Designed for Living: Life as God Intended
£6.99 (Approx)
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Overview
What does it say on the tin?
Unlock the secrets of abundant life
Understand yourself and others better as you discover God’s original design for your life with this 8-session resource for women.
Explore your deepest longings, motives and patterns of thinking and relating, and find deep security and personal significance as you learn to draw more thoroughly on the Father’s love for you.
This workbook, based on CWR’s popular Designed for Living seminar, will help you to uncover and correct harmful beliefs, thought processes and behaviours so you can live life more freely and fully as a child of God.
Suitable for group or individual use.
“More than a decade ago my life was drastically changed when I encountered the design for living which this book describes – and I genuinely have never been the same person since!
“By helping me to understand and accept myself, and others, I was able to discard the ‘candy floss’ mask I’d always hidden behind. I’m no longer afraid to be the person God created me to be, as I find my identity in Him.”
– Jennifer Rees Larcombe
What do you get?
Glossy A5 booklet with 8 sessions:
Part 1: Considering Our Design
- 1. Life as God intended
- 2. Hungry for something
- 3. Ways we hold back
Part 2: Restoring Our Divine Image
- 4. Affirming our value
- 5. Recognising our behaviour
- 6. Directing our thoughts
- 7. Channelling our emotions
- 8. Safeguarding our bodies
Who is it for?
Women, small group, personal. Beginning, Growing.
Review
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What is the overall quality of material presentation?
Insightful and deeply helpful biblical resource for women to explore their true identity in God, and what that means for healthy emotional growth. Highly recommended.
How clear are its aims and outcomes?
Clear structure to the sessions, which revolve around a good progression through the subject.
How accessible are the leader’s notes?
Clearly laid out and easy-to-use sessions with the following pattern:
Introductory reading;
Explore the Bible (plus questions);
Ask Yourself (opportunity to engage personally with the topic);
Take it Deeper (addressing issues at a more challenging level);
Listen to Others (a short story of personal application);
Prayer (suggested written prayer and relevant themes);
Have a Smile (a light moment to bring a smile).Clear font and headings. Creative ideas are placed at the end of each session, but relate to an earlier section. Introductory pages from the two authors explain the potential for engaging with the subject, and suggest using the booklet either personally or in a small group, the latter on a weekend away or in a series of weekly sessions.
Who could lead it?
A leader or two who are prepared to engage with the issues themselves, and lead others in honest responses. A few additional notes at the back of the booklet help leaders to prepare.
How helpful are the participants’ resources?
The one book is for all – and each group member would need a copy.
How good is any digital material?
N/A
How much prep will I have to do?
It would be good to engage with the topics well before facilitating, as they are potentially life-changing. Giving yourself some time to work and pray through some of the issues will set you free to help others too. On a practical note, there are the creative ideas to prepare, though these are straight-forward. The notes for leaders also recommend finding out a list of local people or organisations to whom you can refer if a ‘complex issue’ comes up.
Is there website support? Links?
N/A
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How well does it encourage interaction with the group?
Excellent. Group members are encouraged to be honest from the start, and to share the journey of self-discovery and growth. This is done through good questions and the assumption that people will answer them.
How well does it cater for a variety of both learning and delivery styles?
Good mix of reading, questions, Bible, prayer and a little creative input. The short stories from people who have ‘been there’ already are very helpful in bringing the learning to life; and are inspiring.
How adaptable is it to my situation?
This resource is firmly designed for women. As long as group members are prepared to go beneath surface level responses, it would work well for women’s groups, even those with low literacy as it is not ‘wordy’ but focused around questions and answers.
How well does it encourage people to work together in applying the material?
Very well. The added power of engaging with the sessions as a group is used well, and encouraged. The prayer times would add to the learning process; and the discussions from session to session.
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How much of the material is Bible-based?
The various topics are related to biblical material in every session, with a variety of texts, sometimes one, sometimes more.
How well is the biblical material presented and used?
The group needs to look up the recommended passages, and then engage with the questions around them. Very relevant and helpful, with open questions.
How well does it apply biblical material to everyday life?
The biblical material keeps the progression through the topics carefully biblically based. These principles are foundational for understanding one’s identity in Christ, and the bases for a new approach to self-acceptance and growth. Much positive life-changing potential.
Is there a particular theological perspective?
Taking the Bible at its word, this is an approach to identity that embraces a big picture understanding of the implications of salvation.
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How well does it inspire people towards whole-life discipleship? .
The tendency to be self-critical and negative is so prevalent; this resource tackles that head on and looks at how we could be growing as disciples instead – beyond our self-imposed limitations.
How well does it encourage and enable people to grow in their faith?
Very practical and careful journey through the thought patterns and responses that stop us from growing in faith, with clear input on how to understand and revolutionise these processes.
How well does it stretch faith and vision of God and his purposes?
This resource is especially targeted to those of us who are adept at putting ourselves down; but the challenges it presents in response would work well for those who are more confident as well. It all comes back to understanding how God has designed us to function; and we all have ‘stuff’ that needs his wise attention. Superb presentation of powerful material.
How well does it connect with real life issues?
Very well indeed. This is ground-level input that could have far-reaching, good consequences in many areas of life. As acknowledged elsewhere, the short stories from people who have ‘been there’ already are very helpful in bringing the learning to life; and are inspiring.
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How well does it encourage personal evangelism?
Not a focus.
How well does it encourage local or network-based community involvement?
Not a focus.
How well does it connect with global issues?
N/A
How well does it connect with global mission?
N/A