1 Foreword
Worship is our response to God for all that He is.
It’s not just singing; ultimately, it’s a lifestyle. In worship, we obey God, adore Him, confess our sins to Him, sit silently in awe of Him, and express our thanks to Him. In fact, in the Old Testament, the most common word for worship is shachah, which literally means “to lie prostrate” before God. When the people of the Bible encountered God, they were typically so filled with fear and awe that all they could do was bow before Him in worship.
Our culture has made worship into singing songs of praise along with a U2-sounding rock band with great lights behind them. While I love this style of worship and there’s nothing wrong with it, there’s more to worship than just this.
Missional Communities offer a fantastic opportunity to worship God in ways different from our typical Sunday worship gatherings.
My goal in compiling this packet is to provide you with some simple ideas to help your community cultivate a healthy worshipping life out where you live, work, and have friends. Healthy roots lead to healthy fruits; coming into God’s presence on a regular basis helps fuel and sustain the mission to which your community is called.
I realize that not every community will have a musician, so most of these ideas are geared toward coming into God’s presence without music (keep in mind that a Missional Community is a great place to allow an up-and-coming worship leader to gain experience, though!). Each idea is broken down into three sections that make up the abbreviation PMI (not the evil mortgage type!):
• Purpose • Materials • Instructions
This means that nearly everything you will need to pull off these ideas is listed. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that these are just ideas. They weren’t all written to be taken literally—please tweak them and adjust them to fit your context. Feel free to add to, subtract from, and branch off of these ideas. In fact, if you come up with an idea that is sparked from this packet (or create a new one entirely), please let me know so I can keep adding to the list—I’d like to increase the number of ideas here!
My prayer is that many people will engage with God as a result of these ideas and that He will receive all the glory and honor.
Andrew Berg Worship Director, RiverTree Christian Church [email protected]
*We’ve recorded some instrumental background music for the ideas in this book. You can download them for free at: http://www.rivertreechristian.com/go-communities/resources/gocomp3s/ Or you can stream them for free at: https://soundcloud.com/andrew-david-berg 2 Table of Contents
•Adoration (Reverence & Awe)…..…………………………………….………..………………………….………………….…………………….4 ›Adoration of the Lamb…..………………..….……………………………….…………………………………………………………...... 5 ›Nighttime Adoration…..……………..……………………………………………………….…………….………………………………………….…7 ›The Creator of Creation…..…………………………………………………..…………………….…………………………………………………..8 •Commission (Sending Out!)…………………………………………………………..…………….…………………………….…………………..9 ›Candlelight Commissioning…..…………………………….………………………………………………………….……………………………..10 ›Names of God…………..…………………….…………………………………………………………………………...... 11 ›Prayer of Commission…..…………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………..……12 ›Sending Spoons..…………..…..…….………….………………………………………………………………..……………………………………...14 •Consummation (Face to Face with God Including Confession)……….…….………..………..……………………....15 ›Cleansing Confession…..…………………………….………………………………………………….……………………….……………………..16 ›Connecting with God (From the Perspective of Elijah)……………………..……………….……………………………………………...17 ›Connecting with God in the Silence…………….………………………………………………….…………………………….………………..18 ›Face to Face—Broken Praise…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………..19 ›Hands Up, Hands Down…..…………………………….………………………………………………………….………………………………...20 ›High/Low………………………..…………………………….………………………………………………………….…………………...... 21 ›Idol Confession…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………….22 ›Perspective…………….…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………..………………………………..24 ›Psalm 32 Confession…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………..………………………………...25 ›Trust and Obey Responsive Reading..…..……………………………………………………………………..…………………...... 26 •Exaltation (Praise & Thanksgiving)………………………..…….………………………...………………………..…………………………27 ›Amazing Grace…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….28 ›Balloon Praise…..………………………………….….………………………………………………………………..……………….………………..30 ›Breath Prayers as Communion…………..………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...32 ›Eight Expressions of Praise…..……………………………………………………………………………………………….…..…………………..33 ›Post-it® Praise…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………..34 ›Share Your Skittles®…….…………………….………………………………………………………………..…………………….………………….35 ›Thanksgivings…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………..36 •Reflection (Who God Is).…..…………………………………………………………………………………….…..……………………………….37 ›All About the Ebenezer…..………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………..38 ›Alphabet Attributes…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………..…………………………………..40 ›Birds of a Feather……..…………………………….………………………………………………………………..………………….……………….41 ›Communion…..…………………………………….………………………………………………………………..………………………………….…42 ›Promises of God…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………..………………………………………43 ›S.O.A.P…………..…..…………………………….………………………………………………………………..……………………………………...45 ›The Daily Examen……….…..………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...46 ›The Lord’s Prayer.……….…..………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...47 ›Turn Your Heart to God…..………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...48 •Holidays…..…………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………..…..………………………………..49 ›New Year’s Day: End-of-Year Examen………………………….……………………………………………..…………………………………50 ›John Newton’s New Year’s Reflection: Amazing Grace…..….….…..…………………………………………………………………….53 ›Maundy Thursday Experience……………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………..55 ›Good Friday: Carry Your Cross…..……………………………………..………………………………………..………………………………..56 ›Easter: Lint Roller Confession…..………………………………….……………………………………………..………………………………...57 ›Thanksgiving…..……………………….………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...58 ›Christmas: The Consolation of Israel…..……………………………………..………………………………..………………………………...59 ›Christmas: One Solitary Life…..……………………………………….…………………………………………..………………………………..61 •Others…..……………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………..………..………………………………..62 ›ACTS Prayer Beads………….………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...63 ›Global Prayer……….………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………..65 ›Honesty Nametags..……….……………………………………………………………………………………………….………..…………………..66 ›PRESS…..……………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………..………………………………...67 ›Rembrandt’s Storm…………..………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..…………………..69 ›Snickers® Satisfies…...………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………….……………….71 ›Three-On-Three…..………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………….…………………72 ›Twister® Worship…..………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………..….…73 ›Write Your Own Psalm…..……….……………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………….743
*Some of these may fit into more than one category. Adoration: Reverence & Awe
›Adoration of the Lamb ›Nighttime Adoration ›The Creator of Creation
4 Adoration of the Passover Lamb
Purpose: To meditate on the idea of Jesus being the lamb who was sacrificed for our sin.
Materials: The teaching/scripture sheet (see next page).
Instructions: Have folks silently read and meditate through the teaching/scripture page on the next page.* Then, instruct them to look at the photo of the lamb as a symbol of the pure, spotless, innocent sacrifice of Christ. Allow some space for silence. To conclude, sing “Revelation Song” together (play from an iPod or have a musically inclined individual lead the song) with an emphasis on adoring Christ as our lamb.
*Or, you could have them break up into small groups and read through the passages and discuss the concepts. Sometimes a group context allows for greater learning. If you choose the small group route, consider the following questions for the small group leaders to ask: 1) What does it mean to you that God “passes over” you because of Jesus’ sacrifice for you? 2) How do you want to respond in reading the Revelation passages?
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
5 Our Passover Lamb Old Testament
Exodus 12 recounts the story of the Passover lamb, in which each household was to sacrifice a lamb, spreading its blood on their doorposts in order to be “passed over” by the Lord when He sent His judgment. Later, the sacrificial system of the Old Testament required an animal without any blemish or spot to be sacrificed to God as a means of forgiveness of sin or as an offering of worship or devotion.
New Testament
The New Testament portrays the sacrificial system as being fulfilled in one sacrifice for all – Jesus. He came as our Passover lamb. He was “a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) and is the only sacrifice necessary for a restored relationship with God:
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Upon seeing Jesus for the first time, John the Baptist proclaimed: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) And finally, the picture John gives in Revelation is as follows:
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne […] In a loud voice they all sang, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (5:6, 11-12)
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
6 Nighttime Adoration Psalm 19:1-2; Psalm 8:3-4
Purpose: To adore God by spending time in amazement of His creation.
