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TOPICS THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER THE PRACTICE OF SCRIPTURE THE PRACTICE OF FASTING THE PRACTICE OF SOLITUDE SILENCE THE PRACTICE OF CONFESSION THE PRACTICE OF OBEDIENCE THE PRACTICE OF SERVICE THE PRACTICE OF GIVING THE PRACTICE OF WORSHIP THE PRACTICE OF CELEBRATION
This study guide was written by Audra Lexin For more information on anything written here please contact the Community Life team at the Desert Vineyard Church at groups desertvineyard org All Bible verses are NIV unless otherwise stated Desert Vineyard Church 1011 E Ave I Lancaster CA 93535 www desertvineyard org
1 THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER W hat is PRAYER Prayer is the way we communicate with God and almost everyone has done it at one time or another Consider the old joke that as long as there are tests in school there will also be prayer in school But that moment of desperation when we cry out please God or sigh of relief that includes thank God is just the beginning Prayer is also one of the primary things that God uses to shape us Jesus discusses prayer in his Sermon on the Mount in two parts when you pray and how you pray See Matthew 6 5 15 When you pray Jesus says keep it simple and intimate There is no need for a special setting exaggerated motions or lots of special words THERE IS NO NEED FOR A SPECIAL SETTING EXAGGERATED MOTIONS OR LOTS OF SPECIAL WORDS Instead since your Father already knows what you need just quiet down and be with him God is always interested in building relationship with his kids that s us Since communication is key to healthy relationships prayer is one of the most important ways we can build our bond with God
Matthew 6 9 13 Jesus continues This then is how you should pray Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us today our daily bread And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one How you pray includes these elements of prayer acknowledging God for who he is inviting his will not our own asking for what we need the business of forgiveness and trusting him for our protection P racticing PRAYER This week our practice is to simply pray through The Lord s Prayer above twice each day for ve days You can try once in the morning before your day begins and once in the evening before bed or adding it once to a mealtime prayer with family and another time when you can be still and alone To go a little deeper after reading each line of prayer put it into your own words or add personal details You might also make some notes next to the prayer if you have questions or if you sense God is saying something to you S peaking of PRAYER Use these questions for your own re ection or even better nd a friend or small group to share in the discussion You can still join a small group at https desertvineyard churchcenter com groups fi fl fi Can you recall a time you prayed in desperation or relief a quick please God or thank God What was happening How did you feel before and after the prayer
If you practiced prayer by praying through The Lord s Prayer this week how did that go One way we learn is to seek answers to the questions that naturally come up when we read Did you have any questions Did you learn something about God or yourself Do you plan to continue the practice Priest and author Henri Nouwen captured the intimacy of prayer like this To pray is to listen to the One who calls you my beloved daughter my beloved son my beloved child Have you had an experience in prayer where you felt like a beloved child If not can you imagine how that might feel
2 THE PRACTICE OF SCRIPTURE W hat is SCRIPTURE Scripture is the written record of how God has revealed himself throughout history It s how we know anything about God The book that we call the Bible is actually an anthology of 66 di erent writings from a variety of genres like history law poetry prophecy gospels letters and apocalyptic literature These writings span almost 1700 years and yet carry an astonishing unity in communicating who God is and what he has done There are of course many di cult passages and things that are confusing and hard to understand but we as people living after the death and resurrection of Jesus have an interpretive key to the whole thing Jesus himself In John 5 39 40 Jesus says this You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life These are the very Scriptures that testify about me yet you refuse to come to me to have life The Scriptures testify about Jesus All of them In addition the apostle Paul sums up the providence and purpose of Scripture in his letter to Timothy ffi ff All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 3 16 17
