Grace Group Guide
Growing in Grace and Watching Over One Another in Love · McPherson First United Methodist Church · July 19, 2026
This week in worship. Our church is beginning a new worship series called Passing the Flame. This week we ask what is actually worth holding onto. Come join us this Sunday, July 19, though your group works great on its own. Worship is at 8:30 and 10:15 AM, or online at mcphersonfirst.org.
What Is a Grace Group?
A Grace Group is six to eight people who meet about an hour each week to grow in faith and care for one another. There is no homework and nothing to prepare. We talk honestly, ask a few questions, and pray. You only need to show up and be honest, and everyone is welcome.
A Methodist Way of Making Disciples
Grace Groups recover one of the oldest Methodist practices. Almost three hundred years ago, John Wesley gathered Methodists into small weekly groups that asked one another, “How is it with your soul?” and watched over one another in love. A Grace Group is that same way of making disciples, brought back for today.
Want to read more about this way of making disciples? The Class Meeting by Kevin Watson, and Calling on Fire by Ashley Boggan and Chris Heckert.
The Five Promises
Our five membership promises are also a simple way to talk about our faith journey:
Prayers: connecting with God through prayer, scripture, and listening
Presence: showing up for worship and the life of the church
Gifts: giving to support the church’s mission
Service: finding where you are called to serve
Witness: sharing your faith in word and action
Your Hour Together
Everything for your hour together. The times are a guide, not a rule.
Our Covenant 0 min
Each time we meet, we say yes to these together.
Show up. Come each week. The group needs you.
Be honest. This is a place to be real, not to put on a show.
Keep it private. What is said here stays here. That makes honesty safe.
Give everyone space. Don’t take all the time. Let everyone share.
We Begin 2 min
We’ll begin with a moment of quiet, and then we’ll pray together.
Gracious God, you have brought us here, and you know each of us by name. Open our hearts to be honest and our ears to listen well. As we watch over one another in love, meet us in this hour. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Getting to Know One Another 5 min
We’ll go around the circle. Share your name, then pick one of these to answer.
What is your favorite dessert?
What is a movie or show you can watch over and over?
The Three Questions
These three questions are the heart of our time. We’ll move through them in order, and everyone gets a turn. The smaller questions underneath are just to help, and there are no wrong answers.
Soul Tending. How is your faith journey going? 10 min
When have you felt close to God lately? When have you felt far away?
What has helped your faith lately? What has made it harder?
Now we’ll notice where God has been showing up.
God Sightings. Where do you see God at work in your life? 25 min
Where did you see God this week, even in something small?
Who has shown you God’s love lately?
Now we’ll name what we want to hand to God.
Growing in Grace. What challenge are you giving to God? 40 min
What is weighing on you that you could give to God?
Where do you feel God nudging you to take a step?
Connect Back (optional, only if time allows): anyone may briefly name something they heard today that stayed with them. Keep it short, for connection, not advice.
We Close 55 min
We’ll keep a few moments of quiet now, space to allow what you shared and heard, and how God has been speaking, to settle in your soul, so you can carry it into the days ahead.
. . . a few moments of silence . . .
Faithful God, thank you for this time and for everyone here. Hold what we have shared, and send us into this week. Help us pray for one another, grow in grace, and trust that your love goes ahead of us. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
McPherson First United Methodist Church · mcphersonfirst.org/gracegroups