Winter 2016 Discipleship Group Materials...covering similar, age-appropriate material during their...

Winter 2016 Discipleship Group Materials

2410 Spencerville Road Spencerville, MD 20868

301.421.5949 ● www.crcc.org

Contents

Introduction 1

Week 1: Lord Have Mercy (Psalm 51) 5

Week 2: God Is Great (Psalms 103 & 104) 8

Week 3: Why, My Soul, Are You Downcast? (Psalms 42 & 43) 11

Week 4: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23) 14

Week 5: Why, Lord, Do You Stand Far Off? (Psalm 10) 17

Week 6: Give Thanks To The Lord (Psalm 118) 19

Annex 1: Suggested Reading 22

Annex 2: Prayer Practices 23

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Introduction This six-week discipleship series builds on part 2 of the fall 2015 series, entitled “Prayer: Does

it Make a Difference?” which wrestled with the foundational issues of whether God hears and

acts on our behalf, and why prayer is important. The current series continues the exploration

of prayer by examining a selection of heartfelt songs, addressed to God or written about God

by a variety of authors over a period of several centuries, and recorded in the book of Psalms.

This series covers the six weeks of Lent, and provides an opportunity for self-reflection on our

emotional state, as well as the challenge to allow God to transform our emotions through

presenting them to God in prayer.

Overview Down through the ages, people of the Jewish and Christian faiths have treasured the Psalms.

They have read, prayed, and sung the Psalms to openly express a wide range of emotions to

God: from deep anxiety and fear, to exuberant joy and praise; from despondency and anger

at injustice, to firm confidence in God’s goodness and power to rescue; from sorrowful

repentance, to wonder at the compassion and unfailing love of God.

The Psalms demonstrate God’s graciousness in allowing us to come as we are, with all our

faith and doubts, and speak boldly and honestly to our Creator. Through the Psalms we see

that we do not need to sanitize our prayers, or frame them in religious language. Our God is

big enough, and loving enough, to hear—and heal—our hearts.

Lament and praise are equally valid forms of prayer. In fact, Old Testament scholar

Christopher Wright suggests, “It is precisely those who have the closest relationship with God

who feel most at liberty to pour out their pain in protest to God—without fear of reproach.

Lament is not only allowed in the Bible; it is modeled in abundance. God seems to want to

give us as many words with which to fill out our complaint forms as to write our thank-you

notes.”1

The Psalms are particularly appropriate for the season of Lent, which is traditionally a time of

introspection and taking stock of our lives and relationships. The writers of the Psalms search

their own hearts, and honestly express their thoughts and feelings to God. Laying their

emotions before God, the psalmists then challenge themselves to see beyond immediate

circumstances, and exhort themselves to trust and rest in God.

In addition, the writers of the New Testament see in the Psalms many prophecies that were

fulfilled in Jesus; and Jesus himself often quoted the Psalms, particularly during the final days

1 Wright, C. J. H. (2008). “The God I Don't Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith.” Zondervan

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and hours before his death. It is therefore apt to focus on these timeless prayer-songs as we

prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ loving surrender on the cross and triumphant victory

over the grave.

The six weeks of the series will cover the following themes:

• February 14: Lord Have Mercy (Psalm 51)

The need for honest repentance, vulnerability and confession, confident in God’s

loving, limitless forgiveness.

• February 21: God Is Great (Psalms 103 & 104)

The call to worship in response to God’s majesty and faithfulness, leading to a new

perspective and a sense of God’s presence.

• February 28: Why, My Soul, Are You Downcast? (Psalms 42 & 43)

The challenge to speak honestly with God about our fears and emotions, and to trust

in God’s character, recognizing that God is the answer to anxiety and despair.

• March 6: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

A declaration of trust in God based on personal experience, and of confidence that

God’s presence brings comfort, peace and hope in times of trouble.

• March 13: Why, Lord, Do You Stand Far Off? (Psalm 10)

A protest to God on behalf of the oppressed, a plea for God to take action, and a

statement of faith that God will uphold justice.

• March 20: Give Thanks To The Lord (Psalm 118)

Praise for God’s goodness and everlasting love; a song of victory for a new kind of

kingdom based on love, humility and sacrifice.

Our hope is that through this series all of us at Cedar Ridge will increasingly offer up our

praise and anger, our joy and despair, our faith and doubts to God in humble and honest

prayer—and be transformed in the process. May we increasingly become a community that

delights in God’s presence, as we commit ourselves to being and making disciples in

authentic community for the good of the world.

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Practicalities

• In this packet you will find the discussion questions for each week. Each of them

assumes you have heard the message for that week, so if you were not able to be at

Cedar Ridge that Sunday, please listen or watch the message online

(www.crcc.org/messages/).

