Discipleship Series

2011

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 The Story Behind this Discipleship Series
In the fall of 2008, Rev. Doug Portz was the Acting Head of Staff of Pittsburgh Presbytery and I was
working on staff as the Associate Pastor with Smaller Congregations. Doug asked me what I thought the
“bottom line” issue was for the small churches. I thought this was a great question. I knew what the
churches were saying; “We need more members and more money!” But it seemed to me that the issue
went deeper than that so I decided to pray about it and talk with some small church pastors and leaders.

About a month later I reported back to Doug and the rest of the leadership staff that I thought the
“bottom line” issue for smaller churches was helping congregations more fully live out their faith as disciples
of Jesus Christ. I could imagine what it would be like if a congregation, even a small one of 20-25
members, decided to passionately live out their faith as disciples of Jesus Christ. Worship would be vibrant
and meaningful. People would be excited to meet and study God’s word. People would be sharing their
faith with others and looking for meaningful ways to minister to others. The church finances would increase
as people practiced the discipline of tithing. As this scenario grew of a congregation, actively, passionately
living out their discipleship, I thought, “I want to be a part of this kind of church!” The rest of the Pittsburgh
Presbytery leadership staff expanded this “bottom line” issue to include all sized congregations. This was
not just an issue for small churches but an issue for our church today.

The presbytery staff put together a Discipleship Series that gives an overview of what it means to be a
disciple of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is a life-long journey. Living out discipleship will look different in each
person’s life but the fundamental aspects are the same. When I showed the outline for this series to a
friend who had been ordained as an elder with me 25 years ago, she said; “Why didn’t someone share this
information with us 25 years ago? I feel like I have spent years trying to figure it out. This series is a great
idea!”

There is no miraculous element contained herein. There is much material available on Discipleship
that covers these same aspects in some format or other. What we wanted to do, however, was provide an
overview of discipleship that would be; Biblically grounded, incorporate personal testimonies and
opportunities for personal reflection, and have an action step to help people deepen their walk. The most
important aspect of this Discipleship Series is that it be presented as a joyful invitation to walk with Jesus.
It is not meant to heap guilt unto people in order to get them to do the right things, but as an exciting
invitation to truly be the people of God. For people who have been making the journey, this series is a
great opportunity to reflect upon how they are doing. It can be a great help for beginners, as well.
Discipleship must start with the pastor and other church leaders. When the leaders are excited about their
discipleship and passionately striving to live out their faith, the rest of the congregation will have a chance
to see by example and may be inspired to join in. If we, as churches, are making disciples, we are fulfilling
the Great Commission and living out Christ’s mission in the world.

I hope that in some way you are inspired by this Discipleship Series to deepen your walk with Jesus
and invite others to do the same, for it is the most exciting journey you can take!

Blessings,
Rev. Judi Slater, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Duquesne, Pa.

Pittsburgh Presbytery staff who contributed to this Discipleship Series in 2008: Sharon Stewart, Vera White,
Karen Battle, Betty Angelini, Judi Slater; layout & design by Sydney Winter

This Discipleship Series can be found on the Pittsburgh Presbytery website.

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 DISCIPLESHIP – Jesus said, “Follow me.”
1. It’s A Matter of the Heart – At the heart of discipleship is a loving, committed relationship with
God in Jesus Christ.
Jesus says the greatest commandment: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your
soul, and all your mind.”(Matthew 22:37)
(ACTION) Say each day, “I love you, God, thank you for loving me.”

2. Worship & Participation in the Body of Christ

“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” (1Corinthians 12:27)
(ACTION) Attend worship weekly and participate in the ministry of the church.

3. Devotional Life – A Conversation with God in Prayer & Scripture

“Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10)
(ACTION) Spend time each day (a suggestion is at least 5 minutes in the morning and five minutes in
the evening) praying and reading a devotion. Plan for 2 minutes of that time to be silent before God
reflecting on what God might be saying in the devotion for your life.

4. Stewardship – Tithing Time, Talents, Money

“Bring all the tithes . . . if you do,” says the Lord, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour
out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” Malachi
3:10
(ACTION) Ask God to help you reduce your debt and adjust your lifestyle so you can tithe – or move
toward tithing - (giving 10% of your income back to God) as an act of faith and trust that everything we
have comes from God.

5. Participation in the Mission of Christ in the World – Evangelism

Jesus came and told his disciples . . . “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . .” (Matthew
28:19)
(ACTION) Let people on your prayer list know that you are praying for them – share why and what you
pray – by a note, email, phone call, etc. as a way of sharing your faith in God’s power and presence in
our lives. Pray that God will show you additional opportunities to share your faith with others –
especially with your family and friends.

6. Participation in the Mission of Christ in the world - Social Justice

Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty
and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you
clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you
the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
(Matthew 25:37-40)
(ACTION) Participate in the missions of the church throughout the year. (Toy drive, Turkeys for Food
Pantry, Sycamore Personal Care Visitation, Hoagie sale for Youth Retreats – are current missions)
Help someone when the opportunity comes your way.

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 Discipleship Series Pittsburgh Presbytery – Overview

Gathering Hearing God’s Action

Session Theme Scripture Sending
Activities Word Steps
Bible Study on Ps.
Prayer
139:1-16 Challenge to
The foundation of discipleship share faith Share faith
#1 A Matter of Name Activity
is a relationship with God in Ps. 139:1-16 Clay Pot Exercise with a friend or
the Heart
Jesus Christ Prayer and neighbor
Introduction to
Family Origen Reflection
Discipleship Series
Activity
Respond to
Discipleship involves Good Ship Lollipop
1 Cor. 12 Bible Study God’s Word Covenant to
participating in the body of Activity
#2 Worship/ Acts 2:42-47 participate in
Christ. Worship is the most
Body of Christ Luke Presentation on Confession of worship
important way Christians do Reflections on
24: 13-35 Worship Faith and Lord’s
this. Community
Prayer

Prayer is an essential action of

discipleship. It is the way Prayer
Introduction
disciples listen to God and Ps. 46:10a
Commitment to
#3 Prayer & communicate with God about Ps. 37:7a Small group
Study Prayer activity Personal
Scripture all aspects of life. The 1 Thes. 5:17 conversation about
Prayer
relationship with God through Phil. 4:6-7 prayer
Response
prayer guides our actions as
individuals and as a community
of believers.
Presentation on
Biblical principles
of stewardship by
A key disciple-making issue of
leader Make the
our particular culture involves
Malachi Word/Share/Prayer Prayer and Challenge to
our relationship with money.
#4 Stewardship 3:8-12 on Malachi 3:8-12 Small group Blessing Commitment
True freedom and contentment
conversations
are possible only through
putting God first in our lives.
Challenge to
Commitment
#5 Participation
People who are “in love with
in the mission of Testimony Challenge to
God,” and excited about their John Pitcher
Christ in the share faith with Share faith
church’s participation in Christ’s 20:10-18 Demonstration
world: Response a friend with a friend
mission in the world, naturally Matthew
Evangelism –
do evangelism because they 28:16-20 “ Prayer
Sharing the Faith Sharing Prayer
want others to join them.
Good News
#6 Participation This session will help
Word/Share/Prayer Select one or
in the mission of participants understand how Prov. 31:8-9
Reading from more justice
Christ in the and why Christians work for a Micah 6:8
Prayer Washington Office Prayer activities to
world: Doing just society. Participants will be Matthew
Reflection participate in.
Justice God’s asked to engage in activities of 25:31-46
Case Study
Way social justice.

