Worship Tools

Worship Outline

Additional Scriptures 

Psalm 4; Luke 24:36b-48; Acts 3:12-19

Prelude  

Welcoming Hymn 

“Come Away from Rush and Hurry” CCS 83 

OR “As We Gather” CCS 73 

Welcome, Joys, and Concerns  

Call to Worship 

God loves us, and we are called to be children of God.  Our calling to love connects to who we are as individuals and as groups, and the goal is to reveal God through our calling. When we live in deed and truth, not word or speech, then other people can see God through us.  Let’s spend some time in reflection:

How is your calling revealing God?              

pause for two minutes

Hymn

“God Is Calling” CCS 172 

OR “Meet Me in a Holy Place” CCS 162 

Invocation  

Response 

Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:1-7 

Hymn

“Santo, santo, santo/Holy, Holy, Holy” sing several times CCS 159 

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.

OR “Be Thou My Vision” CCS 167 

Reflection: “If I Could Be Like You” 

If I could be like you, What a wonder I would be. 

Strong as a lion, Gentle as a lamb. 

If I could be like you, All the world I could see. 

Earth with no boundary, People with no hate. 

If I could be like you. 

Before you came, life was life.  Dawn woke with the morning. 

Stars played with the night.  Every river rambled free, 

And we were bound with lack of light. 

Every day was just a day When people played and people prayed 

To some God up there. 

Every night was just a night With people groping without light 

And with little care. 

And then you came and you sang Your sweet song and gave us hope 

For a better day. 

And when we’ll be like you, to love like you, 

We can know the way. 

If I could be like you, What a wonder I would be. 

I could be free!  I would be me! 

If I would be like you. 

           —Debra Bruch, used with permission

Let’s reflect.  What do you need to do to acknowledge that you are called a child of God and to prepare your calling to reveal God’s love to others?  pause for two minutes 

Prayer for Peace  

Peace Hymn 

“Deep in the Shadows of the Past” CCS 64 

OR “Come, Holy Spirit, Come” repeat several times CCS 154 

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.

Light the peace candle

Prayer 

Divine Word, 

What must we change in ourselves to reveal the God of love and life?  Before change is relationship.  Before relationship is commitment.  Before commitment is acceptance.  Before acceptance is discovery.  Before discovery is humility.  Before humility is awareness of sin.   

Help us be aware of our sin: the ways we destroy your love, the ways we separate ourselves from you and each other.  Help us accept your healing grace.  Help us to stop and see.  Help us to abide in you and in love for one another. 

Let’s reflect

What must you change in yourself to reveal the God of love and life? 

pause for two minutes

Amen.   

Sharing in the Spoken Word

Based on 1 John 3:1-7 

Disciples’ Generous Response  

Generosity Hymn

“Help Us Express Your Love” CCS 621 

OR “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” CCS 87  

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.

Statement and Reflection 

Generosity of money does not equate with evil; nor does it equate with charity.  The generosity of money comes from an awareness of the richness of God’s giving to us and our responsibility to pass on God’s giving to others.  The aim is to act in love to help relieve suffering and share abundance.  God has given us diverse gifts, and money is but one.  Giving money, however, is essential for ministry when we share our abundance, and helps realize the mission of hope, joy, love, and peace.  Our giving empowers others to respond to need in the world. 

Let’s reflect.  How does my giving money help bless the world with joy, hope, love, and peace?  pause for two minutes

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes 

Closing Hymn 

“I, the Lord of Sea and Sky” CCS 640 

OR “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”  CCS 565

Benediction  

Postlude 

Sacred Space: Small-Group Worship Outline

Gathering

Welcome

Today is the third Sunday of the Easter season. The Easter season lasts fifty days and concludes with the Day of Pentecost.

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.

Creator God, we come to this place to worship you, but we also come to find peace. Open our hearts to you. Still our spirits and free our minds to hear your voice. May this flame of peace warm each of us to your spirit of blessing, to your calming presence, and to your healing love. May this sacred time together prepare us to be peacemakers in our homes, schools, workplaces, cities, countries, and world. Make us one, loving God, through your peace. Amen.

