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Emotionally Healthy Relationships Workbook: Discipleship that Deeply Changes Your Relationship with Others
Have you ever wondered why we recycle the same problems in the church year after year? Broken relationships, unresolved conflicts, inability to speak the truth, pretending things are fine because we’re concerned about being nice. Week after week we hear sermons about loving better, but little changes in people’s lives. We spend a lot of money to learn, and become competent in, our careers, but few of us have learned the skills or gained the competency to love well. It’s been rightly said that 85 percent of Christians are stuck, stagnant in their spiritual lives. Most discipleship approaches do not include the necessary tools to mature us as followers of Jesus Christ who love God, ourselves, and others well. Pete and Geri Scazzero developed The Emotionally Healthy (EH) Relationships Course over a 21-year period to directly address core biblical principles to guide you and others into an experience of discipleship that will deeply change your life. In the EH Relationships Course, you will learn 8 practical relationship skills to develop mature, loving relationships with others. And since loving others and loving God cannot be separated, you will also grow in your personal, first-hand relationships with Jesus by incorporating stillness, silence, and Scripture as daily life rhythms. This workbook includes sessions introductions, group discussion questions, personal action steps, and between the sessions personal study. This powerful journey that will walk you through a door that will change forever the way you love God, others, and yourself. Designed for use with the Emotionally Healthy Relationships Video Study (9780310081937), sold separately. It is part of the Emotionally Healthy (EH) Relationships Course that also includes the Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day by Day devotional (9780310349594).
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
342 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 29, 2022
I did not get the workbook, or go through it. I only listened to the audio book, but I learned a few new practical tips on communicating. I especially enjoyed the chapter on generational patterns, and the way to break and change them starts with awareness. I also found the recording of examples quite comical!
December 29, 2024
I read the print book of this, not the workbook, but this was the closest edition I found on Goodreads.
Two of my friends were talking about this book and I hadn't read it, so I borrowed a copy! There's a lot of hard-earned wisdom to be had in here. Do you remember CS Lewis's discussion of Men Without Chests? This entire book is written to a generation of church people who were without chests in that sense: never had those trained, sturdy, reliable emotions to connect their heads and appetites. It was just... not a thing. This book is from someone who had to flail his way into a theology of having emotions. Yes, even Christians have emotions, and you still have to learn how to live well with them. It is easier said than done.
He spends the last couple of chapters hanging out with church fathers and monks and exploring how a more structured prayer timing, or daily offices, or a personal rule of life could be useful tools to help spiritual growth.
Format wise, this is written like self-help, which is not my favorite genre. If you work well in that format, great! You will find this book approachable!
The only error I feel compelled to correct was an offhand comment he made about the Israelites being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years to build pyramids. I just want to clarify that the Great Pyramids and most of the others were from the Old Kingdom and most chronologies put the Exodus sometime at the end of the Middle or during the New Kingdom. Any way you look at it Israelites were probably not being assigned to pyramids. That is all.
Two of my friends were talking about this book and I hadn't read it, so I borrowed a copy! There's a lot of hard-earned wisdom to be had in here. Do you remember CS Lewis's discussion of Men Without Chests? This entire book is written to a generation of church people who were without chests in that sense: never had those trained, sturdy, reliable emotions to connect their heads and appetites. It was just... not a thing. This book is from someone who had to flail his way into a theology of having emotions. Yes, even Christians have emotions, and you still have to learn how to live well with them. It is easier said than done.
He spends the last couple of chapters hanging out with church fathers and monks and exploring how a more structured prayer timing, or daily offices, or a personal rule of life could be useful tools to help spiritual growth.
Format wise, this is written like self-help, which is not my favorite genre. If you work well in that format, great! You will find this book approachable!
The only error I feel compelled to correct was an offhand comment he made about the Israelites being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years to build pyramids. I just want to clarify that the Great Pyramids and most of the others were from the Old Kingdom and most chronologies put the Exodus sometime at the end of the Middle or during the New Kingdom. Any way you look at it Israelites were probably not being assigned to pyramids. That is all.
November 30, 2018
I actually think the book (workbook) is great and the lessons are helpful (for Christians and non-Christians alike!). They are aimed as improving communication and expectations between people in all kinds of relationships. The video portion is ... a bit cheesy, to say the least. But, overall, I would recommend the series, video and all. (Just... I recommend the video portion with the warning that it is cheesy! Just take from it what is helpful :))
**Note: read as part of a small group study.
**Note: read as part of a small group study.
August 13, 2023
I thought this was a great start to beginning to learn about practices that emphasize how important emotional and spiritual health are connected to/depend on one another. What a gift emotions are and that we have a God who will feel deeply with us!
