Part 1 - Worship
Leader Guide
We tend to think of worship as a song set in the weekly service, or something we can watch but not take part in doing. Real worship—worship in spirit and in truth—comes from a heart that is earnestly seeking God throughout the days and weeks. It’s not limited to an hour at the church building. This week, we are challenged to build an altar and worship continually with our lives.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. Where are you bold to do something that is hard for others? Where are you shy or afraid about something that is not considered difficult by others?
Leader Note: Suggest an example such as this: You might be a great public speaker, but shy about small talk. Or not afraid of blood and needles, but terrified of bunnies.
2. Read Hebrews 9:24-26, 10:19-23. Jesus Christ entered into God’s presence with what? What has that accomplished for us? How does that affect your life and what benefits has that gained you, as a believer in Jesus?
Leader Note: Jesus offered the sacrifice of Himself, on our behalf, unlike the yearly sacrifices of the high priests. His blood has cleansed us and “put away sin” for all eternity. Because of this, we can enter directly into God’s throne room and holy place, because we are cleansed by Jesus’ blood and a High Priest (Jesus) who has made this possible. Plus, He who has made us these promises is faithful!
3. Read Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 69:30, and Psalm 105:1-2. What things are we told/commanded to do in these verses? What does this mean to you? Which comes easily and which is more difficult for you? Have you ever spontaneously started singing to God because you felt so loved and blessed? Have you ever made up a little song or ditty to express your love and gratitude to God? What are other ways you can offer up praise to God?
Leader Note: We are told to continually give Him praise, acknowledge Him out loud (with our lips); sing, magnify (make big in our own eyes!) with thanksgiving, give thanks to Him, tell other people, sing about what He has done.
4. Read 2 Samuel 24:24 and Psalm 119:46. Do you agree with David’s sentiment about sacrifice? What do you consider one of the costliest things, the thing that prevents you from talking about Jesus or continuously praising God before everyone in your life? How do you feel about the concept of building an altar of your own to God?
Leader Note: We have to get to the place that we are eager, even if a little fearful of the cost, to bring a sacrifice of praise, time, money, talents. For most of us, embarrassment or shame is the costliest thing: we are fearful of what others will think. Discuss what your group members are planning to do or not do about this concept of building an altar.
5. Action Step: “Building an altar” for worshipping God will cost you: effort, time, focus. It will take consistency. It will mean you have to become a leader, maybe in your family or your group of friends. It will mean you will be in a fight: it won’t all be unicorns and rainbows just because you have made a commitment to Jesus. Sacrificing will lead to embarrassment in some situations. It will always cost you. Where are you unwilling to bring a sacrifice to the altar of God? Share if you will. Ask for suggestions about how to make this a priority in your life this week.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
Throughout the Old Testament, when the Spirit of God was not present in the hearts of most of the followers of God (but only on a few anointed people), the altar was the place of communion with God. Long before the Tabernacle, the patriarchs and prophets built altars to honor and worship the Lord.
We should all have altar-building moments in our faith journey. Take a look at these passages. Why was the altar built? What did it cost its builder? How did God respond? How does this apply to my life?
Genesis 12:4-9: (LN: the first altar was built after the Lord had appeared to him and made him a promise. The second altar was built so that he could call upon the Lord and commune with Him. We all need a place where we routinely seek God.)
Joshua 4: (LN: There are two altars set up in this chapter. One is in the middle of the Jordan river, where the priests stood as the children of Israel passed over. It was covered by the water of the Jordan after the priests and the Ark stepped out. The other was an altar or memorial, made from stones in the middle of the river – 12 stones for the 12 tribes – and they built it at Gilgal. It was a holy place to remind the people of their entry and the miracle of it. Gilgal is mentioned in the book of 1 and 2 Samuel and was still a holy place. We need to memorialized the miracles that God has done in our lives, either by journaling or some other way, so that we continue to tell our children and their children of the power of God.)
Genesis 8:20-22: (Ln: After the flood and after Noah, his family, and all the animals came out of the ark, Noah built an altar of thanksgiving and sacrificed on it. This pleased God, and He responded with a covenant never to cut off all of humankind again. There are times of rescue when we need to thank God for His protection and hear again of His love and promises to us.)
1 Kings 18:30 (Or feel free to read 1 Kings 18:20-40): (LN: Elijah is calling the people back to God, to repentance from worshipping any other created thing or “god” so first, he rebuilt the altar to the one true God. When we have messed up and sinned, build an altar for confession, repentance, and sacrifice.)
Exodus 17:9-16: (LN: After a victory and a direct promise from the Lord, Moses built an altar to memorialize the event and give thanks to God, whom he called “The Lord is my Banner.”)