Spiritual Practice

Centering Prayer

Centering prayer is a method of meditation used by Christians to sit in silence with God. This prayer helps us experience God’s presence within us.

This Easter Day we will focus on the word rejoice.

Slowly read the following instructions:

Sit with relaxed posture and close your eyes. We will spend three minutes in centering prayer.

Breathe in a regular, natural rhythm. As you breathe in and out, say the word peace in your mind.

Breathe in and out, focusing only on your word.

When we are done, we will sit for two minutes in silence, eyes closed, listening to the silence.

When time is up, share these closing instructions:

Offer a brief word of thanks to God, take a deep breath, and open your eyes when you are ready.

Sharing Around the Table

1 John 3:1–7 NRSVue

3 ¹ See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. ³ And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

⁴ Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.⁵ You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. ⁶ No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. ⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

—1 John 3:1–7 NRSVue

Have you ever heard a conversation in a language you did not understand? If those in conversation are glancing in your direction, a suspicion arises: “I wonder what they are saying about me?” Here lies the breakdown of international relations!

From this perspective we might understand the situation of the early Christians in a culture that was emerging from within a culture. This emergence was quite foreign to the larger culture. These followers of The Way were being misunderstood by their neighbors, and John was trying to tell them something about this new way of living.

First, do not doubt that we are children of God. Even if others do not understand it, we can be assured that we are living in the household of God in Christ. John said that the others would know when Christ is revealed. This can be interpreted two ways. One, Christ will be revealed in the Second Coming, the time that is in the future when Jesus will return from the clouds. Or two, Christ will be revealed to the community in the second coming that happens each time a disciple shares with someone who then is open to the Holy Spirit, thus beginning the journey of discipleship themselves.

John was careful to make sure this witness was pure in his frank talk about sin. He assured the reader that salvation has come, and it is ours. To be effective in that state of grace, we must not be lawless; we must avoid sin. John was not naïve though. He understood the pernicious nature of sin and how it wheedles into a person’s life. His warning was poignant.

There is a popular thought among many Christians that the world is evil and must be endured; that the spirit is eternal and just needs to get through this physical experience to obtain eternal bliss. This is not Community of Christ theology. Community of Christ holds that God created all things good, and that all things are sacred.

The soul of a human is body and spirit. The dualism of the theology that holds the world is evil and the spirit is good was dealt with in the first couple of centuries of the Christian Era. It was called Gnosticism. Several scripture texts have been interpreted corruptly to bolster this heresy, and this text from 1 John could be one of them.

Jesus was transparent in his ministry. There was a certain degree of mystery involved, but like overhearing a conversation in an unknown language, the hearer can know the truth about the speaker’s intentions by seeing their actions. John points this out by saying that the righteous act righteously. Your deeds speak louder than your words.

Questions

1. Share about a time when have you shared an experience that hearers could not understand because they did not have the context of experience?
2. How have you been brought up short in your assessment of someone when their actions contradicted your assessment?
3. How have you felt disconnected from the world?
4. A unique ability of the human condition is the ability to “step outside of ourselves” to look at ourselves and the world with new eyes. This is the foundation of repentance. How have you been able to do this? How have sacraments or spiritual practices aided your capacity to do this?

Sending

Generosity Statement

Beloved Community of Christ, do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed.

—Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a

The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response.

This offering prayer for the Easter season is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:

God of rejoicing, we share our gifts joyfully and with thanksgiving in response to the generous gifts you have given us. May the offerings we share bring joy, hope, love, and peace into the lives of others so they might experience your mercy and grace. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

Community of Christ Sings 229, “When We Are Called to Sing”

Closing Prayer

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Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

—1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NRSV

Communion Statement

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

We share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community.

In preparation let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings (select one):

515 “In these Moments We Remember”

516 “Coming Together for Wine and for Bread”

521 “Let Us Break Bread Together”

525 “Small Is the Table”

528 “Eat This Bread”

Blessing and serving of the bread and wine.