October 12, 2023
Read through this with the videos with the AFC staff. Lots of important skills for loving others and being in relationships.
December 19, 2023
Lots of excellent, on point healthy relationship techniques. I really appreciated this.
December 16, 2021
This excellent Bible study for groups has changed my life. It helped me see relationships in new ways that I never saw before. It was so valuable to go through this study with my small group. I highly recommend it for every church and small group. Essential for true spiritual growth.
January 27, 2011
I think this book, so far, really explains why Christians still seem so broken, depressed, and angry....and how to change it.
December 13, 2018
What an amazing (but difficult at times due to the intentional and uncomfortable addressing of immature personal behavior patterns) DVD discipleship journey best done in a group so you can role play and practice scenarios. The first series, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality DVD course, focuses on how to love God well. This second half helps us to love others well. It provides lots of practical advice and methods to understanding yourself and others, and relating to both, navigating through assumptions, expectations, patterns of your family of origin which may be a blind spot, emotions, listening skills, clarifying issues within yourself, “fighting” cleanly, and developing a permanent rule of life to keep you growing. I appreciate this balanced approach that takes us deeper past just head knowledge of Scripture and would be a great adjunct to any discipleship program that you are already implementing in your church or small group. It has been life-changing for our men’s group!
November 22, 2022
This is a great workbook to help improve our relationships. It incorporated many skills like stop mind reading, clarifying expectations, genogram your family, clean fight, etc. It helped me see that it is wrong to criticize and get angry during arguments, but it is also wrong of the other person to walk away. I rather the person tell me what he thinks and feels instead of walking away. I also realized that my words are a lot more impactful than I thought, as I spoke aloud negative thoughts when I was upset and stressed instead of controlling my tongue. Sometimes stress from work, family, and life itself and not necessarily the other person's fault when I wasn't able to control my tone and negative thoughts. This is not part of the book, but life circumstances like grief can cause a lot of negative emotions and thoughts. Thank God for his mercy and grace when we get impatient and fight over small things that seem unimportant later.
October 20, 2017
For someone new to leading Bible studies or small groups this book is helpful in that it outlines step by step what to do with every week of the study based on the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality book. The people in our group found it unnecessary and even complicating to the study. The questions are also found in the Daily Devotional. We found this book unnecessary to our study. Others may find it helpful.
April 10, 2018
If you are wondering where to draw the lines between loving your neighbour and taking care of yourself part ways for Jesus says to love your neighbour as yourself. If you wonder why your way of doing church isn't glorifying to God. Then I suggest you read this book.
September 10, 2018
It took awhile to get into it. I feel like the author used too many words to get his point across. But otherwise, the content itself is inspiring, encouraging, and edifying your faith in your journey with Christ.
April 4, 2020
At my pastor’s recommendation, I read this book. I gained a lot of insights into some of the unhealthy attitudes and behaviors that keep people from living joy-filled lives. I recommend reading this book, especially if you are seeking to develop deeper inner strength and peace.
July 28, 2023
So helpful. It out helpful explanatory words to the “dark nights of the soul”… & explained the Wall that’s normal to encounter in the Christian life. Also discussed fighting against legalism and performance…
September 30, 2025
Super good read and totally relevant to where I am right now. I’m working to apply the rule of life. Helpful and doable. I am convinced that a big problem we face as humans relates to ongoing emotional immaturity. I enjoyed the chapter on familial origins. Gets you really thinking!
November 28, 2018
Excellent Book and workbook! I have been blessed!
January 29, 2019
Great small group Bible study!
February 1, 2019
This book has a lot of good tips in it.
July 11, 2019
This workbook goes with the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality book. Each week has a specific focus and they build on each other.
November 6, 2019
Overall a good group guide. Touched a lot of different areas of life. Stirred some interesting conversations around Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.
Read
August 5, 2020Am I now emotionally healthy, you ask? No, but I've more tools in my toolbox for growth.
September 15, 2020
Practical, helpful and transformative.
December 24, 2020
I found the pre-session readings and EHR Day by Day book to be the most insightful and helpful.
