Main Theme: Waiting for the Lord in uncertain times.
Opening
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and be open to what He wants to do & say in our gathering.
Suggested Practice:
Read Psalm 40:1-5 aloud and join the Psalmist in giving praise and thanks to God for “the wonders [He has] done”.
Worship
Goal: Make Jesus central in our gathering. This could be done through songs, prayerful scripture reading, communion, etc.
Suggested Practice:
Choose 2 songs to sing together (or listen to) that will help you increase your faith in God during seasons of uncertainty.
Possible Options:
○ Yes I Will (YouTube)
○ Good, Good Father (YouTube)
○ King of Kings (YouTube)
__________[Dismiss the Kids/Youth]__________
Sharing
Goal: To know each other's stories.
Suggested Practice A:
Select one person to answer the following question:
● When was a time where you had to wait for the Lord to change a situation when life seemed uncertain? How did it feel to have to for wait for the Lord? How has this experience changed you?
Suggested Practice B:
Select one person to answer the following questions:
● When was a time where you witnessed a friend or family member having to wait for the Lord to change a situation when life seemed uncertain? How did they feel having to wait for the Lord? How has this experience changed them?
Suggested Practice C:
Break into groups of 3 people. Answer the following questions:
● What are you thankful for this week?
● What has stressed you out this week?
Give the groups 10 minutes to answer the question. Encourage everyone to share.
Discussion
Goal: Learn how to follow Jesus in everyday life.
Learning Objectives:
●Understand that experiencing seasons of waiting for the Lord is part of what it means to follow Jesus.
●Describe how David responded in Psalm 27 as he waited for the Lord.
●Explain how we can avoid wasting the opportunity for growth when in a season of waiting for the Lord.
Suggested Practice A:
Possible Questions:
1. Often, in seasons of waiting for the Lord, our response can be to just passively endure and survive (to just get through it with as little damage as possible). How do we thrive, instead of survive, in seasons of waiting for the lord?
2. Psalm 27 shows us the desperation of David’s situation. Despite this, David’s initial response (27:1) is to focus his mind on what he knows to be true about God. Why is this so important in seasons of waiting for the Lord?
3. In 27:6, David worships his way through his season of waiting for the Lord. What significance does worshipping God have during seasons of waiting for the Lord? What would it look like for you to worship your way through your season of waiting for the Lord?
4. In 27:11, David isn’t praying for comfort but progress. During seasons of waiting for the Lord, we can so easily try to make progress by taking control of our circumstances. When we try to take control of circumstances that are out of our control, we can become angry, anxious or apathetic. When we demonstrate these responses, how can we follow “[God’s] way” and return to “a level path”?
5. In 27:13, David makes a bold and confident declaration of faith that he will experience God’s goodness in this present life. He trusted God because of who He is and what He has done. Practically, what can you do that will help you trust God more?
Suggested Practice B:
Read Psalm 27 together. What do you notice? What questions do these words provoke? What does it mean to follow Jesus?
__________[Kids/Youth Rejoin Adults]__________
Prayer
Goal: Respond appropriately to what Jesus is doing & saying in our gathering.
Suggested Practice A:
Ask your Small Church if there is anyone who is in a season of waiting for the Lord. If so and if the individual is willing, take a moment to surround this person and pray that God would give them His strength, courage and patience during these uncertain times. If not, ask your Small Church if they have a family member or friend who is in a season of waiting for the Lord. If so, take a moment to pray that God would give them His strength, courage and patience during these uncertain times.
Suggested Practice B:
Pray the Lord’s Prayer as a Small Church. Ask different people to read one line at a time. Go slow and meditate on each line as you pray.
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Communion
Goal: Remember Jesus’ death and resurrection. Receive strength & joy that He is with us. Renew our hope for Jesus’ return and the restoration of creation.
Suggested Practice:
● Distribute bread and juice.
● Read the following statement…“the body of Christ has been given, broken for us and the entire world. This bread reminds us that He paid a debt that He did not owe so that we wouldn’t have to pay a debt that we did owe”.
● Eat the bread.
● Read the following statement…“The blood of Christ has been poured out, shed for us and the entire world. This juice reminds us that we have a permanent and unbreakable relationship with Him and that death has no power over us and no power over creation”.
● Drink the juice.
Blessing
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and consider what He wants to do & say this coming week.
Suggested Practice:
Read Psalm 27:14 aloud as if God were speaking the same words to your Small Church. Then, pray that God would give them His strength, courage and patience.
