All Nations Community ChurchDiscipleship · Study guideA Fruitful Life
with Jesus
Teaching, weekly practices, daily reading plans, and worksheets to help you build a fruitful life with Jesus.
“I am the vine.
You are the branches.”
John 15:5 · World English Bible
- 8
- Weekly themes
- 56
- Daily Bible readings
- 90 minutes
- Suggested group gathering
- Your next step
- Practical exercises and worksheets
Choose a section
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Welcome to a fruitful life
We want to become people whose lives increasingly reflect Jesus Christ. This course gives you a practical way to attend to him, learn his ways, and respond with love. Its aim is a growing life with God that becomes visible in your household, relationships, work, church, and community.
The good news comes first
God welcomes us through Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. We respond by turning to him and trusting him. The Holy Spirit gives new life and helps us grow. If you are still exploring Christian faith, you are welcome to participate, listen, and ask questions. Speak to a leader if you would value a conversation about Jesus, faith, or baptism.
What we mean by a rhythm
A rhythm is a repeated opportunity to respond to God. It may be reading a Bible passage after breakfast, praying before a difficult conversation, worshipping with others, or regularly making room for rest. Repetition helps a practice find a place in ordinary life. God remains the one who gives life and growth.
Fruitfulness in the life of ANCC
John 15:1-8 is the foundation of our focus on overflowing fruitfulness. Galatians 5:22-23 names the character the Spirit produces, and Titus 3:14 connects fruitful living with good works that meet urgent needs. Genesis 1:28 places human fruitfulness within God’s creation purpose. Isaiah 37:30 originally spoke of God’s provision during Judah’s crisis; it can encourage our trust in his faithfulness without becoming a promise of an easy life.
How to use the guide
• Read the week’s teaching before your gathering if possible. Bring the guide and a Bible, printed or digital.
• Try the guided exercise and discuss what you notice. You may pass on any question or keep a response private.
• Use the seven daily readings as a flexible plan. Each week has a smaller option and an optional deeper practice.
• Keep only what is helpful and suitable. Record the effect on your life and relationships rather than a perfect attendance streak.
Scripture passages can be read in the NIV or another trusted translation. The full verse quoted on the cover is from the public domain World English Bible. Other Bible passages are referenced for you to read in context.
COURSE MAP
Your eight week journey
| Week | Page | Focus and practice | What you will learn to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Receive life from Jesus Abiding in Christ | Explain the place of grace and choose one daily opportunity to turn towards Jesus. |
| 2 | 8 | Let Scripture shape your choices Reading and obeying the Bible | Read a short passage in context and identify a faithful practical response. |
| 3 | 11 | Grow in prayer and dependence Prayer and attentive listening | Use the Lord’s Prayer to pray honestly and apply biblical discernment to impressions. |
| 4 | 14 | Make room for quiet and rest Stillness and a weekly rhythm of rest | Plan an accessible period of quiet and a realistic pattern of rest and worship. |
| 5 | 17 | Practise freedom and simplicity Fasting and intentional self denial | Explain biblical fasting and choose a safe voluntary practice linked to prayer and care. |
| 6 | 20 | Grow within the church family Worship and life together | Choose a realistic pattern of gathering and one relationship of mutual encouragement. |
| 7 | 23 | Let love become practical Generosity service hospitality and witness | Plan and carry out a suitable act of care and explain your hope in Jesus respectfully. |
| 8 | 26 | Build a pattern that can last A personal rule of life and ongoing review | Write a realistic personal plan and arrange supportive reviews over the next ninety days. |
A normal ninety minute gathering
Allow ten minutes to welcome one another, ten to reflect on the previous week, twenty for Bible teaching, fifteen for a guided exercise, twenty for discussion, ten to plan and pray, and five to close. In Week 1 the reflection time becomes an introduction and a short life review.
Find your way through the guide
Each week contains three pages: teaching, practice and discussion, and a seven day reading plan. The tools after Week 8 help you adjust practices, write a personal plan, arrange your week, reflect on Scripture and prayer, and review the next ninety days.
You do not need to master one practice before trying another. Learn about each one, then choose a small pattern that fits your life. The optional deeper suggestions are invitations for those with the capacity to explore further.
YOUR STARTING POINT
Before you begin
Set aside ten minutes to notice your present life. This is a private reflection, not a spiritual score. Be honest about both your desires and the responsibilities that shape your days.
| Area | Notice what is true now |
|---|---|
| Attention | What receives my first and best attention each day? |
| Scripture and prayer | Where do I already meet with God, and where do I feel unsure? |
| Work and care | Which responsibilities and people must my plan honour? |
| Rest | Where do I need permission, help, or boundaries to rest? |
| Belonging | Who knows me well enough to encourage or support me? |
| Love in practice | Whose need am I noticing, and what could I offer? |
One area where I would welcome God’s help
One responsibility or circumstance my plan must respect
One existing daily cue after which I could pause with God
Our agreement as a group
We will listen, make room for questions, respect the choice to pass, and avoid comparison. We will ask before offering advice, prayer, or physical contact. Personal information stays private within the group unless someone may be at risk of harm, when the leader will follow ANCC’s safeguarding processes. We will encourage one another with truth and kindness.
WEEK 1 | TEACHING
Receive life from Jesus
Abiding in Christ
Read John 15 verses 1 to 17. Supporting passages: Ephesians 2:1-10; Galatians 5:16-25; Titus 3:14.
By the end of this week: Explain the place of grace and choose one daily opportunity to turn towards Jesus.
Begin with the gift of salvation
Jesus invites us into a relationship with him. Through his death and resurrection he brings forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and new life. We receive this gift through faith, turning from sin and trusting him. Ephesians 2:8-10 places good works after the gift of salvation. Our practices therefore grow out of grace. A carefully arranged diary cannot give us the life that only Christ gives.
Understand what remaining means
In John 15 Jesus speaks to disciples who will soon face his arrest and their own weakness. He tells them to remain in him, receive his words, and continue in his love. Remaining includes trusting Jesus, responding to his teaching, and returning to him when we fail. It reaches into the ordinary decisions of a day. We can bring a difficult conversation, an anxious thought, or an unfinished task into prayer and ask how to act in his love.
Depend on the Holy Spirit
God changes people through his Spirit. Galatians 5 describes a life in which the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We cooperate by responding to his leading and putting sinful actions aside. We cannot manufacture spiritual maturity by force of personality. We can ask for help, practise obedience, and receive support from other believers.
