Thursday, December 28, 2017

The Transformational Adventure by Alan & Inda Williams



The Tranformational Adventure Study Guide is a Bible Study with related online video content included with the participant book.  I like the fact that the purchase of the Study Guide includes the links to the video content without an extra expense. The reader will become acquainted with Alan Williams and his wife, Inda. The study is a very personal accounting of how God used Alan's journey through cancer to ignite his faith and restore relationships within his family.

The seven week study focuses on the following topics:
  1. Salvation
  2. Brokenness
  3. Restoration 
  4. Power
  5. Forgiveness
  6. Grace
  7. Hope

Each chapter opens with a brief introduction from the author and then some opening questions to warm up the reader. Next comes the video with three key points that are fill in the blank.  There is a page and half of blank lines for note taking during the video. Following that is a passage to read from the Bible--conveniently included directly in the guide. For those who may want to underline or make notes by the verse, there is plenty of room. Readers are then given response questions to help them really mine for truth from the Biblical passage. The "Read" and "Response" sections are intended to be done within the group setting sharing with one another their answers to the questions.

The "Dive Deeper" section offers study questions to be done between meetings. The Bible passage is also included here. I love having everything needed in one place, making the study very portable. You can bring it along and work on it over a lunch break or waiting for an appointment.  The "Resources" section offers commentary on the passage or additional information to provide insight into the topic. Each chapter then closes with an "Action Point" in which readers are encouraged to take specific action to apply the lesson. I really loved that part of the study--making sure that what is learned doesn't just get filed away but actually practiced and then shared with group members at the next meeting--providing accountability as well.

The Study Guide is a very visual, eye-pleasing book with lots of photographs mixed throughout.  The video content serves more as a real-life example of the given topic and how the author grew in that area during his battle with cancer. For anyone who has faced cancer or some other health concern, The Transformational Adventure may help people look at their trials and circumstances in a new light.

My only reservation about the study would be some of the discussion on the role of the Holy Spirit. The author espoused a more charismatic view which may create some confusion and/or disagreement among participants. Leaders may want to be prepared with supplementary material to explain their church's stance on that topic.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Transformational Adventure Study Guide from Handlebar Publishing for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

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