Materials: A clear night's sky, people.
Instructions: Communicate in advance that you'll be going outside for 5-10 minutes the next time you gather.* Have someone read the above scriptures and lead everyone outside (or read the scriptures once you get outside - keeping the whole thing a surprise is good too).
While outside, encourage everyone to simply gaze up at the stars in silence and ponder His greatness. Encourage them to worship Him from their hearts. Once an appropriate amount of time passes, return inside and have people share what struck them the most about God from this exercise.** The experience and sharing will lend themselves to adoration.
*This exercise can be done year round. In fact, a clear winter's night is to be encouraged since many folks don't venture outside in the winter and miss out on God's beauty during this season. Tell them to bring coats and boots!
**If someone possesses a moderate level of musical inclination, a chorus or two of "How Great Thou Art" would be a great way to end the time of silence.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
7 The Creator of Creation Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-4a
Purpose: To worship God as He has revealed Himself through creation.
Materials: A nice day to go outside, a place with lots of “nature,” like a park or a house in the woods.
Instructions: Have everyone in your group go off by themselves for 5-10 minutes in search of some object in nature (a leaf, a blade of grass, a flower, an insect, etc.) that reminds them of God, or blows their mind about God in some way. Then, have them return and have someone read the above passages out loud. Remember, we are worshipping the God of the creation, not the creation itself (Romans 1:25)! With this in mind, have them share what they picked and why. The goal is for people to be in awe of God as the items are described.
Courtesy of Alex Absalom and Andrew Berg
8 Commission: Sending Out!
›Candlelight Commissioning ›Names of God ›Prayer of Commission ›Sending Spoons
9 Candlelight Commissioning John 8:12
Purpose: To pray for your people of peace and people you are trying to reach in a unique way.
Materials: One big candle, multiple smaller candles (one for each person in your group), and some method of lighting them.
Instructions: While this exercise could be done at any point in your meeting, it might work best to end your time together. Have everyone gather around a table where the candles are. The leader lights the large candle in the center of the table and reads John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The leader talks about Jesus being the light of the world and invites each person to light their candle representing either a person of peace or someone they are trying to reach. As they light the candle, they say a prayer for that person out loud (everyone is instructed to do this at the same time). When the prayers wrap up, the leader prays one prayer for the people represented by the candles to see and receive the light of Jesus.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
10 Names of God
Purpose: To call to mind who God is in all His might and power and remember that He goes before us.
Materials: Paper, pens, Bibles, smart phones.
Instructions: Have your group break out into groups of 3 or so (make sure at least one person in each group has a smart phone). Give them some pens and paper and tell them to write down as many names of God as they can think of (they may consult Bibles and phones). When everyone is finished, have each group read 1-2 of the names they came up with and define it – this is where the smart phones come in handy. If someone is able to lead the song “Your Name” or “At Your Name,” they are both good wrap-ups to this activity*. Close with an appropriate prayer.
This exercise works well to begin your gathering, or to end it – if you use it at the end, remind your people of this great God that is going with them into the world – it’s a great commissioning!
*Even if nobody is a strong musician, see if someone is able to just lead a chorus of “Your Name” a cappella.
Courtesy of Sam Hargreaves (engageworship.org), Adapted by Andrew Berg
11 Prayer of Commission Based on Matthew 28:17-20, 10:7-8
Purpose: To end a meeting with your Missional Community by commissioning them to GO!
Materials: Handouts of the prayer (see next page).
Instructions: Read the prayer out loud together to end your gathering with a sense of commissioning (or sending out).
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
12 Prayer of Commission
Jesus we worship You, and sometimes we doubt. Yet we know all authority is Yours.
So You call us to go: To all nations, To make disciples, To continue Your mission.
You call us to announce Your Kingdom: To heal the sick, To raise the dead, To cast out demons.
You call us to baptize in Your name: You are Father, You are Son, You are Holy Spirit.
We will follow, We will obey and teach all You have commanded.
For You are with us always, Day after day, Year after year, To the very end of the age. Amen.
Courtesy of Sam Hargreaves (engageworship.org), Adapted by Andrew Berg
13 Sending Spoons
Purpose: To send members of your group out with something with which they didn’t come in (a word of encouragement or challenge).
Materials: You will need a full deck of playing cards, and enough spoons to have one less than the number of people in your group (Ex.: If you have 20 people, you will need 19 spoons).
Instructions: You might have played the card game Spoons before, but here’s a reminder of the rules, and a slight twist to the end. Make sure to explain these rules to everyone in your group, and ask them at the beginning to be thinking about what Jesus has been saying to them lately.
Everyone will need to sit in a circle, and all of the spoons should be in the middle of that circle, close enough for anyone to grab. Each person in the group will be given four cards at the beginning of the game, and no one is allowed to keep more than four at any point in the game. The dealer will start by drawing one card from the deck. Then, the dealer needs to decide which card they want to discard and pass to the person on their left. Everyone else in the circle will take the new card they received from the person on their right, and then also choose which card they want to discard to the person on their left.
As the cards are being passed one at a time clockwise around the circle, each person will try to get a four of a kind. The first person to do this should, as nonchalantly as possible, reach for one of the spoons and place it in front of his/herself. Once this happens, anyone else who notices should also grab a spoon until there are none left. One person will be left without a spoon.
Here’s the Twist! Normally at this point in the game, the person with no spoon would be “out.” Instead, have that person answer this question to the group: “What has Jesus been saying to you lately?” Once they share, invite the group to encourage or challenge that person, as they feel led (scriptures, prayers, questions, etc. are welcome). Let the Spirit direct this time.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
14 Consummation: Face to Face with God
›Cleansing Confession ›Connecting with God (From the Perspective of Elijah) ›Connecting with God in the Silence ›Face to Face—Broken Praise ›Hands Up, Hands Down ›High/Low ›Idol Confession ›Perspective ›Psalm 32 Confession ›Trust and Obey Responsive Reading
15 Cleansing Confession Psalm 103:8:12
Purpose: To confess our sins to God and be reminded of the depth of His love for us— particularly His forgiveness.
Materials: Index cards, pens, a campfire (can be done year-round if you’d like!)
Instructions: Have everyone write down a few things they need to confess to God (maybe pray beforehand and allow some space for silence). Gather around a campfire and have someone read Psalm 103:8-12 aloud. Instruct everyone to throw their list into the fire and as it burns, remind them that God is faithful and just to forgive them and remembers their sin no more (1 John 1:9).
Courtesy of Clover Small Group Ideas, Adapted by Andrew Berg
16 Connecting with God (From the Perspective of Elijah) I Kings 17-19
Purpose: For further study and reading on “Connecting with God in the Silence”, read I Kings 17-19. Look at the story of Elijah.
Materials: Fresh bread, matches, Dixie cups, a pitcher of water, and printed lists of the scriptures below for each person in your group.
How does Elijah connect with God in these passages? • 1 Kings 17:1-7 (Fed by Ravens) • 1 Kings 17:8-24 (The Widow of Zarephath) • 1 Kings 18 (Taking on the Baal Prophets) • 1 Kings 19:1-9 (Elijah Flees) • 1 Kings 19:10-18 (Hiding Out in the Cave)
Instructions: Activity: How does Elijah connect with God in these verses? • 1 Kings 17:1-7 (Fed by Ravens) Pass around a fresh baked loaf of bread. Everyone break off a piece and eat as a reminder of how God cares for us.
• 1 Kings 17:8-24 (The Widow of Zarephath) Stretch your arms around the people to your left and your right. Say to the person on your left and right: I am thankful for the times in which God hears me and heals me.
• 1 Kings 18 (Taking on the Baal Prophets) Pass around matches. Strike the match as a reminder that the fire of the Lord burns bright for all to see. Nothing in this world can compare to the power and might of the Lord. As you blow out the match, may the smoke remind you of the Holy Spirit’s power, as it fills the room and your lungs.
