Iâm often asked whether the degree of transformation the characters experience in Sensible Shoes is ârealistic.â Based on what I witnessed in the first Sensible Shoes Club, yesâeven in a relatively short amount of time. But our group began with an important gift: every single person who committed to the group had a common longing for creating and guarding a safe space where we could be unmasked and unafraid with one another and with God. Our souls are timid creatures, and we will not come out from hiding and name what is true if we think we will be rejected, judged, condemned, or gossiped about.
As the leader of the group, it was important for me to model authenticity and vulnerability as much as possible so that others felt free to share as well. It was also important to keep reminding the group of our commitment to be trustworthy stewards of one anotherâs stories. In essence, what we said to each other was this: âBy the grace of God I will be for you what I long for you to be for me.â
As a leader youâre invited to consider your own spiritual formation, not just as you read and reflect on the material in the book, but also as you lead others in reflection and conversation. Each week youâll be provided with a few prayer prompts for your work as a leader, tips for facilitating the group, and behind-the-scenes information about the characters and their journeys. Feel free to share these âbonus featuresâ about the characters or my writing process, perhaps as an opening or icebreaker. Since the purpose of your meeting is for spiritual formation and prayer, however, watch for how group members may be tempted to divert conversation into a book club discussion rather than an exploration of how the characters are serving as windows and mirrors to see God and yourselves more clearly.
Because of our groupâs commitment to transparency, we grew to trust one another deeply. Not only were we able to receive comfort as we honestly named struggles, losses, and grief, but we were also able to receive the assurance of Godâs love and grace as we confessed sin, shame, failures, and regret to one another. James speaks the truth when he tells us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other so that we can be healed (James 5:16). Our group met together nearly every week for five years. To this day, I speak with deep gratitude and awe about what the Lord did in us, for us, and through us.
I pray Godâs blessing upon you as you say yes to the journey in community. May the Lord reveal himself to you in life-giving, transformational ways. May he fill you with grace, give you courage, and empower you with his Spirit. And may you experience profound healing and joy as you keep company with him, together.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many people should be in the group? Ideally, no fewer than four and no more than twelve. My original Sensible Shoes Club had twelve, and it worked for us. But we met for two and a half hours every week, which gave plenty of time for prayer and conversation. Larger groups might wish to gather together at the beginning of a session, then subdivide into smaller groups, each with a designated facilitator, for conversation and prayer. If you subdivide into small groups, remain with the same group for the whole study.
Do I need to be a trained spiritual director or ministry leader to facilitate a group? No. Though it might help if youâve already had experience leading a group, the best gift you bring is your own pursuit of God and your openness to the Lord shaping and forming you, not only in the past but also as you participate in the study.
Is it important for people to already know each other well when the group starts? No. Even groups that have been together a long time might find that this study leads them into unfamiliar, even uncomfortable territory of deep reflection and conversation. If you donât have an established group, donât be afraid of inviting people who wouldnât normally choose to connect with one another. Diversity of age, experience, and background can be a rich gift.
Do we need to meet weekly? Though the twelve-week study is designed for weekly group interaction, some groups meet every other week. However, since there is so much content to process, I donât recommend combining multiple weeks into a single session. Youâll be best served by taking the journey as slowly as you need to, even if that means a longer time commitment.
Do we need to have one designated leader for the group, or can we rotate facilitation? Do whatever best serves the desires, dynamics, and gifts of your group. If there is one designated leader for the entire study, that leader can discern whether to participate fully in the discussion by sharing personal insights, or whether their role is primarily to moderate discussion and encourage others to share their experiences.
Should we allow new people to join our group after we begin? Approach this prayerfully, as each group will be different. While adding a group member for the second session likely wonât create much upheaval, I recommend having an honest conversation during your first session to see whether members are open to this. If you add new group members, have one-on-one conversations before their first meeting to summarize your opening session and talk about their hopes and expectations for the study. Itâs difficult (though not impossible) to add new people after several sessions, not only because the trust level has been established in the group but because groups inevitably begin to shorthand their experience together, potentially causing a newcomer to feel disoriented or excluded.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Each participant will need a copy of Sensible Shoes: A Story About the Spiritual Journey and the Sensible Shoes Study Guide. Participants can decide whether they prefer to read the whole book first or read only the designated chapters each week. (Many people discover that the second reading of the book yields invitations they didnât notice the first time around.)
Set up your meeting space so that everyone is on the same level and seated in a circle if possible, as a table between you creates a barrier. Try to eliminate distractions in the environment, and ask everyone to silence and put away any devices.
Before group members begin the week one study, send a welcome email to highlight these elements from the Study Guide introduction:
Please bring a Bible, pen, and notebook to each session. The Sensible Shoes Journal, a lightly-lined notebook, which includes quotes from the book, serves as a good travelogue for the journey.
Donât worry if you donât have time or capacity to answer each question every day. Answer the ones youâre able to answer. Even if you donât feel prepared for the group session, come anyway. (You will likely need to repeat this reassurance and invitation many times throughout the study.)
To frame each day with the Word, first read the Scripture text (marked in bold in the exercises). Then journal your responses to the questions.
