How to Use This Guide
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
Each session in the following discussion guide refers to an excerpt from the book and directs the reader to questions for personal study and group discussion. If you are working through this guide with a group, you will probably want to read the excerpt and work through the questions on your own before your group meets. However, if your group meets for ninety minutes or more, you could read the excerpt together and then discuss the questions that follow. This guide can also be used without a group for personal study.
In a study guide on personal growth in holiness, it should not be surprising that some questions ask you to reflect on the sin in your own life. If you are using this guide with a group, you may not feel comfortable sharing with the entire group your frankest possible answers to such questions. In such cases, try to be as honest as possible in the answers you write down for your eyes only, and share with the group only what is appropriate. You may decide there is one other person in the group with whom you would like to discuss some questions privately. In general, however, the questions in this guide are designed to be appropriate for group discussion.
Most sessions end with a suggestion for group prayer. In some cases, thanksgiving for God’s grace is the fitting response to the discussion. In other cases, you will want to ask God for something specific. Because some groups have customary ways of praying together, while other groups are not used to praying aloud, you and your leader will want to adapt these prayer suggestions to suit your group. You could use them as a basis for a time of silent prayer if you prefer not to pray aloud. Or, you could begin learning to pray aloud by letting each person pray just one sentence. If you are using this guide without a group, you might apply these suggestions to a time of private prayer.
May God use this guide to help you grow in the discipline of His grace.