Tips for Facilitators
These tips are optional ideas and suggestions.
Read the Guidelines for Facilitators on pages 139-147 in The Intentional Woman workbook first. The following tips were compiled by IW qualified presenter Kelli Gotthardt. Kelli wrote these tips as a result of facilitating several IW groups in the eight week format.
NOTE: For larger groups, round tables work well, with 6-8 at each table. For smaller group settings, put the chairs (6-8) in a circle. In a home setting, you could sit around a dining room table or in a family room or living room setting with all women facing one another.
See also: Facilitator Guide
Download Microsoft Word document file
Week 1Open with prayer
Explain logistics for the 6-8 week study
Share a testimony about how well the IW Process worked in the facilitator's life.
Get Acquainted activity:
For groups of more than eight: Have each table of women talk together to come up with a list of things they ALL have in common.
For groups of 6-8, divide into pairs and discover what they have in common and then use this information to introduce one another to the rest of the group.
Explain: What to expect:
Ask all women turn to page 13 of the workbook and guide them through What to Expect for the 5 step process.
Give alone time to answer questions 1 & 2 on page 14.
Have women share answers to questions 1 & 2 (Sharing with the entire group works best if there are only 6 women. If more than that, the women will need to share in pairs.)
Read definitions of an Intentional Woman:
Bottom paragraph of page 15 (The intentional woman with a heart for God has a sense of God's purpose)
Read the 1st sentence under The Key Reason for Living Intentionally section on page 15.
Read four benefits of living intentionally from the workbook:
Have a volunteer read the 2nd paragraph of Benefit One.
Have a volunteer read Benefit Two.
Facilitator read 1st two paragraphs of Benefit Three.
Have a volunteer read the last paragraph of Benefit Three.
Volunteer read Benefit Four.
Peter's Purpose - Have volunteer read John 21:17-21 then facilitator lead discussion of questions 1 & 2, conclude with middle of page 20 with paragraph that starts, Some of us, like Peter.
Becoming Free bottom of page 20 - Have participants read silently, then answer questions 3-6.
Have volunteer read IW Story on page 22-23.
Moving On - Have participants complete questions 7-8, then discuss this together with a group of 6 or less, or in pairs with a group of 8 -12, or in groups of 3-4 if there is a larger group.
Homework:
Stress the importance of completing and starting early.
Walk through the first step, explaining how chapters are in 3 parts A,B,C and they are to complete them all
Week 2Open with prayer
Forming Sharing Groups:
Explain the method of choosing partners/groups and have women move into their permanent groups for the 8 week study. (I placed different stickers on blank name tags and placed name tags on each table. When the women arrived they picked up a name tag and wrote their name on it. Before the class I had also placed a card at each table with a different sticker on it. I asked the women to find the table with the sticker that matched theirs.)
Now in their new groups have each member introduce themselves and share What impressed you about your reading last week?
Share objective and chapter verse for Step One.
Have the women share their answer to question 1 on page 26.
Options for sharing: Small groups of 6 and under may share all together. Groups of 3 or more share in pairs. Or in larger groups, each table of 6 could share together.
Community share: In larger groups, ask for volunteers to share with the large group their answers to question.
Wheel of Life exercise: Ask for questions.
In table groups (or in pairs for small groups) have women answer question 5 on page 30.
Debrief the Wheel of Life ask: (depending on the total size of your group choose whether to do this in pairs, or in groups or 3-4, or at each round table, or with the entire group of 6 and under, or as a community with a larger group and only a few women would share.
What did you observe about the Wheel of Life?
What was your reaction to the findings?
What is the significance of those findings?
Have the women share answers to questions 1-3 on pages 32-34. In groups of 3-4 or in pairs depending on the size of your group.
Have the women share the verse chosen from pages 39-40 and why she chose that verse. In groups of 6-8 or in pairs depending on the size of your group.
Facilitator summarize key points from the chapter.
Homework
Remind them to start early in the week, so they can come back to the exercise with addition ideas during the week. Complete parts A & B in step 2: Celebrate Your Yesterdays
Close in prayer
Week 3Have women get back into assigned groups.
Share in groups of 6-8 or in pairs: What impressed you from your reading last week?
Open with prayer.
Ask for questions about the content.
