GOSPEL GLAMOUR REQUIRED READING: LIFE VISIONING BY MICHAEL BERNARD BECKWITH
Read Life Visioning: A Transformative Process for Activating Your Unique Gifts and Highest Potential by Michael Bernard Beckwith.
As you read, pay close attention to Beckwith’s ideas about purpose, personal transformation, spiritual growth, consciousness, intuition, surrender, and discovering your vision for your life.
The goal of this assignment is not simply to finish the book. You are expected to reflect on what the reading causes you to think about your own life, purpose, faith, choices, and future.
IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW NOTE
Some of the ideas presented in Life Visioning may diverge from or differ from a traditional Christian worldview.
You are not required to agree with every teaching or spiritual concept presented in the book. Read thoughtfully and critically. Consider what aligns with your beliefs, what challenges your beliefs, and what you may interpret differently through your understanding of Christianity.
For this assignment, write from the perspective of what you are getting from the reading.
You may find certain ideas meaningful, questionable, challenging, useful, unfamiliar, or inconsistent with your beliefs. Your job is to honestly explain your response rather than simply agreeing or disagreeing with the author.
1,500-WORD ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
TITLE:
WHAT I AM GETTING FROM LIFE VISIONING
ESSAY PROMPT
After completing the assigned reading, write a 1,500-word reflective essay explaining what you personally gained, questioned, discovered, or reconsidered through Life Visioning.
Your essay should demonstrate meaningful engagement with the book. Do more than summarize what Michael Bernard Beckwith says. Explain what you are getting from the material and how it affects your own thinking.
Discuss the ideas that stood out to you, particularly those involving purpose, consciousness, personal transformation, intuition, surrender, spirituality, and developing a vision for your life.
You should also thoughtfully consider where these concepts align with, challenge, or differ from your understanding of Christian faith.
You are not being asked to defend the book or criticize it. You are being asked to think critically, reflect honestly, and explain your perspective.
REQUIRED WORD-COUNT BREAKDOWN
I. INTRODUCTION — 150 WORDS
Introduce Life Visioning and Michael Bernard Beckwith.
Briefly explain your initial expectations about the reading and identify the central idea or question that caught your attention.
End with a clear statement describing your overall response to the book.
II. WHAT I LEARNED — 300 WORDS
Identify 2–3 major ideas from the reading that stood out to you.
Explain:
What the idea means to you
Why it caught your attention
What you learned from it
Whether it changed or expanded your thinking
How it relates to your own experiences or goals
Focus on reflection rather than simply summarizing chapters.
III. LIFE PURPOSE & PERSONAL VISION — 250 WORDS
Reflect on the book’s emphasis on discovering personal gifts, purpose, potential, and vision.
Consider:
What do you believe your gifts are?
What gives your life meaning?
What kind of future are you trying to create?
Did the reading change how you think about your purpose?
What responsibilities come with recognizing your gifts?
IV. CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW COMPARISON — 300 WORDS
Compare selected ideas from the book with your understanding of Christianity.
Identify at least one area of agreement and one area of difference or tension.
Consider:
How does the book’s understanding of spirituality compare with your understanding of God?
How does its approach to personal transformation compare with Christian discipleship?
How do you understand faith, prayer, surrender, and spiritual growth?
Are there ideas you would interpret differently because of your Christian beliefs?
The purpose is thoughtful comparison—not automatic agreement or rejection.
V. WHAT I AM GETTING FROM IT — 300 WORDS
Make this the most personal section of the essay.
Explain what you are actually taking away from the reading.
Discuss:
One idea you found useful
One idea that challenged you
One idea you questioned
Something you might apply to your own life
Something you would interpret differently from a Christian perspective
How the reading affected the way you think about your future
You may use statements such as:
“What I am getting from this is…”
“One idea that challenged me was…”
“I found myself questioning…”
“From my Christian perspective…”
“One thing I can apply to my life is…”
VI. CONCLUSION — 200 WORDS
Bring your ideas together.
Explain what the reading ultimately caused you to consider about purpose, faith, personal growth, spirituality, and your vision for your future.
End by clearly stating what you are taking away from the experience.
TOTAL WORD COUNT: 1,500 WORDS
Section
Word Count
Introduction
150
What I Learned
300
Life Purpose & Personal Vision
250
Christian Worldview Comparison
300
What I Am Getting From It
300
Conclusion
200
TOTAL
1,500
FINAL EXPECTATION
Write from the perspective of what you are genuinely getting from the reading—not what you think you are supposed to get.
You are allowed to agree with some ideas, disagree with others, or remain uncertain about certain concepts.
The strongest essays will demonstrate honest reflection, critical thinking, personal application, engagement with the reading, and awareness of the writer’s Christian worldview.