C O N V E R S AT I O N S E R I E S
Passion CHRISTINE CAINE LISA HARPER MERCY LOKULUTU ALLI WORTHINGTON B I A N C A O LT H O F F
Copyright © 2015 by Propel Women, part of Equip & Empower Ministries ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published by Propel Women
welcome
Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 and 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Photos by Kat Harris Photography and Sidney Morgan Photography, used with permission. ISBN: 978-1-940077-73-4 Printed in the United States of America
intro
contents
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Introduction by Christine Caine
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Your Hosts
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Outline for Each Session
sessions
appendix
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Propel Chapter and Group Values
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Chapter and Group Calendar
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A Few Tips from the Wise
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Leader Guide
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SESSION ONE
PASSION
SESSION TWO
IDENTIFYING PASSION
65 Acknowledgements SESSION THREE
PASSION UNDER SIEGE SESSION FOUR
CREATE WITH PASSION SESSION FIVE
INTEGRATED PASSION SESSION SIX
LEADING WITH PASSION
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welcome!
My purpose in founding Propel is to help Christian women realize that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are all called to lead people to Him. Therefore, we are all leaders. We are all in different seasons, circumstances, places, have different gifts, talents, and callings, but we all have a responsibility to keep moving forward as we follow Jesus, and to lead others to Him along the way. Leadership isn’t made by position, corner office, or title. God plucked you out of eternity, He positioned you in time and He gave you gifts and talents to use for His purpose and glory. As His daughters, we cannot ignore our calling to follow this great Leader in His mission. My prayer is that you will be propelled, pushed out and thrust forward into His word and His world through this workbook. No matter if you are coming from the boardroom or playroom, I want you to know that we are joining together on this fact alone: He has called us to join Him in mission to lead others to Christ. This new curriculum invites you right into the conversation, to explore and discuss the principles and issues we encounter in leadership roles in the home, community, and workplace. My hope is that Propel will help thrust those of us who are operating in the full throttle of our leadership gifting even further than we have ever been, and that women who never thought they were leaders will begin to see themselves as leaders and step into their passion, purpose, and potential. I hope you’ll laugh and learn from them as much as I have! The conversation is about to begin…pull up a chair and join us. Love,
CHRISTINE CAINE
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MERCY LOKULUTU Mercy is an author, a Bible teacher, an avid reader who always knows where the nearest bookstore is, and a nurse educator. She was born in Nigeria, moved to Florida to study nursing in 2001 and met her husband, Marcus. They now enjoy a Texas-sized, adventure-filled life with their two children Isaiah and Ava-Pauline. You will find her kids zip-lining in the backyard, reading books or planning funny pranks for their unsuspecting parents. She is the author of As You Wish: Finding Strength in True Surrender to God.
CHRISTINE CAINE
Christine is a lover of Jesus, wife to Nick, and mum to Catie and Sophie.
To learn more, visit MercyLokulutu.com.
Powered by hot, extra-dry, skinny cappuccinos, Christine is a lover of words who speaks too fast, talks too much, and occasionally pauses long enough to write down her words and turn them into books, including her
ALLI WORTHINGTON
most recent release UNSTOPPABLE: Running the Race You Were Born
Alli Worthington helps people be more successful in business and life.
to Win. Originally from Australia, Christine travels the globe teaching and
She serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Propel Women. Previously
advocating for justice. In addition to Propel, Christine and her husband Nick also founded The
she founded Blissfully Domestic Magazine and the international women’s
A21 Campaign, an anti-human trafficking organization that fights slavery around the globe.
conference BlissDom. Her insights on balancing motherhood, career, and
To learn more, visit ChristineCaine.com.
marriage have led to articles and appearances across the nation. She
lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Mark, their five sons and rescued dog, Mollie. Her house is loud, covered in legos, and she is always looking for a few minutes to herself. To learn more, visit AlliWorthington.com.
