GODATWORK Leaders’ Guide

Contents

AboutHow to Run

A Typical SessionDiscussion Groups

Topics

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About

About

Do you know what it means to live each day with purpose?

God calls us to the work we are doing. He’s interested not only in what we do but how we do it. Yet, finding purpose at work is one of the greatest challenges in our world today, and many of us struggle to live out our faith from Monday to Friday.

Wherever you are at, our passion is to encourage you to integrate your faith and work and propel you to be an agent of the kingdom of God in your workplace. Our practical and authentic resources are intended to equip you for your unique challenges and opportunities.

We think these resources have the potential to transform your life at work.

God at Work Conversations

We are inviting you to eavesdrop on conversations between Ken Costa, businessman and author of God at Work, and Pete Hughes, Pastor of Kings Cross Church, and then to start your own work-based conversations.

It’s flexible. Use it as an individual, in small groups (at work or church), or in large groups or church settings. You can watch one film, pair them up or run it as a course. This guide will help you work out what’s best for you.

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How to Run Use the God at Work Conversations fl exibily for your situation. Three main contexts we have designed it for are:

Individuals Small Groups A Course

Drop in on a specifi c Conversation, on the go, in a lunch break, on the commute, once the kids are in bed, or with a mate over a drink.

You might fi nd the accompanying ‘Conversation Starters’ helpful, but each conversation stands alone.

You can use the fi lms and discussion materials for your small group at work, in your church, or with a group of friends.

The talks work together in pairs, so you have the option of running a six-week series, watching two fi lms back-to-back each week, or a twelve-week series, with one fi lm each week.

Your group may want to focus on a specifi c topic or groups of topics most relevant to yourself. The beauty of the conversations is in their fl exibility!

These fi lms can be used for a ‘God at Work Course’ and can be run in church or elsewhere, with small discussion groups.

Run over six or twelve weeks, this is how most churches use the God at Work Conversations series.

Just like small groups with two of the fi lms used per week, the course can run over six weeks as the fi lms go together in pairs. Alternatively, it can also be run over twelve weeks with one fi lm covered each week.

How to Run

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TopicsTwelve essential Conversations to inspire the way you work.

The Sessions fi t together in pairs as shown. We’ve created them to fl ow together so that you can easily run a six week course using the Conversations with each evening making sense as a whole.

Topics

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR WORK CALLED TO WORK

AUTHENTICALLY YOU TRANSFORMING WORK CULTURE

MONEY MATTERS ENJOY GIVING

GOOD AMBITION FAILING WELL

RIGHT DECISIONS SMART DECISIONS

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TACKLING STRESS LIVING WELL

A Typical Session

A Typical Session Takes about 1 1/2 hours

WelcomeDinner for evening courses is a great option. It can be served before the start and allow conversation to fl ow, getting people connected and ready.

Introduce the sessionWorship – optional but sets the tone and gets everyone relaxed and focused on God.Recap and review the previous week if appropriate.

Watch a Conversation

Discuss itSmall group leaders facilitate the discussion to encourage everyone to challenge themselves and have an opportunity to speak.Use the ‘Conversation Starters’ as guides for possible questions and things to consider..Get people thinking about the action they are going to take following the session.

Break

Watch a Conversation

Discuss it

Pray

Close

AN ALTERNATIVE MODELFor shorter sessions use just one fi lm. Discussion and prayer are important so make the timings work for your context.

FOODWe always think food is a good way to connect, so consider starting with lunch, dinner or drinks.

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Discussion Groups

Discussion Groups

Discussion groups are central to making your course or small group work. You may have a group or groups that are fully established and fl ying already. But, if not, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Keep groups the sameIf you use the God at Work conversations as a course in your church or elsewhere, we would strongly encourage you to keep groups the same week-to-week. Allow people to get to know one another and create a strong sense of belonging in groups. Encourage group leaders to pray for their group and invite people back the following week. Our experience is that groups of up to six people works most effectively.

Deciding on groups We have found benefi ts in allocating people to same sector and mixed sector small groups. Mixed sector groups may like to network, so over the course fi nd ways to incorporate a time for this as there can be great benefi ts.

Keep it fl owingIf you have ever run Alpha, you’ll know this one already. Keep the discussion going by valuing the opinions of every one in the group. As a leader you are facilitating the discussion and encouraging others to ask questions. You do not have to know all the answers but you can participate! It’s your job to make people in your group feel valued and heard during the discussion.

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