27
2
We serve a God who knows everything about us, but
He still loves us perfectly. We are fully known, and
fully loved, by God. We have designed this group
discussion guide to take a deeper look at the weekend
message. Each lesson contains the following sections:
group discussion guide
main point Discussions often take on a life of their own, but
they typically lack power when they lack focus. The
discussion leader ought to use the Main Point to keep
everyone on the same page. To do this, you might say
something like, “That is very interesting and a good
topic for another discussion, but today’s study is
about...” and ask a question that brings people back
to the topic of discussion.
There will be times when it makes sense to ignore the
Main Point, for example, when someone in your group
experiences a significant crisis. If you decide to move
away from the lesson’s main point, you want to do so
on purpose and not by accident.
3
lean in BREAK THE ICE
These questions will help kick start your discussion
time. The main goal for this time is to get everyone
talking and prepare them for the more focused
conversation to follow.
look downLOOK AT GOD’S WORD
The goal for this section is to let the passage speak
for itself and stand on its own. This isn’t easy! During
this time, you will read the passage out loud (twice)
and answer questions focused on the details of the
biblical text.
look in APPLY GOD’S WORD TO YOUR LIFE
Transformation comes from renewing your mind
(Romans 12:2). The goal for this section is to look
inward to allow God’s Word to change you from the
inside out. Use this time to discuss how your thoughts
and feelings are affirmed and/or challenged.
look out IDENTIFY THE RELEVANCE OF GOD’S WORD IN THE WORLD
Jesus calls us to love others, just as He loved us.
Based on your understanding of the text and how
God is transforming your heart, how will you treat
others? How will you apply this teaching to all of
your relationships, to everyone you will see this week
and beyond?
4
leader notes
Where needed, each lesson may have several Leader
Notes. This material will provide insight on how to
steer the conversation and care for your people.
Additionally, these notes will provide greater context
to help you understand a difficult word, phrase,
or verse.
prayer
group rhythms
Be sure to close your time together in prayer. You can
take requests from the group, invite others to lead,
and bring God the needs that stood out to you in
your group time.
One of the values Mariners holds for our Life Groups
is practicing the 7 rhythms essential to a healthy
relationship with Jesus. These rhythms are established
through the Rooted Experience, and demonstrated
in Acts 2. During this series, we encourage you to put
particular focus on 4 of the 7 group rhythms:
Daily Devotion (verses 42, 46) - They devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship,
to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Every day
they devoted themselves to meeting together in the
temple, and broke bread from house to house. They
ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts...
Prayer (verse 42) - They devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of
bread, and to prayer.
Service to the Community (verses 44-45) - Now
all the believers were together and held all things in
common. They sold their possessions and property
and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.
5
some things to keep in mind
Remember that you aren’t in this alone! God will help
you prepare and lead your group discussion. Make it
your goal to keep in step with the Holy Spirit!
Pray and read the passage a few times on your
own. Take a few minutes to identify what makes an
impression for you and how the passage might impact
your group.
Once you’ve taken some time to read the passage on
your own, read through the entire discussion guide.
Make sure you understand the Main Point. Identify
which questions you want to use in your group time,
and rewrite them in your own words.
Once your group time is over, take a few minutes to
evaluate the discussion. What went well? What could
have been different? If you had a “bad night,” DON’T
GIVE UP! Everyone has tough nights. There were
times that even the disciples didn’t get what Jesus
was talking about!
Worship (verses 26-28, 46-47) - Therefore my heart
is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh
will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me in
Hades or allow your holy one to see decay. You have
revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with
gladness in your presence. Every day they devoted
themselves to meeting together in the temple, and
broke bread from house to house. They ate their
food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and
enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord
added to their number those who were being saved.
All scripture from the
CSB unless noted.
6
In light of God’s power and love, we should give Him
our hearts in worship, obeying His will for our lives.
Week 1: He Invites UsPSALM 95
main point
lean in BREAK THE ICE
If you could only have three apps on your phone, what
would they be?
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life,
what would it be?
What are you thankful to God for right now?
The Bible says God created everything. As you look
around at God’s creation, what fills you with the
most awe?