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 Discipleship Framework Series

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

What is it that congregations need the most? What is at the heart of the pressing issues they are facing?
Many churches would answer; more members, more money. The core of the problem facing congregations
today is a spiritual issue, and at the heart of the matter is the issue of discipleship. If people were truly
living out their faith as disciples of Jesus Christ, the ministry of churches would be vibrant, abundant, and
financially viable.

Many of us were raised in the church and know how to “do church” yet we do not have a clear, concise
understanding of what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Others, who have recently come into
the church with little background on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, are also trying to figure
this out.

In order to provide a clear, concise understanding of discipleship, we have put together a team of people
who can provide churches with a six- session series on discipleship that will help people grasp the overall
concept of discipleship. Like an architect might provide a model of the building to be built so people can
visually see it, the idea is to provide a framework of understanding discipleship for people to be able to live
out their faith as disciples of Jesus Christ. While the six sessions will provide a clear understanding of the
aspects of discipleship, living them out is a lifetime endeavor.

When this Discipleship Framework Series was shared with an elder, who had been ordained 25 years ago,
her response was, “Why didn’t someone share this information with me 25 years ago? I feel like I have
spent years trying to figure it out. This series is a great idea!”

Session 1: Introduction: A matter of the Heart

Session 2: Worship and Participation in the Body of Christ
Session 3: Prayer and Scripture: A Two-Way Conversation with God
Session 4: Stewardship
Session 5: Evangelism: Sharing the Good News
Session 6: Doing Justice God’s Way

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Session #1 A Matter of the Heart
Theme: The foundation of discipleship is a relationship with God in Jesus Christ
Scripture: Psalm 139:1-16
Background for Leader: Read over the session plan. Prepare opening and closing prayers or ask a
member of the group to lead these prayers. Gather necessary materials. Review the whole Discipleship
Series by looking at the overview.
Materials needed: An old cracked clay flower pot, a variety of decorative flower pots, a plant or flower,
enough small stones for each person in the group to have one, a cross
Gathering Activities: (27 minutes)
1. Prayer. Leader opens with prayer. (2 min.)
2. Name Activity: Ask everyone in the group to tell their names and how they got their
names. If the group is larger than twelve, you may choose to work in groups of 4. (15
min.)
3. Introduction to the Discipleship Series: Explain that the task of the church is to help people
live out their discipleship. Many congregations are more comfortable “doing church” than
making disciples for Christ. Compare the Discipleship Series to an architectural model
created to provide a vision of a finished building. The Discipleship Series is meant to
provide an overview of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ so that people can
have a vision and understanding of the overall picture of discipleship. Summarize the six
aspects of discipleship that will be explored in the six sessions: Write the titles of the 6
sessions on newsprint and give a brief summary of the focus of each. (10 min.)
Session 1: Introduction: A matter of the Heart
Session 2: Worship and Participation in the Body of Christ
Session 3: Prayer and Scripture: A Two-Way Conversation with God
Session 4: Stewardship
Session 5: Evangelism: Sharing the Good News
Session 6: Doing Justice God’s Way

Hearing God’s Word: (50 min.)

1. Bible Study: Read aloud Psalm 139:1-16. Reflect on the passage by saying, “All are
created by God. God not only created us, but knows every day of our lives.” (5 min.)

2. Clay Pot Exercise: Show the plain clay pot and comment: “For a long time I felt like this
plain, imperfect clay pot and believed that God could make a beautiful arrangement out of
my life in spite of my brokenness. But I have come to understand that God does not see
me as a plain, imperfect vessel. As God’s creations, we are not plain vessels.” Show the
decorative flower pots and point out the variety of sizes, shapes, patterns. None of them
are perfect but all are unique and beautiful in their own ways. Say: “I have come to
understand that this is how God sees us – not perfect but unique and beautiful. Like these
pots, God has created every person uniquely beautiful, but God did not create us and
leave it at that. God wants to create a beautiful, ongoing, dynamic arrangement out of our
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 lives.” Put a plant or flower in one of the pots to illustrate this. “In Jesus Christ, God
redeems our brokenness and wants to be in relationship with us.” Pastor Peter Scazzero
says that because of our human condition, all families have brokenness and are
dysfunctional to some degree or another. Remind the participants of some biblical families
that experienced brokenness: Cain/Abel, Jacob/Esau, Joseph and his brothers. Then
point out that in God’s love, we are part of a larger family and that our family of origin does
not have to determine who we are today. God is our creator and our redeemer. (15 min.)

3. Family of Origin Activity: Ask participants to work with a partner that is not a family
member or close friend. Each partner shares a description of his/her family of origin and
what role he/she played in that family. After 20 minutes of sharing in dyads, gather the
group together and ask if anyone is willing to share a story about his/her family of origin.
Allow time for 3 or 4 people to share (this could go on longer if time permits.) (30 min.)

Sending: (15 min.)

1. Challenge to Share Faith. Challenge each participant to find someone with whom to share
the story of how God has used personal brokenness to help the person grow in faith. (5
min.)
2. Prayer and Reflection. Pass out the stones. During a time of silent prayer and reflection,
ask each person (as ready) to come forward and lay his/her stone at the foot of the cross
to show his/her willingness to accept God’s redemption and relationship. Close with a
prayer. (10 min.)

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Session #2 Worship & Participation in the Body of Christ
Theme: Discipleship involves participating in the body of Christ. Worship is the most important way
Christians do this.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12
Acts 2: 42-47
Luke 24:13-35

Background for Leader: Today’s culture emphasizes “me”. We live in a world that is oriented toward the
individual. Television and computers occupy much of our time. They can be turned off and on when we
like; we can interact with others when and how we choose. We think that we can fulfill our need for worship
by developing our own spirituality on our own time. Is this the type of worship that God has in mind? Is this
God’s vision for community as the body of Christ? Acts 2: 42-47 describes a community that is connected
by worshipping God together. This unit’s objectives include:
1. Participating in activities that will help solidify the meaning of community
2. Exploring the discipline/practice of worship
3. Developing an understanding of the two Sacraments in the Presbyterian faith
4. Spending time together dwelling in the Word
5. Having some fun

Materials Needed: One or two platforms from the presbytery resource center, copies of pages 12, 15 and
16 for each participant

Gathering Activities: (20 minutes)

1. Good Ship Lollipop Activity: Tell the group a story: You have all been sailing on the good ship
lollipop through the deep seas of maple syrup. All of a sudden the ship hits a huge Jolly
Rancher that tears a hole in the ship. The ship is sinking quickly and the only way to save
yourselves is to get on the front of the ship and sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat” as LOUD as
you possibly can 3 times. (At this point explain that everybody is to get on the platform and no
body part can touch the ground. If one body part touches the ground or the facilitator feels that
the group is not loud enough the group has to start over.) When the group successfully
completes the task the hole repairs itself and the group is saved. (See Facilitation Guidelines
on page 10.)

Have group work on this activity for 5-7 minutes.

Debrief the activity using the following questions:

• How did the group work together to complete the task?

• What different gifts were used to help the group accomplish its task?

• How did you feel as you tried to do the task?

2. Reflections on community: Leader will make a presentation on some of the biblical and
theological principles of community using Reflections on Community, page 11.)

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Hearing God’s Word: (30 minutes)

1. Bible Study: Provide each participant with a copy of p. 12, Luke 24: 13-35 The Road to
Emmaus. After reading out loud (method at instructors discretion), instruct the participants to
spend time reflecting on the passage. Participants are to utilize the passage to identity
important components of worship. Below are some of the reflections that could be gleaned
from the passage:

§ Worship occurs on Sunday, not last day of the week as in the OT, but on the first
day of the week in remembrance of Easter resurrection.
§ Worship involves hearing Scripture
§ We tell the story of salvation
§ Worship involves community
§ Worshipers may not recognize that Christ is present at first, even though he really
is there all along
§ Worship is an opportunity to be fed spiritually
§ Worship may include breaking of the bread
§ Worship is a time for public confession
§ The teacher provides exegesis of the Scripture
§ Christ’s message has the power to transform
§ Worshippers are sent out and called to evangelism (20 min.)