• In all discipleship series, but particularly for a series focused on prayer, we encourage

you to leave ample time to pray together as a group. As with the previous series on

prayer, the intention is not just to learn about prayer but to actually pray!

• Prayer is for all of God’s children—whatever our age! Older children and youth will be

covering similar, age-appropriate material during their Sunday morning groups. We

encourage you to find creative ways to incorporate children and youth in your

discipleship group meetings, and to engage with them on the topic of prayer

throughout the week. To support this, each week contains a question or activity that is

suitable for children.

• The Psalms demonstrate how we can be perfectly honest with ourselves and with God

about our thoughts and feelings. Writing out these thoughts and feelings causes us to

slow down enough to attend to our inner being, and can help us gain a clearer

perspective. In journals, we can express ourselves to God and remind ourselves of

God’s greatness, love and mercy. Journals can also be a source of encouragement

during hard times, reminding us of God’s past faithfulness. We encourage you during

this season of Lent to use a journal to record your discussions, reflections and prayers,

and to share elements of them as appropriate during your group meetings.

• Annex 1 contains suggestions for additional reading on the Psalms. Annex 2 contains

information on prayer practices that have proved useful to followers of Jesus over the

centuries.

Additional Lenten Activities

• Ash Wednesday service—February 10, 7 – 8 p.m.

Join in an hour of prayer and reflection as we enter the forty-day Lenten season of self-

examination, which mirrors Christ’s forty days in the wilderness. We will acknowledge

our mortality with the refrain, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall

return,” and receive the mark of ashes as a physical sign of our frailty. When we

surrender to this sobering reality, we open ourselves to God’s healing power to

transform us and make us into “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”

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• Lenten Prayer and Self-Reflection—Saturday, February 13 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Through simple spiritual practices and time spent in quiet reflection, self-examination,

and prayer, we will move towards personal healing and a closer walk with Jesus.

Childcare will be available and a light breakfast will be provided. (Bring your own lunch.)

The event will be held in the historical Barn. To register, contact [email protected]

• Psalm-Writing Hour—February 28, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Hang out after the service and help write a psalm to be read at the Good Friday service!

No experience necessary. This will include some quiet writing time and lots of

interaction; older kids might enjoy this event. We will each write parts of the psalm and

then join them together in an original Cedar Ridge psalm. Childcare will be available

and light snacks will be provided. Room 202. For more information, contact

[email protected]

• Good Friday service—March 25, 7 – 8 pm

On this, the darkest of nights, we will remember the surrender, suffering, and death of

Jesus. Through sacred reading and music, prayerful reflection, and holy communion,

we will journey through the darkness to the cross, while keeping the hope of

resurrection in our hearts.

• Book Study Group—every Sunday, 8:45 – 9:45 a.m.

The Sunday Book Study Group is currently studying Philip Yancey's “Prayer: Does it

Make a Difference?” The group meets weekly in room 203 for an hour of discussion

before the morning service. Everyone is welcome. Contact Dave Martinsen

([email protected]) for more information.

• Prayer Gathering—alternate Mondays, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Join others from Cedar Ridge in a time of quiet reflection and prayer. The group meets

every other week in the Barn for 90 minutes of prayer for various issues related to

personal transformation and the strengthening of our community. Everyone is

welcome. Contact Kevin Sterling ([email protected]) for more information.

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Winter Discipleship Series 2016

Prayer Pilgrimage: A Lenten Journey through the Psalms

Week 1: Lord Have Mercy (Psalm 51) Psalm 51 is perhaps the most well known of seven “penitential psalms”. It is a heart-wrenching

confession, which is traditionally associated with King David and his treacherous relationship

with Bathsheba and all that ensued. There are no definite historical grounds for this

association, but that story (found in 1 Samuel 11&12) clearly represents the kind of human

fallibility and demise for which a psalm like this offers forgiveness and hope.

Psalm 51 is based on two fundamental realities. The first is that God is good, loving, forgiving

and able to handle our brokenness. The second is that humanity deeply desires be forgiven.

We simply have to find a place to go with all the things we have done; a place where we can

honestly face them in all their uncovered ugliness, bring them into the light, and let go of

them. That is the power of confession; bringing light to the darkness. This can only begin with

a desperate and ruthless honesty with ourselves, where we stop making any excuses at all, own

what we have done, recognize the damage we have caused, and throw ourselves into the

forgiving arms of God.

The psalm is dark, painful and uncomfortable, and yet full of hope. It points to change from the

inside out and a new way of living that overcomes the darkness of the past. Through it we are

all invited to participate in confession, vulnerability and forgiveness as a means to personal and

social renewal.

This week’s discussion questions 1. Read through Psalm 51

• What stands out to you about this psalm?

• Are there any issues in this psalm that seem important to you but were not

mentioned in the message on Sunday? Why are they important to you?

