Example of A Facilitator’s Implementation of the Pain to Purpose Course
Pain to Purpose Facilitator Session Outlines:
This guide offers a toolbox of suggestions and ideas for facilitating your group. Each group and facilitator is unique, so take what works for you and leave what doesn't. Trust in God to guide your group. Whether you're familiar with your group or meeting them for the first time, you'll learn what works best as you go. Select or create discussion questions that suit your group. Allow some things to happen naturally, and remain open to the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Before your Pain to Purpose course begins, set up a sign-up process for participants, collecting their email addresses and phone numbers. For groups larger than 8-10, recruit additional facilitators to lead smaller group discussions and prayers for each session. Decide with your additional facilitators who will be the contact person for the group members.
Two weeks before the first session, email participants with details on the meeting location and what to expect. Provide each participant with a Guidebook if possible, and ask them to complete the Pre-Course questions (pages 6-8). Send reminder emails one week and two days before the first session.
Here’s an example email:
Dear Pain to Purpose participants,
Greetings to all!
I'm thrilled to welcome you to the Pain to Purpose Course! Thank you for choosing to embark on this transformative journey with me. Our first session is scheduled for ___(Day/Date)________, and I'm eager to have you join me as we begin this empowering experience together.
We'll kick off promptly at _(time)______, and our agenda is packed with valuable content, ensuring we conclude our time together at _(time)_______. If you know of others who might be interested, please extend the invitation to them. Feel free to share my contact information with them so they can let me know they are coming, and I can answer any questions they may have.
Our meeting location is _______________. Each of you will receive a "Participant Guidebook" to serve as our roadmap throughout the course. This __(day)________, we'll dive into some pre-course activities, start with an introductory video, and engage in discussions.
For your convenience, water and snacks will be provided, but feel free to bring anything you need to make yourself comfortable. (You may want to add here about childcare. Give any details if it is available as well as how they sign up.)
I'm eagerly anticipating our time together this (day) ! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Blessings to you all!
Sign your name
Intro Session:
Before the Intro Session:
Type out and laminate Romans 8:28 to distribute to group members during the discussion (Guidebook, p. 17). See attached example.
Preview the video ahead of time and review the session details.
Prepare a few discussion questions. Suggested questions are provided, but feel free to create your own.
Note that this Intro Session may run longer, so plan for a shorter discussion time.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Opening the group session:
Welcome, everyone! Let's start with a few logistics and housekeeping items:
Location of Facilities: Restrooms are located (provide directions). If you need childcare, it is available (provide details).
Refreshments: Feel free to help yourselves to drinks and snacks, which are located (provide location).
We ask that you keep your phones on silent during our time together. If you have an emergency or need to step out for an important call, please feel free to do so.
As a reminder, we will meet every (day) at (time).
We value your time and want to be respectful of it, as well as considerate of our childcare workers. Therefore, we will start promptly at (start time) and end promptly at (end time).
Thank you for being here. Let’s get started!
Introductions -introduce yourself and why you chose to facilitate a P2P group and then have the other participants introduce themselves and tell what they hope to get out of the P2P course.
Pass out Guidebooks, if you haven’t done that ahead of time
Overview of how this course came to be:
“Davey Blackburn developed this course after experiencing tremendous pain and suffering after the murder of his wife and unborn child, and then experiencing how God can use his pain for God’s glory and honor. He started a podcast to interview others who have had loss, tragedy, hurt, pain in their lives to hear how God helped them heal through their pain and how God has given them purpose out of their pain. After hearing from hundreds of people and experiencing God’s healing and purpose in his own pain, Davey developed this course to help walk others through this process. “
Introduction Question:
“When you think of pain, what do you think of? What kinds of pain do people go through? “ (A variety of answers will be given)
Then, say something like this:
“We will all experience pain in our lives. One pain may seem more devastating than another kind of pain, but pain is pain and it all hurts. You might be experiencing some kind of pain in your life right now and it might be different than the pain of the person sitting next to you. If you are not currently walking through some kind of pain, you will – because we all do. This life is difficult and hard, but we can find purpose in our pain. “
“Some of the purposes of this course are to…
Help us walk through our pain and find purpose in it
Prepare us for the pain we will experience (train us for the trial we are not yet in)
Help us help others through their pain”
Expectations for Group Participants:
Go over the group’s expectations for participants during group time (see attached suggested expectations or have the group come up with their own).
Pre-Course questions (pp. 6-8 in the guidebook)
Give participants a chance to fill out these pages in their guidebook, if they have not done this prior to this first session together.
Prayer
Watch Intro Group Video: Say something like this: "The video is broken into two parts. After the first part we will take a short break for you to stretch your legs, go to the restroom, get a drink and some snacks. While watching the video segments, take notes in your guidebook. After the video I will ask you to share some of your “aha moments” or things that really stood out to you."
Part 1 Video – 22:02 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video – 16:07 minutes
Discussion and Prayer:
Layers of Loss Timeline: Give a few minutes for participants to fill out the Layers of Loss Timeline or give it as homework for the next session.
Discussion Questions:
What stood out to you in the video(s)? Did you have any “aha moments”?
How have you seen the enemy, Satan, being the mastermind behind pain and suffering, death and disease? (he wants to paralyze us, he wants us “stuck”, he wants to steal our joy)
How does knowing that God is much more powerful than Satan make you feel?
I am going to read a few phrases Davey said in the video. I want you to tell us what comes to your mind after I read these statements:
“If we persevere we will prevail”
“faith has to be tested to grow”
“the ultimate response to pain is incarnation, not explanation”
“the only way out of the valley is through it?”
Re-read 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (p. 12). What do these verses mean to you personally?
What’s Your Next Step? Decide what other questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss question #4-“Aha moments,” (which is mentioned in the questions above). Ask the participants to complete this section as homework.
Recommended Application: This is where you will want to give each person the Romans 8:28 verse you prepared before the session.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to pray together in small groups.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework. Then, say something like this: “Our first Waypoint is: Befriend Your Emotions. There will be 4 pre-work videos to view and take notes on before our next session. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this first Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this first session together, email the participants of your Pain to Purpose course and give them specific instructions on how to create an account to access the pre-work videos. Here is an email example after your first session together:
Hello everyone,
I hope this message finds you well. It was truly a pleasure to gather together this afternoon. We missed a few of you that were unable to attend today, but we look forward to you joining us next week. I've been holding each of you in my prayers, and I will continue to do so as we embark on this journey through the Pain to Purpose Course.
