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A"Worship"Resource""for"Leaders"of"Missional"Communities"!

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REVERENCE

REVELATION RESPONSE

UP

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Contents'!

!Introduction' ' ' 1'

1.'Reverence'Ideas' ' 4'

2.'Revelation'Ideas' ' 8'

3.'Response'Ideas' ' 11'

Sample'1' ' ' ' 14'

Sample'2' ' ' ' 16'

Appendix:'Healing'Prayer' 18'

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©2015!Victory!Point!Ministries!

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Introduction*!You!have!access!to!this!resource!because!you!are!the!leader!of!a!Missional!

Community!at!Victory!Point!Ministries.!You!are!already!a!competent!leader!who!demonstrates!the!character!of!Jesus.!

This!resource!will!help!strengthen!your!leadership!as!your!Missional!Community!engages!in!an!UP!relationship!together.!Whether!you!engage!in!UP!every!week!or!once!a!month,!this!resource!is!meant!to!equip!you!to!lead!people!into!a!time!of!gathering,!praising!God,!listening!to!his!voice!together,!and!being!sent!together!on!mission.!

While!you!don’t!need!a!resource!like!this!in!order!to!worship,!having!some!guidelines!is!helpful.!The!guidelines!in!this!resource!are!intentional!UP!rhythms!that!keep!us!ChristFcentered,!biblically*rooted,!and!missionally*focused.*Also,!we!hope!that!this!resource!makes!leading!UP!gatherings!imitable,!scalable,!and!adaptable.!

The!overarching!rhythm!of!our!UP!gatherings!(our!liturgy,!so!to!speak)!is!ancient;!we!are!not!reinventing!the!wheel!here.!Worshipers!of!God!throughout!Scripture!(Joshua!24,!Acts!2),!history,!and!in!every!culture!have!been!following!this!rhythm!in!which!God!is!the!principle!actor.!It!involves!God!gathering!us!together!as!his!people,!God!speaking!to!us!his!Word,!and!God!renewing!his!covenant!with!a!sign!and!sending!people!out.!For!our!purposes,!and!to!remember!it!easily,!we!will!use!three!“R”!words:!!!!

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!Reverence*

God!is!the!one!who!calls!your!Missional!Community!together.!We!don’t!call!upon!God!so!much!as!God!calls!upon!us,!gathers!us!in!his!Spirit,!and!fills!us!with!his!Spirit!of!praise!and!adoration.!!

Revelation!can!be!any!act!of!giving!God!glory!together,!declaring!his!greatness!and!goodness!–!it!doesn’t!have!to!be!an!actual!song.!We!can!give!God!reverence!and!praise!through!being!thankful,!praising!God!in!prayer,!reading!scripture,!or!singing.!!

Look!through!the!suggestions!under!the!chapter!“1.!Reverence!Ideas”!and!pray!about!how!God!might!be!drawing!your!MC!to!worship.!Choose!one!or!two!and!

REVERENCE

REVELATION RESPONSE

UP

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write!it!into!a!new!outline!(samples!can!be!found!under!the!chapter!“4.!Samples”),!adding!or!taking!away!parts!so!that!it!fits!your!style!and!context.!!*Revelation*!! “Man!does!not!live!on!bread!alone!but!on!every!word!that!comes!from!the!mouth!of!the!LORD.”!Deuteronomy!8:3.!We!hunger!and!thirst!for!God’s!word,!God’s!revelation,!to!bring!us!to!life,!to!sustain!us,!to!give!us!grace!and!hope!in!our!lives.!God’s!word!shapes!and!transforms!us.!“All!Scripture!is!GodFbreathed!and!useful!for!teaching,!rebuking,!correcting,!and!training!in!righteousness”!2!Timothy!3:16.!

By!dwelling!on!Scripture!together,!your!Missional!Community!hears!the!word!of!God!and!has!a!chance!to!respond.!“The!word!of!God!is!alive!and!active.”!Hebrews!4:12.!Don’t!try!to!master!Scripture,!be!mastered!by!Scripture,!which!is!alive!and!active,!and!unleash!God’s!word!into!your!community.!

You!can!do!this!!!Look!through!the!options!under!the!chapter!“2.!Revelation!Ideas”!and!pray!about!what!act!of!hearing!God’s!word!might!God!use!to!engage!your!Missional!Community.!Choose!relevant!material!into!your!outline,!adding!or!taking!away!parts!so!that!it!fits!your!style!and!context.!!*Response*

Read!Genesis!28.!Jacob!falls!asleep!and!receives!a!vision!from!God.!When!he!wakes!up,!he!says,!“Surely!the!LORD!is!in!this!place!and!I!was!not!aware!of!it!”!Then!Jacob!sets!up!a!stone!as!a!pillar!and!pours!oil!on!top!of!it!and!renames!the!place!Bethel,!the!House!of!God.!When!God!speaks,!he!changes!things!and!calls!us!to!respond.!How!do!we!respond!to!the!word!God!has!spoken?!We!make!a!sign,!a!renewing!of!the!covenant!of!grace!between!God!and!creation.!

