August 2026 – Week Two
- Aug 11
- 6 min read
Open In Prayer
Begin by praying together – taking some intentional time to breathe, be still, and invite the Holy Spirit to be with you all as you set aside time to be together.
Holy Spirit, make us aware of the reality that You are here with us. We want You here. Speak to us. Make Your love real to us. Amen.
Around The Table & Reflect On Last Gathering’s Practice
This is space during your gathering to share a meal, build relationships, and enjoy one another.
If you need a laugh, who or what do you find yourself turning to (ie: movie, TV, book, friend, fav YouTube video, etc?)
Read This Aloud Together
Over the next several months, we will be learning about and leaning into the ancient Christian practice of spiritual direction together. In the words of Alice Fryling, the goal of group spiritual direction is “to help each participant become more aware of God in their lives, for the sake of others.”
At the core of this practice is learning how to be a group of friends who listen. To listen carefully and deeply to one another. To wait for one another to share whatever they want to share at that time. And to embrace silence. Lots of silence, at times.
Read This Aloud Together: Three Characteristics of a Good Listener
A Contemplative Attitude = focused awareness on God
to view someone with continued attention, to observe thoughtfully, to consider thoroughly and to think deeply…not distracted, preoccupied, or interrupting, but to listen without judging, correcting, and not busy preparing an answer
An Open Spirit = in the words of Kenneth Blue, “this kind of listening means that the people receiving attention are allowed to be the experts on their own pain.”
Instead of trying to explain the pain, or whatever it is the person is talking about, we can simply say, “tell me more about that”...this kind of open-ended response affirms the other and validates the other’s experience, even if it is very different from our own.
“Intense listening is indistinguishable from love, and love heals.”
A Humble Perspective = we let go of preconceived opinions, the need to be right, our own insecurities, and of the need to appear wise, good, or spiritual.
Essentially, we let go of ourselves in order to be present to the other.
Discussion Questions
Which of the three characteristics do you find easiest to exercise and which one presents the most challenge?
Margaret Guenther, in describing the ministry of presence, gave a beautiful quote that reads, “the greatest gift I could give…was not to play social worker or psychotherapist, but to quiet down and wait with her. Be with her. To do this, I had to recognize my discomfort at my own powerlessness.”
In what ways can you identify your discomfort at your own powerlessness functioning within your life or relationships?
Read This Aloud Together: Life-Giving Questions
In group spiritual direction, we companion each other as God attunes our ears to His voice not by solving problems or answering questions, but by validating the questions. Often we do this by asking more questions.
Jesus’ ministry was full of questions. He did not need to know the answers to His questions. After all, He was God. So His questions must have been for the sake of those who came to Him for help or healing.
If you want to check out specific instances in Scripture, turn to:
Bartimaeus in Mark 10:49-52
The woman with the bleeding issue in Mark 5:25-34
Peter in Matthew 16:13-15
Here are some suggestions for questions that you could utilize during group spiritual direction.
Sometimes even a good question is a dead-end street. The group may reach a standstill, unsure of where to go. When this happens, it may help to ask a very broad question:
Is there a question you would like us to ask you?
How do you sense we could be helpful to you now?
A good question is open-ended. It allows for exploration. It gives permission for the other person to talk deeply if he/she chooses. It is invitational and welcoming, not manipulative or superficial or so loaded with the suggested answer that they fall on deaf ears.
Often (but not always) questions that start with why or that can be answered with a yes/no are unhelpful.
Read This Aloud Together: Words for Listening
Below are some suggestions or tools for how to respond lovingly to the one we’re listening to:
Repeat exactly what the person said with an implied question mark at the end, inviting the person to say more.
Ex: If the person sharing says, “Life is so busy right now, I’m having a hard time noticing God.” You could respond, “It’s hard to notice God in your life right now?”
Ask for more information about the person’s experience.
Ex: “Could you say more about that?”
Describe what you’re hearing, and then ask if that’s correct.
Don’t say anything (nod your head, maintain eye contact, wait)
Offer some connections from several parts of the conversation.
If appropriate, ask if the person is sensing any direction from God.
These are just a few ways of listening and responding that help the person go deeper into their experience. One or two responses like this may help draw out of the person truth that is already there. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide us “into all the truth” (John 16:13). Our job as listeners is to help our friend listen to the Spirit.
Group Spiritual Direction Flow
You may choose to begin by lighting a candle…this is regularly practiced within spiritual direction as a tangible representation of the reality that God is with us / we are not alone.
Opening Time of Quiet – 5 minutes
(Even though this is a time of quiet, you may choose to utilize William Augusto’s instrumental tracks to help ease the group into becoming more comfortable with silence)
Here are some options on how to get started:
Play a song or instrumental piece. I like to use vocal music that includes Scripture. Some suggested artists: Jon Guerra, Zach Winters, Paul Zach, Josh Garrells.
Read through a passage of Scripture slowly and meditatively together. Some suggestions: Matthew 11:28-30; Lamentations 3:22-24; Psalm 1:3
Engage in a prayer of examen:
When today did you feel the most joy, the most freedom or the most loved? In other words, at what time(s) today were you most aware of the presence of God?
When today were you least aware of the presence of God, or when did you feel the least loved, the least free, or the most discouraged?
As you reflect on these moments in your day, what prayer rises up in your heart?
The person sharing begins to share uninterrupted about what’s been going on in their life with God recently – 10 minutes
You may choose to reference these questions to help them get started in sharing.
Time of silence – 1 minute
Group responds and interacts with the one sharing – 10 minutes
You may choose to reference these questions in your interactions and utilizing the “Words for Listening” tools listed above
Time of silent prayer for the person sharing – 2 minutes
Time for the one sharing to debrief about how the experience felt – 1 minute
Practice: Sharing Moments of Gratitude
Find a space to be quiet and ideally unhurried before beginning this practice. For those who are walking in a more chaotic season of life (maybe with little kids), embrace whatever makes sense for your context.
Each day this week, take a moment to send to each other in a group text something joyful, loving, or fun that you experienced that day. It could be a simple moment you felt seen or a way you were able to serve someone else.
The goal here is to attune your attention to begin recognizing ways God is speaking to you through your mundane daily tasks or at work within your life.
End in Prayer
Before you conclude, spend some time as a Community praying for one another.
Below is an optional liturgy you could pray:
Lord Jesus, There is no greater prayer than yours — make us one as you are one, in devotion, in living, in love. Amen.