We want to study Scripture so we are able to understand and apply it to our lives properly There are volumes of amazing Bible studies written for groups and individuals to help us learn and grow some even written right alongside the text in a study Bible or available in a Bible app The author of Hebrews describes the value and use of Scripture in our lives a little di erently the word of God is alive and active Sharper than any double edged sword it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit joints and marrow it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart Hebrews 4 12 Rather than Bible study here we rely on the Spirit of God to bring Scripture to life in ways that alter what we believe about God and ourselves Meditation re ection on Scripture is one way we can invite God to speak to us through a particular passage THE SCRIPTURES TESTIFY ABOUT JESUS ALL OF THEM P fi fi fl ff fi racticing SCRIPTURE This week let s practice looking at Scripture through meditation Plan for at least 10 minutes three days this week to practice meditation Try to nd a time and place where you won t be disturbed or distracted If you do not have a private space many people nd lighting a candle helps to create a special atmosphere and it can help others in your home to recognize that you are having some God time If you tend to dget when trying to be still consider a rocking chair swing or even an easy walk
The Lord is the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak Read the passage over several times looking and listening for what God is drawing to your attention Close your eyes look into the candle ame or gaze up at the sky take in the moment with a few deep breaths What sensations and emotions are you experiencing What words or ideas from the passage stand out to you Is there an action or adjustment that you are inspired to make S peaking of SCRIPTURE How is it possible that Jesus would say that the Scriptures testify about him when most of them were written before he was born Are you more comfortable with the description of Scripture in 2 Timothy 3 16 17 or Hebrews 4 12 Have you been more likely to engage in a Bible study or time of meditation Did you practice meditation this week If so how did it go What challenges did you experience What did you enjoy Do you think you will try meditation again fl Begin by reading a passage of Scripture this week we will focus on Isaiah 40 28 29 NIV
3 THE PRACTICE OF FASTING W hat is FASTING Simply put fasting is voluntarily going without food or any other regularly enjoyed good gift from God for the sake of some spiritual purpose It is a radical expression of freedom from the habits of this world and demonstrates faith in the abundant Kingdom of God Fasting is a privilege and calling human beings are the only creatures able to decide to shut down a lower instinct in order to reach for a higher purpose We don t fast because we are so spiritual we fast because we are so in need of God and desire to make space for him even in the desires of our body Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 6 16 18 when he makes is clear that secrecy is a part of fasting so that we don t use it as a badge of spiritual pride showing o how holy we are ff fi When you fast do not look somber as the hypocrites do for they dis gure their faces to show others they are fasting Truly I tell you they have received their reward in full But when you fast put oil on your head and wash your face so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting but only to your Father who is unseen and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you
Fasting was a part of the rhythm of life in the Bible so much so that Jesus was questioned about why his disciples were not fasting In Matthew 9 15 Jesus answered How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them then they will fast We live in a time when we have to make an e ort to pursue the presence of God and fasting is one way to do so Fasting can be done at any time but when we fast in the season of Lent we join with believers across the world as we collectively grieve over sin and acknowledge our need for Jesus P racticing FASTING A typical Lenten fast begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday Many faith traditions also allow for a break in the fast weekly on Sunday or your Sabbath day since that is a day spent with the Lord You might choose just to fast this week for one day each week or to join for the whole 40 days As you choose what and when to fast consider your medical needs your prior experience with fasting and even your schedule during the fast Abstaining from food is the most common fast but if that is ill advised for you then fasting from speaking can be a substantial alternative for fasts that last only a few days Fasts from social media or television giving up a single meal each day or fasting speci c foods like meat sweets co ee or alcohol can be more sustainable over a longer period of time like lent fi ff ff WE FAST BECAUSE WE ARE SO IN NEED OF GOD
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke to set the oppressed free and break every yoke Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked to clothe them and not to turn away from your own esh and blood Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard Then you will call and the Lord will answer you will cry for help and he will say Here am I S peaking of FASTING What past experience with or ideas did you have about fasting before this week Did you learn anything from Isaiah 58 6 9 about God s vision for fasting ffi fl Fasting can prove to be pretty di cult what challenges did you face as you practiced fasting this week Do you plan to continue the Lenten fast this season ff We fast from things we can see and taste because God invites us to taste and see his goodness but fasting is not just about giving something up We also want to turn our reserved time e ort and attention toward Jesus Bible study meditation prayer and acts of service can help us focus on God during a fast This week as we embrace the Lenten fast let s read from Isaiah 58 together each day
