The Wesley Challenge Leader Guide: 21 Days to a More Authentic Faith - Brossura

Folmsbee, Chris

Brossura

ISBN 10: 1501832921 ISBN 13: 9781501832925

Casa editrice: Abingdon Press, 2017

Riassunto

In the Wesley 21-day Challenge small groups or whole churches will spend three weeks working through 21 questions that will engage their physical, spiritual and emotional lives and their relationship with God and others.With fast-paced emphasis on graphics and short content bits, the challenge will inspire us to a new kind of commitment—one that is more authentic, vulnerable and soul shaping resulting in thousands of people who have a renewed passion to discover deeper levels of commitment to God and others.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the 21 day challenge including session plans and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

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The Wesley Challenge Leader Guide

21 Days to a More Authentic Faith

By Chris Folmsbee

Abingdon Press

Copyright © 2017 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-5018-3292-5

Contents

To the Leader, 
Session 1. Relationship with God: an Upward Focus, 
Session 2. Relationship with Self: an Inward Focus, 
Session 3. Relationship with Others: an Outward, 
Focus, 
How to Start an Accountability Group, 
Notes, 

CHAPTER 1

Session 1

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: AN UPWARD FOCUS

PLANNING THE SESSION

Session Goals

As a result of conversations and activities connected with this session, group members should begin to:

• Consider the first seven questions about the relationship with God.

• Understand through an exploration of these questions how they can enrich and enliven their relationship with God.

• Examine the relationship between prayer and daily life.

Section Summary

Section 1 explores the first seven of John Wesley's twenty-one questions. These questions address the theme of "Relationship with God: an Upward Focus." In these questions, Wesley sets forth a challenge to become who God intended us to be. Through this material, we reflect on prayer, Scripture, and our relationship with Jesus. The person and work of Jesus provide the model for the life God meant for us to live.

Biblical Foundation

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. He removes any of my branches that don't produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can't produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can't produce fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can't do anything. If you don't remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples."

John 15:1-8

Jesus told them, "When you pray, say:

'Father, uphold the holiness of your name.
Bring in your kingdom.
Give us the bread we need for today.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who has wronged us.
And don't lead us into temptation.'"

Luke 11:2-4

From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8

Special Preparation

• Provide writing paper and pens for those who may need them. Also have Bibles available for those who do not bring one.

• Make sure all participants have a copy of the book The Wesley Challenge: 21 Days to a More Authentic Faith. Invite them to read the introduction and Section 1 in advance of the first session.

• Have available large sheets of blank paper to attach to the wall or a large whiteboard and markers for group activity.

• Bring index cards to distribute for group activity.

• As the leader, go over the session in advance and select or adapt the activities you think will work best for your group in the time allotted. Consider your own responses to questions you will pose to the group.

• Make nametags available if desired.

FACILITATING THE SESSION

Welcome and Opening Prayer (3 minutes)

As participants arrive, welcome them to the study and invite them to make use of one of the available Bibles if they did not bring one. Introduce yourself. You may want to share why you are excited about facilitating this study of The Wesley Challenge: 21 Days to a More Authentic Faith. If you sense that the participants in your group do not know each other well, allow time during this first session for them to introduce themselves and share something about their relationship with the church, for example the name of a Sunday school class to which they belong, a mission project they support, or which worship service they attend. Extend a special welcome to those who do not regularly attend your church.

Offer the prayer below, pray one of your own, or invite a group member to pray.

Everlasting God, Who is your beloved Son, Who is the King of the whole world; Who wills to restore all things to be made new; Who gives Mercy to all the people of all the nations, Who with you, God, lives and reigns for ever we ask that we find Jesus to be more real every day.

Video (10 minutes)

Play the video for session 1. In this segment, Chris Folmsbee introduces the Wesley Challenge, gives the history of John Wesley's twenty-one questions, and presents the first set of seven questions, focusing on "Do I pray about the money I spend?"

Choose from the following for a brief discussion:

• Wesley's motto was, "Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can." Do you think this is a good premise to live by? Why or why not?

• Do you consider spending money to be a spiritual activity? Why or why not?

• What do you think of the author's contention, "The money I possess is not mine. It is God's money"?