2. Presentation on Worship: Leader should prepare some remarks on Worship based on the
Talking Points about Worship, page 13. (10 min.)

Sending (10 minutes)

1. Respond to God’s Word: Covenant to participate actively in worship the next 3 of 4 weeks,
coming to praise God and give this time wholeheartedly and enthusiastically to worshipping
God. Use Covenant form on page 15.

2. Depart: God Sends Us into the World. In unison close with words from the Brief Statement of
Faith (page 16) and then pray the Lord’s Prayer.

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Bibliography

a. Book of Order, Part II 2007-2009

b. Byars, Ronald P., Christian Worship: Glorifying and Enjoying God. Louisville, KY: Geneva Press,
2000.

c. McKim, Donald K., Presbyterian Questions, Presbyterian Answers: Exploring Christian Faith.
Louisville, KY: Geneva Press, 2003.

d. Rice and Huffstutler, Reformed Worship. Louisville, KY: Geneva Press, 2001.

e. White, Susan J., Foundations of Christian Worship. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press,
2006.

f. Willimon, William, With Glad and Generous Hearts. Nashville, TN: The Upper Room, 1986

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Facilitation Guidelines for Good Ship Lollipop Activity:
• Ten people are about the maximum to get on the platform. You could use more than one
platform at a time. Another option is for a few participants to act as spotters and
cheerleaders. Two platforms are available at the Resource Center of the Presbytery
office.
• Facilitators must always spot the group. Make sure you are always paying attention.
• Watch for people falling off and spraining an ankle or falling on one another.
• Tell the group that if they are about to fall off then go ahead and let go and step off. Do not
hang on to the group and pull them off with you. This could cause the group to fall on top
of you and cause injury.
• Do not grab a person so tightly that he/she could not step off.
• Do not grab the person around the neck.
• Do not build towers of people.

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 Reflections on Community

• God and God’s creation exist in community, not isolation

• Our triune God is the premier example of community because Father, Son, Holy Spirit are in
relationship since before time, although three distinct essences yet also abiding in unity

• With the Trinity as our example, we as disciples are called to live in community. The Scripture is
full of examples of this community.

o Exodus 36:8-9 Effort of community to build tabernacle

o Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 Community needed for defense, warmth, relationship and

existence. For me the third strand in verse 12 refers to Jesus Christ

o Acts 2:42-47 A model of community

o 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 One body, many parts

• In his classic writing, Life Together, Bonhoeffer describes the “incomparable joy and strength” that
comes to the believer when “in the physical presence of other Christians”.1

• The most important action that a Christian community can take is to worship together.
o Note: Worship can be personal and takes form of prayer, dwelling in the Word and
mediation, but discussion of this practice will be deferred to Unit #3. The main
understanding to be stressed in this unit is that as Christ’s disciples it is essential to
participate in worship corporately, as the Body of Christ
o From the Book of Confessions: Both the Shorter and Larger Catechism of the Westminster
Confession, the very first question is “What is the chief and highest end of man?” Answer-
Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever.” Glorifying and
enjoying God is accomplished through worship!

• From the Book of Order: The Directory for Worship: God created female and male for community and
called a people into covenant. Jesus called, commissioned and pormised to be present to a people
gathered in his name. The Holy Spirit calls, gathers, orders and empowere the new community of the
covenant. A Christian’s personal response to God is in community. W-1.1005

1 Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, Life Together. San Francisco, CA: Harper Row Publishing, 1954, p.19.

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On the Road to Emmaus, Luke 24: 13-35
13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from
Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they
talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God
kept them from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must
be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last
few days.”

19 “What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did
powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading
priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21
We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came
back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them
Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women
had said.”

25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote
in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before
entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining
from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going
on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30
29

As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31
Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and
explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There
they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has
really risen! He appeared to Peter.” 35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had
appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was
breaking the bread.

Reflect: Read this passage again silently. On the back of this page jot down notes about anything you
can learn about worship from this passage.

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Talking Points about Worship

1. Worship is not a passive experience

• Reformers objected to passivity of congregation
• Worship is not entertainment or a spectator event
• Worshipers do not just come to be filled
• Worshipers praise and give thanks
• Worshipers listen actively when the Word is preached

2. Worship is rooted in scripture: Word preached and heard

• “How are they to believe in one whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear
without someone to proclaim him?” Romans 10:14
• Hearing the Word preached is essential to reformed worship

3. Worship is sacramental
• Sacraments are response to Word
• Sacraments point to God
• Martin Luther says we were given 5 senses and all should be utilized in worship, not just
hearing the Word, but tasting, smelling, seeing, feeling the enacted Word of the sacraments
brings balance to worship
• Baptism
Ø Initiation into Christian Life
Ø Sign and seal of incorporation into Jesus Christ
Ø Sign of death to sin and rebirth in Christ
Ø Gift of God’s grace
Ø Call to a life of discipleship
• Communion
Ø Sign of community and acceptance
Ø Seal of the new covenant
Ø Sign of God’s grace
Ø Time for remembering Christ’s atoning death and resurrection
Ø Time for giving thanks
Ø Anticipation of the Messianic banquet
Ø Symbols of Christ’s body and blood

4. Worship is communal
• Trinitarian God is relational in nature
• Apostles’ Creed declares a community of saints before us and after
• The church is a community of believers

5. Worship is about God

• Way we worship is way we believe
• Human response to divine
• Most important thing we do
• Praising God for what God has done in Israel’s history and our salvation history

6. Worship sustains and nourishes Christian life

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 • The nurture of our relationship with the triune God in worship equips us to carry out our
personal ministries of social justice, evangelism, mission
• The life of a Christian flows from worship, Christian identity confirmed in worship
• Worship results in transformation: Worship leads to service and service leads to worship

7. Structure of Worship
• Gathering: Community of faith assembles
• Abiding: Community is fed by Word and Sacrament
• Proclamation: God’s Word is proclaimed
• Thanksgiving: People give thanks to God
• Sending: People go out in the world in God’s name

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 Worship Covenant
This is a covenant to participate actively in worship, coming to praise God and give this time
wholeheartedly and with enthusiasm to worshipping God.

Please cut on line and return bottom portion to ___________________

Covenant to Attend Corporate Worship

I , vow to attend corporate

worship the next out of weeks.

Signature Date

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Words from the Brief Statement of Faith:

In life and death we belong to God

Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The love of God
And the communion of the Holy Spirit
We trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel,
Whom alone we worship and serve.
We trust in God,
Whom Jesus called Abba, Father
In sovereign love, God created the world good
And makes everyone equally in God’s image,
Male and female of every race and people,
To live as one community.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer as a community.

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Session #3 Prayer and Scripture- A two way conversation with God

Theme: Prayer is an essential action of discipleship. It is the way disciples listen to God, have fellowship
with God and communicate with God about all aspects of life. Our relationship with God through prayer and
scripture guides our actions as individuals and as a community of believers.

Scripture: Psalm 46:10a: “Be still and know that I am God.”

Jeremiah 29:13: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart"
Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
I John 5:14-15 “…We know that God hears us in whatever we ask…”

Background for Leader: Read over the lesson plan including the notes for the Leader about prayer.
Review the prayers in the Old and New Testaments. Prepare the prayers and questions by placing them on
index cards so you can give them to groups of 3. Also, look at the 5 choices for practicing prayer in the
class. Choose one or two of the options. Prepare by gathering materials needed and practice the way you
will lead the group during the prayer time. Make copies of pages 24-26 as handouts for the participants to
take home for personal prayer time during the week. Pray for the participants in the class.

