PARTICIPANT GUIDE for small groups O Z WN CHA EXPERIENCE PURSUE YOUR PASSION DEFINE YOUR VISION LIVE YOUR LIFE ON PURPOSE
Welcome to the Chazown Experience... Congratulations on your decision to discover your Chazown! Did you know that decision already sets you apart? Most people stumble halfheartedly through life just existing, hoping tomorrow will be better than today. But you and I were made for so much more! Before you were born, God knew you. He knew what He wanted your life to be like. He had a purpose in mind for you, even before you came to be. Discovering God s vision and purpose for your life and designing a plan of action for that purpose is what The Chazown Experience is about. WHO IS THE CHAZOWN EXPERIENCE CREATED FOR? The Chazown Experience was designed for all followers of Jesus Christ. Whether you have been a follower of Christ for some time or just for a short while, this process will benefit you. WHAT IS THE CHAZOWN EXPERIENCE? The Chazown Experience is a small group study designed to bring you face-to-face with God s vision - or purpose - for your life. But it doesn t stop there. By the end of our time together, not only will you have discovered your purpose, you will know some practical steps you can take to begin living life on purpose...and you will leave The Chazown Experience challenged to continue to live out that purpose! WHAT OTHER RESOURCES DO I NEED WITH THE CHAZOWN EXPERIENCE PARTICIPANT GUIDE? This guide is designed to be used in partnership with Chazown Experience videos, facilitated by Craig Groeschel. You can view the videos and other Chazown resources for free at www.chazown.com. You may also choose to purchase the book Chazown by Craig Groeschel. DO I HAVE TO READ THE BOOK CHAZOWN BEFORE I BEGIN THE CHAZOWN EXPERIENCE? It is not necessary, although you may certainly choose to do so. The Chazown book offers a deeper look at the concepts you will be exploring within the small group setting. Those participants who have read the book beforehand or who engage in the suggested reading passages noted in each section will have additional insight as they complete this experience. WILL OUR GROUP BE COMPLETING THE ENTIRE CHAZOWN EXPERIENCE TOGETHER? The Chazown Experience for small groups begins in the group setting and continues throughout the week. You will be exploring the keys to unlocking your Chazown together as a group. Still, you will likely need to come back after each session to revisit these concepts and finish sections you were not able to complete within the group setting. IS THE CHAZOWN EXPERIENCE GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF TIME DURING THE WEEK? Not at all. The Chazown Experience for small groups was designed to allow personal reflection each week without excessive homework. You will notice that each session ends with an On Your Own list. Completing these items before the next group session will help ensure you get the very most out of your Chazown Experience. TIO TALK IT OVER Take a moment and take turns among your group, sharing your name and something about you. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW BEFORE I GET STARTED? Before your Chazown Experience, it would benefit you to watch the Chazown message by Craig Groeschel at www.lifechurch.tv/watch/chazown if you have not already done so. 02
Session 1: Finding Your Chazown Everyone ends up. Few people end up somewhere on. Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 KJV Chazown (pronounced khaw-zone) is a Hebrew word meaning a, revelation, or. Where there is no Chazown no dream, no revelation, no vision, no sense of our created purpose, we perish. Where there is no vision for a Godly family, 50% or more of marriages end in divorce. Where there is no vision for a healthy life, there will be ongoing physical struggle. Where there is no vision for financial freedom, people live paycheck to paycheck. Where there is no vision for a growing, lifelong, personal relationship with God, people will become lukewarm. Where there is no vision for meaningful work, people just exist. If money was no object, what would you do with the rest of your life? God created you with a divine Chazown. He knew you and formed you. He numbered the days of your life. You were planted at this moment in history because it is at this moment that you can best glorify God with your gifts, talents, and passions. Jesus understood God s Chazown, and He never wavered from it. The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10 NIV No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord...this command I received from my Father. John 10:18 NIV I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV How can we actively and prayerfully seek to find God s Chazown for our lives? Through this experience, we will examine three areas of your life. We ll call them The Three Circles. 03
THE THREE CIRCLES: Suggested Reading You can learn more about finding your Chazown by reading pages 3 thru 24 in the book Chazown. Your past And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV Your For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 2 Corinthians 13:8 NLT Your spiritual We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6 NIV WHAT DO YOU DO EXCEPTIONALLY WELL? Nehemiah Administration Moses Leadership Abraham Faith Barnabas Matthew Dorcas Encouragement Hospitality Serving CORE VALUES CHAZOWN C SPIRITUAL GIFTS PAST EXPERIENCES These Three Circles reveal a great deal about the real you, and about the destiny God had in mind when He made you. Where your Three Circles overlap, there lies your Chazown! 04