LISA HARPER Lisa Harper is a hilarious storyteller and theological scholar. She spent six years as the director of Focus on the Family’s national women’s ministry,
has a masters in theological studies from Covenant Seminary, and has
BIANCA JUAREZ OLTHOFF
written fourteen books and Bible study curriculums including her latest,
Bianca Juarez Olthoff is a lover of words and stories. Passionate about
Believing Jesus: Are You Willing to Risk Everything? She speaks all over
creating beautiful things, she spends her week working as Chief
the world but considers motherhood (she recently adopted her daughter
Storyteller for The A21 Campaign and Creative Director for Propel
Missy from Haiti) her greatest accomplishment. Oh and she rides a motorcycle in her spare
Women. Bianca has spent over 15 years mobilizing God’s people to
time. To learn more, visit LisaHarper.net.
action inside and outside of the Church, and is dedicated to teaching God’s word around the globe. She lives in Southern California and loves spending time with her husband Matt, cooking for friends, and hanging out with her two stepchildren. To learn more, visit BiancaOlthoff.com.
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outline O F
E A C H
S E S S I O N
A typical session in the Propel Women curriculum conversation series will include the following sections. Read through this brief outline to get a clear idea of how each meeting will be structured. INTRODUCTION. Each conversation opens with a brief thought that will help you prepare for the session, and get you thinking about the subject you’ll explore with your group. LISTEN. This section includes some simple questions to get you talking—letting you share as much or as little of your story as you want. You can get to know your whole group by answering the questions together, or split into smaller groups with one or two others to go deeper. LEARN. In this section, watch part one of the conversation on the video, and then continue the conversation in your group. During this time you’ll also read a short scripture passage together and apply it to your lives. LEAD. Watch the DVD a second time to listen to the Propel team take questions from the audience, then use the questions in this section to explore these insights and consider how they affect your leadership. LOOK CLOSER. This brief section provides an additional perspective or more information on the week’s theme. This can be great additional material for your group to discuss or something you can reflect on during the week.
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You might be “artsy” and
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spontaneous or organized and logical. Perhaps you can’t live without a daily run, or maybe your favorite exercise is walking from store to store on a shopping spree. You might be a gourmet cook—or you might be unable to open
PASSION
a can! No matter what your unique gifts and talents are, it’s important to remember that God can use all of us— whether we’re a thinker or a
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
feeler, an outgoing talker or a creative dreamer or a practical problem solver. Regardless of your personality, you have been created in God’s image and designed by Him to live enthusiastically and to care deeply. Today we’ll learn more about what it means to be a woman of passion, a leader with compassion, and a follower of Jesus called to live with purpose.
COLOSSIANS 3:23
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listen
Q What are the best parts of your day
learn
Q Christine says passion, or intense enthusiasm, is rooted in the idea of being in God. How does your relationship to God drive your passions?
or your week? What are the “get to
Q How is passion connected to
do” parts of your life?
purpose?
Q In what ways are you especially gifted or talented? What skills and strengths do you have? How are you using those gifts?
Q Does passion have to be connected to our vocation?
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Q Why is trust in God so important in
Take a few minutes to watch part one of the video, then use the following questions to guide your conversation.
living out our passion?
Q What is the difference between emotion and passion? Why is taking action a crucial part of compassion?
READ ROMANS 12:9-11.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 9
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Q These verses are full of words that encourage us to be passionate: we’re to cling to what is good, be devoted to others, and live with zeal. Which of these commands are easy for you? Which ones are more challenging?
Q What does it mean to have spiritual fervor? How do we maintain this passion?
“Sometimes our passion is birthed out of compassion.” - Bianca -
lead
Watch the last few minutes of the video in which the panel answers questions from the audience.
Q Lisa says passion is not about what you do, it’s about who you are. Reflect on this idea. Do you agree? How does that affect the way you think about your personal passion for life?
