Grace Group Guide
Growing in Grace and Watching Over One Another in Love · McPherson First United Methodist Church · August 9, 2026
This week in worship. Our church is in a worship series called Passing the Flame. Your group works great on its own, and this Sunday is one combined service at 10:15 AM, with a meal to follow. Worship is also online at mcphersonfirst.org.
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.
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
This Week’s Practice, 22 of 25, Witness: The Invitation. The most natural form of witness is asking someone to come along. Most people who join a church were invited by someone they trust. You don’t have to be a preacher. You don’t have to win an argument. Ways to try it. Ask plainly, and offer to pick them up. Pray for one name, and wait for someone to come to mind. Bring it to Soul Tending. Share who you invited this season and what happened, including invitations that didn’t lead to a yes.
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. Say what is true for you. You do not need the right answer.
Keep it private. What is shared between us stays between us.
Give everyone space. Leave room for every voice. Everyone gets a turn.
We Begin (2 min)
We’ll begin with a moment of quiet, and then we’ll pray together.
God of new mercy, you meet us at the start of this hour without a ledger. Free us from performing, and let us tell the truth kindly. 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 one food you could happily eat every day?
What is a chore you actually do not mind doing?
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)
What is God teaching you the slow way?
Where has your faith surprised you recently?
Now we’ll notice where God has been showing up.
God Sightings. Where do you see God at work in your life? (25 min)
What answered prayer have you forgotten to be glad about?
Where did you see someone act more generously than they had to?
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 the thing you keep putting off?
What would you ask God for if you were not embarrassed to?
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 . . .
Loving God, you have gathered our scattered week into this hour. Keep what we shared, and go with us into what is next. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
McPherson First United Methodist Church · mcphersonfirst.org/gracegroups