Kathy's Small Group Discussion Topics

This blog is a place that archives topics and stories used in Yokefellow Prison Ministry sessions in a county jail in rural Pennsylvania. You are welcome to use these ideas in your small group sessions. They would be applicable to use in Christian small groups of most any kind.

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Location: williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States

Friday, April 29, 2005

What's your Ishmael ?

We had a good group of 10 inmates out tonight for the discussion. One of the inmates prayed, asking God to join the group. We went around the circle, each person giving their first name and saying how they are doing.

We talked quite a bit before singing. I started by talking about my experience of taking a friend to church recently. I invited her, she agreed to go. So I showed up at her house 15 minutes before church to pick her up. She wasn't outside, so I got out of the car and knocked on the front door. No response. I knocked again, several times, loudly. I was getting frustrated. I went around to the back door and knocked there. Then, I thought about Jesus saying He stands at our door and knocks. Finally, the door opened and a sleepy teenager came to the door, saying she'd be ready in a minute. I was happy to see her. I wasn't concerned about the time or her condition, I was just glad to see her. We went to church. I keep a hair brush in the car, so she was able to straighten up a bit. Discussion question: How long do you think Jesus knocks on the door to a person's heart?

We sang several songs. The volunteer that played the piano several weeks ago was not here, so we sang without accompaniment. It doesn't matter. Signing seems to be healing in a way, as we raise our voices together to God.

Then we read a Psalm and started the lesson / discussion time. We went to Genesis 18 and read about when God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would bear a son. They didn't believe Him, so Sarah suggested that Abraham have sex with her hand maid Hagar, which he did. A son was born of regular fleshly effort. Later, Sarah gives birth to the miracle child that God promised. Isaac birth was a miracle because Sarah had long passed the age of childbearing - she was post-menopausal.

I asked the group to consider and discuss what their Ismael was, meaning; "what have you accomplished on your own that is less than what God promised"? Answers included money, greed, women, addiction and the like. One man said "fear". We discussed that more.

We ended by reminding wach other that God is offering us the best there is. He stands at the door to our heart and knocks. He knows we are home. He knows our condition. He knows what promises we have not believed and tried to do on our own. He still wants us to open the door to Him and be with Him.

Let us learn to trust God's word and will for our lives.

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Working with many denominations

Yokefellow Prison Ministry has volunteers from many Christian denominations. Through the 10 years I've been involved, I've worked beside Presbyterian, United Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, Seven Day Adventists, Pentecostals, Mennonites, Quakers and others.

As a Christian group, we need to work together with respect. Sometimes this is a challenge.

When I started with Yokefellow, I was in my 30's and thought I really understood the details of Christianity, or at least Protestantism, or especially Lutheranism. But I soon found out that my beliefs were not shared by everyone in our ministry team. When do you interrupt with your view of things? When do you tell someone they are flat out wrong about something?

Then, a couple of years ago, I went to a Synod Assembly for our church denomination. This is where 100 or so churches of a certain denomination get together once a year and pass resolutions to hand on to the main church gathering which happens every other year.

I noticed that pastors in our synod weren't agreeing with each other about doctrine and biblical meanings. This was a bit of a revelation to me. I thought everyone of a certain denomination agreed in doctrine. Silly me!

Our church is going through the "human sexuality" studies much like the Episcopal church went through recently. Again, I read deep, insightful commentary for both sides of the discussion from learned theologians. Hmmm. If pastors and teachers within a certain denomination can disagree on an important topic, what hope to us lay people have of knowing something "for certain".

So what to do?

We try to focus on the large, solid topics: God, Jesus, love, faith, hope, forgiveness and the like.

We don't ask people if they are "saved", because the verb "saved" means different things to different people.

I was introduced to the Yokefellow Prison Ministry by Rev. Alton Motter. He was also very involved with the Ecumenical organization of churches in our area and wrote a book called Ecumenism 101.

Friday, April 15, 2005

What Annoys you?

Tonight we all sang a couple of songs, including "Amazing Grace", "Everlasting Arms", and "Trust and Obey". One of the inmates gave the prayer, asking God to join us. We then read Proverbs 21 and then Proverbs 25 verse 24. Best not to be with a nagging spouse. Which brings us to annoyances.

We went around the circle, each person giving examples of what annoys them in their lives. I gave the example of the college near our home putting a new ventilation system in a building. The new unit is very loud and raspy. It is nearly impossible to sleep when the unit is running. Certainly, a window can't be left open for fresh air. It's annoying. Each person gave a story of something that annoyed them. Many gave examples of injustice.

We went to Matthew chapter 7. Judge not. I asked everyone to consider what about ourselves might annoy God. Again, we shared our thoughts openly, speaking in turn around the circle.

One of the men had recently gotten several pictures of his children. The pictures had cheered him greatly. He asked to show the pictures around the group, we agreed. I asked the inmates to consider God being as a great father, having pictures of each of us, showing the pictures around heaven, saying something like, "these are my children, though they fall sometimes, I love them greatly".

We ended in prayer.

