Session Extras

Year 2

Worship: Session 5
Sending Forth

Below are some great links for further study and discussion. Check out the book suggestions. We've also included additional resources for leaders.

Digging Deeper:

• The Worship Source Book includes many blessings for congregational worship that can be used as personal blessings as well.
• In the article “Play the Song: Balancing Ritual and Novelty” Ron Rienstra discusses our approach to changes in worship and the important of ritual.
• Having passed through the waters of baptism, Scott Haldeman examines what we should do with our lives in the article “Washed and Ready: Baptism as Call and Gift of Ministry.”
• Silence can be part of worship and part of our everyday lives. Read more in the article “Silence’s Scintillating Divine Speech” by Joyce Ann Zimmerman.
• The Spirit draws us into worship. Paul Thigpen writes about this relationship in the article “Loved by the Holy Spirit.”
• Sue Skalicky gives several examples of blessings that can be used in a group setting in the article “Bless You!”
• Norma de Waal Malefyt and Howard Vanderwell have written study sessions to help a congregation look at their own worship. Check out “The Closing of Worship."
• We are a people of many languages. Listen to the benediction (blessing) in a variety of languages.

For Small Group Facilitators/Leaders:

The lesson is designed for a one-hour session. Here are suggestions for how to shorten or lengthen the lesson, as well as what parts to emphasize.

Shorter session:

• In For Starters, share an insight from the daily readings.
• In Let’s Focus, begin the reading with the third paragraph on page 149.

Longer session:

• In Pray It Through, write another part to the litany. Begin with a phrase such as “Go to the world, listen and respond.”
• Bring some food to share.

Here are some additional ideas to help you tailor the lesson to your group.

• For Starters: Choose one of the suggestions for your group.
• Let’s Focus: Ask for volunteers to read. 
• Word Search:
  • Write or print the words of Matthew 28:18-20 on a large sheet of paper to help the group focus.
  • Craig S. Keener looks at Matthew 28:18-20 and how it fits in the book of Matthew in the article “Does the Bible Really Say That?” Scroll down to the part titled “The Great Commission.”
  • In the article “Raise Up Many Disciples!” based on Matthew 28:19, Lois Tverberg writes that we must transform our lives to live like Jesus.
• Bring It Home:
  • Option 1: Remember that we are talking about worship in this study. Your group may begin to think about other educational or outreach programs in your church or community. These are all valuable programs, but try to keep the discussion focused on how worship helps us practice these character traits.
  • Option 2:
    • Bring an order of worship from your church.
    • Several closing songs and benedictions are available on YouTube. Here are a few you could watch and discuss with your group:
      • “For God So Loved the World” (Closing Song and Benediction) or “As We Leave This Place.”
      • Benediction and Closing Hymn (The strife is o'er) from the Easter Vigil, 2006, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, Missouri.
      • Westminster Abbey Choir “The Lord Bless You and Keep You”
  • Option 3: Start with a list of the items to put in the backpack, such as a bottle of water, blanket, a map, etc. Then ask the group to suggest ways these items could be included as part of their spiritual equipment.
• Pray It Through:  Don’t be afraid to give enough time to silence that the group members can be in that moment.
• Live It Out:
  • Think about the people you encounter in the week. Think about the places you go. Write a blessing in the space in the study guide.
  • Look back at the 2 Corinthians passage on the top of page 136 and the blessing in the In other Words section on page 139.
  • Suggest to your group that they begin a blessing with the word “May.”

Submit your ideas!

Do you have suggestions for this particular session? Something that was especially meaningful for you or your group? Extra reading you’d like to suggest? Help others get the most out of this session. Send your ideas to editors@FaithAliveResources.org and we’ll consider adding them here!