During this series, we want to encourage all DNA groups to follow along and utilize this guide to shape your times together. We will heavily rely on the Ignatian Gospel reading method.
Ignatius of Loyola taught his followers to read the Gospels with an active imagination. Hear the story of Jesus healing a paralytic or talking with the woman at the well, and imagine yourself in the story, encountering Jesus, hearing his healing words as if he were saying them to you. Hear it as if you were the paralytic or as if you were a bystander. Feel the heat of the sun, the weariness of a journey on a long road, the shame of sin and exposure, the judgement and condemnation from religious professionals, and imagine Jesus. What might he sound like? Does he touch you as he passes? Does he look you in the eyes? What do you hear? What do you feel?
Here is how we would like to have groups proceed through this. Here’s a video of Mirela talking about this process to help DNA leaders.
You can also download and print this guide here.
Connecting and Brining our Worlds Together
Be careful this time can get away from you. Try to limit to about 20 minutes. There will be time at the end to connect our worries and concerns to our hearts and lives after we look to Jesus. This is just a time to build awareness of what is going on in our lives.
Q: What is on the top of your mind today? What worries, concerns, or struggles are you brining? How are you?
Discover — Reading Mark
Start by calming down your body and mind, pray a short prayer asking the Spirit to speak through the text, and sit in silence for a minute or two.
Read the week’s passage of Mark silently and individually. What’s this week’s passage? Find it here.
Then, have someone read it slowly and out loud
Allow your mind to wander into that world: think of the smells, the sights, the tastes, the touches. Imagine yourself in the story. Imagine hearing these words as a bystander. Consider setting a timer for 3-5 minutes to allow people to imagine…When the timer goes off, take time to reflect together.
What struck you?
What do you see in Jesus?
What do you see in his actions, character, motives, being?
What do you see in those around him and how they responded?
Where do you see yourself in this moment?
Nurture:
How does Jesus connect and speak into the struggles and concerns in your life (that you might have even shared earlier)?
How does Jesus enter your story?
How is Jesus challenging/encouraging/caring for your heart and the world in these words?
Act:
What does it look like to trust and believe Jesus in light of this passage and conversation?
What does living within the hope of Jesus look like?
What is the Spirit saying to you?