Now!this!response!does!not!have!to!be!a!stone!with!oil.!As!a!leader,!pray!about!how!God!might!want!to!seal!up!his!words!within!your!Missional!Community.!It!could!be!a!prayer!–!confession,!commissioning,!intercession!–!or!it!could!be!Communion,!a!song!of!dedication,!or!gathering!of!resources!for!mission.!To!use!the!Learning!Circle,!this!is!where!God!says,!“What!are!you!going!to!do!about!what!I!have!said!to!y’all?”!

Look!through!the!options!under!the!chapter!“3.!Response!Ideas”!and!pray!about!what!act!of!response!might!God!use!to!engage!your!Missional!Community.!Choose!relevant!material!and!put!it!in!your!outline,!adding!or!taking!away!parts!so!that!it!fits!your!style!and!context.!!Putting*it*all*together*

Once!you!have!Reverence,!Revelation,!and!Response!elements!put!together!in!an!outline,!you!have!a!ChristFcentered,!biblically!rooted,!and!missionally!focused!plan!for!your!next!UP!gathering!!Check!out!the!provided!samples!to!get!an!idea!of!how!it!all!fits!together.!For!example,!eating!is!a!great!way!to!gather!and!foster!community.!There!will!be!announcements!and!housekeeping!points!you!will!want!to!include.!But!now!you!have!the!beginnings!of!a!plan!and!direction!that!will!serve!you!

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well!as!you!seek!to!lead!your!Missional!Community!into!a!time!of!connection!with!their!Creator.!As!you!begin!to!internalize!this!UP!shape!of!Reverence,!Revelation,!and!Response,!you!will!need!this!resource!less!and!less,!improvising!and!innovating!based!on!your!context!and!style.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

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1.*Reverence*Ideas*!Spoken*Praise*Either!as!a!whole!MC!or!smaller!groups,!invite!your!MC!to!give!praise!to!God!by!sharing!a!short!word!or!sentence!out!loud.!Prompts!might!be!helpful:!!i.!“I!praise!God!for!________________”!(my!new!job,!the!warm!weather,!this!food…)!ii.!“God,!you!are!________________”!(my!provider,!creator!of!all,!father!to!the!fatherless)!iii.!I!am!thankful!for!_______________!(invitation!to!share!longer!stories!or!testimonies)!!Once!everyone!who!wants!to!share!has!shared,!maybe!offer!a!cumulative!prayer!for!everyone.!!!Psalm*Reading!a!Psalm!is!a!way!we!can!dip!into!an!ancient!tradition,!finding!words!that!have!been!used!for!thousands!of!years!to!gather!God’s!people!into!worship.!Reading!a!Psalm!out!loud!is!a!great!way!to!worship!as!a!community.!How!do!you!go!about!choosing!one?!!i.!A!Reading!Plan!

a.!!Revised!Common!Lectionary!(http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/)!b.!The!Moravian!Text!(http://www.moravian.org/)!c.!Seeking!God’s!Face!by!Philip!F!Reinders!

ii.!By!TopicPsalm(8(4(Divine(majesty(and(human(dignity((Psalm(18(–(Royal(thanksgiving(for(victory((Psalm(19(–(God’s(glory(in(creation(and(the(law((Psalm(29(–(The(voice(of(God(in(a(great(storm((Psalm(30(–(A(song(of(the(dedication(of(the(temple((Psalm(32(–(The(joy(of(forgiveness((Psalm(33(–(The(greatness(and(goodness(of(God((Psalm(34(–(Praise(for(deliverance(from(trouble((Psalm(36(–(Human(wickedness(and(divine(goodness((Psalm(40(–(Thanksgiving(for(deliverance(and(prayer(for(help((Psalm(41(–(Longing(for(God(and(his(help(in(distress((Psalm(66(–(Thanksgiving(for(earth’s(bounty((Psalm(103(–(Thanksgiving(for(God’s(goodness((Psalm(104(–(God(the(creator(and(provider((Psalm(105(–(God’s(faithfulness(to(Israel((

Psalm(106(–(A(confession(of(Israel’s(sins((Psalm(111(–(The(power(of(God’s(works((Psalm(113(–(Blessing(of(the(righteous((Psalm(116(–(Thanksgiving(for(recovery(from(illness((Psalm(117(–(Praise(for(God’s(faithfulness((Psalm(125(–(A(harvest(of(joy((Psalm(133(–(God’s(blessing,(life(forevermore((Psalm(135(–(Praise(for(God’s(goodness(and(might((Psalm(136(–(God’s(work(in(creation(and(in(history((Psalm(138(–(Praise(and(glory(for(the(Lord((Psalm(139(–(The(inescapable(God((Psalm(146(–(The(greatness(and(the(goodness(of(God((Psalm(147(–(Praise(for(God’s(care(for(Jerusalem((Psalm(148(–(Praise(for(God’s(universal(glory((Psalm(150(–(Praise(God(for(everything

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iii.!Randomly! !iv.!Have!each!person!write!their!own!psalm!and!share!it!with!the!group!!You!can!

