Spiritual Practices in Community
Drawing Groups into the Heart of God
Diana Shiflett
TO THOMAS TEMPLE
(1919–1998)
AKA GRANDDADD
In gratitude for the monthly
handwritten letters of encouragement
you sent as I prepared for
and began ministry.
CONTENTS
Introduction: Going Deeper Together
2 Practicing Silence with Others
3 Exploring Scripture Together
4 Simple Prayers that Transform Community
6 Active Prayer with One Another
8 The Rhythm of Life in Community
Praise for Spiritual Practices in Community
More Titles from InterVarsity Press
MANY YEARS AGO, as I was reflecting on how I lead, I asked God to reveal his heart to me. An image came to mind: a fountain flowing from above, with me filling a cup and taking the living water to those I was leading. Either I got water too quickly, not allowing the cup to fill, or I spilled it along the way. By the time I got to those I was leading, I no longer had much to share. And I never had enough in my glass to give to all the people I was leading.
In that moment, I realized I needed to change the way I was leading, so I let God continue to reveal things from this image in my mind. Slow down at the fountain, I thought. So I walked slowly with my very full cup toward those I was leading.
After that time with God, I took more alone time with him than ever before. And then it hit me: I needed to invite people to stand under the fountain with me; I didn’t need to tell everyone what they needed to know about God. I started to trust God to speak directly to his people. I also realized I couldn’t possibly know everything God wanted to say to every person, but I could introduce them to God. I realized God longs to speak life and truth into everyone’s souls—not just mine.
The final image that came to mind was me standing under the flow of Jesus’ fountain and inviting others to stand under my cup. My cup was overflowing and so were their cups. In ministry, I found that I no longer had a cup that emptied every time I led a group.
All of our cups are overflowing with what God has for us. My hope for you is that you lead in a new way spiritually, inviting others into the heart of God.
Leading a group in a spiritual practice requires encountering God yourself. Throughout the Scriptures, God encourages his people to draw near to him. He invites us to come and drink living waters without cost (Isaiah 55:1). And Jesus interrupted a festival to say, “Come drink the living waters.”
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that ...
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About Spiritual Practices in Community: Drawing Groups into the Heart of GodDiana Shiflett has been leading groups of all descriptions in spiritual practices for many years, and she understands the difficulties involved: the potential for awkwardness and self-doubt, the nagging question of whether anyone's getting anything out of this at all. But more than that, she understands the value of spiritual practices: their deep roots in the history and worship of God's people, and their ability to calm our distracted minds and hearts so we are ready to hear the voice of Jesus. In this personal, hands-on guide, Shiflett walks us through a wide array of spiritual practices, from communal silence and Scripture meditation to active prayer and corporate discernment. She proves a reliable guide, offering step-by-stepinstructions, pointing out hazards and pitfalls, and sharing her own experiences with honesty and humor. With this book as a guide, these spiritual practices can become life-giving resources in your ministry setting for years to come. |
| Support Info | 9780830873791 |