This unit’s objectives include:

1- Participating in a group activity to talk about prayer
2- Reading and discussing prayers from the Old and New Testament
3- Taking time to pray
4- Choosing prayer activities to do at home

Materials Needed: Index cards with prayers and questions from p. 20-21, copies of Take Home Prayer
Activities (pages 24-26), a cell phone, newspapers, letter, road map, and a Bible.

Gathering Activities: (20 minutes)

1. The leader opens with prayer. The leader can introduce the theme by reading the following
quotes and scripture verses listed above. (5 min.)

“In prayer, through the Holy Spirit, people seek after and are found by the one true God
who has been revealed in Jesus Christ. They listen and wait upon God, call God by name,
remember God’s gracious acts, and offer themselves to God…Prayer grows out of the
center of a person’s life in response to the spirit. Prayer is shaped by the Word of God in
scriptures and by the life of the community of faith. Prayer is a commitment to join God’s
work in the world.” (The Book of Order W-2.1001)

“Prayer is none other than an expanding of our hearts in the presence of God.”
(Calvin’s Institutes III.20.29).

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 2. Small Group Conversation about Prayer: (15 min.)
Ask the class: “what are ways we communicate with one another?” Point to the following items
on a table: cell phone, newspaper, letters & envelopes, road map, computer, radio and Bible.

Say: All the things displayed on the table are used to communicate news or information with
each other. We are not always sure that the news we hear is accurate; sometimes it leads us
down the wrong road or into a place that will distract us.

Open the Bible that is on the display table and read the following passage: “When we call
upon God, we know that we are receiving the truth with love and grace.” Hebrews 4:16 states:
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive the mercy
and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Small Group conversation about prayer:

Invite participants to turn to one person beside them and discuss the following questions:
• Who was the first person that taught you about prayer or prayed with you?
• Does prayer make a difference in your life/the church/community and world?
• Is there a reason to pray if God is in control of everything?

Hearing God’s Word: (30 min.)

1. Introduction: Leader introduces this section by saying, “Prayer may be spoken, sung, enacted,
and offered in silence. Daily prayer affords a unique opportunity for silence and meditation in
community.” Book of Order W-3.4003. The leader makes a brief presentation on prayer based
on Talking Points about Prayer and the Prayer Life of Jesus (pages 22-23).
2. Study: Divide the class in groups of 3 or 4. Provide one prayer from the Old or New Testament
written on an index card for each group (pages 20-21). Allow 15 minutes for small group
discussion on the accompanying questions.

3. Response: Ask each group to share their responses to the questions about the prayers in the
Bible.

Responding to God’s Word: (10 min.)

Prayer Activity: The leader will introduce one of the prayer activities from page 24-26 and invite the
class to participate.

Sending: (10 min.)

Commitment to Personal Prayer: The leader will invite the participants to participate in a personal prayer
time by saying, “If you want a life of prayer, the way to get it is by praying…You start where you are and
you deepen what you already have.” (Thomas Merton) Then the leader will ask the participants to make a
commitment to spend time in quiet prayer for 5-10 minutes each day for the next week.

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 Resources

• Barth, Karl. Prayer. KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.

• Barton, Ruth H. Sacred Rhythms: Arranging our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. IL:
InterVarsity Press, 2006.

• Blythe, Teresa, A. 50 Ways to Pray: Practices from Many Traditions and Times. NY: Abingdon
Press, 2006.

• Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion, editor John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis
Battles. PA: Westminster Press, 1960.

• Rice, Howard. Reformed Spirituality. KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1991.

• Roberts, Mark D. No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. CO: WaterBrook Press,
2005.

• The Book of Order 2007-2009 – Elements of Christian Worship

• Thompson, Marjorie. Soul Feast. KY: Westminster John Know Press, 1995.

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Prayers of the Old and New Testament
Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4. Have index cards with each of the following prayers and questions.
Give one card to each group to discuss.

Exodus 5:22-6:1

Setting: Moses was called to lead the people out of Egypt. As soon as Moses asked Pharaoh to let
the people go from slavery in Egypt, Pharaoh ordered the people to gather their own straw to make
bricks. The people had to make as many bricks as before. The people cried to Moses.

Read the complaint of Moses’ people in Exodus 5:20-21. Now read Moses’ prayer in
Exodus 5:22- 6:1.

Ask the group the following questions:

How do you think Moses felt?
What does he specifically say to God?
What assurance did he receive from God?
What do you learn about God from this encounter?
To what extend can you identify with Moses in this situation?

Psalm 13:1- 6

Setting: The Psalm is a deep expression of grief by an individual. The situation causing despair is
not clearly defined. Look closely at this prayer.

Questions:
What problems was the Psalmist having?
What is the mood of the Psalm? How does the mood of the Psalm change from beginning to
the end of the Psalm?
How you ever felt like this psalmist?
How did you or are you moving beyond the sense of despair?

Psalm 51:1-12

Setting: The Psalm is traditionally associated with David’s repentance after he committed adultery
with Bathsheba.

Questions
What requests does the psalmist make of God?
What is the Psalmist’s impression of God?
What does the Psalmist promise to do as a result of the answer he expects from God?
With which of the psalmist’s requests can you identify?

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Luke 10:1-10: The Lord’s Prayer
Setting: the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus said, Pray to the Father…

Questions:
Why was this prayer so important to Jesus?
To whom do we pray?
Why did Jesus teach people to pray this prayer?
What are the important things that Jesus wants us to pray?

Philippians 1:2-5, 9-11

Setting: Philippi is a town in what is modern day Greece. Paul and his friends began the church in
Philippi. Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians when he was in prison in Rome.

Questions:
For what things does Paul give thanks in these prayers?
What does he pray would be given to other Christians?
Are these things you have asked for yourself or for others?

Colossians 1:9-14

Setting: The church at Colosse, a city n Asia Minor which is now modern day Turkey and about
100 miles from the Mediterranean coast. Paul is aware of false teaching going on in the church.

Questions:

What did Paul ask God to give to the people?

How is Paul encouraging the people of Colosse?
Can you identify with the needs expressed in this prayer?
Are there similar needs in our churches and our life today?
Take some time to pray this prayer for yourself, your family and church.

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Notes for Leader

Taking Points about Prayer

Prayer is the chief exercise of faith by which we daily receive God’s benefits. Prayer includes but is not
limited to the following:

