Liturgy for Life - WK 1 : GROUP GUIDE

The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with, or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

LITURGIES: Worship, Celebration, Lament

OPENING QUESTION(S)
What are some liturgies or practices that you use that help you draw nearer to God and put Christ at the center of your life, of your day? What are some that are harder for you to practice, or you feel you understand the least?

HEAD AND HEART

1. Read Romans 12:1-2 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
2. WORSHIP - According to Romans 12, what is worship? Try to put it in your own words.
3. WORSHIP - What do you think God’s will is for you? How does worship help you get more
   in tune with that will?
4. Read Psalm 8:1-9, Ephesians 1:3-8 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts
   that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
5. CELEBRATION - In a world with struggle and strife, how would you define what it means to
   celebrate God and how might celebration help refocus your energies for a day? Have you had a Psalm 8 moment, staring into the vastness of God’s creation? If so, what do those moments teach you about God, you, creation?
6. CELEBRATION - When in life is it difficult to practice celebration? How might celebration help in those moments?
7. Read Lamentations 3:17-20, 21-24 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
8. LAMENT - Can you now, or have you had a season in life, where you could identify with the author of Lamentations? Why do you think practicing lament is as important as worship and celebration?
9. LAMENT - Sometimes you’re able to say to yourself what our author says in verses 21-24, other times you need to be surrounded by others who can remind you of these truths. Where do you turn when you lament?

HANDS
Each week in this series, we will challenge you to spend time actually practicing the liturgies discussed in the week. So for this week, take a day to find ways to worship and celebrate, throughout the day. Notice God and who He is, what He’s done for you. And take a day, maybe a morning or evening of quiet, and pour your heart out to God in lament. Give God time to speak back to you, hold you, comfort you.

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT