By Cameron Silsbee
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 Philippians 1v3-6 over the group and then pray to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.
Debrief the most recent teaching and Practice.
- Reflect on God’s work in your life this week by summarizing the most recent teaching and what you took away from it.
- How did making more change(s) to your Rule of Life go?
Read this overview
Change comes with all sorts of complexities. Part of the complexity is about what changes to make, how to make lasting and impactful changes, and the unintended, surprising benefits and even consequences of making changes.
Discuss the following questions and prompts.
- Thinking about the last few weeks. What has worked well when trying to make changes? What hasn’t worked well?
- Describe your experience of God over the last few weeks.
- Spend a moment reflecting on your answers to these previous prompts. What thoughts and feelings come to mind?
Do this Practice right now:
Spend the rest of the evening praying encouragement over each other. Feel free to structure this in a way that makes sense for your group. One way could be to have one person pray over one other person until everyone in the group has been prayed over.
Before praying over someone, recollect your thoughts and attune to God’s Spirit. Whether you feel something is from the Spirit or just a thought sticks out in your mind, pray encouragement over the person as they look to navigate the process of change and the Rule of Life.
Talk over this coming week’s Practice:
For this week’s Practice, set aside time to meditate on Philippians 1v3-6. Ask the Spirit to speak over you as you consider your Rule of Life, the changes that have been made, and the changes that will be made.
Be prepared to discuss with your Community what you felt the Spirit said next week.
Close in prayer
End in prayer by having one person read the Nicene Creed over the group.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.