The Narrow Gate, and Forgiveness
March 3, 2005 - One of the inmates offered prayer, asking God to come and join the group. We went around the circle, each person giving their first name, and saying how they were doing.
Usually I start this part by asking the person on my left to begin, stating their name and comments, then moving around the group clockwise. Tonight, since a new person (a first timer to the group) was on my left, I started on my right hand side. I mention this because the group of regulars noticed the change but didn't know why I was doing it a different way.
Finally, near the end of this part, someone brought up the change - I explained that out of courtesy of the first timer, I didn't want to start with him, I wanted him to see how others gave their name and comments first, so he would be more at ease. The group found this interesting and joked around about how the new guys should always sit on my left side, etc.
This points out something interesting. Tradition and ritual (doing things a certain way over and over) may add some stability to a group. Some added sense of comfort of knowing what comes next and why. The Youth and Family Institute in Minnesota do research into family faith formation and have published the concept of the "Four Keys" to building family faith in the home. One of the keys is Traditions and Rituals. The other three are: Caring Conversation, Service, and Daily Devotions. It was interesting to me after attending 2 workshops from YFI, to see how the Yokefellow Prison Ministry groups actually include all 4 of the keys.
We sang the song "I have decided to Follow Jesus". The words of the song came up for discussion later in the lesson.
We read Proverbs Chapter 11 around the group, a sentence at a time, each person getting a chance to read. This helps build the group.
I asked the guys what we talked about last week. No one remembered except the other Yokefellow volunteer. So we refreshed on the "Narrow Gate" a bit.
We went to Matthew Chapter 7 again, reading verse 23 - 25 this time. I asked if this verse means that if we are holding a grudge against someone, does it mean that God doesn't listen to our prayers and supplications? This is a tough question.
I asked the group to recite the Lord's Prayer together slowly. We stopped at the part:
"And forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us" (emphasis is mine). We talked about what we thought this means. We talked about how very difficult it is to forgive people, and how our tendency is to want God to hear our prayers even though we are angry and unforgiving to other people. Obviously, this is a real challenge in prison.
So we talked about the small gate again. Ah, now it makes a bit more sense. It's one thing to call yourself a Christian. It may be another thing to actually follow Jesus in the path of forgiveness.
Maybe next week, God willing, we'll look at Jesus on the cross, praying to his Father to forgive his killers.
Usually I start this part by asking the person on my left to begin, stating their name and comments, then moving around the group clockwise. Tonight, since a new person (a first timer to the group) was on my left, I started on my right hand side. I mention this because the group of regulars noticed the change but didn't know why I was doing it a different way.
Finally, near the end of this part, someone brought up the change - I explained that out of courtesy of the first timer, I didn't want to start with him, I wanted him to see how others gave their name and comments first, so he would be more at ease. The group found this interesting and joked around about how the new guys should always sit on my left side, etc.
This points out something interesting. Tradition and ritual (doing things a certain way over and over) may add some stability to a group. Some added sense of comfort of knowing what comes next and why. The Youth and Family Institute in Minnesota do research into family faith formation and have published the concept of the "Four Keys" to building family faith in the home. One of the keys is Traditions and Rituals. The other three are: Caring Conversation, Service, and Daily Devotions. It was interesting to me after attending 2 workshops from YFI, to see how the Yokefellow Prison Ministry groups actually include all 4 of the keys.
We sang the song "I have decided to Follow Jesus". The words of the song came up for discussion later in the lesson.
We read Proverbs Chapter 11 around the group, a sentence at a time, each person getting a chance to read. This helps build the group.
I asked the guys what we talked about last week. No one remembered except the other Yokefellow volunteer. So we refreshed on the "Narrow Gate" a bit.
We went to Matthew Chapter 7 again, reading verse 23 - 25 this time. I asked if this verse means that if we are holding a grudge against someone, does it mean that God doesn't listen to our prayers and supplications? This is a tough question.
I asked the group to recite the Lord's Prayer together slowly. We stopped at the part:
"And forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us" (emphasis is mine). We talked about what we thought this means. We talked about how very difficult it is to forgive people, and how our tendency is to want God to hear our prayers even though we are angry and unforgiving to other people. Obviously, this is a real challenge in prison.
So we talked about the small gate again. Ah, now it makes a bit more sense. It's one thing to call yourself a Christian. It may be another thing to actually follow Jesus in the path of forgiveness.
Maybe next week, God willing, we'll look at Jesus on the cross, praying to his Father to forgive his killers.
posted by Kathy Kolb | 7:18 AM
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