To help you prepare for Waypoint 1, "Befriend your Emotions," I encourage you to create your Pain to Purpose account using the link provided below. This will grant you access to the four PreWork video segments. After creating your account, you'll be able to review the Intro Videos we watched today and navigate to WayPoint 1 to access the designated PreWork videos. View these videos and take your notes in your Guidebook prior to our next session together.
Here's the link to create your account:
[Insert Link Here]
Looking forward to delving into WayPoint 1 together next Sunday.
Blessings to you,
Sign your name
Waypoint 1: Befriend Your Emotions
Before Waypoint 1 Session:
Make copies of the Feeling Chart and the Fact, Faith, Feeling Train to distribute later.
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions, using the suggested ones or creating your own.
Purchase snack-size bags of M&Ms or Skittles for the opening activity.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 1 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Activity:
Since this is one of your first sessions, this Emotions Candy Game” may be a fun way to start this session on “befriending your emotions”.
The Emotions Candy Game: Give each participant a snack size bag of M&Ms or Skittles; you can play this game two different ways. 1) Have the participants pull out one candy piece without looking and then have them share one emotion/experience based on that color. 2) In this version, the participants have to do one of the following, depending on the color of the candy they pull out of their bag (without looking).
Red: Share something the makes you Happy
Brown: Share something that makes you Sad
Green: Share something that makes you Angry
Yellow: Share something that makes you Excited
Blue: Share one poor choice you’ve made today and what you could have done different
Orange: Share one good choice you made today
Review last week’s session:
What was it like to fill out your Layers of Loss Timeline? Anyone want to share anything about this experience?
Did you find some of your pain/loss overlapping in your timelines? Does this give you any insights into that time in your life?
What about your Action Steps – does anyone want to share anything about your action steps?
Waypoint 1 Pre-work Video Discussion: Befriend Your Emotions:
From the pre-work videos does anyone have any comments about these videos or anything that stood out to you that you would like to share?
What do you think Davey meant when he said, “God may not heal you here on earth but can heal your heart?”
When looking at the six areas of wellness, how do you see the spiritual area as the foundation for all other areas?
Prayer: Pray for your time together
Group Video – Say something like this: “there are two parts to the video. We will take a short break between the two sections of the video. Please take notes in your Guidebook, and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 17:07 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 15:00 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
During the discussion time, have the Feelings Wheel handout and the Fact, Faith and Feeling Train handout available for the participants.
Discussion Questions:
Davey mentioned at the beginning of this video that Nothing Is Wasted MInistries has created an online community so individuals can connect others who have or are currently going through the same things. Find your community on the Nothing is Wasted online community.
What stood out to you in the video?
How can a person embrace the power of “and”? What does “a feeling buried never dies” mean?
What does it mean to you to “run toward the roar”?
What does it look like when the train is being pulled by feelings rather than the facts?
What can a person do to help them put the facts in front of their feelings? To not be run by feelings?
How does it make you feel to know that, “what is over your head is under His feet?”
Pray this together: “Lord, help my faith line up with the facts I know to be true over my feelings.”
What’s Your Next Step?: Decide what questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss question #3 and #6. Ask the participants to complete this section as homework.
Recommended Application: Pass out the fact/faith/feeling train handout so everyone can put this in a visible place so as different feelings come up this week they can ask themselves, “which train is leading me right now?” Pass out the feelings wheel so they can have this to look at to name their feelings in a deeper way throughout the week.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Pray together about the things discussed/shared.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework. Then, say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Reframe Your Perspective. There will be 4 pre-work videos to view and take notes on before our next session. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Hello everyone!
I hope this message finds you all in good spirits. It was an absolute joy to gather together on __(day)___ afternoon/evening. I feel incredibly blessed to be on this journey with such wonderful individuals like you. Just know that I continue to keep each and every one of you in my prayers every week.
Now, to ensure we're all set for the upcoming Waypoint 2, please take a moment to log into your account. There, you'll find the four pre-work videos waiting for you. Additionally, for those interested in revisiting the Waypoint 1 Group Videos we enjoyed on Sunday, here's the special link:
[Insert link]
In our eagerness to respect everyone's schedule, we've decided to wrap up promptly at __(time)___. With a lot of valuable content to cover and the desire for quality time in our small groups, we'll kick off each meeting at __(time)_. To add a touch of warmth, perhaps we could gather at __(earlier time)__ for a bit of fellowship and a pre-session snack – a perfect way to ease into our time together.
Looking ahead, I'm already excited about our next session together. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Wishing each of you a fantastic week ahead!
Warm regards,
sign your name
Waypoint 2: Reframe Your Perspective
Before Waypoint 2 Session:
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 2 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question(s) (choose one or more from the following):
What is your earliest childhood memory?
What is one special memory you have of your childhood?
How were holidays (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) celebrated in your family? Did your family have special traditions?
Describe a typical family dinner. Did you all eat together as a family? Who did the cooking? What were your favorite foods?
Are there any special heirlooms, photos, bibles, or other memorabilia that have been passed down in your family?
What did your family enjoy doing together?
Of all the things you learned from your parents, what do you feel was the most valuable?
“We each have different memories of our families and later we will look at a Family of Origin Assessment that will prove to be very interesting for each person.”
Review last week’s session:
Did anyone refer to the feelings wheel this past week? What was that like?
Did anyone refer to the Fact/Faith/Feeling train this week? What was that like?
Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps or Action Steps?
Waypoint 2 Pre-work Videos Discussion: Reframe Your Perspective
From the pre-work videos does anyone have any comments about these videos or anything that stood out to you that you would like to share?
I Thessalonians 4:3a, in the NIV says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified”. What does that mean to you? (If no one responds, say something this, “Davey mentions that we are to grow to become more like Jesus. And, that Jesus did not necessarily mean we will have happiness, but his will for us is holiness. He wants to give us JOY that supersedes happiness”). What are your thoughts on this idea of sanctification or holiness?
Research indicates that from birth to age 5, a child’s brain develops more than at any other time in life. Early brain development has a lasting impact on a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school and life. The quality of a child’s experiences in the first few years of life – positive or negative – helps shape how their brain develops. Did you know that 90% of brain growth happens before kindergarten? 80% of that growth happens by age 3 and 90%, nearly full grown, by age 5. So, the three major things that affect how you interpret what happens in your life that Davey mentions: Experiences, Family of Origin and God Image can be traced back to some of those early brain-developing years of your life. What really surprised you about the things Davey discussed about these three areas? Experiences, Family of Origin and God Image? What insights does it give you about these areas in your own life?
