Should my group do God’s Perspective When Life Hurts in 13 or 19 weeks?
Darlene has taught this Bible study several times in different venues. What she has heard most often is that the Bible study cannot be rushed. Of the two times she taught it in her local church, one time was over a 13-week period (spring session). The other was over a period of 19 weeks, with Christmas break dividing the Bible study into two parts (fall and spring sessions).
A 13-Week Study
If your group does the 13-week study, each woman will need their own Bible study workbook.
The 13-week study consists of 12 weeks of DVD lessons and homework discussions. The 13th week is used to discuss the homework for lesson twelve, share testimonies, and fellowship together.
If your group decides to do God’s Perspective When Life Hurts in 13 weeks, I suggest that you meet for two and a half hours each week if possible. You will need approximately one and a half hours to discuss the homework and one hour to view the DVD lesson. Because of the comprehensive nature of this Bible study, meeting in your discussion group for at least one and a half hours will optimize absorbing the truths of each lesson.
Weekly Format for a 13-Week Study
1st week (done in large group):
- Refreshments, registration, greetings, and/or worship (30 minutes)
- View DVD – Introduction/Testimony (41 minutes)
- Break (10 minutes)
- Leader goes over Bible study logistics given in the workbook (20 minutes)
- View DVD – Lesson One (47 minutes)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson one
2nd week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson one (1 ½ hours)
- Meet in large group to view DVD – Lesson Two (approximately 1 hour)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson two
3rd week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson two (1 ½ hours)
- Meet in large group to view DVD – Lesson Three (approximately 1 hour)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson three
4th week:
- Repeat pattern above until you have viewed all twelve lessons
13th week (final week):
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson twelve (1 hour)
- Meet in large group for a meal together. Plan a time of sharing and testimonies (1 1/2 hours)
A 19-Week Study
If your group does the 19-week study, each woman will need their own Bible study workbook as well as the companion book by Jerry Bridges, Trusting God Even When Life Hurts.
There are three ways to do the 19-week study; in the fall and spring sessions, a double spring session, or a spring/summer session.
If your group decides to do God’s Perspective When Life Hurts in the fall and spring sessions, you will meet in the fall for two and a half hours each week over the course of seven weeks. You will view a new DVD lesson each week for 6 weeks and then return for the 7th week to discuss the homework for lesson six. After Christmas break, the pace will slow down a bit as the study gets more comprehensive. The final six lessons will be done in 12 weeks with a new DVD lesson viewed every other week. Once you begin viewing a new DVD lesson every other week, you will decrease your meeting time to two hours each week rather than two and a half hours.
If your group decides to do the 19-week study all after Christmas break, the pattern will be the same as above except you will not have Christmas break dividing the study into two parts. If your group cannot meet for a full 19 weeks in the spring, you can decrease the number of weeks you meet by viewing a new lesson every week beyond lesson six. For instance, if you view a new lesson every week for 8 weeks and then slow down the pace to every other week for lessons nine through twelve, you will end up meeting for 16 weeks rather than 19.
The majority of the women who have done the study in 19 weeks said that they enjoyed this format because it allowed them more time in the second half of the study to absorb the truths of each lesson. Doing the study over a longer period of time also provides additional time for refreshments, fellowship, and prayer. A 19-week format (fall and spring sessions) also allows the women to do a year-long study together in the same group.
Weekly Format for a 19-Week Study (fall and spring sessions)
1st week (done in large group for 2 1/2 hours):
- Refreshments, registration, greetings, and/or worship (30 minutes)
- View DVD – Introduction/Testimony (41 minutes)
- Break (10 minutes)
- Leader goes over Bible study logistics given in the workbook (20 minutes)
- View DVD – Lesson One (47 minutes)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson one
2nd week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson one (1 ½ hours)
- Meet in large group to view DVD – Lesson Two (approximately 1 hour)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson two
3rd week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson two (1 ½ hours)
- Meet in large group to view DVD – Lesson Three (approximately 1 hour)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson three
4th week:
- Repeat pattern above until you have viewed all six lessons
7th week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson six (1 1/2 hours)
- Fellowship together before you depart for Christmas break (1 hour)
Christmas Break (you will meet for two hours each week after break)
1st week after Christmas break:
- Meet in small groups to get reacquainted, pray, and fellowship together (1 hour)
- View DVD – Lesson Seven (approximately 1 hour)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson seven
2nd week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson seven and if there is time, share prayer requests and pray together (2 hours)
- Return home and do the homework for week two (lesson seven) and finish any homework not completed in the first week.
3rd week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss the homework from week two (lesson seven) and if there is time, share prayer requests and pray together (1 hour)
- Meet in large group to view DVD – Lesson Eight (approximately 1 hour)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson eight
4th week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson eight and if there is time, share prayer requests and pray together (2 hours)
- Return home and do the homework for week two (lesson eight) and finish any homework not completed in the first week.
5th week:
- Meet in small groups to discuss the homework from week two (lesson eight) and if there is time, share prayer requests and pray together (1 hour)
- Meet in large group to view DVD – Lesson Nine (approximately 1 hour)
- Return home and do days 1-5 of homework for lesson nine
6th week:
- Repeat pattern above until you have viewed lesson twelve
12th week (final week):
- Meet in small groups to discuss days 1-5 of homework for lesson twelve (1 hour)
- Meet in large group for a time of fellowship and sharing (1 hour)
If you have any questions, contact Darlene at info@wordofgodspeakministries.org.