The rhythm of missional communion with God.

7 practices-

Worship: in our modern church experience worship has been equated to singing.

Practice lessons: Dave Earley- A pocket guide to leading a small group identifies 14 different forms of worship in the Scriptures:

  1. Being silent in awe (Isaiah 6)
  2. Kneeling or lying face down in absolute surrender (Revelation 4)
  3. Confessing sin (2 Samuel; Psalm 51)
  4. Shouting in thanksgiving (Pss. 42:4; 66:1-2; 71:23; 98:4; 100:1)
  5. Trembling in reverence (Rev. 5:8)
  6. Resolving to obey (Genesis 22)
  7. Praising in the midst of difficulties (Job 1)
  8. Giving God offerings out of gratitude (2 Samuel 24; 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5-6)
  9. Yielding your will (Jonah 2)
  10. Dancing (2 Samuel 6; Ps. 149:3)
  11. Singing for joy (Exodus 15; Pss. 21:13; 63:45; 71:22)
  12. Playing musical instruments (Pss. 43:4; 71:22; 98:4-6)
  13. Clapping your hands (Ps. 47:1)
  14. Lifting your hands (Pss. 63:4; 134:2)

Other ideas include: each person sharing one thing God has done for them over the last week, offering short prayers of thanksgiving for who God is, and reading a liturgy. All of these forms of worship have the intent of getting people to turn to God and away from self. Without worship people turn in on themselves and share life together based on good advice and their best logic. Worship calls us out of the normal to see things from a different perspective.

Hebrews (4:14;16)- the role of the High Priest is to be the lead worshiper of the people of God. Jesus’ life was characterized by worship and now He is worshipping in heaven on our behalf. However we must be cautious if there is anything that will undermine worship in a small group, it is the forced expectation of worship. We worship in Christ.