Week 10: The Gospel One Psalm at a Time

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!

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Psalm 63: Why Are You Thirsty?

1. What are the typical places you “horizontally” run to in order to find satisfaction and quench your spiritual thirst? In what ways have these horizontal areas let you down? Why do you think you keep running to the wrong places to satisfy your spiritual thirst even though they let you down over and over again?

2. As you think about “running to the sanctuary,” what might that specifically look like for you as you consider God’s Word, Christian literature, worship music, corporate worship gatherings, small group studies, etc? Take some time to consider and name those areas where you can meet God in the sanctuary. Now, what might it look like for you to get alone and meditate on the Lord and his Word? How could your meditation on him and his Word help refresh you?

3. Why is the Lord the only one who can truly refresh you and quench your thirst? What kind of practice or accountability can you set up in your life to remind you that you should only search for fulfillment in God, not other horizontal sources?

4. As you take inventory of your life, what would it look like for you to stay inside the boundaries God has set up for you? How can you proactively stay where God can be found?

Psalm 66: Count Your Blessings

1. Why do you think it’s so much easier to complain about your life instead of counting your blessings? If you were to take inventory of your thought life and categorize the inner conversations you have with you, how much would you label as positive, life-giving dialogue with yourself? How much would you say is honoring to God or being accusatory of God?

2. How can you intentionally shift your inner dialogue from complaining toward counting your blessings, looking for God’s presence, grace, help, provision, and protection? Why is it so important to focus on the character of God as you think about his control over your life?

3. It’s at times when you don’t feel blessed that counting your blessings is so important. Take some time right now to list out the blessings God has given to you. Think intentionally about the people, circumstances, and experiences you’ve been blessed with, and then thank God for how he has granted you these good things. Consider even his discipline in your life to be a blessing (because it is!), and thank him for his tools of grace in your life. Now take some time and share your list with a spouse, child, family member, or close friend, and rejoice together in the ways God has blessed you.

Psalm 73: The Spiritual Insanity of Envy

1. What specific places have you been looking at that have caused you to want who somebody else has and question the goodness of God? Think of people, opportunities, specific events, financial benefits, etc.

2. In what ways (as you’ve struggled with envy) have you been tempted to ask the questions, “Is God good? Does he have favorites? Is he really caring for me?” Have you ever been honest enough with God to say to him, “This is what I’ve obeyed for? This is why I followed you? This is why I’ve made these sacrifices?” Why do you think questions like these inevitably lead us to an embittered heart?

3. By the power of his Spirit, how can intentionally shifting your heart toward God’s goodness and grace help to heal the areas of your heart that are embittered because of envy? What practical steps can you take to break the habit of envy in your heart and life?