Have!one!person!read!it!out!loud!Elect!people!to!read!different!parts!or!verses!Read!it!multiple!times!Have!multiple!people!read!it!multiple!times!Pause!for!silence!or!music!between!sections!of!the!Psalm!

!!Song*Feel!free!to!open!your!time!with!music.!If!there!is!someone!in!your!group!who!can!play!an!instrument!and!lead!out!in!song,!God!bless!you.!If!not,!singing!a!capella!can!and!will!feel!silly,!but!that!doesn’t!have!to!stop!you!from!singing!altogether.!Your!gathering!song!does!not!have!to!be!“spiritual”!or!“emotional”.!Sing!a!short!chorus!through!a!couple!of!times,!or!perhaps!even!repeated!between!stanzas!of!a!psalm.!To!start!off,!pick!a!note!that!is!in!your!relaxed!speaking!range,!and!maybe!even!count!people!in.!!!i.!A!Capella!The!following!songs!should!be!familiar!tunes;!the!words!are!easily!memorized,!and!will!work!well!if!sung!a!capella.!*

10,000!Reasons!! Bless!the!Lord,!O!my!soul!! O!my!soul,!worship!His!holy!Name!! Sing!like!never!before,!O!my!soul!! Worship!His!holy!Name!!Amazing!Grace!

Amazing!grace,!how!sweet!the!sound!That!saved!a!wretch!like!me!I!once!was!lost!but!now!I’m!found!Was!blind!but!now!I!see!

!Better!is!One!Day!! Better!is!one!day!in!your!courts!! Better!is!one!day!in!your!house!! Better!is!one!day!in!your!course!than!thousands!elsewhere!! Than!thousands!elsewhere!!Come!Thou!Fount!(clarify!italicized!words)!! Come,!Thou!fount!of!every!blessing!! Tune!my!heart!to!sing!Thy!grace!! Streams!of!mercy,!never!ceasing!

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! Call!for!songs!of!loudest!praise!! Teach!me!some!melodious!sonnet!! Sung!by!flaming!tongues!above!! Praise!his!name!I’m!fixed!upon!it!! Name!of!God’s!unchanging!love!!Doxology!! Praise!God!from!whom!all!blessings!flow!! Praise!Him!all!creatures!here!below!! Praise!Him!above,!ye!heavenly!hosts!! Praise!Father,!Son!and!Holy!Ghost!!Forever!! Forever!God!is!faithful!! Forever!God!is!strong!! Forever!God!is!with!us!! Forever!!Here!I!Am!to!Worship!! Here!I!am!to!worship!! Here!I!am!to!bow!down!! Here!I!am!to!say!that!You’re!my!God!! You’re!altogether!lovely!! Altogether!worthy!! Altogether!wonderful!to!me!!Holy,!Holy,!Holy!! Holy,!holy,!holy!Lord!God!Almighty!! Early!in!the!morning!our!song!shall!rise!to!Thee!! Holy,!holy,!holy,!merciful!and!mighty!! God!in!three!persons,!blessed!Trinity!!How!Great!is!Our!God!

How!great!is!our!God!Sing!with!me,!how!great!is!our!God!And!all!will!see!how!great,!how!great!is!our!God!

!Mighty!to!Save!! Savior,!He!can!move!the!mountains!! My!God!is!mighty!to!save,!He!is!mighty!to!save!! Forever,!Author!of!Salvation!! You!rose!and!conquered!the!grave,!Jesus!conquered!the!grave!!!!!

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O!Come!Let!Us!Adore!Him!! O!come!let!us!adore!Him!! O!come!let!us!adore!Him!! O!come!let!us!adore!Him,!Christ!the!Lord!!Your!Grace!is!Enough!! Your!grace!is!enough!! Your!grace!is!enough!! Your!grace!is!enough!for!me!

!ii.!YouTube!Videos!If!you!have!the!right!equipment,!you!can!pull!up!YouTube.com!on!a!large!screen!and!use!videos!to!lead!your!MC!in!song.!Search!for!songs!ahead!of!time!by!searching!the!song!title!and!then!“with!lyrics”.!There!are!thousands!of!worship!songs!that!have!been!made!into!quality!lyric!videos!for!this!purpose.!!!!!!!!!!! !

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2.*Revelation*Ideas*!Lectio*Divina*Lectio!Divina!is!an!ancient!Benedictine!practice!of!experiencing!the!presence!of!Christ!in!scripture.!It!is!counterTintuitive!for!those!of!us!who!are!used!to!a!more!analytical!approach.!But!letting!scripture!speak!for!itself!makes!space!a!real!experience!of!Christ!and!for!the!Spirit!to!speak!to!us!in!powerful!ways.!!!Choosing!a!scripture!for!Lectio!Divina!

i.!From!this!list!of!scriptures!that!work!particularly!well!for!Lectio!Divina!Matthew!4:1F4!Matthew!5:13F16!Matthew!11:28F30!Mark!1:35F37!Mark!12:28F34!Luke!3:10F15!Luke!9:1F6!Luke!21:33!John!3:16F21!John!15:15F16!

ii.!From!a!reading!plan!a.!!Revised!Common!Lectionary!(http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/)!b.!The!Moravian!Text!(http://www.moravian.org/)!c.!Seeking!God’s!Face!by!Philip!F!Reinders!

iii.!Any!other!scripture!passage!!(stories!about!Jesus!work!really!well)!!One!key!to!Lectio!Divina!is!to!explain!to!your!MC!what!is!coming!so!they!understand!how!to!participate.!This!is!the!gist!of!Lectio!Divina:!!

i.!Silence!! Allow!for!at!least!10!seconds!of!silence!to!acknowledge!God’s!presence!!ii.!First!reading!!