• 1 Kings 19:1-9 (Elijah Flees) Pass around a pitcher of water and Dixie cups. Pour a cup of water for the person on your right as a reminder of how God provides streams of living water in the midst of our wasteland (Isaiah 43:19). Drink the cup of water and be refreshed and renewed.
• 1 Kings 19:10-18 (Hiding Out in the Cave) Starting with the leader, whisper into the ear of the person on your right (and go around the circle). Whisper the phrase “God is with you” into their ear. Go around the room whispering this word of encouragement. Courtesy of Tim Beck
17 Connecting with God in the Silence Psalm 62:5-8
Purpose: To connect with God in the silence.
Materials: Pen and Paper
Instructions: As a group, take 5 minutes with no talking. Write down everything you hear in the silence.
Then discuss: •What sounds did you hear? •Would you have paid attention to those sounds if they were in the background of conversation? •Why do you think it is hard for us to hear such things? •What were you thinking about during the period of silence? •Why is it often hard to hear from God when we pray?
Read Psalm 62:5-8
How does this passage offer encouragement in the midst of the distractions of life? Discuss.
End with prayer, asking God to help us spend more time quietly listening for Him.
Courtesy of Tim Beck
18 Face to Face—Broken Praise Isaiah 29:15-16; Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:20-21; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
Purpose: To realize the sovereignty of God as our Maker, be moldable before Him, and realize He is in and glorified by our brokenness.
Materials: • A clay pot broken into pieces the size of silver dollars (you can find clay pots at Wal-Mart or a local nursery) • Set up the pieces of pottery in the area where you will worship • A small wooden cross • Superglue or wood glue • Sharpies or other permanent markers
Instructions: Leader says something like: “As we prepare to worship, let’s look at several passages of scripture together. While reading these passages, look for the common theme.”
Read Isaiah 29:15-16; Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:20-21; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10.
Ask: “What is the common thread that runs through these passages? Who is the potter? Who is the clay? What role does each of these play? Why do you suppose the scripture writers use the imagery of clay to describe us?” We are like pieces of clay shaped and molded for God's purposes. Each of us is used differently according to how God has formed us. We should give praise to God for how He has designed us and uses us.
Hand each person a piece of the broken pottery. We should also give praise in our brokenness. Even in our brokenness, we can bring beauty and we can point the way to Christ. What I would like you to do is to think for a minute about the ways you have been broken. Perhaps you will think of relationships, financial issues, physical ailments, emotional struggles, or an addiction. Write one word on your broken shard of clay that would represent your brokenness.
Take a few minutes to pray and think about your own brokenness. After five minutes or so, say something like: “Now what I would like you to do is to take your broken piece of clay and glue it to the cross (word down so no one else can read it).”
After everyone is finished, pray a prayer like this: “Lord, you are the Potter and we are the clay. You have made us perfectly for your plans. Let us see your purpose and your way. Let us praise you for your love that leads us through life. Lord, we even want to thank you for the way you use our brokenness. We praise you that you can, and do, take all the broken pieces of our lives and make something beautiful. Only you could do such a thing. We love you. Amen.”
Written by Tami Rudkin (smallgroups.com) and Andrew Berg. 19 Hands Up, Hands Down 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6-7
Purpose: So often, many of us (and many in our community) are walking through life filled with anxiety, sometimes without even realizing it. The Lord offers peace to those in this state; the purpose of this exercise is to cast our worries and anxieties on God and go forth in peace!
Materials: A way to play some quiet music in the background.
Instructions: Have some ambient or quiet music playing in the background. Instruct your community to close their eyes and open their hands, palms up, towards the ceiling. Offer a prayer inviting God to come and work in this time. Have your community picture in their hands the things or anxieties that are weighing them down. After giving them time to mentally picture all of these things, read 1 Peter 5:7 aloud and have them turn their hands over as a sign of “casting” or “handing” these things over to God. Offer a closing prayer of walking in freedom and peace, maybe even include some thoughts from the Philippians passage as the Spirit leads.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
20 High/Low Job 1, James 1:2-4, James 1:17
Purpose: To grow closer to each other and to God through the sharing of the ups and downs of life.
Materials: Nothing!
Instructions: Have your group simply go around and share the "high" and "low" point of their week (if your group is large, break them into groups of 5 or so to do this). Scripture makes it clear that God works through both trials and blessings to make us more like Jesus. This is a great way for your community to get to know each other better and may lead to the processing of some Kairos moments* for people, as well as spontaneous prayer times. Encourage your leaders to let the Spirit move in this exercise and follow His promptings.
*A Kairos Moment, according to Mike Breen and Steve Cockram in the book Building a Discipling Culture: “Kairos, meaning an event, an opportunity—a moment in time when perhaps everything changes because it is the right time. A kairos moment is when the eternal God breaks into your circumstances with an event that gathers some loose ends of your life and knots them together in his hands” (26).
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
21 Idol Confession 1 John 5:21; Matthew 22:36-40
Purpose: To seek God about what we are worshipping instead of Him in order to lay it down before Him and make Him first in our lives.
Materials: Paper, pens, the questions on the next page.
Instructions: Give your group a copy of the next page with the questions on it. Encourage them to spread out in the room and spend some time reflecting on the questions. They can journal, pray silently, etc. When the appropriate amount of time has been spent, call them back and pray out loud. Pray a prayer that casts their idols down and leaves them feeling encouraged and uplifted that God forgives them and is reclaimed as the Lord of their life*.
*If you would like to conclude with some singing, that is a good idea too. “Give Us Clean Hands” is a good fit.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg 22 Idol Confession Questions
How do I know what I love the most? By looking at my everyday life.
• What do I enjoy the most? • What do I spend the most time doing? • Where does my mind drift to when I don’t have anything to do? • What am I passionate about? • What do I spend my money on? • What makes me angry when I don’t get it? • What do I feel depressed without? • What do I fear losing the most?
Our answers to these questions will lead us straight to the God or gods we love and worship. 1
______1 From Worship Matters Chapter 2
Courtesy of “Worship Matters” by Bob Kauflin © 2008, Adapted by Andrew Berg
23 Perspective:
Life is Complicated; Creating Simplifies. Genesis 1:27; Isaiah 43:19
Purpose: To glorify God by using our God-given creativity, to become aware of new things that God has placed in front of us, and to connect with God through a newfound awareness (Kairos moments). This can also serve as an opportunity for group bonding.
Materials: Shapes cut out of paper, cardstock, or construction paper: One oblong triangle, two circles, one long, narrow rectangle, and one short, narrow rectangle.
Image ideas can be found here (or create your own): http://cdn1.static.mporatrons.com/photo/BeENzYwag0_m.jpg (Shapes from Howies® clothing company, in the UK)
Instructions: In groups of 2-3, make something with the shapes and a story to go with it. Move the shapes around to create a simple picture. It’s all about perspective. Life can seem complicated and problematic when all we see are shapes, but a different perspective might reveal something new (Isaiah 43:19).
When we live out our God-given creative gifts, our eyes and ears are more in tune with the new things God is already doing in our lives and community.
Create. See new things. Find God in the midst.
Courtesy of Tim Beck
24 Psalm 32 Confession Psalm 32:3-5
Purpose: To confess our sins before the Lord and walk in forgiveness.
Materials: Nothing.
Instructions: Read Psalm 32:3-5. Ask your community what they’ve been “keeping silent” from the Lord. Give them space to spread out and pray alone for 5-10 minutes (background music is helpful!). When you come back together encourage them that they are forgiven (as verse 5 states, as well as 1 John 1:9), and close with a word of prayer or a song such as “Amazing Grace.”
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
25 Trust and Obey Responsive Reading
Purpose: To proclaim to God, as a community, that we will “Trust and Obey” Him in all circumstances.
Materials: None.