Give objective and verse for Step 2
Note: This can be a difficult discussion for women-especially those who have not spent much time evaluating themselves. Some may have avoided homework or may appear angry about having to answer some of the questions. Remind them to be gentle with themselves.
Discuss group members response to questions 1 & 2 in part A. Share with entire group of 6 or less or divide into pairs for the larger groups.
Transition to the discussion of remembering their own yesterdays: Talk about what it is and what it isn't. Read aloud (or ask for a volunteer) 3rd and 4th paragraph on page 53.
Get in pairs and discuss answers to questions 3-10. They can share one answer from childhood and one answer from adulthood as they feel comfortable.
Debrief time in pairs. Ask:
What did you learn about yourself through these exercises?
What emotions did you experience?
Transition to part C. If they did not do this in their homework, you or a volunteer can read the text. When there is a question to answer allow time to complete it, then move on. You may have to help people decipher how their difficulties have helped them. Ask questions:
What did you learn? Maybe how not to do something?
How did that difficulty shape your character or personality?
What decisions have you made differently because of that situation?
When Part C has been completed, ask the entire group to share their responses to question 4 together if the group is 6 or under. If more than 6, share in pairs and then ask if anyone wants to share with the larger group.
Homework
Remind them to start early in the week.
Step 3: Complete Part A and part B to the middle of page 69. NOTE: This would mean that you are not asking them to complete the Pace/Priority tool with their homework, but that they will be doing it in class the next week. You have the option of asking them to do the Pace/Priority tool at home and then to discuss it together during next week's class.)
Week 4Have women get back into assigned groups.
Share in groups of 6-8 What impressed you from your reading last week?
Open with prayer.
Ask for questions about the content.
Give objective and verse for Step 3.
Have women share answer to question 2 on page 66.
Transition to part ask:
What questions they have about introvert/extrovert?
Were there any surprises about your introvert or extrovert score?
Begin instruction on the Pace/Priority instrument. The following instructions are for those of you who decide to complete the instrument together during class instead of asking the women to do the tool at home.
Summarize the content on page 70 so they get a complete explanation of why and how this works.
Give plenty of time to complete the instrument so no one is rushed. Encourage early finishers to remain quiet so others can concentrate.
When are have completed the instrument, give time to read pp 78 & 79 and complete questions 6, 7 & 8. Encourage women to move to a more solitary spot when doing this.
Optional: Group the women according to their DiSC style and have them answer questions 7 & 8.
Debrief:
1. What did you observe about your style groups?
2. What things have you learned as a result of this exercise?
Transition to part C by affirming that people may have different levels of acceptance of who God made them, but ultimately He wants us to surrender. In some cases, you may wish to do Part C with your group at this session and then share your responses. Some groups may do this homework and be prepared to share responses.
Homework suggestions: If you decided not to complete Part C of step 3 during this session, then ask them to do it at home during this week and also, Part A of step 4 and part B through middle of page 97.
Week 5Have women get back into assigned groups
Open with prayer
Begin discussion on surrender. Talk about what they have learned this week about surrender as it relates to the topic. Also ask if any would be willing to share their prayer response.
Transition to step 4 by having women discuss “What impressed me about the reading?
Ask for questions about the content.
Give objective and verse for Step 4.
Brainstorm roles with the whole group.
Transition to instructions on the roles pinwheel on page 97.
You may want to have additional paper for women because some don't want to make a mess out of their book or won't have enough room.
Explain one part of the process, allow all to complete, then move on.
You may want to provide colored pencils or crayons to shade the pinwheel.
Allow plenty of time. Work on the Roles Pinwheel for the rest of your time!
Homework
Complete questions 5-8 in part B (if not completed in class), complete part C.
Week 6Have women get back into assigned groups
Share together in groups of 6 or under, in pairs for larger groups: What impressed you from your reading last week?
Open with prayer
In pairs or triads have women share their answers to questions 5 & 6 on pages 103-104.
Debrief this time by asking:
What did you learn about your life by completing the wheel?
What are some of the implications of what you learned?
In groups of 6 or less, or in pairs depending on the total size of your group, discuss answers to questions 2 & 3 on pages 106-107.
Debrief by asking:
What questions do you have about realities and practicalities and your passions?
This can also cause some confusion or frustration, so be prepared to walk them through an example or two.
You are now ready to complete the last step.
