Sent Out to Live

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “If you are called to build God’s house, what do you think it would look like?"

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43.

• What is the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Kings 8:1? [Ark of the Covenant, in Judaism and Christianity, the ornate, gold-plated wooden chest that in biblical times housed the two tablets of the Law given to Moses by God.]
• Why do you think the cloud, symbolizing God's presence, filled the temple and made it impossible for the priests to continue their service (1 Kings 8:10-11)? What does this signify about the nature of God's presence? [The cloud's presence signifies God's overwhelming holiness and glory, indicating that God’s presence is so powerful that human activities must cease.]
• In verses 22-30, Solomon prays for God's forgiveness and attention to the prayers of the people. How can we apply Solomon's approach to confession and prayer in our personal lives or community worship? [Solomon’s prayer demonstrates humility and an understanding of the need for God's grace. We can apply this by approaching God with humility, regularly confessing our shortcomings, and seeking God’s guidance and forgiveness, both individually and as a community.]
• “We do not just visit God in our places of worship. God dwells all around us. God lives in the neighborhood with us. We worship with our lives not because God is always watching but because worship is how we love God and neighbor, and, therefore, learn how to love our neighbors as ourselves” (Worship Note, August 25).
• “We are in the presence of God always. When the service ends, and we head out into the sunshine or the rain we left behind, worship continues. When we wake on Monday, ready to head into whatever occupies our time and our energy, worship continues. In the midst of the emails and the texts, in the meetings and lectures, and the meetings that could have been emails and the lectures that were paragraphs from the assigned readings, worship continues. In the encounters with neighbors and authorities, in answering the incessant questions from the children in our care, in navigating the jumble of emotions as we live in community and relationship, worship continues. That’s what Solomon’s prayer says” (Preaching Notes, August 25).
  • What are your thoughts about the two writings above?
  • “God lives in the neighborhood with us.” What is your reaction to this statement?
  • What is one way you will commit to living out your faith this week, either in service to others, sharing your faith, or embodying Christ-like qualities in your interactions?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). Pray the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

In life, in death,
in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

From the closing lines of the “Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada” (United Methodist Hymnal, 883)

Discipleship Ministries staff created this resource with assistance from AI tools.