Worship Series - Study 6
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 95 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 95 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. When you are enthusiastic about something how is that expressed? Do you jump up and down? Do you raise your arms in jubilation? What do you do? (It might be helpful to think about what people do when their football team wins a close game or perhaps when their team wins a grand final.)
2. What was it that made David dance before The Lord? Why would he dance with 'all his might'?
3. Does worshipping with humility mean worshipping quietly? What does worshipping with humanity actually mean?
4. When do we need to bow down and worship - when have you done this? Why is this an important posture?
5. What does it mean to you to know you are rescued? What have you been rescued from?
6. What difference does it make to us to know that God's voice can be heard in worship? When have you heard God's voice in worship? What did he say to you? What is he saying to you today?
7. What does it mean to worship with soft hearts? How do you demonstrate that? Share an experience of what happened when you did this - what happened?
1. When you are enthusiastic about something how is that expressed? Do you jump up and down? Do you raise your arms in jubilation? What do you do? (It might be helpful to think about what people do when their football team wins a close game or perhaps when their team wins a grand final.)
2. What was it that made David dance before The Lord? Why would he dance with 'all his might'?
3. Does worshipping with humility mean worshipping quietly? What does worshipping with humanity actually mean?
4. When do we need to bow down and worship - when have you done this? Why is this an important posture?
5. What does it mean to you to know you are rescued? What have you been rescued from?
6. What difference does it make to us to know that God's voice can be heard in worship? When have you heard God's voice in worship? What did he say to you? What is he saying to you today?
7. What does it mean to worship with soft hearts? How do you demonstrate that? Share an experience of what happened when you did this - what happened?
Worship Series - Study 5
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 23 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 23 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. What do I do with my God given strength? How does worship and praise change your heart?
2. God is a shepherd therefore he does numbers of things. If you need anything in life this Psalm demonstrates that it is God can give you all you need. What is it you need right now? How can we as a group pray for you? If not from God where does your help come from? When you are faced with any type of crisis where do you go? The Psalm begins by saying "I shall not want" - Who do you rely on to supply what you need? What would it mean for you to truly trust God for all you need? Have you ever done that?
3. The Psalm says "he will lead you in right paths." A shepherd is faithful to lead his sheep in life, where have you seen this in your life? Share an example of when he has led you in the right path?
4. Troy said the heart of the shepherd is for the sheep. What is your heart set on? What makes your heart melt? Where does compassion for people get displayed?
5. The Psalm says "even though I walk through...." - what is your even though? Maybe you face trails of finance, of relationship breakdowns, what is your even though at this point in time? When you face trails are you able to say I fear nothing? Why can the psalmist say this? Who stands between you and danger, or with you in the trials?
6. As God he prepares something for us - the Psalm says "a table in the presence of my....." What has God prepared for you?
7. The Bible talks of him as a good shepherd therefore he is good - if he is indeed good do you trust him? Do you need comfort from him? Do you need to know what the good ways of God are for your life? How do you live your life in a God shaped way this week?
1. What do I do with my God given strength? How does worship and praise change your heart?
2. God is a shepherd therefore he does numbers of things. If you need anything in life this Psalm demonstrates that it is God can give you all you need. What is it you need right now? How can we as a group pray for you? If not from God where does your help come from? When you are faced with any type of crisis where do you go? The Psalm begins by saying "I shall not want" - Who do you rely on to supply what you need? What would it mean for you to truly trust God for all you need? Have you ever done that?
3. The Psalm says "he will lead you in right paths." A shepherd is faithful to lead his sheep in life, where have you seen this in your life? Share an example of when he has led you in the right path?
4. Troy said the heart of the shepherd is for the sheep. What is your heart set on? What makes your heart melt? Where does compassion for people get displayed?
5. The Psalm says "even though I walk through...." - what is your even though? Maybe you face trails of finance, of relationship breakdowns, what is your even though at this point in time? When you face trails are you able to say I fear nothing? Why can the psalmist say this? Who stands between you and danger, or with you in the trials?
6. As God he prepares something for us - the Psalm says "a table in the presence of my....." What has God prepared for you?