Once we have examined the Three Circles, we will look at five major areas of life that, when working as they should, can help put your Chazown within your reach. We will call these five important life areas The Five Spokes. It s important to stay strong in each of these five areas. When even one of the major areas of life is not functioning the way it should, all of life can break down. We will talk about each of these spokes in more depth later. THE FIVE SPOKES: Our Relationship with God Our Relationships with People Financial Life Physical Life Work Life WORK HEALTH GOD FINANCES PEOPLE TIO TALK IT OVER Share what you expect or hope to gain from The Chazown Experience with those in your group. Think of The Five Spokes just like the spokes of a wheel. When all five spokes are in place and functioning properly, they will support and actually carry you forward toward your Chazown, or life purpose. But when even one spoke is not where it should be, everything else can get off balance and fall apart. We can finish strong if we keep the spokes tight. When this does not happen, life becomes unstable, and our Chazown becomes out of reach. In our final sessions, we ll look at how to take the Next Steps necessary to keep your spokes intact so you can live out your Chazown. Finally, we will set specific, measurable goals in the key spokes or areas that are most in need of attention. A PROMISE TO YOU: If you complete the Chazown Experience, humbly, and, your life will change for the! You will hear from God. His Spirit will direct you. You will no longer wander around hoping for an accidentally better life. You will be empowered to live life on purpose. Anyone can have the rich and meaningful life that God has intended for them. That s what God wants for you. His vision for your life is bigger and more important than you could ever imagine! I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me... Acts 20:24 NIV 05
There is no promise that this journey will be easy. It may not be. But if you will open your heart and seek God, you will hear from Him. He will motivate you. He will show you Next Steps. He will empower and equip you. Your Chazown will propel you forward into the vision for which you were created. When everyone else just ends up somewhere, you can end up somewhere on purpose. The Chazown Experience will show you how! Suggested Reading You can learn more about finding your Chazown by reading pages 3 thru 24 in the book Chazown. OYO ON YOUR OWN Review Session 1 in the participant guide. Consider how finding your Chazown could change the way you live the rest of your life. How might living out your Chazown impact the lives of those around you? In preparation for next week, begin to identify the people, events and circumstances that have most impacted your life up until now. 06
SESSION 2: LEARNING FROM PAST EXPERIENCES The first area we re going to explore to help you discover your Chazown is your past experiences. These are events or seasons in your life that God has given you to prepare to fulfill His future vision. Your past experiences can be a key to unlocking your Chazown! TIO TALK IT OVER How could finding your Chazown change the way you live the rest of your life? How might living out your Chazown impact those around you? And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV All things includes all things the good, the not so good, the things you wish had never happened, even the things you haven t thought about for years. To help you begin to see God s Chazown in your past experiences, you are going to create something unique: a personal timeline. Your timeline is a big-picture overview of your past that will help you begin to see God s Chazown for your life. As you create your timeline, you will do three things: 1. Identify, events and that have impacted your life in a significant way. Suggested Reading You can learn more about exploring your past experiences by reading pages 52 thru 62 in the book Chazown. 2. Organize your personal timeline into. 3. Clarify the different and God has shown you as you look at your past. Don t be afraid of the difficult and painful events. It is often out of pain that God s Chazown can be born! 07
Look at your past as a key to your Chazown, and remember you won t just end up somewhere, you ll end up somewhere! TIO TALK IT OVER When you consider the people, events, and circumstances that have most impacted your life until now, what sorts of things immediately come to mind? Why do you think it is important to include both the positive and the painful items in your personal timeline? OYO ON YOUR OWN Review Session 2 in the participant guide. Create a personal timeline. You may do this on a poster board as specified in your participant guide, or you may create it online at www.chazown.com. If you choose to complete your personal timeline online, be sure to print it and bring it with you to the next small group session. Instructions are found on pages 9-10, with expanded instructions found in Appendix 1 at the back of your participant guide. To prepare for next week, take the spiritual gifts assessment found online at www.chazown.com/spiritualgifts or in Appendix 2 at the back of your participant guide. Write the major lessons and themes from your personal timeline in the past experiences circle found on page 10 in your participant guide. 08
Creating a Personal Timeline These are abbreviated instructions. For more complete instructions on how to create a personal timeline, you may turn to appendix 1 at the back of this participant guide. You may also complete your personal timeline online at www.chazown.com. TO CREATE YOUR TIMELINE, YOU WILL NEED: One standard poster board, cut in half. 4 colors of small sticky notes (preferably yellow, pink, blue and purple) A pen STEP ONE: Identify the people, events, and circumstances that have most affected your life. Write them down on the yellow sticky notes, using a separate note for each one. STEP TWO: Put things in order. Organize your sticky notes chronologically. Place your earliest sticky note in the top left corner, leaving room for a row of sticky notes across the top margin of your board. Place your second earliest sticky note below the first note. Continue to place your notes on the board, proceeding in a vertical row down the left side until you near the bottom. Leave enough margin for a row of sticky notes across the bottom, and return to the top of your board. Place your next sticky note next to your first yellow note in the top left corner. Continue the process in vertical rows until all of your sticky notes are placed in chronological order. STEP THREE: Call it like it was. Take a moment and look at all of the yellow sticky notes on your board. Ask yourself which of them were painful or hurtful when you experienced them. As you identify those that were difficult, transfer what you wrote on the original yellow note to a pink sticky note and discard the yellow one. STEP FOUR: Organize your timeline into chapters. Look at the notes assembled on your poster board. Identify any key segments, or chapters of your life journey that begin to emerge. Try to identify no fewer than three and no more than six chapters. As you identify these chapters, you may need to move your sticky notes around some to reflect those chapters. Using the blue sticky notes, write down titles for the chapters you have identified and place them along the top margin of your poster board above the chapter they represent. 09
