Home Worship Guide (4-5-2020)
Overview: This is a guide. It has been designed to help you and can be modified by you however you see fit. Especially for those with younger kids, it might be best to read through this in advance and use elements that will fit the attention span of your kids.
Main Point: We are all responsible to minister to one another.
Read: Matthew 28:18-20
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NLT)
Encouragement: We have no reason to fear doing what is right at all times, including now. In times of plenty or famine, in times of joy or sorrow, in times of peace or persecution, we can be faithful to what he is calling us to... because our God is with us, always. Now more than ever we should be encouraging the disheartened, helping those in need, showing patience and striving to do good to one another and those who are without hope... These things are avenues to share the gospel... to strengthening the faith of other followers and making disciples. May we be doers of the word as we lean into the authority and power of our Savior who is with us. May you be strengthened today by His word.
Prayer:
Spend some time praying for the following
Pray that God would bless your time with him
Pray that God would open your heart and enlarge your love for him
Pray that God would show you how he is calling you to respond
Devotion: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Discussion Questions:
Which one of the things listed in the devotion do you personally struggle with the most? Why is that a struggle for you? What do you need to do to overcome that?
What is the importance of relationship and transparency in ministering as Paul calls us to in this text? What are barriers to you building relationships and being transparent? What steps is God calling you to take to address those barriers?
What role does life outside of the 4 walls of the church play in fulfilling these responsibilities to one another?
What are some things that we have covered together as a church over the last year that relates to what this text is calling us to? What steps have you taken to grow in these areas? What steps is God calling you to take over the coming weeks to grow in these areas?
How do the last two home worship devotions (God is in control of this situation and the priesthood of all believers) relate to this passage today? What role does faith play in acting on what 1 Thess 5:14-15 is calling us to?
How does the gospel impact our ability to minister to one another in this way? How does the gospel empower us to live this out? What role does the Spirit play in actively pursuing this kind of ministry to one another?
Application:
God’s design for the church is all of us being involved in active ministry to one another. How is God calling you to minister to others at Arbor Drive? (Additional texts for reference: Romans 12)
Every believer is important and needs to be involved in ministry. How might this kind of attitude change the life of the body at Arbor Drive? How might it help us all grow together? (Additional texts for reference: Colossians 3:5-17)
We all struggle and are in need of ministry. This includes those who are not active in the life of the body. How can your actions to pursue ministry to others you don’t know help connect them and help them grow? How might you acting on this become infectious and have a big impact on the body as a whole? (Additional texts for reference: 1 Corinthians 16:15-18)
Respond in Song: O Great God (Consider discussing how the words of this song connect with the truths you saw in the text after singing).
Respond in Prayer