Warming Up to God- CGL bag of tricks

Share with the group on what's your favorite section of the newspaper.
Many today "read" or "receive" God's word like an illiterate man "reads" the newspaper. They can pick out a few words here and there, and they can certainly look at the pictures. They can sit with an open newspaper, enjoy themselves to some degree, and appear to be reading. But the true content really escapes them.

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Describe an experience you have had in driving rain, a snowstorm or some other natural disaster in which you knew that God was present with you.

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Community
Just save one

by Tom Sirinides

Pass around a bowl of colored candies (M & Ms, Reese's Pieces, Skittles). Tell people to eat as many as they want, but to save one piece. After everyone has only one piece, announce a "question to answer" for each color. For example:

red - Tell about a happy day in your life.

green - Someplace you'd like to visit and why.

yellow - Someone you'd like to meet, and why.

orange - Three traits you'd like in a spouse.

brown - A movie you enjoyed and why.
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Create a brief list of your resources, skills, funds, time, energy and possessions. Bring this list to God in a prayer of thanks. What decisions do you have about using these assets that may lead you out of your comfort zone? Meditate on God's character as it relates to these decisions.
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Ask each person to tell about someone who has had a significant impact on his or her life (for good, for bad, in whatever area they choose).

Ask "Who was your hero as a child?" Or ask "Who was your favorite TV character as a child?" Or ask about favorite cartoon characters.


Reflect on the friend who has been most encouraging in your spiritual journey. Use single words to characterize your relationship with that person.

Tell the group something about yourself that they'd never think to ask you about.
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Examining your conscience
by St. Ignatius of Loyola

In The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius we find a five point method for "the daily examination of conscience" in prayer. This can be used in your group and you can challenge one another to keep this discipline personally.

I thank you _______________________________________.
I need you ________________________________________.
I love you ________________________________________.
I am sorry ________________________________________.
Stay with me, Lord!
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Community
I've Never
by Tom Sirinides

Give each person ten beans (or ten pennies, or just have them hold up their ten fingers!). The first player makes a statement, like "I've never seen the ocean," or "I've never left the USA." (It must be a true statement.) Any player who has done that thing (that is, seen the ocean, left the USA) loses one bean or penny or puts down one finger. Continue around the circle until only one person has any beans, pennies, raised fingers left.