Session 8: Discovering a Practical Strategy for Spiritual Growth: THE SPIRITUAL FORMATION GROUP
SESSION EIGHT
Discovering a Practical Strategy for Spiritual Growth
THE SPIRITUAL FORMATION GROUP
THE FOOTPRINTS OF GOD
At our last meeting each of us agreed to try one of the exercises in the Incarnational Tradition. Let’s share our experiences by answering the following question:
What did you learn about God and about yourself while doing the exercise?
After a few minutes of silent prayer, open with a time of sharing that the leader begins by reading this opening paragraph and answering the question posed.
JESUS AND OUR LIFE TOGETHER
Gospel Passage: Matthew 18:19-20
“Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
When everyone has had a chance to respond, ask a member to read this Scripture passage.
Reflection Question
How do you think Jesus’ followers felt when they heard these words?
THINKING IT THROUGH
Jesus tells his followers that he will be in their midst each time they gather in his name. Far from leaving them on their own, Jesus promises his disciples that he will be with them forever. Christ is with us as well, when we gather “in his name.” Because Jesus Christ called us to become disciples, he is always at the center of our corporate gatherings. He is the reason we come together.
After a brief discussion, choose someone to read this section.
If Jesus had simply died and left his followers to fend for themselves, Christian gatherings—whether large worship services or small-group fellowships—would be focused on the individuals who make up the groups. But quite the opposite is true: Christ rose from the dead, so our fellowships focus on him. It is Christ who calls us, Christ who empowers us, and Christ who unites us.
It is very easy to focus on our needs, our failures, our efforts to “get right” with God, but our worship must center on Christ. Jesus reminds us that our power and authority come from him. When we come together and agree on something, Christ assures us that God will do it.
The word “agree,” however, means more than simply coming to a decision. The Greek word used here, symphoneo, implies a harmony that is achieved only through prayer and searching. Like a symphony, we are to practice and to work together, and to pray until we are in tune. The unified voice we lift in prayer comes before the Father through the Son, who has promised to answer our pleas.
When we gather in Jesus’ name, we are not merely remembering Jesus because of what he said and did; we are actively encountering the living Christ because of what he has done and continues to do among us.
Why is it so easy to focus on ourselves rather than on what Christ is doing among us?
Reflection Question
GOD AND THE SPIRITUAL FORMATION GROUP
How do people grow in the spiritual life? One major way is to do spiritual exercises—that is, to practice the spiritual disciplines—within the framework of a Christian fellowship. These exercises help us grow spiritually by creating space in our lives where God can begin to transform us. Many times we erect “No Trespassing” signs to block God’s entrance into the areas of our lives that most need remolding and reshaping. Other times we think we are simply too busy to include God in our lives.
Have one member of the group read this entire section.
God has chosen spiritual exercises as the primary way to build our relationship with him. From the Bible we discover that the activities we have been learning about and doing—prayer, fasting, service, and so on—serve as instruction manuals that God uses to teach us how to live holy lives.
Spiritual growth occurs when we focus on God and practice the disciplines. God loves us and wants to teach us, heal us, bless us, encourage us. He has chosen these and countless other exercises as a way to remove our “No Trespassing” signs, to enter our lives and reshape them.
Earlier we noted that these exercises are best practiced in fellowship with other Christians. There are three reasons for this. First, for our own sakes God does not want us to isolate ourselves from each other as saints and to grow further and further apart; rather, he desires that we embrace each other as sinners and grow closer and closer together. The possibilities of sin will remain with us, no matter how far we travel in the Christian life, but traveling with kindred spirits will make those possibilities less appealing. Traveling together on the path of transformation will also help us avoid the pitfall of turning the disciplines into deadly, self-righteous practices. We are fellow travelers, fellow sinners united in Christ’s body.
Second, God understands that we have more strength to do what is best for us when involved in a loving fellowship. Isolated and alone, we yield easily to apathy; together and united, we can resist all the forces that attack us, including indifference. In Hebrews we read, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (10:24, NIV). We benefit from spurring one another on. That is why God gave us the wonderful gift of Christian community.
Third, God knows that we need guidance. From time to time we all need help in discerning what to do. Are we doing too much? Too little? Are we on the right path? Do we need to be patient? Sometimes we cannot hear an answer because we are too close to the situation. Since God often uses other people to give guidance to his children, quite often we find our answer in listening to others as they share their experiences of failure and success. The Christian fellowship provides guidance as we look to one another for help.
Of the three needs listed below, which is your most urgent?
