Video & Discussion

For Older Students & Adults

Weekly at-home resource to complement the Wednesday night Bible Study, Sunday worship services, and NextGen Lent At Home Resource with three prayer practices for all ages.

This resource adapted from St. Mark’s UMC’s Dynamite Prayer Facilitator Guide (available online spring 2025). 

Watch the video.  Then discuss the video with others using the prompts or use them for your personal journaling experience.

Week 1: March 10

Author Sue Nelson Kibbey’s  “Ultimate Reliance Introduction”

  1. What is your prayer life like?
  2. When and how do you typically pray?
  3. How or do you think prayer makes a difference?
  4. Sue said that a breakthrough prayer is an addition to the prayer life of individuals and the church or a way to start a prayer life.  How will you try breakthrough prayer during Lent this year?
  5. How do you think a community practicing breakthrough prayer together is similar or different from an individual practicing breakthrough prayer alone?

Close your time of reflection with our season-long breakthrough prayer:  God, please show me [us] and Faith UMC how to love others better. I’m open to your direction. Amen.

Mountain summit with blue sky behind it.

Week 2: March 17

Open Earth II’s “Mt. Sinai (Egypt) – The Trek to the Summit”

  1. The video shows a person’s experience going up and down Mt. Sinai (traditionally the place where it’s thought Moses encountered God and received the 10 commandments).  Imagine going up this mountain as an older man, as Moses did without the benefit of a lit path or a flashlight to guide you. Imagine going as an older person today – barely able to see your next step with your flashlight or riding a camel in the dark with no sense of what is around you.   How would you feel?  What would help you to keep going?
  2. Those who climb Mt Sinai today often go up to see the sunrise – the same sunrise Moses would have seen. People go seeking a connection to the divine.  Where do you go to feel God’s presence?
  3. Share about a time you felt God present with you as you navigated a challenging situation or tough path.
  4. How do you pray during hard times?
  5. If you have been using your own breakthrough prayer, a prayer-hold, or our communal breakthrough prayer during Lent, what has that been experience been like for you?
  6. Close your time of reflection with our season-long breakthrough prayer:  God, please show me [us] and Faith UMC how to love others better. I’m open to your direction. Amen.

 

Black footprints ending in question marks with a purple paint explosion splatter background. Text says Discerning Your next Step.

Week 3: March 24

Disney Music Vevo’s “Kristen Bell – The Next Right Thing”

  1. This song was referenced in Pastor Susan’s sermon Sunday.  Anna is struggling to figure out how to not get too overwhelmed with her feelings and continue moving on.  What is one of the hardest challenges you’ve faced?  What helped you get through it?
  2. Who has been a spiritual guide or teacher for you?  Or how have you been a spiritual guide for someone else?
  3. How much do your beliefs, thoughts, or words match the actions you really take?  (Think about your behaviors, your spending, how you treat others, where you spend your time, etc.) 
  4. How does focusing on the one thing that’s next change your perspective, as compared to looking at the whole situation?
  5. What do you think is the next right step for you to grow in your relationship with God? 
  6. How do you see God speaking to the people of Faith UMC about what the next right thing is for Faith?

Close your time of reflection with our season-long breakthrough prayer:  God, please show me [us] and Faith UMC how to love others better. I’m open to your direction. Amen.

Week 4: March 31

United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches  “Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone”

  1. Share about a time you tried something new that was a little scary or intimidating for you.
  2. Can you think of a time when you took a risk or tried something new because you felt called by God to do so?
  3. How does knowing God doesn’t expect you to be fearless and instead to trust God impact your thinking about trying something outside of your comfort zone?
  4. What possibilities are there when you try something new?

Close your time of reflection with our season-long breakthrough prayer:  God, please show me [us] and Faith UMC how to love others better. I’m open to your direction. Amen.

Week 6: April 14

First Wausau UMC   “Breakthrough Prayer to Serve the Hurting”

  1. What struck you the most in the video about First Wausau UMC’s experience with Breakthrough Prayer?
  2. As you’ve gone through this season, what do you feel God is asking you to say “Yes! And….” like the people of First UMC did – either personally, as a part of a group/family, or as a part of Faith UMC?
  3. First Wausau UMC transformed a resource they had – building space – to be used in a new way to love and care for the community.  What are some resources Faith UMC has or strengths within our congregation?
  4. If there were no limits and through the abundance of God’s hope, how can envision God’s love being shared with the community through the people of Faith UMC?
  5. Close your time of reflection with our season-long breakthrough prayer:  God, please show me [us] and Faith UMC how to love others better. I’m open to your direction. Amen.