By Stephen Torhaus

Optional Kids Practice

Have the kids in your group respond to the following:

  1. Tell us about a time when you were with someone (parent, friend, sibling) and you felt loved by them without anyone saying I love you or anything else. What was that like?
  2. Did you know that prayer can be like that too? (If anyone answers ‘yes’, have them explain).

As you are able, invite the kids to sit in silence and pretend that God or Jesus is hugging them. Encourage them to focus on the hug and that nothing needs to be said or “prayed” to God.

Begin with prayer

“Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting. Take a moment in silence, in the presence of Jesus and each other. Have one person read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 over the group and then pray to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.”

Debrief the most recent teaching

  1. If you practiced lament, what did you learn about God or yourself through the process? If not, what might have gotten in the way? (No judgment here!)
  2. Considering this series as a whole, share with your community which group (and subgroup, if applicable) Josh described over these last several weeks most closely applies to your current experience of God’s love.

Read this overview

This week, we are invited to practice Contemplative Prayer, which is an ancient practice rooted in what is called the “Beatific Vision”, the moment when we finally see God “face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12) or “just as He is” (1 John 3:2). While we wait for that final, epic moment, we practice “seeing in a mirror dimly” in Holy anticipation. In Contemplative prayer, we attempt to behold God with our spiritual senses, like a bride or groom beholding the other on their wedding day, a parent beholding their sleeping child, or a child resting in their parent’s arms after a bad dream.

Contemplative prayer is a “non-discursive” form of prayer, meaning there is no exchange of words, thoughts, or ideas. Rather, it is an exchange of love between God, who is Love, and the beloved (us!). So in this practice, we set aside our concerns and petitions, our fears and worries, and even our praise and gratitude to instead simply behold the One who loves us perfectly. It is a time to take delight in God’s company. During this time, nothing else matters.

Therefore, whatever thoughts, worries, petitions, or even the seemingly “divine revelations” that come up during this practice must be gently set aside and perhaps even forgotten. They will only draw you away from the practice. In this digital age of distractions, notifications, and limited attention spans, suspending our train of thought can feel like trying to stop a literal freight train. That’s ok. It takes practice. As with any other form of prayer, the only way to pray better is simply to pray.

Additional Resources:

Discuss the following prompts

  1. How might contemplative prayer feel in conflict with prior understandings of our teachings on prayer?
  2. Take a few moments to consider if there is any part of you that feels resistant to contemplative prayer or if any part of the practice feels particularly difficult for you. Share with your community what comes up for you.
  3. What would you like to gain from contemplative prayer and how would you feel if you didn’t perceivably gain anything from it?

Practicing right now:

Take a few moments to practice silent contemplative prayer together for a mutually agreed-upon length of time (not more than 3-5 minutes). If this practice is new to some of the group, allow one or two members experienced in this practice to provide some guidance.

If no one in the group has practiced this before, then have someone read the following:

One way to describe contemplative prayer is like reaching out to God with the spiritual senses. So take a moment to recall a strong, positive, sensory experience when there was nothing to be said (e.g. beholding a majestic view, the warmth and smell of Christmas, or the embrace of a loved one after a long time apart). Recall how that moment felt in your soul/spirit. Now close your eyes, clear your mind, and remember that God is always present with you. Be present now to God and rest in the Holy Presence of Love. As thoughts and distractions come up, gently let them pass, like boats floating on a river. The temptation will be to get in the boat or to forcefully push it away, but just let it go by. Rest in the Holy Presence of Love until the appointed time ends.

Leader close with: “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Practicing this week:

For the beginners and the weary:

This week, choose a time or activity in your daily rhythm when you are most rested and least frazzled (e.g. your morning devotions, the drive to work/school, an afternoon walk, etc.). Use a small piece of that time (5 seconds to 5 minutes, whatever you can spare) to practice contemplative prayer.

For the seasoned and the eager:

This week, look for times of chaos and disorder when many tasks, people, or messages call for your attention. Find a means of stepping away for a minute or two (e.g. go get a drink or snack, fetch something from upstairs, “forget” your phone somewhere, take a quick bathroom break, etc.) and practice contemplative prayer before returning to the busyness at hand.

For all, be prepared to share about your experience with your community next week.

Close in prayer

End by having someone read this prayer from Ephesians 3v14-21:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.