7
look downLOOK AT GOD’S WORD
Read Psalm 95. Choose two different people to read
the passage out loud.
1 Come, let’s shout joyfully to the LORD, shout triumphantly to the
rock of our salvation! 2 Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving;
let’s shout triumphantly to him in song. 3 For the LORD is a great
God, a great King above all gods. 4 The depths of the earth are in his
hand, and the mountain peaks are his. 5 The sea is his; he made it.
His hands formed the dry land. 6 Come, let’s worship and bow down;
let’s kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For he is our God, and we
are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care. Today, if you
hear his voice: 8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that
day at Massah in the wilderness 9 where your ancestors tested me;
they tried me, though they had seen what I did. 10 For forty years I
was disgusted with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose
hearts go astray; they do not know my ways.” 11 So I swore in my
anger, “They will not enter my rest.”
How is God described in this passage? What do these
word pictures tell us about God’s nature?
Leader Note: If your group has a difficult time
engaging this question, you might provide a few
examples by saying, “In this psalm God is called
‘the rock of our salvation’, a ‘great king’, the ‘LORD
our Maker’...”
Re-read verses 4-5. Why does the writer mention
specific things God has created, like the mountains,
sea, and land?
8
Leader Note: The writer’s point is that God’s power
and ownership are comprehensive—He owns it all! The
contrasts in the psalm (depths vs. mountains, sea vs.
land) show that God made all things.
Verses 8-9 refer to a time when God’s people tested
Him. What do you know about these events found in
the Old Testament?
Leader Note: These verses recall Exodus 17:1-7 and
Numbers 20:2-13, when Israel wandered in the desert
after fleeing Egypt, on their way to Canaan (the
Promised Land). Both events involve the people
grumbling against Moses about the lack of water, even
though God had powerfully provided for them every
step of the way. Their lack of faith was unacceptable
to God, since He had done so much to care for them.
This psalm warns us not to harden our hearts to God’s
Word (verses 7-8). Why do you think Israel doubted
God’s faithfulness, despite all the ways He had
rescued them?
“FOR THE LORD
IS A GREAT
GOD, A GREAT
KING ABOVE
ALL GODS.”
9
When you participate in a worship service, what
would it look like to prepare your heart by expressing
thankfulness to God? What obstacles prevent you
from doing this?
How does acknowledging God as Creator and King
affect your daily outlook on life?
Leader Note: This question is open-ended, which may
make it difficult to answer for some. To help steer the
conversation, here are a few ideas:
Since God is King, I don’t have to worry about life
spinning out of control. He’s got it.
If God is Creator, then I should expect to see evidence
of His grace all around me. Instead of being jaded or
cynical, I am free to enjoy His creation.
If God created me, my life is not my own. I exist for
the glory of God, so I’m willing to take hits to my
reputation to please Him.
These verses speak of hearing God’s voice, which
primarily happens through His Word, the Bible. What
role has the Bible played in shaping your life?
Leader Note: This question is a great time for group
members to share best practices for learning God’s
Word. While Bible reading plans are popular and
effective, get your group thinking about other ways
to learn Scripture as well—things like meditating on
passages, praying through Scripture, memorizing, etc.
The last four verses of this passage warn us not
to harden our hearts to God’s Word. When you’re
tempted to ignore God’s voice in your life, what helps
you choose obedience over defiance?
look in APPLY GOD’S WORD TO YOUR LIFE
10
Re-read verses 1-2 and note the plural phrases. How
have you found worshiping with others to be life-
giving to your soul? What happens when you go too
long without worshiping God with other people?
Who is someone in your life who worships the
Lord with all their heart? How has his/her worship
impacted you?
Tragically, verse 9 describes how God’s people
ignored His past faithfulness and chose to harden
their hearts instead. What are the signs of a
hardened heart? As a group, how can we better
hold one another accountable to have a “soft” heart
toward God?
Psalm 95 is a call to worship, not only with our voices,
but with our lives. How can you steward your gifts and
influence to help others worship God?