Thoughts for Children

You will need:

• Piece of paper
• Coloring supplies

Say: When I look at the world and see so many people hurt and suffering, I wish we could spread more love. So, today, I need your help! I need you to put on your inventor caps and create something—a tool, a machine, a hero, a toy, whatever you want—that will help spread love in the world. We won’t have long to work on our creations, so don’t worry about making it perfect. Write or draw your creation on the blank piece of paper I give you.

Allow participants time to create and share their inventions. Allow them to be creative; don’t put boundaries or restrictions on their imaginations.

Say: Wow! Your creations are all such wonderful ways to share love with the world. Do you want to know something pretty cool? God also has created a way to share love with the world. Does anyone have a guess at what God created? God created you to share love with the world. Just like each invention you came up with shared love in a different way, each of us is called to share love in a different way.

Today’s scripture reminds us how much God loves us. When we feel that love, we can’t help but share it with the world!

Sermon Helps

Exploring the Scripture

The first letter of John is best understood as written sometime after John’s Gospel. It was probably written by and to community members who followed that Gospel tradition. The tone of 1 John leans toward a belief the world is soon ending. With the return of Jesus, the righteous would be separated from the sinful.

No one knows who wrote the letter, but clues in the text suggest the author was a respected elder who had authority to teach and advise the community of disciples. Phrases like “little children” may refer to new Christians rather than a specific age (v. 7). Throughout 1 John, the author discusses divisions in the community centered on core beliefs about Jesus Christ. One group believed the actions of Jesus set a moral standard to be followed, and the other group felt believing in Jesus was enough (Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1997, p. 383).

This passage reminds its audience they are children of God because of the love God freely gives. The author assures readers the promise of being God’s beloved children is for now and for the future yet to be revealed. That promise is true even when the world—those who believed differently—did not recognize them. Their task was to remain faithful to the gospel, act with righteousness, and strive to live as Jesus lived.

Jewish apocalyptic (end times) tradition declared lawlessness was a cosmic force that hates God, while righteousness reveals God’s rule in harmony with creation (Wingeier, Douglas E., editor, Keeping Holy Time, Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2002, p. 166). Sin is a rebellion against God’s reign. Righteousness is found in doing right, like Jesus did. First John’s writer sees the internal crisis of his community in these terms.

The writer asserts that Jesus was revealed to remove sin. Another way to approach this verse is that Jesus relieves the human tendency to rebel against God’s rule. Knowing Jesus and intimately following his example does not allow a desire for rebellion to take root in our hearts.

Revelation—the act of revealing—is an essential theme in this passage. Even when God chooses to reveal God’s self to us, we cannot ever get a full picture of the greatness and mystery that is the Divine. God’s self-revelation is always personal, through relationships, community, and confrontation. Through God’s revelation in Jesus Christ, we can follow the writer’s guidance and do our best to live and serve like Jesus, assured of our belovedness now and in the future.

Central Ideas

1. The promise of being God’s beloved children is for now and for the future yet to be revealed.
2. Sin is rebellion against God’s reign.
3. God’s self-revelation is always personal.

Questions for the Speaker

1. How does knowing you are a child of God make you live differently?
2. What does Jesus reveal to us about the nature of God?
3. What sin do you recognize in your life? In the life of the congregation?
4. How can sinfulness and belovedness be related?

Lessons

Adult Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

1 John 3:1–7

Lesson Focus

God’s everlasting love for God’s people.

Objectives

The learners will…

• review the church’s Christology statement.
• consider the church’s Basic Belief statements related to the scripture.

Supplies

• Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, Herald House, 2018
• Bible
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 John 3:1–7 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament with focus on the Letters p.69-70 , available through Herald House.

Gather

Read the words of “See What Love We Have Been Given” CCS 496. If available play the audio file for this hymn as the group shares in the reading.

