StrongFamilies Class 100 DVD Series Course Outline

SESSION 1: PRE-GAME HUDDLE
Meet your StrongFamilies Coaches and hear The Game Plan

After publicizing the Class 100 at their church (and in some cases to the surrounding community), this first official meeting of the class establishes a positive bond with each person represented. Everyone is welcomed, go through some fun exercises to help them meet others in the class, and then watch the opening video from the StrongFamilies Class 100 Course. Then materials and costs for the course (which have already been clearly spelled out to each person attending before they attend the first class) are explained again. (No “surprises” is an important way of making this a positive experience for each couple attending). This class ends on a positive note, with the assigning of a meaningful, fun homework assignment to take the Leading From Your Strengths Online instrument, and a prayer for each person in attendance. Two key things each couple goes away after this session is first, how much their StrongFamily Coach cares for them. Second, how fun the class is going to be, and how much hope and help they’re going to receive from investing just a few hours into building a StrongFamily and an even stronger faith.

SESSION 2: WHO’S ON YOUR TEAM
Dr. John Trent
Discover your unique strengths

This class centers around material from the “general characteristics” pages of the Leading From Strengths online assessment* (Coaches follow up during the week to make sure each person has taken their instrument, printed it off, and brings it with them to class). After watching the training DVD on this session, each person gets to see not only how they are fearfully and wonderfully made, but how God “places” each of us in our families by “Divine Design.” It’s a fun session, based on materials from the Focus on the Family book, The Two Sides of Love, that helps people see their unique, God-given strengths. (*The Leading From Your Strengths online assessment only takes five to seven minutes to take online, and then instantly emails the person completing the instrument a 28 page strengths assessment. It’s 27 pages of why they’re so valuable, and 1 page of areas they can work on. It’s a powerful way to establish for this person – and their spouse – the many “strengths” Almighty God has built into that person. (This idea of each family member having unique strengths is something our Coaches will build on in later classes).

SESSION 3: STRENGTH TRAINING
Rodney Cox
How to blend differences into a close-knit team

It’s a fact that “opposites attract” – and too often they also tend to “attack!” The previous session answers the question, “What are my strengths?” This session asks, “What are our strengths as a family?” Continuing to use material from the Leading From Your Strengths Online report, each member of the class will see how they’re “adapting,” and through the Class DVD and during the discussion facilitated by their StrongFamily Coach, they will learn about four predictable areas of conflict every family faces. Couples often walk away from this session saying, “Lord, no wonder you put this person in my life!” Being prepared to face these four predictable conflicts provides a huge key to closeness for couples and families.

SESSION 4: A WINNING OFFENSE
Dr. Trent
Impart a powerful tool called The Blessing

This session is based on the million selling book called The Blessing. This class shares five specific, biblical ways to bless our children – and our spouse’s life. While the concept of the “Blessing” is as old as the Old Testament, clinical studies of what makes a StrongFamily support each biblical basic shared in this session. A great example of how science is finally catching up with the Bible! With the DVD presentation, and the Coaches facilitated discussion, families go away knowing how easy – and how important it is to give this life-giving, life-changing concept called, The Blessing.

SESSION 5: THE PASSING GAME
Kurt Bruner
Practical, fun ideas for passing down your faith to your children

Up until now, the focus on the class has been on introducing those in the class to a set of biblical skills that build StrongFamilies. These relationship “basics” are crucial for building love, value, blessing and strength into our marriage and into our children’s lives as well. With these basic skills, we’ve got what it takes to lay a foundation of love, acceptance and encouragement that gives parents a tremendous footing for sharing their faith with their children. In short, kids who feel loved and valued – and see a Mom and Dad who love and value each other – are in the best place to hear about God’s love for them. In this session, both the DVD teaching and the facilitated training, parents will see how they can become the spiritual trainers in their home. It’s not a chore for their church. Intentionally passing down our faith to our children is something parents are called to do – and parents will see they actually can do!

SESSION 6: FUMBLE RECOVERY
Dr. Trent
Building a close-knit family when you come from a broken past

In countless weddings, Ministers quote from Genesis 3, “For this reason a man shall leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife.” Continuing with teaching and discussion based around the biblical concept of The Blessing, this class focuses on those who did not receive it – and often struggle with “leaving” and “cleaving” as a result. Past hurts can “chain” us to the past, keeping us from bonding and building close relationships in the present. But that doesn’t have to be true for any family who knows how to “reverse the curse” and move toward God’s best in their life. Freedom from past hurts is a tremendous benefit of this course and discussion.

SESSION 7: CLEAR SIGNALS
Dr. Tony Wheeler
Keys to communicating positively and effectively

If players don’t get the same signal in the huddle… they’re in trouble when the ball is snapped! This session is a chance for the families attending the class to get some top-notch training in clear communication -- allowing them to get on the “same page” with their spouse. Through the teaching and discussion, couples will see how positive, honoring communication isn’t just something for experts. It’s an everyday skill they can – and need – to develop and practice each day.

SESSION 8: THE 2 DEGREE DIFFERENCE
Dr. Trent
How small things can change everything

This final class in the StrongFamilies Class 100 introduces couples to a concept that is both biblical, and powerful at beginning and maintaining positive change in their home. With so many thoughts and principles having been shared through the past seven weeks of class, it’s easy for couples to either feel overwhelmed and do nothing – or try to do too much, to quickly and fail to see any lasting results. Yet each family attending this final session will see an amazing, biblical key to genuine change. It’s being “faithful in a little” – just making 2 Degree changes – that can change everything for the couples in the class. At the conclusion of this class session, the StrongFamily Coach gives each family a very pointed, positive challenge. That’s to come back and take the course a second time – only this time to bring with them one family they know who needs this class even more then they do. It’s this focus on “helping just one other family” that closes the class – and sets up the next class as well.