1- The necessity of prayer: “Words fail to explain how necessary prayer is, and in how many ways the
exercise of prayer is profitable. Surely with good reason the Heavenly Father affirms that the only
stronghold of safety is in calling upon his name.” (Joel 2:32 and Calvin’s Institutes III.20.1-3)
2- When we pray, we pray in Jesus’ name. As Karl Barth states, “Jesus Christ invites, permits, and
commands us to join him, especially in his intercession with God his Father. Jesus Christ invites
us…and allows us to speak with him to God…to be united with him in the Lord’s Prayer.”2
3- Integrity and honesty about our actions and thoughts helps us forgive ourselves and others. We tend to
avoid evil thoughts or negative feelings but part of the healing process involves exposing our dark
thoughts and desires. When we tell Jesus about our hurts, we begin the healing process. When we
confess and seek forgiveness, we receive Jesus’ mercy.
4- Prayer is about listening to and recognizing the inner voice of God which needs to be nurtured. Follow
Jesus’ example by going to a quiet place to pray, read God’s Word and listen. (Mark 6:46)
5- When we pray, we are not alone. Our brothers and sisters in Christ pray with us and for us. Prayer
unites us with other people because it involves matters that concern us all.
6- God answers our prayers in a variety of forms. Our task is to keep our eyes and ears open so that we
can recognize God’s voice. God’s answer may take a form that is different from what we expect. “No”
or “wait” are answers to prayer.
7- In order to minister to our weaknesses, God gives us the Holy Spirit as our teacher in prayer, to tell us
what is right, and to temper our emotions. For, “because we do not pray as we ought, the Spirit comes
to our help,” and “intercedes for us with unspeakable groans.” (Romans 8:26 and Institutes III.20.5)
8- By recognizing that God is the source of all that we are and have, we become thankful in all situations.
In Reformed Theology, Rice states that those who regularly pray with thanksgiving do not take life for
granted and are given the blessing of being able to see the gift in each day.3
9- Prayer is an ongoing conversation with God and an act of letting go. As Marjorie Thompson states in
Soul Feast, “we give our will to the will of Christ and leave the results to him.”4 (Heb 4:14-16) By
engaging in prayer we find ourselves changed and renewed as we encounter the Holy One.
10- Developing a relationship with God is not about how long we spend in prayer. It is about keeping the
relationship open all day long; pausing to be with God – 2 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes... It is about
participating in the mission of Jesus Christ all day long.
2 Karl Barth, Prayer ( KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 22-23.
3 Howard Rice, Reformed Theology (KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1991), 78.
4 Marjorie Thompson, Soul Feast (KY: Westminster John Know Press, 1995), 38.

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The Prayer Life of Jesus

Prayer was central to the life of Jesus. He communicated with the Father. They were in communion with
each other on a daily basis.

• Jesus’ total being required a relationship of complete communion with His Father in Heaven. He
said, “I and the Father are one.”

• When Jesus prayed, he showed us how to communicate with God.

• Jesus prayed because he was fully human and fully God. He expressed his full heart and emotion
to God in prayer.

• Jesus prayed when it was dark and in a solitary place (Mark 1:35)

• He prayed alone in the evening (Mark 14:22-23) and he went to the mountainside to pray (Mark
6:46)

• Jesus prayed when he broke bread with His disciples (Luke 22:19)

• Jesus prayed that the Father would be glorified through the works done in the Son’s name and that
he would be protected from the evil one (John 17).

• He prayed that those who were crucifying him would be forgiven (Luke 23:34) and that God would
receive his spirit (Luke 23: 46).

• Jesus prayed raising his hands and/or placing his hands over children and adults. He touched
them when they were being healed (Mark 1:41, 3:5).

• He submitted to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42) and prayed with thanksgiving (John 11:41).

• Jesus interceded for others (John 17:1-26)

• Jesus said, “This, then is how we should pray: Our Father in Heaven…” Prayer helps to nurture our
relationship with God.

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Group or Individual Prayer Exercises:

Choose one or two of the following options to do in class, as a small group, with your family or
individually.

Remember that “Prayer may be spoken, sung, enacted, and offered in silence. Daily prayer affords a
unique opportunity for silence and meditation in community.” Book of Order W-3.4003.

I. Pray the newspaper

Karl Barth said, “Christians should carry the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other.”
• Begin with a centering prayer such as “Come Lord Jesus.” Spend two minutes gently breathing
in and out. Ask Jesus to make you aware of things you should pray for as you read the paper.
Your prayer can be a simple sentence of praise of petition.
• As you read a couple of articles, enter into the story or event. What would it be like to be one of
the people involved in the story? Are you feeling thankful, sad, injustice, or anger? Offer a
prayer for the people involved. Offer a prayer expressing your feelings and ask God to
help/bless all who are involved.
• As you read the paper, be open to what God would have you do in response.

II. The Traditional Ignatian Examen5:

The motto in Ignatian Spirituality is to “find God in all things.” The purpose of the examen is to
reflect quietly about experiencing God’s presence or absence in daily life. The group will sit quietly
as the leader leads/coaching them through the following exercise:

• Begin by asking each participant to sit quietly with both feet flat on ground and hands open
and relaxed.
• Say: “Give thanks to God for all the gifts you have received in life.”
• Ask for God’s guidance to see yourself as the light of Christ who dwells in you. Ask that
whatever is in you that is not in line with God’s purposes be released.
• Ask God to show you where God has been active in your life today. Review your day in the
light of Jesus’ love for you. Where did you feel closest to the Lord? Express your gratitude
for those moments.
• Ask for Jesus to forgive you for those times you may have failed to reflect God’s love and
mercy today. Express your desire to turn back to God.
• Resolve, by God’s grace, to commit to living out God’s purpose in your life. If you need to
make amends for something you have done, for example if there is someone you need to
seek forgiveness from, resolve to do it now.
• Close by saying the Lord’s Prayer as a group.

5 Blythe, Teresa, A. 50 Ways to Pray: Practices from Many Traditions and Times. (NY: Abingdon Press, 2006), 58-59.

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III. The ACTS Prayer

You can guide your prayers by using the ACTS acrostic. By incorporating all the elements of
ACTS, one part at a time, we broaden our conversations with God. If you are doing this as a group
prayer, say that you will introduce each element by saying, “Now, we are going to express our
adoration for God” and then allow people to say word or simple sentences. Then move on to
confession, then thanksgiving and supplication.

Before you begin praying one word or simple sentences review what each element means.
• Adoration is expressing our love for Jesus.
• Confession
• Thanksgiving
• Supplication
End with a song or the Lord’s Prayer.

IV. Prayers of Intercession:

As the people of God respond to God’s word, prayers of intercession are offered for others, the
church, community and the nations. The leader can coach the group using the following outline.
Ask people to say sentence prayers about each subject after you mention it in prayer. After a few
people respond move on the next topic for prayer.

• The church throughout the world and those who do ministry that the world might believe;
• The world, those in distress or who are hungry and all in authority, that peace and justice
might prevail;
• The nation, the state, local communities, and those who govern in them, that they may
know and have the strength to do what is right;
• The local church, that it might have the mind of Christ in facing special issues and needs;
• Those who struggle with their faith, that they may be given assurance;
• Those who are in the midst of transition in life, that they may be guided and supported;
• Those that face critical decisions in life, that they may have wisdom;
• Those who are sick, grieving, lonely and anxious, that they may be comforted and healed;
• Members of our family and our church, that they experience God’s grace, forgiveness and
love. (from Book of Order W-3.3506)

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 V. Prayer Partnering6

Prayer partnering is for face to face prayers. This can be done by meeting face to face or on
the telephone. It embodies and confirms what Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 “When two or
three of you are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

• Set a time in a private quiet place with your prayer partner where you will not be distracted
or disturbed. Set the amount of time you will pray together.
• Perhaps you want to light a candle to remind of Jesus’ promise to be with you.
• Open with a few moments of silence.
• Take a few minutes to check in with each other and ask each other, “How is it with your
soul today?”
• The first person shares his/her requests for prayer. The listener just listens and does not
interrupt, comment, give advice, try to fix, save, or ask for clarification. The listener only
listens. Allow a few minutes of silence after the sharing.
• The listener now begins to pray for the one who just shared. The one praying can pray
silently or a spoken prayer. After the prayer wait for a few moments before moving on.
• Now the second person shares their prayer requests. The listener only listens without
giving advice or interrupting. Allow a few moments of silence after sharing.
• The listener now begins to pray for the one who just shared. Allow for some silence at the
end of the prayer.

After praying for one another spend some time in reflection about the prayer time.

• Where did you feel God’s presence most actively?