Opening
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and be open to what He wants to do & say in our gathering.
Suggested Practice:
Read Psalm 40:1-5 aloud and join the Psalmist in giving praise and thanks to God for “the wonders [He has] done”.
Worship
Goal: Make Jesus central in our gathering. This could be done through songs, prayerful scripture reading, communion, etc.
Suggested Practice:
Choose 2 songs to sing together (or listen to) that will help you increase your faith in God during seasons of uncertainty.
Possible Options:
○ Yes I Will (YouTube)
○ Good, Good Father (YouTube)
○ King of Kings (YouTube)
__________[Dismiss the Kids/Youth]__________
Sharing
Goal: To know each other's stories.
Suggested Practice A:
Select one person to answer the following question:
● When was a time where you had to wait for the Lord to change a situation when life seemed uncertain? How did it feel to have to for wait for the Lord? How has this experience changed you?
Suggested Practice B:
Select one person to answer the following questions:
● When was a time where you witnessed a friend or family member having to wait for the Lord to change a situation when life seemed uncertain? How did they feel having to wait for the Lord? How has this experience changed them?
Suggested Practice C:
Break into groups of 3 people. Answer the following questions:
● What are you thankful for this week?
● What has stressed you out this week?
Give the groups 10 minutes to answer the question. Encourage everyone to share.
Discussion
Goal: Learn how to follow Jesus in everyday life.
Learning Objectives:
●Understand that experiencing seasons of waiting for the Lord is part of what it means to follow Jesus.
●Describe how David responded in Psalm 27 as he waited for the Lord.
●Explain how we can avoid wasting the opportunity for growth when in a season of waiting for the Lord.
Suggested Practice A:
Possible Questions:
1. Often, in seasons of waiting for the Lord, our response can be to just passively endure and survive (to just get through it with as little damage as possible). How do we thrive, instead of survive, in seasons of waiting for the lord?
2. Psalm 27 shows us the desperation of David’s situation. Despite this, David’s initial response (27:1) is to focus his mind on what he knows to be true about God. Why is this so important in seasons of waiting for the Lord?
3. In 27:6, David worships his way through his season of waiting for the Lord. What significance does worshipping God have during seasons of waiting for the Lord? What would it look like for you to worship your way through your season of waiting for the Lord?
4. In 27:11, David isn’t praying for comfort but progress. During seasons of waiting for the Lord, we can so easily try to make progress by taking control of our circumstances. When we try to take control of circumstances that are out of our control, we can become angry, anxious or apathetic. When we demonstrate these responses, how can we follow “[God’s] way” and return to “a level path”?
5. In 27:13, David makes a bold and confident declaration of faith that he will experience God’s goodness in this present life. He trusted God because of who He is and what He has done. Practically, what can you do that will help you trust God more?
Suggested Practice B:
Read Psalm 27 together. What do you notice? What questions do these words provoke? What does it mean to follow Jesus?
__________[Kids/Youth Rejoin Adults]__________
Prayer
Goal: Respond appropriately to what Jesus is doing & saying in our gathering.
Suggested Practice A:
Ask your Small Church if there is anyone who is in a season of waiting for the Lord. If so and if the individual is willing, take a moment to surround this person and pray that God would give them His strength, courage and patience during these uncertain times. If not, ask your Small Church if they have a family member or friend who is in a season of waiting for the Lord. If so, take a moment to pray that God would give them His strength, courage and patience during these uncertain times.
Suggested Practice B:
Pray the Lord’s Prayer as a Small Church. Ask different people to read one line at a time. Go slow and meditate on each line as you pray.
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Communion
Goal: Remember Jesus’ death and resurrection. Receive strength & joy that He is with us. Renew our hope for Jesus’ return and the restoration of creation.
Suggested Practice:
● Distribute bread and juice.
● Read the following statement…“the body of Christ has been given, broken for us and the entire world. This bread reminds us that He paid a debt that He did not owe so that we wouldn’t have to pay a debt that we did owe”.
● Eat the bread.
● Read the following statement…“The blood of Christ has been poured out, shed for us and the entire world. This juice reminds us that we have a permanent and unbreakable relationship with Him and that death has no power over us and no power over creation”.
● Drink the juice.
Blessing
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and consider what He wants to do & say this coming week.
Suggested Practice:
Read Psalm 27:14 aloud as if God were speaking the same words to your Small Church. Then, pray that God would give them His strength, courage and patience.
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