The Practice of Worship | Feb 25-March 2, 2024
February 25-March 2
Conversation Starter
What causes you to be in awe of God?
What comes to mind when you think about worship?
Previous Week Review
Review the passages and practices from last week’s lesson. Don’t skip this step even if people are reluctant to respond as it’s vital to see how each week’s topic is being practiced during the week and what obstacles people are facing.
Leader reading and Discussion
In his sermon last month Gerry Breshears defined worship as, “a response to the revelation of the LORD for who He is, what He has done and what He will do.”
Read the following scriptures together.
Ask your community to jot down what the scripture tells us about God as you read.
Who He is:
Exodus 34:5-8
John 1:1-18
What He has done:
Genesis 12:1-3
Galatians 3:7-9
Romans 5:1-2
What He will do:
Revelation 5:8-14
Practice together
Worship God through words of praise and thanksgiving together as a community! Pray out who God is, what He has done and what He will do.
Gerry also taught, we worship God through service, sacrifice and participation in the life of God and His people (practices like prayer, communion, solitude, hospitality…).
1) What are examples of worship through service? (Psalm 37:3, Luke 4:8) How do we serve God?
2) What are examples of worship through sacrifice? (Romans 12:1, Phil 4:18, Heb 13:15-16)
3) What are examples of worship through participation in the life of God and His people? (John 17:21-23) How do we foster intimacy with God? How do we deeply connect with God as the Body of Christ? Ask God to show you where He is working and join in!
Handout:
Leader passes out the practices for this week and reviews them with the group. Review the handout together.
Take time to pray for each other. If your community is able sing a song of praise together.
Handout: Worship
March 3, 2024
Practice this week
1) Take ten minutes and reflect on your personal practice of worship. When do you naturally find yourself responding to God in worship and when do you struggle to worship God?
2) Are there any areas in which you sense the Holy Spirit may be prompting you to renewed spiritual responsiveness in your worship? If so, what form of worship may be an appropriate expression?
3) With paper and pen, in quiet, ask the Holy Spirit to help you review the last week where you had experiences that resulted in negative emotions and actions. Take time to pray though the list where you felt sin took hold based on your internal and/or external response.
4) Are there any changes you would like to make to your current patterns of practicing worship?
5) Find a new way to worship God this week.
Admire nature and praise God for it.
Dedicate a sacrifice of silence and listening to the Lord, 5 minutes to a whole day.
Read scripture
Sing a song of praise
Love someone in a sacrificial way
Practice Sabbath
Paint, draw or write a poem of worship
Obey God in something He has been calling you to do or not do.
Preparation for next week
Come to the community nrext week ready to share something from your practice this week.