Following Jesus: Intimacy

Following Jesus / Week Two / “Intimacy.”

Take 1-2 minutes to sit in quiet. Still your thoughts and listen for God’s voice.

Read out Matthew 6:5-15

Read it out again in a different translation.

As a group, can you describe what Jesus is saying here in your own words?

What stood out to you from this reading?

What might God be saying to you through what stood out?

With what stood out to you, what is one thing you can do?

Who can you share this with? Or, what is one thing you can share with someone this week?

What can we pray for you?

As an optional activity for your group, run a contemplative exercise.

Sit comfortably, and have the group leader read the following text aloud:

A sculptor has been working on a statue of you. They give you the key to their workshop where your statue is ready so that you can take all the time you want to examine it before it is shown to the public. You approach the workshop and open the door. There, in the middle of the room is your statue, covered with a cloth. You walk up to the statue and take the cloth off. Then you step back and look at the statue.

What do you notice?

How do you feel about it?

What is your first impression?

Study all the details in the statue. Walk around it and see it from different angles. Look at it from far away, then come close and look at the details.

How big is it?

What material it is made of?

Touch the statue. Is it rough or smooth?

Cold or warm?

Are you pleased or dissatisfied?

What parts of the statue do you like? What parts of the statue do you dislike?

Say something to your statue. What does the statue say in reply?

Keep up the dialogue as long as you or the statue have something to say.

(Leader, allow a few minutes of quiet here.)

Now become the statue. What does it feel like to be your statue?

What kind of existence do you have as the statue?

What parts do you like?

What parts do you dislike?

Now imagine that, while you are your statue, Jesus walks into the room. How does he look at you?

What thoughts, emotions and sensations do you notice while he looks at you?

What does he say to you?

What do you reply?

Continue the dialogue as long as either Jesus or you have something to say. After a while, Jesus goes away. Now return to yourself and look at the statue again.

Is there any change in the statue?

Is there any change in you, in your thoughts, feelings and sensations?

Now say goodbye to your statue. Take a minute or so to do this.

As a group, discuss what happened for you during this exercise.