March 21, 2021
Excellent tools for relating to others, whether as couples, families or friends. We did it paired with a class in our church, we also use it with our clients.
April 6, 2021
The workbook is great! The book is powerful by its own, but I think the workbook and the class are where the real work is done.
July 29, 2023
Really good perspective on how our experiences in life can effect our spiritual life.
July 12, 2020
It was a life-changing experience to go through the course, the workbook, and the daily devotionals with a group at church. Highly recommended!
September 2, 2014
RECOMMENDED
We have just finished reading this book as a church, with a preaching series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPznL.... We worked through the additional workbook each week after the sermon in our small group discussions.
There were many people who have given positive feedback and were excited about the way their lives have changed as a result of what they are learning about themselves and God. Only time will tell if there will be lasting changes, but my prayer is that there will be.
This is a very practical book, and many of the words and concepts in this book would be more at home in a counselors office that in a Christian pulpit, however there are things that we can learn from this book - methods to apply what we know of God and how to develop our relationship with God.
Unfortunately there is not much focus on the gospel, or the centrality of Christ in the life of a Christian, this is why I have only given it 3 stars out of 5.
Don't get me wrong, this book is definitely worth the read and to apply what Peter is teaching in our lives, but we need to build this on top of a firm foundation in the knowledge of Jesus and a functional understanding of how to live our lives as a result.
The daily office is also a great addition to your quiet times with God, I have included a link to the Kindle version below. This is a daily devotional with a difference, it incorporates what is being taught in the book into your daily devotions, and is a good way to work your way into the practice of the concepts that Peter is teaching.
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ [Kindle Edition]
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ Paperback
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Workbook Perfect Paperback
Daily Office [Kindle Edition]
We have just finished reading this book as a church, with a preaching series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPznL.... We worked through the additional workbook each week after the sermon in our small group discussions.
There were many people who have given positive feedback and were excited about the way their lives have changed as a result of what they are learning about themselves and God. Only time will tell if there will be lasting changes, but my prayer is that there will be.
This is a very practical book, and many of the words and concepts in this book would be more at home in a counselors office that in a Christian pulpit, however there are things that we can learn from this book - methods to apply what we know of God and how to develop our relationship with God.
Unfortunately there is not much focus on the gospel, or the centrality of Christ in the life of a Christian, this is why I have only given it 3 stars out of 5.
Don't get me wrong, this book is definitely worth the read and to apply what Peter is teaching in our lives, but we need to build this on top of a firm foundation in the knowledge of Jesus and a functional understanding of how to live our lives as a result.
The daily office is also a great addition to your quiet times with God, I have included a link to the Kindle version below. This is a daily devotional with a difference, it incorporates what is being taught in the book into your daily devotions, and is a good way to work your way into the practice of the concepts that Peter is teaching.
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ [Kindle Edition]
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ Paperback
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Workbook Perfect Paperback
Daily Office [Kindle Edition]
October 30, 2013
A very important book for discipleship in our current church reality.
Why?
It's applicable. It deals with the experience of many Christians who default to unhealthy behavior that they haven't dealt with in their discipleship process. We tend to separate our Christian disciplines from our emotional discipline. We may look the part when it comes to our Christian practices, but are lacking in the emotional health that makes us who we are. And this is a problem, for as Scazzero states, "It's impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Scazzero guides the reader through helpful processes that lead to healthy perceptions of ourselves, our behaviors, and our relationship with God.
It's accessible. Many people in my church family would be intimidated by academic or deep theological books, yet many popularly written books are too general or too light in the subject matter. Not so here. I would put this book into the hands of every member of my church if I could; it deserves a front and center place on the bookshelf of those interested in developing a Christian life in the healthiest of ways.
Why?
It's applicable. It deals with the experience of many Christians who default to unhealthy behavior that they haven't dealt with in their discipleship process. We tend to separate our Christian disciplines from our emotional discipline. We may look the part when it comes to our Christian practices, but are lacking in the emotional health that makes us who we are. And this is a problem, for as Scazzero states, "It's impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Scazzero guides the reader through helpful processes that lead to healthy perceptions of ourselves, our behaviors, and our relationship with God.
It's accessible. Many people in my church family would be intimidated by academic or deep theological books, yet many popularly written books are too general or too light in the subject matter. Not so here. I would put this book into the hands of every member of my church if I could; it deserves a front and center place on the bookshelf of those interested in developing a Christian life in the healthiest of ways.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews