The Kingdom of God
February 6, 2022 - Be Great - Go Low
Eat Together - Please practice current safety measures if gathering in-person, seeking to enjoy the devotion of sharing a meal. Consider how to safely eat together.
Worship & Prayer - “Worship is the acknowledgment of, agreement with, and yielding to lordship, wholeheartedly offering attention and affection to ascribe worth.”
- Refer to the Navah Songs of the Season (Winter 2022). These lyrics reflect the season we’re in as a body. Any one of them can springboard you into worship and response. YouTube videos and chord charts included.
- Ask someone from your Home Church to facilitate worship in a creative way. It could look like facilitating a time of gratitude, inviting people to testify of ways God met them last week, reading a scripture and/or playing a song.
Give - Pause to consider how we will give this week. For those that call Navah home, this is a time for you to give right now, or review your giving to all God does in and through Navah. During this time, also listen and ask the Spirit if there is a need/person He wants you to bless. Let’s wait in silence for 2 minutes now.
- Give Online,
- On the app,
- Or text the word GIVE to 8337261069
Announcements
- Watch this Announcement Video during Home Church - be sure to send out to your home church members after you gather in case anyone misses.
Care
- Hi/Lo or Good News Stories
- Invite each person to share a brief Hi/Lo (gratitude and prayer need)
- Consider having the next person who shares, pray a short blessing over the previous person who has shared.
Kids
Send kids ministry resource feedback to sarah@navahchurchkc.com
Commentary and Questions - Luke 22:24-30
There is a way that power presents itself in the world around us. We do not have to look far for those that culture declares as great men and women. Often they occupy high positions, have great influence, and showcase power by what they hold. It was not so different in Jesus’ day.
The disciples, and the nation of Israel as a whole, had been waiting for their moment. A new kingdom was coming, with all the power and prestige of those that ruled over them. In fact, they imagined their own power as superseding those that held power over them. When Messiah, God’s anointed King, came they would have their turn. In light of all these things, the disciples argued over which high office they would have in this new world order under Jesus, who they had come to believe was Messiah. And yet, Jesus, in grace and truth, again, invited them to a new imagination, and gave them the example from His own life on how this new kingdom would model a new way.
“Yet I am among you as One who serves” (Vs. 26). Jesus says to be great, we go low. It is in our willingness to serve, as the Master came to serve, that our true greatness is put on display. The Kingdom of God turns human’s understanding of power on its head. The kingdom of God uses power and position for the sake of others because this Kingdom is motivated by love, not by self. Every time we are willing to serve others, we put on display the wonder and humility of Jesus. We bear witness to Him.
How do we become great in this Kingdom? We go low, as Lord went low.
Reading and Reflection
Before reading, invite the Holy Spirit to guide the community into all truth, as Jesus promised the Spirit would do (John 16:13).
- Read the passage one time, then pause for 30 seconds, letting the Spirit sow the word into our being
- Read the passage again.
- After reading, enter a time of prayer and waiting, asking the Lord to begin to highlight to each person a phrase, idea, or anything else the Lord might be saying to them in this time from the text! Make plenty of room for creative sharing back: if someone has a picture, a song, or a prayer, let that come out during this time!
- If there is time: ask questions and look for connections in the Scripture.
This time is for formative learning; seeking ways to take in and apply the scripture in our lives.
Potential Questions:
- Where might the Holy Spirit be provoking you in this reality of greatness revealed in our willingness to serve?
- Where has the Lord invited you to participate in the Kingdom this week, modeling greatness in serving this week?
Consider adding a daily reading to your week: Philippians 2:5-11, reflecting on the character and practice of Jesus. Finish the time with listening to the Spirit, and then praying the Lord’s Prayer.
Communion - Read a short passage (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) - lead them in receiving the elements.