To grow closer to others
To be encouraged by others
To learn from others
Reflection Question Allow each person a few moments to respond to this question.
As before, have a member read this entire section.
WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL FORMATION GROUP?
A few years ago a Princeton University poll revealed that the number-one priority for most Christians was “personal spiritual growth.” In spite of this need, most churches do not have intentional plans to meet their members’ desires for spiritual growth. Recognizing our own need, we have been taking small steps toward consistent spiritual growth in the previous seven sessions, and we are preparing to take larger steps in the future. We have also been assembling the many pieces of the Spiritual Formation Group mosaic—pieces that we are now ready to put in place.
The Spiritual Formation Group is a Christian fellowship whose purpose is to encourage its members to practice the spiritual disciplines. It is not a prayer group, though it incorporates prayer. It is not a support group, though support is found there. And it is not a Bible study, though the Bible is used by the group. It is a group that focuses on what God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives as we begin practicing the spiritual disciplines.
Overall, a Spiritual Formation Group answers the question, What will help me grow spiritually? while each meeting of a Spiritual Formation Group focuses on two issues: What has God been doing in my life? and What do I plan to do before the next meeting to make space for him to do even more? So what is the process involved in these groups?
First, we bring the strengths from the Six Traditions we have studied—Contemplative, Holiness, Charismatic, Social Justice, Evangelical, and Incarnational—into an intentional community: the Spiritual Formation Group. This balanced approach, coupled with Christian fellowship, helps us maintain equilibrium in our spiritual lives.
Second, we are provided with material to help start the Spiritual Formation Group. This book provides the structure for starting a Spiritual Formation Group and a plan to continue meeting beyond the initial nine sessions. The concluding chapter of A Spiritual Formation Workbook contains ideas and exercises to give the direction we all need and answers a question that stymies many of us: “What am I supposed to do?”
Third, the Spiritual Formation Group provides mutual encouragement and accountability. By joining forces, by “synergizing” energies, the group becomes greater than the sum of its individual members. Each person receives power and energy from the group (as well as from the Lord) to practice the spiritual disciplines.
This is what happens in a Spiritual Formation Group.
Which of these three pieces do you need the most?
Balance and community
Structure, ideas, and exercises
Encouragement and accountability
Reflection Question Give each member a chance to respond to this question if he or she wishes.
WORKING TOGETHER AS A SPIRITUAL FORMATION GROUP
For the past seven weeks we have worked together as a Spiritual Formation Group. At each meeting we have individually chosen an exercise, made a covenant with the group members to do an exercise before the next gathering, and shared our experiences with each other during our next time together. This is how a Spiritual Formation Group works together. Now we are ready to take the next step.
Ask everyone to turn to page 99 (the section titled “Order of Meeting”) and to keep a finger in this section as they will be turning back to it later. Members will read aloud from the Order of Meeting as prompted by the leader, who begins by reading these paragraphs.
The Order of Meeting gives each gathering of a Spiritual Formation Group a step-by-step structure. It is not intended to control or inhibit a group; rather, it is an outline to help a leader open, guide, and close the regular meeting.
For each meeting a group must choose a leader. (There is no single leader in a Spiritual Formation Group; everyone shares the leadership.) Guiding the group through the Order of Meeting is the leader’s only responsibility. It is a good idea to decide who will lead the next meeting at the close of each gathering.
Opening Words
The leader chosen by the group at the end of the previous gathering begins each meeting by reading the Opening Words. These words gather the group together, give it focus, and remind each member of the importance of preserving confidentiality. Some groups choose to read the words exactly as printed; others find a paraphrase helpful. Either way, the Opening Words are important, because they set the right tone at the beginning of each meeting.
The leader reads this paragraph, then asks a member to read the section on page 99 titled “Opening Words.”
Covenant
Next, the group turns its attention to the Covenant. This too reminds us of the group’s purpose. Founded on Jesus Christ as Savior, Teacher, Lord, and Friend, it helps us grow spiritually. In addition, reading the Covenant aloud affirms our intention to “seek continual renewal through spiritual exercises, spiritual gifts, and acts of service”—an intention based, of course, on our faith in Jesus Christ.
The leader reads this paragraph, then asks the members to read the section on page 99 titled “Covenant” aloud and in unison.
Common Disciplines
During the third section of the meeting we read the Common Disciplines. These brief statements based on the Six Traditions give substance to our pledge to seek continual spiritual renewal.
The leader reads this paragraph, then chooses one person to read the section on page 100 titled “Common Disciplines,” or asks group members to take turns reading one each.
