Kingdom Community Primer
Set the Table
(before the gathering)
Communion: Have elements ready (bread and juice).
Atmosphere: Consider worship music to encourage quiet reflection.
Prayer: Take a moment to stop, pray, and prepare your heart before the Lord.
Bible: Have your Bible present and ready.
KINGDOM COMMUNITY
Conversation and Connection that Honors the Lord
(45 minutes)
Shared Meal: Facilitate the shared meal if the group is participating (consider sharing the act of cooking by inviting everyone to contribute each week).
Conversation: This is the time when people can get to know each other and learn about the daily events in each other's lives.
PURSUING THE PRESENCE
Partake in Communion
(15 minutes) If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read through Psalm 84:1–4 as written below, then pause to reflect on your longing for God’s dwelling place: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!” Take a moment to ask the Lord to deepen your desire for His presence. Encourage quiet reflection.
Explain: “We take communion to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and proclaim His death until He returns.” 1 Cor. 11:26
Take the Bread & Cup:
Bread: “And He [Jesus] took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” - Luke 22:19 (Eat together)
Cup: “And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” - Luke 22:20 (Drink together)
Close in Prayer: “Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice. Help us walk in Your grace and love. Amen.”
TRANSFORMATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
Read and Discuss
(45 minutes)
Read: Mark 4:35–41 (ESV) “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’”
Discuss: The following questions help create space for honest reflection and conversation. Every person does not need to answer every question.
Leader Note: Questions such as “what do you not like?” are designed to encourage conversation about difficult parts of scripture or to better identify what is misunderstood about scripture. Sometimes simply recognizing discomfort may lead to a greater understanding. Do not feel responsible for removing discomfort or explaining. To avoid "fixing" behaviors, set the tone for the group by saying, "It's okay to feel this way; we don't need to fix it. We are here to be honest and open, not to fill the role of the Holy Spirit.”
What did you like from the scripture?
What did you not like from the scripture?
What did you learn about God?
What did you learn about yourself?
What decisions are you being challenged to make?
SACRIFICIAL MISSION
Serve Together
(10 minutes)
Leader Note: This section is designed to create conversation around sacrificial mission, generosity, outreach, and serving others as apprentices of Jesus. This is not a space to create shame or pride—it is designed to create dialog among brothers and sisters who love one another and may have questions.
Did you know New Song Church is able to reach so many because of generosity?
Missions (The Pearl House Partnership): New Song Church continues to partner with The Pearl House, a Christ-centered ministry providing safety, education, and discipleship for at-risk
girls in Ghana. Through our shared prayers, financial giving, and sent teams, we help equip these young women with practical skills, academic foundations, and deep spiritual formation rooted in Jesus. Let’s continue to cover the ongoing staff and students in our global prayers this week.
PRAYER
Bring it Home
(5 minutes)
Pray: Close in prayer.
Prayer Requests: Collect prayer requests, have members put them in GroupMe, or pray over the known and unknown needs of the group.
Release: Group is over. Consider discussing the practice of group members assisting in clean-up before leaving as a way of serving and honoring the hosting family/person.