THE PRACTICE OF SOLITUDE SILENCE W hat is SOLITUDE SILENCE If you live in a busy house or have a hectic job the idea of sitting quietly alone might sound like heaven itself We typically need these practices most when we have the least amount of time Jesus modeled the need for silence and solitude in the midst of his busy life and ministry Luke writes Yet the news about him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed Luke 5 15 16 It can feel sel sh to take time away from loved ones and responsibilities but the practice of solitude is not about isolating alone as much as it is choosing to be alone with God Similarly silence is not merely the absence of noise but is intentional quiet in order to listen to God These practices make room for the most beloved One and demonstrates our ability to prioritize our most important responsibility to seek rst the Kingdom of God fi THESE PRACTICES MAKE ROOM FOR THE MOST BELOVED ONE fi 4
Set your alarm to wake you 30 minutes early in the morning for some silence and solitude or a reminder to go to bed 30 minutes early for silence and solitude at the end of the day If it is best to schedule your time in the middle of your day put it on your work agenda and set reminders like you would for other important meetings Think outside the box to nd a place where you can be quietly alone maybe sitting in the car or taking a walk if your home is crowded This is not time for a Bible study or to pray through your concerns for the day so make an e ort to come into your time without any agenda Try a very simple breath prayer to help you recenter if your mind is active inhale saying more of you God and say less of me on the exhale Set a timer for the 30 minutes so you are not tempted to watch the clock fi ff fi fi While many people nd this practice to be peaceful some nd it uncomfortable That does not mean you are doing something wrong or that God is displeased Like any new exercise it gets easier over time Try jotting down a word or phrase about your experience each day and see what you can discover about God and yourself in silence and solitude fi P racticing SOLITUDE SILENCE Spiritual silence and solitude is an attitude of the heart that is not dependent on physical circumstances but when we can it helps to carve out speci c time and space that allows us to practice exterior disciplines that impact our interior lives While it may seem nearly impossible try planning a full 30 minutes of silence and solitude on three or more days this week These tips should help
If you were able to spend some time practicing silence and solitude this week what did you enjoy most If you did not practice silence and solitude what obstacles kept you from doing so ffi fi How are you doing with the other practices we have discussed so far S peaking of SOLITUDE SILENCE What do you nd most di cult about solitude About silence
5 THE PRACTICE OF CONFESSION W hat is CONFESSION When we confess we acknowledge the sin in our lives harm we have done or good we have left undone to God and to those around us Though the confession of sin is present throughout the Bible John gives the most concise and helpful explanation of why we should do so If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1 8 9 If you are a parent you can likely relate to the desire to hear the truth about who broke what and why We want our children to learn that if they are honest we can work things out and move on That is basically what our Heavenly Father is looking for in confession P racticing CONFESSION Almost all of us will be familiar with a movie scene of someone in a Catholic confessional listing their wrongdoings to a priest but that is not the only way to practice confession Our honest conversation with God can be covered in a humble time of praying aloud a written record in our journal or with a trusted friend
There really is something powerful about not just confessing in our mind speaking or writing out the words of sin begins to break the power of secret shame that sin so often holds James says it this way And the prayer o ered in faith will make the sick person well the Lord will raise them up If they have sinned they will be forgiven Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed James 5 15 16 To practice confession this week schedule a call or virtual meeting with a trusted friend Let them know you wish to confess sin and spend some time in prayer together When you connect talk about your sin similarly to how you would describe the symptoms of an illness this is serious con dential and in need of healing Then pray accordingly Your friend may choose to confess as well but that is not necessary Because confession is so personal and emotional you might alternatively or additionally pray the following prayer of confession every morning and evening in acknowledgement of sin each day ff fi Most Merciful God We confess that we have sinned against you in thought word and deed by what we have done and by what we have left undone We have not loved you with our whole heart we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves We are truly sorry and we humbly repent For the sake of your son Jesus Christ have mercy on us and forgive us that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name Amen
