Together Bible 5-4

1. Together Bible 5-4

2. WORSHIP • L Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, • C have mercy and hear us. Our Father, who art in heaven, • hallowed be thy name, • thy kingdom come, • thy will be done, • on earth as it is in heaven. • Give us this day our daily bread; • and forgive us our trespasses, • as we forgive those who trespass against us; • and lead us not into temptation, • but deliver us from evil. • For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, • forever and ever. Amen

3. Worship - 2 • C . 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 into hell. • 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 holy catholic Church, • the communion of saints, • the forgiveness of sins, • the resurrection of the body, • and the life everlasting. Amen

4. Worship - 3 • L Show us your mercy, O Lord, • C and grant us your salvation. • L Clothe your ministers with righteousness. • C Let your people sing with joy. • L Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; • C for only in you can we live in safety. • L Lord, keep this nation under your care, • C and guide us in the way of justice and truth. • L Let your way be known upon earth; • C your saving health among all nations. • L Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten, • C nor the hope of the poor be taken away. • L Create in us clean hearts, O God, • C and sustain us with your Holy Spirit. • L The Lord be with you. • C And also with you.

5. Worship - 4 • L We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have this day so graciously protected us. We beg you to forgive us all our sins and the wrong which we have done. By your great mercy defend us from all the perils and dangers of this night. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us. • C Amen • L Let us bless the Lord. • C Thanks be to God. • L The + Lord bless us, defend us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. • C Amen

6. Experience • Trust Walk • In pairs, one with eyes closed is lead by the other…anywhere! • Trust Fall • In pairs, one in front falls backwards into arm of one behind • Rope Circle • Group inside rope circle, leaning against the rope.

7. Discussion & reflection: • 2 Corinthians 13:11-12 Read and Highlight: • Ambrosiaster (c. 366-384) “The joy referred to here will come when the Corinthians mend their ways, after which it will be possible for them to mature in faith. But before then there will be consolation, enabling them to abandon the pleasure of the present in favor of hope for things to come. The peace of God is one thing, but the peace of the world is another. People in the world have peace, but it works to their damnation… A person who has peace will also have love, and the God of both will protect him forever.” • The time may come when you remember neither this place nor the people gathered here.

8. Discussion & reflection: • But you are never separated wherever you have gone. • You belong to all the ECLA Lutherans, all the world Lutherans, all the Christians and to all the saints of every time as space. • You are never a solitary Christian. • So who is going to help you be the best Christian you can be? • The world is pulling us in so many directions, even in directions of fellowship outside of the church. • While these things may be worthwhile, pleasurable, fun and social, they are not, in themselves, part of our faith, nor do they lead us closer to Christ or to heaven!

9. Discussion & reflection: • 1 Corinthians 15:58 Read and Highlight: • Ambrosiaster (c. 366-384) “Those who persevere in a life of faith and good works have the assurance that they will be accepted by God and receive their reward and that they will not be led astray by wicked arguments.” • No matter how large or how small is your work together for the Lord, it is not in vain. • Doxology is always doxology whether sung/lived loud or soft.

10. Discussion & reflection: • Working together benefits not only those you serve but yourselves as well (see Mark 9:41). • Who are you working with now for Christ? • Those who God calls together He calls His beloved. • There is nothing better than to be God’s beloved. • The beloved are loved and cherished, are remembered and helped, are protected and outfitted, are saved and carried home.

11. Discussion & reflection: • 1 John 1:6-8 Read and Highlight: • Venerable Bede (672-735) “John also give us an indication of how we can know that we are on the right track, and that is whether we rejoice in the link of brotherly fellowship which we have with those who are journeying along with us toward pure light.” • Truly, do you rejoice because of our fellowship with you? • Do you rejoice because of your fellowship with the rest of us?

12. Discussion & reflection: • To walk as a Christian is to walk together. • Plain and simple. • When we hold ourselves back from worship, from serving Christ together, from learning with each other, while still expecting the God who calls us together to save us is the height of arrogance and unlove for Christ and His people, the Church.