Is there anything else from these prework videos that stood out to you or that you want to discuss?
Prayer: Pray for your time together
Group Video: Say something like this: “There are two parts to this video for this session. We will take a break between the two sections of the video. Take notes in your Guidebook and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 21:07 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 7:40 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Be sure to leave time for participants to fill out the “Family of Origin Assessment” on page 38-42 or you may give this as homework.
Discussion Questions:
Davey mentioned at the beginning of this video that he has written a 42-Day Devotional. You could have a few copies available for those who would like to purchase one or remind them how to order it. You might even suggest that they may want to consider pulling together a group to go through the devotional together after this Pain to Purpose Course ends.
What were your Aha moments from the video or what stood out to you?
When Davey discussed the 8 Common Distortions of God did you find yourself thinking that you had a tendency to view God in one of those ways? If so, does anyone want to share about which distortion or distortions they tend to fall into from time to time and why you think that occurs?
When thinking about the ABC’s of Emotions (Activating Event, Belief, and Consequent Emotion), what are the three ways our thoughts/beliefs are formed? (how we perceive the world, ourselves, and God).
Look at Genesis 41:51-52. This is an obscure verse you may not have noticed before. What do you think about the meanings of these names? How can one become fruitful in the land of their suffering?
During the discussion time, if you have time, have participants fill out the Family of Origin Assessment
Say something like this: “We are going to take some time right now to fill out a Family of Origin Assessment, which coincides with our thoughts/beliefs and how they were formed. Turn to page 38 and let's review how we complete this assessment” (read the Instructions and the Assessment on page 38, then have the participants fill this out on pages 39-42).
After everyone has completed the assessment, then look at the Analyzing the Assessment section on page 42 and have each person analyze their assessment. Then ask, “did you find some areas of strength about your family? Were there any areas of weakness? Does anyone want to share any of your findings? “ (If you don’t have time for this you may need to give the Family of Origin Assessment as homework and ask these questions next week).
What’s Your Next Step?: Decide what questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss question #1 and #3, if you have time. Ask the participants to complete this section as homework.
Recommended Application:
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups for things discussed and shared during your time together.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework, then say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Unclog Your Bitterness. There will be 2 pre-work videos to view and take notes in your Guidebook before our next session. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Hello everyone!
I hope this message finds you all staying healthy and warm. It was an absolute pleasure to gather together on _(day)__ afternoon/evening for our Pain to Purpose course. I continue to feel incredibly blessed by each of you. You all have such insight to share as we journey together. Just know that I continue to keep each and every one of you in my prayers every week.
Now, to ensure we're all set for the upcoming Waypoint 3, please take a moment to log into your account. There, you'll find only two pre-work videos waiting for you this week. Additionally, for those interested in revisiting the Waypoint 2 Group Video we viewed and discussed on __(day)____, here's the special link: (insert link)
In our eagerness to respect everyone's schedule, we were able to wrap up pretty promptly at _(time)___ this past week. With a lot of valuable content to cover and the desire for quality time in our small groups, we'll continue to kick off each meeting promptly at _(time)___. To add a touch of warmth, we can continue to gather at __(time)___ for a bit of fellowship and a pre-session snack – a perfect way to ease into our time together.
Looking ahead, I'm already excited about our next __(day)____ meeting time. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Wishing each of you a fantastic week ahead!
Warm regards,
sign your name
Waypoint 3: Unclog Your Bitterness
Before Waypoint 3 Session:
Choose some quiet instrumental music and have it ready to play for later in this session.
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 3 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question (choose from the following):
Who had the most influence on you growing up?
What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
What does “unclog your bitterness” mean to you?
Review last week’s session:
Does anyone want to share anything from your Family of Origin Assessment? (pp. 38-42)
Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps or Action Steps? (pp. 43-45)
Waypoint 3 Pre-work video discussion: Unclog Your Bitterness
From the pre-work videos does anyone have any comments about these videos or anything that stood out to you that you would like to share?
If you did not ask this question earlier, ask it now. What does “unclog your bitterness” mean to you?
Prayer: Pray for your time together
Group Video: Say something like this: “There are two parts to this video for this session. We will take a break between the two sections of the video. Take notes in your Guidebook and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 18:20 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 13:13 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Discussion Questions:
What were your Aha moments from the video or what stood out to you?
Have you ever found it difficult to forgive yourself, someone else or even God? What does that look or feel like for you?
How does unforgiveness hurt us more than it hurts the other person? What does it do to us?
Davey mentioned the phrase, “Unforgiveness or bitterness rots the hand that holds us”. What does that phrase mean to you?
In what ways can we be a conduit for grace and forgiveness instead of hurt and bitterness? What would that look like or what are some examples of how this could be done?
Davey talked about a “grocery aisle” test. Have you ever experienced that before? What did that feel like? Or, have you ever noticed someone else avoiding you before?
Which of the following phrases “hits home” to you and why?
“God does not keep bringing up your sin, but Satan brings up your sin.”
“Pray for your enemies. Love your enemies.”
“Forgiven people, forgive others.”
“Forgiveness is my part. Reconciliation is our part.”
“We can’t wait for the “feeling to forgive.”
Why do you think forgiveness is a daily decision?
What’s Your Next Step?: This Waypoint can be very difficult and heavy for many participants. Decide what questions, if any, would be appropriate to discuss together, but it might be best to just let participants fill out the “Next Step” and “Action Steps” areas by themselves as you play soft music.
Recommended Application: Read this section together. It is important that participants spend some time thinking about who they might need to forgive (another person(s), themselves, or God). They may want to write out their forgiveness on a piece of paper. Committing to pray for this person(s) for 30 days can also be a very powerful part of their healing process.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss these, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups for things discussed and shared during your time together.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework, then say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Nourish Your Spirit. There will be 4 pre-work videos to view and take notes in your Guidebook before our next session. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Hello everyone!
