My Image of God

Introduction & Welcome (1 min.)

I. Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Grace: To be aware of how I personally see or imagine God or Jesus and how that image influences my way of acting and relating in the world.

Use the grace or a suggested scripture above to create your own prayer, or use the one below:

Lord God, help us to see Your many faces. Open our minds and hearts to the many ways that You reveal Yourself in our lives. Help us to share our relationships with You openly, without hesitation or fear. We ask this through the name that saves, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II. Check-In (5 min.)

• What were some of your high and low points of the week?

III. Focus Exercise (40 min.)

Materials Needed: CLC journal booklets, paper and pens/markers, 7 Common False Images of God (in journal booklet)

Introduction

We are going to do a brief exercise to help us each get in touch with how we uniquely imagine and understand God. Please try to be silent through the exercise until I ask you to begin sharing.

Exercise: My Image of God

Invite each member to center themselves with the following instructions:

Prepare: “I invite you to choose a comfortable yet focused posture. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, and then exhale completely. Again, breathe in fully and exhale entirely. Take a few more deep breaths and continue to relax…(Give people about 30 seconds more to get centered)… I am going to say a few words, please take note of the first things that come to your mind……God……Jesus……Holy Spirit……

Draw: Please open your eyes and take a sheet of paper. Please try to draw whatever it was that first came to your mind when you heard the words “God,” “Jesus,” and “Holy Spirit.” Try not to use words. And refrain from reflecting on the significance of your image or judging whether it is right or wrong. Don’t worry about how well your draw either. (Allow 3-5 minutes for drawing.)

Pray: Invite members to pray with what they have created on the following. (Allow 5 minutes to pray)

1. Talk to God about the image you have just created and where it might have come from (who or what shaped it, etc.).
2. How might this image influence your relationship with God, others and yourself?

Then continue...

I invite you to silently lift your drawing for others to see. Please don’t say anything. Let each member note how they think you imagine God from your drawing. (Wait a few minutes.) We will now go around and share about each image one at a time.

Sharing: invite members to share

Suggested questions to generate more sharing and discussion

1. Did anything come up for you in your prayer that you would like to share?
2. How has your image of God changed over time—from your early childhood, to elementary school, to junior high/high school to today?
3. If time allows, discuss 7 Common False Images of God.

Listening Deeper

• What has struck you as you have been listening to others share? Do you notice any patterns or commonalities?
• How have you been feeling throughout the meeting? Comfortable? Anxious? Curious?
• Is there anything you would like to share after listening to another person?

IV. Moving Forward (5 min.)

• Wrap-Up: Thank members for their openness and participation.
• Action: Spend 5-10 minutes 3-4 times this coming week in prayer and allow God to reveal God-self to you. Take note of the ways of how your image of God influences the way you relate to God, others and yourself throughout your day.
• Announcements: Topic for next meeting and upcoming CLC events.

V. Closing Prayer (5 min.)