K-Group Format
Group Size: 6 (Invitation will be made to individuals within Discipleship Class who would like to participate in Group Spiritual Direction with informal interviews to be conducted 1 week prior to first meeting). Group Spiritual Direction will begin on Saturday, March 8th.
Meeting Dates: Initial Meeting will be for 2 Hours on Saturday, March 8th to allow for introductions and discussion of Group Spiritual Direction. Discussion of Scriptures focused on Group Prayer and other aspects of Spiritual Direction will be discussed. Handout with Group Spiritual Direction format will be provided with Scriptures that we may discuss or meditate upon for Prayer and we will also discuss the Spiritual Discipline of Silence that we will practice in our Group Spiritual Direction Meetings. We will also discuss the availability of Group Members for Saturdays or another day during the week for 90 Minute sessions that will meet bi-weekly in the future.
Meeting Place: Meetings will be conducted in Prayer Room at Calvary with door shut and 6 chairs placed in a circle format so that everyone can see everyone else.
Structure of Meetings (90 Minute Meeting):
5 Minutes of Silence and Contemplative Prayer to quiet one’s spirit and place focus on Group Spiritual Direction.
15 Minutes of Group Prayer where each person as lead by the Holy Spirit shares a prayer to God for the Group Spiritual Direction session and any other concerns that they have on their hearts. Scripture may also be provided by facilitator at beginning of Group Prayer.
45 Minutes of Individual and Group Sharing (10 Minutes per person) with individuals discussing what God is doing in their lives or spiritual issues involving God’s presence or direction that they have experienced since the last meeting. 3 individuals will share one meeting and the 3 other individuals will share the next meeting.
15 Minutes of Silence and Contemplative Prayer regarding Group Sharing for reflection upon “What God is doing.”
5 Minutes of discussion regarding next Meeting and any specific prayer requests for the Group or individuals not at Meeting.
5 Minutes of Closing Prayer by 3 individuals who did not share their individual experiences.
The specific focus of the K-Group will be 1 John 2:6 – Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
- Where is God directing us to walk?
- What is he saying to us on this walk?
- What are we experiencing in our walk with God?
- Are we walking according to God’s Will?
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).
From the Daugherty reading, Watson’s statement that the task of spiritual direction is to help another person live God’s truth rather than the details of an order is right on point because I am currently involved in a one-one spiritual direction that I so desperately need in order to live God’s truth rather than a set of rules. I recently went through an incident at my Church that I did not feel that I could talk with anyone about except my Spiritual Director. He helped me to hear what God was telling me and focus on what God was doing through this experience that broadened my ability to feel compassion for others and to ask for forgiveness where I have hurt others because of my lack of compassion or empathy in carrying out instructions or directions from the Pastor. I did not realize the importance of just having someone to listen to you as they listen for God in what you are telling them. I have done this in providing spiritual advice to others but I have never been on the other end, which is an end that I so need in my walk with Christ because I give so much but sometimes receive little back as it relates to “What God is saying to me?”
2) How does your faith and receptivity to the Holy Spirit impact your perspective of spiritual direction? (p. 78-80)
Without faith it is impossible to please God but I also think that without faith it is impossible to effectively hear and receive the Holy Spirit and provide spirit led spiritual direction or participate in spiritual direction properly. I don’t think that an individual has to have the faith of Moses or David in order to participate in spiritual direction, but I do believe that you have to have some faith and be open to receiving direction from the Holy Spirit and be willing to discuss openly with others what God is doing in your life in order for spiritual direction to take place. I believe that if you are introverted, ashamed or unwilling to “be real” in spiritual direction then you are only faking it and you are not going to receive all that the Holy Spirit can provide because you are closed from the beginning. Spiritual Direction to me is like being willing to bear your relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit before others and participate openly with others in your walk with Christ and how he is directing you through the Holy Spirit in your everyday life. It is like standing spiritually naked before others without judgment and saying “I am here with you to help you as you help me hear what God is saying to us through the Holy Spirit, prayer, sharing and silence, and because I love you and Christ loves us, we will participate in this Community for Discernment together.”
