2022 Retreat - Going Deeper One on One with God

Meditating on the Word

What comes to mind when you hear the word “meditate”?

What are some depictions of meditation or of people who meditate in popular media?

Watch Bible Project video “Ancient Jewish Meditation Literature”

Read Joshua 1:8

Read Psalm 1

What do you think differentiates biblical meditation from other worldly forms of meditation?

Share and talk about what your personal time in God’s word has been like (don’t be intimidated, if you’re not happy with your lack of meditation, consider this an opportunity to “confess and be healed”):

How often?

How much time?

What specifically do you do during this time?

What do you get out of it?

What happens when you don’t do this?

Read Luke 24:44-47 and John 5:46-47

Jesus declares that all of scripture is really about Him. His death and resurrection is the main theme of the whole bible. So even when we meditate on the Old Testament, we should try to understand how it fits into the “unified story that leads to Jesus”.

Discuss different study/meditation methods and resources

Brainstorm ways we can encourage each other and keep each other accountable.

Communing with God, Listening

Read Matthew 6:6

Matthew 6:6 ESV

6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

What do you think is important about the location where Jesus instructs us to pray?

Read other verses and try to learn as much as we can about this secret place. We want to see what Jesus had in mind when he described a secret, one-on-one meeting with God in your private room.

Genesis 43:26-30

Psalm 32 and also 1 Samuel 19:2 for context

Psalm 63

Psalm 77

Share personal experiences of our time meditating with God.

Discuss ways we can challenge ourselves and each other to pursue a deeper personal time with God

Brainstorm practical ways we can get the most out of this time with God

Listening <> Obeying

Watch Bible Project video “Shema - Listen”

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Read Romans 6:1-14

Identify the indicatives (The indicative mood is primarily used when a speaker or author wants to present the events as having happened. It is the mood of assertion.)

Identify the imperatives (The mood that normally expresses a command, intention, exhortation, or polite request. The imperative mood is therefore not an expression of reality but possibility and volition.)

Read Romans 8:1-17

Read Romans 12:1-2

Share personal experiences where the “know -> consider -> present” chain broke down for you.

Discuss ways we can encourage each other to “walk in a manner worthy of our calling”.