For!familiarity.!Read!prayerfully!and!unhurriedly!!

iii.!Second!reading!!Ruminate!on!the!passage!Invite!people!to!listen!for!a!word!or!phrase!that!“shimmers”!

What!attracts,!touches,!or!even!disturbs?!!

iv.!Sharing!! Allow!people!to!speak!out!loud!the!words!and!phrases!they!heard.!! As!a!leader,!listen!for!themes.!What!is!God!saying!to!our!whole!group?!!

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v.!Third!Reading!(perhaps!from!a!second!reader)!Contemplate!how!this!word!relates!to!their!present!life!context!!

vi.!Sharing!Invite!people!to!share!their!contemplations!Can!be!done!with!whole!MC!or!in!small!groups!!

vii.!Silence!Allow!time!to!simply!rest!in!the!presence!of!God!Ended!with!a!brief!prayer!to!thank!God!for!this!experience.!

!!!Meditation*When!you!are!sharing!scripture,!try!not!to!think!of!it!as!preaching.!You!are!simply!letting!God’s!word!speak,!first!to!you!and!out!of!the!overflow!of!your!life,!through!you!to!your!Missional!Community.!So!don’t!feel!pressure!to!try!to!elicit!some!lifeTchanging!moment!for!your!group.!Your!goal!should!be!to!share!your!story!in!such!a!way!that!it!leads!into!the!Response!(prayer,!communion,!etc.).!You!don’t!need!to!have!it!all!together.!Read!the!scripture,!share!how!it!strikes!you,!and!let!it!shape!how!your!Missional!Community!goes!to!Response.!!i.!Scripture!! Pray!!

for!the!holy!spirit!to!inspire!your!words!and!to!soften!hearts!! Read!a!scripture!! ! From!the!Lectionary!(in!the!appendix)!! ! From!a!devotional!or!personal!reading!! ! Any!other!scripture!that!has!been!on!your!heart!somehow!! Notice!ONE!thing!about!the!scripture.!(What!is!God!saying!to!you?)!!ii.!Story!! Tell!your!story!F!share!how!you!have!experienced!this!scripture!in!your!life.!! ! may!be!something!that!bothered!you!about!the!scripture!! ! may!be!something!that!relates!to!your!experience!! ! may!be!a!question!that!is!still!unanswered!!iii.!Lead!to!Response!! How!does!this!shape!the!MC’s!prayer!(or!other!response)?!!!Open*Floor*This!style!of!leadership!works!best!if!your!Missional!Community!is!showing!signs!of!spiritual!maturity.!In!fact,!this!is!a!great!way!to!encourage!and!foster!shared!leadership!and!the!outpouring!of!the!Holy!Spirit!in!gifts!of!the!Spirit!such!as!prophecy!

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and!words!of!knowledge.!At!the!same!time,!opening!up!the!floor!for!speaking!words!from!the!Lord!will!ask!a!higher!level!of!leadership!from!you.!It!would!be!helpful!to!let!your!Missional!Community!know!ahead!of!time!so!they!know!what!to!expect!and!may!even!come!ready!to!share!something.!!i.!Revelation!

Pray!Invite!people!to!share!what!God!has!been!saying!to!them!

ii.!Interpretation!Listen!for!whether!the!revelation!fits!with!God’s!character!and!scripture!Practice!reflective!listening,!repeating!back!what!they!said!

iii.!Application!Listen!for!patterns!and!applications!for!your!MC!Pray!F!Let!the!revelation!and!interpretation!shape!your!prayer!Determine!what!kind!of!response!would!fit!what!has!been!shared!

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3.*Response*Ideas*!Communion*Communion!is!a!sacrament!in!which!we!remember!(reTmember)!Christ’s!death.!It’s!more!than!simply!telling!the!story;!it!is!entering!the!story!of!Christ.!We!believe!Christ!is!present!in!communion!in!a!way!that!is!beyond!words.!As!such,!while!you!can!‘just’!pass!around!bread!and!juice,!by!setting!the!stage!with!prayer!and!scripture!our!spiritual!appetite!grows.!Keep!in!mind!communion!may!feel!awkward!or!even!unspiritual!at!first.!But!as!you!practice!communion!more!regularly,!communion!will!become!more!and!more!spiritually!nourishing!for!your!Missional!Community.!!!i.!Begin!with!a!prayer!of!thanksgiving.!