2. This psalm has traditionally been associated with the ancient Hebrew King David, and

specifically the story of his relationship with Bathsheba. You can read all about this in 2

Samuel 11 & 12, or refer back to what the speaker shared about this story on Sunday.

• In what ways does Psalm 51 relate to the story?

• In what ways can you identify with David in the story?

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3. We are in the beginning of Lent, which is traditionally a time of self-reflection and

penitence (i.e., showing remorse for what we have done wrong).

• In what ways is focusing on remorse a healthy thing for us?

• What might be some dangers of focusing on remorse, and how could we

prevent them?

4. Psalm 51 is all about the deep desire for forgiveness.

• What are some of the metaphors used to describe this deep desire to be

“clean”?

• How do you relate to this desire? In what ways do you need forgiveness?

• What does this psalm say about God’s love and mercy?

• How easy (or hard) is it for you to experience God as love, mercy and

forgiveness?

5. What in the psalm suggests that the author is aware of his/her wrongdoing?

• Have you observed anyone who seems oblivious to the fact that they are in need

of forgiveness?

• Can you describe a time when you have been blind to a particular fault or

wrongdoing? How did you come to a realization of the fact? How did this change

you?

6. Read James 5:16, which talks about openly sharing and confessing our faults with one

another.

• Why do you think confession is so hard for us?

• Have you ever shared a deep, dark secret with anyone? Describe the experience

(even if you prefer not to give the specific details).

• Is this a story you could share with the group? (No one should be pressured to do

this.)

• What was the outcome for you personally? What was the outcome for the

person with whom you shared?

7. What does it mean to have a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:16)?

• How can we make this a way of life?

• How might living vulnerably like this change us?

• How might living like this change the world?

8. Are there past actions or ongoing attitudes for which you desire forgiveness? Take

some time to pray for one another to know the freedom of God’s forgiveness, and to

receive God’s strength for reconciliation and renewal.

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Personal reflection Practice the discipline of confession this week. Early in the week set aside time to reflect in

your life considering the following two questions:

1. Am I harboring any secret darkness that I have not shared with anyone else but that

I know is eating me up?

2. Do you I tend to judge others for their faults and failings?

If the first reflection resonates with you think about a faithful friend or counselor that you

know could handle you sharing this with them if you were able to find the courage to do so

(this might even be someone in your group). Set up a time to share with them before the

end of the week, and when you have shared ask them to pray with you.

If nothing comes to the surface on the first reflection focus your week on the second one.

Read Matthew 7:1-5 each morning and make an intention throughout the day not to judge.

When a situation arises where you instinctively want to judge or criticize someone, instead

reflect on you own frailty and weakness and briefly pray for the other person and for mercy

for yourself.

Note your thoughts, feelings and prayers in a journal.

Reflection with children Each night this week, at the dinner table or before bed, talk to your child(ren) about their

day. Ask what made them happy today; what made them laugh; what made them sad. Ask

if there is anything they wish they could change about the day—perhaps someone was

mean to them, or they did something they regret. Talk to them about how God forgives us

when we make mistakes and wants us to forgive others. Pray a simple prayer with your

child(ren) to say sorry to God, to thank God that we are forgiven, and to pray for those who

do wrong to us.

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Week 2: God Is Great (Psalms 103 & 104) These two psalms are a call to worship. They are hymns celebrating the greatness of God, and

they highlight a variety of divine characteristics that evoke worship. Even though both psalms

assert that worship is a natural and unforced response to the majesty, beauty, compassion and

goodness of God, they both begin and end with a command to self: “Praise the Lord, O my

soul!” This challenges us as readers to step out of our own temporal, subjective reality and

reach out into the eternal, transcendent mystery of the universe. Through this spiritual

discipline we gain a different perspective and are lifted up.

Psalm 103 is structured to present God as one whose government is based on justice and

mercy. God is great because God is full of love and compassion, forgives us, and nurtures us

like a father. God is everlastingly faithful to us, reaching out to us in our human condition with

all its frailty and transience. We are thereby enveloped in the eternal divine embrace. Psalm

104 presents God as creator and celebrates creation. It does so in great poetic detail with a

structure based very closely on the Genesis account and the worldview of the ancient Near

East. We are drawn into worship through our experience, understanding and participation in

nature.

This week’s discussion questions 1. What was your experience with practicing the discipline of confession this week? What

feelings or insights do you want to share with the group?

2. What struck you about the message on Sunday? What did you find most helpful? What

was most difficult or challenging?

3. Psalms 103 and 104 represent calls to worship.

• What does “worship” mean to you?

• What does it look like?

• Does worship of God come naturally to you?

• What inspires you to worship God?

