
Welcome to the Gospel One Psalm At a Time, our small group study for the Winter and Spring. This is week 2 of our study utilizing Paul David Tripp's "Book at Time" material for our study. Here's the plan:
After the first 2 week introductory sessions, we will begin studying 3 psalms a week for 15 weeks. 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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1. Write down (or share with your group) a list of the voices that influence you the most. Consider the amount of time you spend listening to, watching, or engaging with, each one. Rank them, either by time spent or by the amount of influence you think each has over you. Include positive, negative, and seemingly neutral influences. Evaluate your list and pray over it; ask the Spirit to show you how you can be a better steward of your time and where you need to emphasize being influenced by righteous voices.
2. Identify an area of your life, or a specific sin, where you have become growingly comfortable with ungodly motives, words, or actions. Was there ever a time where you thought, “I would never do that” or “That could never be me”? How did you let your guard down? How can you get from where you are back to where God wants you to be? Be specific. What do you need to confess, and how can you ask for help?
1. In what ways has your culture grown increasingly hostile towards Christians and Christianity over your lifetime, or in recent years? What are some fresh examples of your culture denying the existence of God or rejecting his law and created order? What is your emotional reaction toward this? Are you afraid, angry, defensive, or aggressive? How does Psalm 3 instruct our response?
2. How can you equip yourself to engage winsomely in your cultural context? What resources are available to help you understand the issues of the moment and how Christian apologetics speaks to them? Where are you tempted to back away from the gospel message because of fear of conflict? In what ways have you been willing to compromise on biblical truth because of cultural pressure?
1. What are you currently going through that is unexpected, unwanted, and causing hardship? What was your immediate reaction to the distress? How have you matured through the suffering already? Where might God still be requiring you to grow spiritually, die to self, and rely on him? In what ways are you still sinning, holding on to idols, and/or questioning the goodness and wisdom of God during this difficulty?
2. What brings you temporary happiness? In other words, what is your “wine” and “grain”, and when they abound, why are you happy? How are these good gifts from a loving God that you can enjoy? Have you become too reliant on the abundance, or even existence, of these things for happiness? How do you react when they are taken away or not accessible? Are you currently losing sleep (literally or figurately) over them? How can you take practical steps to appreciate and enjoy these gifts while still finding joy in the Giver, and not the gift? Might it require a season abandoning the gift completely?