What are the different ways that Intimate Encounters can be experienced in our church?
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The Intimate Encounters workbook was originally designed to be a small group resource
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The Intimate Encounters workbook can be taught in a class environment using the Intimate Encounters Teaching Curriculum.
If we are just getting started, should we provide classes or groups first?
- Classes
- No real limit to the number of attendees (other than the size of the room).
- Threat level is lower in a class environment
- Might choose to do fewer lessons because of the class environment.
- Sometimesparticipants are less committed in a class (i.e. attendance, homework).
- Small Groups
- 3-6 couples should be the desired size- more may not be effective to impacting as many couples as quickly.
- More opportunity for discussion and bonding
- Participants often have a higher commitment to attend and do homework
- Threat level higher for some couples.
- Good way to develop a church leadership team
How might we begin?
- Some churches begin with a class. If so, we recommend that you feel free to not necessarily teach all 16 sessions.
- Other churches have decided to identify some leader couples to go through the Intimate Encounters Workbook in a small group first (Usually 4-6 couples).
- Leading a small group through Intimate Encounters can be done in various ways:
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One way is to assign a chapter for each person to do in advance, lead a group discussion, and then assign a “marriage staff meeting” before getting together for the next meeting. |
A second wayis to “teach” a chapter during your group time, perhaps watch some of the video, and do some of the interactive exercises in the group time itself and then assign a marriage staff meeting for the couples between meetings. |
- In either format, a 20-30 minute Intimate Encounters video segment for each chapter could be viewed at the start of the group meeting.
Necessary Resources:
- Intimate Encounters Teaching Curriculum ($35.00): Provides specific lesson plan for each chapter with clear learning objectives, scripted presentations, reproducible masters (for transparencies and handouts), detailed “Marriage Staff Meeting” plans, and most importantly, both interactive and experiential learning activities
- Intimate Encounters Video ($60.00) and Audio ($25.00)sets: Can also be helpful in a small group or class environment, both for the session itself and for the teacher preparation.
- Intimate Encounters Workbooks ($14.00 each)
TO ORDER: Call 800-881-8008, ext. 226, or visit our online store.
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