I. Introduction (7 Minutes)

1. Pray for the couples in your class.

II. Sharing Session (88 Minutes)

1. Ask 2-3 people what each wrote on pages 51-54 in the handbook (3 minutes).
   1. Call on people who wrote answers in the handbook.
   2. Briefly and positively affirm each answer.
2. Tell about the three chairs on the side (3 minutes).
   1. Introduce the person from the first chair; others slide down; someone fills in the last chair.
   2. Allow them to come as volunteers.
   3. Have them answer questions on page 56 in the handbook.
   4. Encourage them not to read answers from the page but to talk freely.
   5. Have questions written on the board where all can see them.
   6. Explain again how applause gives affirmation and support.
   7. Remind them to use page 58 in handbook for notes.
3. Start the group sharing (81 minutes).
   1. You and your assistant go first—be open and answer each properly, not using notes.
   2. Fill your sharing chairs.
   3. Introduce the first sharer.
   4. Applaud after each sharer.
   5. Affirm each sharer in turn.
   6. Introduce each new sharer in turn.
   7. Do this until everyone has shared and been affirmed.
4. Recap and vote for the person who is best trying to meet his/her spouse’s emotional needs (3 minutes).
   1. No one votes until the recap concludes.
   2. No one ever hears there was a tie.
   3. Once the assistant collects the ballots, dismiss the group to the break.
   4. The assistant breaks ties for first or third place and fills in the award.

III. Break (15 Minutes)

IV. Final Session (30 Minutes)

1. Present the award to the recipient (2 minutes).
   1. Ask the three honorees to stand one at a time and applaud for each.
   2. Make sure the three honorees sit down before presenting the award.
   3. Have the award recipient thank the group and pass around the book for signing.
2. Explain next week’s homework (3 minutes)—refer to page 60 in the handbook.
   1. Bring pages 69-72 to class next week in a sealed envelope.
      1. Pages 69-70:
         1. Marriage Dynamics Institute really wants to read your letter.
         2. Explain that you will never see their letter.
         3. Ask each person to write a few lines to MDI, seal it in an envelope, and bring it with them to session 8.
      2. Page 71:
         1. This page contains a simple form for helping others as you’ve been helped.
         2. Family Dynamics Institute is committed to helping families for as little cost as possible.
         3. A surprising percentage of the cost of the courses Family Dynamics Institute provides is subsidized by private donations.
         4. Perhaps you want to help them enrich more marriages in the future.
      3. Page 72:
         1. Please write your name on page 72 in the top blank line.
         2. Think of at least three other couples that you feel confident would want to become facilitators of this course if they just knew about it.
         3. If you are interested in exploring the possibilities of becoming a facilitator, list yourself in one of the four three blocks on page 72 as well.
   2. Complete the End of Class Survey online by going to http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DynamicMarriageEnd as your handbook explains on page 60.
   3. Write the letter to your mate on page 64 of the handbook.
   4. Do the rest of the homework listed on page 60 of the student handbook.
3. Closing Activity One: Sharing with your spouse (14 minutes)
   1. Ask each couple to sit facing each other (wives: knees to husbands’ chairs) and holding hands.
   2. Wives – quiet; husbands – talk!
   3. For two minutes each, have the men answer the following three questions:
      1. In the last few weeks I’ve learned to appreciate the following things about you:
      2. Let me tell you reasons that I’m in love with you:
      3. Here are some other things I like about you:
   4. Reverse the roles with all three questions.
   5. Make sure you call time at 6 minutes so each spouse gets a chance both to talk and to hear the other talk.
   6. Take 3 minutes to write on page 57 in the handbook what each person remembers about why his or her spouse loves him or her.
4. Closing Activity Two: Tell it to the world (12 minutes)
   1. Each person stands and takes no more than 30 seconds to tell what he or she loves about his or her spouse
   2. Make sure they understand they only have 30 seconds.
   3. Use your timing mechanism to call time.

V. Conclusion (9 Minutes)

1. Group affirmation (4 minutes)
   1. Give everyone 30 seconds to select one person who touched him or her, and thank the person for his or her message, attitude, example, or encouragement.
   2. Remind everyone to confer with his or her Prayer Notes.
   3. Keep time on each person to avoid going over time.
   4. If your time runs out before the entire group has an opportunity to affirm another, stop the activity anyway.
2. Closing prayer (Have each couple pray together, thanking God for their spouse in specific terms.) – 1 minute

Class Preparation Checklist:

1. Listen to “Facilitator Skills” and “Session 7” messages on the Facilitator audio message.
2. Pray for each couple by name; pray for God to use you.
3. Prepare the name tags.
4. Bring an award to class.
5. Bring extra pens.
6. Bring a box of facial tissue.
7. Bring ballots to class.
8. Bring the End of Class Surveys
9. Make sure the refreshments are coming.

Classroom Set-up Checklist

1. Arrange room furniture for classroom set-up.
2. Eliminate outside viewing of the classroom.
3. Put “Do Not Enter” signs on all doors to the classroom.
4. Write the sharing session questions on the board (see page 56 in the student handbook).