Date: February 16, 2025
The Lifestyle of Worship
The Point: Everything we do in life is to be an act of worship.
Get Into the Study
Share the following after discussing the opening question and introducing the session.
If the proof of worship is in the living, Americans who profess faith need to make progress in authentic worship—particularly related to consumeristic thinking. Contrary to what might be expected, adults who attend church more than once a week are more likely than their non-religious neighbors to fall into a consumer mindset, according to a poll by Lifeway Research released during the 2024 holiday shopping season. Among Americans who attend church more than once per week, 61 percent say shopping makes them feel worthwhile and 56 percent say they know they are getting ahead when they have nice things. Just 43 percent of all Americans say shopping makes them feel worthwhile, and 41 percent believe they are getting ahead when they have nice things.
On a positive note, Protestants are among the least likely groups to agree with multiple consumeristic statements. Just 39 percent say shopping makes them feel worthwhile. Thirty-seven percent say they know they are getting ahead when they have nice things.
“The most devout practitioners of faith typically are better able to avoid vices,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Yet we see that those attending religious services the most often also are the most likely to want to be overachievers in consuming nice things.”
Those surprising survey results underscore the necessity of learning what Scripture says about making everything we do in life an act of worship.
https://research.lifeway.com/2024/11/19/many-americans-are-more-consumers-than-contented/
Get Into the Study (Option from Adult Leader Guide)
In advance, play a video clip showing some popular idioms. Then ask Question #1.
Study the Bible
As you discuss question 3 (point 2 on p. 127 of the Daily Discipleship Guide), share the following.
The virtue of compassion has been on display among North Carolina Baptists since Hurricane Helene devastated the western portion of the Tar Heel State in late September. Approximately $20 million has been contributed to North Carolina Baptist disaster relief efforts, according to a report in late January. That was in addition to a record $2.9 million given through the North Carolina Missions Offering, which also helps support disaster relief. The giving totals were all the more remarkable considering that some churches didn’t meet for week after the storm and others still have not reconvened.
“When you look at all the dollars that came in, it was still an incredible year for us,” said Todd Unzicker, North Carolina Baptists’ executive director-treasurer. “What N.C. Baptists have done has been nothing short of incredible.”
The giving supported a broad range of disaster-relief ministries. Immediately following the storm, crews provided hot meals, showers, and laundry service. They also cleared debris, tarped roofs, and tore out damaged portions of homes. Work now has transitioned to rebuilding. In all, more than 13,000 volunteers have served in western North Carolina with North Carolina Baptists on Mission. Such service and giving illustrates the biblical principle that a lifestyle of worship seeks to live and act like Christ.
The week’s writer for Extra is David Roach. David is pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Saraland, Alabama. He and his wife Erin have three children.
Additional Questions
Icebreaker
- When has something dominated your thoughts, even when you were away from it?
- When is your favorite time to sing at the top of your voice?
- What has ever caused you to say, “Looks are deceiving?” (LP, or maybe GR)
- What’s one of your favorite idioms or sayings?
- When have you been led to think: “The proof is in the pudding”?
Colossians 3:1-5 – A lifestyle of worship is a mindset focused on Christ.
- What are some worldly things we need to turn from in order to worship Jesus?
- What are some practical ways we can turn off the noise of the world to deliberately focus on Christ?
- Practically, what does it look like to “seek the things above”?
- Where do you see examples of earthly things being elevated or celebrated by our culture?
- What are the implications of dying to the things of this world?
Colossians 3:12-15 – A lifestyle of worship seeks to live and act like Christ.
- How would you live differently if you approached each day as an act of worship?
- Which of these virtues do you find most challenging to put on?
- Which of the virtues listed in these verses seems most appealing to you? Why?
- In what areas of life do you find it most difficult to live and act like Christ?
- What are the attributes of a lifestyle of worship?
- How do we actively and consistently love those who are difficult to love?
Colossians 3:16-17 – A lifestyle of worship flows with thankfulness and honor to Christ.
- How do you live out Paul’s admonition to do everything with an attitude of gratitude toward the Lord?
- What can help us maintain a mindset of thankfulness to Jesus?
- How does “the word of Christ” dwell in us?
- How do these verses add to your understanding of worship?
- In your own words, what would it look like to develop a lifestyle based on worship?
- How can we best express thankfulness and honor?
For Those in Your Group
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought. NOTE: After March 1, this supplemental devotional will only be available at lynnhpryor.com.
Your Act of Worship Today is …
Magazine Article
This article complements the study. Share this link with your group members.
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
The Session 5 Adult KJV says “…the apostle Paul founded the church [at Colossae] and left to start other churches.” But the CSB version says “Paul did not plant the church at Colossae.” The CSB is more inline with many sources, so where did the writer of Session 5 KJV get his information?
Monty, the CSB version I’m looking at reads: “The church at Colossae was in a crisis. Shortly after the apostle Paul founded the church and
left to start other churches, false teachers moved in and began to disrupt the new believers with heretical teaching.”
The KJV version reads: “The church at Colossae was in a crisis. Shortly after the apostle Paul founded the church and left to start other churches, false teachers moved in and began to disrupt the new believers with heretical teaching.”
I do see that the Leader Guide for both versions makes what seems to be a contradictory statement based upon our understanding of Colossians 2:1. It’s hard to plant a church if no one has seen you in person, so I think that’s why most scholars go with what we’ve said in the Leader Guide. It is quite possible that Paul sent associates there and so oversaw the planting of the church, but we should have been more clear in the Personal Study Guide for sure. Thanks for bringing this to our attention; we’ll do better as a result!