7. The Bible talks of him as a good shepherd therefore he is good - if he is indeed good do you trust him? Do you need comfort from him? Do you need to know what the good ways of God are for your life? How do you live your life in a God shaped way this week?
Worship Series - Study 4
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 121 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 121 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. The whole idea that God is your protector is a lovely one but where have you seen it in action? When have you cried out to the Lord for protection? Have you ever done that? What did God do?
2. If not from God where does your help come from? When faced with any type of crisis where do you go?
3. When you explore what God is able to do - make the moon, the stars, the waves, the fruit on trees, the scenery we see each day, does it not make sense that he is able to do anything we ask of him? Cindy shared the story of how God provided for her in Tuscany - share a time when he has provided for you?
4. Have you ever felt like God isn't listening to you or that he is absent? What changed in your life to enable you to feel like he is attentive to you and with you?
5. There is a story in the Bible where Jesus calls Peter out to walk on water and after he gets out of the boat he drops his eyes and begins to see the wind and waves around him and he began to sink. What are the things in your life that take your eyes away from Jesus? What do you have to do in order to lift your eyes and focus on him? Do you have a "Lord save me" moment? What is it you need from God?
6. Cindy talked about 3 key actions (Psalm 121:3-4) through which God shows his nearness to us. What are they and how do they reassure you of his nearness to you - particularly in times of trouble?
7. What are some of the things you are facing at the moment? When you wake up Ian the middle of the night what's going on for you?
1. The whole idea that God is your protector is a lovely one but where have you seen it in action? When have you cried out to the Lord for protection? Have you ever done that? What did God do?
2. If not from God where does your help come from? When faced with any type of crisis where do you go?
3. When you explore what God is able to do - make the moon, the stars, the waves, the fruit on trees, the scenery we see each day, does it not make sense that he is able to do anything we ask of him? Cindy shared the story of how God provided for her in Tuscany - share a time when he has provided for you?
4. Have you ever felt like God isn't listening to you or that he is absent? What changed in your life to enable you to feel like he is attentive to you and with you?
5. There is a story in the Bible where Jesus calls Peter out to walk on water and after he gets out of the boat he drops his eyes and begins to see the wind and waves around him and he began to sink. What are the things in your life that take your eyes away from Jesus? What do you have to do in order to lift your eyes and focus on him? Do you have a "Lord save me" moment? What is it you need from God?
6. Cindy talked about 3 key actions (Psalm 121:3-4) through which God shows his nearness to us. What are they and how do they reassure you of his nearness to you - particularly in times of trouble?
7. What are some of the things you are facing at the moment? When you wake up Ian the middle of the night what's going on for you?
Worship Series - Study 3
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 103 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 103 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. Who comes to mind for you when you think of someone who is good at praise? Why is it that you think of that person in particular?
2. What is it that stands out to you from the Book of Psalms?
3. Yvonne told us the story of David who wrote the Psalm and that he knew he didn’t deserve Gods love or compassion - this is why he reminds himself that he needs to praise God. Why do you choose to praise God? Why is it necessary for you to praise him?
4. Gods love is eternal - what difference does that make to you as you sit with that truth?
5. What circumstances do you need to praise through at this point in time?
6. What does praise do in you?
7. What are some of the songs that have marked specific times in your life with God? Are there any? Do you have them on a playlist to remind you of what God has done?
1. Who comes to mind for you when you think of someone who is good at praise? Why is it that you think of that person in particular?
2. What is it that stands out to you from the Book of Psalms?
3. Yvonne told us the story of David who wrote the Psalm and that he knew he didn’t deserve Gods love or compassion - this is why he reminds himself that he needs to praise God. Why do you choose to praise God? Why is it necessary for you to praise him?
4. Gods love is eternal - what difference does that make to you as you sit with that truth?
5. What circumstances do you need to praise through at this point in time?
6. What does praise do in you?
7. What are some of the songs that have marked specific times in your life with God? Are there any? Do you have them on a playlist to remind you of what God has done?
Worship Series - Study 2
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 92 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 92 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. Have you ever established a daily practice such as what is mentioned in the Psalm - proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night?
What is your daily practice? Has worship in song been part of your daily practice? Share what has worked for you in your daily rhythm of connecting with God?
