Week 15: 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 107: A Call to Gratitude

1. Would the people who live with you or interact with you the most describe you, generally speaking, as more of a grateful person or more of a discontent person? Do you have the courage and humility to actually ask them for their honest feedback? Spend some time preparing your heart for whatever the answer may be, ask them, and don’t argue with their verdict.

2. How can you help others live a life of gratitude more than complaint? How can you point out or help others see the numerous blessings that God has showered upon them? When you talk with others, are you positive, optimistic, and cheerful, or is your tone typically negative and bringing down the mood?

3. What hassles or inconveniences interrupted your plans last week? How did you react? What did you reaction reveal about what is important in your heart?

4. What do you have to be grateful for? Meditate not only the large blessings of your life, but write down—literally, number them on a piece of paper or digital notepad—all of the small blessings that you take for granted or neglect on a daily basis?

Psalm 110: The King of Kings

1. If Jesus is truly reigning over all things as the Bible tells us he is, what kinds of things come to your mind as you picture Christ as the reigning and ruling authority over everything everywhere? How does it make you feel knowing that his ruling authority is for the sake of the church (his chosen children)?

2. How does the contrast between what you picture when you think of Christ reigning over all things and what you see in the world today when it comes to prevalent evil make you pause and ask the question, “Where is God?” Why is Psalm 110 necessary for us to act as a reminder about what is true?

3. How might you be tempted to question the validity of Psalm 110 as you look at the world around you today? How might the phrase, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind” be a comfort to you amidst the possible doubt you feel about Christ’s reigning authority in the world? How can you be intentional about practically reminding yourself of the truth when you’re tempted to doubt it? How does Psalm 110 bring you hope in the midst of this messy world?

Psalm 112: The Blessing of Fearing the Lord

1. Why is it important to understand the meaning of the word “fear” as Psalm 112 uses it here? Why would it be confusing and off-putting if we didn’t understand the use of the word “fear” within its context here?

2. What are some of the common everyday fears that have a tendency to grip your heart? Why does a fear of the Lord defeat those everyday fears? How can a fear of the Lord practically do that?

3. As you read about the qualities of a God-fearing person (successful, gracious, merciful, righteous, generous, just, not afraid when bad news comes), where is there a gap between where you currently stand and where the God-fearing person is as described in this psalm? Recognizing that there is a gap and that you are needy is the first step toward seeing God create real change in you. Pray right now and ask God to make you into the kind of person Psalm 112 describes, and expect (by the power of His Spirit) for him to change you as you fear him more and more each day.