Leader Note: This question is a great opportunity to
get people talking about their vocations, passions,
and gifts. As those created by God, we are wired to
worship. It’s who we are. Help people see how their
unique personality and gifts can actually catalyze
others to worship God’s greatness. Here are some
potential examples:
A school teacher can model God’s patient
steadfastness by caring for his/her students well.
Someone who is extroverted and highly relational
might be effective at inviting neighbors to church for
the first time.
Someone who is naturally optimistic, who generally
finds it easy to trust God, can encourage a doubting
friend through listening and prayer.
look out IDENTIFY THE RELEVANCE OF GOD’S WORD IN THE WORLD
11
Week 2: He Thinks of YouPSALM 8
main point We are so small and finite, yet the infinite God thinks
of us.
lean in BREAK THE ICE
If you had to move to another country, where would
you go and why?
Have you ever named a car you’ve owned? If so, what
did you name it, and why?
What attribute or characteristic of God is most
comforting to you?
What is one way you’ve seen God’s greatness
this week?
12
look down LOOK AT GOD’S WORD
Read Psalm 8. Choose two different people to read
the passage out loud.
1 LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!
You have covered the heavens with your majesty. 2 From the mouths
of infants and nursing babies, you have established a stronghold on
account of your adversaries in order to silence the enemy and the
avenger. 3 When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the
moon and the stars, which you set in place, 4 what is a human being
that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him? 5 You
made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything
under his feet: 7 all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the
wild, 8 the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea that pass through the
currents of the seas. 9 LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your name
throughout the earth!
What pattern do you see in the first and last verse
of this psalm? Why would David craft this psalm
like this?
Leader Note: David uses repetition to emphasize
his main theme, which is the greatness (or majesty)
of God. Everything else in the psalm ties back to
this theme.
Verse 2 describes God’s strategy in silencing His
enemies. What is surprising about God’s method?
Leader Note: Even babies, with their inarticulate
speech, testify to God’s glory and silence His enemies.
How would you summarize David’s perspective in
verse 4? What has led him to feel this way?
Verses 5-8 highlight the status God has given
humanity in this world. What do these verses reveal
about God’s perspective toward us?
13
Where is your favorite place to enjoy God’s majesty?
Describe a time the power and beauty of creation
gave you a new/refreshed perspective of God.
This psalm highlights the grandeur, or transcendence,
of God. Why is it important to remember that God is
vast, unlimited, powerful?
This psalm also highlights the nearness, or
immanence, of God. Why is it important to remember
God’s closeness?
look out IDENTIFY THE RELEVANCE OF GOD’S WORD IN THE WORLD
This psalm highlights the value and dignity of all
people, since God created them. Who are some
specific people in your life who need to be reminded
of their God-given worth?
Leader Note: You might encourage people to write
down names, or put them in their phones, so they
remember to follow through.
Verse 6 explains that God gave humanity the privilege
to rule over creation. How do you see society abuse
this privilege today, and how have you seen it carried
out well? Keep the conversation general, no need to
call out specific people!
As Christians, how can we accept and cherish the
value God ascribes to us, without becoming self-
centered or arrogant?
Think about the people in your life that you see on
a regular basis. What are some practical ways you
can regularly affirm their dignity as people made in
God’s image?
look in APPLY GOD’S WORD TO YOUR LIFE
14
Week 3: He Encircles YouPSALM 139
main point When we gaze upon our all-knowing, ever-present
God, we are filled with awe.
lean in BREAK THE ICE
Who is the smartest person you know, and what do
they do for a living?
If you were given the option to hear everyone else’s
thoughts, would you choose to? Why or why not?
Do you think most people are threatened or
comforted by the idea of God being present
everywhere, at all times?
What is one unique gift or personality trait God has
given you?
15
look down LOOK AT GOD’S WORD
Read Psalm 139. Choose two different people to
read the passage out loud.
1 LORD, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I
sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far
away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my
ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD.