S peaking of CONFESSION What part of the weekend sermon is still sitting with you today Which practice s of confession did you choose How was that experience fi Following the 1 John passage above John says My dear children I write this to you so that you will not sin But if anybody does sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous One He is the atoning sacri ce for our sins and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world 1 John 2 1 2 What do these verses mean to you after practicing confession this week
6 THE PRACTICE OF OBEDIENCE W hat is OBEDIENCE Just before Jesus was arrested he was in the Garden if Gethsemane crying out for things to be di erent yet yielding to the will of the Father Abba Father he said everything is possible for you Take this cup from me Yet not what I will but what you will Mark 14 36 For Jesus obeying his Father was paramount In the Gospel of John Jesus ties obedience to love In one of his nal conversations with the disciples Jesus says If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching you will remain in My love just as I have kept My Father s commandments and remain in His love John 15 10 AMP JESUS TIES OBEDIENCE TO LOVE While Jesus may be referring to the ten commandments here he also makes clear the command he holds most important fi fi ff This is my commandment that you love and unsel shly seek the best for one another just as I have loved you John 15 12 see also vs 17
P racticing OBEDIENCE This week we will practice obedience by demonstrating love to others in three ways LOVE AS RESTRAINT Do what is best for another by setting aside your own needs and desires Consider some of the boundaries those around you have mentioned places they would rather not go times they would rather not be disturbed chores they would rather not do Instead of negotiating for your preference respect the boundary if possible An example might be if a coworker has said they nd it di cult to concentrate when you play your music and rather than just keeping the volume low you turn it o or use headphones so that they can work peacefully ff ff ff ffi LOVE IN ACTION Do something tangible for someone in need Perhaps you can a ord something extravagant like gifting a used car to someone without one or using your trade skills to bless a family who needs but cannot a ord home repairs or childcare If not simpler expressions of love like delivering a healthy meal or an hours long conversation with an elderly friend while keeping safe can be equally impactful You could choose to volunteer or donate to church and charitable organizations but challenge yourself to be a bit more personal if possible fi Obedience is the way we connect with God s love We know that our obedience is not a condition of God s love see Romans 5 8 but there is something about obeying God that helps us to experience be aware of and abide in the love of Jesus Therefore we can put into practice and measure obedience the same way Jesus does in our love for others
S peaking of OBEDIENCE Why do you think Jesus ties obedience to loving others How does loving others help you feel more connected with God and his love Romans 5 8 says But God demonstrates his own love for us in this While we were still sinners Christ died for us What does Christ s death teach us about love as restraint love in action or love for your enemy ff ffi fi The practices above centered on loving those pretty close to home How could love as restraint love in action and love for your enemy have a broader impact if applied to concerns of inequity poverty conservation and others ffi LOVE FOR AN ENEMY Show Christlike a ection to someone di cult to love Think about the more strained relationships in your life and how you could extend love toward one or more of those individuals Is there a family member who would appreciate a phone call or an old friend who could use an apology Maybe you have a competitive coworker who would bene t from a genuine compliment or a di cult neighbor who you could show kindness
7 THE PRACTICE OF SERVICE W hat is SERVICE The Gospel of Mark records a conversation between Jesus and the disciples in which Jesus confronts them for arguing about who is the best Jesus pulls them together for a word of correction Anyone who wants to be rst must be the very last and the servant of all Mark 9 35 Jesus modeled the life of servant leadership all the way to and including his death on the cross As we spend the Lenten season considering the sacri ce of Jesus for our sake it is important to consider how we might have argued our case for being the best and how we might now walk in the footsteps of Jesus the servant fi fi ff Throughout the epistles the apostle Paul outlines Christian living with more than a dozen one another statements and repeatedly uses the analogy that we are all parts of one body to help us understand this servant lifestyle Service is a posture of the heart that recognizes the gifts talents and resources given to me actually belong to anyone who needs them Service is a mindset that says I have a hammer she has a nail he can a ord lumber and you need a house so let s come together to make it happen Sometimes our hearts and minds are in the right place but we are unsure where to put our hands to work At other times just getting to work with our hands will help bring our hearts and minds along