Q What dreams are growing out of your passions right now? What obstacles are standing in the way of your next steps, and have you gone to God first?
“Jesus Christ is our greatest passion.” - Christine -
Q Mercy suggests asking God to show us what He is passionate about. What would that look like in your life?
Q Is there an area of life where you need to “just walk”?
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LOOK
closer difference,” the article says. “Turning a dull job into one that satisfies our need for novelty and achievement involves paying close attention to each step involved, and then asking: Is this step necessary? Can it be done better, faster, more efficiently? What additional steps could make my contribution more valuable? If, instead of spending a lot of effort trying to cut corners, one spent the same amount of attention trying to find ways to accomplish more on the job, one would enjoy working more and probably be more successful… Even the most routine tasks, like washing dishes, dressing, or mowing the lawn, become more rewarding if we approach them with the care it would take to make a work of art.”
In the last few years, there’s been a resurgence of interest in the idea of “flow.” Although you may not be familiar with this term, you’ve definitely experienced it—flow is the state of being effortlessly concentrated on something, enjoying the moment-to-moment experience so much that you find yourself easily blocking out distractions and simply immersing yourself in the project at hand. For some people, this flow state might come while running or swimming laps. For others it happens while creating music or drawing a picture, designing a website or a business plan, or talking to a friend. It happens anytime you feel like you’re “in the zone” or you’re so involved in something that you lose track of time.
In today’s study, Christine and the girls talk about these very issues: choosing to be passionate and engaged no matter what the task and doing things with a passion that spills over from a heart rooted in relationship with Jesus. As you begin this study with your Propel chapter, consider the following questions:
According to a recent article in Psychology Today, this flow state is different from feeling happy because it is not dependent on positive external circumstances. Instead, feeling flow is the result of participating in activities with clear goals, giving that activity one’s full attention, and deciding to do one’s very best at each moment.
• When do I experience flow? • What is especially rewarding or enjoyable about those activities? • What does that tell me about my passions and my calling? • How can I choose to be more intentional and purposeful with the work God has called me to?
“A supermarket clerk who pays genuine attention to customers, a physician concerned about the total well-being of patients, or a news reporter who considers truth at least as important as sensational interest when writing a story, can transform a routine job into one that makes a 18
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Think about an Olympic runner
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leaning in to the finish line in the last few seconds of a race, or a musician mastering a piece of music and performing it with joy. Think of a business leader presenting the annual report to her board of directors, completely engaged in the
IDENTIFYING PASSION
details and communicating well, or a mom teaching her child to write their name. The early church father Ireneaus famously said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” In other words, God is glorified when we are living
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
the way He created us to— connected to Him, energized by our daily activities, and striving to be the very best we can be. Whether you are aware of your passions and reflecting them in each part of life or still struggling just to identify the passions God has planted in you, all of us can grow in our understanding of how to glorify God day to day. Ultimately, obedience to Him is
PSALM 32:8
our greatest passion, and the source of true life.
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listen
Q What are three things you’re really
learn
Q Christine says most of her passions have been birthed from challenges or circumstances in need of change. What issues do you find difficult or unfair? Do they hold a key to finding your passion?
good at? Do you use these gifts or skills on a regular basis? If not, why
Q How can getting out of our comfort
not?
zones help us find our passions?
Q What do other people affirm you for? What talents do they see in you?
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Take a few minutes to watch part one of the video, then use the following questions to guide your conversation.
Q Are there fears or wounds from the past that are keeping you from finding your passion?
Q What is the role of sacrifice and submission in living out our passions? How is being passionate different from focusing on self-fulfillment?
READ HEBREWS 12:1-3.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let
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us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Q What do verses one and two tell us about how to live with passion?
Q What can we learn from Jesus’s example of obedience?
“When you’re planted in the local church, you will find your passion.” - Mercy -
lead
Watch the last few minutes of the video in which the panel answers questions from the audience.
