activities provoke them to think of their own lives and what they can do to become more-committed followers of Jesus.
GrowthStories is a “stories version” group study of The Way to Joy.
Download the FREE GrowthStories Leader's GuideChronological Bridge to Life
Teach your student campus group the BIG Story of the Bible, based upon eight key concepts that emerge chronologically from Genesis to Revelation:
- God
- Man
- Sin
- Death
- Christ
- Cross
- Faith
- Life
A walk through the Chronological Bridge to Life
A great Bible teaching resource to use in teaching college & university students.
Hooks for Hanging the Bible’s Storyline
Believe it or not – in just a couple of hours you can teach people to think their way through the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation! You can do so in this FUN workshop that helps them hang the storyline (the BIG Story plot) of the Bible on 25 “Hooks”—major Bible eras that summarize the Bible, from beginning to end.
The activities for teaching Hooks are FUN for students of all ages, even the teachers.
And there are FREE instructional helps.
A great Bible teaching-learning activity to use in your ministry with college students.
The 12 "Hooks" for Hanging the Old Testament Storyline
The 1 + 12 "Hooks" for Hanging the New Testament Storyline
Ariel, Filipino visiting in New JerseyMy latest Hooks for Hanging the Bible’s Storyline workshop was last Saturday in a Bible study in the home of the owner of Sam Ash Music Stores in Bayonne, NJ. Several very diverse cultures were represented in the group (Filipino, Russian, German, American, African, Hispanic, Arab, and Jewish). They were amazed and enjoyed it - and everyone understood. Some said, “I finally got it!” “I’ll read my Bible again.”
Chronological Bible Cards: Genesis—Revelation
ChronoBible Cards: Genesis-Revelation
A complete set of 135 pocket-size cards (4.5" x 3.375") for learning and reviewing the content and chronology of the Bible's Big Story.
More
Pocket-size cards for learning and reviewing 100 key Bible events as they appear chronologically from Genesis through Revelation. Each Bible event card contains an image from the Good Soil Redemptive Story art collection on the front and key content information on the back. 25 major Bible era cards and 10 Chronological Bridge to Life cards included.
Reflections: The Audio Experience
Reflections - The Audio Experience
Professional recordings of all 100 narratives from the book, Reflections From God's Story of Hope.
More
Six and one-half hours of professionally produced, dramatic audio, with 20 professional voice-actors. A 6 ½ audio journey through 100 events in the Bible’s BIG Story.
Mobile Apps - for Android & Apple
For you to use in your ministry and to encourage those to whom you are ministering to load on their own mobile devices. Great way to teach and review the events of the Bible's BIG Story and the eight chronological Bible concepts.
Training for YOU and your CAMPUS MINISTRY TEAM
We all want to share our faith effectively…but how do we do it?
Good Soil Basic Seminar
Two Days in May or October
Good Soil’s Basic Seminar will help you...
- Understand key principles of cross-cultural evangelism that are found in the New Testament, especially from the ministry of the apostles in the book of Acts. Good Soil is solidly based on a Biblical theology of evangelism and worldview-relevancy.
- Learn many practical tools and tips for effective evangelism, even in cultures that may be totally ignorant of, and hostile to, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Cut through the “worldview noise” that often prevents non-Christians in other faith-cultures from understanding the essential distinctives of the Biblical gospel, and from failing to forsake their non-Biblical beliefs and practices when they do profess faith in Jesus Christ.
- Present the Bible’s BIG Story of redemption, beginning in Genesis 1 and proceeding chronologically through the Bible to the end of Revelation 22.
- Do evangelism in a way that unbelievers—even those from non-Biblical worldviews—will clearly understand the gospel, so that they can sincerely embrace it and hold on to it.
Here are a few sample pages from the Good Soil Seminar workbook:
Begin by attending a Good Soil BASIC Seminar, so that you can enhance your skills in worldview-relevant evangelism and can begin using Good Soil’s resources most effectively.
Learn More and RegisterThen, participate in a Good Soil TRAINER CERTIFICATION workshop , where you will be qualified and certified to teach Good Soil seminars with your current campus ministry team and future team members.
Trainer Certification Workshop
One Day in May or October
Christian student leader in a restricted access country of Southeast AsiaWe are so encouraged by your prayerful and thoughtful support of our “B__ N__ G__” (their name for Good Soil E&D) program. It is our prayer and desire that God use this program to help young Christians on our campuses be more encouraged to witness for Christ in daily life with sensitivity and faithfulness to the Gospel. By the grace of God, students who have attended this program show a very positive response and progress in witnessing to their peers.
Moving Beyond Lecture Workshop
Two Days in October
As a teacher and a trainer of college students, you will love and appreciate this Moving Beyond Lecture workshop! Guaranteed.
It will enhance your ability to teach college students, beyond what you can probably imagine.
- Learn a seven-step process for developing lessons for teaching and training.
- Enlarge your teaching toolbox with lots of creative techniques and tips for teaching.
- Become more sensitive to classroom factors that can enhance your teaching-learning environment.
- Engage your students more actively and make learning FUN for them.
- Become much more confident in your teaching.