Calhoun Text, Part 2, Section: "Practicing the Presence"
Take 5 minutes to practice the presence of God prior to putting on your shoes in the morning, remember like Moses you are on holy ground. Reflect upon the place of God in your life, relax, and center your thoughts on God's presence in your life. Post a reflection on your shoeless devotion.
I specifically “Practiced the Presence” of God on Sunday, February 10, 2008 when I awoke to prepare to get ready for Church Service. I laid in bed and prayed to God and told him that I am here for whatever he asked or directed me to do. I continued to talk with God in a way that I don’t normally do when I get up in the morning and was hesitant to even set my feet on the floor because every step that I took I wanted to have it be directed by God. I felt a great peace that I never felt before and went to Church with a renewed spirit. As I went through the Service, I felt myself lose focus on God at times, and I said “I am here God, please direct me according to your will.” This allowed me to refocus on God and worship in a sense of peace and tranquility because I felt that I was in the hollow of his hand without any other issues or concerns. My Pastor asked me to do the Altar Call Prayer and my heart raced because I felt so close to God at this time and so at peace because I knew that this was a part of being in his presence. I prayed and said what the Holy Spirit laid upon my heart and afterwards I felt even closer to God because I did not let minor issues in service become major stumbling blocks to my praise and worship. I even practiced silent prayer and contemplation at a point in the service because I wanted to hear God’s still small voice speak to me just like we talked early in the morning. This was an awesome experience that I will definitely incorporate into my daily life.
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6 comments:
Rev. Battle,
We seem to have similar formats for our spiritual direction group. I have targeted the intercessory prayer group for my group. With the changes going on in our church, I am attempting to fill a void in the spirit voiced by some members. 1 John 2:6 is a scripture that I may have to borrow from you because it is so fitting for our congregation at this time. I don't have a long range plan but I will yield to the will of God. I am curious, during the informal interviews, what will you be looking for?
Ruby,
During the informal interviews I will probably just ask them about their prayer life, why is it important to them, have they been through spiritual direction before, are they comfortable about discussing God's work in their lives in a confidential group atmosphere, and their ability and commitment to come to the Spiritual Direction Sessions as scheduled.
1 John 2:6 is a great Scripture that I really like because it brings me back to focus on Jesus and what he went through for me when I sometimes get discouraged or lose focus of my mission and calling. It is the foundational Scripture for our Discipleship Class at Calvary that we have on Mondays from 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. Our Class has memorized that verse, along with 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Ecclesiastes 9:10(a) and we are working on 2 Corinthians 4:8-10. I am glad that you are thinking about using 1 John 2:6, the more the merrier. :-)
Thank you REv. Art Battle. Describing being real and honest with God and the Holy Spirit like being naked, volunerable with others in the faith. Wow, that takes risk, and trust and so much honesty. Thank you for these words, as part of the body that is exactley what we are asked to do. Thanks for the reminder. Blessings on your 'practicing the presence' in everyday activities in life.
Rev. Battle,
I appreciate your comments. It is wonderful that you are so open and transparent. I hope to be able to be more open in my spiritual life as well as in my ministry. I am afraid of coming off as too vulnerable. I think this may have to do with the fact that I work in a prison and vulnerability in that environment is not a good thing. I have to separate my professional/personal/vocational lives and spend more time living in His Presence! God Bless you and Thank You for sharing.
Thanks Art for sharing from your heart and experience. Your sharing illustrated the process of practicing the presence and not allowing the distractions of other issues or emotions to disconnect you from the Spirit's flow-->presence. Walking in the presence of the Resurrected Lord in His Spirit is saying no to the negative spirits of anger, control, fear. . . basically the opposite of the "Fruit of the Spirit", which are the "Worms of the Evil One." May the Lord continue to guide you in developing your K-Group, it looks full and you may need to simplify it as 90 minutes in desert formation simply flies bye------->
Thank Art,
I have been doing some things with the church in the area of spiritual direction and informing them of the process, talking and sharing with them definately would help them to have a better start at understanding and embracing the process. Sound great!
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