May want to ask woman to describe how they are currently feeling about where they are in the process (i.e. encouraged, excited, unsure, confused, discouraged, overwhelmed, etc.)
You may wish to mention their ability to choose (from part C).
Give objective and verse for Step 5.
You or volunteer read Growth is Rewarding section on pages 113-114.
Summarize content on pages 114-115, then have them complete question 1.
Ask for anyone willing to share how they have already seen God at work.
Move to pages 116-117.
Explain chart and how to complete.
Share an example or two from your chart a visual example is best.
Allow plenty of time to complete. Assist women as they have questions.
Encourage them to discuss with others (probably in pairs) as they process and as they feel comfortable.
Conclude by walking them through the remainder of the book and showing them what they will be doing this week.
Homework
Question 3 on page 118 through the end of Step 5.
Week 7Have women get back into assigned groups
Share in groups of 6-8 What impressed you from your reading last week?
Open with prayer
Follow the Guidelines for Facilitators notes on page 147 for this lesson.
In part B, have women answer question 4, then prepare for discussion by asking:
What was encouraging about this process?
What was difficult about this process?
Some women may not have completed the process, encourage them where they are and remind them that they can complete it any time.
Preparation for next week's session:
Let women know that next week they will be celebrating the process together and encouraging each other.
Decide whether to bring food and drink. Assign or send around a sign up sheet depending on the size of the total group.
Remind them to bring their books next week.
Week 8This week will have a more casual feel than the other weeks, even though some groups, especially those of groups of 6 and under have probably already experienced a casual bonding. Let them know they will be briefly reviewing each chapter and sharing how they were impacted. They only need to share as they feel comfortable.
Beginning in the Prep Steps, walk through the section titles and any highlighted quotes you thought were important.
Then ask , What impacted you from this chapter?
Allow time for them to review the pages and remember what God taught them.
Share some of your own experiences with the material as you went through it this time.
Complete this process for each of the steps. Ask for any questions that still exist about the process. Suggest any appropriate next steps.
Some options for closing:
A time of prayer praising and thanking God for his deep love for us and how he has worked through this study
A time of affirming each member of the group for how others have seen God at work in them during the process
Have each woman write a letter to herself about how she is feeling at the moment and where she wants to be in 3 months.
Read the Guidelines for Facilitators on pages 139-147 in The Intentional Woman workbook first. The following tips were compiled by IW qualified presenter Kelli Gotthardt. Kelli wrote these tips as a result of facilitating several IW groups in the eight week format.
NOTE: For larger groups, round tables work well, with 6-8 at each table. For smaller group settings, put the chairs (6-8) in a circle. In a home setting, you could sit around a dining room table or in a family room or living room setting with all women facing one another.
See also: Facilitator Guide
Download Microsoft Word document file
Week 1Open with prayer
Explain logistics for the 6-8 week study
Share a testimony about how well the IW Process worked in the facilitator's life.
Get Acquainted activity:
For groups of more than eight: Have each table of women talk together to come up with a list of things they ALL have in common.
For groups of 6-8, divide into pairs and discover what they have in common and then use this information to introduce one another to the rest of the group.
Explain: What to expect:
Ask all women turn to page 13 of the workbook and guide them through What to Expect for the 5 step process.
Give alone time to answer questions 1 & 2 on page 14.
Have women share answers to questions 1 & 2 (Sharing with the entire group works best if there are only 6 women. If more than that, the women will need to share in pairs.)
Read definitions of an Intentional Woman:
Bottom paragraph of page 15 (The intentional woman with a heart for God has a sense of God's purpose)
Read the 1st sentence under The Key Reason for Living Intentionally section on page 15.
Read four benefits of living intentionally from the workbook:
Have a volunteer read the 2nd paragraph of Benefit One.
Have a volunteer read Benefit Two.
Facilitator read 1st two paragraphs of Benefit Three.
Have a volunteer read the last paragraph of Benefit Three.
Volunteer read Benefit Four.
Peter's Purpose - Have volunteer read John 21:17-21 then facilitator lead discussion of questions 1 & 2, conclude with middle of page 20 with paragraph that starts, Some of us, like Peter.
Becoming Free bottom of page 20 - Have participants read silently, then answer questions 3-6.
Have volunteer read IW Story on page 22-23.
Moving On - Have participants complete questions 7-8, then discuss this together with a group of 6 or less, or in pairs with a group of 8 -12, or in groups of 3-4 if there is a larger group.
