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frequently asked questions about group encounter

Leading a group encounter

Perhaps the best way of thinking about leading an ‘Encounter’ is to think in terms of three spotlights that you are going to turn on, one at a time.  The aim is to allow sufficient time for people to enjoy basking in the warmth from each particular spotlight in turn.
It may be best if the group begins by standing, but let everyone know that they are welcome to sit at any time.  Standing seems to create an expectation that something is about to happen.  Encourage the group to relax and put any concerns to one side for the moment.

1  The light of the love of ‘Abba, Father’

Focus on the love of ‘Abba’ Father for each person
Spend time in gentle worship 

Begin with a time of worship directed to the Father.  Fix your own attention on him and begin to gently and audibly worship him for his fatherhood.  
You might find it helpful to worship him for what he has done for all of us in one of the following ways:

• Psalm 139 - for his loving knowledge of who we are; he knows us completely, we are fearfully and wonderfully made and nothing we do can ever separate us from him.
  
•  Ephesians 1 - there are three words that Paul used to describe how the Father sees us: chosen before the foundation of the world, adopted so that he can pour out his love upon us and forgiven by the work of Jesus on the cross.
• 2 Corinthians 1 - God is described as the Father of compassion and comfort; a description of him as the source of love, light and everything good.
• John 17.26 - God loves us with the same love that he has for Jesus, so the words of love he spoke over Jesus are the words of love he speaks over us:  You are my beloved son / daughter • I take pleasure in you.

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2  The light of the presence of Jesus

Turn your attention to Jesus

In Galatians 2.20, Paul wrote about ‘…the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’ Jesus promised in Matthew 28.20: ‘…I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’  In his love for us Jesus promised to be with us, so we can be certain he is with each of us now.

Worship Jesus for his love for us

Take time to worship Jesus for his desire for intimacy with us all, and worship and honour him for everything that his death achieved, including the removal of everything that separated us from God. Worship him because he is present with each member of the group right now.

Give time for the Spirit to bring Jesus in any way that he chooses

Try to avoid the temptation to ‘force’ people into the encounter with Jesus that you want them to have. 
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Ask the group where Jesus is for them

Ask the question: “Where is Jesus for you right now?” 

It might be helpful to give a range of possibilities - not to force their feelings in any way, but to give ‘permission’ to what they may be experiencing.  Such suggestions might include:

•     Is Jesus beside them, around them or within them?
•     Is he in a different place altogether?

Let each person explore their answer

You are not asking people to imagine Jesus or to visualise him – you are letting Jesus reveal his presence in whatever way he chooses to do so.
Give time for this so that everyone can find Jesus wherever he might be.

Give the group the time and opportunity to engage with Jesus

The idea is that people are encouraged to move from simply experiencing his presence, to allowing Jesus to connect with them and them to connect with him. Asking gentle questions and giving time for people to inwardly respond to them can assist this connection.

•     Wherever Jesus might be – what is he like, or how does his presence feel?
•     What does it feel like to be so close to him?
•     What is he showing people about himself?

What is it that they would like to say to Jesus?

• Invite each person to say whatever they wish to Jesus.

An encounter with Jesus is not just an experience of his presence, but also a chance to speak to him and receive from him.  When the group is engaging with the presence of Jesus as much as possible, encourage them to tell him whatever is on their hearts.  Jesus invited Bartimaeus to be bold in his requests (Mark 10.51), so encourage them – as Jesus stands there – what do they want to say to him?

What is Jesus revealing? 

The next stage of this encounter is to allow each person to receive from Jesus.  This might happen in a number of ways:

• Jesus might speak to them.  Many people don’t think that they can hear Jesus!  However, his voice is often not a voice at all but can be like a spontaneous thought that comes to mind.  Encourage each person to explore this as it may be the voice of Jesus for them.  They may want to carry on in conversation with him.
• Jesus may speak through a picture, so encourage them to explore this.
•  He may bring to mind a verse from the Bible or a song.
•  Jesus might do something, such as bringing healing or a comforting touch.

3  The light of the power of the Holy Spirit

Invite the Holy Spirit to come

• Invite the Holy Spirit to come. He is, of course, already present but you are asking him to come in a fresh way as he brings new things to the group. What you are seeking here is the power of the Holy Spirit to bring a living touch of Jesus.
• When you have asked the Spirit to come, wait quietly in the expectation that he will certainly come, as Jesus promised he would in Luke 11.13.  The work of the Holy Spirit can be quiet and gentle, almost unseen by the onlooker, or it can be dramatic and sometimes strange. However he chooses to work may not be an indication of the depth of what he is doing.
• Encourage each person to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s desire to bring transformation.  Encourage them to try to be aware of anything that might be happening within them.

When the time feels right, draw the session to a close
​Encourage each person to write down what they sensed God was doing/saying • Encourage feedback

• At all times remain worshipful, keeping your own eyes upon Jesus and allowing plenty of time for silence. 
• When you, as leader, feel that the process is drawing to an end, gently ask people to begin to ‘come to’ and re-engage with the group.  Encourage them to write down what they have just experienced as there is a real tendency to forget the wonders that God shares with us.
• It can be helpful and very encouraging if individuals are willing to share their experience of encountering Jesus.

There are different ways in which an Encounter can be used with a group and a few examples are listed below:

•     As an introduction to a small group or Bible study
•      After a sermon to encourage a personal application of some of the points made
•     As part of the intercessions in a service
•     A longer time, such as an hour, to encounter Jesus and share together.  If this possibility interests you, the following time frame might be helpful.