JESUS MODELED THE LIFE OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP ALL THE WAY TO AND INCLUDING HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS P racticing SERVICE As part of practicing service this week prepare your heart and mind with some time of prayer and re ection Ask God to help you see what you have that could be helpful for others in our church and community What tools are collecting dust in your garage or skills are you not using in your current job Do you miss helping young kids with homework or enjoy knitting so much that your sweaters have sweaters Maybe you have a gift for networking in the business world or you don t mind a long day of gardening in the sun Make a list of all the possibilities even if you do not know who could be helped fl fi Now engage your hands in service Check with the church or other charitable organizations to see where you can volunteer this week for an hour or two This step is about getting to work even if it is not ful lling or something we will continue to do though God might just surprise you If you are able to connect one of your new possibilities that is great but don t worry if you are not It is possible that the work or someone you meet while working will help inspire more possibilities Don t overthink it though just sign up and show up to practice service
One of Paul s statements reads You my brothers and sisters were called to be free But do not use your freedom to indulge the esh rather serve one another humbly in love Galatians 5 13 How does freedom sometimes get in the way of practicing service fl S peaking of SERVICE Share your list of possibilities with your small group or email it to a leader you know Consider together what next steps you can take to start serving in one of these ways Where did you choose to serve this week What was your experience What did you learn about yourself or God as you practiced service
8 THE PRACTICE OF GIVING W hat is GIVING We give because God has given to us He is a generous God and everything we have and are belongs to him The earth is the Lord s and everything in it 1 Cor 10 26 We are stewards of that which belongs to God and he wants us to develop generosity as a way of responding to his generosity and as a way of becoming more like him Being told how to use our money is uncomfortable but if we are to read the Bible it s unavoidable There are 500 Bible verses on prayer less than 500 verses on faith but 2 350 verses on money and possessions Jesus has more to say about money than any other subject besides the Kingdom of God In fact 15 of every recorded word that came out of his mouth has to do with money He isn t just concerned with giving to God through tithing he s concerned with how we handle money period The Biblical perspective on money is not that money is evil but that it is dangerous Jesus tells us clearly No one can serve two masters Either you will hate the one and love the other or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other You cannot serve both God and money Matt 6 24
Money can become a rival god One of the main ways that we can keep ourselves free from this idolatry is through giving When we give to God we are breaking the grip that materialism and greed have on our hearts Jesus says For where your treasure is there your heart will be also Matt 6 21 Paul shows us that there is a kind of logic built into giving similar to the logic of planting and harvesting Remember this Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times having all that you need you will abound in every good work 2 Corinthians 9 6 8 Notice in his letter to the Corinthians that Paul pairs this agricultural idea with the relational concept of giving from the heart When we set our heart on what to give we give freely and cheerfully It is di erent from when we feel manipulated to give and then can sometimes regret the gift That impulse or guilt driven giving is not what God is looking for rather he appreciates a mindful approach so that we give wisely and our whole life is better for it Giving is making a choice to be thoughtful and generous with our nances P fi ff fi racticing GIVING The practice of giving is going to require us to open our wallets Following Paul s instruction however will require we open our minds as well This week take a look at your personal nances and evaluate your giving to God
We are called to give tithes and o erings tithes being a committed giving amount out of every paycheck and o erings being the special gifts to a particular cause or based on unexpected income A traditional tithe is ten percent but the amount is less important than the consistency of our regular giving Spend some time thinking and praying until your heart is set on what to give regularly Next consider an o ering As we practice giving this week what can you spare as an o ering Finding the additional cash might require giving up an indulgence or frugality in order to practice generosity Maybe it is a matter of cleaning out the car and couch cushions for spare change Could you make co ee or a meal at home in order to give that ve or ten dollars as an o ering Do you feel called to go a bit bigger and maybe have a yard sale or save cans for