1-26-25 Liturgy

Main Theme:  The inward activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

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

Suggested Practice:
Read James 1:5 aloud and on behalf of your Small Church, ask God to give everyone the wisdom required to faithfully follow Him.

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 focus our attention on the transformational power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Possible Options:

• Way Maker (YouTube)
• I Surrender All (YouTube)
• Heal Our Land (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 where God transformed an area of your life? What difference did it make? How has it changed you?

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

• When was a time where you witnessed God transform a friend or family members’ life? How has this inspired you? How has this 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 our heavenly Father is good and perfect and extends grace toward us.
• Explain why it is important that we live the way of Jesus in our everyday lives.
• Describe the difference between someone who “merely listens to the word” and someone who does “what is says” (James 1:22).

Suggested Practice A:
Possible Questions:

1. How do we know that God is good and full of grace?
2. What difference does it make knowing God is good and full of grace?
3. Why is it so important for James to challenge his readers to put their faith into practice (James 1:22)?
4. How do we reconcile the fact that we are being called to be “doers” of the word and yet we continually fail to live up to this standard?
5. Practically, how can we help ourselves and each other be “doers” of the word?

Suggested Practice B:
Read James 1:22-25 together. What do you notice? What questions do these words provoke? What does this passage reveal about being a follower of Jesus?

____[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 needs God to transform an area of their life. Pray for these people. Ask the Holy Spirit to do a work in their life that only He can do.

Suggested Practice B:
Break into groups of 3 people and pray for one another. Ask God to transform the broken areas of your lives. Some people may want to share the area of their life that they are asking God to transform. While others may be uncomfortable sharing such personal information. Either response is fine, we want people to share at their own pace.

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 Luke 22:19-20.
• 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 James 1:17 aloud and on behalf of your Small Church, thank God that He does not change and that we can put our hope and trust in Him.