Q How can you encourage the other women in your chapter to discover their passions or take the next step in pursuing them?
Q Are you passionate about what you’re doing professionally right now? React to the idea that sometimes passion means doing your best for Jesus even if you don’t like it.
““Be ruthless about your one degree.” - Christine -
Q What would it look like to bear more fruit in your life? How does that involve your job? How is it bigger than your job?
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closer Christine says we discover how to be passionate, “all-in” people by first being in God, and that begins with cultivating our own growth with spiritual disciplines. The concept of spiritual disciplines may be new to you; simply put, they are practices that Christians have used for centuries to draw closer to God, and allow His Spirit to transform them. Take a look at this list of disciplines. Are there one or two you that especially appeal to you at this season of life? How could you be more intentional about incorporating those disciplines into the daily or weekly rhythm of your life?
Solitude: Spending time alone with God
Bible Reading: Reading the Word!
Silence: Choosing not to speak as a way to listen to God or to others.
Worship: Praising God for who He is and thanking Him for what He’s done. (This doesn’t have to involve music.)
Fasting: Going without food or some other pleasure for a set period of time in order to pray and refocus your mind.
Reflection: Thinking about God’s word, prayerfully considering a scriptural idea, and applying it to your own life. Journaling may be helpful here.
Sabbath: Intentionally refraining from work on a regular basis in order to rest and renew.
Service: Serving others in a tangible way to bless them and glorify God.
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Every year, Philadelphia hosts a
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“0.0 Instant Gratification Run.” True to its name, the event “brings runners and non-runners together” for a sporting event where the starting line is the same as the finish line—with no effort in between. Participants get a t-shirt, tickets for food and
PASSION UNDER SIEGE
drinks in a festival environment with live entertainment, even a medal—and they enjoy the instant gratification of winning without effort. Of course, real life isn’t like that.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
If we want to accomplish a goal or pursue a dream, there will be hard work, struggles, and possibly even disappointments along the way. When we face these difficult times, we can choose to dig deeper and run our race with joy, or we can get distracted by the darkness and give up. Today we’ll learn how to survive—and thrive—when our passion is under siege.
GALATIANS 6:9 28
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listen
Q Briefly share with the group a time
learn
Q Do you look to others to affirm your passion or the way you’re pursuing it? How do you need to change your thinking so that you’re finding that affirmation from God?
Q How does empathy make you a
when you faced a loss, setback,
better leader?
or disappointment that made you
Q What is your reaction to resistance?
want to give up.
Does it push you to work harder or try something new, or does it make you want to quit?
Q Have you had to wait to see one of your passions or dreams become a reality?
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Take a few minutes to watch part one of the video, then use the following questions to guide your conversation.
READ ROMANS 5:1-5.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
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Q This passage reminds us that if we have faith in God, we stand in His grace. How can that truth give you strength during times of struggle?
Q How does growing in our character lead to hope?
“There’s no demon in hell and no person on earth who can ultimately stop the purpose of God in your life.”
lead
Watch the last few minutes of the video in which the panel answers questions from the audience.
Q Does it comfort you to know that God is the only one who can bring His dreams to fruition—or does it discourage you to realize you can’t “make” it happen in your power?
- Christine Q What would it look like to “embrace the pain” in your life right now?
Q Who are the dreamers in your life who can support your dream? How can you encourage the dreams of the other women in this group?
Q Are there scars from your past that are causing you to stumble in your journey? What’s one next step you can take to move forward in the healing process?
