Off The Map - Idealab

Simple Spirituality - The Feedback Loop
A new approach to spiritual formation

Simple Spirituality is a new approach to spiritual formation. It is designed to help Christians become more real in their spirituality while also providing a safe place for non-Christians to discuss their spiritual experiences. The material is can be downloaded for free. Here is some feedback from others who have already used this material in their groups or church.

How did you first come across the Simple Spirituality Material?
Found it on the website, not quite sure how I got there, most likely via Len Sweet's website.

What surprised you about the process of downloading the free materials?
Too good to be true! Hopefully it will be the start of something more normal. It has always bugged me how a question guide for a small group ends up costing $12 Cdn by the time we get them up here.

What kind of responses did you get related to the group rules and the timer?
It seemed awkward at first, but I soon found myself realizing the genius of it because it was so hard for me not to abide. I am a motor mouth with an incessant need to hear the sound of my own voice (a common Pastor problem?) and it really forced me to shut up. Some of our less wordy people never needed more than 2 minutes the first couple weeks but soon began to fill up their 5 minutes also.

What kind of responses did you get related to the group rules and the timer?
It seemed awkward at first, but I soon found myself realizing the genius of it because it was so hard for me not to abide. I am a motor mouth with an incessant need to hear the sound of my own voice (a common Pastor problem?) and it really forced me to shut up. Some of our less wordy people never needed more than 2 minutes the first couple weeks but soon began to fill up their 5 minutes also.

What did others tell you about how they benefited?
Really felt like they connected with the others, felt like it mattered whether or not they showed up. vIt's a group that you begin to consider your attendance important for others benefit not only for your own. vAttendance levels were outstanding. Few ever missed a single week...

John Blackman, Pastor
Renaissance Baptist Church
Brooklin, Canada
www.brooklinrbc.ca

I'm ruined!

I led a book discussion group. This was the second time the core of this group met. The first time I deliberately prepared ground rules. The group worked together beautifully and went so well they decided to reconvene on another book. We met again last night on a related theme.

I did not facilitate well last night. And, as a result, the discussion got hijacked by a new member. It did not occur to me until I was in the car that it was my responsibility to rein things in as the facilitator. In that sense, I failed the group (recognizing that Ifailed is a more highly charged word than I feel about the event.) What I was aware of in the discussion is that I am a better listener. I wait for someone to finish. I sink into to them speaking without much planning about the next point. It's okay for them to speak. What was terrible is that the person who hijacked the meeting kept talking until someone interrupted him. And I sat there resenting the fact that he didn't see that people listened to him without interrupting but he didn't extend the same courtesy. I longed for the safety and structure of Simple Spirituality despite the fact that introverts are the ones that are supposed to like that model more. I kept expecting him to realize that he had his five minutes - so shut up! But he didn't know the rules that I have come to use in every day life. And, as the facilitator, in my frustration, I forgot to help him.

The husband of one member in my small group told me that his wife listens to him as she has never listened to him in their marriage. He is a very expressive sort of guy and so I thought perhaps a bit of a hyperbole was at play in that observation. I think that is not the case though. I saw myself changed. I am a better listener than ever before and I know the source of the change.

Thank you for such a great tool.

Staying Simple in Pennsylvania

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