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 this prayer based on the Lord’s Supper inLuke 22 and the Wedding Supper in Revelation 19:6–9:
“All-loving God, we praise you and rejoice in your presence. We come to this table together with hope and longing love, sharing the Lord's Supper, to eat and drink a foretaste of that future Wedding Supper. Jesus, we are making ourselves ready: tuning our hearts and training our appetites to desire you and you alone. Infuse our lives with your presence as we share your body, broken for us, and your blood, poured out for us. You wait with longing for us to drink anew in your kingdom, so we say: Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly.”
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: Matthew 13:44-46
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
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 is an opportunity to teach the group about the many things that encompass “Sacrificial Mission,” such as how our church serves the nations through mission trips and the all people project, how we serve the community through Serve Saturday, Neighborhood Network, refugee ministry, and Go Week, the difference between tithes and offerings, and how Sacrificial Mission is more than money. 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. As we grow in spiritual maturity together, part of development requires teaching and sometimes accountability. We can have honest and vulnerable conversations with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Did you know New Song Church is able to reach so many because of generosity?
New Song Answers Offering: New Song Church has the opportunity to expand the Kingdom of Heaven both in our local communities and to the ends of the earth. We answer the call to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world by showing up and serving in our community and going into all the world with His love. Partner with us as we move towards our goal of $100,000 that will go towards next year’s mission and outreach efforts locally and around the world!
All People Project (Gateway to Unknown Nations Training Center): Unknown Nations, an organization we’re in relationship with that is on mission to take the Gospel into the uttermost places (the end of the earth), is building a training center in a gateway country where Christians from across the Middle East will be able to be trained and sent back into limited or closed access countries. New Song supports this initiative so that people from every nation and every language might come to know His name. This is a key work of the Kingdom, in which messengers are sent forth with the Good News. We know many of these countries will never be open to us, but they are accessible to their own people, set on fire for the work of the Gospel through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We are taking on a portion of the $750,000 needed to build out this training center in this strategic position to see the Middle East come to know King Jesus.
Generosity: What does generosity look like in your life?
Optional Prayer (Giving Liturgy): Heavenly Father, everything I have is from you. You are the owner of all things. My money and possessions are rentals to be stewarded in love for the sake of others. Jesus generously gave himself on my behalf, and as His apprentice, I am learning to live my life in the key of extravagant generosity. I am committed to following the pattern of Christ in all areas of my life. To take what you have given me and use it only for myself is the way of the world. You have called me to swim against selfishness and to live sacrificially, making your Kingdom my priority. I desire to be a person of increasing, mindful, and joyful generosity until no one is in need among us. I yield to the transformative power of Christ in me. Amen.
PRAYER
Bring it Home
(5 minutes)
Pray: Close in prayer
Prayer Requests: You can 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. This is a way of serving and honoring the hosting family/person.