Psalm 117

WHO we worship: Triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

WHO worships: all people/everyone

HOW we are to worship: enthusiastically!

WHY we worship: God loves us/His faithfulness endures forever

EXPLORING - I attend worship when a friend invites me, it is convenient, or I feel a need.

1. Are there aspects of worship that I want to do more?

2. What is holding me back from more regular Sunday morning worship attendance?

3. Am I willing to start attending 1 or more Sundays/month?

FOLLOWING - I attend worship regularly, but I am growing to realize that I need to attend to God every day.

1. When worship is over, do I feel hungry for more, but aren’t sure what else to do?

2. Have I found that Sunday worship isn’t enough and I feel like a daily routine of worship is something I desire?

BECOMING - I attend worship regularly and set aside time to connect with God daily.

1. Do I desire to be at more peace during the day, during the week?

2. Am I enjoying the times I set apart for God, but wonder why I don’t feel God’s presence more at other times?

CENTERED - I worship God in the ways I work, play, and engage others in relationships: all of life.

John 13:31-35

Mandate for community: “Just as I have loved you, you
also should love one another.” John 13:34

Acts 2:42-47

Vision for community: “All who believed were together and had all things in common…”

EXPLORING - I am curiously drawn to the Christians who graciously accept me as if I belong with them already.

1. Am I eager to say yes to a friend who invites me to church or small group or a church event?

2. Do I have a sense of belonging when I come to worship, even though I don’t know many people I’m with? Do I feel at home here?

FOLLOWING - I feel called to receive community, but also to offer God’s gracious acceptance to others beyond the church.

1. I’m beginning to like these people and this church, I wonder how and where I can help?

2. I like to receive, but I wonder what it would be like to tell someone else about this community?

BECOMING - I seek to relate to others both in the church and beyond in ways that reflect God’s hospitality to me.

1. What is there about this community that I can help to grow and make better than it is now? Who else is interested in building community?

2. What is my next step here as I focus outwardly?

CENTERED - I intentionally seek to build relationships with unchurched people in order to share God’s love.

Matthew 26:36-46

Mandate for Openness: “…yet not what I want, but what you want.”

Psalm 139:23-24

Vision for Openness: “Search me, O God, and know my heart…”

EXPLORING - I am drawn to the story of God’s love and am beginning to explore the Scriptures.

1. Do I feel the new desire to buy a bible, read it, hear sermons, and get to know more about this Jesus for the first time?

2. Am I amazed that what I’ve read before now seems to have new meaning or make sense when it didn’t before?

FOLLOWING - I am developing a daily practice of prayer, Scripture and devotional reading.

1. Do I look forward to my prayer time and bible reading each day?

2. Do I kind of feel like I want a couple more devotionals to read?

BECOMING - I am taking responsibility for my own growth through the daily practice of spiritual disciplines.

1. Am I excited to try some new disciplines in my life?

2. Do I feel like I’m steering this spiritual growth and want more?

CENTERED - I seek to be open to God’s voice and blessings in all aspects of my life.

John 14:15

Mandate for Obeying: “If you love me, you will keep my
commandments.”

Matthew 26:39b

Vision for Obeying: “My Father…not what I want, but what you want.”

EXPLORING - I am beginning to understand more about Jesus’ teaching through sermons, Bible study classes, and my own reading of scripture.

1. Am I beginning to want to read the bible to find out what it requires?

2. When I learn about Jesus’ commands, am I convicted that I need to be doing those things?

FOLLOWING - I’ve accepted the call to be a disciple of Jesus and am committed to being part of the church, becoming like Jesus, and serving others.

1. Am I getting involved in serving in the church, knowing that Jesus has something in mind for me and us?

2. Am I willing to change some things about my life in order to respond to the call of Jesus?

BECOMING - I am daily seeking to apply the teachings of Scripture to my own life.

1. Am I more and more convicted that there are things in my life that need to change to obey Jesus?

2. Do I spend time praying and thinking about what Jesus wants me to do and then try to do it?

CENTERED - I am partnering with God to help others grow in openness and obedience to Christ.

Mark 10:43

Mandate for Serving: “…whoever wishes to become great
among you must be your servant…”

John 13:5

Vision for Serving: “Then [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet…”

EXPLORING - I am often amazed at the way some disciples selflessly serve others and I want to make a difference as well.

1. Do I feel like lots of other people are serving in ways that I’d like be serving but don’t know how?

2. Am I inspired by others who know their gifts and are energized to use them?

FOLLOWING - I know Christ invites me to join him serving others and I’m wondering how I can do this.

1. How do I go about serving like I see some others doing so seemingly effortlessly?

2. What do I do well, feel gifted to do, and how does that match the church?

BECOMING - I experiment serving in different areas as I discover my gifts, talents, and passions.

1. Am I prepared to step into a ministry to use the gifts God has given me?

2. Where does my passion lie and is there a ministry in which to serve, or start one?

CENTERED - I join Jesus in mission to others using my Godgiven gifts, talents, and passions.

Matthew 6:20

Mandate for Serving: “…store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes…”

2 Corinthians 9:6

Vision for Serving: “…the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…”

EXPLORING - I share some when I attend worship or a church event.

1. When the offering plate slides by, what am I supposed to be giving?

2. How much time do I have to share with someone before, during, and after worship on Sunday?

FOLLOWING - I am sharing more and more regularly and generously.

1. I wonder how I can give online to be more regular even when I can’t be in worship?

2. If I could move a few things around in my schedule, is there somewhere I could serve on Sunday or during the week?

BECOMING - I am tithing my income and giving some time, reconsidering how I spend the other 90%.

1. Now that we’re tithing, what others needs are out there?

2. If I have some spare time, how can I use that at church or in the community? What knowledge can I share with someone?

CENTERED - I am tithing and consciously reordering my life to free up more time and resources to honor God and bless others.