• Spend some time as a group sharing about your experiences with worship: this

could be personal and private experiences of worship, or in our own church

community or in other churches. What has been most meaningful for you?

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4. Psalms 103 and 104 begin and end with “Praise the Lord, O my soul.”

• What could this command (or self-injunction) look like for you?

• How would you express it and how would you respond to it?

5. What are various ways in which we can express praise (or worship) to God?

6. Psalm 103 describes different ways in which God engages us and calls us to worship

accordingly. How do the following divine characteristics evoke worship for you? Which

come more easily and which are harder?

• God as just and merciful ruler

• God as loving communicator

• God as forgiver

• God as loving father

• God as bearer of the weak and broken

• God as faithful and eternal

7. Psalm 104 presents God as creator of the universe and the one in whom all is held

together.

• How does nature evoke worship?

• This psalm is written in great detail but in an ancient Near Eastern worldview.

How might such detail look in a 21st century worldview? How might this detail

lead to worship?

8. How could you make worship a more regular part of your spiritual practice? Take some

time now to offer up prayers of praise and worship to God together as a group.

Personal reflection Practice the discipline of worship this week. Set aside 15 minutes every day in which you

will challenge “your soul” to “bless the Lord”. Work this into a setting that works best for

you. This might be while you are outside in nature or could be while alone and in complete

silence. You might use a time while traveling to work, but make sure you set aside time

when you will be free from distractions.

Spend time giving thanks for all the positive things in your life: friends, family, job, home,

etc. Then move onto to reflect on the characteristics of God highlighted in Psalms 103 &

104 (refer to the list in discussion question 6). Dwell on the one you feel most drawn to and

which most easily evokes worship from you. Invite this aspect of God to overwhelm you

and allow yourself to get caught up in the wonder of it all.

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Reflection with children Help your child(ren) to create their own mini-psalm of praise and worship. Each day this

week, ask them to suggest words to fill in the blanks in the two sentences below. Try not to

repeat any answers from the previous days!

Thank you God for making ________________________________________________.

I love you God because you are ____________________________________________.

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Week 3: Why, My Soul, Are You Downcast? (Psalms 42 & 43) Psalms 42 and 43 are two of the many psalms of lament. Such psalms typically include a

complaint to God, an affirmation of trust, and a petition for God’s intervention. In Psalms 42

and 43, we see the writer struggling with feelings of distance from God’s presence.

Circumstances and emotions conspire to leave the psalmist feeling inwardly crushed and

completely overwhelmed. This leads to fears of being forgotten or even rejected by God.

However, despite this distress, the psalmist resolves to argue his/her case with God: to speak

openly, to express doubts with desperate honesty, and to demand justice. The writer trusts

that God is able to hear such “venting” and will respond to authentic appeals for help and

comfort.

Furthermore, even in the midst of these waves of despair, the psalmist speaks to his/her self

with a voice of faith, recalling the character of God as one who is loving and trustworthy. The

psalms issue a call to remember who God is, and to commit to waiting expectantly for God to

act. God is present, whether felt or not; and feelings of abandonment will not last forever. The

psalms challenge us to seek God—not simply to petition God for changes in our circumstances,

but to experience the presence of God as the answer to all our anxiety and despair.

This week’s discussion questions 1. What was your experience with practicing the discipline of worship this week? What

feelings or insights do you want to share with the group?



3. Read Psalms 42 and 43. In these psalms, the writer expresses a wide range of emotions.

Which of these emotions resonate with you at this moment? Why?

4. In verses 1-2, the psalmist expresses longing for God. Think of a time you felt distant

from God. What do you think were the reasons for this? How did you feel, and what did

you do?

5. Read Psalm 17:15. Psalms 42 and 43 (as well as many of the other psalms) express a

belief that God’s presence is our most fundamental need. In what ways have you found

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this to be true? In what ways have you found this to be insufficient?

6. In verse 7, the psalmist appears to blame God for causing his/her feelings of being

overwhelmed. When times are hard, we can respond in a number of ways: from

blaming God, to blaming ourselves or others; from considering God the cause of our

circumstances, to believing God to be absent. What is your typical response towards

God in hard times? Why do you think this is the case?

7. The writer of this psalm does not shy away from confronting God (see 42:9, 43:2). In

what ways do you think it is acceptable to “wrestle” with God? Are there ways in which

you feel this is not appropriate or can be dangerous? Is this kind of interaction with God

something that comes natural to you? Why do you think this is so?

8. The psalmist counsels his/her soul to “hope in God.” What is the writer’s basis for this

hope?

9. The writer describes God in the following ways:

• Savior (42:5, 11; 43:5)

• Having steadfast love (42:8)

• Present through the night (42:8)

• “God of my life”—personal, ever present (42:8)

• A rock (42:9)

• A refuge (43:2)

• One who guides (43:3)

• Source of joy (43:4)

Which of these descriptions most inspires you to hope? What other characteristics of

God give you hope?