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“Don’t stumble on something behind you.’” - Bianca -
LOOK
closer If you haven’t read it yet, you must read Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. In this amazing true story, author Laura Hillenbrand writes about the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic track star who joins the US armed services to fight in World War II, survives the crash when his plane is shot down over the Pacific, endures 47 days on a raft surrounded by sharks, only to be “rescued” by the Japanese and forced to labor and suffer for over two years in one of their POW camps.
dangerously close to death. More than once, he wants to die. We have the benefit of being on the other side of history, but of course while Zamperini was living his story he didn’t know how it would end. The same is true for us—as Christine and the girls pointed out in this week’s conversation, we never know when our story is about to change. If Zamperini had given up one day earlier, he would have missed his rescue, missed his victory, and missed the rest of his life—a life that went on to include enjoying a long and happy marriage, becoming a Christian, and even choosing to forgive his Japanese captors.
More than once in the story, Zamperini is
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It’s been almost a hundred years since
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women “got the vote” in England and in the United States, and it’s easy to take this right for granted. None of us who have grown up in one of these countries have any memory of a time when women weren’t full participants in democracy. However, many of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers
CREATE WITH PASSION
battled to make this possible— demonstrating, picketing, protesting, and even fighting to make their voices heard. These women had passion! Even when every politician was against them and it
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
seemed the laws would never change, they never stopped dreaming and working to make their vision a reality. Because of their single-minded focus on their passion and their unwillingness to give up, we live in a different world— and we have the chance to change it every time we vote! You may not be passionate about politics, but no matter what dream God has put in your heart, the call to
HEBREWS 10:24
courage is the same. When you create out of your passion, you will face setbacks. Will you allow those moments to pause your progress or will you use them to propel you forward? 36
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listen
Q Are you using your gifts or living
learn
Q Are there people who have challenged you to use your gifts in more impactful, more challenging ways? How have you reacted to those challenges?
out of your passion in a consistent
Q What has God “put into your hand”?
way? If not, what’s holding you back?
Do you believe He has equipped you to do what he’s called you to?
Q Dream big. Don’t put any limits or “buts” on it. What do you want your life to look like in five or ten years? What will be your purposes, priorities, and passions a decade from now, and how will you be living them out?
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Take a few minutes to watch part one of the video, then use the following questions to guide your conversation.
Q Is it difficult for you to cheer for other women and their success? React to Lisa’s insights on the value of collaboration.
Q Are you willing to start small, with what you have?
READ EPHESIANS 2:8-10.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to
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do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Q We are not saved by good works, but we were created to do good works. Discuss this idea with your group. How should this affect our understanding of creating with passion?
Q These verses also tell us we are a work. Take a few moments to reflect on verse 10 and consider the immense value God has
“Passionate people don’t see obstacles, they create opportunities.” - Mercy -
lead
Watch the last few minutes of the video in which the panel answers questions from the audience.
Q How do you know if God’s answer is “no” or “not yet”?
Q What are a few ways you could create time, space, and margin to be creative?
for you—his creation!
Q Is there something you are being called to lay down for his purposes?
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“It was crazy…. let’s just get real.” - Alli -
LOOK
closer If you’ve read the book Made to Stick, you may recall the Israeli research team that asked three groups of novices to brainstorm ad campaigns. One group received no training, one participated in a two-hour freeassociation class, and one was trained for two hours on templates the research team had already identified as central to 90% of award-winning ads. Then each of the groups submitted their ideas to an independent creative director who had no knowledge of each group’s training. Who created the best ads—the team without any boundaries, the team with two hours of encouragement to think outside those boundaries, or the team with instruction in six boundaries? You guessed
it—the CD rated the third group’s ads 50% more creative. A few carefully-chosen boxes produced the most out-of-the-box results. As we pursue our passions and nurture our own creativity, there’s nothing wrong with brainstorming big and dreaming daringly. However, don’t be discouraged by the boundaries or even the obstacles you face in pursuing your passion, whether it’s feedback from others or a door that seems closed. Those “limits” may be just the guardrails you need to keep your project on the right road, propelled toward greatness.
