Karen Ehman - Listen, Love, Repeat Bible Study Guide: Other-Centered Living in a Self-Centered World

Group Size

The Listen, Love, Repeat video curriculum is designed to be experienced in a group setting such as a Bible study, Sunday school class, or any small group gathering. After viewing each video together, members will participate in a group discussion. Ideally, discussion groups should be no larger than twelve people. You will notice occasional portions of the discussion where you are encouraged to break into smaller clusters of three to six people each for more heart-to-heart sharing and Scripture study. These times are clearly noted in the guide.

Materials Needed

Each participant should have her own study guide, which includes video outline notes, directions for activities, and discussion questions, as well as a reading plan and personal studies to deepen learning between sessions. Participants are also strongly encouraged to have a copy of the Listen, Love, Repeat book. Reading the book alongside the video curriculum provides even deeper insights that make the journey richer and more meaningful (also, a few of the questions pertain to material covered in the book). Noted that there are also additional materials needed for a bonus session wrap-up party (see ).

Timing

The time notationsfor example (23 minutes)indicate the actual time of video segments and the suggested time for each activity or discussion. Adhering to the suggested times will enable you to complete each session in an hour and fifteen minutes. If you have additional time, bonus questions are provided, thereby expanding the session to an hour and a half, or even longer if your group desires. If you are serving refreshments and including prayer time, figure another thirty minutes.

Facilitation

Each group should appoint a facilitator who is responsible for starting the video and for keeping track of time during discussions and activities. Facilitators may also read questions aloud and monitor discussions, prompting members to respond and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate.

Between-Sessions Personal Study

Maximize the impact of the course with additional study between group sessions. Carving out about two hours total for personal study between meeting times will enable you to complete both the book and between-session studies by the end of the course. For each session, you may wish to complete the personal study all in one sitting or to spread it out over a few days (for example, working on it a half hour a day on four different days that week). PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to finish (or even start!) your between-sessions personal study, still attend the group study video session. We are all busy and life happens. You are still wanted and welcome at class even if you dont have your homework done.

Session Challenges

Every session offers a simple challenge for listening and loving, which can be summed up in a short, easy-to-remember phrase. In order for the challenge to be prominent in your mind throughout the week, we have printed each one on for you to copy, cut out, and place where you will see it frequently. Or you can type the phrase, making it the screen saver on your computer or the lock screen on your phone.

Scripture Memory

Each study also includes a key Scripture verse that highlights the session theme. If you wish to maximize your learning experience, consider memorizing these verses. In order to assist you with this goal, all six verses are printed on of the study guide.

Copy this page on paper or card stock and then cut out the appropriate verses week by week. (You really creative and crafty types may even want to use scrapbooking paper to layer them on top of some decorative paper.) Then keep them in a handy placeperhaps your car, pocketbook, or laptop bag. You can practice memorizing them while waiting in the car-pool line or at the doctors office. Or post them at your kitchen sink or on your bathroom mirror where you will see them each day. Laminating them will help to keep them from getting ruined if they get splashed.

It may be helpful to have the group facilitator inquire if any participants are attempting to memorize the key verses. Perhaps those members will want to show up five minutes early (or stay after for a few minutes) to practice reciting them to each other.