Questions of Examen
Over the past few weeks we have become familiar with the fourth section, “Questions of Examen” (or Reflection Questions) under the heading “The Footprints of God.” These questions are designed to help us share what God is doing in our lives. No one is expected to answer all six sets of questions or all of the questions within a set; everyone responds to those that apply to the exercises he or she did since the group’s last meeting. However, people who see God working in their lives in another area may choose to answer one or more of the other questions.
The leader reads this paragraph, then chooses one person to read the section on page 100 titled “Questions of Examen,” or asks group members to take turns reading one each.
Looking Ahead
The next section is titled “Looking Ahead.” After we have discussed our past exercises, we make plans for the week ahead. All members are asked to select one or more areas to work on, to choose an exercise that will help them move forward, and then to share their intention with the rest of the group.
The leader reads these paragraphs.
We may want to give extra support to each other by recording each person’s intent.
This planning time is crucial. We need to offer guidance, support, and accountability to each other; and these things can be done only when we make clear and definite plans and share them with each other. Remember: If we fail to plan, we plan to fail.
In order to plan effectively, we need to become familiar with the “Ideas and Exercises” and “Worksheet” sections of this workbook.
Ideas and Exercises
The section titled “Ideas and Exercises” lists the Six Traditions that we practice in order to expand those areas in our spiritual lives. Under each Tradition are ideas and exercises that we can do as we continue meeting with our Spiritual Formation Group. This section provides the hints and helping hand that most of us need now and then.
The leader reads this paragraph.
Worksheet
On photocopies of the lined Worksheet, you and each member of the group can record what everyone is doing. At each meeting fill in the date at the top; then, as members share their intentions, record their plans beside their names. You may then fill in your own plans as well. This simple exercise is a powerful motivational tool; we become aware of what exercises others are doing, and they become aware of what exercises we are doing. In the process, we experience guidance, encouragement, and accountability.
After asking everyone to look over the section titled “Ideas and Exercises” (starting on page 86) and the section titled “Worksheet” (starting on page 103), the leader reads this paragraph.
Ending and Beginning
The sixth section of each meeting—the section that we have been calling “Ending and Beginning”—is titled “The Lord’s Prayer” in the Order of Meeting. It focuses on supportive prayer for each member of the group. We are asked to share needs and situations that would benefit from prayer. It is helpful to write the concerns that are mentioned at the bottom of the Worksheet so that we can remember to pray for them during the course of the coming week. Most groups then choose one or more members to lead the group in praying for those concerns during a short time of intercessory prayer. When this prayer is finished, we pray aloud and in unison the Lord’s Prayer.
After asking everyone to turn back to the Order of Meeting and to look over the section titled “The Lord’s Prayer” (page 101), the leader reads this paragraph.
Closing Words
Finally, the leader closes the meeting by reading the Closing Words. Just as the meeting began with a reminder of the importance of maintaining confidentiality, so it ends with the same reminder.
The leader reads this paragraph, then asks a member to read the section on page 102 titled “Closing Words.”
READY TO FLY SOLO
Congratulations! We have gone through the Order of Meeting and know how a Spiritual Formation Group works. Now choose one exercise from Sessions 2 through 7 that you have not done in the “Exercises in “ sections and determine to do it between now and the next meeting. On the photocopy of the Worksheet that you brought today, write down what you and the other members of the group are planning to do.
The leader asks the members to turn back to this section (page 80) and reads these paragraphs.
When we meet the next time, we will use the Order of Meeting as our guide. We have completed the Eight Beginning Sessions and are ready to have a regular meeting. At the end of our next meeting we will turn to the section titled “Periodic Evaluation” and use it to evaluate our group (what we liked, what we did not like, what we would like to change, and so on) or schedule a separate time when we can do it together. When we have completed the Periodic Evaluation, we will decide if we want to continue meeting as a group and if we want to continue using this method. If we agree to continue gathering regularly, we will covenant to meet and to work together as a group for the next six months.
May the ever-living Jesus Christ who is in our midst bless us and keep us until we meet again.
ENDING AND BEGINNING
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Allow each member time to share which of the exercises he or she plans to do during the week. Encourage each other in this venture. After everyone has shared, join hands in a circle and pray the Lord’s Prayer aloud and in unison.
If the Periodic Evaluation will be done at the end of the next regular meeting, ask for a volunteer to lead the gathering who is willing to take notes. Also, ask all members to read the Periodic Evaluation in the coming week and to prayerfully consider their response to each question. If the Periodic Evaluation will be done at a separate gathering, ask for two volunteers: one to lead the regular meeting and one to lead the special evaluation session.