Biblical Foundation (5 minutes)

Section 1 cites John 15:1-8 to describe the relationship between human beings and Jesus. Read the passage aloud and consider the following questions:

• Jesus says that there are two kinds of branches. What are they, and what do they symbolize?

• What does it mean to "remain" in Jesus? Do humans have a choice to remain, unlike branches?

• Jesus says, "My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples." What does it mean to "produce much fruit"? In practical terms, what human "fruit" proves that they are disciples of Jesus?

Week in Review (10 minutes)

The seven questions in Section 1 explore the nature of our relationship with God through Jesus, prayer, and Scripture. Review the questions with the group:

1. Is Jesus real to me?

2. Am I enjoying prayer?

3. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

4. Did the Bible live in me today?

5. Did I disobey God in anything?

6. Do I pray about the money I spend?

7. Do I give time for the Bible to speak to me every day?

Invite responses to a few of the prompts below:

• What was your experience moving through the questions this first week?

• Which ones stood out to you?

• Which were the most difficult to grapple with?

• Did any of them lead to a sense of transformation as you contemplated them?

• How did living the questions this week have an impact on your own relationship with God?

• What was your method of engaging the questions?

• Did you read the passages in the morning or the evening?

Group Activity (20 minutes)

The following section provides opportunities for discussion of the week's theme, Relationship with God, and the seven related questions. Choose from the following activities to find one that best fits your group dynamic.

Making Jesus Real

Have the following questions posted on a large sheet of paper (newsprint or poster paper) or whiteboard:

• When was the first time Jesus became more than just a name to you?

• When was the last time Jesus was more than just a name to you?

Invite participants into conversation in small groups of three or four. The questions are designed to help people think about how their relationship with God has evolved over time. This process helps us learn how to tell our faith stories and how to actively listen to and learn from the stories of others as all of our stories continue.

Give the small groups fifteen minutes to share their responses with one another. Remind them that as each person shares, the task of the listeners is to attend to and receive the story in prayerful silence. Remind them that each person should have the opportunity to share and that someone may choose not to share.

At the end of the fifteen minutes of small group time, invite the groups back together. Ask them to share insights gained from hearing one another's stories and from sharing their own. How has their faith changed and grown over time? What do the variety of faith stories tell us about the nature of God and our relationship with God and one another?

Make a Habit

List on a whiteboard or large sheet of paper any spiritual disciplines and practices you can identify. These could include prayer, reading and studying Scripture, worship, Holy Communion, acts of service and justice, and so on. How do these practices bring you closer to God? Which of these disciplines do you already practice? Which have become daily or weekly habits?

• What habits are part of your daily routine? How do these habits give your life structure?

• What habits related to your faith have you developed?

• How do your daily habits reveal your faith and values?

• How has asking these daily questions affected your spiritual life this week?

• What is most challenging about turning a spiritual practice into a spiritual habit?

• Read the following Scriptures: Acts 2:42-47; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-24; James 5:13-18. What insight do they give about spiritual practices and habits?

The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God's goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this.

Galatians 5:22-23

Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Don't suppress the Spirit. Don't brush off Spirit-inspired messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil. Now, may the God of peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to him; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ's coming. The one who is calling you is faithful and will do this.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-24

If any of you are suffering, they should pray. If any of you are happy, they should sing. If any of you are sick, they should call for the elders of the church, and the elders should pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. Prayer that comes from faith will heal the sick, for the Lord will restore them to health. And if they have sinned, they will be forgiven. For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve. Elijah was a person just like us. When he earnestly prayed that it wouldn't rain, no rain fell for three and a half years. He prayed again, God sent rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

James 5:13-18

Listen Closely

Allow everyone time to reflect on an experience when he or she came to a greater understanding of someone after seeing things from that person's perspective. If people feel comfortable doing so, invite them to share this experience with the group.

Then have members of the group pair off. One person in each pair should spend exactly one minute describing to his or her partner one important faith experience. The partner should listen closely, and, afterward, repeat as closely as possible what he or she heard. Partners should repeat this process, this time with the roles reversed. Come back together as a group and discuss:

• How difficult was it for you to listen intently to your partner?

• How closely did you find you were able to retell your partner's faith story?