Look for fruit in ordinary places
Fruit includes character that resembles Jesus, love for others, faithful witness, and good works that meet real needs. It may appear when a parent apologises, a student tells the truth, a manager treats someone fairly, or a neighbour receives patient care. ANCC’s emphasis on overflowing fruitfulness begins with connection to Christ. A larger workload or a more impressive public ministry does not by itself demonstrate maturity.
Make a small beginning
Choose an existing moment in your day and turn it into an invitation to meet with Jesus. Read a short passage, speak honestly to him, and identify one response. If you already have a daily practice, pay attention to its effect on your relationships. If you miss a day, return at the next opportunity. God’s welcome gives you a place to begin again.
WEEK 1 | GROUP WORK
Practise and talk together
Bring an ordinary moment to Jesus
1. Read John 15:1-8 aloud. Allow a second reader to read verses 9-17. Notice how dependence, obedience, love, and joy belong together.
2. Write one ordinary situation in which you are relying mainly on your own strength. You may keep the details private.
3. Spend one minute asking Jesus for help. Use your own words, or pray, “Lord Jesus, help me receive your love and follow you here.”
4. Name one action that would express his love in that situation. Keep it specific enough to do within the next two days.
5. Choose a daily cue, such as finishing breakfast or arriving home. Plan a five minute meeting with Jesus after that cue.
6. Share your next step with a partner if you wish. Pray for one another without offering instructions about someone else’s life.
Questions for discussion
1. What does the vine and branches picture teach us about the source of spiritual life?
2. How do verses 9-17 help us understand the fruit Jesus is seeking?
3. Where might you be treating spiritual activity as a way to earn approval?
4. What small response would help you depend on Jesus in your present circumstances?
An everyday situation
A carer feels guilty because she cannot maintain the long morning devotions she once enjoyed. Her evenings are interrupted too. How could she receive grace and make a realistic beginning without neglecting the person in her care?
One response I want to explore
WEEK 1 | DAILY LIFE
Carry the practice into your week
On five days this week, take five minutes after your chosen cue to read, pray, and identify one loving response. You may use an audio Bible or pray while doing an ordinary task safely. Keep the practice brief enough to repeat.
| Day | Read | Reflect and respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John 15:1-8 | Where do I need to depend on Christ today? |
| 2 | John 15:9-17 | Whom can I love in a concrete way? |
| 3 | Ephesians 2:1-10 | Thank God for grace before planning your response. |
| 4 | Galatians 5:16-25 | Choose one quality of the Spirit’s fruit to pray about. |
| 5 | Psalm 23 | Bring one fear to the Shepherd. |
| 6 | Titus 3:3-8, 14 | What useful good work meets a real need near me? |
| 7 | Philippians 1:3-11 | Review the week and pray for growing love. |
A smaller beginning
Read John 15:5 and ask Jesus for help with the next thing you must do.
If you have capacity to go further
Spend twenty minutes with John 15:1-17 on one day. Notice what Jesus says about the Father, love, obedience, joy, and other people.
A prayer for the week
Father, thank you for welcoming me through Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, help me live from the life you give. Teach me to receive your love, obey your word, and notice the people you have placed near me. Let the fruit of Jesus become visible in my ordinary life. Amen.
A statement of faith: By the grace of God, I belong to Jesus. I will return to him and depend on his Spirit as I learn to love others.
A verse to learn or return to: John 15:5. Read it in your preferred translation.
Look for fruit: Notice one occasion when you paused, asked for help, or responded with greater love.
One thing I noticed and one adjustment for next week
WEEK 2 | TEACHING
Let Scripture shape your choices
Reading and obeying the Bible
Read Luke 10 verses 38 to 42 and James 1 verses 22 to 25. Supporting passages: Psalm 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Luke 24:25-27.
By the end of this week: Read a short passage in context and identify a faithful practical response.
Give Jesus your attention
Luke 10 describes Mary listening to Jesus while Martha becomes distracted and upset by the demands of hospitality. Jesus’ response honours attention to him. The passage does not make practical service unimportant. It shows how even good responsibilities can crowd out listening. Scripture gives us a regular opportunity to receive the teaching of Jesus and reconsider the assumptions directing our lives.
Read the passage before claiming its promise
The Bible contains different kinds of writing, including narrative, poetry, prophecy, letters, and wisdom. Begin by asking who is speaking, to whom, and what is happening. Read the surrounding paragraph. A sentence addressed to Israel in a particular crisis needs to be understood in that setting before we apply it. We learn from the whole Bible while recognising how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus illuminate its message.
Move from understanding to response
James compares a person who hears without acting to someone who looks in a mirror and immediately forgets what they have seen. Reading becomes fruitful as we respond in faith. A passage may call us to trust a truth about God, confess a wrong, change a decision, receive comfort, or help another person. The response should arise from the passage rather than from a thought we hoped it would support.
Use an uncomplicated reading process
Read a short passage slowly. Notice its people, repeated words, commands, and promises. Explain its main point in your own words, taking account of the context. Ask what it reveals about God and how it connects with Jesus. Then pray and choose a response. A trusted study Bible, a church teacher, or an accessible overview can help when the passage is difficult. Questions are a useful part of learning.
Make the word available in your day
A printed Bible, an audio recording, a larger print edition, or a passage read with another person can all support attention. Try reading before opening social media, or listening during a journey when it is safe to do so. Write one sentence you want to remember. Return to it when you face a decision. The purpose is a growing knowledge of God that influences how you live.
WEEK 2 | GROUP WORK
Practise and talk together
Read a passage and practise a response
1. Read James 1:19-27 aloud. Briefly identify the letter’s concern with hearing God’s word and living faithfully.
2. In pairs, notice what the passage says about speech, anger, action, and care for vulnerable people. Point to the words supporting your answer.
3. Write a one sentence explanation of the main message. Avoid applying an isolated phrase before reading its paragraph.
4. Ask what this passage shows about the kind of life God desires. Name one response that is appropriate to your circumstances.
5. Pray about that response. Decide when you will put it into practice and whether you need advice or practical help.
6. Use the reading record to note the passage, its meaning, your response, and what happened. Ask a leader about anything still unclear.
