Worship is a regular part of every one of our Sunday services, but what is it, really?  Is worship only the 15 minutes of singing we do at church?  Or is there something bigger, something more vital that can happen in our relationship with God if we worship him in every part of our lives?  This Sunday we’ll begin a 3-week series of messages, helping us unlock the true power of worshiping with all our heart. 

Groups Discussion Guide

To view a .docx version of this guide, click here.

Introduction

Last week we talked about identifying one area of your life where you find yourself making comparisons and ask God to transform this area by reminding you of his purpose for you. We also talked about reading Ephesians 1:3-14.  

How did these action steps go this week? 

After your time of connecting, begin your meeting with prayer. 

Key Verse for the Week  

*Read this verse, then encourage the practice of memorization throughout the week.  

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name (Psalm 103:1) 

**When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us. 

Connect  

• What is something or someone that you are devoted to following? Why are you so devoted to this?  
• What words come to your mind when you think of the word “worship”? To what degree does spending time worshiping someone or something affect your relationship with that person/thing? 

Opening Thought  

Worship is often associated with singing and music, but it encompasses much more. True worship is about the posture of our hearts towards God. Pastor Alex shared this definition of worship with us on Sunday: “the correct posture of the heart before God.” This series will help us redefine worship and deepen our relationship with God through it. 

This leads us to our big idea for this week:  

Big idea for the week
We can give God the true worship he deserves. 

Unpack  

Go around your group and have someone read each of the following verses, then discuss the connected questions.  

Read 

Ephesians 3:18-19 

Unpack 

• Discuss the dimensions (width, length, height, and depth) of God’s love mentioned by Paul. How can understanding the limitless dimensions of God’s love influence our worship of Him? 
• How would you say your devotion to earthly things compares to your devotion to God? 

Read 

Psalm 103:1-22 (This is a longer passage, consider splitting it between 2 or 3 people in the group. As you read the verses, notice what words stand out to you.) 

Unpack 

• What words or phrases from this section impacted you the most? How does this Psalm guide your understanding of the dimensions of God’s love that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 3:18-19? 
• David speaks to himself in this Psalm, commanding all parts of his being to praise God. How can we encourage ourselves to maintain this focus on God? 
• What are some distractions that might hinder us from fully worshiping God, and how can we overcome them? 

Read 

Psalm 34:1 

Hebrews 12:1–2 

Unpack 

• Do you experience worshipping God differently during times of joy versus times of trial? What challenges might we face with worshiping God during different seasons in life?  
  • What are some “weights” in your life that might keep you from truly worshiping God?  

Apply 

Based on the verses we just read, and Sunday’s message, there are some things that we can do in response. Take a moment to discuss these questions as a group to decide what your personal action steps for the week can be: 

• Identify aspects of your life where God may not be the central focus. What are some tangible ways you can make Him a priority in those areas? 
• Consider ways to incorporate worship into everyday activities, beyond music and church services. How can ordinary moments become extraordinary through worship? 

Closing 

Let’s remind ourselves that worship is an integral part of our relationship with God. Worship is not just for Sundays, it is not just simply singing group karaoke together during church services, but is meant to be a continuous expression of our love and adoration for Him. This week, joyfully give God the true worship he deserves in your everyday life so we can be present in how we spend time with him.

Prayer and Verses 

Ask for prayer requests and conclude your time with prayer then share the Key Verse for the Week and Daily Devotional Verses with the group. 

Daily Devotional Verses  

Use the S.O.A.P. method to reflect on the verses below. 

Scripture: Read the verses several times. Reading out loud can be helpful as well. 
Observation: What can you see about the scripture you read? 
Application: What is God wanting you to believe, do, or feel, based on what you have read? 
Prayer: This is a chance to talk to God about what you have read and ask him for help in living out what you’ve learned. 

Day 1: Psalm 95:1-6 

Day 2: John 4:23-24 

Day 3: Romans 12:1 

Day 4: Isaiah 26:8 

Day 5: Colossians 3:16 

Day 6: Hebrews 12:28-29