What is The Family Project?
Why do families work? Because God Himself designed them! Thriving families will lead to thriving communities, and thriving communities will transform the world. People will find purpose, joy and redemption, and generation after generation will create a positive legacy.
The Family Project is a 12 session DVD experience for couples or small groups that explores the theological, philosophical, and cultural underpinnings of the traditional family, and combines that information with inspiring stories and practical tools to help 21st-century families thrive.
The Family Project also offers a hope-filled, optimistic antidote to the current landscape of familial breakdown, sending a clear message that a return to the time-tested, historical model of the family is where so many of our culture’s wounds begin to heal. It’s designed to develop a new appreciation for why family matters…based on a bigger understanding of who God is in His character and why He created humanity the way He did. Equipped with this information, viewers will also be exposed to a wealth of hands-on tools and resources to help them embrace those values within their own families and pass them along to future generations.
Start leading your small group study with these Family Project resources!
The Family Project Small Group Experience
This kit includes 12 small-group study sessions on 3 DVDs with topics including marriage and sexuality, family relationships, and how families can thrive and serve God. The kit also includes a DVD with church promotional and marketing material, one leader’s guide, and one participant’s guide.
The Family Project Participant's Guide
This participant’s guide will help you explore the topics discussed in The Family Project DVD curriculum.
The Family Project (eBook)
A complement to The Family Project curriculum, this book delves more deeply into the subject areas of the study. It provides a solid exploration of God’s design for the family and offers down-to-earth help for living out that design in your own family.
The Family Project Devotional (eBook)
Each of these 52 devotions includes a weekly topic and opening/closing prayer, plus daily Scripture readings, and reflection questions or activities. A stand-alone resource or companion to the full curriculum.
Need a Spanish version of The Family Project? Get it here.
Check out these sample video clips from The Family Project!
Introduction by Jim Daly
Focus on the Family President Jim Daly introduces The Family Project and its vision for strengthening families.
Introduction to Session 1
Dr. Greg Smalley introduces participants to The Family Project curriculum and the role this study will play in strengthening their families.
Session 2: You Don't Need to be an Expert
Dr. Greg Smalley encourages folks who are in the role of small group leader for The Family Project curriculum.
Session 3: How to Shepherd Your Small Group
Dr. Greg Smalley discusses the responsibilities for small group leaders going through The Family Project curriculum.
Session 4: How to Host Your Small Group
Discover the importance of hosting as it relates to leading a small group through The Family Project curriculum.
Session 5: Launching Your Small Group
Dr. Greg Smalley outlines what a typical Family Project small group meeting could look like.
FAQs
The Family Project is not a Bible study, although it is solidly rooted in biblical teaching and is designed as a small group experience. It explores the importance of the family not only through the lens of Scripture, but also through history, art, sociology, anthropology, and science.
Each video segment runs roughly 25 minutes. A typical Family Project small group might run for 90 minutes, with 30-35 minutes for introductions, prayer and video, and the remainder of the time devoted to small group study, discussion, and wrap-up.
No, you don’t need to participate in a training session prior to purchasing the DVD set. The Leader’s Guide included with The Family Project includes everything most leaders will need to host a successful small group.
We made this decision for two primary reasons. First, including only one Participants Guide enables us to offer the basic Family Project set at a lower price. Second, we realize that “small groups” come in many different shapes and sizes. Were we to include multiple copies of the Participants Guide in the set, it would be difficult to determine a quantity that would meet the needs of every group. Offering the Participants Guide separately, in bundles of five or ten, seemed like the best way to allow participants in The Family Project to customize the material for the size of their group.
The Family Project is presented in a globe-spanning, documentary style hosted by New Zealander Tim Sisarich, a knowledgeable interviewer and guide. The accompanying printed materials offer additional insights, supporting Scripture, and discussion topics/questions.
Session 1: You Are Here
An introduction to the most basic needs of each human being and a discussion of humanity’s desire for belonging and significance.
Session 2: Let Us Make Man (Imago Dei)
Man is uniquely made in the image of God – but what must we understand about that image to know who we are?
Session 3: It Is Not Good to Be Alone: How Family Completes the Imago Dei
Humanity’s first and most fundamental problem was isolation. God solved this problem by joining Adam and Eve in a relationship to fully reflect His image in the world.
Session 4: For This Reason
God unites the first two humans in a wedding and commands them to be fruitful and multiply. What does this tell us about God – and about ourselves as bearers of His image?
Session 5: The Man Has Now Become Like One of Us
In the Fall, a family was divided. But redemption also came through a family.
Session 6: What God Has Joined Together
God’s design for family is essential to the health of every culture. Social science and practical experience prove this.
Session 7: Mothers as Image-Bearers
The relationship between mother and child exemplifies the nurturing care of the God of the universe.
Session 8: Fathers as Image-Bearers
God as “Father” is more than a motif; it is central to His nature and core to our being.
Session 9: Children as Image-Bearers
Every child is a divine statement of blessing. The bond between father, mother and child reflects the triune God.
Session 10: The Enemy
What is the greatest enemy of the family? It might be closer than you think.
Session 11: The Great Mystery and Destiny
Marriage foreshadows the future of every Christian: the wedding of Christ to His Bride, the Church.
Session 12: My Imperfect Family
Families consumed with appearing “perfect” deny reality. But every family must ask, “What is God calling us to do together for His Kingdom that we can’t do alone?”
One of the key messages of The Family Project is that there are no perfect families. Even the healthiest family is flawed and sinful. In fact, the final session is a discussion of how all Christian families – even in their brokenness and imperfection – can make a positive, redemptive impact on the world around them. Participants will discover that it is in the imperfection and crucible of family that Christ does much of His deepest refining work in His people.
One of the DVDs included with The Family Project set includes a wealth of resources for pastors and churches. Pastors can also visit The Focused Pastor website for additional resources.
The core of The Family Project is similar to The Truth Project in that it is comprised of a DVD-based small group experience incorporating printed guide books for both leaders and participants.
Rather than being focused on a series of lectures with one teacher (the role filled by Dr. Del Tackett in The Truth Project), The Family Project adopts a more conversational approach, following host Tim Sisarich as he consults with a wide range of respected theologians, commentators, and other experts from around the world. In addition, The Family Project is augmented by a wide range of ancillary resources, most notably the feature-length documentary film, Irreplaceable (no longer available).