Questions for discussion
1. What does Luke 10 teach us about attention to Jesus in a busy life?
2. Why does the surrounding context matter when we read a Bible verse?
3. What is the difference between an action supported by James 1 and an idea we bring to the passage?
4. Which reading format and daily cue would help you attend to Scripture this week?
An everyday situation
A student reads Philippians 4:13 and concludes that faith guarantees the exam result he wants. Read verses 10-13 together. How does Paul’s account of contentment help the student understand the promise and prepare responsibly?
One response I want to explore
WEEK 2 | DAILY LIFE
Carry the practice into your week
Read the week’s short passages on five or more days. Record one sentence about the meaning and one response. If a passage is unclear, write your question and take it to a trusted teacher rather than forcing an answer.
| Day | Read | Reflect and respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 10:38-42 | What is competing for my attention? |
| 2 | Psalm 1:1-3 | Which words and influences am I returning to? |
| 3 | 2 Timothy 3:14-17 | How might Scripture equip me for a good work? |
| 4 | James 1:19-27 | Choose one response concerning speech or care. |
| 5 | Luke 24:25-35 | How does the passage point towards Jesus? |
| 6 | Philippians 4:10-13 | What does contentment look like in my situation? |
| 7 | Psalm 119:97-105 | Give thanks and review what you have acted on. |
A smaller beginning
Read or listen to a short paragraph and ask, “What does this teach me about God or faithful living?”
If you have capacity to go further
Read a complete short New Testament letter, such as Philippians, across the week. Notice how its sections relate to one another.
A prayer for the week
Lord, open my understanding as I read your word. Give me patience with what I do not yet understand, honesty about what I need to change, and courage to act on what is clear. Let your truth shape my thoughts, speech, and decisions. Amen.
A statement of faith: God’s word will have a place in my day. With the Spirit’s help, I will listen carefully and respond faithfully.
A verse to learn or return to: Psalm 119:105. Read it in your preferred translation.
Look for fruit: Notice one decision, conversation, or attitude that was influenced by the passage you read.
One thing I noticed and one adjustment for next week
WEEK 3 | TEACHING
Grow in prayer and dependence
Prayer and attentive listening
Read Matthew 6 verses 5 to 13. Supporting passages: Psalm 13; Romans 8:26-27; Acts 4:23-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.
By the end of this week: Use the Lord’s Prayer to pray honestly and apply biblical discernment to impressions.
Come to the Father through Jesus
Prayer rests on the welcome God gives us through Christ. Jesus teaches his disciples to address God as Father. We can bring gratitude, need, confession, hope, and distress into that relationship. We do not need an impressive vocabulary. A person who can only pray, “Help me, Lord,” can approach him honestly. Shared prayer also teaches us to carry concerns beyond our own lives.
Let Jesus give prayer its shape
In Matthew 6 the Lord’s Prayer turns attention towards God’s name, kingdom, and will before bringing daily provision, forgiveness, and protection. We can use these movements to guide our own words. Pray for God’s purposes in your household, workplace, and city. Ask for what is needed today. Confess specific wrongs. Seek help to forgive and to resist temptation. Leave room for others to pray.
Bring the whole truth of your experience
The Psalms give language for praise and for grief. Psalm 13 begins with questions and distress and moves towards trust. We can pray for healing and change while acknowledging disappointment and uncertainty. An unanswered prayer is not sufficient evidence that someone lacks faith. Prayer should make room for tears, patient support, and continued hope. Practical help can accompany intercession.
Depend on the Spirit and test what you sense
Romans 8 describes the Spirit helping us in weakness. At ANCC we welcome his gifts and seek his direction with humility. A thought or impression should be tested against Scripture, the character of Jesus, wise counsel, and its effect on others. Say, “I wonder whether this might be helpful,” rather than claiming authority over another person’s decisions. No impression authorises manipulation, abuse, or disregard for sound medical care.
Give prayer a place throughout the day
Try a brief prayer when the day begins, a pause before a demanding conversation, and a short review in the evening. Pray with others when possible. Some prayers will feel joyful; others will feel ordinary or difficult. Continue bringing your real life to God. Over time, look for dependence, compassion, obedience, and the freedom to entrust outcomes to him.
WEEK 3 | GROUP WORK
Practise and talk together
Pray through the Lord’s Prayer
1. Read Matthew 6:5-13. Notice Jesus’ teaching about sincerity and God’s knowledge of our needs.
2. Spend one minute thanking the Father for who he is. People may pray aloud, silently, or simply listen.
3. Pray for God’s kingdom and will in one household, workplace, community need, or nation.
4. Bring daily needs and burdens. If a person asks for prayer, first ask what they would like the group to pray.
5. Allow a quiet moment for confession to God. Pray for grace to forgive and for protection from temptation. Do not require anyone to disclose private details.
6. Finish by entrusting the requests to God. Identify any practical support someone has invited and that you can responsibly provide.
Questions for discussion
1. How does addressing God as Father affect the way we approach prayer?
2. Which part of the Lord’s Prayer receives least attention in your usual prayers?
3. How can a group support someone who is disappointed by unanswered prayer?
4. How would you test an impression before presenting it to another person?
An everyday situation
Someone says, “God told me you must leave your job immediately.” The recipient is anxious and has dependants. How could the group honour spiritual gifts while protecting the person’s freedom, using Scripture and wise counsel?
One response I want to explore
WEEK 3 | DAILY LIFE
Carry the practice into your week
On five days, use one part of the Lord’s Prayer to guide five to ten minutes of prayer. Keep a simple record of the concern, the next faithful response, and anything you notice. Pray once with another person if both of you would welcome it.
| Day | Read | Reflect and respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 6:5-13 | Use one movement of Jesus’ prayer in your own words. |
| 2 | Psalm 103:1-14 | Thank the Father for mercy and compassion. |
| 3 | Psalm 13 | Bring an unresolved sorrow honestly to God. |
| 4 | Romans 8:18-27 | Ask the Spirit for help where words are difficult. |
| 5 | Acts 4:23-31 | Pray for courage to witness faithfully. |
| 6 | 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 | Practise gratitude and careful discernment. |
| 7 | Philippians 4:4-9 | Entrust a concern to God and review your week. |
A smaller beginning
Pray, “Father, help me live your way in this moment,” and name the concern before you.
If you have capacity to go further
Use Psalm 13 or Psalm 103 to shape a longer time of honest prayer. Include one concern beyond your own circle.
A prayer for the week
Father, thank you that I can come to you through Jesus. Holy Spirit, help me when I struggle to pray. Teach me to seek your purposes, bring my needs honestly, and care for others as I pray. Give me humility and wisdom as I listen. Amen.
A statement of faith: I can approach God through Jesus Christ. I will pray honestly, welcome the Spirit’s help, and test what I sense with humility.
A verse to learn or return to: Hebrews 4:16. Read it in your preferred translation.
Look for fruit: Notice a moment when prayer led you to trust, seek help, offer care, or respond differently.
One thing I noticed and one adjustment for next week
WEEK 4 | TEACHING
Make room for quiet and rest
Stillness and a weekly rhythm of rest
Read Mark 1 verses 29 to 39 and Mark 2 verses 23 to 28. Supporting passages: Genesis 2:1-3; Psalm 46; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 14:5-6.
By the end of this week: Plan an accessible period of quiet and a realistic pattern of rest and worship.
Notice the pattern in Jesus’ life
Mark 1 places Jesus’ prayer within demanding public ministry. After healing and serving people, he goes to a quiet place to pray. When the disciples find him, he continues his mission with clarity. His example invites us to receive the Father’s presence within a responsible life. Quiet can help us attend to God when competing voices make it difficult to think or pray.
Receive the goodness of rest
Genesis 2 describes God resting after creation. In Mark 2 Jesus teaches that Sabbath was made for people. Weekly rest gives us an opportunity to recognise our creaturely limits, enjoy God’s gifts, and worship. Christians differ about how Sabbath commands apply, and Romans 14 calls us to honour the Lord without judging one another over days. This course invites a practical rhythm of rest without treating one timetable as a measure of salvation or maturity.
Distinguish quiet from withdrawal
A short time of solitude can help us name what is happening within us, pray honestly, and return to people with attention. It should support love and responsibility. It cannot justify leaving dependants uncared for or refusing help. Some people find complete silence unsettling. Reading a Psalm aloud, taking a suitable walk, drawing, or sitting with a trusted person nearby may provide a better beginning.
Plan rest with the people it affects
A day off can become another person’s extra shift. Discuss work, childcare, caring responsibilities, and household tasks before deciding how to rest. Where a full day is currently difficult, begin with an agreed block of time and seek a more sustainable pattern. A shift worker may need a different day from a person with conventional hours. Church volunteers also need time to worship and rest without always carrying a task.
Include enjoyment and gratitude
Choose activities that help you enjoy God, people, and creation. Share a meal, listen to music, walk if able, read, laugh, or spend unhurried time with someone. Reduce unnecessary work messages and shopping where possible. Rest can include lament when a season is painful. At the end, ask whether this pattern helped you receive God’s care and become more available to love.
WEEK 4 | GROUP WORK
Practise and talk together
Plan rest that your household can sustain
1. Read Mark 1:29-39. Notice the demands on Jesus and the place of prayer within his mission.
2. Spend two minutes with Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11. Choose silent reflection, quiet reading, or attentive listening.
3. List the work, care, and household responsibilities that must be considered before you plan a period of rest.
4. Choose one realistic block this week. Decide what work you can leave, what support is needed, and what would help you enjoy God’s gifts.
5. Consider who else is affected. Plan a conversation so your rest does not transfer an unreasonable burden to another person.
6. Add one short daily pause and one weekly rest opportunity to your planning sheet. Treat them as invitations to review, not promises to defend at any cost.
Questions for discussion
1. What do you notice about prayer and responsibility in Mark 1?
2. What makes it difficult for you to stop work or switch off?
3. How could a rest plan express love towards the people who share your responsibilities?
4. Which accessible form of quiet would help you attend to God this week?
An everyday situation
A nurse works rotating weekends and cares for a parent. Someone tells her that a faithful Christian must never work on Sunday. How could the group encourage worship, rest, and responsible care without imposing that judgement?
One response I want to explore
WEEK 4 | DAILY LIFE
Carry the practice into your week
Try a brief daily pause on five days and one planned period of rest during the week. Speak first with anyone affected. Notice what helps you receive God’s care and what makes the plan impractical.
| Day | Read | Reflect and respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark 1:29-39 | Notice the place of prayer in a demanding life. |
| 2 | Genesis 2:1-3 | Receive the goodness of creation and limits. |
| 3 | Mark 2:23-28 | How does Jesus describe the purpose of Sabbath? |
| 4 | Psalm 46 | Bring your unrest into God’s presence. |
| 5 | Matthew 11:25-30 | Name a burden and ask Jesus for help. |
| 6 | Romans 14:1-9 | Practise respect where Christian convictions differ. |
| 7 | Psalm 92:1-5 | Give thanks and review your rest experiment. |
A smaller beginning
Pause for one minute with a short Psalm, then choose one realistic boundary around unnecessary work.
If you have capacity to go further
Where circumstances allow, plan a fuller day of rest, worship, and enjoyment. Share responsibilities fairly and review the experience afterwards.
A prayer for the week
Lord Jesus, help me receive your care within my real responsibilities. Give me wisdom to recognise limits, courage to ask for help, and generosity towards those who share the load. Teach me to rest, worship, and return to others with attention. Amen.
A statement of faith: I am loved by God within my limits. I will seek a responsible rhythm of worship, quiet, work, and rest.
A verse to learn or return to: Matthew 11:28. Read it in your preferred translation.
Look for fruit: Notice whether rest helped you become more patient, attentive, or willing to share responsibility.
One thing I noticed and one adjustment for next week
WEEK 5 | TEACHING
Practise freedom and simplicity
Fasting and intentional self denial
Read Matthew 6 verses 16 to 21 and Isaiah 58 verses 1 to 12. Supporting passages: Matthew 4:1-4; Acts 13:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19.
By the end of this week: Explain biblical fasting and choose a safe voluntary practice linked to prayer and care.
Seek God with your whole life
Biblical food fasting is a voluntary period of abstaining from food to seek God in prayer. Scripture connects it with repentance, dependence, grief, and seeking direction. Acts 13 describes church leaders worshipping and fasting as they discern their next steps. Fasting can help us attend to desires and habits that have become too powerful. Its value rests in seeking God with sincerity.
Keep your attention on the Father
In Matthew 6 Jesus warns against making fasting a public performance. A spiritual practice can easily become a way of securing praise or comparing ourselves with others. We therefore keep participation voluntary and avoid comparing durations. Neither hunger nor discomfort gives us control over God. We seek his will and receive his grace while remaining responsible for the wellbeing he has entrusted to us.
