Welcome to the Gospel One Psalm At a Time, our small group study for the Winter and Spring. Throughout the week prior to your group's meeting, take some time to:
1) Prayerfully read and study the week's Psalms;
2) Watch the short videos that will be posted here on our website - they are also available on PDT's Youtube channel; and
3) Answer the questions in preparation for a conversation in your small group.
It's a simply ryhthm...
First Psalm: Pray - Read - Watch - Answer - Pray.
Second Psalm: Pray - Read - Watch - Answer - Pray.
Third Psalm: Pray - Read - Watch - Answer - Pray.
My prayer this is a great season of spiritual growth for you and our church as we invest in this together!
All for Jesus!
pg
Psalm 15: Who is Worthy?
1. Consider the list of qualities of the person worthy enough to dwell on God’s holy hill. Without being unnecessarily self-condemning or punishing of yourself, how have you failed or fallen short in one or more of these areas in the last week (or another quality mentioned in Psalm 15)?
Slandered or participated in gossip about someone else when you know you should have stayed silent or changed the topic of conversation
Missed or ignored a chance to love your physical neighbor by serving them in practical manner (even something as minimal as taking in their trash can)
Selfishly used your money for your own pleasure and gain when there was a clear opportunity to give generously or use it for Kingdom purposes
Then, consider the motivation of your heart behind that action, or failure to act.
2. After considering the way (or ways) in which you failed to live a worthy life, identify examples of how Christ did so perfectly. How should his perfection, in the face of your failure, give you assurance and peace? Do you wallow in guilt or beat yourself up with shame unnecessarily, when Christ has taken the punishment already? How does his perfection and the empowering through his Spirit give you another opportunity to live according to these worthy standards this week? How can you be more aware of your tendency to sin? How can you prepare to combat the selfish motivation of your heart? How can you ask for grace in your next moment of need? Be specific and look back on the area(s) where you previously failed, and prepare for another opportunity where, by grace, you can live up to that aspirational worthy standard.
Psalm 19: General and Special Revelation
1. Consider some of the ways in which you “bumped into God” yesterday in the form of general revelation (that is, in the same ways that a non-believing person would also experience God). How are you currently experiencing the common grace of God - the “sun” that rises on the evil and on the good, and the “rain” that he sends on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45)? Do you take these for granted or even live with an attitude of entitlement? What are some of your favorite pleasures of the created world that God has gifted us? Do you worship every time you experience these gifts, or have they become somewhat of (or entirely) an idol that controls your life and shapes your reactions?
2. Now compare those created pleasures that God has gifted to us and enjoys revealing himself through to the second half of the Psalm. Can you honestly relate with the Psalmist in verse 10, that the law of the Lord is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey? How can you grow in your love for the Lord, more than his gifts? Perhaps a way to start is to reflect on how the Lord’s special revelation to you has, in the past:
Revived your soul during a dry season
Matured you from simple to wise
Given you reason to rejoice during suffering
Opened your eyes to the truth
Remember – and worship! – the times when the Lord revealed himself to you in these areas.
Psalm 22: Jesus, The Forsaken One
1. When has God felt distant from you in the past, or does God feel distant from you presently? What were you, or what are you, going through that was/is difficult, unwanted or unexpected? How did/would you want God to alleviate your suffering or trouble? What did/do your cries and groaning sound like? Did you, or are you, sinning in your suffering and troubling your trouble with unwise, immature, and selfish responses?
2. How has God previously revealed himself to be near to you, hearing your cries, and answering them – in his perfect timing, and in his perfect grace? Consider the cross as your first and foremost example, but be hyper specific. How does Jesus crying out “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” provide you with practical comfort and hope, right here, right now? Then, consider another time when God was near to you, specifically, in darkness, proving that he has never and will never forsaken you. How can these memories help you walk faithfully through suffering?
3. Who do you know who is enduring a dark time of suffering or trouble? Do they feel forsaken? What is their relationship to God in this moment? Have you asked? How can you support and encourage them with practical acts of service and love? How can you spiritually support them and remind them that they are not forsaken?