Church Services: Engagement and Participation

Aug 17, 2022 |

In our day, church services can often be thought of as a “show” or an experience. In this, many Christians are increasingly choosing to go without it. The big question is why do Christians gather weekly at worship services? Is there a value to living with this discipline and what are the benefits to doing so?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

discussion #1: we gather to celebratediscussion #2: We bring our whole selfDiscussion #3: Church is relationalDISCUSSION #4: SERVING AS WORSHIPdiscussion #5: God is with usDiscussion #6: Light for others

DISCUSSION #1: We Gather to Celebrate God

In our day, church services can often be thought of as a “show” or an experience. In this, many Christians are increasingly choosing to go without it. The big question is why do Christians gather weekly at worship services? Is there a value to living with this discipline and what are the benefits to doing so?

In this conversation we will unpack how followers of Jesus gather to sing about and celebrate the goodness of God.


MY STORY | Starting Place

Did you grow up going to church?  Do you remember WHY you went?  If you didn’t go to church growing up, did you ever wonder what others did?


DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

Psalm 150:1-6 and Psalm 95:1-7 together paint a beautiful picture for WHY Christians come together.
Read these verses and list out all of the things we do and WHY we do them.

GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

How can friends help each other live lives responsively to the goodness of God?

What could your friends do to best support you in this? What would you specifically ask them to do?


MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action

Go to a church service this week with focused attention on your desire to celebrate the goodness of God in all that you do.

DISCUSSION #2: We Bring Our Whole Self 

In our day, church services can often be thought of as a “show” or an experience. In this, many Christians are increasingly choosing to go without it. The big question is why do Christians gather weekly at worship services? Is there a value to living with this discipline and what are the benefits to doing so?

In our first discussion we unpacked WHY Christians gather.  In this discussion we explore the WHAT of our gatherings.


MY STORY | Starting Place

How do you feel/respond after a worship service when people just critique the music or message?


DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16-18

In addition to the above verse, 1 Corinthians 14:26 and Acts 2:42 describe the gatherings of the early church. These were not “worship services” as we know in our age, but they are gatherings of Christians seeking to celebrate the goodness of God when they come together. From all three passages, make a list of the activities listed. 

What aspects of their gathering focused more on heart and attitude rather than activities in their gathering?

Add on to that list the purpose, or value of each activity. Fill in the blank: How does ____ allow Christians to celebrate the goodness of God and/or works of Jesus?

GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

Do you consider preparing your heart for worship services or small group gatherings?  

What does “preparing your heart”look like?

What change would this affect in your experience?

How can you gracefully encourage others in this discipline, especially family members?


MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action 

Go to a church service this week with focused attention on your own attitude and desire to be fully present to God.

DISCUSSION #3: Church is Relational

In our day, church services can often be thought of as a “show” or an experience. In this, many Christians are increasingly choosing to go without it. The big question is why do Christians gather weekly at worship services? Is there a value to living with this discipline and what are the benefits to doing so?

In addition to celebrating the goodness of God, Christians gather to encourage one another in word and action.  We will explore that reality in this discussion.


MY STORY | Starting Place

What is your general approach to new social settings?  Does your approach change over time?  How do you change in relating to others as time goes on?


DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

Church services are far more than just activity on the stage. Read the following verses and make a list of the relational components of Christians gathering. Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Hebrews 3:13

Where do relational connections happen, or how should they happen?  

How can you make yourself more available for this?

In our culture, church services are sometimes seen more and more as a “show,” and less as a relational experience.  How could church leadership best support people in this value?  **Whatever you come up with, graciously share it in an email or conversation with a pastor at your church. They (we) need to know what you think.  


GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

Is relational engagement easy or hard for you at church?  

How can you best position yourself to know people and be known by others?

How can your closest friends support and encourage you in this?


MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action 

Go to a church service this week with focused attention on the relational activity. How was it? Were people trying to engage you? Were you making yourself open to others? 

DISCUSSION #4: Serving as Worship

In our day, church services can often be thought of as a “show” or an experience. In this, many Christians are increasingly choosing to go without it. The big question is why do Christians gather weekly at worship services? Is there a value to living with this discipline and what are the benefits to doing so?

In this discussion we will unpack how part of our worship gatherings we gather to serve each other in the love of God.


MY STORY | Starting Place

Have you had a positive experience serving in a volunteer role? Share about it. What benefit did you receive from the time and energy you gave?


DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application


For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  If all were a single member, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

The church is sometimes called the “Body of Christ”, meaning collectively we (the Church) are a physical manifestation of Jesus in the world.  In this passage Paul encourages the value EACH member has to the whole.  

Have you historically thought of the church as a participatory experience? Has that changed over the years? How?
When at church, we often see people up front with speaking or musical skills (who are usually pretty good).  What other skills, or roles, are necessary for a thriving church? Make a list.

Looking at your list, identify how each role can tangibly share the love of God with others.

What could be the personal benefit from serving others in these various roles?


GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

What role is of most interest to you in encouraging and serving others within the church?

If you’re not already serving somewhere, why? 

How can your group support you in taking that step?


MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action

Go to a church service this week with focused attention on the volunteers serving in various roles. How do you see them being filled with joy and purpose by serving others in a tangible way?

DISCUSSION #5: God Is With Us

In our day, church services can often be thought of as a “show” or an experience. In this, many Christians are increasingly choosing to go without it. The big question is why do Christians gather weekly at worship services? Is there a value to living with this discipline and what are the benefits to doing so?

In this discussion we will unpack how, when we gather, God dwells with us (uniquely different to when we are alone).


MY STORY | Starting Place

Share the greatest group experience you have been a part of. It might have been a concert, sporting event, etc… How did you uniquely feel connected to the “strangers” you were there with?


DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

In the Old Testament, God (the Spirit) descended and filled the temple several times (Exodus 40, 2 Chronicles 7). In the New Testament, God dwells amongst his people, beginning in Acts 2.

Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

What do you think Jesus means by this?

What are some ways you think God reveals Himself uniquely when Christians gather together?


GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

How have you experienced the presence of God when you have gathered with other Christians?

How did you, or can you cultivate an awareness of His presence when you gather?

Can we hinder this beautiful opportunity? If so, how?

MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action

Go to a church service this week with focused attention on where and how we specifically celebrate the presence of God.  Where do you see Him reveal himself to us?

DISCUSSION #6: Light for Others

In our day, church services can often be thought of as a “show” or an experience. In this, many Christians are increasingly choosing to go without it. The big question is why do Christians gather weekly at worship services? Is there a value to living with this discipline and what are the benefits to doing so?

In this final discussion, we will learn how God will draw others to Himself through the hope we model and experience in our gatherings. 


MY STORY | Starting Place

Do you have a story of when you were accepted and included by a special group of people? Who were they? How did they make you feel welcomed?

DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

Look at and consider the disciplines the early church was committed to. How is it different for Christians today?

No doubt the scene immediately following Pentecost was unique. No one wanted to leave Jerusalem, so Christians sold things to pay room and board for strangers and keep the party going. How realistic is it for Christians to strive to live like they did today?  What disciplines should we strive to continually embrace?

It doesn’t appear that they were trying to attract other followers, but rather lived joyfully in Christ and “the Lord added to their number day by day…”  Clearly they were not secretive about their faith and practices. Discuss what it must have looked like on the outside watching these early Christians.

GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

We are often told that it’s not polite to talk about religion or politics in public.
How have you, or can you, allow your faith to be visible to those still far from Christ?  
What advice or guidelines would you give to someone to live this way?


MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action 

In what area of your life does God want you to live your faith more visibly in the months to come? What does that look like, and how can you let your light shine?