5 You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. 6 This
wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your
presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in
Sheol, you are there. 9 If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle
down on the western horizon, 10 even there your hand will lead me;
your right hand will hold on to me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness
will hide me, and the light around me will be night”— 12 even the
darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness
and light are alike to you. 13 For it was you who created my inward
parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise
you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your
works are wondrous, and I know this very well. 15 My bones were not
hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in
the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in your book and planned before a single
one of them began. 17 God, how precious your thoughts are to me;
how vast their sum is! 18 If I counted them, they would outnumber the
grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you. 19 God, if only you
would kill the wicked— you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me—
20 who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely. 21
LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you, and detest those who rebel
against you? 22 I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my
enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know
my concerns. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in
the everlasting way.
16
In verses 1-6, David describes how God knows every
aspect of his life. Based on the rest of the psalm, how
do you think this makes David feel? What words or
phrases from the text support your answer?
In verses 7-12, list the places where God’s presence
dwells. What do you think David’s main point is in this
section of the psalm?
Leader Note: By mentioning various locations, which
contrast one another, David poetically shows that God
exists everywhere imaginable.
In verses 17-18, David praises God’s extensive
knowledge. As a sinful man unable to hide from
God, how can he rejoice knowing that God
knows everything?
Leader Note: David rejoices in God’s infinite
knowledge because he has experienced the goodness
of God. He knows God loves him, despite his failures.
Psalm 51 is a prime example of how David repented,
calling on God’s grace, in moments of sin.
Re-read David’s prayer to God in verses 23-24. What
is he asking God to do?
17
Verses 1-6 talk about how God knows every detail
about our lives, including our location, thoughts, and
words. What’s your gut reaction to this?
Leader Note: The goal here is to get people talking
about the two things mentioned earlier—the comfort
of knowing God sees all (He will protect me), and the
unnerving aspect that God sees my mistakes.
How do you remind yourself that God is present in the
midst of your mundane, everyday routine?
What amazes you the most about God’s infinite
knowledge?
Have you ever prayed a prayer like David’s in verses
23-24? How often do you ask God to sift your heart
for sinful motives?
look out IDENTIFY THE RELEVANCE OF GOD’S WORD IN THE WORLD
Re-read verses 13-16, which talk about God creating us
intimately and intentionally. When you look at others,
how do you see God’s craftsmanship on display
in them?
In verses 19-22, David prays against his enemies.
When you’re confronted with anger and bitterness
towards someone, is it right to pray like this? Why or
why not?
If you prayed David’s prayer in verses 23-24 regularly,
how might this change your attitude towards people
you clash with?
If someone has been unjustly hurt by another person,
how might God’s infinite presence and knowledge
comfort them?
look in APPLY GOD’S WORD TO YOUR LIFE
18
Week 4: He Guards YouPSALM 145
main point We are secure because God guards us.
lean in BREAK THE ICE
Imagine you are a professional athlete or celebrity.
Who would you choose to be your bodyguard?
Name something or someone in your life that you are
very protective of. Why do they need protection?
If you had to describe the character of God in one
word, what would it be?
What is one way you worshiped God in the last week?
Leader Note: Today’s lesson is going to focus on the
fullness of God’s character, ultimately pointing us to
the ways He offers protection over our lives. God is
the faithful guard who sees, knows, hears, cares, helps,
provides, blesses, and fulfills. Because of this, we are
to find our security in God because He is more faithful
than anything else we might look to for protection.
As David models in this psalm, our response to this
security is a posture of worship and thanksgiving for
who God is. David expresses how we are to exalt,
bless, praise, and declare the name of God forever and
ever because it is God who is faithful.
19
look down LOOK AT GOD’S WORD
Read Psalm 145. Choose two different people to
read the passage out loud.
1 I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and
ever. 2 I will bless you every day; I will praise your name forever
and ever. 3 The LORD is great and is highly praised; his greatness
is unsearchable. 4 One generation will declare your works to the
next and will proclaim your mighty acts. 5 I will speak of your
splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works. 6 They
will proclaim the power of your awe- inspiring acts, and I will declare
your greatness. 7 They will give a testimony of your great goodness
and will joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious
and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. 9 The
LORD is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made.