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We all have favorites—favorite restaurants, favorite things to do with friends, favorite parts of our work. God has created each one of us uniquely, and He delights in our differences. However, while not every part of life can be a favorite, it can all be
INTEGRATED PASSION
lived with passion. We were not designed to settle for 50 weeks of drudgery so we can enjoy a couple weeks of vacation. We weren’t created to slog through some activities just so we can enjoy others, and we certainly
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. COLOSSIANS 3:17
were never meant to just endure entire seasons of our lives while we wait for what’s next! Instead, leading with passion means living holistically— integrating what you believe and who you are into every area of life, from fitness to friends to finances and beyond. When we do this, we look more like Christ, we honor Him, and we live out the open and abundant life He came to give each of us.
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listen
Q What does it mean to live
learn
Q What is the hardest part of life for you to be passionate or wholehearted about? Why?
Q Think about the analogy of concentric
expansively or with abundance?
circles. Who or what have you placed
Does that describe your life right
in the circles closest to you? Does
now?
that prioritization need to change?
Q What areas of life are you most passionate about? Are there areas of life that you have no passion for?
Q Why is it so important to be consistent
Take a few minutes to watch part one of the video, then use the following questions to guide your conversation.
professionally and personally? How is this a spiritual issue?
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
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a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
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a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 3
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
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a time to scatter stones and a time to
gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
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a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
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a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
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Q Which of the seasons mentioned in this
“What does it look like to integrate the word, the spirit, and truth into my life as a woman?”
lead
Watch the last few minutes of the video in which the panel answers questions from the audience.
Q Single, married, kids, no kids, working at home, working in the marketplace, working in ministry…. what does it look like to begin integrating passion into every area of life in YOUR life stage?
- Christine -
passage are true of your life right now? What would it look like to live those seasons with greater passion?
Q How can you invite more women to your “lunch table”? Who can you mentor? Who can you learn from? What would it look like to take a next step
Q What do these verses have to teach
this week?
us about using our time on earth? How can they inspire us to live with more intentionality?
“Pay attention to where you have the volume turned up in your life.” - Lisa -
Q Do you really believe that your value is who you are following, or do you believe it’s what you are doing?
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closer If you’re good at math, you may remember the term “integer.” This is a Latin word which means whole or complete. In math, an integer is simply a whole number with no fractions. It’s complete in itself. But integer is also the source of the word integrated. As we’ve talked about in this session, to have an integrated life means to have pulled together the various parts of who we are. Like a number without any messy fractions, an integrated life is whole. It may have many different parts, but they will be unified by a vision, a purpose, and a passion. “Integer” is also the source word for “integrity,” and the lesson is obvious. When we are integrated, when our life is defined by intentional choices and consistently aligned with our values, we are women of integrity who can live with passion.
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So many factors can combine to
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take away our passion. We may experience burnout or stress. We may face conflict or rejection from other people. We may lack resources, lack confidence, or even lack clarity on how to move forward. For every confirmation of our calling, we often face a
LEADING WITH PASSION
similar challenge (or three!) Leading with passion means pushing through these barriers and finding ways to keep our passion alive. As we close out this series, reflect on the key
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
ideas you’ve learned over the last several weeks. How do you need to lead yourself first? In what areas do you need to submit to God’s leadership? What’s next in your own journey toward becoming a more effective, passionate leader?
PROVERBS 4:23
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listen
Q Do you agree that passion is conta-
learn
Q Have you ever tried to “fake” passion? Is there an area of life where you’re trying to fake it right now? What’s keeping you from authenticity?
Q Is comparing yourself to others
gious? How do you spread passion to your family, colleagues, or
stealing your joy and peace? How
friends?
can you move from comparison to contentment?
Q What are the biggest “passion slayers” for you?
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Take a few minutes to watch part one of the video, then use the following questions to guide your conversation.
Q Are your intellect, spirit, and emotions aligned?
Q What is the relationship between contentment and passion?
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 2:3-8.
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.5 You 3
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know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
“Comparison is the thief of our calling.”
lead
Watch the last few minutes of the video in which the panel answers questions from the audience.
Q Do you have a mentor to walk with you as a leader? Are you mentoring anyone else?
- Alli -
Q How does God test our hearts? (verse 4) Q How do you react to rejection? How is God calling us as women to deal with it?
Q Why is positional authority (verse 6) less effective than personal authority?
Q What are you drawn to? What are you driven to do?
“One of the biggest tools we have as women leaders is respecting others.” - Lisa -
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LOOK
closer “Contentment” often gets a bad reputation, because it’s seen to be like settling. But contentment is not the opposite of ambition. As the girls talked about in this week’s teaching, we should all be ambitious, both in living out our faith and in doing our personal best as we lead. Being content doesn’t mean making excuses or not working hard.
Choosing contentment means doing our best to create what might be while also fully embracing the messy reality of what is. Consider the words of Socrates: “He who is not contented with what he has would not be contented with what he would like to have.” As you move forward in pursuing your passion and dreams for the future, don’t forget to be grateful for the many ways God has already shaped your life. It’s absolutely necessary for living and leading with passion!
However, contentment is vital for us as leaders, because no matter how great our ambition, there will always be parts of life (and people in life!) that we can’t control.
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C H A P T E R
A N D
G R O U P
values
Our Purpose We want to provide a comfortable environment where participants experience authentic community and spiritual growth. Our desire is that the Propel curriculum will help thrust those of us who are operating in the full throttle of our leadership gifting even further than we have ever been, and that women who never thought they were leaders will begin to see themselves as leaders and step into their passion, purpose, and potential.
Our Values
C H A P T E R
G R O U P
calendar
Planning and calendaring can help ensure the greatest participation at every gathering. At the end of each meeting, review this calendar. Date
Lesson
Group Attendance To give priority to the group meeting. We will call or email if we will be late or absent. (Completing the Group Calendar on page 61 will minimize this issue.)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Safe Environment To create a safe place where people can be heard and feel loved. (Please, no quick answers, snap judgments, or simple fixes.) Respect Differences To be gentle and gracious to people with different personal opinions, temperaments, and levels of spiritual maturity. We are all works in progress. Confidentiality To keep anything that is shared strictly confidential and within the group, and to avoid sharing improper information about those outside the group. Encouragement for Growth To be not just takers but givers of life. We want to spiritually multiply our life by serving others with our God-given gifts.
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A N D
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Location
Notes
A
F E W
tips
F R O M
T H E
W I S E
1 Pray for your group members by name. Before the session, go around the room in your
5 Invite others. The Propel curriculum is built as a series, but it is intentionally designed
mind and pray for each member by name. Ask God to use your time together to touch
so women can join at any point in the six sessions. Between each meeting think of a
the heart of every person uniquely.
friend you can bring to the next meeting.
2 When you ask a question, be patient. Someone will eventually respond. Sometimes
6 Stay connected. Use Instagram and Facebook to stay connected with the women in
people need a moment or two of silence to think about the question. Keep in mind that
your group. Share what you are learning, how you are using what you have learned
if silence doesn’t bother you, it won’t bother anyone else.
between meetings and of course invite your friends. Encourage the women in your group to do this as well and post content using the hashtag #PropelWomen.
3 Do you need to break up into smaller groups? If your group has more than 10 people, be sure to break into round table small groups of three or four for discussion and
7 Keep learning. Continue your development as a leader by watching the videos on
prayer times. With a greater opportunity to talk in a small circle, people will connect
the Propel Women website, reading the new article each week, and following Propel
more with the conversation, apply more quickly what they’re learning, and ultimately
online for daily encouragement.
get more out of it.
4 Have facilitators at each round table. To keep conversation flowing be sure to have a facilitator at each round table who can take the lead.
