Meet with other Christians to build one another up and worship God together (Mark 14:22-26). Begin or join in a local "Light in Our Street" meeting with other Christians.
a) General suggestions:
i) Let everyone participate and interact as the Holy Spirit guides them. Let meetings be spiritual, varied, and related to people’ lives - do not run them with a rigid agenda. 1 Corinthians 14:26 instructs us, “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” To help everyone participate, it may be helpful to sit in a circle with enough light for people to see properly. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10,11)
ii) Do not use customs or songs that seem foreign to people.
iii) Befriend children and young people, and help each one of them, as well as the adults, to take part in sharing, talking, and receiving ministry. Have plenty of joy, activity and movement in the songs so that they enjoy singing to God. Small children find it difficult to sit still throughout the whole time – let them move about. Prepare toys or colouring for them.
iv) Ask people to maintain confidentiality if personal matters are shared.
v) Before coming to meet with others, wait on God for His guidance and leading asking to be filled with His Spirit, so that you are open to Him and to others’ needs. Families could pray and think what they could contribute before they come.
vi) Have time for greeting one other and conversation (Romans 16:6). If any major issues arise, you may want to come back to these later.
vii) If possible, start and close on time to enable people to keep their other commitments.
b) Suggestions for the meeting itself:
i) Acknowledge God’s presence in the group. Praise and adoration is always good to help focus the group on communicating with the Lord. Call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who has promised to be with you (Matthew 18:20; Romans 10:9,13). Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and ask the Lord Jesus to be the centre of the group. Ask for His peace and harmony and pray that the Lord will banish Satan and all evil spirits.
ii) Praise God (Ephesians 5:18-20). For example:
(1) Singing psalms, hymns and songs (some songs could be prayerfully chosen beforehand). It may be helpful to provide song-books or song-sheets (check on copyright law your country). Encourage people to compose new songs in the local musical style. For the younger people, explain more difficult words and ideas in the songs.
(2) Saying psalms together (e.g. Psalm 23).
(3) Praying praises to God.
(4) Waiting in silent worship.
iii) Understand more of God’s Word so that you can serve and please Him better (1 Thessalonians 4:1). The important thing is that it is relevant to people’s lives. Examples:
(1) Participative discussion (not a sermon) allowing questions and answers helps people be active participants rather than passive recipients of talks, perhaps using one of the Bible Study Methods in Appendix 1 of this booklet – looking at a passage on some topic related to things happening in the lives of members of the group, or going through a book.
(2) Telling a story from the Bible and its application - paying particular attention to the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. Helping people be “doers of the Word”.
(3) Reciting some Scripture passage together such as Romans 12:9-21.
(4) A role-play of a passage with an application at the end.
iv) Confess your sins and ask for forgiveness from God (1 John 1:9; James 5:16; Col. 3:13). You could also use the Lord’s Prayer which includes asking for forgiveness and forgiving others – Matthew 6:9-13).
v) Pray for each other and all people (2 Tim 2:1-4). (See “Examples of topics of prayer” in the Lord’s Prayer on page 12.) Suggestions:
(1) It may be appropriate to lay hands on people with special needs.
(2) Avoid long prayers which bore children (and others too).
(3) God may speak to you through prophecy words given to those present.
(4) You may use “Conversational Prayer”[1]:
(a) Pray short prayers of one, two or three sentences.
(b) Pray about one subject, idea or person at a time until everyone has shared as much and as often as prompted by the Spirit.
(c) Be reluctant to change the subject as you would in any conversation until everyone is finished with it.
(d) Times of silence can give the timid and the thoughtful time to contribute.
(e) The more the conversation with God is passed around the group the deeper the unity and openness grows. God’s love flows freely, and lives are transformed as the Lord answers prayer.
vi) The Lord’s Supper – which could be combined with refreshments or a meal – see below. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
vii) A simple “faith” meal – where everybody brings a contribution can work well. Acts 2:46b says, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”
viii) Share progress and plan evangelism and service together. You can also share material possessions and money with those in need (Acts 4:32).
ix) Say a blessing - e.g. 2 Corinthians 12:13; Numbers 6:24-26.
[1] Reproduced with permission from Gail Graves.