• Why is it important that we listen to and learn other people's stories?

• How might your interactions with people change if you took the time and effort to try to see from their perspective?

• In what ways did listening to and telling faith stories bring you closer to God?

The Living Bible

Distribute several index cards to each member of the group. Offer this instruction: On each card, list one way you see the Bible living in you today. Allow a few minutes for participants to do this individually, then invite volunteers to share from their lists and record responses on the board or a large sheet of paper. Pose the following questions for discussion:

• What does it mean to have the Bible "live in you"?

• Was it easy or difficult to find ways the Bible appears in your life?

• What Bible stories or passages feature most prominently in your spiritual life?

The Prayer of Jesus

Divide into pairs and read John 17. The author cites this prayer as giving insight and perspective into what Wesley meant when he asked, "Am I enjoying prayer?" Take ten minutes to read John 17 and think about whether Jesus enjoyed this prayer. What aspects of the prayer would have meant fulfillment for Jesus? What can we learn about prayer from this example? What might we mean by "enjoy" in this context that goes beyond the typical definition of joy or delight? To enjoy prayer is to have experiences of discovery within the practice. The author writes, "To 'enjoy' prayer is to experience God through realizing and remembering God, self, others, and the world, and at the same time trust the direction God desires for our lives."

Bible stories

How has your view of the Bible changed throughout your life? Do you value the Bible differently or relate to it differently from what you did when you were younger?

Divide into pairs and have each pair choose a Bible story learned as a child. As a team, write down the main elements of that story without looking at the text. Write down as much as you can remember. Try to recall what the main understanding of the story was when it was first encountered. Next, have each pair reread that story. What elements of the narrative do you find are missing? Did you add any details that weren't in the original version? What are your primary takeaways from this story at this point in your life? How has your life experience enriched your understanding of God's word?

Ideas for Further Reflection (additional 30 minutes if needed)

Choose from the following questions to offer the class ways to reflect further on this week's seven questions in the week to come. Alternatively, these questions may be used to supplement the class discussion.

• After your group discussion, commit to making at least one change in your life to reorder it against temptations. Choose accountability partners within the group to help keep that change in place. Text or call each other throughout the week when a temptation is faced, or when encouragement is needed.

• Go around as a group and share a time when you felt a significant connection to God during prayer.

• If you are struggling to share your personal sins, use a 3-by-5 card or scrap of paper to write a prayer of confession to God. After each person has written on the card, shuffle the confessions, pass them out and have each person read the confession so that each person can hear his or her prayer to God.

• Were you raised in a household that prayed about spending money? Were you brought up in a way that reflects the Gain, Save, and Give principles or with a different perspective? What impact has your upbringing had on how you deal with money now? Share your observations with the group.

• Put together a Bible reading plan for your group this week. Choose a book of the Bible that you will all read before you meet again. Discuss what you will read each day. Encourage each other to look and listen for signs of Revelation, Illumination, and Imagination from God while reading, and have each member jot down impressions. When you gather again, share these impressions and the different ways that people heard God speak to them.

• If you are called to increase your participation in one of Wesley's principles related to money (and for most of us, that would be in either Save or Give), share your plans with the group. Hold each other accountable by asking one another about the commitments each week.

• Take turns sharing at least one area that you consistently struggle with. After each person has the chance to share, take time and pray for one another. Pray that God would grant you peace, strength, and faith.

• How would you currently answer the question, "Am I enjoying prayer?"

• Discuss the prayer practices you follow, as well as methods you might have tried and stopped.

• Discuss one area of your life that causes you an uneasy conscience. If you are struggling with a temptation that you are not comfortable sharing with the whole group, choose one or two members of the group to confide in.

• How did the Bible factor into your upbringing? Was it something that played center stage in your family's life, or did it sit on a shelf, collecting dust?

• What are some of the Bible stories or Scripture verses that really resonate with you? What is it about these verses that reach your soul?

• Do you agree with the author that God did not create sin but created the possibility of sin when God gave humans the freedom to make their own decisions?

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Wesley Challenge Leader Guide by Chris Folmsbee. Copyright © 2017 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Abingdon Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2017
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1501832921
• ISBN 13: 9781501832925
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 64
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile