Liturgy. What is it?

Technically it is the “work of the people.” But, work to what end? As simple as we can say it, liturgy is allowing the gospel to work on us by entering into its flow. 

  • We call one another to worship, assuming that our hearts are prone to wander from our God.

  • We confess our sins corporately, acknowledging that our world and our hearts have not only strayed from God’s way and will they have rebelled.

  • We speak the assurance of God’s grace over those who trust and place their hope in God through the faithfulness of Christ. 

  • We give as a response to God’s generous love in Christ. 

  • We read God’s word and respond in teaching, trusting that God is speaking to his church today. 

  • Lastly, we send one another out - benedict - in the grace of God, manifest in Christ Jesus, present in the Spirit. 

*Below are a few suggestions for you as we all gather virtually to worship with your community on Sunday:

 Call your group to worship

If you don’t have someone who can lead worship through song, here are a few other options:

  • Play a known and singable worship song from YouTube. 

  • Pick a few Psalms and read them out loud together. For this week we recommend Psalm 81

  • Spend a few minutes expressing gratitude out loud to God.  

If someone in your community is able to lead worship through song, spend some time singing together. 

  • This might look like all of your group muting your mics except the one(s) singing, having lyrics in the chat, and embracing a new moment. 

Confession & Assurance

Giving

At Gateway we believe that generosity is an act of worship. Take a few minutes to enter into this practice. You can give online. After giving, have someone pray a prayer of thanksgiving for God's provision in this season. 

Holy Father, there is nothing I have that You have not given me. All I have and am belong to You, bought with the blood of Jesus. To spend everything on myself, and to give without sacrifice, is the way of the world that You cannot abide.

But generosity is the way of those who call Christ their Lord; who love Him with free hearts and serve Him with renewed minds.  Who withstand the delusion of riches that chokes the word; Whose hearts are in your kingdom and not in the systems of the world.

I am determined to increase in generosity until it can be said that there is no needy person among us. I am determined to be trustworthy with such a little thing as money that You may trust me with true riches.

Above all, I am determined to be generous because You, Father, are generous. It is the delight of Your daughters and sons to share Your traits, and to show what You are like to all the world.

*If you’re gathering with a group for discussion, this is the time to give instructions for what your time after the teaching. 

Word (Reading & Teaching) 

We encourage you to watch this week's teaching and thoughtfully reflect in a group (if you’d like to be connected click here and we’ll follow up with you). 

Prayer 

Each week we invite you to close your time praying together. 

Depending on the size of your group,  you may choose to take requests and pray over all of them. Or close by praying a prayer in with the teaching text.