STEP FIVE: Clarify the turning points and major lessons. A turning point is an event, experience, or encounter that altered your life. Turning points are characterized by the fact that in some way, life was not the same after the experience. God deposits key insights and develops character in us at the turning points of life. Identifying them will help you see the important lessons you ve learned along the way. As you identify these turning points, boldly write TP on the top of those sticky notes. Using purple sticky notes, write down the major lessons and themes that emerge through your life chapters and turning points. You may want to use the following questions as a guide: What was God trying to teach me during this chapter or turning point of my life? What should I remember as I move forward? What abilities or insights has God deposited into my life as a result of this experience? In what ways can the skills or insights God gave me through this experience impact my future? What character traits were developed in me as a result? What character traits have I come to value most in others? Are there any unique experiences or insights I have gained? What are some of the ways God has used me? Did this experience reveal anything to me about what God is like? PAST EXPERIENCES Place these lessons and themes along the bottom margin of your poster board, underneath the corresponding turning point or chapter. Then list them in the circle below. For additional help and resources related to creating a personal timeline and how God shapes and develops each of our lives for a unique contribution, contact Leader Breakthru and Terry Walling at www.leaderbreakthru.com. 10
SESSION 3: CLARIFYING YOUR CORE VALUES AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 KJV TIO TALK IT OVER Describe the lessons and themes that emerged through looking at your past experiences. (These are the items written on purple sticky notes.) When God made you, He planted within you certain things you value deeply. They re hardwired into your heart. Through your life experiences, God has begun to make them clear to you. These are the things you would be willing to die for. They explain how you come by your personal priorities. These things are your core values. Clarify your. For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 2 Corinthians 13:8. NLT Core values in the Bible: Samuel stood for integrity. David stood for intimacy with the Father. Solomon stood for wisdom. Core values in public figures: Billy Graham stood for evangelism. Mother Theresa stood for compassion. What do you stand for? IDENTIFYING YOUR CORE VALUES: STEP one: To identify your core values, it may help to ask yourself three questions: 1. What stirs righteous inside of you? 2. What brings you or gives you joy? 3. What does your personal tell you about your core values? 11
STEP two: Circle the core values that may apply to you. Add others that come to mind if they are not listed here. Accountability Excellence Kindness Self-discipline Attitude Faith Knowing God Selflessness Authenticity Faithfulness Leadership Servant Leadership Boldness Family Learning Servanthood Character Fellowship Loyalty Steadfastness Collaboration Generosity Mercy Stewardship Compassion Gentleness Obedience Submission Confidence Godliness Openness Teachable Courage Goodness Order Teamwork Creativity Grace Passion Thankfulness Dedication Gratefulness Patience Transparency Devotion Growth Peace Trustworthiness Discipleship Honesty Perseverance Truth Discipline Honor Personal Growth Unity Discovery Hope Prayer Wisdom Diversity Humility Purity Worship Efficiency Humor Relationships Zeal Encouragement Integrity Reliability Endurance Intimacy Respect Enthusiasm Joy Sacrifice Evangelism Justice Self-control 12
STEP three: Narrow it down. Now that you have circled the values that apply to you, pray and ask God to guide you as you narrow this list down even further. Consider the values you have identified so far: Can you see how your past experiences relate to each of these values? Is there anything missing? Which of these values have actually been displayed in the last 90 days? Would the people closest to you recognize these as your core values? Try to focus your list to between five and ten core values and list them in the circle below: Suggested Reading You can learn more about core values and spiritual gifts by reading pages 25 thru 51 in the book Chazown. CORE VALUES Choose one core value that is most evident in your life. Write a description of this core value: Give an example of what it looks like in your life: TIO TALK IT OVER Share your core values with someone in your group. Give an example of how one of these values has been evident in your life. 13
EMBRACE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6 NIV These gifts were given to us by God, but they are not for us. They are to be used to: 1. Serve others in the name of Christ 2. Make the world a better place Your spiritual gifts are especially chosen for the Chazown to which God is calling you. One way to identify your spiritual gifts is to complete a spiritual gifts assessment. You can find one at www.chazown.com/spiritualgifts, or you can use the assessment found in Appendix 2 at the back of this participant guide. Once you have taken the assessment, list the results here: Next, ask yourself: What are you at? What are the things that come easily to you? The answers to these questions can help you focus in and identify your spiritual gifts and talents! What activities are you drawn to? What skills have you acquired quickly? What activities energize you when you perform them? What activities make you lose track of time? 14
