Just like a mature tree, the Christian faith endures many seasons. A tree planted beside a reliable water source perseveres through drought and continues to flourish producing fruit in each season. It’s labyrinth of thirsty roots reaches deep for the unseen source that sustains it.
Like this solid tree planted beside the water, we often long for a flourishing relationship with the Lord. In reality, we often experience seasons of hardship, opposition, or disappointment that can lead to an inconsistent spiritual life.
Whether you feel you’re in a beautiful rhythm with the Lord or need encouragement, GIWG retreat is designed for you.
We will unpack barriers that impede and explore practices that sustain intimacy with Jesus even amidst the difficulties in life and ministry. Some of the topics explored include God-given core longings, false values we believe in, unprocessed grief and spiritual temperaments that are unique to growing our relationship with Him. We will engage in spiritual practices that draw us into a more intimate and healing walk with Jesus.
If you have participated in an Unfinished Business group this material will provide a meaningful, in-depth review to continue your healing journey. Or, if you’ve been curious to know what an Unfinished Business group is like, this experience will provide you with an opportunity to learn and practice the main elements of this healing group.
Growing Intimacy with God Session Topics
RETREAT FORMAT (6 sessions)
Curriculum: Growing Intimacy with God for retreats (available from Thrive Ministries)
Each session has a teaching component (done in large groups), an experiential component, and a time of prayer (done in small groups). Personal reflection time is provided within or between sessions.
Session 1: Introduction and My View of God – Introduction to Spirit-led process, group safety, sharing symbols & 3R’s centering prayer exercise. My view of God and how that has been impacted by my family relationships during my formative years.
Session 2: God-Given Core Longings & Needs – What are core longings, recognizing our dysfunctional responses to unmet longings and going to God in repentance
Session 3: The Lies We Believe – Introduction to the steps to healing including, life situations, dysfunctional behavioral responses, dealing with emotional upheaval, lies and distortions and wounding in life; assessment of 4 core false beliefs (lies) and focus on scriptural truth
Session 4: Focusing on Truth – Experiential session related to truth(s) God has revealed to participants during their personal reflection time
Session 5: Grieving our Losses (lamenting) – Emotions – ours and Jesus’; unhealthy and healthy emotional responses; reflection on Jesus’ Garden of Gethsemane experience of lamenting; personal lamenting before God
Session 6: Spiritual Temperaments & Intimacy with Jesus and Farewell – What are spiritual temperaments? Lean about your spiritual temperament(s) including opportunities to engage in activities related to specific temperaments. Experiential communion and reflection on how God met participants during the retreat. Next steps & group evaluation.
SMALL GROUP FORMAT (8-weeks)
Curriculum: Growing Intimacy with God for small groups (available from Thrive Ministries)
Each week has a teaching component (done in a large group) an experiential component, and a time of prayer (done in small groups)
Week 1: Introduction to GIWG – introduction to the Holy Spirit, group safety, sharing symbols, 3R’s exercise
Week 2: My View of God– and how that has been impacted by my family relationships during my formative years. Introduction to Lectio Divina
Week 3: God-Given Core Longings & Needs – Core longings and our dysfunctional responses to unmet longings in 4 categories: medicating the pain, self-protection, self-provision and punishment of self and others. prayer of repentance
Week 4: The Lies We Believe – introduction to the steps toward healing including life situations, dysfunctional behavioural responses, dealing with emotional upheaval, lies and distortions and wounding in life; assessment of 4 core false beliefs (lies) and scriptural truth
Week 5: Focusing on Truth – Experiential session related to truth(s) God has revealed to participants during the week; Who I am in Christ scriptures
Week 6: Grieving our Losses – Emotions ours and Jesus’; unhealthy and healthy emotional responses; reflection on Jesus’ Garden of Gethsemane experience of lamenting; personal lamenting before God (homework)
Week 7: Spiritual Temperaments – what are they and experiential related to specific temperaments
Week 8: Intimacy with Jesus & Farewell – Experiential communion and reflection on how God has met them during the group; next steps & group evaluation
Growing Intimacy With God
Like this solid tree planted beside the water, we often long for a flourishing relationship with the Lord. In reality, we often experience seasons of hardship, opposition, or disappointment that can lead to an inconsistent spiritual life.