Homework:
Stress the importance of completing and starting early.
Walk through the first step, explaining how chapters are in 3 parts A,B,C and they are to complete them all
Week 2Open with prayer
Forming Sharing Groups:
Explain the method of choosing partners/groups and have women move into their permanent groups for the 8 week study. (I placed different stickers on blank name tags and placed name tags on each table. When the women arrived they picked up a name tag and wrote their name on it. Before the class I had also placed a card at each table with a different sticker on it. I asked the women to find the table with the sticker that matched theirs.)
Now in their new groups have each member introduce themselves and share What impressed you about your reading last week?
Share objective and chapter verse for Step One.
Have the women share their answer to question 1 on page 26.
Options for sharing: Small groups of 6 and under may share all together. Groups of 3 or more share in pairs. Or in larger groups, each table of 6 could share together.
Community share: In larger groups, ask for volunteers to share with the large group their answers to question.
Wheel of Life exercise: Ask for questions.
In table groups (or in pairs for small groups) have women answer question 5 on page 30.
Debrief the Wheel of Life ask: (depending on the total size of your group choose whether to do this in pairs, or in groups or 3-4, or at each round table, or with the entire group of 6 and under, or as a community with a larger group and only a few women would share.
What did you observe about the Wheel of Life?
What was your reaction to the findings?
What is the significance of those findings?
Have the women share answers to questions 1-3 on pages 32-34. In groups of 3-4 or in pairs depending on the size of your group.
Have the women share the verse chosen from pages 39-40 and why she chose that verse. In groups of 6-8 or in pairs depending on the size of your group.
Facilitator summarize key points from the chapter.
Homework
Remind them to start early in the week, so they can come back to the exercise with addition ideas during the week. Complete parts A & B in step 2: Celebrate Your Yesterdays
Close in prayer
Week 3Have women get back into assigned groups.
Share in groups of 6-8 or in pairs: What impressed you from your reading last week?
Open with prayer.
Ask for questions about the content.
Give objective and verse for Step 2
Note: This can be a difficult discussion for women-especially those who have not spent much time evaluating themselves. Some may have avoided homework or may appear angry about having to answer some of the questions. Remind them to be gentle with themselves.
Discuss group members response to questions 1 & 2 in part A. Share with entire group of 6 or less or divide into pairs for the larger groups.
Transition to the discussion of remembering their own yesterdays: Talk about what it is and what it isn't. Read aloud (or ask for a volunteer) 3rd and 4th paragraph on page 53.
Get in pairs and discuss answers to questions 3-10. They can share one answer from childhood and one answer from adulthood as they feel comfortable.
Debrief time in pairs. Ask:
What did you learn about yourself through these exercises?
What emotions did you experience?
Transition to part C. If they did not do this in their homework, you or a volunteer can read the text. When there is a question to answer allow time to complete it, then move on. You may have to help people decipher how their difficulties have helped them. Ask questions:
What did you learn? Maybe how not to do something?
How did that difficulty shape your character or personality?
What decisions have you made differently because of that situation?
When Part C has been completed, ask the entire group to share their responses to question 4 together if the group is 6 or under. If more than 6, share in pairs and then ask if anyone wants to share with the larger group.
Homework
Remind them to start early in the week.
Step 3: Complete Part A and part B to the middle of page 69. NOTE: This would mean that you are not asking them to complete the Pace/Priority tool with their homework, but that they will be doing it in class the next week. You have the option of asking them to do the Pace/Priority tool at home and then to discuss it together during next week's class.)
Week 4Have women get back into assigned groups.
Share in groups of 6-8 What impressed you from your reading last week?
Open with prayer.
Ask for questions about the content.
Give objective and verse for Step 3.
Have women share answer to question 2 on page 66.
Transition to part ask:
What questions they have about introvert/extrovert?
Were there any surprises about your introvert or extrovert score?
Begin instruction on the Pace/Priority instrument. The following instructions are for those of you who decide to complete the instrument together during class instead of asking the women to do the tool at home.
Summarize the content on page 70 so they get a complete explanation of why and how this works.
Give plenty of time to complete the instrument so no one is rushed. Encourage early finishers to remain quiet so others can concentrate.
