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Section 1: Opening Prayer
Daddy God, move in and through us as we learn more about ourselves by learning about you. Help us to open our hearts and minds to you and to each other as we grow in our faith. Amen.
Section 2: Story
Watch Chuck Knows Church #37 Worship
Watch Chuck Knows Church #38 Liturgist
Section 3: Message
Look at this definition of Liturgy http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liturgy
Answer these Questions in discussion.
1. Does this actually define the word?
2. Is this how we look at it in our Christian understanding?
λειτουργία is the Greek word from which we get Liturgy.
λειτουργία leitourgia
A public service discharged by a citizen at his own expense; in NT a sacred ministration, Lk. 1:23; Phil. 2:17; Heb. 8:6; 9:21; a kind office, aid, relief, 2 Cor. 9:12; Phil. 2:30*
The word liturgy, derived from the technical term in ancient Greek, leitourgia, signifies the often expensive offers of service to the people, and thus to the city and the state. Through the leitourgia the rich carried a financial burden and were correspondingly rewarded with honors. The leitourgia became both mandatory and honorific, supporting the patron’s standing among the elite. ( N. Lewis, “Leitourgia and related terms,” Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 3 (1960:175–84) and 6 (1965:226–30).)
Frequently in Christianity a distinction is made between “liturgical” and “non-liturgical” churches based on how elaborate and/or the antiquity of the worship; in this usage, churches whose services are unscripted or improvised are called “non-liturgical”. Others object to this usage, arguing that this terminology obscures the universality of public worship as a religious phenomenon.
The term “liturgy” literally in Greek means “work of the people.”
As Lutherans we are a liturgical church and do worship based on the Order of service.
Gather
Word
Meal
Sending
But liturgy is not this, Liturgy is literally our worship of God. It is the work we do when we gather as His body to give Him praise and adoration.
Liturgy like worship is an action word!
Look at this definition of worship: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worship
Answer the following question in discussion or comment on another students answer
Is this how you look at worship?
Exodus 8:1 says God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and say, “Let my people go”
Was this all Moses said?
Why should God’s people be set free?
Read Exodus 8:1
Read Colossians 3:15-17
More verses for worship
Section 4: Learn and Engage
– What are 3 things you learned?
– What is 1 question you still have?
– What part of the lesson did you most identify with?
– What part of the lesson was hardest for you?
– Where have you seen God this week?
Section 5: Closing Prayer
Gracious and Holy God, we thank you for being with us and opening our hearts and minds to your leading. Help us to go and do your work in the world and show forth the love we have received from you to all we meet. Help us to always be your hands and feet! Amen.