Whether you feel you’re in a beautiful rhythm with the Lord or need encouragement, GIWG retreat is designed for you.
We will unpack barriers that impede and explore practices that sustain intimacy with Jesus even amidst the difficulties in life and ministry. Some of the topics explored include God-given core longings, false values we believe in, unprocessed grief and spiritual temperaments that are unique to growing our relationship with Him. We will engage in spiritual practices that draw us into a more intimate and healing walk with Jesus.
If you have participated in an Unfinished Business group this material will provide a meaningful, in-depth review to continue your healing journey. Or, if you’ve been curious to know what an Unfinished Business group is like, this experience will provide you with an opportunity to learn and practice the main elements of this healing group.
Growing Intimacy with God Session Topics
RETREAT FORMAT (6 sessions)
Curriculum: Growing Intimacy with God for retreats (available from Thrive Ministries)
Each session has a teaching component (done in large groups), an experiential component, and a time of prayer (done in small groups). Personal reflection time is provided within or between sessions.
Session 1: Introduction and My View of God – Introduction to Spirit-led process, group safety, sharing symbols & 3R’s centering prayer exercise. My view of God and how that has been impacted by my family relationships during my formative years.
Session 2: God-Given Core Longings & Needs – What are core longings, recognizing our dysfunctional responses to unmet longings and going to God in repentance
Session 3: The Lies We Believe – Introduction to the steps to healing including, life situations, dysfunctional behavioral responses, dealing with emotional upheaval, lies and distortions and wounding in life; assessment of 4 core false beliefs (lies) and focus on scriptural truth
Session 4: Focusing on Truth – Experiential session related to truth(s) God has revealed to participants during their personal reflection time
Session 5: Grieving our Losses (lamenting) – Emotions – ours and Jesus’; unhealthy and healthy emotional responses; reflection on Jesus’ Garden of Gethsemane experience of lamenting; personal lamenting before God
Session 6: Spiritual Temperaments & Intimacy with Jesus and Farewell – What are spiritual temperaments? Lean about your spiritual temperament(s) including opportunities to engage in activities related to specific temperaments. Experiential communion and reflection on how God met participants during the retreat. Next steps & group evaluation.
SMALL GROUP FORMAT (8-weeks)
Curriculum: Growing Intimacy with God for small groups (available from Thrive Ministries)
Each week has a teaching component (done in a large group) an experiential component, and a time of prayer (done in small groups)
Week 1: Introduction to GIWG – introduction to the Holy Spirit, group safety, sharing symbols, 3R’s exercise
Week 2: My View of God– and how that has been impacted by my family relationships during my formative years. Introduction to Lectio Divina
Week 3: God-Given Core Longings & Needs – Core longings and our dysfunctional responses to unmet longings in 4 categories: medicating the pain, self-protection, self-provision and punishment of self and others. prayer of repentance
Week 4: The Lies We Believe – introduction to the steps toward healing including life situations, dysfunctional behavioural responses, dealing with emotional upheaval, lies and distortions and wounding in life; assessment of 4 core false beliefs (lies) and scriptural truth
Week 5: Focusing on Truth – Experiential session related to truth(s) God has revealed to participants during the week; Who I am in Christ scriptures
Week 6: Grieving our Losses – Emotions ours and Jesus’; unhealthy and healthy emotional responses; reflection on Jesus’ Garden of Gethsemane experience of lamenting; personal lamenting before God (homework)
Week 7: Spiritual Temperaments – what are they and experiential related to specific temperaments
Week 8: Intimacy with Jesus & Farewell – Experiential communion and reflection on how God has met them during the group; next steps & group evaluation
Category: Blog