• What insights, if any, did you receive during the prayer?
• How did it feel to pray this way with a friend?

Close with a prayer of thanksgiving.

VI. An On-line Devotional Series

• Link onto www.d365.org. It is a daily online devotional series. It was created and is
produced by Passport, Inc. It is tool for youth, young adults, or any interested age group. It
provides a daily devotion that you can do on your computer before or after school or on
your lunch break at work. The online devotion provides meaningful experiences and
resources for everyone.

• Daily spend a few minutes recording your thoughts and prayers in a notebook or a journal.

6 Blythe, Teresa, A. 50 Ways to Pray: Practices from Many Traditions and Times. (NY: Abingdon Press, 2006), 58-59.

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Session #4 Stewardship
Theme: A key disciple-making issue of our particular culture involves our relationship with money.
Our money and possessions often get in the way of our relationship with God. True freedom and
contentment are possible only through putting God first in our lives. Stewardship involves an
acknowledgement that all resources ultimately belong to the Creator God. As disciples, we have
responsibility for using God’s resources wisely.

Scripture: Malachi 3:8-12

Background for Leader: Read over the session plan. Make copies of pages 29-30 for all
participants. Read over p. 31, Notes to Leaders, to prepare a brief presentation on some Biblical principles
of stewardship.

Materials Needed: Copies of WORD/SHARE/PRAYER--Malachi 3 (page 29) and A Challenge to

Commitment (page 30) for each participant.

Gathering Activities: (15 min.)

Word/Share/Prayer on Malachi 3:8-12. Pass out copies of page 29. Ask someone to read the passage
aloud. Give 5 minutes of silence for participants to respond to the questions on the page. Then divide the
participants into groups of 3-4 and ask them to share some of their reflections for another 5 minutes.
Finally, ask that they share one prayer request with each other and then close the small group time in
prayer. (15 min.)

Hearing God’s Word: (40 min.)

1. Presentation: The leader provides a background presentation on some key Biblical principles of
stewardship using the Notes to Leader on p. 31. (10 min.)

2. Small Group Conversations: (20 min.)

Choose one or more of the following questions for participants to discuss in groups of 2-4.

• Tell about a money lesson you learned from one of your parents when you were very
young.
• What important financial decisions have shaped your life? What feelings do you have
about those decisions?
• Our culture has taught different roles and behaviors toward money for men and women.
How has your approach to money and its use been shaped by being a woman or a man?
• How have your thoughts and behavior around money been shaped by your faith?
• How do you feel about asking others for money…for yourself? For a worthy cause? For
the church?
• How does money affect your self-esteem?
• What is your first childhood money memory?

28
 After allowing 15 minutes for small group conversations, gather the whole group together and ask:
• Are there any stories from your small group you would like to share?
• What common threads did you find in your small group conversation?
• What surprising differences did you find in your experiences?

3. Challenge to Commitment (10 min.)

Pass out the Challenge to Commitment (page 30). Discuss what the different aspects of the
commitment mean and what it would take to make the commitment. Pray with a partner about
making the Challenge to Commitment. Take the Challenge to Commitment home and discuss
it with family and return.

Sending (5 min.)
Prayer and Blessing: The leader will pray and end with the following blessing for the group:
Jesus said, ‘Where your money is, there your heart will be also.’ The Creator of the entire universe does
not need your money, but God longs for your heart.

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WORD/SHARE/PRAYER

Malachi 3

Robbing God

8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.

"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing
me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says
the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much
blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the
vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you
blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

Reflect: Underline any words or phrases that emerge for you? Reflect on why these particular words
speak to you today.

Apply: How will you apply this passage to your ministry?

Pray: What prayer concerns do you have for yourself, your church, or your community?

30
A Challenge to Commitment

We are asking you as faithful followers of Jesus Christ at __________________ Church to join many of the
church’s leaders in making four commitments to yourselves and each other. We believe that these
commitments are critical to your own spiritual life and to the spiritual health and vitality of our congregation.

• We commit to prioritize our giving by giving to God’s work from the first part of
our income, not the leftovers.
“Honor the Lord with … the first fruits….” Proverbs 3:9

• We commit to giving a percentage of our income.

“Each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income….” I Corinthians 16:2

• We commit to increasing our freedom to give by reducing our debts and

controlling our lifestyle.
“Put your hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment…be generous and
willing to share.” I Timothy 6:17

• We commit to grow in giving by adding an additional 1% of our annual income to

our giving each year until we reach our prayerfully-determined target percentage.
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what
one does not have….” II Corinthians 8:12
Please cut on line and return bottom portion to ___________________

In prayerful dependence on God to help us grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ in financial
stewardship:

____We commit to prioritize our giving

____We commit to giving a percentage of our income
____We commit to reducing our debts and controlling our lifestyle
____We commit to grow in giving

Signature Date Signature Date

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Notes to Leaders

Principles of Stewardship

• The only road to freedom, security, and meaning is putting God first in your life (Ex. 20:3, Mt. 10:37-
39). We worship a God of freedom who promises freedom to God’s children. The good gifts of God
are ours only when we put God first in our lives.
• Money and possessions are most likely to get in the way of our putting God first (Mt. 6:24, Mark 10:17-
27). We live in a society that tells us all the time that we can find freedom, security and meaning
through the accumulation of money and stuff. Jesus recognized millennia ago that this was a
temptation that would lead people away from God.
• Money is a spiritual issue – Jesus has a lot to say about it (1 Tim. 6:17-19). Jesus had more to say
about money and possessions than about virtually any other subject. This is because he knew that the
temptation to follow the worldly path toward riches was likely to damage our relationship with the
Creator God.
• Tithing is a clear, tangible way of putting God first in our lives (Malachi 3:10). Giving ten percent of
one’s income to God’s work through the church is a discipline that reminds us daily of our commitment
to put God first. Tithing makes a difference in our life styles and makes a statement about what comes
first.
• Giving generously to God’s ministry is a source of joy and meaning (2 Corinthians 9:6-15). Giving
generously is not a burden but a privilege. We are most like God when we give generously and joyfully
as God gives.
• Churches that put God first experience overflowing blessings (Malachi 3:10). What would your church
look like if it experienced “overflowing blessings?”

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Session #5 Evangelism – Sharing the Good News
Theme: Martha Grace Reese, in her research into effective evangelism in mainline denominations
(Unbinding the Gospel, Chalice Press, 2007), found that churches where people were “in love with God,”
and enthusiastic about the way their church was participating in the mission of Christ in the world, naturally
did evangelism because they were excited about their faith and their church and wanted others to join
them.

Scripture: John 20:10-18

Matthew 28:16-20

Background for Leader: Invite someone to come to the group meeting prepared to tell his/her own
experience in sharing faith or an experience of growing in faith through someone else’s faith sharing.
Alternatively, the leader could prepare to share his/he personal testimony.

Materials needed: Pitcher, bowl, and water

Gathering Activities: (7 min.)

1. Pitcher demonstration: A pitcher of water 1/3 full takes a lot of tilting to pour. When the pitcher of
water is filled to its fullness and to overflowing, the water pours out over the top. (When we are not
spiritually full, it can take a lot of effort to share our faith. When we are spiritually full to
overflowing, our excitement about our faith will naturally spill out in what we say and do.) Leader
demonstrates these principles with the pitcher, water, and bowl while speaking. (5 min.)

2. Prayer (2 min.) Leader opens with prayer.

Hearing God’s Word: (50 min.)

1. Testimony: Have someone give a testimony about his/her experience in sharing faith and/or
coming to faith because someone shared with them. Examples of experiences of faith sharing can
be found on page 34. (10 min.)