Sunday, April 10, 2005

God wants better for us than what we realize

Again, a good turnout. We also had an extra 4 volunteers along, for a total of 7 volunteers and 12 inmates. Usually it runs about 8 inmates and 2 or 3 volunteers. Currently, the extra volunteers are coming in to experience actual Yokefellow in-prison sessions. A recent training session graduated 21 new volunteers for service into Yokefellow - what a rich blessing. This is the largest graduating class in some years.

Yokefellow training includes 6 sessions which run about an hour and a half each. These sessions teach people about prison ministry and about Yokefellow prison ministry in particular. People get to meet a warden and other correction professionals. They get taught what prison volunteers can and can not do. Acceptance of other Christian denominations are encouraged, since Christians of many various denominations are encountered in jail.

The final training session is a commissioning service. Usually a local Judge will come and give a talk about the importance of prison service. Song and Prayer add to the service. Certificates of accomplishment are given out. A group graduation picture is taken.

Then, the new graduates get mentored in our operating in-prison groups. Each new volunteer is expected to attend at least 3 in-prison sessions. This helps them see Yokefellow small groups in action.

This week our topic was our desires verses God's desires. We read Proverbs chapter 2. We saw that wisdom is valued as silver.

Then I told a story. I took 2 girls to a great bike shop to buy them bikes. The bike shop was about 2 towns over and was sort of a long way from home. The girls were not familiar with the road we took, nor did they understand it was the best bike shop in the county. I figured the task would take 10 minutes, tops. Go in the store, test ride a couple of bikes, part with $450 and load them on the car rack.

But no. This bike didn't fit and that seat didn't fit and so on. Actually, one of the girls would not ride the test bike. She sat on it and rolled along using her feet, but commit to putting both feet on the pedals and parting with the safe ground. Hmmm. I thought she could ride. Her Dad and sister implied that she could. But, she wouldn't. Then her sister whispered in my ear, "If Dad were her she would ride." Hmmmm. An hour or so later, we left with no bikes.

On the way home, on a whim, I stopped at a local Kmart store. The girls were familiar with the store. Yes, the customer service replied, they had bikes. We found them in the far back of the store. The one we wanted to try had flat tires. I had trouble getting assistance. Finally a sales rep came and got a bike for us off of the high rack and after much coaxing, the girl picked up both feet (riding in the aisle) and smiled widely. I bought 2 much cheaper bikes for $240 total.

So, I keep thinking this week, why didn't the girls want the better (much better) bikes? Was it because they didn't know the store? Because it was in a distant town? Because it was our first try at shopping for bikes?

Then I thought about God. How many times do we not accept what he wants for us (for various reasons) because we want something of lesser value or worse consequences?

We all shared examples of times when we ignored God's leading and reaching for something less.

Saturday, April 09, 2005

State Yokefellow Prison Ministry Board meeting

Today, I went to the State Yokefellow council meeting for the first time. What a great experience to meet another 30 people or so that are dedicated and serious about this prison ministry effort. People came from all over the state. Some visit county jails, others visit state prisons, others visit federal prisons. Some oversee YPM area councils.

The meeting ran 5 hours and it could have gone on longer, if not for the travel time needed by some people to get back to their areas. We spent around 4 hours traveling to and from the meeting.

The annual state Yokefellowship Prison Ministry conference will be held at the The Country Cupboard, Lewisburg, PA, Friday, October 28th, 6:30 PM Banquet, Saturday, October 29th, in the AM.

Friday, April 01, 2005

Prayer and connecting with God

March 31, 2005 - We had 12 inmates in the group which is a bit larger turnout than average. It's hard to tell why the group sizes vary so much. Are there more inmates in the jail on this given day? Is there more stress in the facility? Is there a large court schedule for the upcoming days?

I had a cold, but went to prison anyway. It's tough to know when not to go. Medical help is much different in prison than out of prison. Men can't just walk to the medicine cabinet a get an aspirin. They have to wait for a medical person to be available, then in many cases they have to pay for the pills, but don't have money to do so. But in this case, I told the inmates I had a cold and tried not to shake hands with anyone who didn't want to.

Several of the guys said they had a cold in the past 2 weeks, implying I may have picked up the cold from them anyway. Interesting, huh?

One of the inmates prayed, asking God to come and join the group. We sang a couple of songs, including Amazing Grace. We have a new volunteer that played the piano and that really added a nice sound to the songs. Then we read Psalm 42 - where the writer describes wanting God so much, comparing his desire for God to that of a thirsty deer in a dry land.

We talked about what it is that each of us wants, really wants, in our lives right now.

Our main bible verse was Matthew chapter 6 - praying in your private place. I described how recently several people important to me have been wearing headphones or earphones while being with me and how I don't care for the practice because it cheapens the quality of the time they spend with me. Whether listing to books, music or a baseball game, it means they are not listening intently to me and our conversation.

We talked quite a bit about this practice and how we felt about it and if we were guilty of doing it. Then I asked the group about their typical prayer practices. Do they do anything else while trying to connect with God?