Exploring what drives our deepest frustrations and fears, Joël Malm draws from his experiences as a pastor, counselor, and worldwide adventure leader to unmask the real culprit that prevents you from becoming all you can be. Fully You is packed full of stories and truths that will help disciples conquer insecurity, use anger and frustration for good, overcome old, fear-based habits, and move beyond hurts and limiting mental blocks. Fully You helps disciples become who their Creator says they already are.
Fully You
Joël Malm
This book's Disciple Making Purpose
Following God is not about doing, it’s about being in a relationship with God. Unfortunately, so many people fear God in the wrong way and instead of finding freedom in His acceptance, connection, and empowerment they live in fear of abandonment, rejection, and manipulation. Using stories this easy-to-read book addresses some of the initial challenges that people face when it comes to having healthy relationships with others and God. Steps One to Three on the Pathway are all about hearing, healthily responding, and becoming increasingly open to God’s direction. Those steps cannot happen without trust. Fully You opens the door to letting the past go, letting God in, getting your needs met, and improving earthly relationships.
Key Topics or Truths
Insecurity
Anger
Fear-Based Habits
Frustration
This Book is Good For...
Everyone. The fear based disciple will find Biblical truth to fix their view of God. The angry and frustrated will find freedom. And the more mature will discover the three needs that everyone has, helping them to thrive and to help others.
How We Use this Book to Make Disciples
This is an easy, faster read and we break it down into three weeks. Below are the chapter breakdowns, themes, and sample discussion starter questions. Don’t share the theme or what you plan on asking before they read as it will bias their reading and hearing from the Holy Spirit. Just assign the reading without sharing any of the whys you are reading the book.
Week 1: Chapters 1–3
Theme: Breaking free from false identities and embracing God’s design
- What labels or expectations have you carried that don’t come from God?
- How does Joël describe the way your past shapes your purpose?
- In what ways have you seen your story as a problem instead of a platform?
Week 2: Chapters 4–5
Theme: Growth through trials and reclaiming your true identity
- Which personal struggle have you viewed as a disqualifier?
- How does knowing your identity in Christ reframe your past?
- What practical steps can you take to replace false thinking with truth?
Week 3: Chapters 6–8
Theme: Courageous living and walking in your God-given design
- What does “Fully You” look like in your current season of life?
- Where do you feel God calling you to step out in faith?
- What steps will you take to live boldly and authentically?
Reviewing the reading each week using the book club format is simple. We still talk individually to each disciple, individually asking questions (use the sample questions as a guide) with the liberty to:
- Ask the same question to each disciple going around the circle,
- Sensing the Spirit and asking particular questions to particular disciples skipping around the group,
- Asking open ended questions like, “Who really found something new in this week’s reading?” and using that as our starting point going from person to person, or
- Asking the disciples what questions they had or challenges they faced and following that line of discussion.
We do try to guide (not teach) the group to discover the main themes for each week and key points. Leverage the Socratic method and ask questions. If no one in the group hits one of the discussion topics, we often ask, “Did anyone notice….” and at least ask their thoughts and guide them if they got something that isn’t right on point.
Real Life Story
When I began to read this book, I really thought the three needs that we all have (acceptance, connection, and empowerment) were a bit, well, needy. They weren’t concepts I had thought about. But when I realized that their opposites were all the things that I lived in fear of, my life began to change. What I offered others and how I chose my “core circle” began to change. And my view of God and his solutions became healthy. I never realized I lived in fear of losing him or his blessings.
Know Issues or Controversies
None
We love this book because it reveals the three beautiful opposites of what we all deal with in life. We deal with the fears of abandonment, rejection, and control (manipulation) because our core needs are acceptance, connection, and empowerment. God is the original provider of all three of these needs. It is incredible to watch disciples realize that the reasons they have these “felt” needs are because of separation from God and that He longs to return them to a relationship where those needs are no longer needs.
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Joël Malm
Book Details
Pathway Steps: 1, 2, 3
- Phase: Year 1
- Book Type: Non-Fiction
- Flair: Self-Help, Storytelling
Reading Time
Three Weeks
Start Reading After Week 23
9 Pages per Day
11 Minutes per Day
Related Reads
This book pairs well with both The Shack and Search for Significance presenting another piece of the who God is to me and who I am puzzle.