Mentor s Guide - Intimacy with God. Intimacy with God Timeline

Transcription

1 Mentor s Guide - Intimacy with God Session Objectives Everyone would get to know each other better. Realize the importance of building a strong relationship with Christ through having a consistent time with the Lord and knowing God s Word. Provide practical suggestions and tools on how to have a quiet time and meditate on God s Word. Intimacy with God Timeline Since most Titus2 groups meet from 7:00 until 10:00 in the evening, we ve assumed this timeframe in our model meeting timeline. 7:00 Arrival and opening prayer 7:10 Opening question 7:20 Scripture Memory Review 7:30 Book Discussion 8:15 Mentor mentors: personal ideas/ habits 8:30 Break 8:40 Discuss Marriage Exercise 9:10 Discuss Peer Challenge 9:30 Handouts for Next Session 9:40 Prayer Requests and Prayer Time 9:55 Wrap-up 10:00 Dismiss 2017 Titus2 1

2 Intimacy with God Discussion Guide 7:00 Arrival and opening prayer Start on time. Remind/thank the girls for being there on time. Open in prayer. 7:10 Opening question What is one word or phrase you would use to describe this last month for you and why did you choose this word? Go around the group and give each woman an opportunity to share. Make notes on each woman if you find it helpful. 7:20 Scripture Memory Review - Psalm 1:1-3 Who would like to quote this month s memory verses first? Go around the group and allow each woman to quote the verses saying topic, chapter, and verse. You want to encourage them to say it word-for-word, so they will remember these verses for years to come without having to paraphrase. Emphasize the importance of meditation on scripture not just memorizing it. Encourage them to read the verses around the ones they are memorizing in order to understand the context in which they are situated. 7:30 Book Discussion If you chose to read A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy Leigh DeMoss or Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver, below are some possible quotes you could read to help stimulate discussion about the book. Not every woman needs to answer each question. If you chose another book, feel free to select portions of that book to stimulate discussion. Reading quotes from the book helps to engage the minds of the women, reminding them of what they have read. As you read the following quotes, have the women follow in their book. The quotes in purple are from the books. The questions in blue would be good questions to ask on any book that focuses on the importance of developing Intimacy with Christ through your quiet times with the Lord. NOTE: If there are other quotes you think would generate good discussion, feel free to use those Titus2 2

3 Quote from A Place of Quiet Rest page 44 (Made for Intimacy, last paragraph under Devotions without Devotion): When I get into His presence, the whole world looks different. When I draw close to His heart, I find mercy when I know I deserve judgment; I find forgiveness for all my petty, selfish ways; I find grace for all my inadequacies; I find peace for my troubled heart; I find perspective for my distorted views. In Him, I find an eye in the midst of the storm. Oh, the storm around me may not immediately subside; but the storm within me is made calm.... Not until we make pursuing Him our highest priority and goal in life will we begin to fulfill the purpose for which He created us. Quote from Having a Mary Heart page 73 (The Comforts of Home): The place Mary found at Jesus s feet is the same place available to you and me. It s a place where we can be comfortable, where we can kick off our shoes and let down our hair. It s a place of transparency and vulnerability; a place where we are completely known yet completely loved. It is truly a place called home. Having read that ladies, let s think about our lives and look for some application. What are some things that keep you from spending time with the Lord meditating on His Word and devoting time to prayer? Quote from A Place of Quiet Rest pages (The Inner Life, second and third paragraphs under Restoration): God has a never-ending supply of grace, strength, and wisdom available that He wants to flow through us to others. And we need to keep coming back into His presence to get our supply replenished. The circumstances and demands of a typical day may cause us to fall wearily into bed at night. But when we awake in the morning, His mercies are new and fresh (Lamentations 3:23). If we fail to stop and draw from His fresh, infinite supply of mercy and grace, we will find ourselves having to operate out of our own depleted, meager resources. Quote from Having a Mary Heart pages (Fruitful Living): Throughout the Word of God, the analogy of fruit is used. All four Gospels include Christ s picture of the Vine and the branches. So how can I make sure my life is producing this kind of fruit? It s not really that difficult. You see, fruit isn t something you can sit down and manufacture in your life. Fruit happens. You get connected to the Vine and pretty soon you ve got zucchini tons and tons of zucchini. So much zuchini you just have to share! As we abide in the intimate relationship with Christ that we talked about in chapter 5, something incredible happens. We begin loving as we never loved before. Our lives change, and we become examples worth imitating. We 2017 Titus2 3

