02.02.10

Small Group Plan - February 3, 2010

Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob

“Taking The “I” Out of Worship”
Worship
Small Group Plan
February 3, 2009

Dear Group Leader,

“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of this cell.”
– CS Lewis

“We are often so caught up in our activities that we tend to worship our work, work at our play and play at our worship.”
– Charles Swindoll

OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What is your earliest concept of worship?
· How did it change over time?

LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …

GOD IS THE CENTER

Isaiah 6:1
¹ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

· Describe, in your own words, what Isaiah saw. Be as vivid as possible.
· What is Isaiah’s purpose in describing God “on a throne?”
· Why is meeting God in worship the beginning of life, ministry, relationships and every use of our time and energy?

GOD IS WORTHY

Isaiah 6:2-5
² Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³ And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” ⁴ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. ⁵ “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

· “Derived from a verb that means “to burn,” the seraphim (the Hebrew form is plural) were agents of cleansing; here they are angelic agents.” — Charles Ryrie, Ph.D.
· Why do you think the seraphs cover their faces and feet in the Lord’s presence?
· What is the meaning of the seraphs’ message and why were they calling “to only another” (v. 3)?
· What are “unclean lips” and why did Isaiah immediately and completely feel that he was unclean?

GOD IS ACTIVE

Isaiah 6:6-7
⁶ Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

· Why did God answer Isaiah’s cry with Forgiveness?
· What did this tell us about God’s constant character throughout all of time?
· How does it go against God’s nature to leave a person lying in their own guilt and shame?
· Why must God’s messengers have clean lips?

GOD IS EMPOWERING MOTIVATING

Isaiah 6:8
⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

· What difference do you see in Isaiah before and after God’s cleansing?
· Describe the releasing power of confession – “Woe is me”.
· Describe the motivating power of forgiveness – “Here and I”.
· After feeling unworthy and undone, why does Isaiah now feel useful and helpful to God?

USE IT / APPLY IT …
· When have you been confronted with the amazing spectacle of God’s incredible holiness? Where were you and what was happening?
· How did this experience leave you feeling about yourself?
· What was the first thing you wanted to do? Why?
· How do “unclean lips” show themselves today?
· Where does God want to “send” you? How can worship prepare you for that mission and ministry?
· Close by asking God to cleanse our lips with the coal of His presence and forgiveness.

Permalink