Six-Week Program
Week 1 Group Meeting
Step 1: Examine Yourself
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Begin a New Life
Six-Week Program for Small Groups
Week 1 Group Meeting
Step 1: Examine Yourself
Leader Guide
Meeting notes
For a full description of how to run this meeting, go to the Begin a New Life website (www.BeginaNewLife.info)—Group Activities—Six-Week Small Groups—Overview of Weekly Meetings.
This outline is an example of a one-hour meeting that starts at 7:00 PM. Groups that want more time for Group Sharing can lengthen that part of the meeting and adjust the meeting’s end time accordingly.
7:00 PM Opening activities
Opening prayer
Reading:
Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You have protected me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me….
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my thoughts;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:1-11, 23-24)
Check-in
One highlight from each person’s day or week, or one opening comment.
No cross talk or conversation during this part of the meeting.
Acknowledge each person’s contribution with the words, “Thank you,” before moving on to the next person.
Groups larger than eight are broken into groups of four to eight.
Group business
Any announcements or group decisions that need to be made.
Task for this meeting (to be read out loud)
Step 1: Examine Yourself
Choose one or another issue in your life that you’d like to work on.
Note: For those who’ve recently attended a BNL Seminar-Workshop, it could be the same issue you worked on there.
Do one of the following:
Use a new set of worksheets and go through all four steps of the BNL process for the issue you’ve chosen.
Use a new set of Step 1 worksheets and go through Step 1 only.
If you’ve recently attended a BNL Seminar-Workshop, review the Step 1 worksheets you filled in there, and fill them in more fully.
Read the article titled, Three Ways to Become Aware of Your Thoughts, Intentions, and Will (www.BeginaNewLife.info—Sourcebook—Extras).
After completing Step 1 of the process, proceed to the next worksheet titled, A Prayer from the Heart, and do the spiritual work it asks for.
Come to the next meeting ready to share your experience of Step 1 of the BNL process; also your experience of “A Prayer from the Heart.”
7:15 Group sharing
People share their experience of doing the task. Sharing is initiated by the question, “What was your experience of doing the task for this week?”
Note: In the event that sharing lags, there is a set of additional questions that can help. It appears at the end of this meeting outline. As group leader, you can listen during Group Sharing, decide which questions you think would be useful for the group, and ask them when appropriate. (Note: Some of the questions may have already been answered during initial sharing.) Continue in this way as needed until Group Sharing is over.
7:45 Closure
Task for the next meeting (to be read out loud)
Step 2: Recognize and Acknowledge Your Sin
Do one of the following:
Using a new set of worksheets, go through all four steps of the BNL process for the issue you’re working on.
Using a new set of Step 1 and Step 2 worksheets, go through Steps 1 and 2 for the issue you’re working on.
Review the Step 1 worksheets you’ve filled in so far, then go through a set of Step 2 worksheets for the issue you’re working on.
Read Section E of the BNL Sourcebook, titled, When You’re at Fault for a Wrongdoing…and When You’re Not.
Come to the next meeting ready to share your experience of Step 2 of the BNL process—Recognize and Acknowledge Your Sin.
Leader for the next meeting
If the group will have multiple leaders, decide who will lead the next meeting.
Closing comments
One closing comment per person.
No cross talk or conversation during this part of the meeting.
Acknowledge each person’s contribution with the words, “Thank you,” before moving on to the next person.
Groups larger than eight are broken into groups of four to eight.
The Lord's Prayer
The group stands, holds hands, and says The Lord’s Prayer together. Those who prefer to listen may do so.
8:00 End time
Additional Questions for Sharing
What was your experience of filling in column 1 of the Step 1 worksheets—Actions & Words? Please explain.
Same question for each of columns 2, 3, & 4— the Thoughts, Intentions, and Desires & Will columns?
As discussed in the article titled, Three Ways to Become Aware of Your Thoughts, did you try any of the methods described there—ask for God’s help to become aware of your thoughts, review what you’ve written in the previous column, and Speak with the Enemies in the Gate? If so, what was your experience of the method(s) you tried? Please explain.
What was it like for you getting started on self-examination? Please explain.
Did you hesitate or procrastinate when getting started on self-examination? If so, why did you hesitate or procrastinate, and what did you do to overcome these things? What happened when you did overcome them and moved forward through self-examination?
Did you experience grief of mind, heart, or conscience as you went through self-examination? Please describe. What impact did this have on you?
Did you sense God’s presence during self-examination? Please explain. Similar question: Did you have a sense of connection and/or working together with God during this part of the process? Please explain.
As described in the article, Three Ways to Become Aware of Your Thoughts, part 2, were there any “positives” that showed up during self-examination? If so, how did you “hold” them or regard them, relative to other things you were seeing/discover-ing/uncovering during this part of the process?
Following Step 1 of the process, you had an opportunity to offer “a prayer from the heart.” What was this like for you? What impact did it have? What value did it hold?