Training Elements

Mini-Lectures: The Trainer or participants may offer points of view about different subjects. Whether you agree or disagree is your choice. Be willing to discuss and explore your perspective with others in the group. The value will be in getting clear about what you really do believe and testing out how you stand for what your believe. The Trainer will speak about things that relate to a Christian’s life of love and forgiveness. The main standard to measure our relationships with is “love your neighbor as yourself.” It is a starting place, a foundation for us to learn how to live and love other people.

Sharing: Sharing is voluntary. Sharing can happen one-on-one, in small groups or with the whole group. All during the training you will have a chance to know yourself better by sharing, talking about what you are thinking, what you are learning and hearing about your own and others’ experiences. Just like in life, participation equals value! The more that you participate the more value that you experience and the more you create for others.

Small Group Exercises: You will, at different times, meet with a group of about 4-6 other participants for casual discussions or specific relational exercises.

One-on-One Interaction: In order to make progress, you may be asked to answer a number of questions, tell a story, complete sentences or take on a particular body position (like standing up). You will have an opportunity to see new solutions for the problems and issues that you struggle with and to support the other participants to do the same. Sometimes participants find this an intense or emotional experience. Please be honest about your feelings at all times.

Listening: To increase your ability to listen carefully and to discover how well you listen occasionally the Trainer will request that you close your eyes.

Interaction with the Trainer: At times you may be talking directly with the Trainer. The Trainer will challenge you to look at your life in terms of personal responsibility, to consider what prices you and others pay for your decisions, to consider where you play the “victim” and where you take responsibility for your choices. You may feel challenged, anxious and uncomfortable when looking at your life and your choices from other perspectives or working with things that you are not used to addressing.

Music: Music is an important part of the training. The music is adapted to many preferences and styles and is always thematic. You are encouraged to listen to the words as well as the tune.

Homework: During evening or meal breaks throughout the training you will be asked to complete written homework. The homework is designed to prepare and support you for the next phase of the training. It will usually take at least 30-45 minutes to complete each time.

Worship: You will discover and explore your own creative and powerful expressions of worship and have the opportunity to be involved in individual and group worship during the training.

Challenge: During the training all parts of your being will be engaged and challenged: intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually. You may experience thoughts, feelings or sensations that are new or unique. This is an exciting learning experience that will include a high degree of personal challenge. Your participation is your choice. Think about the opportunity to confront your struggles, fears and limitations head-on and go for it!

Day 1

INTRODUCTION TO TRANSFORMATION

Learn the spiritual and relational principles of experiencing and living out a changed life. These are foundational realities God has sown into the universe, allowing us to co-create something new in any arena of life. This is the groundwork for the Awaken Training. Principles include sowing and reaping, prices and payoffs, interrogating current reality and exploring internal conversations.

Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 3:18

THE POWER OF PROMISE

The essence of any relationship is created and shifted in how we hold our word, both with others and ourselves. Jesus, himself, is known as The Promise. This is an opportunity to awaken to new levels of integrity, noticing strategies that interfere with living out vision, and overcoming fears of confrontation.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-7, Mathew 5:33-37, Deuteronomy 23:23

THE COMPELLING CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY

We are called to love – even those who we find difficult to love. Jesus says to love our enemies and to do good to those who mistreat you. This is an opportunity to awaken to new levels of love and community by addressing automatic judgments, practicing committed relationship and being with others as you would want others to be with you.

Matthew 5:43-48, I Corinthians 12:27, Hebrews 10:24-25

THE GIFT OF FEEDBACK

We all have blind spots that keep us from seeing ourselves accurately. Our willingness to give and receive honest feedback allows us to get a greater picture of our impact on others. This is an opportunity to transform your relationship to feedback, engage honesty and care in your communication, and begin to see yourself in a new light that opens up profound possibility for transformation.

Proverbs 19:20, Proverbs 27:6, Proverbs 27:17

Day 2

Presencing a Vision

It’s one thing to have a vision. It’s another thing to have it happen, regardless of the circumstance. This is an opportunity to be confident in your ability to make the impact you are committed to, awaken to new levels of freedom in your vision and transform any moment into a powerful expression of love for others.

Galatians 6:7, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:1

Committed Care

We often make assumptions about our level of care in relationships and life. How do we know we aren’t fooling ourselves; meanwhile others and ourselves are suffering? This is an opportunity to wake up to your commitment to care passionately for others, examine the results of how we hold our word, and press past what is comfortable and into the unprecedented future we long for.

Philippians 2:4, Galatians 6:2, Galatians 6:9-10

Stepping Into the Light

We all have things in our lives that we’d rather not talk about – things we’ve done and things done to us. It is not the thing we keep hidden that kills us, but the act of hiding that kills us, slowly. This is an opportunity to step out of the darkness and into the light, experience exhilarating levels of passion and freedom, and regain the immense amount of energy expended in hiding.

I John 1:9, James 5:16, Proverbs 28:13

The Urgency of Life and Death

Brennan Manning says, “In every encounter we either give life or we drain it; there is no neutral exchange.” Every day we are either choosing life or death with our loved ones. This is a profound opportunity to awaken to the urgency of life and death, transform your relationship to choice and freedom, and take responsibility for your impact.

Deuteronomy 30:19, John 10:10, James 4:14

Day 3

Taking a Stand

We all have visions and dreams for the life that we long to live. The scriptures say that we reap what we sow. If that is how God has orchestrated the universe, then our job is to sow the future we long to create. What if that could happen in any moment, with anyone? This is an opportunity to awaken to the power of sowing your commitments, creating a dynamic experience for others, and realizing the abundant life God has called you into.

Psalm 37:5, Ephesians 6:13, Luke 9:62

Generous Living

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” In all of our relationships we make choices to either give generously to the people we love, or live in scarcity and take what we think we need. What if you were freed up to live in abundance, regardless of the circumstances? This is an opportunity to wake up to the power of generously giving to others, openly receive from them, discover resources that you never knew were available, and experience the tangible results of an abundant life.

Acts 20:35, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:6

The Abundance of Forgiveness

We all have hurts and disappointments from our past. We can choose to carry these heavy weights around with us, and bring them into every relationship. The problem is, we often cannot see what we’re carrying, but we can see the results. Stepping through the doors of forgiveness is often what releases us into exhilarating levels of joy and freedom.

Hebrews 12:15, Isaiah 51:5, Matthew 6:14-15

Day 4

The Power of a Story

We all have a story to tell – a lifetime of moments, relationships and circumstances that we look back on with joy, regret, sorrow, and love. We often determine what’s possible based on where we’ve been and who we’ve become. This is an opportunity to reinvent new ways of relating to the past, experience a release from the grip of what has been, and a transformation in your ability to love others.

Philippians 4:8, Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesian 4:20-24

Celebrating Life

The Awaken Training ends in a powerful culmination of celebrating life and unprecedented transformation that will last a lifetime. This time includes moments of deep gratitude, worship, sharing testimonies and preparing for what’s next.

Congratulations – you’ve just Awakened!