Intro Session
Begin Session
Opening Remarks
Announcements
Opening Prayer
Distribute the Heart of the Problem Workbooks
Explain how the Workbook is laid out
There are 12 Units to be covered, 1 Unit each time we meet.
Each Unit has 5 Daily Sections (Unit 1 is the exception; Day 5 is divided into 2 parts).
Each Daily Section will take approximately 20-30- minutes to complete depending on the individual’s depth of study.
Each Daily Section ends with the same four learning activities. This part of the study is very important! Each activity has a specific purpose.
- Identify your most meaningful thought: This activity will help you to think about the day’s topic in a broader sense. You’ve answered all of the individual questions – what really stands out to you?
- Apply what God is pointing out to you. The only way to make life changes is to apply the truth of what you are learning. Write out things that you will actually do. Try to be specific.
- Write a short prayer. Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit who speaks to us as we pray.
- Did God bring to mind someone who needs to hear this truth? As you consider the answer to this question, you are preparing to share what God is teaching you! When you actually see this person you will already have the thoughts planted in your heart and mind as to what you should share with them.
At the end of each Unit is an “Optional – But Recommended!” exercise (see page 25) where you are given the opportunity to list all of your answers together for each question in the Unit. This can really help you to see a repeated thought. Sometimes God is bringing a specific idea to our minds over and over again, but we don’t really realize it. One woman commented that when she actually wrote all of her answers together, she saw how often she had the same thought throughout the week. She realized she really needed to do something about that particular issue.
Practical Advice
Write the date at the beginning of each Day. As you answer the questions and God shows you breakthroughs in your life, the Workbook will serve as a journal and can help you to see the progress you’ve made and also the areas in your life that you still need to work on.
As you read, use a highlighter to mark meaningful statements. This will make it easier for you to go back and choose your most meaningful thought.
Do not wait until the end of the week to work through all of the Days at once! You will not benefit throughout your week with the truth that you are learning, and you will miss out on the opportunity o apply it each day.
The Heart of the Problem Personal Evaluation
(page xv)
The Personal Evaluation found at the front of the Workbook on page xv is a helpful tool in evaluating your growth during the study. You are encouraged to complete the evaluation this week as a “pretest” and then revisit the evaluation at the end of the course as a “posttest”. This is an individual exercise and will not be shared with the group.
It may be helpful for you to make additional copies for group members to use in the “posttest”.
Weekly Memory Verse
At the beginning of each Unit, there is a “Memory Verse for the Week.” You should memorize this verse or another verse from the Unit that is helpful to you.
If your group is using Prayer Partners, they can recite the verses to each other at the beginning or end of each Session.
Prayer Partners
A helpful part of the process of growing can be for your members to pair up as “Prayer Partners”. It is often helpful for Prayer Partners to stay the same throughout the entire course. If this is possible, Prayer Partners should agree to pray for each other throughout each week and touch base weekly for updates. Allow group members to choose a Prayer Partner. Encourage them to pray for:
- Insight into God’s Word
- Honesty in answering the questions
- God’s revelation of the needed change in your partner’s life
- Obedience to put into action what God reveals
- Discipline and time to complete the homework daily
Introduce Material in Unit 1
(If Time Allows)
Since Unit 1 has an extra section of material in it, your group can work through Day 1 (Unit 1 begins on page 1, Day 1 on page 2). Ask a volunteer to read through the Thought Starter and the Memory Verse.
The Thought Started may seem a little confusing as we start out, but Dr. Brandt will explain this idea in more detail as we proceed through this Unit. For now, let’s continue on to Page 2.
- Ask a volunteer to read through the text on this page.
- Ask for 5 volunteers to each look up on one of the scriptures on page 3 and then fill in the blanks together.
- Ask a volunteer to read the remaining information on page 3.
- Turn to page 4. Answers are already given as an example. Ask your group members to add their own ideas to what is already presented.
- If time allows, have 1 or 2 people share their most meaningful thought and how they might apply it.
Conclude Session
You now have all of the information you need to get started! We’ve had the opportunity to work through one day of the material. We will finish discussing Unit 1 next week. Your assignment is to complete all 5 Days and be ready to discuss it when we return. Don’t forget to memorize the verse for this week!
Closing Prayer / Prayer Partners