Instructions: The leader of the group should read the phrases listed below, while the rest of the group will respond to each phrase by saying: “I will trust and obey.” (If someone in your group is musically inclined, it would be great to sing the song “Trust and Obey” following this reading.)
When life is overflowing with joy
When I see how You have supplied my needs according to Your riches
When the sun is shining down on me
When temptation comes my way
When worries and doubts arise
When confusion clouds my vision
When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
For You are with me Courtesy of Andrew Berg
26 Exaltation: Praise & Thanksgiving
›Amazing Grace ›Balloon Praise ›Breath Prayers as Communion ›Eight Expressions of Praise ›Post-it® Praise ›Share Your Skittles® ›Thanksgivings
27 Amazing Grace
Purpose: To think about the words of a classic hymn, allowing them to draw you into God’s presence.
Materials: The lyrics sheet of “Amazing Grace” on the next page.
Instructions: Pass out the lyrics to “Amazing Grace.” If you’re especially bold, sing it a capella. If not, just read it aloud. Then, have people go around and share which verse is the most meaningful to them, and why. The song itself and explanations will edify your GoCo.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
28 “Amazing Grace” Lyrics
Verse 1: Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found Was blind, but now I see
Verse 2: 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed
Verse 3: The Lord has promised good to me His Word my hope secures He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures
Verse 4: Through many dangers toils and snares I have already come 'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home
Verse 5: Yea when this flesh and heart shall fail And mortal life shall cease I shall possess within the veil A life of joy and peace
Verse 6: When we've been there ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we first begun
“Amazing Grace” Words and Music by Edwin Othello Excell, John Newton, John P. Reese Public Domain, CCLI License # 22025
29 Balloon Praise Psalm 9:1
Purpose: To praise our Almighty God in a fun & serious kind of way.
Materials: Copies of the worship phrases (on next page), scissors, balloons, sticky tape or string, and maybe some helium.
Instructions: Print the next page containing 24 worship phrases from the Psalms, and cut them out. *Fold the phrases up and stick in balloons, which you inflate (for best result with helium). Attach the balloons to different places in your worship space (creates a great celebration atmosphere as people arrive). In the midst of a time of sung praise**, encourage people to pop their balloons and read out their prayers of praise with a loud voice (don’t do this activity if it’s likely that you will have babies and/or small children present who might get scared—their parents won’t thank you!).
*We think 6-10 balloons is an appropriate number for a GoCo sized group.
**Or have worship music playing in the background if there is no one with stellar musical skills in your community.
Courtesy of Sara Hargreaves (engageworship.org)., Additions (*) by Andrew Berg 30 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7:17
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1
I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. Psalm 9:1
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2
I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:6
I love you, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. Psalm 18:2
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might. Psalm 21:13
Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory. Psalm 24:10
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1
Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. Psalm 28:6
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30:12
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34:1
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. Psalm 41:13
Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise. Psalm 48:1
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nation; I will sing of you among the peoples. Psalm 57:9
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57:11
O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. Psalm 59:17
Praise be to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Psalm 66:20
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I, whom you have redeemed. Psalm 71:23
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his marvelous name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Psalm 72:19
We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 75:1
O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you. Psalm 89:8
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. Psalm 93:1
31 Breath Prayers as Communion
Purpose: To embody a prayer of thanksgiving. It is a prayer that is often patterned on salvation history—moving from creation, through the people of Israel, to Jesus, to the saints. One way to offer embodiment, and experience embodiment, is through the simple act of breathing.
Materials: None.
Instructions: Deep breath…Recite together: God we breathe in air. As we do, we thank you for creation, for the air we breathe, for the birds that sing in the morning, for the color of the trees.
Deep breath…Recite together: God we breathe in air. Air breathed by others. As we do, we thank you for those who’ve gone before, for the prophets and saints who’ve shown us how to live life and seek justice.
Deep breath…Recite together: God we breathe in air. Air breathed by others, including your Son, Jesus. As we do, we thank you for the humanity of Jesus’ breath, the places he walked, the people he healed, the grace he offered, the words he said.
Written by Steve Taylor (Sustain:if:able kiwi blog) http://www.emergentkiwi.org.nz/archive/2013/05/page/2/#ixzz2jv00epEO Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial
32 Eight Expressions of Praise
Purpose: To express praise to God in a Biblical way that you maybe haven’t experienced before.
Materials: The eight expressions of praise, space for people to spread out—a large outdoor space is preferred.
Instructions: Hand out sheets of paper with these eight expressions of praise on them (or project them somewhere in your space). Explain to people how there are numerous ways people physically responded to God in the Bible, and we rarely tap into all of them. Here are just eight of them. Pick one you’ve never tried before and worship God through it. ______
Visible Types: • Kneeling (1 Chronicles 16:29—The word “worship” in that verse is translated to “shachah” in the original Hebrew language, also meaning “to bow down”.) • Dancing (Psalm 149:3) • Raising Hands (Psalm 63:4)
Vocal Types: • Shouting (Psalm 100:1) • Singing (Isaiah 54:1-3) • Speaking (Psalm 107:2)
Audible Types: • Playing an instrument (Psalm 150) • Clapping (Psalm 47:1)
Courtesy of Jack Taylor (The Hallelujah Factor), Also see Dwayne Moore (Pure Praise), Adapted by Andrew Berg
33 Post-it® Praise Psalm 105
Purpose: To give thanks to God in a unique way that engages multiple senses.
Materials: A large poster board and Post-it® notes of varying colors and sizes.
Instructions*:
1. Read, or have someone else read Psalm 105:1-5.
2. Give each of your GoCo members 5 (or so) Post-it® notes. Place the poster board in the middle of the room on the floor or with the permission of your host, hang it on a wall.
3. Have your group members think back on the last month or so. For what are they thankful?
4. Ask them to write one praise on each Post-it® note, and then place it on the poster board.
5. In closing, refer back to Psalm 105. What are the instructions of this passage?
• Give thanks • Call on His name • Tell of His wonderful acts • Sing to Him • Rejoice • Seek His face always • Remember what He has done
6. Take a moment to read the Post-it® praises as a prayer.
7. Lastly, challenge your group to buy (or give them some) more Post-it® notes, and every time God does something wonderful in their lives, have them write on a Post-it® note and put it on their desk, bathroom mirror, or refrigerator. It will be a reminder to always praise God.
*For a simpler version, just have your community write their thanksgivings on Post-it® notes, post them on a wall, and then read them in silence together, or have a reader read them allowed.
Courtesy of Tami Rudkin, Adapted by Andrew Berg
34 Share Your Skittles®
Purpose: To give thanks to God in a unique and fun way.
Materials: Have enough Skittles® for each person to have one of every color. You can do this with Starburst®, M&M’s®, Smarties®, or any other candy that includes a variety of different colors.
Instructions: Have your missional community break up into smaller groups of about five. Ask them to take one Skittle® at a time, and share a way they’ve seen God at work in their lives based on the color Skittle® they are holding (there should be enough colors to represent whatever candy you use).
Red: Red is the color of passion and love.
Orange: Orange is the color of energy and enthusiasm.
Yellow: Yellow is the color of sunshine and is related to joy and happiness.
Green: Green is the color of nature and symbolizes growth and freshness.
Blue: Blue is the color of trust, loyalty and confidence.
Purple: Purple is the color of royalty, spirituality, and honor.
Pink: Pink is the color of caring, acceptance, and calm.
White: White is the color of reverence and purity.
Courtesy of Danielle Harper, Adapted by Andrew Berg 35 Thanksgivings 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 136
Purpose: To give thanks to God as a community (which in turn can turn a bitter spirit into one of gratitude and make the already grateful person even more so!).
Materials: None!
Instructions: This simple exercise ought not be overlooked. It’s become so impactful at our GoCo that we now share thanksgivings at every meal around the table.
