Faith Sharing: Small Group Process

• Opening prayer based on theme of Sunday's readings.
  
• Feedback (Sharing) from previous session. 

1. Were you able to fulfill your commitment? 
2. What happened in your commitment to deepen your prayer and relationship with God?

• First Reading of the Gospel 

1. State the question: Pay attention to your feelings as you listen for a word or phrase that touches you. 
2. Reader reads the Gospel 
3. State the question again: As you reflect on the reading we just heard, focus on a word or phrase that speaks to your feelings. 
4. Allow several minutes for reflection 
5. If members do not begin spontaneously, invite the members of the group to share the word or phrase that touched them without explanation. Each member shares their word or phrase while the other members of the group listen without offering commentary, answers or judgments.

• Second Reading of the Gospel 

1. State the question: Listen to the Gospel again, listen for a life experience that parallels the Gospel story. 
2. Reader reads the Gospel 
3. State the question again: Reflecting on the reading we just heard, focus on a life experience that parallels the Gospel story. 
4. Allow several minutes for reflection 
5. When the group is ready, break into groups of three or four to share their life experience of the Gospel story. Each member shares their story while the other members of the group listen without offering commentary, answers or judgments.

• Third Reading of the Gospel 

1. State the question: Listen to the Gospel again, listen for an invitation from God in the passage. 
2. Reader reads the Gospel 
3. State the question again: As you reflect on the reading we just heard, look for an invitation from God. 
4. Allow several minutes for reflection. 
5. If members do not begin spontaneously, invite the members of the group to share the invitation they heard in the Gospel story. Each member shares their invitation for a personal commitment and the other members of the group listen without offering answers or judgments.

• Review Reflection questions based on the readings as time allows, leaving time for the outreach commitment, prayer commitment and closing prayer.
  
• Outreach commitment for next session. Invite the members of the group to make a commitment to live their invitation in the world.
  
• Prayer commitment for next session. Invite the members of the group to make a prayer commitment for the next two weeks. This commitment may be to pray for a common intention or to select prayer partners from the group.
  
• Select, prayer leader, facilitator, location and refreshments for the next session.
  
• Closing prayer.

Return to the Small Christian Community page