When are have completed the instrument, give time to read pp 78 & 79 and complete questions 6, 7 & 8. Encourage women to move to a more solitary spot when doing this.
Optional: Group the women according to their DiSC style and have them answer questions 7 & 8.
Debrief:
1. What did you observe about your style groups?
2. What things have you learned as a result of this exercise?
Transition to part C by affirming that people may have different levels of acceptance of who God made them, but ultimately He wants us to surrender. In some cases, you may wish to do Part C with your group at this session and then share your responses. Some groups may do this homework and be prepared to share responses.
Homework suggestions: If you decided not to complete Part C of step 3 during this session, then ask them to do it at home during this week and also, Part A of step 4 and part B through middle of page 97.
Week 5Have women get back into assigned groups
Open with prayer
Begin discussion on surrender. Talk about what they have learned this week about surrender as it relates to the topic. Also ask if any would be willing to share their prayer response.
Transition to step 4 by having women discuss “What impressed me about the reading?
Ask for questions about the content.
Give objective and verse for Step 4.
Brainstorm roles with the whole group.
Transition to instructions on the roles pinwheel on page 97.
You may want to have additional paper for women because some don't want to make a mess out of their book or won't have enough room.
Explain one part of the process, allow all to complete, then move on.
You may want to provide colored pencils or crayons to shade the pinwheel.
Allow plenty of time. Work on the Roles Pinwheel for the rest of your time!
Homework
Complete questions 5-8 in part B (if not completed in class), complete part C.
Week 6Have women get back into assigned groups
Share together in groups of 6 or under, in pairs for larger groups: What impressed you from your reading last week?
Open with prayer
In pairs or triads have women share their answers to questions 5 & 6 on pages 103-104.
Debrief this time by asking:
What did you learn about your life by completing the wheel?
What are some of the implications of what you learned?
In groups of 6 or less, or in pairs depending on the total size of your group, discuss answers to questions 2 & 3 on pages 106-107.
Debrief by asking:
What questions do you have about realities and practicalities and your passions?
This can also cause some confusion or frustration, so be prepared to walk them through an example or two.
You are now ready to complete the last step.
May want to ask woman to describe how they are currently feeling about where they are in the process (i.e. encouraged, excited, unsure, confused, discouraged, overwhelmed, etc.)
You may wish to mention their ability to choose (from part C).
Give objective and verse for Step 5.
You or volunteer read Growth is Rewarding section on pages 113-114.
Summarize content on pages 114-115, then have them complete question 1.
Ask for anyone willing to share how they have already seen God at work.
Move to pages 116-117.
Explain chart and how to complete.
Share an example or two from your chart a visual example is best.
Allow plenty of time to complete. Assist women as they have questions.
Encourage them to discuss with others (probably in pairs) as they process and as they feel comfortable.
Conclude by walking them through the remainder of the book and showing them what they will be doing this week.
Homework
Question 3 on page 118 through the end of Step 5.
Week 7Have women get back into assigned groups
Share in groups of 6-8 What impressed you from your reading last week?
Open with prayer
Follow the Guidelines for Facilitators notes on page 147 for this lesson.
In part B, have women answer question 4, then prepare for discussion by asking:
What was encouraging about this process?
What was difficult about this process?
Some women may not have completed the process, encourage them where they are and remind them that they can complete it any time.
Preparation for next week's session:
Let women know that next week they will be celebrating the process together and encouraging each other.
Decide whether to bring food and drink. Assign or send around a sign up sheet depending on the size of the total group.
Remind them to bring their books next week.
Week 8This week will have a more casual feel than the other weeks, even though some groups, especially those of groups of 6 and under have probably already experienced a casual bonding. Let them know they will be briefly reviewing each chapter and sharing how they were impacted. They only need to share as they feel comfortable.
Beginning in the Prep Steps, walk through the section titles and any highlighted quotes you thought were important.
Then ask , What impacted you from this chapter?
Allow time for them to review the pages and remember what God taught them.
Share some of your own experiences with the material as you went through it this time.
Complete this process for each of the steps. Ask for any questions that still exist about the process. Suggest any appropriate next steps.
Some options for closing:
A time of prayer praising and thanking God for his deep love for us and how he has worked through this study
A time of affirming each member of the group for how others have seen God at work in them during the process
Have each woman write a letter to herself about how she is feeling at the moment and where she wants to be in 3 months.