4 begin producing fruit. Juicy, lusciously lovely, lip-smacking delicious fruit. Fruit in our lives that tells the world who we are and what our God is like. Even when we re stuck doing dishes in the kitchen. Can you think of a time in your life when spending time with the Lord made a noticeable difference in your perspective or your ability to respond to your circumstances? Quote from A Place of Quiet Rest page 87 (The Outer Walk, third and fourth paragraphs under From the Heart of Mary Madeline Whittinghill): The daily is more important than the length. When our five children were younger, I didn t manage the consistency I longed for. If I had to do it over, I would set smaller, more realistic goals, and let the Lord increase the time when possible. I realize that quantity of time is not the key factor; but I also know that it takes time to worship, pray, intercede, and pore over God s Word. Quote from A Place of Quiet Rest page 89 (The Pattern of a Devotional Life, first three paragraphs): The morning watch is essential. You must not face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His. You cannot expect to be victorious if the day begins only in your own strength. Face the work of every day with the influence of a few thoughtful, quiet moments with your heart and God. Do not meet other people, even those of your own home, until you have first met the great Guest and honored Companion of your life - Jesus Christ. Meet Him alone. Meet Him regularly. Meet Him with His open Book of counsel before you; and face the regular and irregular duties of each day with the influence of His personality definitely controlling your every act. What are the main obstacles you encounter in maintaining a consistent time alone with the Lord? Did anything in the book address these obstacles? Mentor is a verb: comment from your own life as you connect with these women and their experiences, struggles, successes, and difficulties. As you continue to listen, ask to collect their written homework. Switch the conversation from a negative to a positive, ending not on what are the obstacles but what are the encouragements. Share 2 or 3 encouragements/exhortations you received from this book. How do you feel God would want you to apply these to your life? Are there any changes you need to make as a result of reading this book? What are some things you have learned that have enhanced your time with the Lord? 2017 Titus2 4

5 8:15 Mentor mentors: personal ideas/ habits This is the opportunity for you to share what you have learned about the importance of a personal daily Quiet Time and the significance you ve found in meditating on God s Word over the years. Also, sharing some practical ideas of how you do your Quiet Time would be very helpful for the young women to hear. This might also be a good time for the women to ask you some questions. 8:30 Break Remember to keep the refreshments very simple. As the girls get to know each other, they will enjoy this time to hang out. Typically, women like to hang out around the kitchen island, sipping and talking. Warning: don t let the time get away from you. You want to make sure you allow enough time to end the session as scheduled. 8:40 Discuss Marriage Exercise Were you successful in regularly praying for your husband this month? How did you see God move throughout this time - in yourself, in your husband, and/or in your relationship? How did your date night go? Did any of you make any special plans? You want to make sure they took this seriously, i.e., for married women, had time away from children for those who have children, and were able to interact and give focused attention to each other. We were looking at the Finishing Well article this month in our marriage exercise. After thinking through and evaluating yourself in each of the seven areas, what areas would you like to see growth in this year? What did you and your husband decide that finishing well looks like for your marriage and for your family? What was it like for you to ask, listen, and NOT comment? Was that a new experience? 9:10 Discuss Peer Challenge How did your time with the peer partner go? Share any takeaways from your peer challenge and/or conversation with your assigned peer. 9:30 Handouts for Next Session This is the time to hand out the materials for next month and glance over them together to make sure everyone understands the assignments. If there are extra assignments to do or read this month, take some time to go over them, so they ll be aware of it at the beginning of the month. Also, if your retreat is the next session, any retreat planning/communication can be done during this time Titus2 5

6 1) Homework Assignment 2) Marriage Exercise 3) Peer Challenge Partners 4) Next Book 9:45 Prayer requests and prayer Ask each woman to share any answers to prayer from last month and what she would like the group to pray for her during this coming month. Don t forget to share your own prayer requests. After everyone has shared a prayer request, spend time praying together. Mix it up! Change the way you pray each month, e.g., pop-corn group prayer, pray for the person to your left, etc. Be creative! 9:55 Wrap-up 10:00 Dismiss Encourage the women by telling them how much you appreciate their openness to share their lives with each other, as well as their commitment to the group. Remind them that you are available to them. Depending upon your preference, suggest they call or you if they need to speak with you before the next meeting. This would be a great time to schedule your one-on-one breakfast, lunch, coffee, etc. with each of the ladies. Encourage them to continue being disciplined about diligently completing all their assignments. This will be a great benefit to them!! 2017 Titus2 6