Let devotion lead towards justice
Isaiah 58 addresses a community that combines religious observance with exploitation and neglect. The passage challenges us to connect prayer with fair treatment, practical mercy, and care for those in need. If we give up an optional purchase, we can consider using what is released to help someone. If we turn away from a distracting habit, we can offer our attention to a person we have overlooked. The response should honour the dignity of others.
Choose an appropriate practice
For this course the shared exercise is a period away from optional entertainment, shopping, or recreational scrolling, linked to prayer. It is an exercise in self-denial, distinct from biblical food fasting. Keep essential communication and care available. Adults who wish to explore food fasting should seek suitable health advice first where medicines or health needs may be affected. This course does not prescribe a food fasting schedule or any period without water.
Learn simplicity without neglecting provision
Simplicity asks what is necessary, what is useful, and what is taking more attention than it deserves. It may involve delaying an optional purchase, reducing comparison, or reviewing an overfull diary. Paying bills, saving responsibly, and providing for dependants are legitimate responsibilities. Bring those responsibilities before God as you learn contentment. Freedom grows as we become more able to love and respond thoughtfully.
WEEK 5 | GROUP WORK
Practise and talk together
Release a distraction and make room for love
1. Read Matthew 6:16-21 and Isaiah 58:6-10. Identify the motives and relationships each passage addresses.
2. Choose one optional activity you can set aside for a short agreed period. Everyone may use a non-food practice.
3. Name what you will do with the released time or attention, such as ten minutes of prayer, reading, listening to someone, or an act of care.
4. Check that your choice leaves essential communication, work, care, and responsibilities intact. Do not make another person take part.
5. Pray about what this habit reveals. Notice frustration or restlessness without turning the exercise into self-punishment.
6. Plan a brief review. Ask what helped you seek God, whether someone benefited, and what you would adjust next time.
Questions for discussion
1. What do Matthew 6 and Isaiah 58 teach us about motives in spiritual practice?
2. Which optional activity most often takes attention you intended to give elsewhere?
3. How could an act of self-denial lead to a practical expression of justice or mercy?
4. What is a voluntary and suitable experiment for your present season?
An everyday situation
A group member says everyone must skip meals to show commitment. Another person is uncomfortable explaining a private health condition. How should the leader protect choice and give the whole group a meaningful shared practice?
One response I want to explore
WEEK 5 | DAILY LIFE
Carry the practice into your week
Choose one modest period without an optional activity. Use some of the time for prayer and one act of care. Repeat only if it is helpful and sustainable. You do not need to explain private health information to justify choosing this option.
| Day | Read | Reflect and respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 6:16-21 | Bring the motives behind your practice to God. |
| 2 | Isaiah 58:1-7 | Where does devotion need to become fair treatment? |
| 3 | Isaiah 58:8-12 | Identify a practical expression of care. |
| 4 | Matthew 4:1-4 | Consider Jesus’ dependence on the Father. |
| 5 | Acts 13:1-3 | Pray for wise direction with your church. |
| 6 | 1 Timothy 6:6-10 | Reflect on contentment and the desire for more. |
| 7 | 1 Timothy 6:17-19 | Plan one responsible act of generosity. |
A smaller beginning
Put aside an optional distraction for ten minutes and use that time to pray for someone.
If you have capacity to go further
Review one spending or attention habit across the week. Choose a sustainable change that releases something for responsible generosity or service.
A prayer for the week
Father, show me what is taking hold of my attention and desires. Help me seek you sincerely and treat others fairly. Give me wisdom to practise self-denial responsibly and to use what is released for love. Teach me contentment in Christ. Amen.
A statement of faith: With God’s help, I can reconsider my habits. I will seek him freely and connect my devotion with practical care.
A verse to learn or return to: Matthew 6:21. Read it in your preferred translation.
Look for fruit: Notice whether the exercise created attention for prayer, greater contentment, fairer treatment, or care for someone else.
One thing I noticed and one adjustment for next week
WEEK 6 | TEACHING
Grow within the church family
Worship and life together
Read Acts 2 verses 42 to 47 and Hebrews 10 verses 19 to 25. Supporting passages: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
By the end of this week: Choose a realistic pattern of gathering and one relationship of mutual encouragement.
Receive a place among God’s people
Acts 2 describes believers attending to the apostles’ teaching, shared life, breaking bread, and prayer. Their faith takes visible form in meals, worship, and practical care. Following Jesus brings us into relationship with his people. Someone arriving in Leeds, returning to church, or exploring faith may need time and repeated welcome before they feel at home. We can help by learning names and making room for questions.
Gather to worship and encourage
Hebrews 10 connects confidence to approach God with holding to hope and encouraging one another towards love and good works. A gathering gives us an opportunity to hear Scripture, praise God, pray, receive encouragement, and contribute to others. We can arrive asking whom we might welcome or help. Attendance figures alone tell us little about whether people are known, supported, and growing.
Share the life of the body
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul explains that the church needs different members and gifts. The person serving quietly, the person learning, and the person needing help all belong in our care. Mutuality matters. Ask what another person needs before offering a solution. Receive help when you need it. A small group or trusted friendship can provide a place for prayer and honest conversation that is difficult in a larger gathering.
Practise remembrance and response
Communion directs our attention to Jesus’ self-giving death and our shared dependence on him. Follow ANCC’s current pastoral guidance when taking part. If you are exploring faith or unsure, ask a leader and participate at your pace. Baptism is another important response to Jesus and a public expression of faith. This course can open a conversation about baptism without replacing preparation or the church’s pastoral processes.
Grow in love with wise boundaries
Colossians 3 calls believers to compassion, patience, forgiveness, and love. We can listen, apologise specifically, make repair where possible, and seek help in conflict. Forgiveness does not require denying harm, abandoning safeguarding, or restoring access without evidence of change. Christian belonging should support truth and dignity. A trusted leader can help when a situation is beyond an ordinary conversation.
WEEK 6 | GROUP WORK
Practise and talk together
Encourage one another towards a good work
1. Read Hebrews 10:19-25. Notice the connection between confidence in Christ, hope, gathering, and mutual encouragement.
2. In pairs, each person may name one encouragement and one challenge from the past week. Passing is welcome.
3. Listen without interruption or immediate advice. Ask, “What kind of support would be useful?”
4. Pray a short prayer if the person wishes. Offer one practical action you can genuinely sustain.
5. Choose a realistic pattern of gathering and one relationship to invest in. Ask about current ANCC groups or opportunities rather than assuming arrangements.