Engage

The first letter of John was written sometime after John’s Gospel likely by a respected teacher from the Johannine community to new Christians. The author seems to believe the world is ending soon and Jesus will return and separate the righteous from the sinners. His writing addresses divisions within the community by reminding them about the everlasting love of God. There had been a division between members who believed Jesus to be fully human and fully divine and those who believed only in his divinity. The writer emphasizes the everlasting love that comes from both dimensions of Jesus. Today’s passage reminds the group they are children of God. They are to remain faithful to the gospel and follow Jesus’s teachings.

The letter also defines sin as rebellion against God’s reign and tells the church to avoid making sinful choices. Jesus is expected to return shortly, and God’s reign is imminent.

Read 1 John 3:1–7.

Review the following Basic Beliefs statements: Jesus Christ, Sin, and Humanity in Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p. 34.

Read the Preamble and paragraph 2 of “We Proclaim Jesus Christ” in Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p. 58.

Encourage learners to read through both sections on their own.

Respond

Discuss:

• What is at the heart of 1 John’s message?
• How have you experienced the infinite love of God?
• How does knowing you are a child of God affect how you live?
• How is 1 John’s definition of love different than that of your culture?
• Where do you see sin in your life? In your environment?
• How can we express love amid disagreement?

Send

For the week ahead, consider the following:

• How can you live a Jesus-like life this week? What will you change? What will you keep the same in your decisions and actions?
• How will you share the love of God with others your encounter?

Bless

Have each participant select one or two phrases from “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” CCS 565 that describe the blessings of God’s love to use as a benediction.

Youth Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

1 John 3:1–7

Lesson Focus

As God’s children, we show love through their actions.

Objectives

The learners will…

• explore various aspects of their identity as beloved children of God.
• learn about God’s love and the importance of loving the way God loves.
• strengthen their understanding of the Enduring Principle Responsible Choices.
• deepen their understanding of what it means to love.

Supplies

• Bible
• Paper, and pens or pencils
• Small strips of paper or sticky notes

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 John 3:1–7 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B, New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 69–70 available through Herald House.

Gather

Our “ID” Check

Give students paper and a pen. Ask them to spend a few minutes creating a description of how they define themselves (social media, grades, friend groups, teams, school activities, etc.).

Next, ask students to write an identifier for each of the other students in the class. Use a small strip of paper for each thought and have them create one for each student. When finished, give these identifiers to the appropriate students. Give students time to read their papers and ask them to include those descriptions with the list they created for themselves.

Next, ask them to create a description for how they think God would define them.

When finished, compare the various descriptions.

• What stands out?
• What confirms what you wrote about yourself?
• What surprised you? Did anyone in the class name something new about you that you hadn’t considered?
• In what ways did the list you created for God would define you match or differ from the other descriptions?
• What thoughts or feelings do you have about this activity?

Engage

Context

Today’s scripture passage helps us understand our identity as beloved children of God. The first letter of John was written sometime after John’s Gospel likely by a respected teacher from the community of new Christians. The author seems to believe the world is ending soon and Jesus will return and separate the righteous from the sinners. He addresses divisions in the community by reminding them about God’s everlasting love that comes from Jesus. He tells them they are children of God. They are to remain faithful to the gospel and follow Jesus’s teachings.

The letter also defines sin as rebellion against God’s reign and tells the church to avoid making sinful choices, because the writer believes Jesus is expected to return shortly, and God’s reign is imminent.

Read 1 John 3:1–7.

Review the Enduring Principle Responsible Choices below.

Responsible Choices

• God gives humans the ability to make choices about whom or what they will serve.
• Some people experience conditions that diminish their ability to make choices.
• Human choices contribute to good or evil in our lives and in the world.
• Many aspects of creation need redemption because of irresponsible and sinful human choices.
• We are called to make responsible choices within the circumstances of our lives that contribute to the purposes of God.

—Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p. 30

Respond

Continue the discussion by asking:

• How do you know when someone loves you?
• How have you experienced God’s love?

God showed us love in a wonderful and real way—through Jesus. Jesus came to show us how much God loves us. Jesus’s words and actions brought healing. His love removed barriers between people, and he worked to remove obstacles of power that hurt people. During this Easter season, we remember this love through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. We remember God’s gift to us through Jesus who has been resurrected and still lives.