recycling so that you can donate more to the church s Compassion in Action o ering fund Are you lucky enough to have overtime or investment income that could be used as an o ering Almost all of us can nd a little something to spare so take on this challenge with an attitude of nding God as you search for a way to give S peaking of GIVING Is nancial giving a touchy subject for you Why What do you think is underneath that Malachi 3 10 invites bold faith to trust God in our giving How does this relate to your experience of regular giving Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house Test me in this says the Lord Almighty and see if I will not throw open the oodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it fi ff ff fi ff fl fi ff ff ff ff ff fi ff Without sharing dollar amounts what was it like to practice giving an o ering this week
9 THE PRACTICE OF WORSHIP W hat is WORSHIP Come let us bow down in worship let us kneel before the Lord our Maker for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture Psalm 95 6 7 Worship is about God It is an act of intentionally giving God the glory and honor and priority that he is due This is commonly expressed through times of focused praise through song yet singing is just the tip of the iceberg It is a lifestyle rooted in the belief and acknowledgement that God is God and we are not IT IS THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT GOD IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT One of the major themes of the entire Bible is that we are meant to worship God not other things with all of our lives When Jesus faced his biggest temptation in the wilderness he was o ered all the kingdoms of earth and all their splendor This could be his if he bowed in worship to Satan That said this is how Jesus responded ff Away from me Satan For it is written Worship the Lord your God and serve him only Matthew 4 10
Worship is placing and keeping God alone at the highest place in your life The act of demonstrating worship to God can look like many di erent things like kneeling or raising your hands it can mean singing songs of worship aloud or quietly thanking God for his goodness For mature disciples worship can become a part of everything when we acknowledge God in the sunrise for the provision of our meals for the air in our lungs and the function of our heartbeat Worship is a very personal and emotional experience for many which makes sense since it is also a spiritual experience Jesus says God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth John 4 24 We are not limited to what our bodies can do or our minds comprehend so expressions of worship do not need to be real words or perfect pitch We can dance sing cry groan paint love give serve hike rest enjoy worship with all we are in the freedom of the Spirit Whatever form it takes worship does need to be honest Worship in truth therefore may mean you do not sing along at a service if you are sad but you appreciate the Creator God as you watch a sunset through your tears P ff racticing WORSHIP This week plan to spend one hour practicing worship either all at once or split into two or three times of 20 30 minutes Take a cue from little kids who express themselves in babble song dance art tears and giggles without worrying about what others think of them Find a space where you feel like you can freely express yourself and a time to worship when you have some energy in reserve
Choose a song or scripture a few suggestions listed below to help center your mind on God but then allow yourself to go o script and worship freely Psalm 8 2 4 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger When I consider your heavens the work of your ngers the moon and the stars which you have set in place what is mankind that you are mindful of them human beings that you care for them Psalm 40 1 3 I waited patiently for the Lord he turned to me and heard my cry He lifted me out of the slimy pit out of the mud and mire he set my feet on a rock and gave me a rm place to stand He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him From the Magni cat Luke 1 46 55 My soul glori es the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant From now on all generations will call me blessed for the Mighty One has done great things for me holy is his name Ephesians 3 20 21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever Amen S peaking of WORSHIP What did you learn about worship in the sermon your study or practice of worship this week Were you able to relax and practice worship in childlike Spirit and truth fi fi fi fi ff What is your favorite way to worship God
10 THE PRACTICE OF CELEBRATION W hat is CELEBRATION The Bible is full of feast days and celebrations Every sabbath was a celebration and then there were the seasonal celebrations to recall and retell the stories of faith among people of faith These traditional celebrations honored God gave thanks to him and were opportunities for the community to come together sharing their abundance to feast and worship in unity Celebrations hold within them the promise of the Kingdom of God In a picture of this grand celebration to come John writes of his vision and the announcement of the wedding feast Let us celebrate let us rejoice let us give him the glory The Marriage of the Lamb has come The Angel said to me Write this Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb Revelation 19 6 9 MSG fi Celebration is honoring God thanking God sharing God s goodness with others and is a blessing to us The celebration of Easter breaks the fast of the Lenten season to rejoice with the risen Jesus We are thankful for the sacri ce and celebrate that Jesus has conquered death on our behalf restoring relationship with our Father in Heaven and paving the way for eternal life and celebration It is right to prepare a more lavish meal than usual perhaps with sweets and to share that meal with others inviting them to share in the redemptive story of Jesus along with the meal