I wanted you to know that I have been praying for you and our upcoming time together. To ensure we're all set for the upcoming Waypoint 4, Nourish Your Spirit, please take a moment to log into your account. There, you'll find four pre-work videos waiting for you this week. Additionally, for those interested in revisiting the Waypoint 3 Group Video we viewed and discussed on Sunday, here's the special link: (insert link)
In our eagerness to respect everyone's schedule, we were able to wrap up pretty much at _(time)_ this past week. We will continue to kick off each meeting promptly at _(time)_. If you like, please gather at _(earlier time)__ for a bit of fellowship and a pre-session snack – a perfect way to ease into our time together.
Looking ahead, I'm already excited about our next __(day)___ meeting time. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Wishing each of you a fantastic week ahead!
Warm regards,
(sign your name)
Waypoint 4: Nourish Your Spirit
Before Waypoint 4 Session:
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 4 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question(s)/Activity:
Play a version of “would you rather”. You can ask participants to raise their hand on which of the two choices they would rather do.
Go into the past and meet your ancestors or go into the future and meet your great-great grandchildren?
Have dinner with Moses or the Apostle Paul?
Give a speech for 30 minutes or sing a solo for 3 minutes?
Do a Bible Study with a group or do a Bible Study with just one other person?
Make a phone call or send a text
Read a devotional book OR read a devotional in the Bible App?
Volunteer at church in the nursery every other Sunday or volunteer with the youth every other Sunday?
Pray out loud when no one is around OR write your prayers in a journal?
Go without food one day a week or go without your phone for one day a week?
Listen to the Bible being read to you in an audio app OR read the Bible yourself?
After this activity, say something like this - “that is just another fun way to get to know each other a bit more, but we are also going to be talking about a few of these things this week as we look at ‘nourishing your soul’ “.
Review last week’s session:
Last week we looked at Waypoint 3: Unclog Your Bitterness. Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps or Action Steps sections on pages 52 or 53?
Does anyone want to share about what you experienced this past week in the area of forgiveness? A lesson learned or an opportunity that presented itself?
Waypoint 4 Pre-work Video Discussion: Reframe Your Perspective
From the pre-work videos does anyone have any comments about these videos or anything that stood out to you that you would like to share?
On page 55, Davey starts out this Waypoint with the passage from Ezekiel 47:12. What are your thoughts about “planting ourselves next to the flow of God’s power and healing?” What does that mean for you, personally?
Davey talks about how God is a rhythmic God. What are some examples of God being a rhythmic God?
What does the phrase, “spiritual health is the plate on which our life sits” mean?
The first rhythm that Davey talks about is a daily quiet time or devotional time. This can be really difficult because Satan loves to distract us from being in God’s Word. Why do you think he tries to do this?
Davey mentioned that “regularity is better than large chunks”. What are your thoughts on this? Does anyone want to share how they walk this out?
At some point, find out if everyone has a Bible in a translation that is easy for them to understand. If someone does not, be sure to provide them with one.
Prayer: Pray for your time together
Group Video: Say something like this: “There are two parts to this video for this session. We will take a break between the two sections of the video. Take notes in your Guidebook and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 9:23 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 14:21 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Discussion Questions:
What were your Aha moments from the video or what stood out to you or spoke to you?
What are some reasons why it is important to be involved in church? Many people have experienced “church pain” in their lives and this is difficult for them to return to. Does anyone have any suggestions on helping someone return to being involved in church after having had some pain in this area?
How does prayer change our perspective and change our heart?
Does anyone want to share about your experiences with serving others and how that has helped you?
What’s Your Next Step?: Decide what questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss question #7, if you have time. Ask the participants to complete this section as homework.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups for things discussed and shared during your time together.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework, then say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Rest Your Soul. There will be 2 pre-work videos to view and take notes in your Guidebook before our next session. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Good morning!
I hope this email finds you well this early __(Day)___ morning! As I reflect on our time together last __(Day)___, I am so very thankful for the openness, honesty and vulnerability we are able to share with one another. I have been praying for you throughout the week.
(Give a personal example, something like the following): This week we have started the process of having wallpaper stripped from our walls at our home. The walls seem so bare and naked and yet I also see the roughness and even some gouges in the walls that have occurred after taking the wallpaper down. It reminds me of the scars and wounds that we all carry from the pain and hurt we have experienced and then being vulnerable and exposed before the Lord. Now I am beginning to see the repairs taking place on those marred places on the wall, so too, God wants to repair and heal our pain and hurts and I can trust something beautiful will come out of all of this!
Waypoint 4 was the beginning of us looking at how to nourish our Spirit. In Waypoint 5 we will look at "Rest Your Soul" - finding strength to go on. In preparation for this, there are two pre-work videos to view this week as you log into your account. And, for those interested in revisiting the Waypoint 4 Group Video we viewed and discussed on Sunday, here's the special link: (insert link)
I eagerly await our upcoming gathering this week at _(time)__ for a brief time of fellowship before we begin promptly at _(time)__. Your presence enriches our discussions, and I'm genuinely excited about the insights and connections that await us this _(day)______.
Sending you warmth and care,
(Sign your name)
Waypoint 5: Rest Your Soul
Before Waypoint 5 Session:
Type out and laminate Psalm 23:2 to distribute to group members during the discussion (Guidebook, p. 69 under “Application”). See attached example.
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 5 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question(s) (use the following question or come up with your own):
What do you like to do to relax?
Review last week’s session:
Last week we looked at Waypoint 4: Nourish Your Spirit. Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps or Action Steps sections on pages 62 and 63?
Which one of the five areas discussed is your strength and why? (ie: 1) Daily Quiet Time/Devotional Time, 2) Church Involvement, 3) Prayer and Fasting, 4) Sabbath or 5) Serving Others. Which one of these areas is a challenge for you and why?
Waypoint 5 Pre-work Video Discussion: Reframe Your Perspective
From the pre-work videos does anyone have any comments about these videos or anything that stood out to you that you would like to share?
What do you think is meant by this phrase, “the Sabbath is a linchpin for continuing to stay healthy?”
Have you ever thought about how God created the rhythms of this world and the commands he gave to the Jewish people about work and rest? What did you learn about this?
Davey mentioned that “there is a beautiful balance between the work that we do, that gives us purpose, and the rest that we enter into in between the work that helps us to live in healthy rhythms.” What are your thoughts about and/or your experiences with the “rests between the work”?
Prayer
Group Video: Say something like this: “There are two parts to this video for this session. We will take a break between the two sections of the video. Take notes in your Guidebook and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 15:00 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 6:33 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Discussion Questions:
What were your Aha moments from the video or what stood out to you?
