We all love the benefits of technology and social media, but even with the incredible upsides, many of us suspect there are unintended negative consequences beyond our control. The more we compare ourselves with others, the less satisfied we are. The more we interact online, the more we crave face-to-face intimacy. The more filtered our lives become, the more challenging it is for us to be authentic. The more information we receive about the pain and crises in the world, the more difficult it is for us to care.
In this timely five-session video-based study (DVD/digital video sold separately), New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel taps in to some of the most up-to-date studies on social media to help us understand how it affects our emotions, our relationships, our attitudes, and our beliefs. He offers real-life examples to reveal the depths to which each of us battles with social media, how it masks our real struggles, and how we can reclaim a Christ-centered life. He encourages us to regain control over our lives by rediscovering the principles real life with Jesus contentment, intimacy, authenticity, compassion, and rest.
#Struggles will show you the ways technology has enslaved you rather than served you and what changes your need to make in your life to restore balance. Above all, it will point you to Christ and help you understand the healing he wants to do in you. As you follow his leading and seek him first, you will find you are no longer defined by who follows you but by the One you follow.
Sessions
Recovering Contentment (10:00) Restoring Intimacy (10:00) Revealing Authenticity (10:00) Resurrecting Compassion (10:00) Replenishing Rest (10:00) Designed for use with #Struggles Video Guide (sold separately).
Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, a multisite church with locations throughout the United States and globally at Life.Church Online.
Craig and his wife Amy started Life.Church in a two-car garage in Edmond, Oklahoma in January 1996. While Life.Church has grown over the years, its mission remains the same: to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Today, the church is known for its innovative use of technology to spread the Gospel, launching the first fully digital church experience in 2006 and the most downloaded Bible app in history, YouVersion, in 2008.
As a widely respected leader in the Church, Craig speaks frequently at leadership events and conferences worldwide. He is a New York Times best-selling author with books about topics like dating and marriage, social media, purpose, direction, church leadership, and more. He also hosts the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, a practical tool to spark new ideas and prompt innovative thinking in leaders at every level within any organization.
Craig and Amy married in 1991 and have six children. They live in Oklahoma where Life.Church began.
Visit www.craiggroeschel.com to be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, books, leadership events, and more.
This was a great study to do with our teen girls - highly recommended! As they might say, "the struggle is real" - culture has shifted a lot in recent years in the areas of screen accessibility (e.g. smart phones) and social media. There's lots of spiritual wisdom and practical advice in this Bible study - we used the DVD series and the study guide.
This book was amazing. I not only recommend this for the younger generation but also for the older generation. Hands down one of the best books I have read.
Easy to read and made me think about the relationship with social media, online life and identity. Really useful chapter at the end with advice about how to apply some of this practically
#Struggles. Aren't they real? Craig Groschel is the real deal! The world of technology has changed all of us in good ways and in ways that our not so pleasant. Sometimes, computers, phones, ipads, blogs, instagram, facebook and other media outlets distract us from what is important, other times these tools unite us. However, this book challenges the reader to take control of their life from a media, technology driven world to help us understand the effects that media has on our daily lives.
As I wrote in a previous post, about not comparing our races to everyone else's, that is what technology has brought into our life. The comparison game, which can lead to unhealthy thoughts, emotions and decisions.
What I love this book is the practically ways to take Pastor Groschel's thoughts and ideas and put them into practice. He isn't preachy, but instead he writes in a format that makes you feel like your sipping coffee having a conversation with him. I also love how honest he is in saying that he is giving a lot of practical advice that is not that far off from common sense, which we can all say we know, but if we don't put it into practice, why know it then? This book is practical, a great reminder and full of backing based on scripture, which is also important to me. With 8 chapters, you'll learn about rest, intimacy, authenticity, compassion, integrity, encouragement and worship. Graig is very careful to say that technology has a place in this world, but it needs to be use appropriately and we need to have safeguards in place to set appropriate media boundaries.
I enjoyed #Struggles and found it to be very helpful in a social media driven world. This book would be perfect for a teenager or even a college student who is trying to figure out how to live in this crazy world of technology that is fast pace. This is an honest, easy read and you'll enjoy it!
I received this book in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.