For!God!the!Father!and!Creator!For!his!Son!Jesus,!his!death!and!resurrection!For!the!Holy!Spirit,!who!is!present!now!in!this!meal!

!ii.!Present!the!bread!and!wine!(juice)!! Read!1!Corinthians!11:23bF26!(maybe!use!bread!and!wine!(juice)!as!“props”)!!iii.!Serve!communion!! It!might!be!nice!to!have!music!playing.!Silence!is!fine!too!! You!might!include!the!words!for!bread!(Christ’s!body!for!you)!and!wine!(his!blood!for!you)!!iv.!Pray!a!prayer!of!thanksgiving!and!blessing!!!Prayer*“Prayer!is!first!of!all!listening!to!God.!It’s!openness.!God!is!always!speaking;!he’s!always!doing!something.”!–Henri!Nouwen!“Prayer!is!aligning!ourselves!with!the!purposes!of!God.”!–!E.!Stanley!Jones!!Prayer!is!a!time!in!which!God!draws!your!MC!close!to!His!heart,!speaks!clearly,!and!transforms!people.!When!choosing!how!you!will!approach!prayer!as!an!MC,!take!time!to!pray,!discern,!and!consider!the!scripture!for!the!night.!Is!it!a!scripture!of!conviction?!Maybe!God!is!leading!you!to!prayers!of!confession.!Is!it!a!scripture!calling!believers!to!action?!Maybe!intercessory!prayer.!Is!it!a!scripture!of!faith?!Maybe!healing!prayer.!Praying!through!or!according!to!scripture!can!be!a!powerful!experience.!!i.!Forms!of!Prayer!! Pairs!or!Triads!–!allows!a!more!intimate!space!for!longer!prayers!! Small!groups!–!allows!for!shorter!prayers!but!more!support!in!numbers!! Everybody!–!“alone!together”!people!can!pray!privately!but!do!so!together!!

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ii.!Kinds!of!Prayer!! Intercessory/Missional!Prayer!! ! FPray!for!people!of!peace!

FPray!for!your!city,!state,!country,!or!world!FPray!for!salvation,!for!the!Kingdom!of!God!to!come,!for!justice!

! Confession!and!Repentance!! ! FFor!sins!we!committed!as!well!as!for!the!good!we!did!not!do!! ! FFor!personal!sin!as!well!as!communal/systemic!sin!! ! FBe!sure!to!offer!words!of!forgiveness!and!grace!afterwards.!! Healing!Prayer!! ! FSee!Appendix!for!more!insight!and!wisdom!on!healing!prayer!! Personal!Needs!! ! FHave!people!share!specific!personal/family!needs!and!receive!prayer!! The!Lord’s!Prayer!! ! FPerhaps!all!can!say!it!verbatim!together!! ! FConsider!working!around!the!hexagon,!allowing!space!for!prayer!! Commission/Dedication!Prayer!! ! FMeaningful!if!members!are!being!sent!on!a!trip/mission/journey!! ! FOr!everyone!may!be!commissioned!before!a!MC!mission!event!!!Offering*Your!Missional!Community!is!committed!to!blessing!a!neighborhood!or!network.!Our!UP!nights!are!not!isolated!from!mission;!in!fact,!our!UP!nights!propel!us!into!mission.!!!For!that!reason,!it!would!be!totally!appropriate!to!lead!from!scripture!into!a!time!of!giving.!Look!at!Acts!2!!The!worship!of!the!early!church!was!intimately!tied!to!its!sharing!of!possessions!for!the!sake!of!the!kingdom!of!God.!!!Some!ideas:!!! FCollect!supplies!for!those!in!need!(cans,!clothes,!etc.)!! FRaise!money!to!buy!something!your!neighborhood!or!network!needs!! FBrainstorm!possibilities!for!new!missional!projects!! FPotluck!!Everyone!brings!food!to!share!! FHave!members!volunteer!to!serve!at!the!next!OUT!!Pray:!! We!thank!you,!God,!because!every!good!and!perfect!gift!comes!from!you.!You!have!blessed!us!to!be!a!blessing!to!others.!We!release!these!gifts!into!your!kingdom!that!they!would!be!multiplied!for!your!glory.!Amen.!

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Song*Feel!free!to!close!your!time!with!praise!if!that!is!where!God!is!leading!you!as!a!MC.!!

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!i.!A!Capella!See!“1.!Reverence!Ideas”!section!for!a!list!of!simple!songs.!!ii.!YouTube!Videos!If!you!have!the!right!equipment,!you!can!pull!up!YouTube.com!on!a!large!screen!and!use!videos!to!lead!your!MC!in!song.!Search!for!songs!ahead!of!time!by!searching!the!song!title!and!then!“with!lyrics”.!There!are!thousands!of!worship!songs!that!have!been!made!into!quality!lyric!videos!for!this!purpose.!!!Reflection*It!may!be!most!helpful!to!simply!allow!for!space!for!people!to!reflect.!This!can!be!done!by!simply!inviting!a!time!of!silence,!reading!a!Psalm!or!some!other!scripture,!or!inviting!people!to!pray!silently.!!!This!time!can!also!be!directed!by!asking!“What!is!God!saying!to!me?”!and!“What!am!I!going!to!do!about!it?”!You!might!even!want!to!lead!a!large!or!small!group!discussion!around!these!questions.!!!!!!!!! !