2. Response: Ask participants, “Who shared faith with you in a way that opened your eyes in faith?”
(parent, grandparent, Sunday School teacher, youth leader, camp counselor, minister, friend, etc)
Conclude that we are here because someone shared faith with us, we can be that person to
someone else? (10 min.)

3. Faith Sharing: Ask the following questions aloud. Provide a few moments of silence after each
question for participants to write down some notes in response.
• When was a time you felt close to God? Where were you, what was happening, who was
there?
• What do you like best about your relationship with God right now?
• What do you like most about your church?

33
 After participants have a chance to think about the questions and write down some thoughts, ask them
to turn to their neighbor and share what they wrote. Once they have had a chance to share, inform
them that they have just shared some of their faith and their church ministry. Remind them that a
loving relationship with God is the most important thing that anyone could have or share. We do not
need to have all of the answers to questions about faith and belief, we only need to share the joy of our
relationship with God. (30 min.)

Sending: (8 min.)
1. Challenge: Ask participants to share with one other person this week. It could be a family member,
friend, neighbor, or co-worker. They can even use the discipleship group as an excuse to open the
conversation up with others. (5 min.)
2. Prayer: Leader prays for the group that they would find meaningful opportunities to share their faith
this week. (3 min.)

34
Faith Stories
Example of evangelism in the work place: Rev. Jim Glatz worked at a Giant Eagle while he was in
school. When people shared their problems and concerns, he would ask them if they wanted him to put
them on his prayer list. People then started to come to him with their prayer concerns to be put on his
prayer list. When they came to him, he would ask them if they wanted him to pray with them right then. If
they said yes, he would ask them if they believed God had the power to answer their prayer and if they
were willing to receive the answer in the way God chose to give it. Then he would pray for their prayer
concern and their faith.

Examples of people waiting to be invited to church:

1. There was a woman who, when joining my church after her former church closed, told me that it
took her six weeks to get up the courage to come to our church because she did not know if she
would know what to do. If it takes a churched person six weeks to get up the courage to visit a
new church, what does it take for an unchurched person to walk through the doors of a church?
People need to be invited so that they will know they are welcome and will feel more comfortable
walking in the door!

2. College campus Christian group: When I was in college my friend participated in the Christian
campus group. They held bible studies in the various dorms. One day I asked her about the
group. She told me all about what they did and this lead to a rather lengthy discussion sharing with
each other what we believed. I wanted and waited for her to invite me to attend. I do not know
why she did not invite me, nor do I know why I never asked to go. But I do know that if she had
asked me to go to the bible study with her, I would have gone. We cannot assume people know
they are invited to attend church. We cannot assume people do not want to be asked.

35
Session #6 Doing Justice God’s Way
Theme: This session will help participants understand the various ways Christians work for a just society
and the scriptural basis for doing so. Participants will be asked to engage in activities to learn more about
the various ways in which social justice is done.

Scripture: Proverbs 31:8-9

Micah 6:8
Matthew 25:31-46

Background for Leader: As people of faith, God calls us to respond in love and compassion to those in
need and to work for a just society for all. Sometimes we can be overwhelmed by the variety of needs and
be unsure of how to make a difference. When this happens, the important thing to remember is that a wide
range of responses is appropriate and needed.

A reading from the Washington Office and two scripture passages will be reviewed and discussed to
understand the biblical foundation for advocacy. A case study will help participants see three ways of
responding to those in need: through direct services, advocacy, and congregation-based community
organizing. Participants will hear a presentation about the ways congregation-based community organizing
helps congregations to empower the disadvantaged to speak for themselves and work for social change.
Participants will receive a handout on direct service volunteer opportunities, why and how they can become
advocates, and information about congregation-based community organizing. A presentation on
congregation-based community organizing can be arranged with congregations in Pittsburgh Presbytery.

Gathering Activities: (2 min.)

Opening Prayer: God of grace and glory, help us to be fully present to each other as you are fully present
to us all in your Son, Jesus Christ. Give us the compassion of our Savior to love and serve the least of your
children. Give us the courage to speak out boldly against the wrongs that exist in our world. Help us to
show as much love for our neighbors as we do for ourselves. Help us, O God, never to become tired and
weary of doing justice, of loving kindness and walking humbly with our God. Amen (2 min.)

Hearing God’s Word: (90 min.)

Reading: Read the statement from the Washington Office webpage (What Does Scripture Say About
Justice? page 37). Pass out copies of page 43 (Reasons Why Advocacy is Necessary and Ways to
Become an Advocate). Discuss the various reasons for advocacy and the means a person might use to
engage in advocacy. (5 minutes)

Reflection: Leader provides a brief reflection on Matthew 25:31-46 and the roles of direct service,
advocacy, and community organizing based on the Notes for Leaders on page 38. (10 minutes)

Word/Share/Prayer: Pass out copies of page 39. Ask someone to read the passage aloud. Give 5
minutes of silence for participants to respond to the questions on the page. Then divide the participants
into groups of 3-4 and ask them to share some of their reflections for another 5 minutes. Finally, ask that
they share one prayer request with each other and then close the small group time in prayer. (15 minutes)

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Case Study: Pass out copies of page 40, Bob Lewis Story: A Case Study. Ask participants to read the
story silently and answer the questions at the end. Invite participants to share their reflections and
responses to the story. After everyone has had an opportunity to share, remind participants that there are
three ways of doing ministry with the disadvantaged. Ministry can be done to them, for them, or with them.
Another way of saying this is that we can provide direct services to the disadvantaged, act as advocates for
them, or organize with them to bring about social change. This story illustrates all three options. Ask
participants if they can identify how ministry is done to, for and with the migrant workers. (30 minutes)

Presentation: Please contact the Rev. John Welch, president of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network
(412) 576-7279) or the pastors of Bidwell (412) 231-4663) and Grace Memorial (412) 681-0229)
Presbyterian Churches so they can share how their congregation has used congregation-based community
organizing to empower their members and advocate for community residents. (30 minutes)

Sending: (2 min.)
Leader closes in prayer

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What Does Scripture Say About Justice?

Throughout the Bible, scripture reveals God's will to do justice. The Hebrew prophets continually remind
God's people "...What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk
humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8). The prophets give specific warning to those who seek only their own
well-being and ignore the well-being of the marginalized and oppressed. Israel's failure to be just and
righteous is clearly seen as disobedient to God and the reason for national decay and destruction.

Jesus frequently witnessed to the priority of the poor in the reign of God. He challenged the rich young
ruler, he sharply criticized the hard-heartedness of religious leaders, and he taught that those who reached
out to marginalized persons were serving him (Luke 18:18-25, Matthew 19:16-24 and Luke 10:25-37). In
addition, Christ speaks of the accountability of nations to do justice in Matthew 25 and states, "Truly I tell
you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."
(“What is the Washington Office?” at www/pcusa.org/Washington/whatis/htm)

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Notes for Leader

Read the Matthew 25:31-46 passage out loud and ask participants what specific things this passage is
calling Christians to do. Ideas could be things, such as feeding and clothing the disadvantaged. Ask
participants whether providing direct services reduces the number of people needing help. Ask participants
what they would do to reduce the number of disadvantaged persons in their community. Help participants
understand the role of advocacy in social justice. A distinction should be made between advocacy and
congregation-based community organizing. Advocacy is when an individual or small group speaks for a
marginalized or disadvantaged individual or group. Advocacy efforts usually focus on a single issue and
often result in direct services being provided to the disadvantaged. Organizing with the disadvantaged
allows them to speak for themselves and empowers them to work to resolve problems that affect them.
That is what congregation-based community organizing does. Congregation-based community organizing
works to mobilize a broad base of people to build a powerful organization to address multiple issues for the
collective good. Advocacy and congregation-based community organizing both work to shape and change
public policy.

