The Church - Week 4
Sunday, October 4, 2020
When it comes to gathering for worship with the church, what has your history been? Was it a part of your upbringing? Have you always been committed to it? Have there been seasons when it was absent from your life? Are you brand new to the practice of gathered worship?
In the last 2 sermons, Jason has referenced the word “ecclesia” - the assembly of the believers. What roadblocks or pressures do you face that make assembling with fellow believers difficult?
This week, Jason answered the question “Why do we need to gather for worship as a church?” The first big point was that it was for the proclamation of God’s Word. When you look back on your journey with church, what role has preaching played?
Have you had more good or bad experiences with sermons/preachers?
Do you remember specific sermons/series that made long-lasting impacts on you?
Read Romans 10:14-17. Why is the proclamation of God’s Word essential for the church?
The second big point of the sermon was that we gather for the collective praise of God’s name. In the church, we often use music & singing as a primary way to do this. Read Ephesians 5:15-21 and discuss how singing (mentioned in vs 19) ties into all the other instructions given in the other verses. (Specifically, how does singing help us be wise, make good use of time, understand God’s will, be filled with the Spirit, give thanks, submit to one another, and revere Christ?)
How might our American consumer culture influence our approach to gathering for worship as a church? Why do you think that music seems to be one of the most widely debated topics in church life?
The third big point for why we gather for worship is to join in the shared observance of the ordinances (baptism & communion). What do the ordinances add to the “ecclesia”?
What is being symbolized in the ordinances?
What is baptism showing us?
What is communion helping us to remember?
What did you (personally) miss the most during those 4 months that UBC did the livestream only? What do you think we (collectively) missed out on during those 4 months?
Aside from the big 3 that Jason shared, what other reasons would you give for why the church gathers together for worship?
Considering this Covid-life that we are all living, Jason encouraged us NOT to use the call to gather as a permission slip to be a jerk. So whether you’re done with Covid OR you’re still cautious and not ready to gather, we can do so with compassionate, loving hearts.
(This is not a question - just a helpful reminder.) 😉