The New Eve - Lewis Robert [84]
4. Begin with an Orientation Meeting
Small-group discussions work best when group participants know one another and the ground rules for meeting together. Therefore, once a small group of women has expressed interest in doing a New Eve study together and a leader has been identified, a preparatory meeting should be arranged to help the group get started right.
At this relaxed orientation meeting, the group leader allows whatever time is necessary for group members to comfortably get to know one another and invites each woman to tell the group what she hopes to receive from this study. The leader should also allow Robert Lewis and Lisa Fischer to introduce themselves by showing the group the first Discussion Starter video.
After these introductions the leader should remind the women that the focus of this study will be to offer each woman in the group specific, hands-on ways of making her unique life better, richer, more meaningful, and more honoring to God. At its best this New Eve study and discussion should provide time for thought-provoking interaction and reflection, personal examination, and helpful life-changing applications.
With that said, the leader will work through the following checklist with the group members:
Set a place and date for the first meeting.
Gain a commitment from each woman to attend all nine discussion sessions.
Set starting and stopping times for each of the small-group discussions.
Establish the “golden rule” of small-group discussion: everyone will participate, and no one will dominate.
Make time ( five minutes or more) for reflection at the end of every small-group discussion time for group members to write specific applications (new beliefs, priorities, behavior, ways of thinking, etc.) for themselves that would make life better.
Make sure everyone has a book and knows to read chapter 1 and to work through the discussion questions before the first meeting.
Session 1
Discussion Questions
Chapters 1 and 2
Writing out your initial answers to these questions before your small-group meeting will enhance the quality of your discussions. Take a moment to record your answers.
1. Chapter 1 captures some of the immense sociological changes that have unfolded in and around the lives of modern women. How have these changes impacted and influenced your life?
2. Are there specific changes happening to women today that concern you? What are they, and why do they concern you?
3. True or false: Women can have it all. Explain your answer.
4. What does a successful and fulfilling life look like to you as a woman right now? Can you describe it in specific terms?
5. Given so many new freedoms today, what would you think are the biggest trouble spots for women to look out for? Where have you made mistakes?
6. In this new world of opportunity, do you personally have clear guidelines for navigating life successfully? If so, what are they? If not, what do you think you need?
7. Chapter 2 presents four general worldviews or mind-sets women (and men) may live from. Which of these four world-views do you think best describes how you live your life? Explain your answer.
8. Look over the five bold moves introduced at the end of this chapter. Which one grabs your attention the most here at the start? Tell why.
Post-discussion Takeaways
Now that you have read these chapters and had your discussion time, what personal applications (new beliefs, priorities, behaviors, ways of thinking, etc.) will you leave with? Take a few minutes and record them in the space below.
Session 2
Discussion Questions
Chapter 3
Writing out your initial answers to these questions before your small-group meeting will enhance the quality of your discussions. Take a moment to record your answers.