Week Six Guide for Groups

Gather together as a community. Open with some time for connecting and socializing, then leave about 45 minutes to an hour for the time of practice and discussion.

Open with a Scripture Reading

Invite someone to read Luke 7:36-50 from the NIV

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Discuss This Week's Practices

If you are in a community of ten or more, consider dividing into smaller groups. Spend a few minutes catching up on life, then talk through the following questions:

1) Have you tried the Imaginative Prayer or Hospitality practice from this week? What was it like for you?

2) How does the gospel passage that we read influence your understanding of hospitality? 

3) Have you tried any of the previous week’s practices again? If so, what was your experience like?

Practice Prayer Together

After your discussion, spend some time practicing prayer together. When it comes to the practice of Imaginative Prayer, it can often be very helpful to have an audio guide. Self guided prayer can be wonderful, but using a trusted source can help us slow down and fully engage the prayer together.

Below is an audio guide that you can consider using in your group. Also, there are wonderful guides available from Pray as You Go and The Practice. Pick one and pray together as a group.

Imaginative Prayer Audio Guide

The Wedding at Cana

Closing Discussion

After the time of prayer, consider using these prompts for a brief discussion.

- How was that time of prayer for you? Was it meaningful, difficult, boring, profound, etc?

- How do you see yourself engaging with the practices the rest of this week?

- How can we be praying for you this week?