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MISSIONAL COMMUNITY SAMPLE 1 Name of Missional Community Day, Month DD, YYYY (@ Somebody’s House) *

(Eat$Together$(30(minutes)(

• Welcome!(Silverware,(plates(and(napkins.(Other(instructions(• Find(out(something(scandalous(about(one(other(person?((• Pray(for(the(meal(

(REVERENCE$(10(minutes)$Spoken$Praise$(

• Let’s(go(around(the(whole(group(and(share(a(simple(praise(out(loud.((o What(is(alive(for(you(tonight?(What(do(you(appreciate?(What(aspect(of(

God’s(character(are(you(especially(aware(of?(What(was(a(highlight(of(your(week?(

o These(testimonies(are(our(way(of(celebrating(who(God(is(in(our(lives(o Fill(in(the(blank:(“I(praise(God(for(____________”(

(REVELATION$(30(minutes)(

Lectio$Divina$=$John$3:16=21$• “Divine(reading”…(practice(of(letting(the(scriptures(speak(for(themselves(• Going(to(listen(to(God’s(Word(together(and(allow(the(Holy(Spirit(to(speak(

through(each(of(us(to(all(of(us(• Pray(

o Silence(! Allow(for(at(least(10(seconds(of(silence(to(acknowledge(God’s(

presence(o First(reading:(John(3:16421(

! For(familiarity.(Read(prayerfully(and(unhurriedly(o Second(reading(:(John(3:16421(

! Ruminate(on(the(passage(! Invite(people(to(listen(for(a(word(or(phrase(that(“shimmers”(! What(attracts,(touches,(or(even(disturbs?(

o Sharing(! Allow(people(to(speak(out(loud(the(words(and(phrases(they(heard.(! As(a(leader,(listen(for(themes.(What(is(God(saying(to(our(whole(

group?(

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o Third(Reading((perhaps(from(a(second(reader)(:(John(3:16421(! Contemplate(how(this(word(relates(to(their(present(life(context(

o Sharing(! Invite(people(to(share(their(contemplations(in(small(groups(! Each(small(group(shares(with(larger(group(what(they(heard(

o Silence(• Ended(with(a(brief(prayer(to(thank(God(for(this(experience.(

RESPONSE$(20(min)$Communion$(Prayer(of(thanksgiving…(

For(God(the(Father(and(Creator(For(his(Son(Jesus,(his(death(and(resurrection(For(the(Holy(Spirit,(who(is(present(now(in(this(meal(

(Present(the(bread(and(wine((juice)(

Read(1(Corinthians(11:23b426((use(bread(and(wine((juice)(as(“props”)((Serve(communion(( Pass(the(bread(and(juice(around(in(a(circle(

Saying(“Christ’s(body(broken(for(you”(and(“Christ’s(blood(shed(for(you”((Prayer(of(thanksgiving(and(blessing(

(Song$–$YouTube.com(

• Have(someone(pull(up(lyric(video(on(screen(• “Amazing(Grace”(

(Prayer$

• Thank(God(for(his(amazing(grace(demonstrated(on(the(cross$$Housekeeping$&$Logistics$(2(min)(

• Next(meeting(when(and(where(• Emails(from(everyone(

$

(( (

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MISSIONAL COMMUNITY SAMPLE 2 Name of Missional Community Day, Month DD, YYYY (@ Somebody’s House) *

(Eat$Together$(30(minutes)(

• Welcome!(Silverware,(plates(and(napkins.(Other(instructions(• How(was(the(holiday(weekend?((• Pray(for(the(meal(

(REVERENCE$(10(minutes)$Psalm(

• I(want(to(open(our(time(by(reading(this(Psalm(about(God’s(faithfulness.(God(has(been(faithful(to(me,(to(us(as(a(family,(and(to(this(community.(So(let’s(let(this(Psalm(open(our(hearts(up(in(worship.((

• Could(I(have(two(volunteers(who(would(be(willing(to(trade(off(every(other(verse?(o Read(Psalm(117(

Song(

• Does(everyone(know(10,000(Reasons?(Here(are(the(lyrics(–(“Bless(the(Lord(O(my(soul,(O(my(soul.(Worship(his(holy(name.(Sing(like(never(before,(O(my(soul,(worship(his(holy(name”.(We’ll(sing(it(twice.(Who(has(a(strong(voice(that(could(lead(us(off?(( Bless(the(Lord,(O(my(soul(( O(my(soul,(worship(His(holy(Name(( Sing(like(never(before,(O(my(soul(( Worship(His(holy(Name(

