Develop a Discipleship System
Loving Worship Series: SENT
Sixth Sunday in Easter - May 26, 2019
Planning for this Series
In this series, we are moving into a season of suddenlies: Jesus announces his imminent departure back to heaven; the Holy Spirit makes her dramatic, fiery arrival on earth. Earth, Wind, and Fire! As Jesus prepares to take his leave, his benedictory address focuses on themes of glorification, departure, and most of all, love—the primary symbol of discipleship. Jesus emphasizes the importance of lineal relationships: disciples to Jesus, to the world, the Creator, and the vital mediating power and presence of the Holy Spirit. In the spirit and ethos of the Passover Meal, Jesus and the disciples are huddled together at table in family style. We hear Jesus address his followers as little children, and he proceeds to teach them as such.
As you plan this series, give attention to the lessons and learnings, teaching and tools from the Upper Room. Look for ways to emulate this powerful Pentecostal experience both within and beyond your faith community. Begin to intentionally identify ways to strengthen and celebrate the spirit of koinonia, Ubuntu, the Beloved Community, outside the comfort of your church building. While our denomination continues to wrestle with the question “Who’s In and Who’s Out?”, how will your local church community respond?
Each week, you will find suggestions for music, prayers, calls to worship, litanies from United Methodist resources that might help bring these biblical passages to life within your particular community. You are encouraged to sing, pray, embody, teach, love, and glorify God through the various texts and tunes provided. Our hope is that you will reenact the Acts 2 passage each week by introducing liturgical symbols and sounds unfamiliar to your congregations. If you choose to introduce a hymn or worship song from another cultural tradition, consider inviting someone from that tradition to participate, making the experience even more authentic for the worshipers. But please do not stop there! Perhaps there could be a reciprocal exchange where your congregation visits with another worshiping community.
We here at Discipleship Ministries Worship Resources would love to hear stories from your seasons of suddenlies. Contact us at [email protected].
WEEK 2 - John 14:23-29
23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.
25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate,[a] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
Abbreviations
UMH = United Methodist Hymnal
UR = Upper Room WorshipBook
TFWS = The Faith We Sing
AWR = Africana Worship Series, Year C
OLOFOB = One Lord, One Faith, One
SOZ = Songs of Zion
Music Resources
AWR 225
OLOFOB 93
UMH 104, 206, 384, 393, 408, 432, 560, 608, 861
UR 152, 154, 158, 183, 415
SOZ 1, 9, 19, 26, 36, 42, 59, 61, 182, 70, 71
TFWS 2239
Prayer Resources
BOW 423, 437, 501-506, 511, 514
UMH 493, 607
In This Series...
Colors
- Gold
- White
In This Series...