10. In what areas of your life are you most in need of hope? Take some time to pray for one

another in these areas of need.

Personal reflection In Psalm 42: 6, the psalmist declares: “My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will

remember you.” Remembering times when we have felt close to God can stir up hope for the

future. Consider the following situations, and make notes on at least four of them in your

journal.

Remember when…

• Loving adults sheltered, nurtured, protected, and taught you as you were growing up.

Who were they?

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• Devastating circumstances shattered your world, and you learned first-hand of people's

compassion and generosity. What happened?

• A hard-earned lesson left you older and wiser, with the experience you need to

sympathize with and guide others. Who have you been able to help?

• Serious health problems brought you to a heightened appreciation of life. How has your

outlook changed for the better?

• The loss of a loved one made you realize how important friends and family are to you.

What have you said and done to show them how much they mean?

• Your hopes were dashed, but a new and better opportunity presented itself. Which

door closed, and which door opened?

• Times were tough, but you survived them. How has this given you perspective on the

ups and downs of life?

• You were in danger, but found a way out. Where was God in this?

• You found yourself on the wrong spiritual path, but someone guided you back to the

way God would have you go. What did you learn?

• You repented, and God brought his peace to your mind and heart. How did this draw

you closer to God?2

Reflection with children Tell the story of one of the situations from the reflection exercise above with your child(ren)

in terms they will understand. Explain that God was with you even in a sad or difficult time.

Ask them if they can think of a time when they were sad or afraid: What happened? Do

they think God was with them during this time? Why do they feel this way?

Say a simple prayer with your child(ren) thanking God for the promise that God will always

be with us—in good times and in hard times.

2 From Mitchell, P. (2011) Remember! Christianity Today.

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Week 4: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23) Psalm 23 is probably the most loved and well known of all the psalms. A “Psalm of David”

(either by King David, or reflecting the life of David), it is a psalm that praises God and

expresses trust in God, based on the psalmist’s own experience. While God is often portrayed

as the shepherd of Israel, in this psalm, the epithet is personal: the Lord is my shepherd. The

psalmist views God as a good shepherd who provides for the beloved sheep. However, the

mood of Psalm 23 is hardly idyllic. Darkness and evil are evident, and it is only God’s presence

that provides comfort and hope for the future.

This psalm challenges us to trust God even during difficult times. But trusting God is a

vulnerable endeavor. We cannot know for sure if the difficult circumstances and troubles we

journey through really “mean” anything, and we are not guaranteed to triumph over them. We

are called to become vulnerable, and to trust in God’s goodness and love both in green

pastures and in the darkest valley. By submitting ourselves to the care of the shepherd, we can

know peace all the days of our life.

This week’s discussion questions 1. What was your experience this week with practicing remembering God’s presence in

your life? What feelings, memories or insights do you want to share with the group?


was most difficult or challenging? How did hearing a youth perspective impact your

response to this psalm?

3. Read Psalm 23. Echoing David’s youthful occupation as a shepherd boy, the psalmist

describes God as a shepherd. Drawing on your own experience and roles in life, how

might you describe God and why?

4. What does it mean to "lack nothing" (verse 1)? In what ways is this true in your

experience? In what ways is it not true?

5. In what ways does God “refresh” your soul (verse 3)?

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6. What things did you fear when you were a child? How were you taught to deal with

fear? How have your coping strategies changed over time? How do you relate to God

during times of fear and anxiety?

7. In verse 5 it says that God "Prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

What do you think this means? What is the significance of "enemies" being there?

8. In verse 6, the writer confidently declares: “Surely your goodness and love will follow

me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” In what

ways do you share the writer’s confidence? In what ways do you not?

9. What is one situation in your life that represents a source of refreshment (quiet waters)

and/or one situation that is a source of fear (darkest valley)? Share this with the group.

Take some time to pray for each other in these areas.

Personal reflection Each day this week, meditate on a different verse of Psalm 23. Read the verse slowly,

several times. Take a moment to be quiet and let the words sink in. Is there a word or

phrase that somehow speaks to you or touches you? Allow memories, thoughts or

situations evoked by the word to rise up gently. Allow God to reveal to you how the word or

phrase applies to your life. Open your heart to God and honestly share how you feel about

your experience with the verse.

Record your thoughts and prayers in your journal.

Reflection with children Teach your child(ren) one verse of Psalm 23 each day. Explain what the verse means and

then help your child(ren) memorize it. On the next page is a version of Psalm 23 from the

International Children’s Bible.

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1 The Lord is my shepherd.

I have everything I need.

2 He gives me rest in green pastures.

He leads me to calm water.

3 He gives me new strength.

For the good of his name,

he leads me on paths that are right.

