Louie Giglio - Relatable Bible Study Guide: Making Relationships Work

Relat(able) Study Guide

2016 by Louie Giglio

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ISBN 978-0-310-08872-1

ISBN 978-0-310-08873-8 (eBook)

May 2016

In this ebook edition, please use your devices note-taking function to record your thoughts wherever you see the bracketed instructions [Your Notes] or [Your Response Here]. Use your devices highlighting function to record your response whenever you are asked to checkmark, circle, underline, or otherwise indicate your answer(s).

CONTENTS

One of the great mysteries of the Christian faith is the Holy Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity developed over centuries and reflects the churchs consistent witness that, though God is one God, he exists as three persons. Those persons are called Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each is distinct: the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father. Yet while each of the persons of the Trinity remains distinct, God continues to be one.

If that makes your head spin a little, its okay. That is why the Trinity is considered a holy mystery. God is always bigger than our minds can fully comprehend. Yet at the heart of the Trinity is a profound truth that has endured for millennia: Gods very being is relationship. The flow of love from Son to Spirit, and Spirit to Father, and Father to Son is the essence of who God is. This is good news for people like us, because all of us want better relationships. We long for connections that are meaningful, fulfilling, and significant. Whether it is a desire to be a healthier parent, spouse, partner, or friend, or to have greater capacity to forgive and reconcile with those who have hurt us, we do not need to worry. God has everything we need, because no one is better at relationships than God. It is, literally, what God is all about. Helping you tap into that power and be transformed is what this study is all about too.

The title of the series is Relat(able) because during this study you are going to explore a simple but weighty question: How do you relate? Each session will discuss a different facet of this question by engaging the stories of the Bible and the teaching of Louie Giglio. In each gathering, expect an opening question, a short Bible study, and then some time with Louie via video. However, the real action comes when you dig in to each topic during a guided small group experience. During this time your group will be invited to participate in a practical activity designed to move the sessions Relat(able) lesson from your head to your heart. This section is called Becoming Relat(able), and it will serve as a place where the big ideas of this study take on some flesh-and-blood reality.

In addition, there are two bonus sessions included in this study: Why Date? and Marriage with a Mission. If your group is primarily comprised of singles who are dating (or are considering dating), you may elect to have the participants study the material in the first bonus session: Why Date? If your group is primarily comprised of married couples, you may find it beneficial for the participants to study the material in the second bonus session: Marriage with a Mission. The discussion guide for these sessions can be found at the end of this book.

Its going to be great! However, if you want to get the most out of your Relat(able) experience, you need to keep a couple of things in mind. First, the real growth in this study will happen during your small group time. This is where you will process the content of Louies message, ask questions, and learn from others as you listen to what God is doing in their lives.

This leads to point two: As much as small groups can be a deeply rewarding time of intimacy and friendship, they can also be a disaster. Work to make your group a safe place. That means both being honest about your thoughts and feelings as well as listening carefully to everyone elses opinion.

Third, resist the temptation to fix a problem someone might be experiencing, or to correct his or her theology. Thats not what this time is for. Finally, keep everything your group shares confidential. All this will foster a rewarding sense of community in your Relat(able) group and give God space to do something new in the relationships in your life.

Relat(able) is designed to be as personal as is it practical. Each session begins with a mixer question followed by a reflection from the Bible. Then youll watch the video with Louie and jump into some directed small group discussion. Even though there are many questions available for your small group, dont feel like you have to use them all. Your leader will focus on the ones that resonate most with your group and guide you from there.

The final component of each session is called Becoming Relat(able). This is where Relat(able) might diverge from other studies you have experienced. In this part of the study, your group will engage in a hands-on practical exercise that seeks to move the good news of the session from your head to your heart. Think of this time as an answer to the question, What am I supposed to do with this message?

These exercises are meant to be completed during your meeting time, and they will be what you make of them. If you choose to only go through the motions, or if you abstain from participating, there is a lesser chance youll find what youre looking for in this study. But if you stay open-minded and take a chance, you may discover what so many others have already found to be true: faith comes alive when we take holy risks for God.

Now, it is understandable that the thought of risky activities makes you feel anxious. Thats okay. If you fall into this category, just read ahead to each Becoming Relat(able) section and you will know not only whats coming up but also how to prepare yourself accordingly. Finally, remember that none of these exercises involves anything inappropriate or embarrassing. They are just hands-on opportunities to keep us open to Gods love and to help us see the gospel as true good news.

Following your group time, there will be three more opportunities for you to engage the content of Relat(able) during the week. Each is based on one of the three central relationships of love that Louie speaks to in the study. The first one focuses on our relationship with God (Love God), the second addresses the way we love ourselves (Love Yourself), and the third is about how we can better love our neighbors (Love Your Neighbor). The challenge will be to do at least one of these activities between sessions and to use this study guide to record what you learn.

Starting in , you will have time before the video to check in about the previous weeks activity and process your experiences as a group. And, if you could not do an activity one week, or are just joining the study, dont worry. Hearing what others have learned will be nourishment enough.