1-12-25 Liturgy

Main Theme: Resting in God

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

Suggested Practice:
Read Romans 8:5:

• "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

Read the following prayer aloud to your Small Church:

• “Lord, help us to surrender our lives into your loving hands. We trust you completely with our lives. You have good plans for us. Help us to not rely on our fleshly desires and strive to make a way in our own strength. Instead, help us trust your will for our lives and seek you every day for the good plans your Spirit has for each one of us.”

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 are focused on who God is and our ability to trust Him.

Possible Options:

• Promises (YouTube)
• Blessed Assurance (YouTube)

Ask a few individuals to pray out loud, thanking God for helping them and giving them an assurance that they can trust Him.

____[Dismiss the Kids/Youth]____

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

Discussion Topic Intro:

• “For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.” (Psalm 132:13-14).
• When God rested on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2), He was sitting down on his throne. God sits on the throne after the world has achieved complete harmonious order. Rest means that everything is set up just right and running well.
• When God is at rest, people can be at rest too. It’s all under his reign. We can rest because He reigns. The more we trust the one in charge, the more we can rest.
• “Rest” is more than slowing down and physically restoring our energy levels. We are not “resting in God” when we take a nap yet still proceed to fret about our kids/work/relationships/money.
• The gift of resting is when we reorientate ourselves toward God, rededicate our trust in Him, and meditate on His trustworthiness.
• We can take our problems directly to God and ask Him to help us live according to the Spirit and not the flesh.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the connection between God reigning and God resting.
• Explain the significance of worshipping and following a God who rests while reigning over all creation.
• Describe how we can put our trust in God and operate from a place of rest in our everyday lives.

Suggested Practice:
Possible Questions:

1. How do you know God is trustworthy?
2. What impact does God reigning on His throne have on our everyday lives?
3. What practical difference does it make when you have rested in God?
4. How can you include God in your rest and weekly preparations?
5. In what ways can you or have you trusted God through a posture of rest?

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 found rest in God during difficult circumstances? What difference did it make? How has it changed you?

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

• Who has been an example to you of resting in God during difficult circumstances? 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.

____[Kids/Youth Rejoin Adults]____

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

Suggested Practice A:
Break into groups of 3 people and ask everyone to identify a family member or friend that is struggling to trust in God/find rest in God. Pray for these people. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to these people in a new way.

Suggested Practice B:
Break into groups of 3 people and ask everyone where they are struggling to trust in God/find rest in God. Pray for one another. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself in 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:
Ask everyone to find a comfortable position and explain that we’re going to wait on God for the next 5 minutes. Pray that God would reveal more of himself to your Small Church. If there are loud or distracting children, encourage them to play in a different area of the house/building. Play this song: Mercy + When I Think About The Lord | Common Gathering

(Alternatively, you could do this practice during communion)