Vision Series: Spiritual Priesthood (04.14.19)
Opening Prayer and Silence
Open in prayer and then sit together
in three minutes of silence to shift focus toward this time of seeking
God and practicing the way of Jesus in community.
RSF Vision & Mission
To remember why we gather and what we gather to do, read aloud:
WE are a community following Jesus, seeking renewal in our city
BY being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did
THROUGH truth, community, practice, and the Holy Spirit
A Community of Priests
Read 1 Peter 2:2-5 and discuss:
- What is “pure spiritual milk,” and what are the counterfeits or alternatives that we might hunger for?
- How does a person offer “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God,” and what are some of the ways you offer spiritual sacrifices to God?
- How would this group change if we saw ourselves as part of a “holy priesthood,” and what would it look like to intentionally encourage one another in this?
Offering Spiritual Sacrifices
Take time to pray. First, split into pairs and share personal prayer requests:
- Acknowledge and pray through obstacles you experience in owning your identity as a spiritual priest.
- Bless and name one another as spiritual priests, and pray about how you hope to live as a spiritual priest in this Year of Authentic Community at RSF.
Then, return to the large group and pray through your hopes for this Community Group,
our church as a whole, and our city and region as we live as spiritual
priests. Take note of any prophetic words that you believe are from the
Lord.
Closing Prayer
Read together the Prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.