CONNECT | FELLOWSHIP + VISION + WORSHIP
We begin House Church by taking communion and sharing a meal together. This is to be a time of intentionality where we hear about how each other is doing and check in on how it’s going obeying Jesus! For a list of Scriptures to use for Communion, click here. After dinner, circle up as one group.
Have everyone open to Acts 2:42-47. Ask someone to read the blurb below and pray afterwards.
We meet as a House Church because this is a main way a Kingdom community becomes more like Jesus and brings Heaven to earth. We read Acts 2:42-47 to remind ourselves what is possible as we do this week-after-week. (Read the passage and then pray for God to do this in our midst!)
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.“
Acts 2:42-47
*HC Pastors: Share any announcements or HC updates.
Worship and minister to each other.
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CONTENT | SCRIPTURE + DISCUSSION
Read the intro below outloud:
Tonight, we are talking about 5 O’Clock on the Dream Clock–Finding a Guide. The question for this hour is: “Who acts as a guide for you as you seek to serve and learn more about their community?” The goal of the Dream Clock is to identify where you currently are and to take steps towards moving forward. If you don’t have someone from another culture who is willing to teach you about their community, this is a key step towards authentic relationships and the ability to minister the Gospel outside of your Us-community.
Have one person read the Scripture to prepare our hearts:
Scripture: John 17:20-23
Have people take turns read the paragraphs below:
As you consider old and new relationships, you may be able to identify people who
are willing to assist you in your journey of learning more about a community other than your own. At this point in time, an authentic, relationship can help you to widen your exposure to the community you desire to learn more about. Therefore, finding a guide can be crucial in this process. This guide should be knowledgeable and have engagement in the community. It is also most helpful when the person serving as a guide is aware of their own limitations in understanding the suffering of the community as everyone’s experience in a community is not the same. The person you identify and the relationship you have with your guide may develop in many ways. For example, it may be someone with whom you share a hobby, someone you work with, or someone who lives in your neighborhood. Participating in
hours 2-4 can help you to begin establishing authentic connections that can lead to
you identifying this possible guide.
If you are stuck and cannot “find a guide”, you can start with information that is publicly offered. You might find voices who are speaking to challenges in their community and learn more about what is going on and opportunities to support. You can do this by listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, attending lectures or talks, or reading books. The important thing here is to continue learning
and to consider even the small things you can do to become more an active learner of your neighbors.
Get in groups of 3-4 to answer the questions that follow:
- Jesus showed us that it’s important to become familiar with the community we are wanting to enter. Why do you think this is?
- Why is it important to learn about a community from those within the community?
- Do you have someone in your life outside your palace community who has served as a guide for you? What have you learned from them?
- What are some books, documentaries or other resources that have been helpful to you in learning about other communities?
Practice: Listen to Jesus
Jesus, what do you want me to know? What do you want me to do?
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COMMIT | DELEGATE + PRAY
Have 1-2 people share their I Will statement. Delegate for the next House Church.
Who will cook dinner? Facilitate communion? Facilitate worship? Take the group through the guide?
Have someone pray to send us out in the power of the Holy Spirit.