4 Even if I walk through a very dark valley,

I will not be afraid because you are with me.

Your rod and your shepherd’s staff comfort me.

5 You prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies.

You pour oil of blessing on my head.

You give me more than I can hold.

6 Surely your goodness and love will be with me all my life.

And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

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Week 5: Why, Lord, Do You Stand Far Off? (Psalm 10) Psalm 10 is a prayer for times of distress, particularly in the face of injustice and oppression.

This and other psalms of lament invite us into a closeness and authenticity with God that

welcomes questions, complaints, and expressions of confidence in God. The psalm opens with

a protest that God is hiding in some far off place while arrogant oppressors are getting away

with murder. The powerful are taking advantage of the powerless, and God is nowhere to be

found. The psalmist cries out to God: Wake up! Do something!

Then the writer, with confidence in God’s character as the helper of the weak, asks God to

break the power of the oppressors and thwart their plans. The prayer ends with a statement of

faith that God will see and hear the cry of the oppressed, and that the oppressors will not

terrorize forever. Psalm 10, alongside of Jesus’s teaching in Luke 6, provides a potential model

for reaching out to God in the midst of distress and injustice. It is an invitation to be real and

honest with God when the world around us is not what God intends.

This week’s discussion questions 1. What was your experience with meditating on Psalm 23 this week? What feelings or

insights do you want to share with the group?



3. In Psalm 10:1, the psalmist complains or “protests” about the apparent absence of God

in the face of injustice. As you reflect on injustices you have witnessed or experienced,

have you ever wondered, “Where is God in all of this?” If you feel comfortable, share

your experience with the group.

4. In verses 2-11, the psalmist candidly “pinpoints” the problem: a situation in which the

arrogant and powerful are oppressing and destroying the weak and powerless. Is there

a current situation that comes to your mind that seems to parallel the psalmist’s

experience?

5. How might the psalmist’s request or “petition” in verses 12-15 shape how you pray

about similar situations today?

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6. Verses 16-18 are a statement of faith and “praise” that the Lord will pull through on

behalf of the oppressed. Do you share the psalmist’s hopeful confidence about the

situation that you are concerned about? Why or why not?

7. Read Luke 6:27-28. How does the teaching of Jesus relate to Psalm 10? In your opinion,

does Jesus’ teaching here contradict or complement Psalm 10?

8. During 2015, as a community we spent time thinking about specific areas of injustice,

particularly racial injustice, local and global economic injustice, and violence waged in

the name of religion. Take some time to pray about one or more of these issues as a

group.

Personal reflection Each day this week, pray about situations of injustice and violence in our world. Using

Psalm 10 and Luke 6:27-28 as a guide, pray that justice might prevail, and that love would

lead to repentance and reconciliation.

Reflection with children Depending on how much your children are exposed to news of current events, talk with

them about how we can seek God in the midst of these circumstances. Set an example for

how we might pray in the midst of crises and injustices. Encourage them to express

emotions such as confusion, anger and hope.

Talk to your children about situations of bullying that they are aware of or have

experienced. Allow them to be open with you (and with God) about how those situations

make them feel. Provide guidance from the Scriptures studied this week about how they

can include God in their response to those circumstances.

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Week 6: Give Thanks To The Lord (Psalm 118) This psalm is the last of the Hallel (Hebrew for “praise”)—a series of praise psalms used in

important religious feasts even to this day. The Hallel give thanks to God for the deliverance of

Israel from its enemies, and even celebrate political and military victories. Psalm 118 includes a

section (vs. 5-18) with this kind of celebration, which could have been sung either by a king

returning from a recent victory in battle, or by priests rejoicing over the historic deliverance of

Israel from slavery in Egypt or the return from exile in Babylon. It seems to have been used in a

religious procession (vs. 19-27) that passed through gates (possibly entering the city of

Jerusalem or the temple, or both). The psalm begins and ends with a call to give thanks for the

Lord’s goodness and everlasting love as evidenced by God’s faithful deliverance and care of the

people.

The psalm is closely associated with Palm Sunday because the crowds quote it when Jesus

enters Jerusalem. The procession of Jesus and his followers along with the people’s

expectations that Jesus would bring political and military liberation made this association very

easy. But the story of Palm Sunday shows Jesus enacting a very different interpretation of

Psalm 118 and a very different interpretation of God’s goodness and everlasting love. It is a

love that inspires him to challenge the religious establishment in the temple, and rather than

associate with power and victory, Jesus stands with the blind, the lame, and with children.

Jesus is bringing a totally different kind of “government”; a kingdom where the weak are lifted

up and where leadership is defined not by power or success but by love, humility and sacrifice.

Jesus leads a different kind of procession—one that leads him to the cross.

