Bible Studies for Personal or Group Study
Over the years, Fran Sciacca has published a number of Bible studies that have sold over 600,000 copies in their print editions, and were nominated for three Gold Medallion Book Awards. They have been recognized as some of the most helpful sources of personal growth and insight. Recently, Fran’s publisher began returning the rights to the studies to him, and he is making them available online, at no cost.**
The roughly 70 individual studies of biblical characters are now collectively called, “Folks Like Us,” and are available below. Each study examines the life of a single character in the Bible, with the goal of building a bridge across time, in order to see their ancient life as a source of insight for ours in the modern era.
There are over 60 Leader’s Guides available as well. They were developed by Fran as he mentored a group of women to lead the Bible studies in small groups.
** Donations help with the cost of keeping this website active are always welcome. (You can make a non-deductible contribution in any amount here.)
Individual Studies & Leader's Guides
The Leader’s guides are divided into three sections: “Building Blocks” (biblical and language background), “Stumbling Stones” (possible problem areas in a group setting), and “Going Deeper” (additional questions not in the original study that might be helpful for deeper conversation.)
- ESTHER – “Seeing Your Life As A Means Not An End.” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- EVE – “The Slippery Slope of Ingratitude” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- HANNAH – “Coping With Criticism” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- JEZEBEL – “The Appetite To Control People” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- NAOMI & RUTH – “When Dreams Seem To Have Died” (Bible study) (no leaders guide)
- SARA – “Misplaced Hope” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- ABRAHAM – “Am I Living As A Tourist Or An Alien?” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- ADAM & EVE – “The Roots Of Our Real Family Tree” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- ASAPH – “Distraction: The Quiet Enemy” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- CAIN – “Self Pity: Doorway To Self-Destruction” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- DAVID – “Dealing With True And False Guilt” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- DANIEL – “Staying True When It Matters Most” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- ELIJAH – “Back-Slidden Or Burned Out?’ (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- ESAU – “The Quiet Assassin Of Godlessness” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- EZRA – “Loving The Window Of God’s Word” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- GIDEON – “Does God Love Cracked Pots?” (Bible study) (no leaders guide)
- JEREMIAH – “Looking For Success” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- JOB – “A Transformed Mouth” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- JOB – “When The Lights Go Out” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- JONAH – “The Black Hole of Self” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- JONATHAN – “Ancient Friendship In Modern Times” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- JOSEPH – “Avoiding The Train Wreck Of Moral Failure” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- JOSEPH – “The Antidote To A ‘Victim’ Mentality” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- KING SAUL – “The Need To Be Noticed” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- MOSES – “The Myth Of Indispensability” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- NATHAN – “The Biblical Alternative To ‘Unfriending'” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- NATION OF ISRAEL – “The Myth Of Nostalgia” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- REHOBOAM – “How Do You Lead: Power Or Authority?” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- SAMSON – “Deserved Suffering: God’s Unexpected Tool” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- SOLOMON – “Looking For Meaning In All The Wrong Places” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- SOLOMON – “When Changing Your Mind Is A Good Thing” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- THE TEN SPIES – “The Corrosive Power Of Negativism” (Bible study) (Leaders Guide)
- MARTHA – “The Threat Of Resentment” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- MARTHA – “Winnowing Your Passions” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- PRISCILLA & AQUILA – “Ministry As A Lifestyle” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- WOMAN AT THE WELL – “The Power Of Incarnational Ministry” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- ANCIENT-MODERN PROBLEM – “Even The Demons Believe…How Am I Different?” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE APPRENTICE – “Valuing What God Values…People” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- BARNABAS – “The Powerful Ministry Of Encouragement” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE BLESSED ONE – “Happiness…The Elusive Fruit” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- CHRISTIANS IN ROME – “Does ‘All Things’ Really Mean ALL Things?” (Bible study) (no leaders guide)
- DEMAS – “My Biggest Obstacle To Spiritual Growth” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE GOOD SAMARITAN – “Who Is My Neighbor…Really” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE HOLY SPIRIT – “Our Misunderstood Counselor” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE HOLY SPIRIT – “The Real Change Agent In My Life” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- JESUS – “Facing The Death Of Someone You Love” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- JESUS – “Facing Rejection” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- JOHN THE BAPTIZER – “More Of Him…Less Of Me” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE LABORER – “Enlarging God’s Kingdom, Not My Own” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE MAN BORN BLIND – “Seeing Clearly Takes More Than Eyes” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- NICODEMUS – “Spiritual Birth…Ends or Means?” (Bible study) (no leaders guide)
- PAUL – “Dealing With Our Past” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- PAUL – “Depression As A Tool In The Hand Of God” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- PAUL – “Listening To The Still Small Voice Of Conscience” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- PAUL – “One Holy Passion” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- PAUL – “The Power of Contentment” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- PETER – “Failing Someone You Love” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- PETER & PAUL – “Other Believers: Iron Sharpening Iron” (Bible study) (no leaders guide)
- THE PETITIONER – “A Transformed Heart Prays Differently” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- PONTIUS PILATE – “What Is Truth…Does It Matter?” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE PHARISEE – “Is Being ‘Good’ Ever Good Enough?” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- SATAN – “Unmasking The Opposition” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE SERVANT – “Have I Been Set Free Or ‘Turned Loose’?” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE THESSALONIANS – “The Purifying Fire Of Persecution” (Bible study) (no leaders guide)
- TITUS – “You’re Being Watched!” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- TWO ON THE ROAD – “Disappointment: God’s Winnowing Fork” (Bible study) (no leaders guide)
- THE UNJUST STEWARD – Are Dollars More Important Than Sense?” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
- THE UNNAMED MAN – “How Do You Spell ‘Success’?” (Bible study) (Leader’s guide)
