THE FOUNDATIONAL 28-WEEK RESOURCE

The foundational resource is just that—the foundation on which all of the additional Companions adult resources build. The Companions experience takes groups through a journey of five parts. Each part is five to six weeks in length. Participants follow the same pattern each week—a weekly reading and five daily exercises followed by a two-hour group meeting. During the meeting, participants share their insights from the past week’s daily exercises, and then engage in a deeper exploration together.

The foundational 28-week resource includes a Leader’s Guide, a Participant’s Book, and a Journal for recording insights. The Participant’s Book comes in two forms—a single volume or five individual volumes.

The Companions in Christ 28 week journey

• Preparatory Meeting (one week)


• Embracing the Journey: The Way of Christ (five weeks)
  An exploration of spiritual formation as a journey toward wholeness and holiness, individually and in community, through the grace of God.


• Feeding on the Word: The Mind of Christ (five weeks)
  An introduction to several ways of meditating and praying with scripture.


• Deepening Our Prayer: The Heart of Christ (six weeks)
  A guided experience of various classic forms and styles of prayer.


• Responding to Our Call: The Work of Christ (five weeks)
  A presentation of gifts and call, giving ourselves to God in willing obedience and receiving the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.


• Exploring Spiritual Guidance: The Spirit of Christ (five weeks)
  An overview of different ways of giving and receiving spiritual guidance from one-on-one relationships with a spiritual guide, to spiritual growth groups, to guidance in congregational life.


• Closing Retreat: Developing a Rule of Life (final week)

Leader’s Guide
by Stephen D. Bryant, Marjorie J. Thompson, and Janice T. Grana
The Leader's Guide allows the leader to facilitate Companions groups that use either type of Participant's Books. The Leader's Guide also includes the "Getting Started Guide" as a part of the appendix, and a newly revised closing retreat focused on framing a personal "rule of life."

Participant’s Book
by Marjorie J. Thompson, Rueben P. Job, E. Glenn Hinson, Adele J. Gonzales, Gerrit Scott Dawson, and Wendy M. Wright
The Companions in Christ® foundational resource is offered in both a 5-volume Participant’s Book set as well as the traditional 1-volume Participant’s Book. Use the 5-piece set if your group wants the flexibility to take breaks between modules. Use the single volume if your group will continue to study together for 28 consecutive weeks.

Both options include the same daily exercise material and articles.

Each of the 26 weeks of regular sessions begins with a reading followed by five daily exercises that help illuminate the theme and prepare for the group meeting. The exercises may involve some combination of scripture reading, spiritual practice, reflection questions, and journaling. Throughout the week, participants commit to about 30 minutes each day of relective practice.

Participant's Book in 1 Volume

Participant’s Book in 5 Volumes
Volume 1: Embracing the Journey
by Rueben P. Job & Marjorie J. Thompson

Volume 2: Feeding on the Word
by E. Glenn Hinson

Volume 3: Deepening Our Prayer
by Adele J. Gonzalez

Volume 4: Responding to Our Call
by Gerrit Scott Dawson

Volume 5: Exploring Spiritual Guidance
by Wendy M. Wright

Journal - A Companion for Your Quiet Time
An important part of the Companions in Christ® experience is the spiritual practice of keeping a personal journal. Let the fresh, clean pages of this Journal become an open invitation for your endless faith discoveries as you record your creative ideas, reflections, questions, and personal prayers.