Curtis Chang – Anxiety as Opportunity for Spiritual Growth
Your Instructor Curtis Chang
Professor at Duke Divinity School and Senior Fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary
Anxiety is a universal condition…
…especially now.
During this pandemic, even those who don’t consider themselves “anxious people” have felt fear and worry around health, finances, politics, race, or some other life disruption.
Yet, conventional Christian culture can make us think that we shouldn’t feel anxious, or that we’re just supposed to “pray it away.” And secular culture also views anxiety as a problematic condition to manage or medicate.
This series presents a surprising Gospel truth: that anxiety is a powerful opportunity to grow as followers of Jesus.We show you how to take spiritual advantage of your fears and worries. You will learn to encounter Jesus through your anxiety with the help of Scripture, physical practices, nature, prayer, and new self-understandings.
This series can benefit individuals or entire small groups. Note the following for small groups:
Small group leaders should expect less than 10 minutes prep time per session.
The series is designed to work well in person or remotely (via Zoom, etc.).
When the group series is purchased, up to 20 participants will be provided free access to the materials (via coupon code).
Series Outline
Instructions for Small Group Leaders
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How this small group series works (VIDEO)
(1:25)
PREVIEW
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Participant Workbook
PREVIEW
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Small group leader checklist
PREVIEW
Session 1: Anxiety as Opportunity
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1-1 Introduction (VIDEO)
(9:01)
PREVIEW
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1-2 What’s different about this approach? (VIDEO)
(3:27)
PREVIEW
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Individual Workbook Exercise #1: Describe a current anxiety (7 min)
PREVIEW
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Prayer [for individuals] or Sharing in pairs [for groups] (8 min)
PREVIEW
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1-3 Gospel Evidence (VIDEO)
(5:31)
PREVIEW
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Poll: What type of anxiety? (2 min)
PREVIEW
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1-4 Inserting yourself in the Gospel Story (VIDEO)
(5:16)
PREVIEW
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Individual Workbook Exercise #2: Insert yourself in Mark 5:23-34 (7 min)
PREVIEW
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Journaling [for individuals] or Sharing in triads [for groups] (9 min)
PREVIEW
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1-5 Assignment for the week (VIDEO)
(0:58)
PREVIEW
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In between session exercise – from Session 1
PREVIEW
Session 2: Get Present
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2-1 Review and Intro to GRAIN (VIDEO)
(2:22)
START
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2-2 Intro to nature exercise (VIDEO)
(1:16)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #1: Get present to nature (10 min)
START
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Self study [individual] or Discussion [small group] Matt. 6:25-34 (10 min)
START
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2-3 Hijack to the future (VIDEO)
(7:56)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #2: Make a plan for nature (5 min)
START
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2-4 Mindful breath: Biblical teaching (VIDEO)
(5:06)
START
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2-5 Guided exercise in mindful breathing (VIDEO)
(5:09)
START
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2-6 Importance of practicing (VIDEO)
(1:33)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #3: Make a practice plan for mindful breathing (5 min)
START
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Journaling [individual] or Sharing in triads [small groups] (10 min)
START
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In between sessions exercise – from Session 2
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Session 3: Recognize
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Check in (6 min)
START
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3-1 Review and introduction to Recognize (VIDEO)
(6:42)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #1: Reading the story of Jairus (5 min)
START
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3-2 Jesus recognizes anxiety (VIDEO)
(5:36)
START
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Reflection [individuals] or Sharing in triads [small groups] (9 min)
START
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3-3 Recognizing physical symptoms (VIDEO)
(2:33)
START
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Poll: Which physical symptom? (2 min)
START
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3-4 Recognizing relational symptoms (VIDEO)
(5:48)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #2: Recognizing relational symptoms (5 min)
START
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Prayer [individual] or Sharing in pairs [small group] (8 min)
START
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3-5 Closing prayer (VIDEO)
(2:06)
START
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In between sessions exercise – from Session 3
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Session 4: Accept
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Self-refresh [individual] or Check in [small group] (8 min)
START
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4-1 Review and introduction to Accept (VIDEO)
(3:53)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #1: Your feelings about your Anxious Self (7 min)
START
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Journaling [individual] or Sharing in triads (12 min)
START
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4-2 Jesus and the Leper (VIDEO)
(7:49)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #2: Coming to Jesus as our Anxious Self (10 min)
START
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4-3 The Acceptance Move (VIDEO)
(2:44)
START
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Prayer [individual] or Sharing in pairs [small groups] (8 min)
START
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In between sessions exercise – from Session 4
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Session 5: Investigate
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5-1 Introduction to Investigate (VIDEO)
(10:58)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #1: Loss (8 min)
START
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Journaling [individual] or Sharing in pairs [small groups] (8 min)
START
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5-2 Avoidance Moves (VIDEO)
(11:15)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #2: Your Avoidance Move (6 min)
START
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Journaling [individual] or Sharing in triads [small groups] (8 min)
START
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5-3 Confessing idolatry (VIDEO)
(4:47)
START
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Closing prayer [individual / small group] (5 min)
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In between sessions exercise – from Session 5
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Session 6: Nurture holding capacity
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6-1 Introduction to holding (VIDEO)
(8:52)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #1: Facing the Loss of all Losses (8 min)
START
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6-2 Holding Moves of Jesus (VIDEO)
(9:47)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #2: Grieving with Jesus (8 min)
START
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6-3 Holding Moves of Jesus – continued (VIDEO)
(9:03)
START
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Individual reflection / entire small group sharing (17 min)
START
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In between sessions exercise – from Session 6
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Session 7: Review and Takeaways
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7-1 Review of Sessions 1 and 2 (VIDEO)
(3:40)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #1: Takeaways (4 min)
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Reflection [individual/small group] (8 min)
START
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7-2 Review of Sessions 3 and 4 (VIDEO)
(4:07)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #2: Takeaways (4 min)
START
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Reflection [individual/small group] (8 min)
START
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7-3 Review of Sessions 5 and 6 (VIDEO)
(6:40)
START
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Individual Workbook Exercise #3: Takeaways (4 min)
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Reflection [individual/small group] (8 min)
START
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7-4 Making a plan (VIDEO)
(2:14)
START
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Closing exercise [individual/small group] (10 min)
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Feedback survey (3 min)
START
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