Simply have everyone share one thing for which they are thankful to God since your GoCo last met. It can be simple or profound. This is a great way to thank the Lord and encourage the Body. You can read the above scriptures beforehand (or other “thanks” scriptures), or not.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg 36 Reflection: Who God Is
›All About the Ebenezer ›Alphabet Attributes ›Birds of a Feather ›Communion ›Promises of God ›S.O.A.P. ›The Daily Examen ›The Lord’s Prayer ›Turn Your Heart to God
37 All About the Ebenezer 1 Samuel 7:12
Purpose: To resurrect our “stones of help” while thanking God for His faithfulness and reminding us of His trustworthiness in the present and future.
Materials: Paper, pens, copies of the lyrics from the next page.
Instructions: Share the following information: In the song “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” we sing a line that says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I’m come.” Yet, do we really know what an Ebenezer is? I don’t think the song is referring to Scrooge.
The Hebrew word for “Ebenezer” is translated as “stone of help.” When Israel finally defeated the Philistines under Samuel’s leadership, he resurrects an Ebenezer as a visual reminder to all who would pass by of God’s help and that God was their help in battle (1 Samuel 7:12).
Do you have any Ebenezers? If not, you should. They remind us of God’s help in the past and encourage us of His help in the present and future. Take some time to pray and reflect on key moments in your life when you know God helped you. Now you can journal about that for a while.
Conclude with something like this: “Consider finding an object that represents God’s faithfulness in these key moments you wrote about. Place the object somewhere in your everyday path as a reminder of God’s help and faithfulness.” *
*If someone in your community is musically inclined, it would be great to close by singing “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
38 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Verse 1: Come, Thou Fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing Thy grace Streams of mercy, never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise Teach me some melodious sonnet Sung by flaming tongues above Praise the mount; I’m fixed upon it Mount of God’s redeeming love
Verse 2: Here I raise my Ebenezer Hither by Thy help I'm come And I hope by Thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home Jesus sought me when a stranger Wand’ring from the fold of God He, to rescue me from danger Interposed His precious blood
Verse 3: O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be Let Thy goodness, like a fetter Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Here’s my heart, O take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above
“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Music and Words by John Wyeth and Robert Robinson Public Domain, CCLI License # 108389
39 Alphabet Attributes
Purpose: To reflect on who God is, and then respond to Him (worship) based on who we know Him to be.
Materials: 26 pieces of paper with the alphabet written on them (one letter per paper), Bibles, smartphones.
Instructions: Pass out the letters to your group. If you have less than 26 people, each person will get more than one letter. If you have more than 26 people, a letter can be shared by two or more people.
Once the letters are passed out, have each person or team come up with a word that describes God beginning with the letter they have. They can use their brains, Bibles, smartphones, etc. Once everyone is done, go around the room and have the attributes read aloud one after another. Encourage your group to soak in who God is and worship Him in their heart as they hear these descriptions. If you have a whiteboard or something, you could also write them all down for everyone to see.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
40 Birds of a Feather Psalm 50:11
Purpose: To help the group understand and realize that God is in control, and that just like ducks, the group should function as a team, where individuals have each other’s back and are there for each other, just as God is there for us.
This could be a bonding time of worship for your group.
Materials: Go to amazon.com and order a bunch of rubber ducks (you can get a box of 50 ducks for under $20), or print and cut out pictures of rubber ducks (enough for each person in your group to have one).
Activity: Give one duck to each person, then write on the bottom or back of the duck “PSALM 50:11.” Read Psalm 50:11 aloud.
“I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine.”
May these ducks be a fun reminder that we are God’s! He is in control. May it also remind us that ducks are always there for each other. They are rarely alone. They fly in a V-formation to help each other conserve energy. They are efficient because of how they interact. Ducks have each other’s back. Ducks are there for each other.
Place this rubber duck somewhere where you’ll see it frequently: in your car, bathroom, office shelf, etc. May it remind you that you are not alone. God is with you and has provided for you a group of people who are there for you.
Courtesy of John Moores and Joel Daniel Harris, Adapted by Tim Beck
41 Communion Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
Purpose: To remember the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did for each of us.
Materials: A form of bread and grape juice or wine.
Instructions: Have a leader read the above passages of scripture. To keep the image of the bread and cup as pure as possible, it is powerful to have fresh bread that you can break. As everyone watches, they are reminded of Jesus’ body being broken for them. Likewise, having a goblet for the juice or wine is powerful. Passing the elements (dip or sip for the juice) works well (and receiving them all at once at the end or individually as they are passed), or forming “lines” with a couple leaders serving it to your community. They can say to each person as they come through, “The body of Christ broken for you and the blood of Christ shed for you.” Soft music in the background always helps.
There are numerous ways to receive communion together. These are just some suggestions, but certainly you should do it how you think it’d be best in your specific community. If you have a fairly intellectual group, a Google search on “communion quotes” may provide you with some good additional text to supplement the Bible passages. Below are some examples:
“Every day He humbles Himself just as He did when from His heavenly throne into the Virgin's womb; every day He comes to us and lets us see Him in lowliness.” -St. Francis of Assisi
“I would celebrate the Holy Communion service in my pajamas if I thought it would help someone to find faith.” - Nicholas Stacey
“In each of our lives Jesus comes as the Bread of Life—to be eaten, to be consumed by us. This is how He loves us. Then Jesus comes in our human life as the hungry one, the other, hoping to be fed with the Bread of our life, our hearts by loving, and our hands by serving. In loving and serving, we prove that we have been created in the likeness of God, for God is Love and when we love we are like God. This is what Jesus meant when He said, ‘Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.’” - Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
42 Promises of God 2 Corinthians 1:20
Purpose: To remember and meditate on the promises of God as a Body.
Materials: Enough copies of the responsive reading on the next page for your community.
Instructions: Have the leader read 2 Corinthians 1:20, and explain how this verse is a good response to any promise of God. There is power in saying this verse in response to God’s promises. Then, divide your community into three groups. Read through the responsive reading together as it reads on the next page.
Copyright Sara Hargreaves 2013 (engageworship.org)
43 “Promises of God” Responsive Reading 2 Corinthians 1:20
Group 1: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) Leader: For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. ALL: And we say ‘Amen’ through Christ and to the glory of God! Group 2: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Leader: For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. ALL: And we say ‘Amen’ through Christ and to the glory of God! Group 3: Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Leader: For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. ALL: And we say ‘Amen’ through Christ and to the glory of God! Group 1: “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)
Leader: For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. ALL: And we say ‘Amen’ through Christ and to the glory of God! Group 2: “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8) Leader: For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. ALL: And we say ‘Amen’ through Christ and to the glory of God! Group 3: Jesus said: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20) Leader: For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. ALL: And we say ‘Amen’ through Christ and to the glory of God!
Copyright Sara Hargreaves 2013 (engageworship.org)
44 S.O.A.P.
Purpose: To understand how to apply God’s scriptures to our lives.
Materials: No materials required. If you want, you can use a poster board or dry erase board to write out the meaning of “S.O.A.P.,” and maybe some paper and pens for those in your group to write down their responses.
Instructions: Write out or explain the meaning of S.O.A.P.:
Scripture Observation Application Prayer
Scripture You will pick out a scripture verse or passage ahead of time and read that together. You can stay as one large group, or split up into smaller groups of about five.
Observation Ask each person in the group to pick out a particular part of that scripture that stands out to them at this point in their life (it may be a word of conviction, comfort, or something else), and ask them to share.
Application Go around the group and have each person share what Jesus is saying to them through this scripture, and what they should do about it.
Prayer Go around the group and pray for each other’s “applications.”
Courtesy of Andrew Berg and John Moores 45 The Daily Examen
Purpose: St. Ignatius of Loyola taught the “examen” as part of his Spiritual Exercises. It is a way of connecting with the presence of God in our lives and discerning the direction in which we should go.
Materials: None.
Instructions: The simplest form of the examen consists in asking two questions: •For what moment today am I most grateful? •For what moment today am I least grateful?
