HOW TO DO THIS STUDY
The Format
The format of SHEPHERD is very simple. Each week, you will work through the designated session in this study. The person you’ll be meeting with will do the same. Once you’ve both covered the material, you’ll meet together to discuss it.
And that’s it. The process is simple. There is nothing magic in these pages (though the Scripture we have included has the power to change your life). The value in this study lies in the discussions you will have, the assumptions you will challenge, and the growth that will occur as you open up your life more and more to be transformed and used by God.
How to Study
When you sit down to do your SHEPHERD study, anticipate that each session will take you a couple hours. You could breeze through each session pretty quickly, but we encourage you to take your time, look up the Scripture passages referenced, write out your responses to the questions, and pray as you go. You will get out of this what you put into it.
When a session poses a question, write out your response in the space provided. If the material raises a question in your mind, or if you find yourself disagreeing with a point or feeling challenged, make a note. The simple act of recording your thoughts as you go will help you process what the Lord is putting on your heart, and it will also set you up for a better discussion time. The more you write down, the more you will remember. Think of this writing component as a way to focus your prayers. Write down your responses as a means of interacting with God over the material you’re covering.
The Main Goal Is Transformation
Make sure that you avoid treating SHEPHERD as homework, as though this were an academic exercise. The goal is not to complete an assignment in as little time as possible; the goal is to have your heart and mind transformed through an encounter with the living God.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1–2