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STEPS IN GRACE GROUP MEETING FORMAT 

Suggestion: Facilitator reads BLUE and GREEN may be read with the other attendees.

OPENING & WELCOME (10 min.)

Welcome to Steps in Grace where we learn to integrate resiliency-building tools and apply biblical Grace Group materials and principles to our lives in order to renew our mental and emotional health. Alongside any professional support you might be receiving,* we hope you will find clarity, strength, and friendship here as we share our personal experiences with one another.

 

Let’s introduce ourselves using our first names before we continue with our opening with the principles, our sharing time, and the Grace Group study. My name is ____. (Go around the room.)

 

Will all who care to, join me in the Serenity Prayer followed by a moment of silence:

 

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Amen.

 

                                                            (Moment of silence)

 

* None of us are here in a professional capacity, but as facilitators for discussion and peer encouragement.

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STEPS IN GRACE PRINCIPLES (5 min.)

We acknowledged that our lives had become unmanageable and came to accept our identity in Jesus Christ, trusting in God to restore us to a life of hope and purpose. (LG Ch.1)

We recognized that recovery is a continuum of personal growth, so rather than resorting to escapism or quick fixes, began responding to distress with stabilizing hope, functional resilience, and purpose-filled renewal.  (LG Ch. 2,10)

We take searching and courageous inventories of our lives: identifying our needs, weaknesses, characteristics, and gifts. We share these insights with at least one other trusted person. (LG Ch. 3-4)

We became willing to humbly ask God for strength to reframe our thinking: exchanging legalism for grace; replacing wrong beliefs with truths; and practicing rest, renewal, contentment, and gratitude. (LG Ch. 5-6)

To minimize feelings of failure, helplessness, and stress, we began developing effective resiliency strategies that lead to a sense of strength and freedom – including replacing bad habits with healthy routines and impulsive reactions with thoughtful responses. (LG Ch. 7)

Where we have been harmed or have hurt others, we grieve our losses, forgive and seek forgiveness, and make appropriate amends. This frees us from past circumstance so we can achieve peace and resolution. (LG Ch. 8-9, 11)

We practice good boundaries and build committed relationships so we can gather a healthy group of people around us. We celebrate our successes with them and carry this message of hope to others. (LG Ch.12-14,16)

We grow in our relationship with and knowledge of God by meditating on truth and praying for knowledge of His will for us. By practising these principles in all areas of our lives we mature and experience transformation through Christ. (LG Ch. 15)

PRINCIPLE FOCUS SHARING (10-20 min.) 

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Each person will have a few minutes to share. If you wish to speak, just say “I’ll pass.”

Please give everyone the opportunity to share once before sharing more​.

If you are new to our group, you are welcome to share what brought you here.

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Before we begin sharing, let's read:

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Our healthy guidelines affirming comfort, confidentiality, communication and community:

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  • Offer respect, encouragement, and compassionate support.

  • Create a safe place to share by listening confidentially.

  • Avoid fixing anyone’s challenge, correcting, [advising,] debating, or using offensive language.

  • Discover hope and useful tools while learning from one another’s journeys.

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Our principle focus this meeting is:________

(Calendar event shows our current focus Principle)

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*from Grace Alliance Materials

GRACE GROUP WORKBOOK CHAPTER & DISCUSSION (45 min) 

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Note:

  • 10-16 1.5 hour sessions each (usually weekly)

  • LIVING GRACE is for learning mental health resiliency

  • THRIVE is for establishing healthy habits (weekly homework, meeting is 30 min. longer)

  • FAMILY GRACE is for family & friends 

  • LIVING HOPE is for people recovering from trauma or PTSD 

  • REDEFINE is for older teen and young adults

CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS (5 min.)

CONNECTIONS. RESOURCES. FACILITATING MEETINGS. CLOSING.

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IN CLOSING, I would like to remind you that you are welcome to reach out to us or find help on our website or our private Facebook Group. 

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Also, "the opinions expressed here were strictly those of the person who gave them. Take what you like and leave the rest. The things you heard were spoken in confidence so keep them within the walls of this room and the confines of your mind.

 

Whatever your problems, there are those among us who have had them, too. We aren’t perfect. The welcome we give you may not show the warmth we have in our hearts for you. After a while, you’ll discover that though you may not like all of us, you’ll love us in a very special way – the same way we already love you.

 

You will come to realize that there is no situation too difficult to be bettered and no unhappiness too great to be lessened. Talk to each other, reason things out with someone else, but let there be no gossip or criticism of one another. Instead, let the understanding, love, and peace of the program grow in you, one day at a time.” **

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(Optional: Spontaneous or other prayer.)

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**Alanon closing literature

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Whenever you see this badge on the site, it will show you a RESILIENCY exercise you can practise.

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