This can work in a group setting by going around the room and giving everyone a chance to briefly answer: •For what moment in the past week was I most grateful? •For what moment in the past week was I least grateful?
These questions help us identify moments of consolation (that for which we are most grateful), and desolation (that for which we are least grateful). Ignatius expected that God would speak to us through these moments of deepest feelings and yearnings. We should aim to do more of what brings us consolation, and to listen to and respond to what brings us desolation. Done regularly over a period of time, the examen can guide our lives and help us make wise choices.
This activity gives community members a chance to connect with God as they reflect and share the moment for which they are most grateful. It is an opportunity to reflect on what made it so special.
It also is an opportunity to reflect on the challenges of the past week and on what made it so difficult. For it is in saying "amen" to the highs and lows of life that we are able to live fully in both worldly sorrow and joy.
The community then has a chance to love and support each other and to be filled with the love of God. As a group, conclude this time by giving thanks for what you just experienced. This activity can be abbreviated as needed.
For more PRAYERS visit: http://disciplesteps.tumblr.com/prayers
Courtesy of Tim Beck 46 The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6
Purpose: To reflect on what God’s saying to you through The Lord’s Prayer.
Materials: Copies of The Lord’s Prayer.
Instructions: Pass out the copies of The Lord’s Prayer (you may want to split up into smaller groups, depending on the size of your missional community). Ask those in your community to pick one line or phrase that stands out to them because of what God has been teaching them recently, what they are struggling with, or what they need to remember about God’s truths. Then, have them share that with the group, and share what that phrase means to them at this point in their lives.
End with a group prayer.
Our Father in heaven; Holy is Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; And forgive us our sins, As we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, Now and forever. Amen.
Courtesy of John Moores
47 Turn Your Heart to God Jeremiah 17:5-10
Purpose: To reflect on what’s in our hearts and turn it over to God.
Materials: Paper or cardboard hearts, pens.
Instructions: Pass out the hearts and pens. Provide space for reflection and have people search their hearts. Have them consider the following questions to get them started: • What do you love most at the moment? • Fear most? • Worry about? Care about? Think about?
Have them write these things on their hearts.
Next, read Jeremiah 17:5-10.
Have your group place their cardboard hearts in front of them, with the writing facing down. Pray (something like this):
“Gracious Father God, so often we turn our hearts away from you. Perhaps not willingly, but more by chance: we fill our hearts with concerns and keep them close to ourselves. We are sorry for the times we have not turned our hearts towards you to let you search us. We are sorry for the times we have turned our hearts away from you because we fear your judgment, or because we are selfish with the things of our hearts and worry about what you will do if we share with you. We are sorry and we repent, because we know that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.”
(leave space for personal confession)
“Thank you for forgiving us Father God, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, making a way for us to come to you. Now, we turn our hearts to you. (signal to your group to turn their cardboard hearts over) Lord, search our hearts, we lay them before you. Carry our burdens, share our joys and show us where we are not walking your way. We turn our hearts to you. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Copyright Sara Hargreaves 2013 (engageworship.org)
48 Holidays:
›New Year’s Day: End-of-Year Examen ›John Newton’s New Year’s Reflection: Amazing Grace ›Maundy Thursday Experience ›Good Friday: Carry Your Cross ›Easter: Lint Roller Confession ›Thanksgiving ›Christmas: The Consolation of Israel ›Christmas: One Solitary Life
49 New Year’s Day: End-of-Year Examen Isaiah 48
Purpose: Finding God in all things is the catch phrase of Ignatian spirituality. It is a key concept in the return to a more grounded, more experiential faith, and it characterizes Ignatian spirituality—from which we get the Examen.
The Examen is a prayer practice, articulated and made popular by a man who came to be known as Ignatius of Loyola (born in the late 15th Century in Northern Spain). It is a way of listening to ourselves and to God. It is a practice of listening contemplatively to our own lives. It is a tool for discerning the presence and absence of God in our lives.
God is constantly revealing himself to us in our experience. This is because God is present and available to human experience—we have a divinely inspired story to tell. This end-of-year practice is designed to lead you in an Examen of the last year as a way of entering this new year with more awareness of where God is speaking to you in your life, and where you find yourself being drawn away from God's love.
Materials: Printed copies of these pages.
Instructions: Distribute the pages to the group beforehand.
•PART 1: Stillness. Take a moment to find a comfortable position (the great masters of prayer never neglected the body!). Find a position that is relaxed, but alert. A simple and longstanding technique at the beginning of meditation is to use the noticing of our breath to gently bring our awareness and focus inwards.
Isaiah 48:16-17 (NLT) “Come closer, and listen to this. From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen. And now the Sovereign LORD and his Spirit have sent me with this message. This is what the LORD your God says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.’”
Reflective questions: How are you in your body? Are you relaxed or tense? Let your body be before God. How are you in your mind? Focused or distracted? Let your mind be before God. How are you in your feelings—emotional or emotionless? Let your feelings be before God.
Have the group recite, “In God we live, and move and have our being.”
50 •PART 2: Thankfulness. Give thanks for the presence of God in our humanity: in our physical, intellectual, and emotional realities. “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14 NIV) Give thanks for the reality of God loving and living in us and through us. Go around the circle and have each person share one thing they are thankful for.
•PART 3: Light-Seeking. Ask God now to help you to see and to understand how HIS love has been working within you over the last year. Ask God's Spirit to enlighten and guide your thoughts. Cleanse the thoughts of your heart by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Reflection Begin to let yourself remember the last year. Don't try too hard. At first, just scan the year and get a sense of it: Christmas and the time leading up to it, Autumn, Summer, Spring, the beginning of the previous year.
Reflective questions: When did I feel best able to give and receive love? What caused in me an increase in faith, hope and love? Where was I drawn to God—in fears, joy, pain, creativity, prayer, liturgy, scripture, creation, work, leisure, family, friends, colleagues, church community, neighbors? Did I feel myself being nudged or prompted in any particular way?
Out of all the year's experiences, is there one experience that I feel most grateful for? Relish these moments of consolation and revelation. Give thanks. Share with the person next to you the answers to some of the reflective questions above.
•PART 4: Sorrow and Regret. (Let’s look back over the year again.) Reflective questions: When was I aware of God's absence? When did I feel least able to give or receive love? What caused in me a decrease in faith, hope and love? When did I fail to respond to His love at work in me?
Without harsh judgment, just let yourself look at that experience. In the light of God's love, what would you like to say to God about that time, event, or experience? What does God want to say to you? Allow time for a few to share as needed.
•PART 5: Hope for the Future. (And now, coming back into the present.) Reflective questions: What insight, revelation, and grace did I receive from the experiences of the last year? Having reviewed the last year, what gift do I hold for the New Year? What would I like to bring into the New Year?
51 Activity: Find a word, phrase, or image to represent what you'd like to bring into the New Year.
•Keep that word, phrase, or image in your heart over the next year. •Add that word, phrase, or image as a reminder on your phone, to go off daily or weekly, reminding you of God’s calling for the new year.
•This is what I will tell my heart, and so recover hope (read together in unison): “The favors of the Lord are not all past, his kindnesses are not exhausted, his mercies are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness. Yahweh is good to those who trust him—to the soul that searches for him.”
Let's pray for the grace to move into this New Year with love, faith, and hope. Pray for the grace to bring more of what gives us life, and to continue to recognize God in our daily lives.
Courtesy of Julie Dunstan & Jonny Baker, GRACE Community, Ealing, London, England Adapted by Tim Beck http://freshworship.org/node/96
52 John Newton’s New Year’s Reflection: Amazing Grace 1 Chronicles 17
Purpose: To reflect on the past year, current state, and year ahead in conjunction with the 1773 New Year’s sermon John Newton delivered (which inspired the hymn “Amazed Grace”).
Materials: None!
