Judah Smith - Hows Your Soul? Bible Study Guide: Why Everything that Matters Starts with the Inside You

W elcome to the Hows Your Soul? small group Bible study! Im so excited youve decided to embark on this six-week journey. I believe it will have lasting impact on the health of your soul, on your walk with God, and on other key relationships in your life.

If youve already read the Hows Your Soul? book, you know why this topic means so much to me. For months now, Ive been captivated by the importance of a healthy soul. In part, I think its because Im getting older, and I want the years I have left to be even better than the years Ive lived. To be honest, though, its also because Ive personally experienced an unhealthy soul from time to timeand I dont want to live there.

Chances are, you know what Im talking about. Life has a way of overwhelming you with good news and bad news, with work and pleasure, with kids and jobs and deadlines and grief and success. Sometimes it feels unrelenting. Sometimes it feels like too much. And as a result, your soul can suffer.

My passion and my prayer is that through this study guide and the accompanying video, you will be able to take an honest look at the state of your soul. That can seem scary at first, but trust me, its well worth the effort. Its far better to ask the honest questions now than to try to figure out what went wrong after the fact.

We all have parts of our souls that need a bit of work. There is no shame in that. I believe God wants those who follow him to embody true honesty and acceptance in a world where secrets and facades are the norm. He wants us to create environments where we can all find the help we needwhere we can grow together through mutual support and encouragement.

I am so grateful for your willingness to follow Jesus and to let him lead your soul. I believe God has incredible things in store as you embrace the journey ahead! The following suggestions will help you get the most out of this small group study guide.

GROUP SIZE

This study is designed for use in a group setting such as a Bible study, Sunday school class, or other small group gathering. Because the goal of the video and guide is to facilitate participation among all the attendees, the ideal group size is between five and fifteen people. If your group is much larger, consider breaking into two or more groups.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Each participant should have his or her own study guide, which includes video teaching questions, small group discussion questions, and personal studies to deepen learning between sessions.

FACILITATION

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

PERSONAL STUDY SESSIONS

During the week, you can maximize the impact of the course with the personal studies provided. Each video session includes several short studies with accompanying questions that will help you think about and apply the weeks topic to your life. Each of these studies can be completed in about twenty minutes. The studies are personal and devotional in nature, so feel free to utilize them in whatever way works best for you and your schedule. You may wish to read one each day or two or complete the entire week in one sitting.