GOING DEEPER

It is hot off the press! I am speaking of the Renovaré Spiritual Formation Group Workbook. I am very pleased with the results--I believe you will be too.

User Friendly. We are trying to make our mutual accountability group experience as user friendly as possible. As I and the others on our team have gone around the country speaking about renewal, many Renovaré Spiritual Formation Groups have sprung up. Our goal has been, like Sampson, to "light the tails of the foxes" and let them go. This has been happening everywhere. When I was in San Jose, Costa Rica, I discovered that several RSF Groups formed and had their first meeting before I even left town.

We have been giving these groups material as fast as we can. And they report wonderful experiences. But many of them are not sure how to proceed. They are using the "Opening Words," the "Self-Examination Questions," etc. as best they can, but they need more help.

They need background on the five traditions. They need a clear, concise order for their meetings. They need weekly worksheets. They need specific ideas and exercises for practicing each of the five traditions. They need ideas on how to start a group. They need a periodic evaluation process for their group. It is these needs we are trying to answer in this Workbook. It makes the Renovaré Spiritual Formation Group process user friendly.

Creative Content. The Workbook is a professionally designed notebook with six sections.

1. Seven Beginning Sessions - Step-by-step you are taken through the five traditions by studying the life of Christ. Anyone can lead these meetings because we give specific instructions for the leader and helps for each person in the group. Scripture passages, spiritual exercises, and more help lead you through a discovery of each tradition.

2. Order of Meeting - This section leads a group step-by-step through a RSF Group meeting. It covers the Opening Words, The Covenant, The Common Disciplines, The Footprints of God, Looking Ahead, Ending and Beginning, and the Closing Words.

3. Weekly Worksheets - These are sheets you can use week-by-week as you meet in your groups. They guide you in mutual loving accountability.

4. Ideas and Exercises - This section provides dozens and dozens of specific ways to practice each of the five traditions.

5. Starting a Group - This section gives practical counsel on how to get a RSF Group started, including answers to the most frequently asked questions about RSF Groups.

6. Periodic Evaluation - This section provides the process for ongoing evaluation of the health of your group.

Opening Sessions Worth the Whole Notebook. The Seven Beginning Sessions are worth the entire Notebook. Author Jim Smith has gone through each of the five traditions--Contemplative, Holiness, Charismatic, Social Justice, Evangelical--in a study of the Gospels. For example in Session #5 he looks at "Christ and the Life of Justice and Compassion." He provides an easy to read commentary on the Gospel passage: Matthew 25:31-46. He does a reflection on "God and the Social Justice Tradition," and then explains the tradition in both the Bible and history. He concludes with useful exercises for practicing the Social Justice Tradition. Throughout he provides numerous opportunities for reflection and response.I am very pleased with the work he has done and highly recommend you secure this Workbook whether you are in a RSF Group or only want to study it by yourself. -- Richard J. Foster