These reflection questions were created to accompany the sermon series Walking in the Storm: Spiritual Practices for a Resilient Faith. They could form the basis for a Sunday School class, a small group, or could simply be printed in the bulletin. You are welcome to use or adapt these reflection questions, with credit. When printing these questions, please use the following credit line: “Developed by Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett.”
Week 1: “Walking in the Storm”
- What are the storms swirling in your life right now?
- When have you experienced God’s presence even when you fall?
- At this moment, how strong is your faith?
Week 2: “Body Care”
- What one thing about your body can you thank God for today?
- What keeps you from caring for the body God created for you?
- What one thing can you do to nourish your body today?
- What one routine can you pursue to nourish your body regularly?
Week 3: “Lament”
- What losses have you experienced lately?
- Is it easy or hard for you to identify when you are feeling grief?
- How do you cope with grief (music, exercise, scripture, silence, therapy, hobbies)?
- Do you feel able to express your grief to yourself, to others, and to God? If not, what would make you brave enough to start?
Week 4: “Forgiveness”
- When have you experienced forgiveness? How would you define that experience?
- Do you find it difficult or easy to forgive others? Do you find it difficult or easy to forgive yourself?
- If someone in your life (including yourself) deserves your forgiveness, what is one step you can take towards that process?
- How do you partner with God when you need to forgive others or yourself?
Week 5: “Anger”
- Think of a time when you experienced or expressed anger. What emotions come up when your remember? Shame? Confidence? Pride? Regret?
- How do you experience your own anger? How do you experience others’ anger?
- What lessons did your family of origin teach you about anger? What lessons have your faith communities taught you about anger?
- What steps do you take to move from your initial, protective burst of anger to the growth stage of anger, where you can listen to what your anger is telling you about yourself and what you need?
- How does your faith and relationship with God affect how you experience and express anger?
Week 6: “Connection”
- Who in your social circle “gives you life?” That is, who fills you with energy, hope, and confidence that you are loved as you are?
- Taking into account the person God made you to be, where is the line for you between being alone and being lonely? Do you know when the balance tips towards loss of connection?
- Who might you need to reach out to during this pandemic?
- How often do you feel connected to God? What helps you experience that connection?
Week 7: “Grace”
- In your own words, how would you define grace?
- How easy does graciousness come to you in dealing with strangers? With people you know well? With yourself?
- Think of a time when you were able to choose a gracious response. What helped you do so? What was the experience like?
- What concrete steps can you think of to help you extend God’s grace to others and to yourself?
Week 8: “Gratitude”
- How were you “taught” gratitude growing up? Was it nurtured or enforced?
- How easily do gratitude practices come to you now?
- When you struggle to be grateful, can you name why that is?
- Spend a week writing down five things you are grateful for daily. Notice how it affects your attitude.
Deep Well Worship 