Plan for a day of celebration if possible do not work today or use it to catch up on chores Set the scene with some candles balloons or other decorations see attached activity If there are others in your household invite them to celebrate too Creatively include people outside your home over phone or video if necessary Begin with a prayer inviting God to the celebration with thanks and praise Try something like Welcome God to my heart and my home Thank you for your presence in my life for your forgiveness and for your grace Today I celebrate your sacri ce on the cross Jesus and your resurrection to new life that means I can have new life too Help me to see and to share your goodness today fi fi LET US CELEBRATE LET US REJOICE LET US GIVE HIM THE GLORY P racticing CELEBRATION As this is being written there is real concern over the pandemic that is putting a damper on traditional ways of celebrating Feasting might not t in the budget and gatherings may be limited this Easter but as is true with everything God holds dear celebration is about what is in our hearts rather than what kind of ceremony we can perform With that in mind let s practice celebration this week from the heart
Play some music and practice your childlike worship again Have each person share some ways they understand or have experienced God s goodness Use other time in your day to rest play or do something creative enjoy the weather or the comfort of your home savor your meals and celebrate God in your heart as you embrace your blessings and honor God for them Finally end your celebration with another prayer simply thanking God for the day S peaking of CELEBRATION How has practicing the disciplines made a di erence in your life Which ones will you continue ff Did you fast throughout the Lenten season If so how did that in uence your understanding of Easter and celebration fl
P aper Chain Decoration Activity Print these pages or copy the scriptures onto another piece of paper If there are young children in your home invite them to color the other side of the paper Cut the paper into strips and cut extra strips of colorful paper to make more links for the chain You and your family can add words of thankfulness and praise to God on extra strips Assemble the chain by looping each end of one strip together and using a staple or glue to attach Connect more links by threading the next strip through the completed link before attaching with staple or glue During your celebration read aloud the passages of scripture and words of praise or gratefulness Discuss what they mean to each of you with the others you have gathered in person and remotely 1 Peter 1 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Corinthians 15 21 For since death came through a man the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man Philippians 3 10 I want to know Christ yes to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his su erings becoming like him in his death Luke 24 6 He is not here he has risen Romans 8 34 Who then is the one who condemns No one ff Philippians 2 8 And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross
1 Corinthians 6 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power ESV Romans 8 34 Christ Jesus who died more than that who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us Romans 6 8 11 The death he died he died to sin once for all but the life he lives he lives to God In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus Luke 9 23 Then he said to them all Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me Hebrews 12 2a Fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith 1 Corinthians 1 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God Hebrews 12 2b For the joy set before him he endured the cross scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God John 3 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life Romans 10 9 If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved fi Matthew 28 5 6 The angel said to the women Do not be afraid for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was cruci ed He is not here he has risen just as he said Come and see the place where he lay
John 11 25 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life The one who believes in me will live even though they die and whoever lives by believing in me will never die Do you believe this Revelation 1 17b 18a Don t be afraid I am the First and Last I am the Living One I died but look I am alive forever and ever John 14 6 Jesus answered I am the way and the truth and the life No one comes to the Father except through me 1 Thessalonians 4 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him
