session 3

1) Respond to David Watson's statement (p. 11) that the primary task of admonition (spiritual direction) is to help another person live God's truth rather than the details of an order (for example, a monastic rule).
I believe that monastic rules are more concerned with conformity, uniformity, and dedication to “The Rule.” The spiritual advisor in a monastic order functions as the leader who monitors the progress of the participants and encourages them to renounce their worldly desires and to turn their hearts towards a model or the example, who is often the spiritual leader. There are structured prayer, fasting, meditations, which are all designed to foster spiritual receptivity. In spiritual direction, I do not see the spiritual director as a guide or a leader in the same sense as in the monastic model. The spiritual director’s role is to help the directee focus on the Holy Spirit and encourage openness and spiritual dialogue. It is an indirect rather than a direct relationship with the primary focus being the directee and the Holy Spirit’s relationship, rather than the directee-director relationship. 2) How does your faith and receptivity to the Holy Spirit impact your perspective of spiritual direction? (p. 78-80)I think that when it comes to spiritual direction, it all boils down to faith. What exactly do I believe about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? Do I believe that God is active and actively at work in the universe or do I believe that God is far too busy with His own affairs that He is unconcerned with the affairs of humankind? Do I believe that the Holy Spirit is moving in the Church today, as He moved in the early church communities or do I believe that the gifts of the Spirit, particularly the sign gifts, died with the apostles? If I believe that we have an unconcerned God who is no longer gifting the Church with signs and wonders, then I am probably also convinced that God is not and will not speak to me in a direct and personal manner; however, I do believe that God is actively working in the universe and is very concerned about humanity. I believe that the Holy Spirit is still operating just as He operated in the early church communities. Miracles are happening everyday. People are being filled and refilled with God’s precious Spirit. Many are being delivered from the strongholds of sin and the power of the adversary. I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for my life and the lives of all of His children and it is my responsibility to remain open and prayerful so that I may hear His voice and heed His call, this is what I call spiritual direction.

My K Group:

Meeting Length: 90 minutes

Number of Participants: 3-4

Scripture Reading

5 Minutes of Silent Reflection/Prayer for openness and direction

Group Prayer: all participants will take turns leading the prayer as the others pray silently.

Open Reflection/Praise Reports/Testimonies

20 Minutes of Silent Prayer/Practice seeking the presence of God

Close with Scripture and benediction


This Group's focus will be seeking God's will for us as parents of teens. How to stay prayerful and how to encourage spiritual direction in the lives of our teens.