SESSION 3 OPENING: Use a "spiritual styles" questionnaire - there is a good one freely available at North Point Ministries. Or you could simply print the one on this site under the "resources" tag. Make sure everyone has time to talk through their own style. The key idea to draw out is that ‘one size does not fit all’. Each person needs to find ways of action, prayer and study that suits their individual personality and life rhythms. Then move on to talk about our reflections on living by "guiding principles" over the last month. Note: from now on the group may feel able to share more deeply what is happening in their lives. It is important that the group stops to pray and express concern, and that God's forgiveness is expressed when group members share that they have failed to live up to their ideals in certain ways. Hopefully it will become a natural part of group life that members declare "Jesus' work is finished. God has forgiven you. Go in peace" - or words to that effect. INPUT 1: Distribute the handout "4 Methods for Devotions" to the group. (See Resources tab). Don't spend too long going through it - but give an opportunity for people say whether they would find one or other of these methods more or less useful for them, given their spiritual style. INPUT 2: Distribute the handout "John 6" to the group (see Resources tab). Have someone in the group read John 6.1-14 out loud. Let the group decide how they would like to tackle it (there may be time to try two different approaches). a) Would they rather read it by themselves, mark the text and then discuss it? b) Would they rather have some pre-set questions to answer? or c) Would they like to be led in a meditation on the passage? If they'd rather read it by themselves, ask them to mark surprises with a !, things they have questions about with a ?, connections with the group's life and conversations with a & and things that connect with participants' everyday lives with a *. After 15 minutes, discuss what marks people have put on their sheets. If they go with the second option, here is a small selection of study questions on John 6:1-14: Look at verses 11 and 12. How much did the people eat? Did they have enough to eat? What does this tell us about Jesus’ miracles and provision? Have you ever experienced a time when God gave you more than you needed? Share stories. What is the faith lesson that Phillip and Andrew, along with the other disciples learnt that day? Is there a lesson for us to learn through the story of this miracle? If the group would appreciate a meditation, here is how it might go: Preparation Start with prayer: ask God to help you to be attentive and open to what He wants to show you. Then read the passage slowly and reflect on the story. Imagining the story Next spend some time imagining the scene of the story. Use all your senses to imagine being there. Notice the details - what do you see, hear, smell and feel? Place yourself in the scene – where do you feel drawn to? Is there something in the story that you identify with? Who are you? What do you see and hear? What is your response as the situation unfolds? Read the story again and reflect further. Encounter Jesus in the story Focus your attention on Jesus in the story: What is he doing? What is he saying? What are his attitude and expressions? Imagine your character encountering Jesus and interacting with Him. What does Jesus do or say? Read the story again and reflect further. Responding to the prayer experience Respond to Jesus in prayer. Speak to Him honestly, from your heart and ask Him what He wants to say to you. Have a conversation with Jesus, making your response to him. In company with Jesus, consider what action this encounter might be encouraging you to take. Spend some time resting silently in the presence of God. Finish If you do an exercise like this individually you might want to write down some of your thoughts and decisions in a journal. In the group setting today, the group could spend some moments sharing some of their experiences. HOMEWORK: Each group member promises to attempt one of these devotional practices before the mini-order next meets - and come ready to share how doing so might start to effect their actions/mission. SESSION 4 OPENING: Get the big piece of paper from session 2 with the "guiding principles out". Now we've been looking at them for a while, do we want to change any of them? Which have we found most helpful? Has a "big idea" emerged for the group, and if so, does that suggest a group name? (We'll return to this next time) Let each group member say how they've done with the devotional challenge since the mini-order last met. Don't forget lots of forgiveness. INPUT 1: Use images to reflect on the idea of staying connected to God throughout our daily lives:
Look at the example of Brother Lawrence, a 17th Century Friar, who wrote a book called “The Practice of the Presence of God”. BROTHER LAWRENCE: The most holy practice, the nearest to daily life, and the most essential for the spiritual life, is the practice of the presence of God, that is to find joy in his divine company and to make it a habit of life. So how do we do this? How do we practise the presence of God throughout our day? BROTHER LAWRENCE: We ought to act very simply with God, speaking familiarly with him, and asking him for help in situations as they arise. God will not fail to give it as I have often experienced. Share ideas of practices you find work in keeping you close to God or help you to abide in Christ through the day. INPUT 2: If group members would value a discussion about fasting, point them to an online article on fasting for beginners. It's worth asking if group members would benefit from fasting from food (which may benefit the body, prayer, self-knowledge and obedience), but also exploring the dangers of fasting - it wouldn't be sensible for some people - and the possibility of fasting from something quite different from food (e.g. TV? Social media?) PRAYER: Distribute the handout "Stillness" (see Resources tab). Experiment with some silent prayer. HOMEWORK: Each group member promises to try one practice, whether it's something like fasting, stillness, or practicing the presence of God, or whether it's something like writing to an MP, campaigning about an issue they care about, or speaking to someone about their faith. They also promise to consider whether they would be willing to take vows (still to be written!) and commit to be part of the group for a 12-month period.
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