BEGIN WITH PRAYER · 5 MINUTES

Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting (around a table, on the couch, the floor of a living room, etc.). Have somebody lead a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.

MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS · 5 MINUTES

Take this time to go over any details pertaining to any gatherings of your groups that may be upcoming. Additionally, invite the participants of your group to take out their phones, open up the Missio Dei App and navigate to the Events Tab on the App. Highlight a couple of events that are upcoming that you feel are pertinent to your group.

Group Imagination Bible Study · 45 MINUTES 

Select a portion from one of the chapters of John’s Gospel from the week of readings and work through the Study questions below using your Imagination. These are also accessible on the Group Practice Homepage.

PREPARE

Slow down in preparation for your reading. Be silent in the presence of Jesus for a minimum of 2 minutes. Ask the Holy Spirit to shift you from control to receptivity, from information to formation, and from observation to obedience. In the silence release control of your reading to the Holy Spirit, and ready your soul to receive whatever it is the Spirit wants to do during your time of reading. 

READ

Read the selected passage slowly. Consider reading multiple times and reading out loud. Select a portion, a parable, a story contained within the chapter that stands out to you. Reread it, pause, breathe and relax for a few minutes to let these words really sink in. 

REFLECT

Place yourself in the story imaginatively, perhaps as an observer who is experiencing what is taking place. Consider the following questions as you use your imagination to participate in the story.

  • What do we imagine we would be experiencing through our body’s 5 senses?

    • What would we see?

    • What would we smell?

    • What would we hear?

    • What would we be able to touch? (If applicable)

    • What would we taste? (if applicable)

  • What do we feel as a result of imaginatively participating? (Anger, Fear, Loneliness, Hurt, Shame, Guilt, Sadness, Gladness) Why might we be feeling these things?

  • What are wethinking about as a result of imaginatively participating? Why?

  • What might the Holy Spirit be showing us as we participate in the passage through our thoughts, emotions and how we are experiencing it with our bodies through our imagination?

REST

Breathe, perhaps express some affirmation of God’s love for you and presence with you. Know that He sees you, He knows you, He loves you and He is with you.

TALK THROUGH one or two of the discussion questions listed below · 15 MINUTES 

Below are some general questions about the process of studying with imagination that you could use during any of your community group gatherings if you would find them helpful.  Also feel free to think of any questions that you think would connect with your group regarding studying of scripture.

  • What role did the study of Scripture play in your earliest faith/church experiences? In what ways has that helped form some healthy habits of studying Scripture? In what ways has that helped form some unhealthy habits of studying Scripture?

  • What are some of your challenges with imagination generally? What are some of your challenges with studying Scripture with imagination more specifically?

  • As you study with imagination what are some strengths you are discovering of this method? What are some weaknesses of this method?

  • As you study Scripture do you feel like you experience meeting with God? How so? Why or why not?

  • What is one thing you are learning about God as you study Scripture with imagination? What is one thing you are learning about yourself as you study Scripture with imagination?

  • Do you think you’ll include studying with imagination in the regular rhythms of your study of Scripture beyond this groups practice? Why or why not?

There is no pressure to use any or all of them, these are meant to serve as guides and resources for your use.

CLOSE IN PRAYER · 15 MINUTES

Create a public forum space where people can pray and offer prayer for one another. Fight the urge to talk more about prayer than you do spend time praying. Invite someone to begin this time and someone to end this time together. Remember, silence is not the enemy of a time of prayer.