Every other week you will read one chapter of the book. The chapters take from 20-30 minutes to read depending on the person. On weeks where you are reading a new chapter, the discussion will conclude with an invitation to each Small Group member to decide what it would look like to practice/ apply this principle during their coming week. At the next Small Group meeting, you will process together how the week went and discuss what you noticed about being more aware of and practicing that principle. Therefore, this discussion guide has both a reading/learning element and intentional time to apply the rhythms in your daily life.

The questions this book asks are probing and invite vulnerability. As leaders, familiarize yourself with the Group Norms to foster an atmosphere that allows for authentic conversation and creates space for each participant to process the content in their own time and way. The opening questions can be the same each week to offer a chance for participants to share what has been going on in their week and how they are showing up for the discussion. Consider using the Group Centering Prayer at the start of the study, or even at the start of each meeting, to set a tone of unity and intentionality.

Go into this study knowing it takes time to shift habits and rhythms. Celebrate any and all faithfulness in trying it out! It will take time to get used to reflecting through these contemplative practices. Sometimes it might feel like two steps forward, eight steps back. No one masters this. But we can become more mindful of riding the waves of when it feels easy and when it is more challenging. A measure of success is not a "spiritual high". Being with God sometimes does have that feeling, but sometimes it is a stillness and knowledge that God is with us that we take away.

Finally, conversation is a great place to explore, but it is not where we should stay forever. As you talk about vulnerability and courage, keep returning back to the question: How does this change the way I live, love, and participate in the world?

Lectio Divina is a way of reading scripture that helps you slow down and read God's word prayerfully and contemplatively. Here is a nice concise description of the steps.

This concise guide to breath prayer is from Pastor Adele Calhoun's book, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook. Breath Prayer is exactly how it sounds, praying short prayers with the rhythm of your breath.