This week’s discussion questions 1. What was your experience with praying for situations of injustice and violence this

week? What feelings or thoughts do you want to share with the group?

2. What insights did you gain from the message this past Sunday? What was most helpful

for you? What was difficult for you?

3. Read Psalm 118.

• In what ways could this psalm be interpreted as being about personal protection

and deliverance?

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• In what ways could this psalm have been a celebration of political or military

victory?

• What are some of the dangers of associating religious celebration with military

power?

• In what ways do we see or experience this association in present day life?

• How should we respond to this as followers of Jesus?

4. To whom do you think the “stone the builders rejected” refers in verse 22?

• How do you identify personally with this metaphor?

• Why does Jesus refer to himself in this way in Matthew 21:42-44?

5. On Palm Sunday (March 20) we remembered the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem

recounted in Matthew 21:1-17 (read this passage).

• Why do you think the crowds quote Psalm 118:26 in the story (Matthew 21:9)?

• In what other ways does this story invoke Psalm 118?

6. In what ways does Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the subsequent events in the story

interpret Psalm 118 in a very different way?

7. What does Jesus’ behavior in the temple and his interaction with the blind, the lame,

children and priests (Matthew 21:12-16) say about God’s “goodness” and God’s love

that “endures forever” (Psalm 118:1 & 29)?

8. On Palm Sunday we celebrated commitment. During Lent we have explored the

Psalms.

• Looking back over the past few weeks, what has specifically challenged you

most?

• In what ways do you plan to respond to that challenge?

• What commitment do you intend to make as a result? Spend some time praying for each other as you commit to responding to these

challenges.

Personal reflection During Holy Week, take time each day to reflect on question 8 above. Each day read one of

the psalms from this series and look back on your notes from the discussion. What one

issue stands out for you personally? How do you want to incorporate that challenge as you

go into Easter and beyond? What needs to die in you? What needs to come to life in you?

Invite God into this challenge with you, and pray for God’s life and spirit to fill you.

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Activity with children

Resurrection Rolls

These treats are not only delicious but also a good way of emphasizing the point that the tomb

where Jesus was laid was empty on Easter morning.

Ingredients

• 1 can of refrigerated crescent rolls *8 marshmallows

• ¼ cup melted butter

• 2 Tbs. ground cinnamon

• 2 Tbs. sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet.

2. Separate crescent rolls into individual triangles.

3. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl.

4. Give each child a marshmallow, and tell them it stands for Jesus.

5. Have the children dip their marshmallow into the melted butter and cinnamon/sugar

mixture. The butter and cinnamon/sugar are like the oil and spices that were rubbed on

Jesus’ body.

6. Give each child a crescent roll triangle and explain that this represents the cloth that

Jesus’ body was wrapped in. Have the child completely wrap the triangle over the

marshmallow and seal the edges together.

7. Place in the oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Explain that the oven is like the

tomb Jesus was placed in.

8. When the rolls have been removed and cooled, have the children open their “tombs” to

see that they are empty inside. Jesus has risen! (The marshmallow melts but the roll

remains puffed up—empty.)

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Annex 1: Suggested Reading

The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary by Robert Alter

The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential by N.T. Wright

Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis

Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit by Walter Brueggemann

Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer by Eugene Peterson

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Annex 2: Prayer Practices

Pray in silence together Spend five minutes in prayer without words, enjoying stillness and quiet, allowing the peace of

the Holy Spirit to settle in the room. Children may be surprisingly attentive and receptive to

stillness if adults around them are calm, quiet and still. Children will certainly take notice!

Simply enjoy the presence of one another and the presence of God. You may want to begin

with a short prayer aloud to invite the presence of the Spirit, and close the time with “Amen.”

Pray a common theme Pray the same theme together. Each person, in turn, says a sentence contributing to the prayer

time. For example, you might choose a prayer of thanksgiving, or a prayer of intercession, or a

prayer asking God to help you change. Children engage very easily with this kind of prayer,

especially sharing a “good” part of the day, and a “least favorite” part.

Active prayer sentence The “active prayer sentence,” also known as “hesychasm,” comes from the Eastern Orthodox

tradition. Choose a short phrase and repeat it over and over, as its meaning settles into the

heart. The most well-known is the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” Short

phrases from scripture work well, such as “Create in me a clean heart, O God” or “Lord I

believe, help my unbelief.” Prayers can be repeated rhythmically in time with breathing.

Pray for one another People in the group share prayer requests aloud and then take turns praying aloud for one

another. Brief prayers are good—it can be enough to ask, “Lord Jesus, please help

___________.” This can be a powerful way for group members to support one another with

struggles and challenges in their lives. Some people may take time to “warm up,” so feel free

to use this as a closing, if that works best.