(REVELATION$(20(minutes)(Meditation$–$Psalm$23$

• Scripture(o Pray(for(the(holy(spirit(to(inspire(your(words(and(to(soften(hearts(o Read(Psalm(23(o Notice(ONE(thing:(I(notice(the(shadow(of(the(valley(of(death.((

! The(shepherd(has(no(fear(because(God(is(with(him.((• Story(

o This(week(my(uncle(had(a(stroke.(Valley(of(death.(Family(is(really(shaken(up.((My(mom(is(asking(me(where(is(God?(

o I(ask(myself,(where(is(God(in(the(midst(of(our(pain(and(suffering.(I(wonder(this(same(question(myself.((

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o Scripture(tells(us(he(is(with(us,(but(it’s(not(always(my(experience.(I(want(to(know(God’s(presence(in(the(midst(of(suffering,(especially(now(with(my(uncle.((

• Lead(to(Response(o Where(is(there(a(shadow(of(death(in(you(life?(In(the(life(of(our(families?(

In(the(life(of(our(community?(Take(a(second(to(ask(God(that.((RESPONSE$(30(min)$Prayer$

• Let’s(break(up(into(groups(of(three(and(pray(for(each(other.(Take(a(few(minutes(and(really(share(the(full(story.(After(each(person(is(done,(everyone(pray(for(that(person.(Then(move(on.(We(have(plenty(of(time(for(this(so(don’t(be(shy.(Let’s(pray(for(God’s(presence(as(a(good(shepherd(in(the(midst(of(our(dark(valley(of(the(shadow(of(death.(If(time(allows,(pray(for(your(Person(of(Peace(too.$

$Housekeeping$&$Logistics$(5(min)(

• Next(meeting(when(and(where(• Potluck(details(for(next(time!(

$

(!!!! !

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Appendix:*Healing*Prayer*[Notes!from!Chris!Norman,!Grace!Gathering,!New!Haven,!IN]!*Intro*• God!created!our!bodies!to!work*perfectly!and!to!last*forever,!but!now!our!

physical!bodies!suffer!from!sin!–!both!directly!and!indirectly…*!o Directly…!we!make!bad*choices,!our!bodies!suffer!(smoking,!overeating,!

alcohol,!lack!of!sleep,!etc.)!o Indirectly…!things!outside*our*control,!not!tied!to!choices!(bodies!age!

and!die,!virus,!tumor,!etc.)!• One!day!it!will!all!be!made!right!(Rev.*21:1K5)!• Right!now!we!live!in!the!“in*between.”**Doesn’t!mean!we!have!to!wait!for!Jesus!

to!come!back!to!experience!healing.!• Healings!are!glimpses,!tastes!of!heaven*coming*to*earth.!• People!get!healed!in!natural!and!supernatural!ways,!but!all1healing1is1from1

God.1

5*Principles*on*Physical*Healing*1. You*must*desire*and*ask*to*be*healed**

Matt*20:29K34…*As!Jesus!and!his!disciples!were!leaving!Jericho,!a!large!crowd!followed!him.!Two!blind!men!were!sitting!by!the!roadside,!and!when!they!heard!that!Jesus!was!going!by,!they!shouted,!“Lord,!Son!of!David,!have!mercy!on!us!”!!The!crowd!rebuked!them!and!told!them!to!be!quiet,!but!they!shouted!all!the!louder,!“Lord,!Son!of!David,!have!mercy!on!us!”!!!Jesus!stopped!and!called!them.!“What!do!you!want!me!to!do!for!you?”!he!asked.!!“Lord,”!they!answered,!“we!want!our!sight.”!!Jesus!had!compassion!on!them!and!touched!their!eyes.!!Immediately!they!received!their!sight!and!followed!him!Sometimes!we!think!we!don’t*want*to*bother*God,!or!“other1people1have1it1far1worse1than1we1do”1so!we*don’t*ask*for*healing.*Two!things!to!point!out!in!this!passage:!!they*had*desire*and!they*asked*and*were*specific.!!God!wants!us!to!approach!Him.!!2. Healing*can*be*instantaneous*or*take*time*

Almost!all!of!Jesus’!healing!prayers!were!instantaneous,!except!for!one.!!Mark*8:22K25…*They!came!to!Bethsaida,!and!some!people!brought!a!blind!man!and!begged!Jesus!to!touch!him.!He!took!the!blind!man!by!the!hand!and!led!him!outside!the!village.!When!he!had!spit!on!the!man’s!eyes!and!put!his!hands!on!him,!Jesus!asked,!“Do!you!see!anything?”!!!He!looked!up!and!said,!“I!see!people;!they!look!like!trees!walking!around.”!!!Once!more!Jesus!put!his!hands!on!the!man’s!eyes.!Then!his!eyes!were!opened,!his!sight!was!restored,!and!he!saw!everything!clearly.!When!someone!has!back!pain,!and!that!back!pain*is*reduced*by*50%*because*of*prayer,!that*is*healing,!and!that!is!from*God.**We!can!rejoice*if*we*get*partially*

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healed*or*we*get*temporarily*healed.!!Maybe!the!healing!is!for!an!hour,!a!day,!or!a!week.!!We!need!to!recognize!and!rejoice!over!partial*and!temporary*healings!just!like!we!do!when!someone!gets!fully*healed.**Even!full*healings*are*in*a*sense*temporary!because!everyone’s*body*eventually*gets*sick*and*dies.!!Jesus!raised!Lazarus!from!the!dead,!but!even!Lazarus!eventually!died!again!and!did!not!get!brought!back!to!life.!!In!the!end,*all*believers*get*permanently*healed,!but!in!this*life*all*healing*is*a*taste*and*foreshadowing!of!what!is!to!come.!!!So!we!say!pray*for*healing*until!one!of!the!following!occurs:!