The third commandment of the Sabbath bridges the 10 commandments between God (the first two commandments) and man (the other commandments). Jesus was the bridge between God and man and the Sabbath is a good reminder for us that we are not the Messiah. How do we find our purpose and pace in Jesus? How can having a true Sabbath help us with this?
What do you think about the statement, “identity is rooted in who we are not in our doing”?
After listening to this Waypoint, how has your perspective changed about the Sabbath?
Of the three guidelines to practicing a Sabbath that Davey mentions on page 67, which one or ones do you wrestle with the most?
What’s Your Next Step?: Decide what questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss questions #2, #3, and #4, if you have time. Ask the participants to complete this section as homework.
Recommended Application: This is where you will want to give each person the Psalm 23:2 verse you prepared before the session.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups for things discussed and shared during your time together.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework, then say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Strengthen Your Body. There will be 3 pre-work videos to view and take notes in your Guidebook before our next session. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Good evening,
I hope this message finds you in good spirits and enjoying your day so far. I've been reflecting on our time together last Sunday, and I'm once again filled with gratitude for the openness and honesty we shared with one another. Your presence truly makes our gatherings special, and we missed those who couldn't join us. Here's hoping we'll all be reunited this coming _(day)__ for Waypoint 6.
In Waypoint 6, we'll be exploring "Strengthen Your Body" - additional ways to combat anxiety and depression. To prepare, there are three pre-work videos waiting for you when you log into your account this week. And for anyone interested in revisiting the Waypoint 5 Group Video from our last meeting, here's the special link:
(insert link)
I'm eagerly anticipating our time together this week, starting at _(time)__ for a brief fellowship before we kick off promptly at _(time)__. Your presence truly enriches our discussions, and I'm genuinely excited about the insights and connections that await us this __(day)___.
Sending you warmth, care, and anticipation for our upcoming gathering.
(Sign your name)
Waypoint 6: Strengthen Your Body
Before Waypoint 6 Session:
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 6 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question(s) (use the following question or come up with your own):
What is your favorite recreational activity?
What is a new activity or hobby you would like to try?
Review last week’s session:
Last week we looked at Waypoint 5: Rest Your Soul. Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps or Action Steps sections on pages 68 and 60?
Has anyone been able to put a Sabbath into practice this weeK? What was that like for you?
Waypoint 6 Pre-work Video Discussion: Reframe Your Perspective
From the pre-work videos does anyone have any comments about these videos or anything that stood out to you that you would like to share?
Self care can feel like it is selfish, but we need to care for ourselves so we are able to care for others. But, when does self care become selfish and how can we be sure we don’t slip into this?
In what ways can your body speak up before your mind does?
There were 6 areas mentioned in the pre-work video that we need to spend time in (on page 72). Of those 6 areas, which one is the easiest for you to do almost every day? Which is the most difficult for you to do almost every day?
Let's listen now to the group video and find out some helpful ideas for us in these areas, but first let’s pray.
Prayer
Group Video: Say something like this: “There are two parts to this video for this session. We will take a break between the two sections of the video. Take notes in your Guidebook and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 13:50 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 7:77 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Discussion Questions:
What were your Aha moments from the video or what stood out to you?
Kristi discussed all the benefits of exercise. Of those benefits, which ones speak to you and would motivate you the most to exercise regularly?
Several different types of Aerobic Exercises were mentioned by Kristi in this video. Which ones would you feel comfortable doing on a regular basis? Each of us have different responsibilities, time commitments and ability levels, but what would “regular” look like for you?
Was there anything you heard in this video that was helpful for you when it comes to nutrition?
Was anyone surprised about the benefits of sleep? If so, what surprised you?
Of the suggestions discussed in the video, which ones have you tried to help you sleep better?
Recreational play for adults, just like children, has so many benefits such as stress release, improved brain function, improved creativity, increased energy and productivity and better sleep. What types of “recreational play” has shown to assist you in one or more of these benefits?
Does anyone already have a good self care routine that you’d like to share with the group?
What’s Your Next Step?: Decide what questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss question #3 and #4, if you have time. Ask the participants to complete this section as homework.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups for things discussed and shared during your time together.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework, then say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Maximize Your Development. There will be 2 pre-work videos to view and take notes in your Guidebook before our next session. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Good evening!
I hope this email finds you well! It is amazing to see that we are already coming up on Waypoint 7! Your presence and openness have made this journey together truly special. I continue to pray for each of us as we discover what our next step is in strengthening our bodies. Remember to do your Smart Goals!
In this upcoming session, we'll delve into the theme of "Maximizing Your Development." To help us prepare, there are two pre-work videos that await you when you log into your account this week. Additionally, for anyone interested in revisiting the Waypoint 6 Group Video from our last meeting, here's the special link: (insert link)
Let's gather at _(time)_ before our session starts this ___(day)______ at _(time)___. Your contribution is invaluable, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue this journey alongside you.
With love for HIM and you,
(sign your name)
Waypoint 7: Maximize Your Development
Before Waypoint 7 Session:
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 7 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question: (use the following question or come up with your own):
Did you have a teacher or mentor that was a great influencer on you? What made them stand out to you? Who were they and in what ways did they influence you?
Review last week’s session:
Last week we looked at Waypoint 6: Strengthen Your Body. Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps or Action Steps sections on pages 76 and 78?
Has anyone made any changes or adjustments to your exercise, nutrition, sleep or recreation this week? If so, what changes or adjustments have you been able to make?
Waypoint 2 Pre-work Video Discussion: Maximize Your Development
From the pre-work videos does anyone have any comments about these videos or anything that stood out to you that you would like to share?
Davey said that “if He leads you to something, He will lead you through something.” How can we trust God to do this? What are some examples in the Bible where you see how God has done that?
Davey mentioned that the most powerful form of learning style is kinesthetic, when one is actively involved in their own learning process so they can discover it themselves. This makes the lesson concrete inside of a person. Do you have an example when this was true for you - when something really stuck with you because you were actively involved in the learning process?
Davey said, “God will repeat the lesson until we learn the lesson. A lesson is repeated until a lesson is learned.” Does anyone want to share an example of when this has happened to you?
What does this statement mean to you? “We need to deal with the NOW thing before He can move us to the NEXT thing.”
