Are You In Relationship?

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Are You In Relationship?

• St. Mary Student Parish
• Graduate Student and Young Professionals
  Discussion Group
• Monday Mar 6, 2005

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Framework

• Format Small Groups Large Group
• Style Discussion
• Scope Personal relationships at work, family,
  church, dating, and with God. NOT a support
  group therapy session.
• Context How to apply Christian values to our
  relationships
• Snacks Tasty

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Overview

• Small Group
• Discussion Questions
• Large Group
• Topic 1 Relationships at Work
• Topic 2 Relationships at Church
• Snacks
• Topic 3 Relationships in Dating
• Topic 4 Relationships with God

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Small Group Questions

• How would you define the term relationship?
• What relationships have been meaningful in your
  life?
• Discuss a relationship in your life that has
  ended.

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Large Group

• Small Group Wrap-Up

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Topic 1

• Relationships at Work

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Topic 1

• Relationships at Work
• Relationships with people whom you didnt choose
• Relationships that have an obvious purpose/goal
• Is it important to have good relationships with
  coworkers?
• Is it possible to do good work with bad working
  relationships?
• How does your Christianity affect your
  relationship with coworkers (regardless of their
  beliefs)?

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Topic 1

• Relationships at Work
• The average person spends 90,000 hours of work
  in their lifetime. We generally spend more time
  with the people at work than we do with anyone
  else in our lives. It is therefore in our best
  interest to work on having strong work
  relationships. This doesnt mean you have to be
  friends with everyone at work, it just means that
  you need to have positive relationship withy
  coworkers that allow all involved to do the best
  they can at their job. http//www.librarysuppor
  tstaff.com/coworkers3.html
• A Gallup Poll of over a million employees found
  that how long workers stay at companies and how
  productive they are is determined by their
  relationship with their immediate supervisor.
  http//www.fabjob.com/tips6.html

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Topic 2

• Relationships at Church

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Topic 2

• Relationships at Church
• Relationships with people who you can choose to
  relate with
• People that you can see once a week or less
• As Christians, do we have an obligation to be an
  active part of that community, more than others
  communities we are a part of?
• Why are you in Grad Group? What is the benefit
  to you and to the community?

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Topic 2

• Relationships at Church
• I once read about a survey where they asked 400
  church drop-outs why they had left their
  churches. Over 75 of the respondents said I
  didnt feel anyone cared whether I was there or
  not.
• When a churchs survey asked, Why did you join
  this church? 93 of the members said, I
  joined because of the pastor. It then asked
  What if the pastor leaves? Will you leave?
  93 said No and the reason was because I have
  friends here!
• From http//www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID391
  7

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Topic 2½

• SNACK

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Topic 3

• Relationships In Dating

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Topic 3

• Relationships in Dating
• People with whom you share a higher level of
  intimacy with
• People whom you choose to be with freely
• Is there a goal in dating?
• Is all relationship experience useful?
• What is the difference between a positive and
  negative relationship?
• How does proximity affect a dating relationship?
• Can a dating relationship be viable without
  mutual benefit?

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Topic 3

• Relationships in Dating
• Were hungry for relationships that are lasting,
  full of trust and fun We want and need good
  relationships, but quite frankly, they are
  painful and risky.
• When you have good relationships, you dont need
  to find security in something else some of the
  deepest needs are being met
• From http//www.iamnext.com/people/quench.html

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Topic 4

• Relationships With God

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Topic 4

• Relationships With God
• Christianity calls for a personal relationship
  with God
• A relationship you can choose freely
• What are the mutual benefits in a relationship
  with God? What does God get out of it?
• Are there any reliable indicators of a healthy
  relationship of God? Do you just know?
• How can we integrate our relationship with God
  into all of our other relationships?

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Topic 4

• Relationships With God
• Were hungry for relationships that are lasting,
  full of trust and fun We want and need good
  relationships, but quite frankly, they are
  painful and risky.
• When you have good relationships, you dont need
  to find security in something else some of the
  deepest needs are being met
• From http//www.iamnext.com/people/quench.html