We use this book in two ways. We have been known to let the group decide by pitching both options saying something like, “You guys know we are going to read some companion books along the way but there are two options and I thought I would get your input. Option one is we do the workbook, How to Avoid Peeing on Snakes, which tells sixteen short tales of virtue, doing one topic a week which takes about 5-10 minutes a day. The second option, which works really well around the globe, is doing the workbook (5-10 minutes a day) while starting the other companion books (15-20 minutes a day). With Bible reading option one is about 25-30 minutes a day. Option two takes 40-50 minutes a day. If we do option two, folks have found that doing the Bible reading in the morning and the companion reading say at lunch or later in the day is totally manageable. I don’t know about you but I want as much transformation as I can get. Really it’s only about the same time I would spend at the gym or watching a show each day. What do you think?”
Regardless of the option we choose, we read and review one chapter a week for the first sixteen weeks, listening to their observations, answering their questions, and helping them apply the truths to their lives. Each week’s lesson has about ten questions – some of them are rhetorical. If you try to cover all ten with each disciple, you will likely not have enough time. As we prepare to lead the review, we pick 3-6 of the questions that we think will build trust, relationship, transparency, and cause transformation. As you pick from each weeks questions, lean in on questions like,
- The questions that have a little push or require a little transparency to build trust and relationships. For example, “Do you remember the moment you got saved?” or “Do you struggle with materialism?” type questions.
- The week’s wrap up block questions like “What was your favorite verse or statement from this lesson?”, “What was your action plan for this week?”
- The questions that cause people to check their assumptions, “What one thing do you need to do to be saved?”
The method of review is individual, still no group cross-talk, with a twist. We say, “So on page X, question Y, what did you answer Bob?” We listen to Bob’s answer and then go around the room asking the rest of the people what they answered. Then we move on to the next question and repeat the process.
We also leave room for the Spirit here. There are times when we only ask three of the four their answers to a particular question or maybe only one person. We try to follow God. If everyone is getting it, we move on. Remember, everyone else is thinking about their answer and learning while Bob gives his answer! This method also allows things not to feel like a class and can give you time to talk through more questions.