• They!get!healed!in!this!life!!• Jesus!returns!!• Healed!in!heaven!!

All!healing!is!temporary!and!a!signpost!to!heaven.!!!3. Healing*requires*faith*and*belief*in*God’s*power*!You!do!have*to*have*faith*to*be*healed,!but!you!don’t*have*to*have*big*faith,!just!a!small*amount*will*do!(mustard!seed!size).!!!Faith*isn’t*presumptive.!!We!don’t!need!to!conclude!we!lacked!enough!faith!or!that!God!didn’t!want!someone!healed.!!He*wants*everyone*healed*because*he*is*a*good*dad,!and!that!will!be!reality!for!all!of!his!kids!eventually.!!I!don’t!know!any!parent!who!wants!their!child!sick,!and!Jesus!says!in!Matt.*7!if!you!as!a!sinful!parent!feel!that!way!about!your!kids,!just!think!how!much!God!wants!to!bless!his!kids.!!Daniel’s!prayer!in!faith.!!Daniel*3:17K18…!If!we!are!thrown!into!the!blazing!furnace,!the!God!we!serve!is!able!to!deliver!us!from!it,!and!he!will!deliver!us!from!Your!Majesty’s!hand.!But!even!if!he!does!not,!we!want!you!to!know,!Your!Majesty,!that!we!will!not!serve!your!gods!or!worship!the!image!of!gold!you!have!set!up.”!Main!takeaway:!!confident*but*not*presumptuous!!!!4. Those*who*don’t*get*healed*on*this*side*of*heaven*are*considered*heroes*

and*warriors*to*the*great*cloud*of*witnesses*in*heaven.**

Hebrews*11:36K40…!Some!faced!jeers!and!flogging,!and!even!chains!and!imprisonment.!They!were!put!to!death!by!stoning;!they!were!sawed!in!two;!they!were!killed!by!the!sword.!They!went!about!in!sheepskins!and!goatskins,!destitute,!persecuted!and!mistreated—!the!world!was!not!worthy!of!them.!They!wandered!in!deserts!and!mountains,!living!in!caves!and!in!holes!in!the!ground.!!These!were!all!commended!for!their!faith,!yet!none1of1them1received1what1had1been1promised,!since!God!had!planned!something!better!for!us!so!that!only!together!with!us!would!they!be!made!perfect.!!Our*bodies*feel*the*tangible*reality*of*the*spiritual*warfare*going*on*in*our*world*every*day.!We!have!the!battle!scars!as!our!bodies!struggle!and!eventually!

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die.!!Those*who*endure*the*struggles,*pray*for*healing,*but*never*see*healing*on*this*side*of*heaven,*are*considered*warrior*heroes.****5. God*wants*all*his*children*trained*on*how*to*pray*for*the*healing*of*the*

sick.*

Luke*10:8K9…!“When!you!enter!a!town!and!are!welcomed,!eat!what!is!offered!to!you.!Heal!the!sick!who!are!there!and!tell!them,!‘The!kingdom!of!God!has!come!near!to!you.!Acts*9:17K18…!Then!Ananias!went!to!the!house!and!entered!it.!Placing!his!hands!on!Saul,!he!said,!“Brother!Saul,!the!Lord—Jesus,!who!appeared!to!you!on!the!road!as!you!were!coming!here—has!sent!me!so!that!you!may!see!again!and!be!filled!with!the!Holy!Spirit.”!Immediately,!something!like!scales!fell!from!Saul’s!eyes,!and!he!could!see!again.!He!got!up!and!was!baptized.!Praying*for*healing*is*not*reserved*for*the*formal*leaders*of*the*church*or*only*for*those*who*have*the*spiritual*gift*of*healing.!!It!is!not!reserved!simply!for!official!healings!services.!!God*wants*all*his*kids*trained*on*how*to*pray*for*healing*in*everyday*life.!!This!is!what!Jesus!modeled!and!this!is!how!he!trained!his!disciples.!!All!of!us!can!be!trained!in!this.!!Praying*• Ask…!What!is!it!you!want!prayer!for?!• Ask…!Okay!to!lay!hand!on!shoulder?!• It’s!okay!to!keep!eyes!open!(be!observant)!• Midway…!ask!if!they!are!experiencing!anything?!• End…!rejoice!over!any!improvement;!encourage!continued!prayer!till!(1)!healed!

(2)!Jesus!returns!(3)!God!brings!healing!at!death.!!