Loving the way Jesus loves is more than just saying, “I love you.” Love is a decision we make. It’s an action beyond the words “I love you” that shows our love.

• In what ways can you show love to someone?
• How have you experienced love through someone’s words and actions?

God gives us the ability to make choices. Through the Enduring Principle Responsible Choices, we learn to make good choices…decisions that make our world a better place.

• What are some actions (choices) you can take to make our world better?
• Why do you think some people have trouble making responsible choices?
• How can we express love amid disagreement?

Send

For the week ahead, consider the following:

• How does knowing you are a child of God affect how you live?
• How can you live a Jesus-like life this week? What will you change? What will you keep the same in your decisions and actions?
• How can you share God’s love with others?

Bless

Remember, God’s love is the starting point, not the result of good behavior or right actions. Because God loves you, you can live differently—more like Jesus.

Children’s Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

1 John 3:1–7

Lesson Focus

We are called children of God and God’s children show love through their actions.

Objectives

The learners will…

• learn about God’s love and the importance of loving the way God loves.
• strengthen their understanding of the Enduring Principle Responsible Choices.
• deepen their understanding of what it means to love.

Supplies

• Bible
• Poster board
• Index cards
• Pencil or pen
• Optional: Love Traffic Light Craft (Respond section): green, yellow, and red poster board

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 John 3:1–7 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B, New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 69–70 available through Herald House.

Gather

Begin by singing a hymn or campfire song about love. An example is the camp song “The Gospel in One Word Is Love.”

Begin a discussion by asking: How do you know when someone loves you? (The children may answer when they hug you, help you, say kind words, give you gifts, spend time with you, etc.)

Today we will learn that God loves us and wants us to learn to love as God does.

Engage

God showed us love in a wonderful and real way—through Jesus. Jesus came to show us how much God loves us. His words and actions brought healing. His love removed barriers between people, and he worked to remove obstacles that hurt people. During this Easter season, we remember this love through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. We remember God’s gift to us through Jesus.

Read 1 John 3:1–7.

Ask: Do any of you have cousins or friends who feel like brothers or sisters? (Listen to responses.)

Just as you have a family on earth, you also have a spiritual family with God. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who are part of God’s family; part of our family.

Loving the way Jesus loves is more than just saying, “I love you.” Love is a decision we make. It’s an action that shows our love. For example: sharing your toys, helping at home without being asked, saying kind words, not fighting, and forgiving quickly.

• What other ways can you name to show love to someone?
• How have you experienced love through someone’s words and actions?

God lets us make choices. Through the Enduring Principle Responsible Choices, we learn to make good choices that make our world a better place.

• What are some actions (choices) you can take to make the world better?
• Why do you think some people have trouble making good choices?

Respond

Actions of Love

Prepare two sets of index cards: one with loving actions (sharing, helping, hugging, listening, serving, etc.) and another set with actions that are not loving (yelling, fighting, ignoring, pushing, etc.). Mix up the two sets. The children should sort them into two groups: actions showing love and actions that do not show love.

Optional Activity: Love Traffic Light

Make a traffic light using poster board: Green (Things I should do); Yellow (Things I should think about before doing); Red (Things I should not do). The children place examples in each color.

Send

Being children of God means becoming more like Jesus every day. Jesus loved through actions. You can also show love at your school, at home, and at church.

Have the children sit in a circle and talk about the following questions:

1. What can I do this week to show love at home?
2. Who do I need to treat better?
3. What can I do that shows I love like Jesus?

Bless

Repeat the following poem with the children:

God Loves Me as I Am

God loves me as I am; God’s love is unconditional.
God walks with me, protects me, and is always by my side.

Even when doubts and sadness come,
with Jesus I will continue
singing and dancing, I will praise His name.

He calls me by my name and tells me I am special,
so I will always sing about His friendship

—Maria Ramirez

Form a circle holding hands and repeat the following prayer together:

Thank you, God, for loving us so much and calling us your children. Help us to love like Jesus, with real actions and hearts full of kindness. Amen.