This Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the book and DVD. It includes session plans and discussion questions, as well as format options. Tom Berlin is Lead Pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Tom is author of Defying Gravity: Break Free from the Culture of More, 6 Decisions That Will Change Your Life, 6 Things We Should Know About God, and 6 Ways We Encounter God. He is coauthor (with Lovett Weems) of Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results; Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance & Bear More Fruit; and High Yield: Seven Disciplines of the Fruitful Leader. 6 Ways We Encounter God Leader Guide By Tom Berlin, Karen Berlin, Becky Kendall Abingdon Press Copyright © 2014 Abingdon Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4267-9470-4 Contents Introduction, How to Use This Leader Guide, 1. God's Majesty and My Reverence, 2. God's Fidelity and My Trust, 3. God's Purity and My Humility, 4. God's Authority and My Obedience, 5. God's Righteousness and My Work for Justice, 6. God's Graciousness and My Love of Others, CHAPTER 1 Week One God's Majesty and My Reverence Preparing The goal of this week's session is to evoke reverence for the holiness of God as the divine grandeur, majesty, and glory are considered. Contemplating the magnificent wonders of God's handiwork helps individuals get into the proper perspective concerning God. When we are awed by God, we realize how great God is and how small we are by comparison. Experiencing an overwhelming sense of God's greatness allows the modern-day disciple of Christ to place God, rather than one's own life, in the center of the universe. The video elicits reverence through the examination of one of God's least likely creatures, the slug. By focusing on the purpose, function, and unique nature of the slug, reverence for the genius and creativity of its Creator is inspired. Similarly, contemplating the slug helps viewers consider how vast and great must be God's love for them. If the caretaker of the universe was willing to invest so much thought and care to craft the existence of a slug, how deep and unending must be God's love for us as well. Psalm 104 was selected for extra examination to focus participants' attention upon the mystery, wonder, and grandeur of all creation. Discussion questions are designed to help modern-day disciples find humility before God and seek and experience a relationship of reverence and worship with the Lord. Getting Started As this is the first week of a new study for your group, it is important to allow adequate time for introductions. Even if most of your group members are familiar with one another, using an icebreaker will strengthen connections and will be of great benefit to even one newcomer present. In addition to providing name tags for the group, consider choosing one of the following openers to let your group get to know one another and prepare for their time together. Icebreakers (choose one) 1. Something Few People Know About Me: Ask members to introduce themselves and share one fact about themselves that is little known. 2. Favorites: Ask each member to respond to a "Favorites" question, such as favorite movie, food, dessert, book, vacation spot, song, hobby, job, color, and so on. 3. Categorical Descriptors: Choose a category, such as cars, sports, food, or shoes, and ask each member to name an object within that category that may describe them. Examples: one person might be a pair of spikes because they like to dig deep into things; another might choose a slipper because it offers warmth and comfort; someone else might name fajitas because they are full of zest and spice; another might choose milk because it is wholesome and familiar. 4. Motion Name Game: Have the members of your group introduce themselves by saying their names and demonstrating motions to go with them. As each group member offers her or his name, the entire group responds with "Hi, _______," repeating the name and the motion. This continues until all group members have given their names and motions. Conversation Starter Once introductions have been made, invite members in your group to share their response to this question: "What small group experiences, if any, have you had in the past, and what do you hope to gain from participating in this small group?" Groups of eight or more participants should break into subgroups of 3-4 so that all may respond and still have time to complete the study session. Logistics and Covenant Depending upon whether you are a new or previously formed small group, the amount of time devoted to this portion of the study will vary. "How to Use This Leader Guide" suggests some information that may be appropriate here. Regardless of group history, all groups are encouraged to make a covenant with one another for this six-week study session. Workboo