QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THE NEW 5-PIECE PARTICIPANT'S BOOK

The new 5-piece Participant's Book set has elicited many grateful responses, and some good questions. Here are a few frequently asked questions and answers:

Q: Is the content of the new 5-piece format the same as the original 28-week resource?
A: Yes, the content is identical except that the closing retreat has been revised to help participants focus on developing a personal rule of life to sustain their spiritual growth. The 5 Parts of the single-volume Participant's Book are called Volumes 1 through 5 in the 5-piece format.

Q: Why did we decide to break out the 5 parts of Companions in Christ into separate volumes?
A: This format encourages greater flexibility in how the material may be used. It's easier for most people to commit to 5 or 6 consecutive weeks of small group meetings than 28 weeks (preparatory meeting, 26 weeks of material, and closing retreat). While we have always encouraged groups to take reasonable breaks between each of the 5 Parts, many assume that 28 weeks in a single volume means it must be done as an unbroken commitment. Breaking the parts into 5 separate volumes helps release people from this perception, giving more evident permission for groups to take breaks and go through the whole enriching experience in a way that meets their timing needs.

Q: Can our group use the 5 Parts in any order we want now?
A: In the foundational resource, the 5 Parts were designed with an intentional order. We still strongly recommend following this order, as each part builds on the other to form a cohesive whole. However, some groups may choose to change the order of one or two of the parts, depending on their needs and previous level of experience with the practices introduced in each volume. We particularly commend beginning with Volume 1, Embracing the Journey, as it establishes theological-spiritual grounding for the whole experience and helps participants form strong relational bonds rooted in trust, mutual care, and covenant accountability.

Q: Can we skip some of the volumes if they don't interest our group?
A: We still encourage groups to complete all 5 volumes over time, because they offer a solid foundation for understanding and experiencing the most basic Christian spiritual practices, both personally and in congregational life. In some instances, a leader may have good reasons to guide a group through a particular volume with no further immediate plans. In this case, the group experience will not be as rich or transforming as it could be, and the greater value of the resource will be missed.

A note of interest: Each of the 5 new volumes includes some journal pages at the back. For those who do not engage in extensive journaling, these pages may offer sufficient space to record reflections on their daily exercises. For those who will journal more or who want a separate journal, we recommend the Journal: A Companion for Your Quiet Time ($9, # 938).