Prayer: Pray for your time together
Group Video – Say something like this: “there are two parts to the video. We will take a short break between the two sections of the video. During this video, begin thinking about what God might be teaching you. Take notes in your Guidebook, and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 13:22 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 16:08 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Discussion Questions:
What were your Aha moments from the video or what stood out to you?
The verses at the beginning of this section, Psalm 23:3-4 and Isaiah 30:20-21 talk about a “rod and staff” being comforting and “bread of adversity” and “water of affliction.” These all seem very contradictory. What do you think now about how these hard things can be helpful?
There are 10 things that God could be trying to do in your life. Which one of those 10 things really hit home to you the most?
Hosea 2:14 talks about the Lord speaking “tenderly” to the one in the “wilderness”. Have you experienced this at all? Would you be willing to share about it?
What are some examples (good or bad) of “when we are squeezed, what is in us, is what comes out of us.”
God is our “I am!” God allows into our lives, “more than we can handle.” It is His sufficiency that sustains us in our insufficiencies. Which of the “I am’s” of God do you need Him to be for you right now (from page 82)? Rescuer, Way-maker, Leader/Guide, Provider, Instructor, Corrector, Healer, Defender, Fighter?
Davey mentioned that the enemy will tempt us in our identity. If he can get our identity off track, he can get our activity off track. He even tried this with Jesus in the wilderness. So, what could that look like for us today?
God could be trying to perfect your ability to love. God wants to move us from sympathy to empathy. How can this happen?
Trials can either “toughen our skin and soften our heart”, or “toughen our heart and soften our skin.” What do these two look like in real life?
In what ways could God be trying to force you to rest?
God could be trying to make you more effective or increase your capacity. God doesn’t want to “shake your faith”, but He wants to “shape your faith”. Your pain could become your platform, your mess can be your greatest message, your misery could become your ministry, your test can become your testimony”. How do you see this playing out for you in your life?
What’s Your Next Step?: Decide what questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss question #1, #4 and #5, if you have time.
Recommended Application: Use the application part of this Waypoint to be the focus of your prayer time together.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups or in pairs for things discussed and shared during your time together. Pray about the Application presented on page 86 as well.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework, then say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Cultivating Your Community. There will be 2 pre-work videos to view and take notes in your Guidebook before our next session. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Good morning,
I hope this email finds you well! It is amazing to see that we are already coming up on Waypoint 8! Your presence and openness have made this journey together truly special. I am praying this week for each of us as we discover how God wants to maximize our development. Remember to do your Action Steps!
In this upcoming session, we'll delve into the theme of "Cultivate Your Community." And that is what we desperately need as we go through the ups and downs of this life. To help us prepare, there are two pre-work videos that await you when you log into your account this week. Additionally, for anyone interested in revisiting the Waypoint 7 Group Video from our last meeting, here's the special link:
(Insert link)
Let's gather at_(time)_____ before our session starts this_(day)__ at __(time)___. Your contribution is invaluable, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue this journey alongside you.
Sending you warmth, care, and anticipation for our upcoming gathering.
(sign your name)
Waypoint 8: Cultivate Your Community
Before Waypoint 8 Session:
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Collect a list of all the different community groups you have at your church to share with participants in the “What’s Your Next Step” section of the discussion time. Be sure to also have the process for joining a group or even starting a group available for the participants.
Consider bringing some note cards or thank you cards for this session for participants to use in the application section.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 8 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question(s) (choose one or more from the following ideas):
Share a memory about a childhood friend. What made that relationship special?
You could play another version of “would you rather”. You can ask participants to raise their hand on which of the two choices they would rather do using the following (or come up with your own):
Go to dinner alone or to a movie alone?
Read the book or watch the film?
Have an in-house cook or a maid?
Hear the bad news or good news first?
Work in a group or alone?
Vacation at the beach or in the mountains?
Have lots of friends or 1-2 trusted friends?
Wake up early or stay up late?
Live in the city or in the country?
Spend time with friends outdoors or indoors
Watch a horror movie or a Rom Com?
Play card games with friends or play sports with friends?
Have a quiet night at home or go to a party?
Go to a small group with 3-4 other people or go to a Bible Study with 20 or more people?
Review last week’s session:
Last week we looked at Waypoint 7: Maximize Your Development. Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps or Action Steps sections on pages 85, 86 and 87?
Considering the 10 things that God might be trying to teach you during this time in your life, has anyone taken more notice of that this week? If so, what has God brought to your attention this week?
Waypoint 8 Pre-work Video Discussion: Reframe Your Perspective
From the pre-work videos does anyone have any comments about these videos or anything that stood out to you that you would like to share?
There are several ways that Satan can keep you away from community, the first being he tries to isolate you. Isolation tends to lead to desolation and Satan has more of an opportunity to attack you. Have you experienced emotional and/or mental attacks when you felt yourself becoming more isolated? If so, what did that look like for you and how did you combat that?
What are your thoughts about the Zebra example at the watering hole and how does that apply to us?
How does it make you feel to know that others are going through the same kinds of sufferings as you?
Prayer: Pray for your time together
Group Video – Say something like this: “there are two parts to the video. We will take a short break between the two sections of the video. During the video, think about what kind of community you would like to have. Take notes in your Guidebook, and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 10:32 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 14:43 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Discussion Questions:
What were your Aha moments from the video or what stood out to you?
In what ways is God a community-oriented being?
What are your thoughts about the Washing Machine example that Davey used?
What does the statement, “community is not created for our happiness but it's created for our holiness” mean?
What are some ways that Satan tries to keep you away from community and keeps the world from seeing God?
Has anyone experienced “secondary losses” as Davey mentioned in the video? What was that like for you?
In light of John 13:35, how can we better love one another so others will know we are HIS disciples?
Of the seven principles for cultivating a healthy community, which ones really spoke to you? In what ways did they speak to you?
Comparison is the cancer of community? Without naming names, how have you seen this happen? How can we instead celebrate with others - what are some examples of how we can celebrate with others?
The power of a safe and healthy community is multiple people coming together to give and invest in that community. What are some examples that you have seen where this has been done? How has your community supported you? What was most helpful in all those ways?
Read Ephesians 3:20. What does this verse mean to you?
What’s Your Next Step?: This is a wonderful opportunity for you to share all the different connect groups, community groups, life groups or small groups you have at your church (using whatever term your church uses for groups). Have a list available to share with the participants and encourage them to join one. Be sure to share the process your church has for joining a group. Or, if they have the desire to lead a group, share what the process for that would be as well. Many of the questions in the “What’s Your Next Step” section for this Waypoint can be very personal. You may just want to give the participants a few minutes to complete these on their own depending on how close and open your group feels with each other.
