The New Eve - Lewis Robert [83]
All this to say, the Bible endorses none of the above family models. Instead it sets forth its own set of unique blueprints (outlined in chap. 11) for what the family should look like to please God. When followed in faith and everyday practice, the biblical model for family will help ensure the health and development of each member of the family. This in turn will positively shape our larger culture. That's why a New Eve embraces these biblical blueprints and builds her home on them.
Conclusion
A New Eve recognizes that her family is a crucial change agent within society. She knows her family has been designed by God to be a redemptive force for good, regardless of the age in which she lives, even an atomistic one. That means you and your family can be a part of restoring our nation to health. Believe it! Even an atomized society can be reunified. But it has to happen one family at a time. A New Eve carries that conviction deep in her heart and allows it to shape her pursuits and priorities. She knows what God knows: her family is society's future.
Small-Group Study Guide and Discussion Questions
1. Introduction
The following study guide with small-group discussion questions is provided to help you join with a small group of women to process and personalize the insights and challenges found in The New Eve.
Small groups work best when the group size allows everyone the opportunity to freely participate. It is recommended that your group be no larger than five or six in number. One woman should serve as the moderator with the following responsibilities:
To provide a setting that is comfortable and free of interruption
To establish and maintain starting and stopping times
To facilitate the weekly discussions, making sure everyone participates
To keep everyone informed of the weekly assignments
To encourage prayer for one another
2. Select the Type of Small Group You Want
Several types of small groups can be formed around The New Eve:
The eclectic small group, made up of adult women of all ages, preferably led by a mature Christian woman.
The age-specific small group, made up of women in a common season of life. For help on the seasons of life, see chapters 7 and 8. If the small group is composed specifically of younger women (twenties and/or thirties in age), it is highly recommended that one or two more experienced mentors facilitate the group.
The mother-daughter small group. This group works best when all the daughters participating are between the ages of eighteen and twenty. This gives the moms a great opportunity to “initiate” their daughters into the specifics of Christian womanhood at a crucial developmental period of their lives. In such cases, some kind of special ceremony calling these young daughters to pursue bold, godly femininity might be a fitting way to end this study.
3. The Nine Discussion Sessions
Nine New Eve discussion sessions cover the twelve chapters in this book. Six of these sessions focus on single chapters. Three cover two chapters each. The final discussion session focuses specifically on each participant's personal takeaways and the one bold move each woman plans to concentrate on once the study has concluded.
Two additional resources are available to enhance this study. First is a Discussion Starter DVD, which is available to help you launch each of your small group discussions. In this video, Dr. Robert Lewis and his host, Lisa Fischer, open both the orientation meeting and each of the nine discussion sessions to you in a more personal way. Their comments are designed to give focus and added energy to the beginning of each of your small-group times.
Second, a recording of a live presentation of The New Eve by Dr. Lewis is available on CD for you to listen to. This can be used