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WORD/SHARE/ PRAYER

Proverbs 31:8-9 (New Living Translation)

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,

and see that they get justice.

Reflect: Underline any words or phrases that emerge for you. Reflect on why these particular words speak
to you today. Have you ever spoken up for someone or spoken out about a social justice issue? What was
the issue or who was the individual or group?

Apply: How will you apply this passage to your ministry? What kind of social justice issues need to be
spoken about in your community?

Pray: What prayer concerns do you have for yourself, your church, or your community?

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Bob Lewis Story: A Case Study
Bob Lewis is a devoted Christian who belongs to Smithfield United Presbyterian Church. He is a social
worker who loves the outdoors and tries to go hiking as much as possible. One day Bob and a group from
his church went hiking near a river when Bob noticed a very large object floating towards him. Bob stopped
his hiking to take a closer look. Much to his horror Bob saw a human body floating down the river. He
immediately dropped his knapsack, disrobed and jumped in the water to save the person. Upon reaching
the man Bob dragged him back to shore and began checking for injuries. He noticed that the man was
bleeding profusely from his head and was unconscious. Bob used his first-aid kit to tend to the stranger’s
needs. Eventually, the man regained consciousness and began to tell the story of what happened.
After listening to the injured man’s story, Bob noticed other bodies flowing in the river. By now a crowd of
people have gathered and they joined in helping Bob as he tried desperately to retrieve as many bodies
from the river as possible. After all the bodies are pulled ashore by Bob and the group, they decide to
journey up stream to discover why this was happening. They determined that a local logging company did
not follow industry safety standards so their employees ended up injured and floating down the river. Bob
and the group of people who helped him pull bodies out of the river make it a point to march up to the
company office to speak with the owner. The owner tells his secretary to say that he’s not available hoping
that the group will go away. Unable to see the owner of the company, Bob and the group decide to write
letters and make phone calls to the company owner. Their efforts are not met with a great deal of success
so they begin to write letters to the editor of the local newspaper and their legislative representative about
the company’s safety violations.
Many people from Smithfield hear about the incident and decide to donate food and clothing. Another
member of the congregation who is a nurse practitioner agrees to provide free health care for the injured
workers. After several months of treatment the nurse notices an increase in medical conditions directly
related to health and safety violations at the logging company,. She also learns that many workers have to
supplement their low wages with help from the area food bank.
While food, clothing and medical care is provided for the injured workers, Bob discovers that life isn’t really
changing for them. So he decides to get to know the people who are being neglected by the logging
company. He learns that they are legal migrant workers who are fully documented but afraid to go to the
authorities about their working conditions for fear of being deported. After many meetings Bob talks with his
pastor about the situation and the pastor responses with a sermon series on social justice. People in the
congregation realize that providing food, clothing and medical care is not a long term solution to the legal
migrant workers problems.
Bob comes up with a strategy to talk with other congregations in the area about what he’s learned from the
legal migrant workers. He convinces some of the legal migrant workers to come along to these meetings
and tell their stories. Each congregation is deeply moved by the stories they hear and want to know how
they can make a difference. After some research the congregations collectively decide to become a part of
a larger organization named CALL (Congregations Acting Lifting and Leading). The mission of CALL is to
address issues of justice and fairness in the public arena. Bob and others go to weeklong training and
discover he can do more to help the legal migrant workers.
Bob knows that a member of his church is an area legislative representative. So he sets up a meeting with
the legislative representative and gets a small group of members from each congregation to join him. Along
with the legal migrant workers approximately 20 people show up at the legislative representative’s office.
The legislative representative promises to look into the matter. Bob’s friend who knows about health and

41
safety regulations notifies the state regulatory agency about the logging company abuses. After discussions
with the health and safety regulatory agency CALL decides to hold a public meeting that will focus on the
health and safety violations of the logging company.
The owner of the logging company, the legislative representative and the head of the health and safety
regulatory agency are invited to the meeting. CALL works to turn out 500 people from their respective
congregations to hold these officials accountable for the health and safety of the legal migrant workers.
With input from the health and safety regulatory agency they develop a list of demands they want
implemented by the logging company. The media is notified and is present for the meeting. Because of the
number of people who turned out for the meeting and the media pressure the logging company owner and
the legislative representative reach an agreement to implement new safety and health standards for the
legal migrant workers.
Questions for the case study:

• How did this story make you feel?

• Were there times when you felt uncomfortable with Bob’s actions? Name them and tell why.

• Identify the various ways Bob and the others helped the legal migrant workers. Give examples
of ways they practiced each of the following:
o Direct Service
o Advocacy
o Congregation-based Community Organizing

• Could you or your congregation engage in congregation-based community organizing? Why or

why not?

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Direct Service Volunteer Opportunities:
East End Cooperative Ministry
250 North Highland Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412-361-5549

South Hill Interfaith Ministries

1900 Sleepy Hollow Road
South Park, PA 15129
412-854-9120

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

1 North Linden Street
Duquesne, PA 15110
412-460-3663 ext. 301

North Hills Community Outreach

1975 Ferguson Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
412-487-6316

Wilkinsburg Community Ministry

702 & 708 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
412-241-8072

Allegheny Valley Association of Churches

1913 Freeport Road
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
724-226-0606

Northside Common Ministries

P.O. Box 99861
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
412-323-1163

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Reasons Why Advocacy is Necessary and Ways to Become an Advocate
Advocacy is speaking out. Advocacy is using our collective voice as citizens to shape public policy. People
of faith have a special concern for speaking with and on behalf of those who are disadvantaged in our
society.

1) Our faith calls us to advocacy. Scripture describes God’s special concern for those who are in need,
discriminated against, and unsupported in our society. Scripture also describes how God speaks through
people to hold public officials accountable when they abuse power and wealth. Advocacy is a continuation
of a long faith tradition of speaking up to see that our faith values are reflected in public policies.

2) Advocacy is a part of our democracy. A democracy is only as effective as the involvement of its citizens,
who choose representatives and hold them accountable. Democracy gives each of us the power to shape
government policy.

3) Legislators need our help. We cannot assume that legislators know what we value unless we tell them.
Furthermore, legislators are not likely to take a strong stand on an issue without public support. Our support
and pressure enable legislators to do what is right.

4) Advocacy provides an important balance to lobbying. Wealthy and powerful people spend a great deal of
time and money to lobby aggressively for their own interests. Legislators tend to vote for things that achieve
a quick payback which may result in successful re-election. Advocacy that values the voiceless and our
collective future provides an important balance to this concern with self-interest and the short term. By
advocating for the common good expressed in our faith values, we are providing a voice for those who are
all too often locked out of the corridors of power.

5) Advocacy makes a real difference and empowers. Advocacy improves the lives of the disadvantaged by
addressing the root causes of societal problems.. Advocacy with the disadvantaged looks at the public
policy decisions that are hurting the most vulnerable and works for change. Aside from the benefit to the
disadvantaged, advocacy empower your congregation. Working together with the disadvantage on
advocacy activities helps everyone realize the power they have when their hearts, minds and talents are
joined in a united cause. The disadvantaged and congregation members recognize their potential as
leaders, and the congregation recognizes its ability to make a real difference. This can have a positive
impact on all aspects of congregational life.

The following are the ways people can engage in advocacy: phone calls and visits to local, state or federal
legislative representatives, using the media to call attention to social problems, letters to the editor, editorial
or op-ed opinion pieces, and public action events

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From: “Fighting Poverty – One Community at a Time”
Presbyterians Today, Nov. 11, 2007

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