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

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Luke 24:13-35 NIV

PRAYING TOGETHER

God of mysterious and divine presence,
So often our hearts burn within us
Because our bodies know before our minds
That you are here, revealing love in our very midst.

Open our eyes to recognize you
On the road and at the table,
Among friends or among strangers,
That whatever part of the journey we find ourselves in
Will feel like home because it’s where you’ve met us.
In your name, amen.

COMMUNITY: TALK IT OUT

Each week, we approach the Scriptures with 4 primary questions:

1. What does this tell us about God?
2. What does this tell us about ourselves?
3. How does this help us love
our neighbor?
4. How can we put this into practice?

These questions help guide our conversation around the Scripture each week, and encourage us to move beyond knowledge and into action together.

Next Step Questions:

1. Almost everyone has moments of disorientation in their faith – when the space between the Jesus they thought they knew and the story they find themselves in becomes real. Can you share about a moment like this in your own faith journey? And if you’ve found your way out of this season, what helped reorient your heart to Jesus along the way? 

2. The eyes of the disciples were opened to the presence of Christ at their table when he broke bread. Some of the most profound experiences of our faith will happen outside of a Sunday morning, in community with other believers. What is one way you can see the presence of Christ among your Home Church or community of believers in the ordinary spaces of life?

NEXT STEPS AND RESOURCES

The road to Emmaus is one of my favorite stories in the Gospels, speaking both to the ups and downs of our faith journey and the joy of meeting Jesus in ordinary spaces – like around the dinner table. Eugene Peterson’s “Living The Resurrection” is not only a great (short!) exposition on the resurrection life, but it also has one of the best and most beautiful accounts of the Emmaus story in anything I’ve ever read. Check it out! 

– Justin

Deconstruction is a hot topic in the Church world. Many people are examining their beliefs more than ever, spurred on by disappointment and disillusion with the faith and Church they’ve seen. This article by A.J. Swaboda and Nijay Gupta does a good job of unpacking the healthy work of deconstruction towards a healther life of faith. Check it out!

– Justin