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L E A D E R
guide
Acknowledgements Special thanks to each of the women who participated in our studio audience—you asked
Download your leader guide for your chapter or your group here: www.PropelWomen.org/LeaderGuide
some great questions and we are so thankful for our time together! Thank you to Pastor Kenton Beshore and Mariners Church for letting us use the chapel for our filming. We are indebted to your generosity and grateful for your kindness. Your hearts are even more beautiful than your campus. We are so grateful to Beth Graybill for her insight and true servant leadership on this project. To our favorite photographers, Kat Harris and Sidney Morgan, we adore you and think you are brilliant. Special thanks to Lifetogether for their patience, kindness, and collaboration with us to create this curriculum conversation series.
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We exist to change that. Every 30 seconds somebody is forced into the bondage of modern-day slavery
Our goal for humanity is simple: FREEDOM. Join us as we abolish slavery in the 21st century.
A21.org @thea21campaign @A21 @A21
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join the conversation! Propel exists to help women fulfill their passion, purpose, and potential. This new curriculum invites your group right into the discussion as Christine Caine and guests discuss the ideals and issues all women face, whether that be in the home, community, or workplace. CHRISTINE CAINE
Christine is a lover of Jesus, wife to Nick, and mum to Catie and Sophie. Powered by hot, extra-dry, skinny cappuccinos, Christine is a lover of words who speaks too fast, talks too much, and occasionally pauses long enough to write down her words and turn them into books, including her most recent release UNSTOPPABLE: Running the Race You Were Born to Win. Originally from Australia, Christine travels the globe teaching, and advocating for justice. In addition to Propel, Christine and her husband Nick also founded The A21 Campaign, an anti-human trafficking organization that fights slavery around the globe. You can follow @ChristineCaine on Twitter.
LISA HARPER
MERCY LOKULUTU
ALLI WORTHINGTON
BIANCA OLTHOFF
Lisa Harper is a hilarious storyteller and theological scholar. She spent six years as the director of Focus on the Family’s national women’s ministry, has a masters in theological studies from Covenant Seminary, and has written fourteen books and Bible study curriculums including her latest, Believing Jesus: Are You Willing to Risk Everything? She speaks all over the world but considers motherhood (she recently adopted her daughter Missy from Haiti) her greatest accomplishment. Oh and she rides a motorcycle in her spare time. To learn more, visit LisaHarper.net.
Mercy is an author and a Bible teacher, an avid reader who always knows where the nearest bookstore is, and a nurse educator. She was born in Nigeria, moved to Florida to study nursing in 2001 and met her husband, Marcus. They now enjoy a Texas-sized, adventurefilled life with their two children Isaiah and Ava-Pauline. You will find her kids zip-lining in the backyard, reading books or planning funny pranks for their unsuspecting parents. She is the author of As You Wish: Finding Strength in True Surrender to God. To learn more, visit MercyLokulutu.com.
Alli Worthington helps people be more successful in business and life. She serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Propel Women. Previously she founded Blissfully Domestic Magazine and the international women’s conference, BlissDom. Her insights on balancing motherhood, career, and marriage have led to articles and appearances across the nation. She lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Mark, their five sons and rescued dog, Mollie. Her house is loud, covered in legos and she is always looking for a few minutes to herself. To learn more, visit AlliWorthington.com.
Bianca Juarez Olthoff is a lover of words and stories. Passionate about creating beautiful things, she spends her week working as Chief Storyteller for The A21 Campaign and Creative Director for Propel Women. Bianca has spent over 15 years mobilizing God’s people to action inside and outside of the Church and is dedicated to teaching God’s word around the globe. She lives in Southern California and loves spending time with her husband Matt, cooking for friends, and hanging out with her two stepchildren. To learn more, visit BiancaOlthoff.com.
SESSION 1
SESSION 2
SESSION 3
SESSION 4
SESSION 5
SESSION 6
PASSION
IDENTIFYING PASSION
PASSION UNDER SIEGE
CREATE WITH PASSION
INTEGRATED PASSION
LEADING WITH PASSION
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