JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
Worship isn’t about performance; it’s about participation.
This Worship Guide serves as a weekly resource as we join in singing, praying, and celebrating the work God is doing in our community.
Whether you’re at the Lyric Theatre or tuning into our live stream, we’re so glad you are joining us!
Let’s jump in.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Mark 10:17-22 NIV
PRAYING TOGETHER
Key Quotes:
“God meets us where we are, not where we pretend to be or wish we were. My job is to pay attention to where I am. When I enter my reality… He brings His reality, His truth, into mine. Truth is a two-way street. When I avoid my truth, I nod politely, and I might even smile or say amen when I hear His. But not much happens. God’s truth does not set free a pretending or hiding heart.”
Dallas Willard
“The false self is the tragic result of trying to steal something from God that we did not have to steal…With the self that is created in God’s likeness rejected, our false self is the self we develop in our own likeness. This is the person we would like to be – a person of our own creation, the person we would create if we were God.”
David Benner
GROWING TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY
Start your time together by having a few people share where they’ve seen God at work in their lives throughout the week.
God is not contained to a service or a building. We want to live with the expectation that God is present and at work in the everyday stuff of our lives. We listen, join him in his work, and share stories of how he’s moving!
Talk It Over
1. David Benner writes: “Christian spirituality involves a transformation of the self that occurs only when God and self are both deeply known. Both, therefore, have an important place in Christian spirituality. There is no deep knowing of God without a deep knowing of self, and no deep knowing of self without a deep knowing of God.” How much thought do you give to self-awareness in your spiritual growth? How do you grow in your awareness of who God made you to be?
2. As you read Mark 10:17-22, what stands out about Jesus’ approach to the rich man? How have you experienced the Spirit of God lovingly confronting you and calling you into who and where you really are?
Practice:
The Prayer of Examen is an ancient practice of prayer to help us grow in self awareness. Check out this resource.
NEXT STEPS AND RESOURCES
Moving into the fall, we’re renewing our commitment to discipleship in community. We’re thrilled to have our leaders being trained and equipped to be and make disciples. Each of our 7 “Anchors” in our current series are based on the 7 Axioms our leaders are learning (written by Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe). Visit gravityleadership.com to learn more, and check out their podcast!
Processing What God Is Doing In Us
