Welcome Leaders |
Welcome Pastors |
Thank you for choosing to start and lead an Intentional Relationships for Singles Bible study using our updated "Workbook".
We offer an extensive list of resources to help you be successful. Be sure to sign up below to gain access.
We offer an extensive list of resources to help you be successful. Be sure to sign up below to gain access.
To access our FREE Leadership Online Guide for the Workbook—including Facilitate/Host training—please complete the request form. Once submitted, you will receive a password to access these valuable materials.
Our Leaders Guide includes:
What's In Your Toolbox?Are you already offering DivorceCare, Griefshare, and Celebrate Recovery? Intentional Relationships is a great additional tool!
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Leaders Guide Access RequestNote: All information is for the use for the Intentional Relationship Solutions only and we will not be sold or distribute to anyone else.
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"They say everything in life has a solution, but after 2 failed marriages, I wasn’t so sure. This study has given me the ability to purposefully plan, prepare, and pursue healthier relationships with others as I learn and develop into the woman God has called me to be. "
—Kim Rich |
FAQ's
Q: HOW MANY WEEKS DOES THE STUDY LAST?
The Intentional Relationships Workbook is designed to be taught over 12 weeks, depending on your goals and needs. You may opt to allow more time to teach different chapters, extending the 12-week period to 14-15 weeks. An additional week can be added at the start, offering refreshments, going through the curriculum, showing the week 1 intro video, or using our teaching videos, sharing your expectations of the class/involvement, and answering any questions folks might have. You can also finish by having an additional week that includes a dinner or celebration.
Q: HOW MUCH TIME?
The Intentional Relationships Workbook is designed for a 1.5- to 2-hour class. However, depending on your facilitation style, if you break people into smaller groups, show the videos, do an icebreaker, etc., the time will vary. Remember, people are there to learn how to build healthier relationships, meet others, build friendships, and gain accountability. So there needs to be a balance of presenting the materials and table discussion. Remember too that the book is the real teacher. Encourage them to read, journal, and complete the personal reflection questions before each week to be prepared for class.
Q: WHO SHOULD BE IN MY CLASS?
Anyone who wants their relationships (family, friends, workmates, schoolmates, neighbors, romantic partners, former spouses, etc.) to improve, including those dating or engaged, or who want to be. Depending on your church or ministry’s size and the possible number of attendees, you may opt to send out a survey using a program like “Survey Monkey” to gather information on who wants to attend the class. Note: If you are separated and not legally divorced, we recommend going through DivorceCare or a similar program first.
This survey should include questions such as their name, email, phone, age range, whether they have ever been married, divorced (and how long), widowed (and how long), whether they are a single parent, whether they have kids living at home, and what they are hoping to get out of the class. It is also helpful to remind them that it is a 12-week commitment. The point of this survey is to give you an overall idea of your attendees' backgrounds, so you are better prepared to teach the class.
Q: WHO SHOULD FACILITATE/LEAD THE CLASS OR GROUP?
It is valuable for those facilitating this curriculum to have some experience or a background of personal hurt, brokenness, and failed relationships, along with examples of how they overcame these areas; it is not required. We do recommend a co-facilitator to provide extra support and a broader background. If you will be using table hosts, set up a weekly connect time to discuss the lesson, provide direction for the group discussions, and receive input, questions, or clarity on the lesson. Your team of hosts leading the discussions will be your ears and eyes for the study. See below for a table of host descriptions and expectations. For more detailed Facilitator and Host training, be sure to fill out the form at the top to gain access to this information.
Q: HOW SHOULD IT BE LED?
You can do this study in a small group of fewer than 10 people, male and female or same-sex, or in a larger format where you break people into smaller groups. You can have singles of all ages and backgrounds. You can also do this in your living room or online.
Q: WHAT ABOUT CHILDCARE?
It’s ideal to provide childcare during the Intentional Relationships study. Think about offering the class when other similar types of studies are presented. Be sure you have the necessary insurance, facilities, and staff training for childcare. Understand that allowing children to wander in and out of the study is distracting; be sensitive to others who don’t have children.
Small Group: [Less than 10 Participants]
If you lead Intentional Relationships with fewer than 10 people, you may opt to present to the entire group, allowing for full group discussion of the material and group questions. Be sure to have people sit in a semi-circle or beside each other so they can see each other’s faces. Please be aware that, given some of the topics and people's backgrounds, and the areas they are struggling with, you can quickly get off-topic or allow one person to dominate the time together. You may still opt to break people into groups of two or three for prayer.
Large Group: [More than 10 Participants and Breaking into Smaller Groups]
You can still present to your entire group for most of the lesson, while your smaller groups dive deeper and/or discuss group questions.
Note: It’s ideal for people to stay in the same small groups each week to enhance transparency, build friendships, and gain accountability. You may opt to mix the groups by background, such as those divorced at one table, those widowed, those never married, male/female, and age range. You can also mix them up, allowing more diversity in the discussion. Depending on the week, you can always do an icebreaker or an exercise with people divided by life stage.