Instructions: Use the information below to lead your group in a time of reflection (adapt it however you want—one suggestion is below):
Teach through the information and write the three main points on a whiteboard, or print them on small sheets of paper (whatever’s best for your context), so your group can remember them. Then, ask people to journal on the three points (past year, current reality, and year ahead). When you are finished, you can either have individuals share with the whole group, or break down into small groups and share. End by having people pray for one another’s past, present, and future. If you have someone musical, close by singing “Amazing Grace.”
John Newton based his hymn “Amazing Grace” on 1 Chronicles 17.
He took his 3 sermon points for the New Year from this passage.
1. Look Back
2. Look Around
3. Look Forward
1. Look Back
The Lord reminded David what he had been. “I took you from tending the sheep” (verse 7). David marvels that God has brought him from such a lowly position. “Who am I, O Lord God?”(verse 16). Newton is astonished: Amazing grace…that saved a wretch like me.
53 2. Look Around
The Lord tells David, “I have been with you where you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes” (verse 8). David considers what the Lord has done: “You have brought me this far” (verse 16). Now Newton reflects:
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
3. Look Forward
The Lord promises, “I declare the Lord will build a house for you… I will raise up one of your descendants… I will secure his throne forever” (verses 10-12). David is overawed that God has spoken “of giving your servant a lasting dynasty… you have promised these good things to your servant (verses 17, 26). Newton rejoices:
The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures…
God who called me here below, Will be forever mine.
Courtesy of JohnNewton.org, Adapted by Andrew Berg
54 Maundy Thursday Experience John 13; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
Purpose: To educate on what "Maundy Thursday" is, and to bring its symbolism to life.
Materials: Rubbermaid basins (or something that can hold water for a foot-washing), chairs, towels, elements for communion.
Instructions: 1) Share the following information with your community: The word "Maundy" in Latin is Mandatum, which means "commandment." Prior to the last supper, Jesus said to his disciples: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). Jesus exercised this practically by washing his disciples feet. By performing this lowly act of service, Jesus was setting an example of how the Body ought to serve and love one another.
2) Next, have your leaders wash the feet of those in your community as a symbol of love and service amongst the Body. You may want to have some soft music in the background. After everyone's feet have been washed, serve communion as a time of remembering Jesus’ death, which makes it possible for us to love one another. Left to our own flesh, we would hate one another, but as Jesus’ sacrifice renews us from the inside out, we are able to love one another.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
55 Good Friday: Carry Your Cross Luke 9:22-24
Purpose: To think about the magnitude of what Jesus did on the cross, and thus the magnitude of what it means to carry your cross daily.
Materials: Popsicle sticks, yarn, sharpies, a big cross.
Instructions: This is a great activity to do with kids and adults combined (one or the other will work too). Read Luke 9:22-24 together. Have everyone make crosses out of Popsicle sticks. Use the yarn to tie the crosses together. Have someone read Jesus words aloud: “You must take up your cross and follow Me. If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.” Instruct your community to write down the things on their cross which make it difficult for them to carry their cross daily (for kids, consider something more simple like sins they struggle with or things they do, even though they know they shouldn’t). End the exercise by placing your crosses at the foot of a larger cross as a symbol of surrendering the things to Jesus that make it difficult to carry your cross.
Another adaptation of this exercise would be to make the crosses on the first Sunday of Lent and instruct your community to place the cross somewhere where they will see it often. Then, gather back together on Good Friday (instruct them to bring their crosses back!) and lay them at the foot cross as a symbol of commitment to carry your cross as Jesus carried His.
Courtesy of Lilly Lewin, Adapted by Andrew Berg
56 Easter: Lint Roller Confession Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9
Purpose: To confess our sins knowing that God is faithful and just to forgive us.
Materials: A couple of lint rollers.
Instructions: Begin by reading the above two passages. Then, pass a lint roller (or more than one depending on the size of your community) around encouraging people to use it. Just as it removes the junk that our clothes have collected, Jesus removes the junk that we collect from our sins. Lent & Easter are great times to remember the cross and what it means for us. Lead your people in a time of confession and prayer (you choose the method – confess silently, write your confessions on paper and nail them to a cross, etc.).
Courtesy of Lilly Lewin, Adapted by Andrew Berg
57 THANKSGIVING!
See the “Exaltation” section for Thanksgiving Ideas!
58 Christmas: The Consolation of Israel Luke 2:25-32
Purpose: To give thanks and praise to Jesus, who came to bring comfort and healing to a broken people.
Materials: These instructions, a Bible, and the chord chart with lyrics on the next page to “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.”
Instructions: Gather your community together and have a leader read Luke 2:25-32 out loud. Have the leader highlight two phrases in the passage:
•Verse 25 where it says that Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel.” •Verse 30 where Simeon says, “my eyes have seen your salvation.”
Have the leader teach your group about the idea that when this passage was written, Israel had been waiting for hundreds of years for the Messiah to come. Simeon was among those “waiting” for this “consolation,” this “comfort,” this “Messiah,” this “salvation.” Jesus brought comfort and healing to a world that had been long awaiting just that.
Have members of your community share how the arrival of Jesus in their life brought comfort to them.
Sing “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” together if possible (see Christy Nockels’ a capella version on Chris Tomlin’s “Glory in the Highest” album for a simple way to do this). If no one is comfortable getting this started, just read the lyrics together.
End by having your community share what they are most looking forward to regarding Jesus’ second return.
Close in prayer.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
59 “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
VERSE 1: G Em C D Come, thou long expected Jesus, G Em C D G Born to set thy people free; G Em C D From our fears and sins release us, G Em C D G Let us find our rest in Thee. G Em C D Israel's strength and consolation, G Em C D Hope of all the earth thou art; G C G D Dear desire of every nation, G G/B C Dsus D G Joy of every longing heart.
VERSE 2: G Em C D Born thy people to deliver, G Em C D G Born a child and yet a King, G Em C D Born to reign in us forever, G Em C D G Now thy gracious Kingdom bring. G Em C D By Thine own eternal spirit G Em C D Rule in all our hearts alone; G C G D By Thine all sufficient merit, G G/B C Dsus D G Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” Music and Words by Charles Wesley, Johann Sebastian Bach Public Domain, CCLI License # 1759517
60 Christmas: One Solitary Life
Purpose: To reflect on what Jesus truly did in coming to earth.
Materials: A Bible.
Instructions: Have a leader walk through the following exercise:
Leader: Ask your group: “In one word, what would your life be like without Jesus?” Give everyone a chance to share his or her one word. Then ask, “In what ways has Jesus changed your life?”
Take a moment and read these “Christmas” passages as a way of worship.
Luke 1:26-33; Luke 2:26-32; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:14
Leader Read: One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never had a family of his own. He never held an office. He never went to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things that are usually associated with greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty-three, when the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away; one of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only property He had on earth—His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Twenty centuries have come and gone.
Today Jesus is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed, all the parliaments that have ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned put together, have not affected the life of mankind on earth as powerfully as that one solitary life
Leader: Take a few minutes for your group to pray praise for the beauty and awesomeness of that One Solitary Life.
Courtesy of Tami Rudkin
61 Others:
›ACTS Prayer Beads ›Global Prayer ›Honesty Nametags ›PRESS ›Rembrandt’s Storm ›Snickers Satisfies ›Twister Worship ›Write Your Own Psalm
62 ACTS Prayer Beads
Purpose: To teach, remind, and practice a simple yet profound prayer method. This is especially great if your GoCo has a lot of kids.
Materials: Four different kinds of beads (and enough for everyone), string or wire, scissors, and the explanation sheet on the next page printed out for handouts.
Instructions: Assemble the beads into key chains (below) or bracelets. Chat about what the beads represent as you assemble them (some nice worship music playing in the background is a good idea). Upon completion, as a group, use the ACTS method as a guided prayer time for your GoCo’s current state, needs, etc. Then, encourage everyone to use their key chain or bracelet as a reminder to pray on their own.
