What do we want?
Preparation
Pray for each of your participants by name. Read through the activity so you are not so dependent on the manual.
Choose an icebreaker that fits your style.
Introduction
Welcome your members. Introduce yourself to them and have them do the same. Play an ice breaker.
Check In
Today have a longer check in so you can get to know each other and hear where people are in their lives. We
recommend you alternate between a longer check in every other week and a more extended focus exercise during the
other weeks.
Focus Exercise
Begin by reading to your group the Mark 10:46-52 or have someone else read:
46
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus
son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many sternly ordered him to be
quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stood still and said,
“Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50So
throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to
do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith
has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
In this passage Christ invites us to answer the question, “What do you want me to do for you?” Tonight we follow
in his example by asking our small group that same question. “What do we want from our group?”
Why have you come to CLC? What draws you to it? What are you hoping to get out of CLC? Is there anything that
makes you anxious in this group?
Moving Forward
Wrap-Up: Thank members for their openness and participation.
Action: The heart of CLC spirituality is to grow. Every week, we’d like to suggest one thought or action for you to
think and pray about or act on. For this week, we invite you to pray over the question Jesus asked the blind man,
“What do you want me to do for you?” What would you tell Jesus if he was face to face with you? Pray that this
week.
Housekeeping: Discuss the following (add more as needed).
1. Meeting time, location, and length, CONFIDENTIALITY
2. Meeting format: Discuss in general the CLC format of opening prayer, checking-in, focus exercise,
and prayer. Do not go into too many details. Just give an overview.
3. Group contact person: Ask for a volunteer to help coordinate events, reminders, etc.
Announce: Topic for next meeting and upcoming CLC events
1. Please write up your spiritual autobiography and bring it with you next week. ½ of us will share next
week and then the other ½ will share the following week. One leader will share theirs now in five
minutes.
Closing Prayer
Spiritual autobiography prompts
Here are questions that might stimulate you as you write your spiritual autobiography:
1) What is your earliest memory about the spiritual dimension of your life?
2) Who or what was God to you, in your earliest memories?
3) How did your understanding or experience of God change during your childhood and adolescence?
4) What incidents or experiences have been "turning points" in your spiritual journey?