Need some more peace in your life? Then you are in the right place. The Anxious for Nothing video study is designed to be experienced in a group setting such as a Bible study, Sunday school class, or any small group gathering. Each session begins with a brief opening reflection and “talk about it” questions to get you and your group thinking about the topic. You will then watch a video with Max Lucado and jump into some directed small-group discussion. You will close each session with a group activity and time of prayer.
Each person in the group should have his or her own study guide, which includes video teaching notes, Bible study and group discussion questions, and between-sessions personal studies to help you reflect on and apply the material to your life during the week. You are also encouraged to have a copy of the Anxious for Nothing book, as reading it alongside the curriculum will provide you with deeper insights and make the journey more meaningful. See the “recommended reading” section at the end of each session for the chapters in the book that correspond to material you and your group are discussing.
To get the most out of your group experience, keep the following points in mind. First, the real growth in this study will happen during your small-group time. This is where you will process the content of Max’s message, ask questions, and learn from others as you hear what God is doing in their lives. For this reason, it is important for you to be fully committed to the group and attend each session so you can build trust and rapport with the other members. If you choose to only “go through the motions,” or if you refrain from participating, there is a lesser chance you will find what you’re looking for during this study.
Second, remember that the goal of your small group is to serve as a place where people can share, learn about God, and build intimacy and friendship. For this reason, seek to make your group a “safe place.” This means being honest about your thoughts and feelings and listening carefully to everyone else’s opinion. (If you are a group leader, there are additional instructions and resources in the back of the book for leading a productive discussion group.)
Third, resist the temptation to “fix” someone’s problem or correct his or her theology, as that’s not the purpose of your small-group time. Also, keep everything your group shares confidential. This will foster a rewarding sense of community in your group and create a place where people can heal, be challenged, and grow spiritually.
In between your group times, you can maximize the impact of the course by checking out the C.A.L.M. personal study guide activities. This individual study will help you personally reflect and actively respond to the lesson by practicing the acronym C.A.L.M.:
Celebrate God’s Goodness
Ask God for Help
Leave Your Concerns with God
Meditate on Good Things
For each session, you may wish to complete the personal study in one sitting or spread it over a few days (for example, working on it a half-hour per day on four different days that week). Note that if you are unable to finish (or even start!) your between-sessions personal study, you should still attend the group study video session. You are still wanted and welcome at the group even if you don’t have your “homework” done.
Keep in mind this study is an opportunity for you to train in a new way of seeing yourself and your walk with God. The videos, discussions, and activities are simply meant to kick-start your imagination so you are open not only to what God wants you to hear but also to how to apply that message to your life. As you go through this study, watch for what God is saying as it relates to fighting for your life, looking at your life in a new way, embracing the life he has given you, developing your life according to his plan, finding encouragement in your life, and ultimately choosing the life you want to lead.
With God as your helper, after walking through the Anxious for Nothing study, you will sleep better and smile more. You’ll reframe the way you face your fears. You’ll learn how to talk yourself off the ledge, view bad news through the lens of sovereignty, discern the lies of Satan, and tell yourself the truth. You will discover a life characterized by calm and will develop tools for facing the onslaughts of anxiety.
This much is sure: it is not God’s will that you lead a life of perpetual anxiety. So let’s learn more about how to step out of a life run by anxiety and step into his presence—a life ruled by peace.