6. Agree a suitable way and time to check in. Respect the other person’s choice about contact and what they share.
Questions for discussion
1. Which features of Acts 2 show that Christian community reaches beyond a meeting?
2. How does Hebrews 10 describe our responsibility towards one another?
3. What helps a newcomer become known without feeling pressured?
4. How can we practise forgiveness while preserving truth and appropriate boundaries?
An everyday situation
An international student attends regularly but leaves without speaking to anyone. A volunteer assumes the student prefers to be alone. What gentle, specific invitation could create connection while respecting choice?
One response I want to explore
WEEK 6 | DAILY LIFE
Carry the practice into your week
Where possible, join a church gathering and have one unhurried conversation. Contact one person with their agreement during the week. Ask what support they would welcome, and follow through on a realistic offer.
| Day | Read | Reflect and respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acts 2:42-47 | Notice shared worship, meals, learning, and care. |
| 2 | Hebrews 10:19-25 | Plan how to encourage one person. |
| 3 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 | Thank God for different people and gifts. |
| 4 | 1 Corinthians 12:21-27 | Whose contribution or need is easily overlooked? |
| 5 | Colossians 3:12-17 | Choose a response of patience or kindness. |
| 6 | 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 | Remember Jesus’ self-giving love. |
| 7 | Ephesians 4:1-6, 29-32 | Review how your words build others up. |
A smaller beginning
Make or receive one meaningful contact with a trusted believer, and pray for your church family.
If you have capacity to go further
Explore an ongoing small group, a baptism conversation, or a suitable opportunity to serve. Confirm current arrangements with the ANCC team.
A prayer for the week
Father, thank you for bringing us into your family through Jesus. Help me welcome others, receive help, and contribute with humility. Give our church patience, truthfulness, compassion, and love. Make us attentive to people who are easily missed. Amen.
A statement of faith: I have a place among God’s people. I will seek encouragement and offer care with humility, truth, and love.
A verse to learn or return to: Hebrews 10:24. Read it in your preferred translation.
Look for fruit: Notice a person who was welcomed, a need that was heard, or a relationship strengthened by faithful contact.
One thing I noticed and one adjustment for next week
WEEK 7 | TEACHING
Let love become practical
Generosity service hospitality and witness
Read Luke 10 verses 25 to 37. Supporting passages: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; 1 Peter 4:8-11; 1 Peter 3:15-16; Micah 6:8.
By the end of this week: Plan and carry out a suitable act of care and explain your hope in Jesus respectfully.
Notice the neighbour before you
In Luke 10 a discussion about eternal life leads to Jesus’ story of a wounded man and a Samaritan who shows mercy. The story challenges attempts to narrow the circle of people we should love. The Samaritan notices, acts, and makes provision for continued care. We can begin by paying attention to someone near us whose need is easy to overlook. Ask what help is wanted and consider what you can responsibly provide.
Use resources with care
Generosity includes money, possessions, skills, time, and attention. In 2 Corinthians 9 Paul describes giving that is willing and cheerful. Planning helps us give responsibly and honour the needs of our dependants. A student with little money can offer companionship. A skilled professional can share expertise. Someone receiving care may offer prayer or encouragement. No one needs to buy a place in the church family, and nobody should be promised financial returns for giving.
Offer hospitality that people can receive
Hospitality creates space for another person to be welcomed. It might be a shared meal, a conversation after church, a walk, a meeting in a public place, or help navigating an unfamiliar city. It does not require an expensive home. Ask about access, culture, allergies, and preferences where relevant. Respect boundaries and use the church’s safeguarding arrangements for contact involving children or vulnerable adults.
Serve without taking over
Service honours another person’s dignity and agency. Ask before organising help or sharing their story. Where a need requires expertise, work through an appropriate service or church team. Avoid promises you cannot keep. Ordinary fairness also matters: honest business, fair treatment at work, and concern for people who are excluded are expressions of neighbour love. Micah 6:8 brings justice, mercy, and humble walking with God together.
Speak about Jesus with gentleness
Practical care and Christian witness belong together, and care remains freely offered whether someone shares our faith or not. When an opportunity arises, ask permission to explain why Jesus matters to you. Speak honestly about what you believe, listen to questions, and acknowledge what you do not know. First Peter 3 calls us to gentleness and respect. A simple invitation to explore faith or visit ANCC can open a conversation without pressure.
WEEK 7 | GROUP WORK
Practise and talk together
Make a neighbour love plan
1. Read Luke 10:25-37. Identify what the Samaritan notices, does, and arranges.
2. Privately name one person or local need. Write what you know and what you still need to ask rather than assume.
3. Choose one specific offer within your means. Consider consent, dignity, safety, time, and any church team or professional help that should be involved.
4. Practise asking, “Would this be useful?” Give a partner permission to decline the offer during the exercise.
5. In pairs, practise a short explanation of your hope in Jesus. Include who Jesus is, his death and resurrection, and what trusting him means for you. Do not invent a dramatic story.
6. Decide when to make your offer. Plan to listen afterwards and ask what you learned rather than measuring the person’s response to faith.
Questions for discussion
1. How does Jesus’ story challenge the way we define our neighbour?
2. Which resource could you share responsibly in your present season?
3. What makes an offer of help respectful rather than controlling?
4. How could you explain your hope in Jesus with honesty and gentleness?
An everyday situation
A family needs practical support. A church member wants to post their situation online and make help conditional on attending a service. What should change so that care protects dignity and an invitation remains freely chosen?
One response I want to explore
WEEK 7 | DAILY LIFE
Carry the practice into your week
Make one freely offered act of generosity, hospitality, or service this week. Ask what is welcome. If a natural opportunity arises, offer to share why Jesus matters to you or invite the person to explore faith. Their response does not determine whether you continue to treat them with care.
| Day | Read | Reflect and respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 10:25-37 | Whose need am I being invited to notice? |
| 2 | 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 | Consider willingness, means, and mutual care. |
| 3 | 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 | Pray about responsible and willing generosity. |
| 4 | 1 Peter 4:8-11 | Offer one gift in service to another person. |
| 5 | Micah 6:6-8 | Choose a response of justice or mercy. |
| 6 | 1 Peter 3:13-16 | Prepare to explain your hope with respect. |
| 7 | Colossians 4:2-6 | Pray for wise and gracious conversations. |
A smaller beginning
Offer one thoughtful act of attention or help that is within your capacity.