Finally, look at the results of your spiritual gifts assessment and the things you are especially good at. Then prayerfully ask God to help you identify what among these things are your spiritual gifts. List them in the circle to the right. SPIRITUAL GIFTS Your values and gifts are pointing toward your Chazown the very reason you are here! TIO TALK IT OVER How have you seen your spiritual gifts in action in your life? Share it with someone in your group. Suggested Reading You can learn more about core values and spiritual gifts by reading pages 25 thru 51 in the book Chazown. OYO ON YOUR OWN Review Session 3 in the participant guide. Spend time this week considering your Three Circles. Bring The Three Circles together by writing them on the diagram found on page 16 of the participant guide. Begin to examine the place where your Three Circles converge. Write down any initial thoughts that come to mind. 15
Bringing the THREE circles together: Congratulations! You have examined your past experiences. You have identified your core values and your spiritual gifts. Now look carefully at the Three Circles you have just identified for your life. You may be wondering how these three different areas relate to each other. Are you ready? Bring all Three Circles together by listing the lessons and themes from your personal timeline, your core values, and your spiritual gifts in the circles below: CORE VALUES CHAZOWN C SPIRITUAL GIFTS PAST EXPERIENCES Now, find the place where they converge. In that place where all dimensions are at full strength, where your Three Circles overlap, that is where you find your Chazown! 16
Session 4: Your Purpose Statement: Naming Your Chazown Without a vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 KJV Now that you have examined your past experiences and identified your core values and spiritual gifts, explore these questions: TIO TALK IT OVER When you think of the place where your Three Circles converge, what immediately comes to mind? 1. What do your and experiences have in common? 2. What do you think your experiences have done within you to you for the future? 3. Regarding the next chapter of your life, what comes to mind? THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE STORY Suggested Reading You can learn more about writing a purpose statement on pages 63 thru 96 in the book Chazown. Some possible titles could include: Making a Difference Starting Over Restoring Brokenness Going For It CORE VALUES CHAZOWN Taking the Faith Risk Living the Dream Shaping Up Close to God SPIRITUAL GIFTS C PAST EXPERIENCES The place where your past experiences, core values and spiritual gifts overlap is the greatest key to your Chazown. When you look at that powerful place where the Three Circles of your life overlap, do you see a picture taking shape? Do possibilities for your purpose immediately come to mind? If so, it s time to put your Chazown into a purpose statement. 17
A purpose statement is a one-sentence version of God s Chazown for your life, expressed in words that greatly motivate you to action. Think about one action-focused sentence, a purpose statement that God will use to propel you forward for the rest of your life. Finish this sentence: God has created me with a dream for my life, and I think it might be Having trouble? Ask yourself: 1. What have I always cared a lot about? What values seem to define my very core? 2. What have I always seemed especially gifted to do? 3. What have my past experiences, both good and bad, shown me about myself and my purpose in life? 4. What do my past experiences, core values, and spiritual gifts have in common? 5. What action does God most want to take through my life? 6. What consequence does God most want to accomplish through that action? 18
Some examples of purpose statements are: To live free and lead others to freedom. To train children to grow and become uncompromised disciples. To passionately encourage others to recognize the gifts that God has given them, to believe in themselves, and to spread the overflowing joy that I receive from Christ s love for me. To develop the talents of my coworkers to their fullest extent by identifying and funding their developmental needs, while modeling the life of Christ and a commitment to raising the moral and ethical standards of the company and our clients. Keep in mind When God gives you His Chazown, it will often be bigger than you can imagine and impossible for you to do on your own. Now, it s your turn! Write YOUR purpose statement in your own words. Make it your prayer, your goal, and your thanksgiving! It doesn t have to be perfect right now. This is not a test and you are not being graded on this assignment! Just begin to write, knowing that your purpose statement will probably be changed and refined as you put it into words. My purpose statement in one long ramble, if necessary... My purpose statement in one sentence.. 19
TIO TALK IT OVER Go ahead, say it! Put your purpose statement into words. Take a deep breath, and finish this sentence: God has created me with a dream for my life, and I think it might be... OYO ON YOUR OWN Review Session 4 in the participant guide. Complete the Living Life On Purpose worksheets found on pages 21 and 22 of the participant guide. If you are still having trouble writing a purpose statement, it may help to review the six questions listed on page 18 of the participant guide. Suggested Reading You can learn more about writing a purpose statement on pages 63 thru 96 in the book Chazown. 20
LIVING LIFE ON PURPOSE... Now that you have identified your Chazown, or purpose statement, use these pages to jot down ideas on how you can begin living your life on purpose. Don t limit yourself to small thinking. Remember, God s Chazown for your life is often bigger than you can imagine! Ask yourself...when it comes to living your Chazown, where do you hope to be... 1 month from now? 6 months from now? 1 year from now? 5 years from now? 10 years from now? When you imagine the end of your life, what are your highest goals or hopes concerning your Chazown, or life purpose? 21
