Closing Prayer
Read the following prayer by Susanna Wesley. Intentionally allow it’s truth settle in
your heart. If you’re in a group, choose one member to read the prayer while the
others close their eyes and listen.
Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church, or
closet, nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Your
presence. So may my every word and action have a moral content. May all the
happenings of my life prove useful and beneficial to me. May all things instruct me
and afford me an opportunity of exercising some virtue and daily learning and
growing toward Your likeness. Amen.
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Personal Application
Make a practice of inviting God into your everyday life. As you do, be confident that
God’s grace will come in abundance as you prioritize living with Him.
Invite God to set your spirit free for worship and adoration.
Invite God to energize your prayer-life.
Invite God to reveal Himself as you read His Word.
Invite God to heal your body.
Invite God to inform your mind with creative ideas for your business.
Invite God to touch broken relationships and resolve conflicts.
Invite God to make your home a holy place, filled with His Spirit.
Invite God to help you as you study.
Invite God to join you in an area of fun or recreation.
Invite God into your room as you prepare to go to sleep.
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For CAREgroup Leaders
Thoughts for facilitating your CAREgroup time.
Break the Ice
Use the ’PowerPoint’ question at the beginning of the curriculum study.
Discussion Period
Use the questions in Parts 1-3 of the Self Study & CAREgroup Guide to lead a
discussion in your CAREgroup.
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March 5, 2017
Self Study & CAREgroup Guide
PowerPoint: Looking back on your experience of the Sunday celebration and the
notes from the teaching, was there something general or specific (a particular point,
verse, or comment) that caught your attention, challenged you, or raised a
question?
Introduction
In his book, Streams of Living Water, Richard Foster describes six great traditions of
the Christian faith: Contemplative, Charismatic, Holiness, Social Justice, Evangelical,
and Incarnational. Today’s curriculum will focus on the Incarnational Tradition, also
know as the sacramental life. The intent will be to learn what it means to live a life
that makes present and visible the realm of the invisible Spirit.
Part 1
Read Romans 12:1-2 in the Message Translation. The Incarnational life is the “withGod” life in action. It requires that we open ourselves to the transforming power
and presence of God and begin to act with Him as we go through the routine of
daily living. Consider your everyday activities. What might the “with God” life look
like at work, at home, and at play?
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Who that you know has inspired you with how he or she lives a “with-God” life?
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Part 2
Read 1 John 1:1-2, also in the Message Translation. Jesus took to Himself a body like
the rest of us, and through His actions done in that body, He taught us about
Himself, and about being connected to the Father in everyday life. Reflecting on
your knowledge of Jesus, what is it you most admire about the way He lived?
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Read Ephesians 5:8-10. Consider the list of outcomes below. Each one will help you
understand what it means to live your everyday life as a child of light. What stands
out to you about each one?
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Thoughts: Children of light think constantly about God. They dwell upon His
greatness and loveliness, “as shown in the life of Jesus.
Feelings: Love is the dominant emotion of children of light.
Will: Children of light are habitually “devoted to doing what is good and right.
Body: Children of light have come over to the side of their will to do good.
Their bodies are poised to do what is right and good without thinking.
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Social Relations: Children of light achieve real contact and fellowship with
others, especially with other children of light. They’re not insecure or
defensive, but transparent. They don’t feel the need to hide in the dark
because they’re used to walking in goodness.
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Soul: All the above is not just at the surface. It is deep, effortless, and obvious
because of their intimate relationship with Christ.
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In consideration of these points, what is God calling you to do and how would you go
about achieving your goal?
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Part 3
Teilhard de Chardin, a French philosopher and priest, once said “the value and
interest of life is not so much to do conspicuous (noticeable) things, but to do
ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value.” What are some
seemingly simple and ordinary things that have enormous value?
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The Incarnational Stream helps us experience the simplicity of each day as a type of
prayer of gratitude for being “with God.” It helps us set aside our overly ambitious
ideas and our conquest mentality.
Consider the following questions.
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Is it possible to be busy and yet not have a busy mentality?
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What would you need to change in order to live a hurry-free life?
What would the result be if you made a commitment to live “with God” and
without hurry?
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