If you have capacity to go further
Join an appropriate ANCC serving opportunity or plan a simple hospitable gathering with the necessary permission and support.
A prayer for the week
Lord Jesus, help me see the people near me with your compassion. Give me wisdom to offer useful help and humility to listen. Teach me to use what I have responsibly and to speak of you with courage, gentleness, and respect. Amen.
A statement of faith: God has entrusted me with something I can share. I will seek to love my neighbour and speak about Jesus with gentleness.
A verse to learn or return to: 1 Peter 4:10. Read it in your preferred translation.
Look for fruit: Notice whether your action met a welcomed need, honoured dignity, or opened a respectful conversation.
One thing I noticed and one adjustment for next week
WEEK 8 | TEACHING
Build a pattern that can last
A personal rule of life and ongoing review
Read John 15 verses 1 to 17 and Philippians 1 verses 3 to 11. Supporting passages: Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:1-3; Lamentations 3:19-26.
By the end of this week: Write a realistic personal plan and arrange supportive reviews over the next ninety days.
Gather what you have learned
Over the course you have explored practices that help you receive Christ’s words, pray, rest, share life, and love others. Review what actually helped. Some experiments may have been too ambitious or poorly suited to your circumstances. Learning from them is useful. The purpose of a personal plan is to give ordinary life a supportive pattern of response to God.
Write a rule of life in plain language
A rule of life is a chosen arrangement of practices, commitments, and relationships that supports following Jesus. It can include daily prayer and Scripture, weekly worship and rest, intentional relationships, and regular service or generosity. It should also account for work, sleep, care, health, and family responsibilities. Use language that describes what you intend to do, when it fits, and how you will return after disruption.
Choose what you can sustain
Keep the first plan small. Retain a daily opportunity to meet with Jesus and choose one realistic weekly opportunity for worship, rest, or care. Existing healthy commitments can continue. Practices can share the same time: a short Bible reading may lead directly into prayer. Do not add every exercise in this guide to your diary. Ask what would most support faithful love in the next season.
Prepare for change and difficulty
Illness, grief, shift work, exams, unemployment, or a new caring responsibility may require a different pattern. Hebrews 12 directs attention towards Jesus as we persevere. A reduced practice can sustain connection when energy is limited. Ask for practical or professional support where it is needed. Pain does not prove that a practice failed, and a busy season does not require you to abandon all attention to God.
Review the fruit and remain open
Philippians 1 joins confidence in God’s continuing work with prayer for love that grows in knowledge and discernment. Review your plan after thirty, sixty, and ninety days. Ask what is helping you trust Christ and love others, what is becoming burdensome, and what needs to change. Invite a trusted person to reflect with you. Keep returning to Jesus as the source of the life you seek.
WEEK 8 | GROUP WORK
Practise and talk together
Write and share your next season plan
1. Read John 15:1-17 and Philippians 1:3-11. Give thanks for God’s work and name one area where you desire to grow in love.
2. Review your weekly notes. Choose two practices that helped, one that needs adjustment, and one responsibility your plan must honour.
3. Use the personal plan worksheet. Choose a daily cue and a manageable weekly commitment. Add a reduced version for a difficult day.
4. Discuss your draft with a trusted person if you wish. Ask whether it is realistic, loving towards others, and appropriate to your present season.
5. Write the dates for thirty, sixty, and ninety day reviews. Agree a voluntary way of checking in without surveillance or pressure.
6. Pray for one another and name a next step in church life. Keep the plan available and revise it when circumstances change.
Questions for discussion
1. Which practice most helped you respond to Jesus during the course?
2. Where have you noticed a change in how you treat another person?
3. What would make your next season plan realistic and sustainable?
4. How will you return after disruption and whom could you ask for support?
An everyday situation
Someone writes a plan with two hours of daily prayer, daily volunteering, weekly fasting, and no rest allowance while working full time and caring for children. How could the group help them create a hopeful plan that fits their responsibilities?
One response I want to explore
WEEK 8 | DAILY LIFE
Carry the practice into your week
Begin your written plan and arrange your first review. Continue the practices that support love and faithful responsibility. Use the next ninety days to learn what you can sustain rather than trying to prove how much you can achieve.
| Day | Read | Reflect and respond |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John 15:1-8 | Return to the source of fruitful life. |
| 2 | John 15:9-17 | Ask how your plan will support love. |
| 3 | Romans 12:1-8 | Offer ordinary life and gifts to God. |
| 4 | Hebrews 12:1-3 | Identify what helps you persevere with Jesus. |
| 5 | Lamentations 3:19-26 | Receive hope within a difficult season. |
| 6 | Philippians 1:3-11 | Pray for growing love and discernment. |
| 7 | Jude 20-25 | Entrust your next season to the God who keeps you. |
A smaller beginning
Return to John 15:5, pray about your next responsibility, and maintain one supportive relationship.
If you have capacity to go further
After a stable month, consider one modest addition agreed with those affected. Review its value before retaining it.
A prayer for the week
Father, thank you for the work you have begun in me. Help me remain close to Jesus and respond to the Holy Spirit. Give me a realistic pattern for the life you have entrusted to me. Let love grow in my household, church, work, and community. Keep me willing to learn and ready to return. Amen.
A statement of faith: God is at work in my life. By his grace, I will keep returning to Jesus, respond in love, and persevere with the support of his people.
A verse to learn or return to: Philippians 1:6. Read it in your preferred translation.
Look for fruit: Notice whether your plan supports greater love, faithful responsibility, and a willingness to return to Jesus.
One thing I noticed and one adjustment for next week
PRACTICAL TOOLS
Adapt the practices to your season
Begin with what your life can hold. Practices can be brief and can share the same time. A short passage can lead into prayer; a meal can provide hospitality; a journey can offer a listening opportunity when it is safe. Choose an accessible form that helps you respond to God.
| Circumstance | A realistic adjustment |
|---|---|
| Shift work | Use a cue such as waking or finishing a shift, rather than a fixed clock time. Plan a suitable rest period. |
| Parenting or caring | Use brief pauses, a spoken Psalm, or shared prayer. Ask for reciprocal practical support where possible. |
| Study and exams | Keep a modest practice alongside study, sleep, meals, and existing responsibilities. |
| Illness grief or low energy | Pray a short sentence, receive help, and keep one supportive contact. Allow a reduced pattern. |
| Reading or language needs | Try an audio Bible, larger print, a trusted translation, or reading with another person. |
| Unsettling silence | Read a Psalm aloud, walk if suitable, or pray with a trusted person nearby. |
| Financial pressure | Offer attention or a skill within your capacity. Protect essential needs and seek appropriate support. |
Choose self denial responsibly
The shared exercise in Week 5 sets aside an optional activity. Food restriction is never required. For this course, under eighteens, pregnant or breastfeeding people, and those with an eating disorder history should use the non-food option. Anyone considering food fasting where diabetes, medicines, or another health need may be affected should speak with a qualified clinician first. Do not change medicines or undertake a period without water for this course.
