Flourishing in Grad School: A 14-Week Study for 1st Year Grad Students
The series of conversations helps new graduate students think about the new season of life they’ve begun through the lens of faith and consider what God’s invitation(s) may be as they settle in, face challenges, etc.
A resource by Graduate & Professional Students
A resource by Graduate & Professional Students
Flourishing in Grad School is a compilation of 14 Bible studies intended to be used with first year first semester graduate students. The series of conversations helps new graduate students think about the new season of life they’ve begun through the lens of faith and consider what God’s invitation(s) may be as they settle in, face challenges, etc. Essential to the experience is a safe and welcoming community.
The first iteration of these studies (minus the study on Community) was created by former staff member Scott Filkin. Some updates have been made plus a bit of re-ordering based on input from GFM staff. Scott’s notes for leaders include commentary on each text as well as a few thoughts about the topic as it relates to graduate students and/or the academy.
A Few Suggestions for Using This Resource
- The first page of each study contains the text and should be printed to hand out to each person. In addition, the last page of each study is a table for people to fill in and discuss to finish out the conversation. Print one of these for each person and hand it out at the end of the study. Or if you want to save paper, print it on the back side of the Scripture text.
- Encourage participants to bring a folder or binder to keep all the pages as the study goes along.
- If you do not have 14 weeks, we suggest omitting session #10.
The Studies:
Introduction for InterVarsity Staff
Overall Introduction
Week 1: Consider the Soil
Week 2: Hold on for the Ride
Week 3: Choose to be Here
Week 4: Clarity Takes Time
Week 5: Trust and Obey (Rest)
Week 6: Trust and Obey (Risk)
Week 7: Pick Your Battles
Week 8: Made for Community
Week 9: Made for Work
Week 10: See the Invisible
Week 11: Stay the Course
Week 12: Called to a Compelling Task
Week 13: Empowered to Serve
Week 14: Imagine the Possibilities
Share this post
About the authors
Karen is the National Ministry Director of Women Scholars and Professionals, a focused ministry of InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries. Except for some years taken off to raise children, Karen has spent her adult life and career in and around InterVarsity — originally as a student and campus staff member in Michigan and currently in Georgia.An entrepreneur at heart, she started the graduate student fellowship at Michigan State and the MBA fellowship at Georgia Tech. She loves to use her gifts of hospitality and teaching to create a welcome place for people to connect with God and with one another.Currently, she is bringing together women in graduate school and beyond to encourage, support, and mentor one another to live fully into the call of God on their lives as they navigate the challenges of academia and the professional world. Karen and her husband live in Marietta, Georgia. She loves dark chocolate, good coffee, and British crime drama.