Next, ask yourself: 1. What steps can I take to begin moving toward God s Chazown for my life? (Don t edit yourself here. Brainstorm! Write down everything that comes to mind.) 2. What one or two steps can I take right now to begin moving toward God s Chazown for my life? Step one: Step two: 22
Session 5: Living Your Chazown TIO TALK IT OVER Share your purpose statement with the group. It may still be evolving, and that is okay. Share as much as you know at this moment. When even one of the major areas of life is not functioning the way God intended, all of life can break down. There are five important spokes, or life areas, where you can live out your Chazown. If your Chazown does not shape each of these five areas, your life will be unstable. We can finish strong if we keep the spokes tight! THE FIVE SPOKES: Your Relationship with God WORK GOD PEOPLE NS NEXT STEPS To identify the spokes you may need to Your Relationships with People Your Financial Life Your Physical Life HEALTH FINANCES focus on first, see The Five Spokes: A Survey on page 01 of Appendix 3 in the back of your participant guide! Your Work Life SPOKE 1: YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Where are you, right now, in your relationship with God? Hot: You are. your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV Cold: You do not God yet. He who sent me is true. You do not know [God], but I know him because I am from him and he sent me. John 7:28-29 NIV Lukewarm: You are. We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 NIV I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-i am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16 NIV 23
Some ways to experience God more in your daily life are: Reading His Word daily Making prayer a bigger part of your life Fasting Serving in church Joining a small group of believers Finding a mentor, someone who can disciple you as you follow Christ NS NEXT STEPS For Next Steps to consider in your relationship with God, see page 02 of Appendix 3 in the back of your participant guide! Spoke 1 and your Chazown; Questions to consider on your own: How do you think your relationship with God may relate to your Chazown? How would a strong relationship with God impact your ability to live out your Chazown? How would neglecting your relationship with God impact your ability to live out your Chazown? SPOKE 2: YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE Every relationship ends up somewhere. Few relationships end up somewhere on purpose. God s greatest command is to love Him. His second greatest is to love His people. Everything is about relationships, and every aspect of your Chazown will be strengthened and blessed by the right relationships. RELATIONSHIPS ON PURPOSE: FOUR QUESTIONS 1. What relationship needs to be? God wants us to do life together, in teams. We all need others for support, encouragement, and accountability. Who is missing for you? You have to look for these relationships. Don t wait for them to come to you! 2. What relationship needs to be? Is there a priority relationship in your life that is not where it is supposed to be? NS NEXT STEPS For Next Steps to consider in your relationships with others, see page 04 of Appendix 3 in the back of your participant guide! 24
3. What relationship needs to be? Is there a relationship that is broken, damaged, and not where it should be? Restoration is not always easy, but it is worth it. The pain of an unresolved relationship is greater than the pain of confrontation. 4. What relationship needs to be? There may be times when you have to distance yourself from bad company. Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV Spoke 2 and your Chazown; Questions to consider on your own: How do you think your relationships with others may relate to your Chazown? How would strong relationships impact your ability to live out your Chazown? How would neglecting your relationships impact your ability to live out your Chazown? SPOKE 3: YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE Everyone ends up somewhere. Few people end up somewhere on purpose. Most people end up in the hole. Suggested Reading You can learn more about The Five Spokes by reading pages 97 thru 156 in the book Chazown. To save time, you may want to focus first on those sections related to the spokes most in need of your attention. Your finances deeply impact your ability to live out your Chazown. TWO ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF: 1. What is your financial? 1 year from now? 5 years from now? 10 years from now? 25
2. What is your financial? The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 NIV When you fail to plan, you plan to fail! With a financial vision and plan, your finances can end up somewhere on purpose! NS NEXT STEPS For Next Steps to consider in your financial life, see page 05 of Appendix 3 in the back of your participant guide! Spoke 3 and your Chazown; Questions to consider on your own: How do you think your financial life may relate to your Chazown? How would a strong financial life impact your ability to live out your Chazown? How would neglecting your financial life impact your ability to live out your Chazown? SPOKE 4: YOUR PHYSICAL LIFE Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV Are you honoring God with the temple of the Holy Spirit? Ask yourself: 1. How are you feeding your body? How can you feed your body in a better way? 2. How are you exercising your body? How can you exercise more consistently and effectively? 3. How well do you rest your body? What steps can you take to ensure your body gets the quality rest it needs? 4. Are there any addictions you need to confess to God? How can you seek accountability for your addictions? 26