Return after interruption
Name what interrupted the plan, receive God’s welcome, and choose the next suitable opportunity. You do not need to catch up on missed readings. If the same difficulty returns, reduce the plan or seek help with the circumstances around it.
PLANNING WORKSHEET
Write your personal pattern of life
Use this page as your personal rule of life. Choose a small daily opportunity to meet with Jesus and a realistic weekly commitment. Include existing healthy practices. You can leave rows blank and return later. This plan remains yours to review.
The season I am in and the responsibilities I must honour
The fruit I hope to see in my relationships and everyday conduct
| Frequency | My chosen practice | When or after which cue | Reduced version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | |||
| Weekly | |||
| Weekly | |||
| Monthly or occasionally |
The person with whom I will agree any shared responsibilities
A person I may invite to encourage me and the contact we agree
My first review date and what I will ask
Example: After breakfast on workdays, read a short paragraph and pray for five minutes. On a difficult day, read John 15:5 and ask for help with the next responsibility. Review after thirty days.
WEEKLY PLANNING WORKSHEET
Make room in an ordinary week
Write essential work, care, study, and household commitments first. Then place your chosen practices where they can realistically fit. A practice can be brief and may sit within an existing activity. Leave room for rest and unexpected needs.
| Day | Main responsibilities | Opportunity with God | Rest or connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | |||
| Tuesday | |||
| Wednesday | |||
| Thursday | |||
| Friday | |||
| Saturday | |||
| Sunday |
One responsibility to discuss or share more fairly
One optional activity to reduce or leave out
One person to welcome encourage or serve
Check the whole week. Is the plan realistic? Does anyone else carry an unfair burden because of it? Is there a smaller version for a disrupted day? What help do you need to ask for?
REFLECTION WORKSHEET
Keep a simple reading and prayer record
Copy or reuse this page when it is helpful. A few honest sentences are sufficient. Recording a response can help you notice what God is teaching you and what still needs attention.
Date and Bible passage
What does the passage say in its context
What does it reveal about God and how does it connect with Jesus
What response is supported by the passage
What I am praying about and any help I need
What happened when I responded and what I learned
A short evening review
Thank God for one gift. Recall where you received or resisted his way of love. Confess what needs confession and receive his mercy. Bring an unresolved concern to him. Ask what faithful response would help tomorrow. If detailed review becomes burdensome, simply pray and rest.
PASTORAL REFLECTION
Bring relationships and burdens before God
When you need to put something right
Read Ephesians 4:25-32. Ask God to help you name your own conduct honestly. If you have harmed someone, acknowledge the specific wrong without making excuses. Listen to the impact, offer an appropriate apology, and make repair where possible. Some situations need a leader, mediator, or professional service. Do not attempt a difficult or unsafe meeting on your own.
When someone has harmed you
You can bring hurt, anger, and grief to God. Seeking help and naming wrongdoing are compatible with Christian faith. Forgiveness does not require immediate trust or renewed access. If there is abuse, coercion, or a risk of harm, seek appropriate protection and follow safeguarding advice. You do not need to describe the experience in a group to receive care.
When prayer feels difficult
Read Psalm 13 or Romans 8:26-27. You may pray a sentence, ask someone to pray with you, or sit with a passage read aloud. Honest lament belongs within life with God. There is no need to explain every sorrow or force a positive feeling. Continue appropriate medical, practical, or professional support alongside prayer.
When a practice becomes another burden
Ask whether the practice is helping you receive Christ’s love and respond to others. If comparison, exhaustion, or fear is taking over, simplify the plan and speak with a trusted person. A practice can be adjusted or paused. God’s welcome in Christ gives you a secure place to review what is helpful.
A relationship or burden I want to bring to God
A suitable next step and the support I may need
Ask ANCC about care and support
PERSONAL REVIEW
Notice the fruit that is growing
Use this reflection before Week 1, after Week 8, and at a later review. It is a conversation aid, not a validated assessment or a measure of God’s approval. You may leave it private. Give a brief example rather than a score.
| Area to reflect on | At the beginning | After eight weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Returning to Jesus when I am under pressure | ||
| Letting Scripture influence a decision | ||
| Bringing real needs and questions into prayer | ||
| Recognising limits and sharing responsibility | ||
| Receiving care and encouraging another person | ||
| Showing practical love with dignity and respect |
One change I can describe with a specific example
One difficulty that needs support or an adjustment
Read Galatians 5:22-25 and Philippians 1:9-11. Ask where love, patience, kindness, or discernment may be growing. Listen humbly to feedback from someone who knows you, if that would be helpful.
YOUR NEXT SEASON
Continue over the next ninety days
Let the course become a sustainable beginning. Keep the plan you wrote in Week 8 available. Choose review dates from your own start date and invite support where you would value it.
| Period | Focus | What to review |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 30 | Establish a small daily opportunity with God and a realistic weekly commitment. Keep essential responsibilities covered. | Does the timing work? Does the practice help me attend to Jesus? What should be smaller? |
| Days 31 to 60 | Continue what helps. If the pattern is stable, consider one modest addition involving rest, community, or neighbour love. | What effect is this having on my relationships? Am I receiving support as well as offering it? |
| Days 61 to 90 | Consolidate the pattern and plan the next season. Review any addition before retaining it. | What fruit can I describe? What needs to change as my responsibilities or circumstances change? |
My thirty day review date and support person
My sixty day review date
My ninety day review date
Questions for each review
1. What has helped me receive Christ’s words, pray honestly, and respond with love?
2. What can I describe in my conduct or relationships that has changed?
3. What has become unrealistic, burdensome, or unfair to someone else?
4. What will I continue, adjust, or leave aside during the next month?
Keep returning to Jesus. Your plan supports that relationship and the people he calls you to love.