If we talk about ourselves and talk about the Bible, but never make the connection between the two, then life transformation does not happen. If we can't make the connection between our life stories and God's truth, we've lost some of the power that life in Christian community offers. The icebreaker question and resulting life-sharing time is critical because it helps the group "level the playing field" and warms people's hearts and minds to discuss God's truth. If someone wants to pass, let them, but remember the question should be safe enough so that anyone could feel comfortable answering. Then, ask everyone in the group to answer. The leader should answer first to model the type and length of response desired. In other words-anyone can answer the icebreaker question with confidence.Įveryone should be encouraged to answer the icebreaker question. In addition, the person answering the question will be the expert when it comes to the topic of the icebreaker question. Good icebreaker questions are open-ended, meaning they don't have a right or wrong answer. The remainder of the group time is typically devoted to Bible study and prayer.Ī true icebreaker question is an open-ended question that is used at the beginning of the group's discussion time. At the beginning of your discussion the leader may ask an icebreaker question like, "How was your week? Does anybody have anything to share with the group?" Or, perhaps the leader has a specific icebreaker question like: "Who was your favorite childhood friend?" or "What is the best trip you have ever taken?" Typically, the icebreaker question sets the tone for the group's discussion time. I Packer and Joel Scandrett.Icebreakers are common in many small groups. This article is adapted from To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism edited by J. I should pray trusting in the sufficiency of God’s grace and in joyful assurance that “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.” (Romans 5:3–5 see also Job 23 Psalm 22 John 12:23–26 2 Corinthians 1:3–5 1 Peter 4:12–19) How should you pray in times of suffering? I should be certain that God always hears my prayers and answers them by his wisdom, in his own time and manner, for my good, and for his glory. What should you remember when prayers seem to go unanswered? These prayers will ground me in the Christian tradition of prayer and teach me how to pray in my own words. What prayers should you learn as a part of your rule of prayer?Īfter learning the Lord’s Prayer, I should next aim to learn certain psalms (such as Psalm 23, Psalm 51, Psalm 95, Psalm 100, Psalm 150) and prayers from the Daily Office. I should pray with humility, love, and a ready openness to hear and do God’s will. Other types of prayer are thanksgiving, by which I give thanks to God for his providential goodness and answers to my prayers and oblation, by which I offer to him all that I am and all that I do. What types of prayer are not included in the Lord’s Prayer?
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