Chapter 1: Within You Is a Divine Spark!
Reflections on the image of God within you
• What do you think of the belief that there is a spark of goodness—of God—in everyone?
• Are you too quick to give up on certain people?
• How can you bring out the essential dignity in those around you: your spouse, a friend, neighbor, or co-worker?
Chapter 2: Freeing the Mandela in You
Reflections on signing up
• Are all of your commitments really essential? What can be dropped, freeing up time, energy, and talent for others?
• How would you like to spend that free time?
• What specific steps will you take to implement your “Mandela” commitment?
Chapter 3: Please Call Out My Name
Reflections on being there for others
• Are you afraid to be intimate? If so, why?
• Might there be people nearby who need you to be closer, who need you now?
• Are there people you feel you should get to know, and haven’t? What’s holding you back?
Chapter 4: Your Pain Can Heal Others
Reflections on healing pain
• Can you identify your deepest hurts?
• Have you allowed these hurts to make you ineffective,
resentful, or unable to be there for others?
• How might the pain you experienced be turned into a healing instrument for others?
• Is there a person you know who can benefit from your pain?
Chapter 5: Surprised by Joy
Reflections on joy in service
• Do you complain more often than you give thanks?
• What do you really have to complain about? Do your legitimate complaints really outweigh your blessings?
• Does your faith ever limit your acceptance of others? How might you prevent that?
• Is there someone you want to thank, even for something small?
Chapter 6: Forgiving 70 Times 7
Reflections on forgiveness
• What haven’t you forgiven yourself for?
• How will you accept and move beyond your past mistakes?
• Who in your life you haven’t forgiven?
• What steps can you take to move toward forgiveness?
Chapter 7: The Grand Creation: You
Reflections on finding your purpose
• Do you feel stuck, unsure of God’s purpose for you?
• What really excites you and makes you come alive?
• How can you get closer to finding and pursuing your core purpose?
Chapter 8: Sustaining Faith: Keep on Keepin’ On!
Reflections on upholding faith
• What it is that animates and sustains your faith? Is it family, friends, prayer?
• Do you ever find your faith faltering? In what situations?
• Do you devote enough time to “faith maintenance”?
• What activities, thoughts, or prayers help rejuvenate your faith?
Chapter 9: Restorers of the Streets
Reflections on faith as a community builder
• Have you ever helped improve a community institution such as a school, place of worship, or outreach program?
• Are you part of an institution that needs to change to better serve the community?
• If you could make one institutional change, what would it be? How would you start?
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