Kick Off Meeting Notes

Why Get Free?

Who is qualified to join Get Free?

Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. John 8:34 NIV

According to Jesus, anyone who has ever sinned has become a slave to sin. So if you are a slave, you are not free. So this program is about setting people free from the slavery of sin. Who here has never sinned, or been sinned against? No one? So congratulations, we are all qualified to join this Get Fee program.

Now that we are all in this program, what can we expect?

If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8: 31 NIV

What you will experience in this program is not a philosophical discussion of what freedom or truth is. What most of us don’t realize is the amount of lies we have come to believe. Through the steps you take with God, he will reveal things in your heart and mind that have enslaved you, and he will guide you to discover the path to the truth. And as you follow the path, the truth will indeed set you free.

The Process

We have one tool and 3 types of appointments in this process.

A. The tools: The Booklet together with the Bible is your guide.

8 topics – 8 weeks - follow the 10 commandments God gave to Moses
Since there are 7 days and 5 sessions in a week, it is a good idea to plan for one session a day and use two days for deeper reflections or for catch-up when you miss a day.
You will find that some topics are relevant and meaningful to you, and others not so much. It’s ok to spend more time on the topics that are meaningful to you and have just an overview of those that are not as relevant.
It is possible that, at another point in your life, you may come back to go deeper on another topic.

***** The book should serve you, not the other way around !! *****

B. The first appointment: Your 1:1 Time with God

This is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the journey. This is the time you invest to be with God, to listen to him, to let him guide you, to pour out your heart to him, to open your eyes to see deep things in your heart, and to find your path forward.

Make an appointment with God! Block out time daily and weekly to be in the devotional with God. It may be 10-20 minutes a day during the week, or one hour on the weekend. Protect these time slots! I know that life can get busy- God promises that when we make him a priority, he will take care of everything else.

How to approach your time with God?

Ask to be taught and listen

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 NIV

God wants to teach you, will you listen? Sit at his feet and open your heart and mind to hear.

Be open for things to be revealed to you when reading the Bible

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

God’s word (the Bible) can cut – and when God reveals things to us, it can sometimes be painful – like being cut through by a knife. Hang in there! Think of it like a surgeon cutting out the cancer cells in our hearts – sometimes in order to heal, we need to face pain.

Have A Conversation with God

Express how you feel

Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea, hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger. Psalm 55:1-8 NIV

My heart is in anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me, horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

Ask for forgiveness and Healing

Have mercy on me, O God according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Psalm 51: 1-3 NIV

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow, let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones you have crushed rejoice…….10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51: 7-10 NIV

Ask for help to overcome doubts, unwillingness to forgive, reluctance to give up sins, or to remove hard feelings

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:21-24

Thank him

For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. Psalm 52:9

C. Your second appointment: our Weekly Meeting

Weekly Get-Free meeting: online and hybrid
Block your calendar for the weekly meeting: let the leader and your partner know when you cannot attend.
Come prepared to engage and to contribute
Bring your notebook with you where you have written down your learnings and reflections.

D. Your third appointment: your Small Group Calls

Weekly Small Group meeting: per arrangement
Each week you will be given one or two partners, and you will meet for 20-30 minutes to have a Get-Free prayer. It’s important that you keep the Get Free prayer time to 10 minutes per person. Of course, you can decide together to go into more exchange after the prayer. We will guide you on how to do the Get Free prayers next Friday.

How to Get the Most out of the Get Free Experience

The Get Free group experience is designed for us to support each other through this journey. How can I make most of this opportunity?

Community

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2: 42-44 NIV

On one hand, the Get-Free experience is intensively personal. On the other hand, you are going through a journey with a community of like-hearted and like-minded people. You are part of something greater than yourself. Take advantage of it.

Exchange – that helps us to know that we are not alone, and stimulate deeper reflections

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27: 17 NIV

During our exchange, we have a chance to speak out loud our thoughts, and other who hears may be able to relate, or encourage us with their experiences and prayers. Conversely, when we hear their stories, it may also sharper our minds to think about how we can learn from their example.

Confession – for healing

We will dive deeper into this topic next week. Through this journey together, we will learn to not only confess but to take concrete steps for healing.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Darum bekennt einander eure Sünden und betet füreinander, damit ihr geheilt werdet. Das Gebet eines Menschen, der sich nach Gottes Willen richtet, ist wirkungsvoll und bringt viel zustande. Jakobus 5: 16 NGU

d. Fasting

Plan time for regular fasting, and use this time to pray and draw closer to God.