Online Group: [Local or International]
The Intentional Relationships Workbook is designed to be taught over 12 weeks, depending on your goals and needs. You may opt to allow more time to teach different chapters, extending the 12-week period to 14-15 weeks. An additional week can be added at the start, offering refreshments, going through the curriculum, showing the week 1 intro video, or using our teaching videos, sharing your expectations of the class/involvement, and answering any questions folks might have. You can also finish by having an additional week that includes a dinner or celebration.
Q: HOW MUCH TIME?
The Intentional Relationships Workbook is designed for a 1.5- to 2-hour class. However, depending on your facilitation style, if you break people into smaller groups, show the videos, do an icebreaker, etc., the time will vary. Remember, people are there to learn how to build healthier relationships, meet others, build friendships, and gain accountability. So there needs to be a balance of presenting the materials and table discussion. Remember too that the book is the real teacher. Encourage them to read, journal, and complete the personal reflection questions before each week to be prepared for class.
Q: WHO SHOULD BE IN MY CLASS?
Anyone who wants their relationships (family, friends, workmates, schoolmates, neighbors, romantic partners, former spouses, etc.) to improve, including those dating or engaged, or who want to be. Depending on your church or ministry’s size and the possible number of attendees, you may opt to send out a survey using a program like “Survey Monkey” to gather information on who wants to attend the class. Note: If you are separated and not legally divorced, we recommend going through DivorceCare or a similar program first.
This survey should include questions such as their name, email, phone, age range, whether they have ever been married, divorced (and how long), widowed (and how long), whether they are a single parent, whether they have kids living at home, and what they are hoping to get out of the class. It is also helpful to remind them that it is a 12-week commitment. The point of this survey is to give you an overall idea of your attendees' backgrounds, so you are better prepared to teach the class.
Q: WHO SHOULD FACILITATE/LEAD THE CLASS OR GROUP?
It is valuable for those facilitating this curriculum to have some experience or a background of personal hurt, brokenness, and failed relationships, along with examples of how they overcame these areas; it is not required. We do recommend a co-facilitator to provide extra support and a broader background. If you will be using table hosts, set up a weekly connect time to discuss the lesson, provide direction for the group discussions, and receive input, questions, or clarity on the lesson. Your team of hosts leading the discussions will be your ears and eyes for the study. See below for a table of host descriptions and expectations. For more detailed Facilitator and Host training, be sure to fill out the form at the top to gain access to this information.
Q: HOW SHOULD IT BE LED?
You can do this study in a small group of fewer than 10 people, male and female or same-sex, or in a larger format where you break people into smaller groups. You can have singles of all ages and backgrounds. You can also do this in your living room or online.
Q: WHAT ABOUT CHILDCARE?
It’s ideal to provide childcare during the Intentional Relationships study. Think about offering the class when other similar types of studies are presented. Be sure you have the necessary insurance, facilities, and staff training for childcare. Understand that allowing children to wander in and out of the study is distracting; be sensitive to others who don’t have children.
Small Group: [Less than 10 Participants]
If you lead Intentional Relationships with fewer than 10 people, you may opt to present to the entire group, allowing for full group discussion of the material and group questions. Be sure to have people sit in a semi-circle or beside each other so they can see each other’s faces. Please be aware that, given some of the topics and people's backgrounds, and the areas they are struggling with, you can quickly get off-topic or allow one person to dominate the time together. You may still opt to break people into groups of two or three for prayer.
Large Group: [More than 10 Participants and Breaking into Smaller Groups]
You can still present to your entire group for most of the lesson, while your smaller groups dive deeper and/or discuss group questions.
Note: It’s ideal for people to stay in the same small groups each week to enhance transparency, build friendships, and gain accountability. You may opt to mix the groups by background, such as those divorced at one table, those widowed, those never married, male/female, and age range. You can also mix them up, allowing more diversity in the discussion. Depending on the week, you can always do an icebreaker or an exercise with people divided by life stage.
Online Group: [Local or International]
- Your first choice of attendees could be those already in your singles ministries, past Bible study groups, members of your church, etc. This way, you might have some background on them. Attendees might already know each other, reducing the effort required to establish trust. If you are opening this up to those who don’t attend your church/ministry, try to limit it to those living nearby. This way, if you do some gatherings outside of your study, everyone will live locally.
- If you are posting a sign-up online, send them to a survey that requests extra information once they have registered. For example, how they heard about the study, demographics, and what they hope to get out of it.
- Opt to have a pre-start connect time so that folks can get to know each other and ask questions. You can also use this time to restate your expectations, list the guidelines, etc.
- For online groups of over ten participants, set up breakout groups with at least (2) hosts to lead each week that can take turns or lead together. The same host guidelines (available in our free Leaders Guide section once you sign up at the top of this page). Check the online platform you are using, such as Zoom, for guidelines on setting up your group with a permanent host and participants.
- Encourage participants to keep their videos on and refrain from doing other activities when in the study. This study requires discussion and engagement. If they are unable to do this, it might not be the best study for them. Download this free flyer on online etiquette that you can give out on the first night (or all nights).
- Closing your online group: You have the option to bring everyone back to the main group with a closing prayer or final discussion, comments, or have them close in prayer within their groups, and then the option of coming back to the main group. There is an extra value in having them pray in their groups, as it promotes transparency and accountability.
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” – Colossians 3:13 (ESV)
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