Adoration = Revelation 5:13
Confession = 1 John 1:9
Thanks = Psalm 100:4
Supplication = Luke 18:1-8
Courtesy of Sara Hargreaves (engageworship.org)
63 ACTS Prayer Beads Thread these beads to remind you of a way to pray.
Courtesy of Sara Hargreaves (engageworship.org)
64 Global Prayer Psalm 33:12, Philippians 2:3-4
Purpose: To pray for the nations, and to look outside of our own interests.
Materials: Enough globes or world maps for your community to have one per group of 5 people.
Instructions: Break your community into groups of about 5. Have them look over a world map or globe and pray for the nation(s) that God lays on their heart. Encourage prayers to be spontaneous as the Spirit leads, but some ideas to get started would be: • That God would be the Lord of that nation (Psalm 33:12) • Prayer for the leadership of the nation • Prayer for any crisis or known trouble in the nation • Prayer for the nation to repent (Daniel 9)
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
65 Honesty Nametags 2 Corinthians 12:9
Purpose: To embrace our weaknesses as a community.
Materials: Name Tags & Sharpies
Instructions: Next time your group gathers, have a couple folks at the doors with name tags and sharpies instructing people to write down an insecurity, fear, or struggle of theirs rather than their name. After everyone has arrived and have had a chance to talk with each other for a bit, have someone in your group lead the discussion. Here are some sample questions (please feel free to make up your own): • How did it make you feel when you were asked to write an insecurity, fear, or struggle on your nametag when you arrived? • What did you learn from the exposure you felt? • What did you learn from conversations you had with others about their nametag as everyone arrived?
Close with reading 2 Corinthians 12:9, and explaining to your group that it’s easy for us to put on a façade that we always have it together. Yet, it’s not in our “strength,” but our “weakness” where God’s power is made perfect. Maybe this exercise will help us better embrace this truth that our culture so badly misses.
Close with prayer.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
66 PRESS: A Simple Worship Experience
Purpose: This is a simple worship experience designed to help your community worship God and “press” into His presence. You may find it particularly helpful if you do not have any musicians in your group, or would like to worship God through different means.
Materials: Enough copies of the document on the next page for everyone in your group: pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils, etc., and a Bible passage of your choice.
Instructions: Pass out the materials and walk through the exercise (you will need a point person to begin it and wrap it up)—it’s pretty self-explanatory. Psalm 8 is a great scripture to use for this exercise, but feel free to select any scripture (and make sure you write it in the master copy before you print!). Depending on time and how many people are in your group, you may not all share—that’s ok—just allow some time for sharing as it admonishes everyone else. Some soft music in the background is not a bad idea.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
67 PRESS
Pray: Begin by asking God to reveal Himself to you through His Word. Pray for His Holy Spirit to guide you and to be present during this time of worship.
Read: Read through ______prayerfully and with a listening heart.
Express: Worship is our response to God for all that He is. This is your time to respond to Him. In light of the scripture you just read, express yourself to God on the back of this paper. Write a letter to God, re-write the scripture in your own worshipful language, draw a picture, write a poem, etc. Let it be an expression of adoration to Him.
Share: When you are finished, share your expressions with one another. Let it admonish one another and also be a corporate expression of praise to God.
Send: Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. Finish with one or more people praying out loud that this small time of worship would carry on throughout the coming days—that your lifestyle would be one of worship.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
68 Rembrandt’s Storm on the Sea of Galilee Mark 4:35-41
Purpose: To gain faith in Jesus as the ultimate calmer of our storms, and to worship Him in response.
Materials: A picture (on a screen or hardcopies) of Rembrandt’s famous painting from 1633 (see the next page).
Instructions: Pray, asking for God’s presence in this exercise. Read the above scripture, then have your community look at the painting and find a few things that are striking to them. Consider sharing some of the below information on the painting. * Open up a time of discussion. Consider the following questions or write your own:
•What was Jesus trying to teach his disciples (and us) in this story? •Why do you think Rembrandt painted himself into the boat? •What storms are you facing right now? •Do you believe Jesus has the power to calm them?
Close with singing or reading the lyrics to “It is Well with My Soul,” “You Never Let Go,” “Praise You in the Storm,” or another such song might be powerful.
*The Storm on the Sea of Galilee is a painting from 1633 by the Dutch Golden Age painter Rembrandt van Rijn that was in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, prior to being stolen on March 18, 1990. The painting depicts the miracle of Jesus calming the waves on the Sea of Galilee, as depicted in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is Rembrandt's only seascape. It is widely believed, because of the fourteen people in the boat, that Rembrandt painted himself in the boat along with the twelve disciples and Jesus. [1] The crewmember looking out toward the viewer of the painting has been suggested as being a self-portrait of Rembrandt.[1]
Courtesy of Andrew Berg 69
70 Snickers® Satisfies Ecclesiastes 5:10, John 4:14
Purpose: To remind our community that only Jesus can satisfy.
Materials: A Snickers® bar, paper, pens.
Instructions: Hold up the Snickers® bar and ask everyone what word is on the back of it. Someone will say “satisfies.” Continue on by talking about how our culture tells us we’ll be satisfied with all the “stuff” money can buy. Deep down, we all know this is untrue. Read Ecclesiastes 5:10 to reiterate this. Then, read John 4:14 and remind everyone of the promise that only Jesus can satisfy us in this life and in the life to come. Have your community spend some time journaling about what things they are prone to fill their lives with that will not satisfy them. Close with a word of prayer renouncing those things and asking Jesus to be the center of our lives.
Giving everyone full-size or mini (depending on your budget!) Snickers® for a snack might be a good idea.
Courtesy of Andrew Berg
71 Three-On-Three
Purpose: To foster a deeper spiritual connection within your community through openness and prayer, and to reflect on the ups and downs of discipleship.
Materials: None.
Instructions: Have your community split into groups of three. Once they are, have each person share the following three things: 1. An example of a time where you recently felt close to God. 2. Something positive that happened recently in your life regarding discipleship. 3. Something negative that happened recently in your life regarding discipleship.
Have each person share all three items and pray over them. Repeat for each person in your group of three.
Courtesy of Cliff Price and Emmaus
72 Twister® Worship
Purpose: To worship God and share with one another what He’s doing in us (in a fun way).
Materials: A game (or multiple games) of Twister®.
Instructions: It might be fun (whether your community is comprised of kids or adults or both) to begin your time together by playing Twister®. Maybe have several games going at once.
As your meeting continues, gather everyone into the same room. Have a leader spin the spinner and ask people to respond to the correlating questions below (you may alter or change these questions if you’d like). You can either go around the circle and spin once for each person, or do it more like “popcorn.” It’d be cool for everyone to respond to one color if possible; don’t have everyone answer all 4 colors—that would take forever! Just try to get as many people and colors responded to as you have time for.
Red: Red is the color of fire and blood and is an emotionally intense color. Part of what it represents is passion. What are you passionate about right now related to the Kingdom of God (something He’s doing in or around you).
Yellow: Yellow is the color of sunshine and is related to joy and happiness. What is something right now that brings you joy?
Green: Green is the color of nature and symbolizes growth and freshness. In what ways is God growing you lately? How are your roots deepening in Him?
Blue: Blue is the color of the sky and sea. It represents trust, loyalty, confidence, etc. In what ways have you found God to be trustworthy lately, and how has it changed your outlook in a given situation?
Courtesy of Alex Absalom and Andrew Berg 73 Write Your Own Psalm
Purpose: To worship God just like David and Solomon, through the writing of Psalms.
Materials: Pens and note cards.
Instructions: Each person is given a few moments to write a brief psalm (keep it simple and short, perhaps a few sentences or a paragraph).
Write out your own psalm of adoration, self-expression, thankfulness or struggle. Be open and honest. Then go around the room and share.
Courtesy of Tim Beck
74