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 Colossians
1:15–20 as written below, then take a moment to look upon the supreme authority and peace of Jesus: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation... For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Take a moment to silently thank Jesus for making true peace through the blood of His cross. 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: Luke 10:25–37 (ESV) “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How do you read it?’ And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.’ But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead... But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and cared for him... Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You go, and do likewise.’”
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.
Did you know New Song Church is able to reach so many because of generosity?
All People Project (Gospel Advancement): Through our partnership with Unknown Nations, New Song actively joins the vital audio Bible translation work bringing “The Treasure” (audio Bibles recorded natively) to oral cultures and unreached people groups, such as the Yadav people in India. This meets a profound structural need for deep populations unable to read written texts, providing them direct exposure to the Word of God.
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: 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.