11-24-24 Liturgy

Main Theme:  As followers of Jesus, we are called to be peacemakers.

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

Suggested Practice:
Read Psalm 25:1-11 aloud as a prayer on behalf of your Small Church.

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 remind us of our call to follow Jesus. Possible Options:

Possible Options:

• Great Are You Lord (YouTube)
• Amazing Grace (YouTube)
• Goodness of 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 where you successfully played the role of a peacemaker? What was the fruit of this intervention? How has it impacted your life?

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

• Who has been an example to you of successfully playing the role of a peacemaker? 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 followers of Jesus are called to be peacemakers.
• Describe the difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper.
• Explain the importance of the Church modeling peace and reconciliation to the world.

Suggested Practice A:
Possible Questions:

1. What is the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking?
2. When was a time in your life where you had to play the role of a peacekeeper and/or a peacemaker? How did each role differ?
3. Why has God called His followers to become peacemakers?
4. In what ways is Matthew 5:9 (and the entire Beatitudes) a counterculture value system?
5. What is the significance between Jesus’ death & resurrection and our role as peacemakers (Colossians 1:19-20)?

Suggested Practice B:
Read Matthew 5:1-12 together. What do you notice? What questions do these words provoke? What does it mean to follow Jesus?

____[Kids/Youth Rejoin Adults]____

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

Suggested Practice A:
Pray the Lord’s Prayer as a Small Church. Ask different people to read one line at a time. Go slow and meditate on each line as you pray.

Our Father in heaven,
Holy is your name,
Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those
Who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power,
And the glory, forever. Amen.

Suggested Practice B:
Break into groups of 3 people and ask everyone to identify a situation they are currently experiencing that needs a peacemaker. Pray for one another. Ask the Holy Spirit to send peacemakers into these situations.

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 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 aloud and pray that your Small Church would faithfully be Christ’s ambassadors and carry the message of reconciliation.