10 All you have made will thank you, LORD; the faithful will bless you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom and will declare your
might, 12 informing all people of your mighty acts and of the glorious
splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom; your rule is for all generations. The LORD is faithful in all
his words and gracious in all his actions. 14 The LORD helps all who
fall; he raises up all who are oppressed. 15 All eyes look to you, and
you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous
in all his ways and faithful in all his acts. 18 The LORD is near all who
call out to him, all who call out to him with integrity. 19 He fulfills the
desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry for help and saves
them. 20 The LORD guards all those who love him, but he destroys
all the wicked. 21 My mouth will declare the LORD’s praise; let every
living thing bless his holy name forever and ever.
20
Based on this passage, what is God’s character like?
List out the characteristics verse by verse.
Leader Note: For this question, you can have the
entire group work together or you can divide the
group up (verses 1-10 and verses 11-21) to create a list
of God’s characteristics. Have the group focus on the
verbs/actions of God.
This psalm is a hymn written by David. Hymns are
one form of worship in which we can respond in
thankfulness for who God is. Specifically, what is
David thanking God for in this psalm?
As you read this psalm, how has God guarded
His people?
What does David say he, the generations, and the
faithful are going to do in response to who God is?
Leader Note: This psalm describes God in so many
incredible ways. Focus your discussion on how we find
security in who God is because He has, He is, and He
will be faithful to guard us.
Different definitions for “guard” include to protect, to
watch over, the act of defending, and to shield. One
particular definition closely relates to God’s character
in this psalm: to tend to carefully.
21
Sometimes, our eyes are not fixed on God or aware
of His protection. Where do you find yourself looking
for security when you are not trusting God to
protect you?
Has there been a time you felt God’s protection over
your life? Were you aware of His protection in the
moment or afterwards? Share your experience with
the group.
In difficult seasons of life, how are your prayer life
and worship impacted? Do you desire to go to God in
prayer or do you find yourself slow to turn to Him?
Which characteristic or action of God have you seen
reflected most in your own faith journey? Was there
one that surprised you most in this psalm? How do
these connect to your understanding of God as the
One who guards you?
Leader Note: Oftentimes, we’re unaware that God
is guarding us. It can take days, months, or years
to realize how God’s protection covered us. David
highlights this by reflecting on how God guarded His
people before (the Israelites), is guarding David now,
and will continue to guard the generations to come.
Our lives are in His hands.
We ought to be moved to worship and thanksgiving
because of who God is—His nature and character
are on display every day in our lives. As a result, our
personal relationship with God is intimately connected
to our prayer and worship.
Earthly forms of security will ultimately fail us but
God will never fail us. It is God who “is faithful in all
his words and gracious in all his actions” (verse 13)
and who is “righteous in all his ways” (verse 17).
Remember the main point: We are secure because
God guards us.
look in APPLY GOD’S WORD TO YOUR LIFE
22
look outIDENTIFY THE RELEVANCE OF GOD’S WORD IN THE WORLD
Why is it important for us to remember the character
of God when we pray and worship together? How
does this impact our attitude towards God and
one another?
Review your list of characteristics that David uses to
describe God. How can we model God’s character to
those around us? What is one characteristic of God
you can work on this week?
Leader Note: Encourage your group to come up with
the characteristics of God on their own. If you need
it, here’s a list based on Psalm 145: great, mighty,
glorious, wondrous, good, righteous, gracious,
compassionate, slow to anger, great in faithful love,
good to everyone, faithful in all His words, gracious
in all His actions, helps all who fail, raises up the
oppressed, provider, opens His hands, fulfills desires,
guards all who love Him, holy.
As you consider everything that’s happening in your
life, is there a situation or relationship in which you
need to trust God for His protection? What does it
look like for you to do that?
As a group, in our conversations, do you think we are
quick or slow to thank God or praise Him? If needed,
how can we become better at this?
Leader Note: Knowing that we are secure in God is
foundational to our prayer and worship. No matter the
season, this truth remains. In trying times, it can feel
like God is nowhere in sight when in fact, He is nearer
than ever. In the easier seasons of life, it can be easy
to forget that God is the One who keeps us safe.