Pray with the Holy Spirit Agree on a time of unstructured open silence and invite people to pray as prompted and

inspired by the Holy Spirit. People should not feel pressured to pray aloud and it should be

stated that silent prayer is as valuable as praying out loud—no one should feel the need to fill

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the silence with words. This kind of Spirit-led prayer allows people to recognize the presence of

God’s Spirit moving in the group. Close with a simple prayer aloud or “Amen.”

Breathing the breath of life Sit comfortably with your back straight, your shoulders back, and your feet on the floor. Listen

to your breath as you breathe. Feel your breath in your nostrils, chest and abdomen, inhaling

and then exhaling fully and deeply—hold your exhale a bit longer than usual to completely

expel air. Breathing accompanied by prayer will awaken you to God’s presence as you “breathe

in” the love of God and calm your mind, heart and body. Use a short phrase that can be

repeated interiorly in rhythm with breathing. Pray a prayer from scripture or from your heart,

like “I breathe in Christ and all that is good,” and then “I breathe out Christ and release all that

is fearful and false.” Continue the practice for five or ten minutes, always conscious of God’s

love infusing your being. (Children can easily engage with this kind of praying. You can ask

them to lie down and watch their stomach rise and fall as they breathe, or close their eyes and

listen to the sound of their breathing through their mouth or nostrils.)

Centering prayer Find a time and place where you can sit comfortably with as few distractions as possible.

Ideally, you will be able to set aside 20 minutes for this practice. Set a timer so you do not have

to think about it. Select a “sacred word” or “prayer word” that will symbolize your intent and

consent to focus only on God during this time. It should be short and not distract you.

Something simple like love, God, Jesus, peace will be fine. The word itself is not important—

the intent to surrender is what’s important.

Close your eyes and tell God that you are willing to release your whole being in order to be one

with God and that you are offering your sacred word to signify your intent. Ask Jesus to help

you. Begin by slowly and silently letting the word rest in your mind. This is not a mantra to be

repeated, it is only to signify intent, and your word will slowly drift away along with your

thoughts. Whenever you notice a thought, emotion or memory, silently and gently offer your

prayer word to replace it. Let your thoughts float by—do not be distressed by their presence,

just acknowledge them and let them go with the help of your sacred word. Even “spiritual”

thoughts or prayers—let them all go and allow God to work in your mind and heart,

unencumbered by your “self.” At the end of your time, remain in silence with your eyes closed

for a few minutes, allowing your thoughts to return.

The Examen This is best practiced in the evening as you look back over that day’s activities. Sit comfortably

in silence with your back straight, feet planted on the floor, arms relaxed and hands supported

in your lap. Close your eyes and relax your shoulders. To begin, listen to your breath as you

breathe. Feel your breath in your nostrils, chest and abdomen, inhaling and then exhaling fully

and deeply—hold your exhale a bit longer than usual to completely expel air. Continue with

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regular rhythmic deep breathing. Allow tension to fade away from your body, and your spirit to

be at peace.

Think back over the previous day (or the period of time since your last Examen). Trace the

story of your life during this period of time and observe what happened. As you do so, consider

the following two questions but remember not to evaluate or judge yourself; just be honest:

1) At what times during your story did you experience God’s presence? What happened?

How was God present? Were you aware of God being present at the time, or is it only

now as you look back that you realize it? What did you do that enabled you to

experience God? What was the outcome?

2) At what times during your story were you resistant to God’s presence? What happened?

How did you resist? Were you aware of resisting, or is it only now as you look back that

you realize it? What were your feelings or beliefs about the situation and any person(s)

involved, including yourself and God? What was the outcome? How could you have

thought, acted or believed in a way that would have embraced the reality of God’s

presence, and channeled more love into the situation, with the person or yourself?

When you have finished reflecting on your story, continue with deep breathing for a few more

minutes. Consider what these reflections reveal to you about what God is like. Invite God into

the story that lies ahead of you, and ask God to reveal more of God’s being to you. Ask God to

help you be more embracing of God’s presence tomorrow.

Practicing presence Prepare. Begin to let go of all thought of the future or past. Focus on your breathing. As you

inhale, allow the Holy Spirit to come in as you breathe. As you exhale, let go of anxiety, stress

and fear.

Be present to where you are. Consider the environment around you—your space, the natural

beauty you may see, smells, sounds, the people nearby. Truly notice these things and thank

God for providing them.

Be present to who you are. Ask God to show you what you are feeling at this moment. Where

is there anxiety or concern? What are your emotions? Are you happy or sad? Ask the Holy Spirit

to show you what you are trying to control, and release it.

Be present to God. Rest in this awareness, being mindful of where you are and who you are,

and that God loves you and is present with you.

To close this time of prayer, thank God for being present and for loving you, and slowly return

to your activities, bringing the Holy Spirit with you. Repeat often.

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