Many people are short-sighted when it comes to their health! Suntan today = Skin cancer tomorrow Super-size meal today = Super-size belly tomorrow Beer today = Beer belly tomorrow Smoking today = Lung cancer tomorrow A healthy body will move and equip you to live out God s Chazown for your life! NS NEXT STEPS For Next Steps to consider in your physical life, see page 06 of Appendix 3 in the back of your participant guide! Spoke 4 and your Chazown; Questions to consider on your own: How do you think your physical life may relate to your Chazown? How would a strong physical life impact your ability to live out your Chazown? How would neglecting your physical life impact your ability to live out your Chazown? SPOKE 5: YOUR WORK LIFE All people work somewhere. Few people s work end up somewhere on purpose. Your work life is whatever you do with your hours. The Lie: A job is simply a way to pay the bills. The Reality: Your job can be a reflection of your deepest Chazown! If not, it still can and should offer you the freedom to pursue your Chazown! Before you were ever born, God had His divine assignments for you. Your gifts, values and experiences all point to that assignment! For we are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV Are you doing the work God wants you to do? Yes No 27
If your response was yes, celebrate and elevate! Celebrate Have a party with God. Thank Him for giving you your Chazown! Elevate Take your work to the next level. If your response was no, this may be a great spoke to focus on! NS NEXT STEPS For Next Steps to take concerning your work life, see page 08 of Appendix 3 in the back of your participant guide! Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men... Colossians 3:23 NIV Whatever you are doing at this moment, do it for Him. Do it with the best attitude He can give you. Do it with everything in you. Don t hold back. Spoke 5 and your Chazown; Questions to consider on your own: How do you think your work life may relate to your Chazown? How would a strong work life impact your ability to live out your Chazown? How would neglecting your work life impact your ability to live out your Chazown? TIO TALK IT OVER How could the five spoke areas impact your ability to live out your personal Chazown? 28
THOUGHTS ON THE FIVE SPOKES... If you need to work on all Five Spokes, don t panic, and don t try to work on all five at once! 1. Choose the one or two spokes that need the most work. 2. Take step after achievable step. One day, we will all reach the end of our life in one of two ways: 1. With regret, saying I could have, I should have, I wish I would have, or 2. With no regret, having sought God s Chazown in each of the Five Spokes - or major areas -of our lives. Seek God s Chazown, and instead of just ending up somewhere, you will end up somewhere, without regret, on purpose! TIO TALK IT OVER Share the 1 or 2 spoke areas you have decided to focus on first. OYO ON YOUR OWN Review Session 5 in the participant guide. In preparation for next week, identify 1 or 2 goals for each of your spoke area(s) of focus. Begin to identify people who can hold you accountable in each of those areas. 29
SESSION 6: CREATING A 100-DAY PLAN TIO TALK IT OVER Share the 1 or 2 Next Steps you have identified to begin moving toward your Chazown (found at the bottom of page 22 of your participant guide.) Congratulations! You have made significant progress. Let s review the road we ve traveled in The Chazown Experience so far and celebrate what God has shown us. Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 KJV Everyone ends up somewhere, few end up somewhere on purpose! The big question: Will you live your life in a way that glorifies God, or will you end up somewhere looking back with regrets because you lived a purposeless life? Review of Your Chazown Experience You ve decided an is not for you. You ve committed to live life on purpose. You ve explored your your past experiences, core values and spiritual gifts. You ve narrowed the vision into one life-directing. You ve decided to live to God, strengthening five priority areas, or. A FORK IN THE ROAD; YOUR TWO CHOICES: OPTION A - You can go back to life the way it was, without a Chazown. Suggested Reading You can learn more about your 100-day plan by reading pages 195 thru 219 Life without vision Life without purpose in the book Chazown. OPTION B - You can intentionally pursue your Chazown. The RIGHT choice is to seek God as you pursue your Chazown. If you do, He will speak clearly to you as you move toward His purpose for your life! 30
Your 100-Day Plan... SMART GOALS Choose which 1-2 spokes you will focus on first, then set 1-2 goals for each spoke. Each of your goals should be SMART: Specific have you narrowed your focus? Measurable can you measure your goals? Attainable is the goal realistic? Relevant is this the best place for you to focus right now? Time-bound when will you have your goal completed? Be sure to write down your specific goals. When you do, it will bring excitement, motivation, and accountability to you as you move toward God s Chazown for your life! CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY 100-DAY PLAN It is to you. It builds upon well-written. It includes. SETTING YOUR GOALS: Review a moment and list again the one or two steps you identified on the bottom of page 22 that will allow you to begin moving toward your Chazown. Step 1: Step 2: Now, take a moment and review The Five Spokes. Just like the spokes of a wheel, these five areas will propel you forward toward your Chazown. With these spokes in place, you will finish strong and live your Chazown, or life purpose. THE FIVE SPOKES Relationship with God Relationship with People Physical Life Financial Life Work Life Next, identify the 1-2 spokes you have chosen to focus on first. Then, set 1-2 goals for each of those spokes. Don t skip this step! Having all five key areas or spokes of your life in place can make all the difference and help move you toward your Chazown when it might otherwise stay out of reach. 31
