Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully (Oct 30-Nov 5)
Advent Conspiracy Worship Fully Practice: Week 1| Date Oct. 30-Nov 5, 2022
Communities @ Grace
Goal for Week: Discuss how to worship God fully during the Advent season.
45 minutes: Welcome, Pray, Eat + Mingle
Question 1 - What holiday brings you closer to God and describe how that happens?
Question 2 - Describe how you’d like to experience the Christmas season and an obstacle you must resolve.
15 Minutes : Review of last week’s practice experience
Review:
Spend time praying and asking God how you can encourage unity in the church, your community and home. If something specific comes to mind, do it!
How can you love someone who you disagree with?
How did this practice go for you? What is the Holy Spirit doing in your heart as a result of practicing this last week?
If nobody in your group has completed the practice from the previous week talk through these questions:
What is hindering you from practicing during the week?
How can we support each other?
How was your connection with Jesus this week?
45 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion Questions
Leader Background Notes
Advent Conspiracy started 10+ years ago with the goal of exchanging consumerism for compassion, increasing the focus on Jesus coming to earth as our savior, and worshiping God through serving the poor, neglected, or oppressed.
Discuss
What is Advent? (The period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas and also of preparation for the second coming of Christ.)
What do you do to prepare for the celebration of Christmas?
What comes to mind when you think of worship? (Showing him adoration, thanking him, loving and serving others, especially the “least of these”
Heb. 13:15-16.)
Read aloud
Luke 1:26 - 56
Describe how Mary and Elizabeth worshiped God? (Mary obeyed God, worship in song), Elizabeth showed hospitality to Mary to comfort and encourage her, rejoiced and blessed Mary and the baby)
Matt 1:18-25
How did Joseph’s response display worship? (obedient, disregarded public opinion to do what was right)
Luke 2:1-20
What was the response from the Shepherds? (left their busy jobs to spend time to search for the Savior)
Discussion Questions
Is there something in their responses that encourages you to prepare differently for Advent?
In our culture there are many distractions especially around the holidays. What is one way you could turn your attention to worshiping God this Advent season?
10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close
Consider praying as a whole group or in triads for personal prayer requests.
End on time in order to honor everyone’s time.
See next page for Practices next week, consider giving a copy to each member.
5 Minutes : Here are some suggestions on how you can Practice this week
Practice example 1
Take time to consider where you focus your attention during the Advent season. Look at your activities and schedules, and consider how you can make room to worship fully. Jot down a thing or two you’d like to change and how you’ll do it.
Practice example 2
Focus your time with God this week on praising him and talking with him about what would please Him this season. Listen too.
Practice example 3
Take time to read Matthew 1:18 - 2:12. Consider reading through the passage several times.
The first time, ask the Holy Spirit to focus your mind and heart, and speak to you through the scripture.
The second time you read, ponder the meaning of the passage, focusing on specific words that jump out to you. How is God speaking to you through this passage?
Before you read it a third time, take time to slow down and connect with God through prayer.
Read the passage a fourth time, and ask God how you can take this passage into practice this week.