Recommended Application: You may want to read this section together or just talk about ways in which they can show appreciation to those who have been a support system to them. You could have note cards available for participants to fill out an appreciation or thank you card.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups for things discussed and shared during your time together.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework, then say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Discover Your Purpose. There will not be any pre-work videos to view before our next session but I look forward to discovering more about this waypoint with you next time we meet. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Good evening!
I hope you're doing great! I wanted to reach out and say how much I enjoyed our time together last __(day)_____. Seriously, it was fantastic delving into "Cultivating Your Community" with you all. I feel incredibly blessed to have such an amazing group of people like you as my community. Our journey together has been nothing short of transformative.
Can you believe we're down to our last two sessions already? Time really does fly when you're having meaningful conversations. This _(day)____, we're diving into "Discover Your Purpose: how do I find a new sense of purpose out of my pain?" It sounds deep, doesn't it? I'm eager to explore this with you.
Just a heads up, there won't be any pre-work videos this week, so we'll jump straight into our group video on __(day)___. But hey, let's keep each other in prayer throughout the week. As we continue to navigate how to cultivate our community and discover God's purpose for our lives, I believe our support for one another is invaluable.
Sending blessings your way, and looking forward to catching up soon!
Warmly,
(Sign your name)
Waypoint 9: Discover Your Purpose
Before Waypoint 9 Session:
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Pray for each participant in your group.
Waypoint 9 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question(s) (choose one or more from the following):
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What is one thing you are good at or you feel is your God-given gift or gifts?
What are you passionate about? What fuels you or gets you excited? What keeps you awake at night?
Review last week’s session:
Last week we looked at Waypoint 8: Cultivate Your Community. Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps or Action Steps sections on pages 92, 93 and 94?
Has anyone thought more about getting involved in a small group in our church? What would that look like for you? What barriers are keeping you from joining a group?
Prayer: Pray for your time together
Group Video – Say something like this: “there are two parts to the video. We will take a short break between the two sections of the video. Please take notes in your Guidebook, and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 17:28 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 10:31 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Discussion Questions:
What were your “Aha moments” from the video or what stood out to you?
Davey talked about the Nothing is Wasted Online Community at the outset of this video, has anyone joined one of the NIW Online Communities or have thought about joining? Can you tell us about anything you have experienced with one of their groups?
Work was assigned to man before the fall and was fruitful. Work brings satisfaction. Our soul comes alive with purposeful work. Would anyone want to share how work brings satisfaction in your life?
After the fall, work went from fruitful to frustration. Does anyone experience this frustration on a daily basis?
A desire to work in partnership with God was built into us from the beginning to provide us purpose. Part of the redemption of your story is to “bring you to a place where you are able to partner with God to repurpose your pain and to set the world right again”. What are your thoughts on this concept?
The Jewish Faith believes that if the word doesn’t exist in the Hebrew language, then, it doesn’t exist. The Hebrew language doesn’t have a word for “coincidence” or “retirement”. What do you think about that?
Sometimes our frustrations come in work because we settle for a career instead of working our calling. The hope is that our calling and career match up and you are passionate about your work.. How can that happen in our lives?
Your trial is not an interruption to your destiny or plan for your life, it’s an invitation to an even greater destiny or plan. It has not thwarted God’s overall plan for your life. God’s plan is to give you a hope and a future - greater than you could ever imagine. How does that make you feel? What are some ways that we can cooperate with God in this plan?
What are some examples of how the trials that we face can enhance the tools God has given us to minister to others and repurpose our pain?
Of the six keys to discover your calling on page 98, which ones do you feel will help you in your discovery process the most?
What’s Your Next Step?: Before proceeding with this section. Have participants turn back to page 96 and re-read Jeremiah 29:11-13 together. What does vs 13 look like for you? Then, decide what questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss question #1-#4 under the “Discover your Purpose” section and #1-#4 under the “Discover your Greatest Gifting” section, if you have time. The “Discover the Greatest Need” section could be filled out by participants without discussing either during your session or for homework.
Recommended Application: Use this section on page 103 as part of your prayer time together. Ask God to more clearly show each person in your group what their life-purpose/calling is. Encourage participants to start dreaming and imagining what God wants them to do in this next season of their lives.
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups for things discussed and shared during your time together.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework, then say something like this: “Our next Waypoint is: Design Your Plan. There will not be any pre-work videos to view and take notes in your Guidebook before our next session. Be praying and asking God what He wants to show you about your life purpose/calling, then begin dreaming and imagining what that could look like. I will be praying for you this week as you delve into this next Waypoint. See you next session!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
I trust this email finds you well and you are enjoying a wonderful week!
I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for each and every one of you. Your presence in our community has truly been a gift, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have shared this transformative journey with such amazing individuals.
Can you believe it's already time for our last session? Time has indeed flown by, filled with meaningful conversations and growth. This __(day)__marks the beginning of our "Design Your Plan" phase. As the saying goes, "if we fail to plan, we plan to fail." In Waypoint #10, we'll bring together all that we've learned to craft our Pain to Purpose Plan.
There won't be any pre-work videos this week, so we'll dive straight into our group video session this afternoon. However, if anyone wishes to revisit the Waypoint 9 Group Video from our previous meeting, you can access it using the special link below:
(insert link)
Sending warm blessings your way, and eagerly looking forward to seeing you all this afternoon!
Take care,
(sign your name)
Waypoint 10: Design Your Plan
Before Waypoint 10 Session:
Preview the video and review the session details.
Prepare discussion questions. Use suggested ones or create your own.
Pray for each participant in your group.
You might want to consider demonstrating the Rocks concept that Davey shared on step #2 - Identify your irreducible minimums and #3 - Fit your IM’s into your life container. You will need to gather two vases (or jars), small rocks, medium rocks and large rocks. Be sure to practice this before your session.
Waypoint 10 Session Opening:
Begin with a welcome, some snacks, water, etc. Remind participants of the beginning and ending times for your sessions and the Expectations for Group Participants.
Get to Know You Question(s) (use the following question or come up with your own):
What is it that you enjoy planning and why? A party, a trip, your weekly schedule, what is it?