Spoke 1: Spoke 2: Goal 1: Goal 2: TIO TALK IT OVER Share the goals you have set for each of your spoke areas of focus along with your plans for accountability in each of these areas. Goal 1: Goal 2: Plan Your Accountability! Who will support you? Who will help you resist giving up? If you do not already have an accountability partner, identify two or three people to consider inviting to hold you to the goals you have set as you move into your 100-day plan. You may have more than one accountability partner for different areas of your life. Think about who would be ideal accountability partners for the spoke(s) you have chosen to focus on first, then list those people below: NEXT STEPS LIVING MY LIFE ON PURPOSE: Step 1: Step 2: My first choice for an accountability partner in these steps is. I will invite this person to be my accountability partner by / /. (date) My second choice for an accountability partner in these steps is. I will invite this person to be my accountability partner by / /. (date) NEXT STEPS THE FIVE SPOKES: Spoke 1: My first choice for an accountability partner in this area is. I will invite this person to be my accountability partner by / /. (date) My second choice for an accountability partner in this area is. I will invite this person to be my accountability partner by / /. (date) Spoke 2: (optional) My first choice for an accountability partner in this area is. I will invite this person to be my accountability partner by / /. (date) My second choice for an accountability partner in this area is. I will invite this person to be my accountability partner by / /. (date) 32
Making the commitment If you re ready to rise to the challenge, pray this prayer and sign it as your contractual commitment to God. Dear God, I commit to prayerfully find someone to hold me accountable to fulfill Your Chazown for my life, including my relationship with You, my relationships with other people, my physical life, my financial life, and my life s work. Please lead me to the right people. In Jesus name, Amen. Signed: Date: / / LIVING YOUR NEXT CHAPTER... OYO ON YOUR OWN Review Session 6 in the participant guide. Place a written version of your 100-Day plan in places where you will see it often. Review it regularly. Continue to ask yourself what the next step toward your Chazown is. Then continue to take that next step. If you have not already done so, make some phone calls. Send some emails. Do whatever it takes to put your accountability partners in place. Congratulations! You have a Chazown, or vision! You will not perish! You WILL end up somewhere...on purpose! You ve dreamed your dreams. You ve begun to seek God and His Chazown. You re learning to better understand your unique design and purpose. You ve set some worthy goals. You ve chosen (or will choose) someone to go with you on the journey, to help you stay on the path. You ve come a long way! Great job! But your story is only beginning. Now that you have completed The Chazown Experience Visit www.chazown.com and enter your information online. There you will find tools that will help you continue to follow God s Chazown for your life. Ask yourself; who do you know who could benefit from The Chazown Experience? How can you bring this experience to them? Some ideas could include: Facilitating your own small group study Guiding your family through a group study Leading someone in a one-on-one mentoring relationship using the tools found at www.chazown.com 33
MY NEXT CHAPTER... A 100-day planning journal 34
MY NEXT CHAPTER... A 100-day planning journal 35
MY NEXT CHAPTER... A 100-day planning journal 36
Appendix 1 - Creating a Personal Timeline (EXPANDED INSTRUCTIONS) TO CREATE YOUR TIMELINE, YOU WILL NEED: One standard poster board, cut in half. 4 colors of small sticky notes (preferably yellow, pink, blue and purple) A pen STEP ONE: Identify the people, events, and circumstances that have most affected your life. Using your yellow sticky notes, begin to write down the key people, events and circumstances that have shaped your life up to this point. Use a separate sticky note for each one. Include both good and difficult moments. As you complete this step, it is important to brainstorm and allow your mind to roam freely. Remember, the only rule of brainstorming is that there are no wrong answers! As soon as a name, an important event, or a life circumstance comes to mind, write a one or two word name or description down on a sticky note. Peel it off, place it on the table you are working on, and write another. (Don t place them on the board yet). By the end of this exercise, you should have 20-30 sticky notes providing a cross-section of the significant details of your life story. The key people who influenced and shaped your life may include friends, family members, classmates, work associates, peers, mentors, pastors, your spouse, teachers, church friends and acquaintances, and others. The events that have impacted your life may include graduation, awards, projects you worked on, jobs you ve held, changes in the community, global events that had a personal impact on you, job loss, and other defining moments. The significant circumstances that have affected your life direction may include places you lived, career demands of your parents, early childhood experiences, schools you attended, ministries you were involved in, and retreats you experienced - among other things. STEP TWO: Put things in order. Next, you will organize your sticky notes chronologically. Next, place a sticky note at the very top and the very bottom of the board and mark both with a big X. The purpose of these X notes is to remind you that when you place your sticky notes on your board, you should leave a margin across the top and the bottom that is the width of one sticky note. To do this, you will need to place your yellow and pink notes in the space between these two X notes. APPENDIX 1 01