23
Week 5: He Shepherds YouPSALM 23
main point As the Shepherd, God is always with us and He
provides what we need.
lean in BREAK THE ICE
If you had to pick an animal to describe you, what
would it be and why?
Imagine you are going to hike Mount Everest, and
you can only bring three things with you. What would
you bring?
When you picture God, what is the first image that
comes to mind?
Share about a time you saw God’s guidance or
provision at work in your life.
Leader Note: Today’s lesson focuses on the personal
nature of God with each believer. He is the Good
Shepherd who provides, guides, and cares for us.
While a shepherd tends to a flock of sheep, he is
still aware of each individual sheep. While God is the
God of all creation, He is still aware of each individual
believer and his/her needs.
24
The Bible uses many metaphors to describe God—a
lion, an eagle, the sun, a light, a fountain, a rock,
a tower, and a shield. Each of these metaphors
highlights different characteristics of who God is and
how He relates to us. As the Shepherd, God is always
with us and He provides what we need.
look down LOOK AT GOD’S WORD
Read Psalm 23. Choose two different people to read
the passage out loud.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down
in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my
life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even
when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are
with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare
a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my
head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will
pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the
LORD as long as I live. In this psalm, what images does David use to
describe God as Shepherd and Host?
In what ways is David’s personal relationship with God
reflected in this passage? Why is this significant?
Leader Note: It is significant that David used the
words “me” and “my.” In ancient times, it was
more common to speak only of “our” God. David
emphasizes his personal relationship with the God
who was his Shepherd.
How does this psalm express the ways God cares for
the needs of His people?
What kind of paths does God lead David down? What
is God’s motive in leading David in this way (verse 4)?
25
Leader Note: God leads us “along the right paths for
his name’s sake” (verse 4). God is righteous and His
righteousness guides us. The path that God leads us
down may not always be easy (verses 5-6), but it will
be right. Our lives are a testament of His glory and
Name. We get to see and personally experience God’s
glory in our lives.
look in APPLY GOD’S WORD TO YOUR LIFE
When you consider the imagery in this passage, is
there one that represents the season you are in right
now spiritually?
God cares for us deeply, in the ways we need it
most. In Him we find contentment, satisfaction, rest,
renewal, guidance, protection, comfort, and strength.
As you consider your life, in what areas or times is
it hard for you to believe and trust that God cares
for you?
David paints contrasting pictures—times of
contentment and times of dark valleys. God was his
shepherd through it all. Consider the highs and lows
of your life. Describe a time when God was with you in
either a high or a low.
How does knowing that your life is a testament to
God’s glory, provision, and guidance impact the way
you view Him?
26
Leader Note: The beauty of walking through Scripture
together in a group like this is that it creates the space
for personal reflection. It offers each member the
opportunity to share about his or her learnings, ask
questions, and learn from one another. You dove into
Psalm 23 together as a group but there will be deeply
personal reflections from this time. It is important to
foster this personal space in our daily lives.
In this passage David spends time reflecting on the
ways God has moved in his life. Do you find that you
are often quick to reflect on God’s guidance in your
life or the lives of those around you? How can we
encourage one another towards personal reflection?
Where are you longing to sense God shepherding
you in your life right now? How does this passage
encourage you or challenge you to face that situation?
Is there someone in your life who needs to be
reminded that even in the most difficult seasons,
God sees, guides, and protects them? How can you
connect with that person this week and share about
how God shepherds His people?
How can you make time this week to find rest,
renewal, and contentment in God? Consider one
practice you can commit together as a group
this week.
Leader Note: It takes discipline to train our bodies,
minds, and hearts to find rest in God. Making time for
prayer, worship, reading Scripture, and other spiritual
practices are habits we need to cultivate daily. If
the group does not come up with their own ideas,
encourage them to pray this psalm over their lives
each day for the next week.
look out IDENTIFY THE RELEVANCE OF GOD’S WORD IN THE WORLD
IS THERE
SOMEONE IN
YOUR LIFE WHO
NEEDS TO BE
REMINDED THAT
EVEN IN THE
MOST DIFFICULT
SEASONS, GOD
SEES, GUIDES,
AND PROTECTS
THEM?