Review last week’s session:
Last week we looked at Waypoint 9: Discover Your Purpose. Does anyone want to share anything from your Next Steps, Discover Your Greatest Passion, Discover Your Greatest Gifting? Discover Your Greatest Need? on pages 100 - 103?
Does anyone want to share anything from your Action Steps?
Prayer: Pray for your time together
Group Video – Say something like this: “there are two parts to the video. We will take a short break between the two sections of the video. Please take notes in your Guidebook, and after the video we will discuss what stood out to you.”
Part I Video- 17:54 minutes
Break - Take a Break between these two videos – go to the restroom, get a snack and a drink, and/or stretch your legs. Take about 8 minutes for the break. Have a way to gather everyone back together. It could be as simple as turning the lights on and off to signal the break is over.
Part 2 Video - 15:61 minutes
Discussion and Prayer
Discussion Questions:
It was asked of you at the start of the video for you to think of someone you know that could benefit from the Pain to Purpose course. If you haven’t done this yet, write that person’s name down at the top of page 106 in your Guidebook and then share the resources of Nothing is Wasted with them. Then, when the course is offered again, take time to encourage your friend to sign up for the course.
What were your Aha moments from the video or what stood out to you?
God guides us with the next step to create a relational reliance on Him and be protected by Him.
Davey said that God guides us with the next step to create a relational reliance on Him and be protected by Him. He mentioned that when God was leading the Israelites were to step into the water - a step of faith and then God parts the water. How do we step into the water BEFORE we see God part it? How do we take those steps to move forward?
Let’s read Romans 8:1 together aloud. Pause and let that sink in. There is NO CONDEMNATION in Christ Jesus. What does that mean to you? The voice of condemnation is the voice of shame. It is not from God, it is the voice of the enemy.
The voice of the Holy Spirit will come to us and speak to us. The voice of the Holy Spirit is often a whisper. We need to be attentive to the whisper. The Holy Spirit wants to encourage, challenge, comfort and convict. Does anyone have an example when they heard the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Which quadrant do you find yourself living in and why do you find yourself there?
If we don’t tend to the items in quadrant 4, then we will find ourselves back in quadrant 1. How can we work on being in and staying in quadrant 4?
Irreducible minimums are the rules we live by, the rhythms. What would be an example for you of an irreducible minimum in your life? You can’t have the “rare” if you don’t establish the “rule”. What is an example of the “rare” that could happen in your life?
This is the place where you could show the visual of the Irreducible Minimums Life Container illustration with the vases (or jars), large, medium and small rocks. Have your participants name the “large rocks” in their lives while you put large rocks in the vase or jar. Have participants name the “medium rocks” in their lives while you put the medium rocks in. Then do the same for the small rocks. Then, as a point, in the 2nd vase or jar, do the opposite and start with the small rocks, then the medium rocks, then the large rocks and soon it will be noticed that there is not enough room for the large rocks, the most important items/people in your life. Be sure you use the same amount of small, medium and large rocks in both vases (or jars).
The illustration Davey provides with the bodies of water in Israel is powerful. We need to create a proper balance of getting poured into and pouring out. How are you getting BOTH “poured into'' and “poured out”?
What’s Your Next Step?: Allow time for participants to fill out this section on page 119 to top of page 121. Then, have participants share in smaller groups or even pairs for accountability some of their “starts” and “stops” in the 6 areas of wellness on page 119-121.
Repurposing Your Pain: Decide what questions would be appropriate to discuss together, but especially discuss question #1 and #2, if you have time. Give time for participants to finish filling this section out.
Pain to Purpose Plan (pages 115-118): Many participants will want to really take time to reflect, think and pray while filling this section out. You may want to give the participants a few minutes to go ahead and complete this section while they are here or complete it on their own at home, depending on how close and open your group feels with each other and the time you have left. You may want to add one more session for a “Pain to Purpose Party” and have a cookout or a meal together and then let everyone share their Pain to Purpose Plan at that time.
Recommended Application:
Action Steps: Most likely you won’t have time to discuss this, but give it as homework for the next session.
Prayer: Take some time to have prayer together in small groups or in pairs for things discussed and shared during your time together.
Looking Forward: Remind the participants of any homework (such as their Pain to Purpose Plan) You may want to add one more session as a “Pain to Purpose Party” and have a cookout or a meal together and then let everyone share their Pain to Purpose Plan at that time. Then say something like this: “The Nothing is Wasted team would love to hear from you on how the pain to purpose course has impacted you. Please take some time to think about this and if you wish, write a couple of paragraphs describing your journey through the course, then email Amy Sylvester at www.nothingiswasted.com/stories or you can email her at hello@niwministries.com. I will be praying for you this week as you consider sharing this part of your story with Nothing is Wasted and for you as you complete your Pain to Purpose Plan. Hope to see you at our Pain to Purpose Party!”
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After this session email your participants something like the following:
Dear Pain to Purpose Valued Participants,,
Good morning! I hope this message finds you well and blessed as we journey through another week. Your commitment to this course and your dedication to growing closer to the Lord has truly inspired me.
As we wrapped up our last session, we were reminded of the importance of planning ahead on our paths of healing and purpose. Davey has provided us with invaluable tools in the teaching guide to aid us in this process. Remember, "if we fail to plan, we plan to fail."
I encourage you to take some time for introspection, then move forward by crafting your plan using the guidelines Davey has outlined. You'll find his example on pages 111-114, and space to create your personal plan on pages 115-118. Don't forget to complete the "What's Your Next Step" section on pages 119-123.
For those interested, the Waypoint 10, Design Your Plan Group Video, is available for revisiting via the special link provided below::
(Insert link)
Additionally, I mentioned at our last gathering that Davey and his team would love to hear how the Pain to Purpose Course has impacted you. Sharing your experiences could greatly impact others. If you would, please take a few minutes to write a paragraph (or more, if you wish) and send it to Amy Sylvestre at www.nothingiswasted.com/stories or you can email her at hello@niwministries.com. Your testimony not only will help spread awareness of Nothing is Wasted Ministries but also serve as encouragement to the team behind it. So, thank you for taking the time to let them know the impact this ministry is having on you.
We will meet one last time to celebrate together the completion of the Pain to Purpose Course and your Pain to Purpose Plan! (Give details).
Remember, you are cherished, and your journey matters. If you ever need to talk or if there's anything I can assist you with, please don't hesitate to reach out.
With love and gratitude,
(sign your name)