2. John mentioned that we might begin the day with a clean white shirt but then as the day goes on the shirt gets dirty. What are the things that get your shirt dirty each day?
3. What do you sing for joy at? What works of God are you thankful for? Is there anything you can thank God for at the end of the day? In what ways do you show the priorities of thanksgiving and praise?
4. Worship is declaring who God is and all he has done. What are some other things you have done in order to worship?
5. This week we lay down the tool of worship in song as a community activity and pick up some other tools - a shovel, a spade, a mixer, a spatula - how will you utilise the different tools this week as you participate in engage?
6. What would it look like for you to still 'bear fruit in your old age'? What do you need to do now in order for that to happen?
7. Part of this Psalm shows that what we see is not the whole picture? Does that fact lead you to be thankful to God - because he sees the whole picture?
Have you ever tried the three practices that John suggested - if not, try one of them together.
•slow reflective reading of scripture
•daily review and reflection
•engaging regularly with praise
Please talk to your Life Group re what you will do as an Engage this week?
1. Have you ever established a daily practice such as what is mentioned in the Psalm - proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night?
What is your daily practice? Has worship in song been part of your daily practice? Share what has worked for you in your daily rhythm of connecting with God?
2. John mentioned that we might begin the day with a clean white shirt but then as the day goes on the shirt gets dirty. What are the things that get your shirt dirty each day?
3. What do you sing for joy at? What works of God are you thankful for? Is there anything you can thank God for at the end of the day? In what ways do you show the priorities of thanksgiving and praise?
4. Worship is declaring who God is and all he has done. What are some other things you have done in order to worship?
5. This week we lay down the tool of worship in song as a community activity and pick up some other tools - a shovel, a spade, a mixer, a spatula - how will you utilise the different tools this week as you participate in engage?
6. What would it look like for you to still 'bear fruit in your old age'? What do you need to do now in order for that to happen?
7. Part of this Psalm shows that what we see is not the whole picture? Does that fact lead you to be thankful to God - because he sees the whole picture?
Have you ever tried the three practices that John suggested - if not, try one of them together.
•slow reflective reading of scripture
•daily review and reflection
•engaging regularly with praise
Please talk to your Life Group re what you will do as an Engage this week?
Worship Series - Study 1
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 46 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Psalm 46 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. What tools have you utilised in the past to help you worship?
Has worship in song been the main tool you’ve used? What other tools could help you worship God?
2. Have you ever thought of God as your refuge and the one who could give you both strength and peace in the middle of the storm?
3. What storms are you going through right now? Ask people to share the things that they are wrestling with at this point in time and take some time to pray for them.
4. What would it mean for you to drop your arms and not fight and try to be still in the midst of the storm? Try being still even play the clip below as a scripture behind the stillness or the song below which is called still by Hillsong.
5. Ask people how they felt it was to be still? What was it like for them? Did they sense a difference in themselves? Did they hear anything as they were silent?
6. What difference does it make to know that he is God in the midst of the storm? How do you do that?
7. What would help them as they practice being still (a notepad to write things that come to mind). Reassure them it’s ok for your mind to be busy as you try to sit still. But encourage them to persist and be still at different times - ask what other things could they try to help them worship?
Please talk to your Life Group re what you will do as an Engage in the coming weeks
1. What tools have you utilised in the past to help you worship?
Has worship in song been the main tool you’ve used? What other tools could help you worship God?
2. Have you ever thought of God as your refuge and the one who could give you both strength and peace in the middle of the storm?
3. What storms are you going through right now? Ask people to share the things that they are wrestling with at this point in time and take some time to pray for them.
4. What would it mean for you to drop your arms and not fight and try to be still in the midst of the storm? Try being still even play the clip below as a scripture behind the stillness or the song below which is called still by Hillsong.
5. Ask people how they felt it was to be still? What was it like for them? Did they sense a difference in themselves? Did they hear anything as they were silent?
6. What difference does it make to know that he is God in the midst of the storm? How do you do that?
7. What would help them as they practice being still (a notepad to write things that come to mind). Reassure them it’s ok for your mind to be busy as you try to sit still. But encourage them to persist and be still at different times - ask what other things could they try to help them worship?
Please talk to your Life Group re what you will do as an Engage in the coming weeks