Praying the Liturgy
Week 2
Microchurch Essentials is a seven-week curriculum meant to orient (and reorient) a microchurch community to our mission as the scattered church and sent people of God. It answers the question, why microchurch? Each week, we will utilize the prayer liturgy with a few additional elements to guide the conversation. The additional elements will introduce the main idea and practice of enacting the Gospel daily.
Learn more about practicing the liturgy.
Leader prays. Group Prays.
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Let us share in the joys and sorrows of one another's life.
What has been the highlight of your week?
What has been the low of your week? -
Let's consider what we discussed last week.
What conversations or thoughts did you have this week about prioritizing microchurch?
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An introduction to praying the liturgy.
Last week, we focused on defining microchurch and committing to it. But like our failed New Year's resolutions, we know that commitment isn’t always enough. Becoming disciples of Jesus takes time, intentionality, and a plan.
Our plan for being lifelong disciples involves a community (what you are doing now) and a training regimen we call Liturgy.
Liturgy might be foreign to you or loaded with baggage or past experiences. But when we use the term liturgy, we simply mean a pattern or way of worship.
We recognize the importance of practice in almost every area of life. If you want to be proficient at the piano, practice the same scales. If you want to improve your golf swing, practice the motion. If you want to become patient, begin by practicing patience. Likewise, being a disciple of Jesus requires practicing the stuff of Jesus.
So, each week, we will gather around the liturgy as a way of doing the Jesus stuff. Each element in our Prayer Liturgy is a practice from the life of Jesus–
The Talk practice invites us to have honest conversations.
The Call to Worship reminds us to have a posture of worship.
Silence reminds us to slow down and become self-aware.
Confession of Sins reminds us of the areas we fall short and our need for the Lord’s forgiveness.
The reading of a Psalm reminds us to pray honestly.
The Apostles’ Creed unites us around an essential theology.
The Scripture reading helps discover the story of God.
The Discussion helps us join the story of God.
Prayer teaches us to ask God for what we need.
The Lord’s Prayer teaches us how Jesus prayed.
The Confession of the Mystery comforts us with what we know and reminds us to be okay with what we don’t.
The Commissioning sends us to share and live the good news with others.This liturgy is not a quick fix—and honestly, sometimes it feels uninspired or awkward. But we honestly believe that in gathering week after week around the prayers and scriptures of Jesus, the Spirit will do something in our midst and our lives.
So, let’s give it a try. I will guide you through the unbolded portions, and anything bold will be read out loud together.
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Let’s prepare our hearts in worship.
We are called into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be God’s servants in the service of all,
to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table,
to join Christ in his passion and victory.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God.”
All who love are born of God and know God.Let us worship God!
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We will take a moment in quiet to reflect on our actions this past week. Then, together, we will confess and be reminded that we are the forgiven community.
Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Amen.
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Let us pray with the Psalmist.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.
–Psalm 145:8-13 (NIV) -
Let us affirm our faith with the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day, he rose again.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the global Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen. -
When we practice the Liturgy, we anchor ourselves to something ancient. The first Christians committed themselves to a set of prayer practices. Acts 13 is a simple example of the liturgy's central role in the Early Church.
“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping [greek – leitourgeō; where we get our word liturgy] the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” – Act 13:1–3 (ESV)
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Normally, we would discuss the scripture here, but instead, let’s take a second to reflect on what we just did.
How did reciting the liturgy feel?
Was there a particular component that was meaningful to you? Why?
Was there a particular component that was more difficult for you? Why?
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Let us consider how to practice the Way of Jesus in our everyday life.
The prayer liturgy is something we practice weekly in microchurch. But it can also be practiced with a friend or as your daily prayer. Try practicing it again this week alone, with a spouse, family member, or friend.
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At this time, if you have a prayer request we’ll hear those and conclude with the Lord’s prayer. What would you like to lift up in prayer?
As our Savior taught us, so we pray;
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen. -
Let us confess the Mystery of our Faith.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again. -
We’ve spent the last seven weeks imagining how we might be the church here and out there. As I pray, the commissioning over us may we go into our world prepared to reveal the Kingdom of Jesus.
Living God, draw us deeper into your love;
Jesus our Lord, send us to care and serve;
Holy Spirit, make us heralds of good news.Stir us, strengthen us,
teach and inspire us to live your love
with generosity and joy, imagination and courage;
for the sake of your world and in the name of Jesus,Amen.
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