Organize your sticky notes chronologically. Place your earliest sticky note in the top left corner (remembering to leave room for the margin across the top of your board). Place your second earliest sticky note below the first note. Continue to place your notes on the board, proceeding in a vertical row down the left side until you reach the bottom (remembering to leave room for the margin across the bottom). Return to the top of your board and continue the process in rows until all of your sticky notes are placed in chronological order. STEP THREE: Call it like it was. Once you have finished, take a moment and look at all of the sticky notes on your board. Ask yourself which of them were painful or hurtful when you experienced them. As you identify those that were difficult, transfer what you wrote on the original yellow note to a pink sticky note and discard the yellow one. You may wonder why your most difficult experiences are being singled out during this exercise. The act of changing the color of the sticky note for the difficult or hurtful experiences allows you to consciously say to yourself, this one was difficult... that one hurt. God does some of his deepest work through some of our most difficult moments in life. It is important to acknowledge those times and seasons. STEP FOUR: Organize your timeline into chapters. Now take several moments and look at the notes assembled on your board. As you do, you will probably see key segments, or chapters of your life journey begin to emerge. Try to identify no fewer than three and no more than six chapters. As you identify these chapters, you may need to move your sticky notes around some to reflect those chapters. Using the blue sticky notes, write down titles for the chapters you have identified and place them along the top margin of your poster board above the chapter they represent. Your chapter titles should reflect your thoughts and feelings about what was occurring in your life during that chapter. Feel free to be creative as you choose titles that reflect you. Some participants have used popular movie titles, while others have chosen names that center around a favorite hobby or sport. You may also choose terms that may seem random or meaningless to someone else, but that are personally very significant. The important thing is to choose titles that mean something to you. It s your life story! APPENDIX 1 02
STEP FIVE: Clarify the turning points and major lessons. Next, you will identify the turning points in your timeline. A turning point is an event, experience, or encounter that altered your life. It is a defining moment in your journey when: Life changed for better or worse Someone intervened in a significant way An important decision was made You moved in a new direction Anything else impacted you in a meaningful and lasting way Turning points are characterized by the fact that in some way, life was not the same after the experience. God deposits key insights and develops character in us at the turning points of life. Identifying them will help you see the important lessons you ve learned along the way. Take several moments and examine your timeline again, looking for 6-8 turning points; the events, experiences and encounters that have altered your life in important ways. Once you have identified them, boldly write TP on the top of those sticky notes. Using purple sticky notes, write down the lessons and themes that emerge through your life chapters and turning points. You may want to use the following questions as a guide: What was God trying to teach me during this chapter or turning point of my life? What should I remember as I move forward? What abilities or insights has God deposited into my life as a result of this experience? In what ways can the skills or insights God gave me through this experience impact my future? What character traits were developed in me as a result? What character traits have I come to value most in others? Are there any unique experiences or insights I have gained? What are some of the ways God has used me? Did this experience reveal anything to me about what God is like? APPENDIX 1 03
Place these lessons and themes along the bottom margin of your poster board, underneath the corresponding turning point or chapter. Then list them in the circle below. PAST EXPERIENCES For additional help and resources related to creating a personal timeline and how God shapes and develops each of our lives for a unique contribution, contact Leader Breakthru and Terry Walling at www.leaderbreakthru.com. APPENDIX 1 04
Appendix 2 Spiritual Gifts Test God has given each of us who are believers specific spiritual gifts. This spiritual gifts test will help you determine what spiritual gifts and special talents God has given you. The test evaluates 22 gifts and talents. (Do not look ahead to see what these gifts and talents are because that will influence your results!) INSTRUCTIONS: This spiritual gifts test consists of 110 statements that you are to respond to by entering in a number for each on the analysis sheet (see page 2 of this appendix). Depending on how you feel about each statement, enter a number between 1 and 10; 1 meaning that the statement does not describe you at all, and 10 meaning that the statement describes you perfectly. This test is designed for followers of Christ. If you have been following Christ for at least a few years, you should use your personal experiences as the basis for your responses. If you are a new believer, then base your responses on how well each statement describes you (even if you have not yet experienced what the statement refers to.) Please keep in mind that this test was written by human beings and is certainly imperfect. It should be used as a starting place to begin to discover how God has gifted you, but not as an absolute truth. The test may not always indicate your true spiritual gifts. It is just one tool in what should be a life-long search for how God has gifted you so you can give to others. READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY! Before you start the test, find the analysis sheet. Tear it out of your book, then fold it along the gray line that runs down the middle of the sheet. Place it so that the 110 numbered boxes are facing up and you cannot see the list of spiritual gifts and talents. As you take the test, enter a response for each statement in the corresponding pre-numbered box, rating on a scale of 1 to 10 how well the statement describes you. Once you have completed a column, move back to the top and continue the test. Hide each finished column under your participant guide so you cannot see the columns you have already answered. This will help to ensure unbiased responses on the remainder of the test. Respond to each statement quickly with your first feeling. Because the list is fairly extensive and we don t have every gift, you will probably have many more low number responses than high number responses. That is ok. When you are finished, read the analysis instructions on page 8 of this appendix. APPENDIX 2 01