The Life You've Always Wanted Participant's Guide: Six Sessions on Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (Groupware) (Paperback)

by John Ortberg (Author), Stephen Sorenson (Contributor), Amanda Sorenson (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In this six-session ZondervanGroupware™ video curriculum, award-winning author John Ortberg teaches participants the skills essential to "running the marathon" in the Christian life.

From the Back Cover
Small group Bible study will never be the same! With ZondervanGroupware Small Group Editions, leaders have interactive DVDs that feature bestselling authors Philip Yancey and John Ortberg to teach a small group Bible study in their own homes. The DVD and 32-page leader’s guide provides ease of facilitation for the small group leader. The participant’s guide, available separately, provides a book for small group members to follow along with the teaching and record responses to questions.

The Life You’ve Always Wanted—Over 300,000 books sold In these six video sessions, award-winning author John Ortberg offers modern perspectives on the ancient practice of spiritual disciplines. He teaches participants exercises that are essential for developing strength and maintaining endurance down the road of growth.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Revised edition (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310255880
• ISBN-13: 978-0310255888
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,609 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The book is much better..., February 2, 2007

By	Chad Oberholtzer (Boalsburg, PA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When our small group decided to study together John Ortberg's "The Life You've Always Wanted," we couldn't decide whether to read the book or watch the DVD with companion study guide. So, we decided to do both.

Though there was understandable repetition between these two resources from the same author about the same topics, that was actually a good thing for us, as the principles were more fully embedded each week. Ortberg is a great teacher, so his teaching segments on the DVD were solid. In addition, the accompanying study guide provided a host of solid questions to use in response to the teaching time.

My greatest critique of the participant's guide in conjunction with the DVD was that it left me wanting more each week. Especially because we were reading the book at the same time, I was aware of how much more Ortberg had to say than he was able to include in 13 minutes of video teaching. And it was very common for our discussion to center around the text in the book that we had read earlier in the week more than the video that we had just watched.

I found this participant's guide to be fully functional and ultimately worthwhile. However, if I were to recommend "The Life You've Always Wanted," I would suggest that you just read the book. It provides much more content and the questions in the back still allow for groups to study it together. In any case, Ortberg has provided the church with a great contemporary resource about spiritual disciplines, regardless of which format you choose.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good Bible Study, September 21, 2007

By	Peggy Fillmore "Book lover" (Huntington, WV) - See all my reviews

I am using this book and video in an adult Bible study with 17 participants. It is a good study which shows you how to live and love like Jesus did. John Ortberg uses humor and touching stories to get his point across. Another thing that I like is that you are referred to scripture to see how Jesus faced the same problems that we face in our daily lives.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just buy the book, January 11, 2007

By	B. Bennett - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I initially wrote a review for this product thinking I was reveiwing the Hardback book. I truly think this participants guide is unnecessary. The book itself has discussion questions and stuff in it. This is really just a lot of duplication (I personally would not buy again.) Save your money here and just buy the book.