LIFEGROUP MEETING GUIDE
HOW GOD’S GOODNESS RESTORES YOU
GOD IS GOOD, NO MATTER WHAT! (Psalm 23) series – Part 4
Pastor Mike Prah – Week of May 27, 2018
“The Lord is MY Shepherd, I have everything I need. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3 (NKJV/NLT)
INTRODUCTION:
In this broken world, it’s not unusual to face mental, emotional, and financial brokenness. Our soul can be damaged by unaddressed grudges, unconfessed guilt, and unprocessed grief. Because the Lord is our shepherd, He restores us by giving our soul rest, refreshment, and restoration – as Psalm 23:1-3 above says. Our response is to trust Jesus the Good Shepherd to forgive our sins, release our offenders & focus on the future, and team up with Jesus to carry our load. Select a few of the following questions from each section to discuss during your LifeGroup meeting.
1. OPEN YOUR SESSION WITH PRAYER.
2. ICE BREAKER:
Take some time to share what’s going on in your life, testimonies and/or upcoming events. Recognize birthdays and anniversaries.
3. BIBLE DISCUSSION: PICK THE POINTS YOU WANT TO DISCUSS.
SECTION 1: REVIEWING SERMON MESSAGE
(a). What fresh insight did you learn from the sermon?
(b). What character or attributes of God were stated in or implied by the message?
(c). What Bible verse cited in the message stands out to you the most ? Why?
SECTION 2: PERSONALIZING SERMON MESSAGE
(a). What did you hear that encouraged or reassured you?
(b). How did the message increase your appreciation for God or Jesus Christ?
(c). Who can share the positive results of obeying the message or the painful consequences of disregarding its truth?
SECTION 3: ENCOURAGING APPLICATION OF THE SERMON
(a). If we diligently apply the message, what effect would it have on your personal lives and your walk with Christ?
4: DIGGING DEEPER
(a) GRUDGES:
“You are only hurting yourself with your anger.” Job 18:4 (GNT)
– Read Job 18:4 and consider Martin Luther King’s statement “Bitterness is blindness”. Discuss the problems with harboring resentment.
– From the scripture verses below, when you are faced with the choice of resentment or bitterness, what specific steps can you take to stop hurting yourself with your anger, see things from a different perspective and let go?
“Get rid of all bitterness… forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)
“Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said He will repay those who deserve it.” Romans 12:19 (LB)
(b). GUILT:
“My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. I’m bowed down and brought low; all day long I go about mourning.” Psalm 38:4,6 NIV
“The Lord gave us a mind and a conscience; we can’t hide from ourselves.” Proverbs 20:27 (GNT)
– From the scriptures above and in your experience how do you think unconfessed guilt damages our lives.
“He has FORGIVEN ALL your sins. Christ has utterly wiped out the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it on the cross!” Colossians 2:13-14(PH)
– Read Colossians 2:13-14 above and discuss what it says about the process of how Jesus’s death on the cross took our sins upon Himself.
– Think about your life and all you have done in your life. How easy is it for you to believe this Good News? Discuss what it means to you that at the cross Jesus covered all of your sins for all you have done
(c). GRIEF:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
– According to Matthew 11:28, in what ways does Jesus carry our load when we come to Him with our grief and problems.
– Why is it important to trust Jesus with our griefs and hurts, rather than holding on to them ourselves?
5. PRAYER TIME – PRAYER POINTS
– Pray for each LifeGroup member to respond positively to this message and to follow-through in application.
– Ask for prayer requests and pray for the individual needs of your group.
– Closing Prayer
PLEASE REACH OUT TO ANYONE WHO DID NOT MAKE IT TO YOUR LIFEGROUP MEETING
& CHECK ON ANY ONE SICK OR IN NEED IN YOUR GROUP. GOD BLESS YOU!
SERMON OUTLINE
HOW GOD RESTORES YOU
GOD IS GOOD, NO MATTER WHAT! (Psalm 23) series – Part 4
Mike Prah – May 27, 2018
“The Lord is MY Shepherd, I have everything I need. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3 (NKJV/NLT)
My Soul = My Mind, My Will & Emotions.
What drives my Thoughts, Choices & Feelings
I. WHAT DAMAGES MY SOUL?
1. UNADDRESSED GRUDGES
“To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.” Job 5:2 (GNT)
“You are only hurting yourself with your anger.” Job 18:4 (GNT)
2. UNCONFESSED GUILT
“My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. I’m bowed down and brought low; all day long I go about mourning.” Psalm 38:4,6 (NIV)
“The Lord gave us a mind and a conscience; we can’t hide from ourselves.” Proverbs 20:27 (GNT)
3. UNPROCESSED GRIEF
“Lord, have mercy, because I am in misery. My eyes are weak from so much crying, and my whole being is tired from grief.” Psalm 31:9 (NCV)
II. HOW DOES JESUS, MY GOOD SHEPHERD RESTORE MY SOUL?
1. JESUS TURNS MY HURTS INTO BLESSINGS
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
“God knew His purpose from the very beginning. He planned in advance that all of us in God’s family would become like Jesus, His Son. Now, God’s Son is the firstborn of restored humanity. So we see the intended shape of our lives in Him, and He will have many brothers and sisters in God’s eternal family.” Romans 8:29 (Mes, NLT, GW)
“You intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
2. JESUS TAKES MY SINS ON HIMSELF
“He has FORGIVEN ALL your sins. Christ has utterly wiped out the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it on the cross!” Colossians 2:13-14 (PH)
3. JESUS FEELS MY GRIEF AND HEALS MY HEART
“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief … He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.” Isaiah 53:3-4 (NLT)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
“To all who mourn… he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness.” Isaiah 61:3 (LB)
III. HOW SHOULD I RESPOND?
1. GUILT: TRUST THE GOOD SHEPHERD TO FORGIVE MY SINS
“All have sinned… yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him IF we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 (LB)
2. GRUDGES: RELEASE MY OFFENDERS AND FOCUS ON THE FUTURE
“Get rid of all bitterness… forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)
“Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said He will repay those who deserve it.” Romans 12:19 (LB)
3. GRIEF: I TEAM UP WITH JESUS TO CARRY MY LOAD
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.” Psalm 19:7 (NAS)
Have a question or comment about this message or need prayer? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you. Blessings – Pastor Mike