HOPE BANGKOK MINISTRY (PART 1)

Pastor Prayuth Sariman has been a pioneer for the Worship Ministry in Hope Church since 1981, a total of twenty-six years. Currently, he is the Head of the Music Ministry at Hope of Bangkok Church. He completed his Bachelor & Masters Degrees in Education Management at Chulalongkorn University. Pastor Prayuth also completed a short Bible Study Course at Tungling Bible School, Singapore. He served in the Air Force for eight years, holding the rank of warrant officer. His gifts are teaching, worship leading, song composition, and translating; gifts that been used many times in the Church. He is married to Sister Narisara Sariman and they have two children, named John & Yeer.

Hope Bangkok Worship Ministry (Video)

WORSHIP LEADING IN CARE GROUP (PART 1)

This is a two part teaching guide from Hope Bangkok Worship Ministry on "Worship Leading in care group". These teachings are guidelines: adjust them for your particular culture and setting. Please write to Pastor Prayuth Sarman, Hope Bangkok Workship Ministry if you have further questions.

IMPORTANCE OF A CARE GROUP

Acts 2:46

46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. (NIV)

A) Care Group is the place where all members can have a time of close fellowship with each other

1. It’s the place where every member can encourage one another

Hebrews 3:13

2. It’s the best place where members share life together, through good and bad times, and in all matters of life

3. It’s a conducive place for non-believing friends and relatives to have access to the Christian community, listen to testimonies and teachings, and hopefully make the decision to follow Christ

4. It’s the place where we can worship and praise God freely and naturally

5. It’s the place where the care group leader plays the role of the pastor and helps the church to grow naturally

B) Tips in building a good worship atmosphere in the Care Group

1. Do not expect an extravagant atmosphere as in Church services

2. Always realise that worship is more than merely singing songs

3. Worship is an act of our love for the Lord

4. Worship is also an act of love for our brothers and sisters

Matthew 22: 37-39

37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. (NIV)

5. Worship is all about the relationship we have with God

Revelation 3:20

20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

6. Worship should be kept simple

• Do not make it too complicated or hard for others to follow. They will get confused.
  

• We often find simplicity can lead to a deeper intimacy with God

7. Try to use songs that will lead people to God, focus on God and see God in the worship songs

8. The worship leader should find a good team to support him in leading worship

9. The worship leader should come at least 15 minutes before the CG begins; to prepare and be ready to lead. For example, prepare instruments, have song sheets on hand etc

10. The worship leader needs to set a good example in worshipping God: in singing new songs and express worship outwardly through facial expressions and posture

C) Leading Worship in the Care Group

1. Pray to prepare the hearts of people ( 5 mins )

2. Sing joyful songs and sometimes have games or activities to break the ice ( 15 mins )

3. Greet and welcome new visitors ( 2 mins )

4. A person shares their testimony about what God has done in their lives ( 10 mins )

5. Pray for one another and share experiences of how God has helped us in life ( 5 mins )

6. Worship and exercise spiritual gifts and partake the Lord’s Supper ( 20 mins )

7. Offering ( 3 mins )

8. Announcements ( 2 mins )

9. Teaching ( 20 mins )

10. Fellowship ( 10 mins )

* With good planning, the care group should finish within 2 hours.

D) Principle in leading worship in the Care Group

We should select songs that will enhance worship.

• Songs that adore and lift up Jesus

• Songs that lead us to see God clearly

• Songs that touch the heart

• Songs that inspire our hearts to trust and give our life to God; allow us to be intimate with God

• Songs that have good lyrics, touching the heart and soul

1. In order to create simplicity, we should prepare songs according to a set theme and songs that flow together. For example: Songs that create the atmosphere of victory or triumph, peace, God’s love, lifting up God’s name, etc

2. In order for the songs to flow continuously, we should choose songs with the same key

3. Prepare extra songs. In the event where a song is not appropriate for that moment, then we can shift to another song instead

4. The number of the songs chosen will depend on the time provided. Normally, we will have 2-3 praise songs and 2-3 worship songs

5. Prepare the musical chords for the praise and worship songs as well as the back up songs

6. There should be a rehearsal prior to the worship in the care group; to see the flow from one song to the next. Look for problems that might arise in between

We should write out the song list and hand it to the musician

The process of songs preparation for Care Group

• Pray in spirit and have personal worship in seeking for the theme for worship
  

Romans 12:1

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

• Choose the songs from the song book or song index according to the same key; we might do our own index of titles or first lines from A-Z

• Prepare encouraging words and jot them down

• Prepare for the songs chosen i.e. select the theme of the song, chords path

• Prepare an offering song and a song for communion

• Prepare songs just like doing a piece of artwork: proper and precise