Outlive Your Life, DVD-Based Study

I completed this study with a small group at my church. My husband and I signed up for it as a "4 week study" which is how the accompanying DVD and this book are set up. At the time we signed up we were expecting a baby (who was born after the second week of class), and I was very involved in another project at our church. We thought a 4 week study was something we could do as a couple, but we certainly did not have more time we could give.

We ended up feeling it was a kind of bait & switch - "Come to this 4 week study, oh, but this study is going to 'require' you to complete some huge service project that will take many weeks of planning beyond the 4 weeks to complete." In the very first week of study a rather large service project is suggested--hosting a "hunger dinner" that a large number of people are invited to. A great project...but wow...that was jumping right into the deep end in the first week of swim lessons! How about a smaller challenge (something that can be accomplished between the first and second weeks) in the first week, and gradually build up to a larger project?

Our small group ended up completing a rather modest service project, and I doubt that we will be getting together again to discuss completing any further projects that we had brainstormed. This study should have been written as at least an 8 week study, perhaps 12, with several of the weeks specifically dedicated to spending time planning an "out live your life" type service project for the group. I think this study is best used by an established small group that needs a bit of a push to reach outside of the group, it is not well suited to a "transient" small group that is formed specifically for the purpose of studying this book and then disbanding.

I found this whole book to be relavant to our modern day life. It is topics that we encounter in our community and excellent examples to drive the implications home. It is a good thtt should be considered for every small group study. I Have placed my order.