BibleStorying Workshop
Two Days in May
One of the keys to effective Bible teaching with any age is telling Bible stories so that historical Bible events “come alive” in the minds of those who hear them!
This BibleStorying (Bible story telling) workshop will enhance your skills as a Bible story teller and teacher. You will learn lots of tips and techniques for improving your ability to tell Bible stories that will gain and hold student interest. And, you will learn about—and practice using—several Good Soil Bible teaching resources.
- Day One: How to Learn Bible Stories
- Day Two: How to Tell Bible Stories
The Roots of Faith Bible Courses
Old and New Testaments
The Roots of Faith - Old Testament
The Roots of Faith - New Testament
Teaching the Bible chronologically, in a way that equips students for effective ministry in a world of competing faiths and cultures.
Chronological Bible courses that unfold the BIG Story of the Bible, based on 100 key redemptive story events. Specifically created for training Christ-followers to share God’s redemptive story in non-Christian worldview cultures AND to use in teaching the Bible to Christians from those cultures who often carry non-Christian “worldview baggage” into their Christian lives and practices—teaching the Bible to help purge the “worldview baggage.”
The Roots of Faith courses are three courses in one:
- Chronological Bible survey courses—Students master the overall chronological framework and core content of the Bible.
- Biblical theology courses—The Bible’s basic theological concepts are presented as they were progressively revealed, from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22.
- Worldview apologetics courses—Common non Christian worldview (“worldview noise”) issues are addressed throughout the courses in order to equip Christ-followers to live and minister in a world of competing faiths and cultures.
The courses also include:
- Downloadable Bible commentary for each course, to provide expert help for all of the Bible passages included in the lessons.
- Instructors Guide for each course.
- Access to online instructional resources for each course.
Additional supplemental resources are available, such as printed and PowerPoint teaching visuals and chronological Bible cards and more.
Great Bible training for your campus ministry staff. Also, an excellent summer training project for other members of your campus ministry group. Ask us about a group rate.
How can you be certified to teach The Roots of Faith Courses in your ministry?
Full Certification Option: Participate in The Roots of Faith Courses
Image of a TROF OT Class at ABWE - FUN Learning
Image of a TROF NT Class at ABWE - Interactive & Engaging Learning
Provisional Certification Option: Purchase The Roots of Faith Instructor’s Kits
Gaining Ground with Good Soil
Learning to Share God’s Redemptive Story in a World of Competing Faiths and Cultures.
Gaining Ground with Good Soil is a story about missionaries. In an interesting narrative form, it explains the theology and missiology of evangelism and discipleship of Good Soil E&D. You will love the story of a missionary couple, and their national colleagues, who learn some Biblical principles that revolutionize their ministries—Good Soil principles that can help you to become more effective as well.
The audio book can be downloaded to your phone or pad. Audio clips from the audio book can be used to spice up teaching sessions.
There is a FREE Leader’s Guide for teaching the contents of this book in 12 or more class sessions. See the FREE resources below.
Gaining Ground with Good Soil
Want to understand more about Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship? This is the place to start! NEW Visually Enhanced 2016 Edition - An evangelism and discipleship training narrative that is a scaled-down version of the Good Soil E&D seminar in a narrative format. Full color throughout.
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Audio Book
Gaining Ground with Good Soil - Audiobook
A 4 hours and 7 minutes audio narrative that will help you understand worldview-relevant evangelism and discipleship and their importance in a world of competing faiths and cultures. A professionally produced audio book version of Gaining Ground with Good Soil.
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Phillip, missionary intern in FranceThis morning, Josué asked me about how he can share his faith more effectively with his friends at school. I’ve been reading Gaining Ground with Good Soil, a book about evangelism, written by Gil Thomas, a former missionary to Portugal. I’ve been learning a lot from the book and I was able to share some of it with Josué.
All the resources needed for teaching Gaining Ground with Good Soil in your campus ministry group.
FREE Book for Campus Ministry Leaders
Gaining Ground with Good Soil is an evangelism and discipleship training narrative—a scaled-down version of the Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship seminar in a narrative format. The principles gained from this book are applicable for anyone wishing to serve God through Biblical evangelism and discipleship, but is especially instructive and helpful for campus ministry leaders.
The realistic, but fictional narrative, around which the book is developed, tells the story of a couple of missionaries who were frustrated and discouraged—to the point of almost giving up—because of their lack of success in evangelism and discipleship on their field. But, the “Good Soil” principles they learned from Bible study revolutionized their ministries. It will help you think through a theology of evangelism and discipleship and help you to present the gospel so that people will clearly understand it, sincerely embrace it, and firmly hold on to it.
Free instructional resources for individual and group study are also available for download. www.GoodSoil.com/FREE
If you are a campus ministry leader, with a USA shipping address, and will commit to reading this book , we will send you a FREE (and postage-free) copy of Gaining Ground with Good Soil.
More Good Soil Resources for Evangelism and Discipleship
Good Soil provides an entire toolbox of resources for campus ministries.
For a complete overview of our Good Soil resources:
Good Soil E&D Training and Resources for Many Types of Ministries
The focus of this page has been on using Good Soil in your campus ministry. But, Good Soil provides training and resources for many different kinds of ministries.
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