Skip to main content

Psalm 23: Provision Amid Peril

The following questions can be used as a weekly recap in a small group setting or as a personal study aid for the sermon preached by Interim Pastor, Norm Patton, at the Grace Place on Sunday, June 11, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com.  Click on “Media” to view the video.  For more information on participating in a Life Group study, stop by the Welcome Center.

Weekly Warm-up:
Have you ever been a part of a Guinness World Record?
What eating contest do you think you could win?
Which eating contest makes you sick to watch?

Weekly Overview:
When our granddaughter was younger, she requested a “feast” for her birthday.  We didn’t quite understand what she had in mind since it was an unusual request for a young girl.  “Like Thanksgiving,” she said and then we understood.  She wanted the bounty of a table of delicious food but, more than that, she wanted an abundance of family seated at the feast table.  It would be a happy occasion with food, family and lots of presents.  Early in history it was the custom for two rival groups to sit down at a common table for a feast.  Literally, you were in the “presence of your enemies” in an effort to come to terms of peace.  God’s promise is that he will provide for us even in the face of peril.  Yes, and He always brings a gift.

Weekly Discussion Questions:
Have someone paraphrase Psalm 23 in their own words.

What kind of enemies did the sheep face?
What type of enemies do we face?
Why are we sometimes our own worst enemy?  (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
How can we fight against our thoughts?
What is our greatest defense?  (1 John 4:4)
How does God’s Word give you provision?
Name the parts of the Armor of God.  (Ephesians 6:10-18)
How does prayer help you?

Group Prayer:
Pray for strength against evil.
Pray for Pastor Jon’s health.
Pray for Pastor Tommy’s sabbatical.

Pray for Pastor Patton’s time with us.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Small Group or Personal Bible Study Questions

 The best way to use this archive is to use the "Search" feature and just type in the topic or book of the Bible you would like to study. You can also look through the list of topics in the "Labels" section. If you would like to follow a series, click on the "Archive" for publish dates. I hope you find some useful information here. Back several years ago, I had the crazy idea to volunteer to help our pastor by writing questions each week to accompany his sermon. We had just formed small groups after going through Rick Warren's "Purpose-driven Church" study. Our pastor was new to us and wanted to create a sense of unity by having all adults studying the same topic as the sermon for the week. I volunteered to help out and he was crazy enough to let me. I did not know what I was getting into or how far it would take me. God knew, however.  The result was about ten years of writing weekly study materials for our church. One series, Broken, was pu...

STEPS OF FAITH

Only the passage of time can judge how far we have travelled and how well we have followed the Lord in steps of faith. Time goes quickly and slowly simultaneously. We encounter tremendous obstacles along the way such as leaders with moral failings and a mountain of debt and the obstacles seems unsurmountable; yet, we put one step in front of the other placing our faith in God. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ― Corrie ten Boom   It takes courage and steadfastness to keep going. We have no choice really. We can’t give up! We will keep going in faith until the battle is truly won and Heaven is our home. An old choral hymn by Carlton Pearson says it well: We've come this far by faith Leaning on the LORD Trusting in His Holy Word He never failed me yet Oh' can't turn around We've come this far by faith . Discussion: What emotions did you feel today as the church building mortgage was burned? So we are alway...

EMOTIONAL ISSUES: Precious Memories

Icebreaker: Note: Not everyone in your group will have precious memories of their mother. Some in your group may not have known their mother. For women who never had a child, it can be a sad reminder of empty arms. Be sensitive to everyone’s situation.   Overview: On a trip to Ephesus, Turkey, our tour group visited a restored, stone house overlooking the Aegean Sea that is believed by many to be the house where the Apostle John took Mary, the mother of Jesus, after Jesus’ death on the cross. Mary lived in this tiny, mountainside home the rest of her life. No one can say for sure if this dwelling is the actual home of Mary, but I can tell you that when I stepped inside, I was overcome with an emotion that I cannot explain. Mary was a real person who lived and loved her children. She was just like me and millions of other mothers except one of her children just happened to be the Son of God. What precious memories she stored up in her heart! Discussion: Read John...