09-22-24 Liturgy

Main Theme: The Church is Global

Opening
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and be open to what He wants to do & say in our gathering.

Suggested Practice:
Read Revelation 7:9-12 and take a couple of minutes to join with all creation in praising Jesus Christ.

Worship
Goal: Make Jesus central in our gathering. This could be done through songs, prayerful scripture reading, communion, etc.

Suggested Practice:
Choose 2 songs to sing together (or listen to) that will help you focus on the greatness of our God.

Possible Options:

• Revelation Song (YouTube)
• What A Beautiful Name (YouTube)
• How Great Is Our God (YouTube)

____[Dismiss the Kids/Youth]____

Sharing
Goal: To know each other's stories.

Suggested Practice A:
Select one person to answer the following question:

• When was a time in your life that you travelled internationally and were out of your comfort zone? How did it change you?

Suggested Practice B:
Select one person to answer the following question:

• Who has been an example to you of embracing a global perspective of the Church? How have they inspired you? How has their example changed you?

Suggested Practice C:
Break into groups of 3 people. Answer the following questions:

• What are you thankful for this week?
• What has stressed you out this week?

Give the groups 10 minutes to answer the question. Encourage everyone to share.

Discussion
Goal: Learn how to follow Jesus in everyday life.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand that the Church is global.
• Explain the importance of the Church being global.
• Describe how we can cultivate a global perspective of the Church.

Suggested Practice A:

1. What difference does it make in our lives when we know we are part of a global church?
2. When you think and talk about “church”, do you tend to think local or global? Why?
3. How can we give equal importance to both the “local church” and the “global church”?
4. What international connections and/or relationships do you have in your Small Church?
5. How can your Small Church cultivate a global perspective of the Church?
6. How can your Small Church serve the global church?

Suggested Practice B:
Read Acts 1:7-8 together. What does it mean for us to be witnesses of the resurrected Jesus “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”? How do we fulfill this command?

____[Kids/Youth Rejoin Adults]____

Prayer
Goal: Respond appropriately to what Jesus is doing & saying in our gathering.

Suggested Practice A:
Identify a country outside of the United States of America to pray for as a Small Church. Pray that the church in this country would spread the gospel and cultivate Kingdom lives.

Suggested Practice B:
Create a Small Church prayer board. Ask everyone in your Small Church to identify one person in their life who is disconnected from God or church.

Break into groups of 3 and ask everyone to pray for one name on the list. Over the next few months, pray that every person on the list would have a positive encounter with God and/or the church.

Communion
Goal: Remember Jesus' death and resurrection. Receive strength & joy that He is with us. Renew our hope for Jesus' return and the restoration of creation.

Suggested Practice:

• Distribute bread and juice.
• Read the following statement…“the body of Christ has been given, broken for us and the entire world. This bread reminds us that He paid a debt that He did not owe so that we wouldn’t have to pay a debt that we did owe”.
• Eat the bread.
• Read the following statement…“The blood of Christ has been poured out, shed for us and the entire world. This juice reminds us that we have a permanent and unbreakable relationship with Him and that death has no power over us and no power over creation”.
• Drink the juice.

Blessing
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and consider what He wants to do & say this coming week.

Suggested Practice:
Read Ephesians 4:1-6 and pray a blessing over your Small Church.