walking backward pt. 4 -guide
Gather
● Gather and open with prayer. Perhaps ask someone if they would be willing to pray.
● You can use any prayer, but here is a new prayer to open the time:
Heavenly Father, we come out of this day into this time to be with you and with one
another.
Bless our speaking and our listening.
Bless our thinking and our interactions.
Bless this space with your Holy Spirit.
Thank you that you are here. Amen.
Warm-up
Here is are a couple of suggested questions to get the discussion-juices flowing, and help us all
continue to grow in knowing one another. Or just move right into the conversation.
● What feeds you spiritually? Worship? A sermon? Music? Prayer? Service? Something
else?
Conversation
Read: Psalm 130.
● Go around and have each person share one thing that strikes them in this Psalm. It
doesn’t have to be profound or super spiritual. Just simply say what you
heard/see/notice.
● Jonny began by asking “what is something in your life you are waiting for?” What did you
think of?
● How does Psalm 130 speak of waiting? What images are used?
● In times when you have to wait, do you wait with avoidance? Anxiety? Or Patiently?
● What makes it hard to wait? What helps you wait well? What helps you be patient?
● What difference does it make/would it make if you knew God was in control of the
situation that is causing you to wait?
● Read Romans 8:22-25. What does this say about waiting and what we are waiting for?
● What would it mean to walk in God’s time?
● Was there a new idea or something that challenged you in the sermon?
● What questions are coming up for you? What convictions are stirring in you?
Teilhard de Chardin was a French theologian and scientist. If you find it appropriate share this
poem that he wrote, entitled, “The Slow Work of God.” Use it as a closing prayer or ask how
people respond to it as part of the conversation.
Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way
to something unknown,
something new.
Yet it is the law of all progress that is made
by passing through some stages of instability
and that may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually. Let them grow.
Let them shape themselves without undue haste.
Do not try to force them on
as though you could be today what time
-- that is to say, grace --
and circumstances
acting on your own good will
will make you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new Spirit
gradually forming in you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.
Above all, trust in the slow work of God,
our loving vine-dresser.
Amen.
Closing
● Have each person share one thing for which they are thankful right now. Have each
person share one challenge, concern, or place of adversity in their lives.
● If time, have an open time of prayer for people to pray for one another.. Encourage
people to do so without forcing anyone to have to.
End with prayer.
Lord, in this week of Thanksgiving we thank you for your goodness and faithfulness to us. Help
us in our waiting to trust your hand in our lives. Lead us forward in our walks of faith knowing
that you are with us and can be trusted. Keep us in your care until we gather again. Amen.