We trust that the #SummerinPsalms series will be ...northstarknox.com/site/.../Summer-in-Psalms-Digital... · ^The Psalms ^comprise a sampling of spiritual journals. They are personal

The Digital Guide includes the daily Bible Reading Plan as well as study guides to the weekly sermons.

We trust that the #SummerinPsalms series will be refreshing to your soul. Here are a few things great Christians

and Theologians have said about the Psalms:

Martin Luther, father of the Protestant Reformation, writes:

“The Psalms is the book of all saints, and everyone in whatever situation they may be, find in that situation psalms

and words that fit their case… that suit them as if the words were put there just for their sake, so that they could

not put it better themselves, or wish for anything better.” So many times as I read a Psalm I say, that is exactly

what I want to say.”

John Calvin, the great Reformed theologian writes:

“The Psalms are “an anatomy of all parts for the soul.” The Psalms are “a mirror in which each of us sees the

motion of our own souls.” So many times I read a line and say, “That is me alright.” Other times, I read and say,

“No…. that is not me” only to find out later in the day, “oh, yes it is!”

Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher, “The Prince of Preachers”, writes:

“The Psalms were the love songs of the people of God; could any others be as pure and heavenly? They are fit for

childhood and old age; they furnish maxims for the entrance of life, and serve as watchwords at the gates of hell.”

Spurgeon says of Psalm 119, the longest Psalm, that it mentors us in “the art of holy living.”

Contemporary author Philip Yancey writes:

“The Psalms “comprise a sampling of spiritual journals. They are personal letters to God, they are personal prayers

in the form of poetry, written by a variety of people in widely fluctuating moods.” Then he says, “I come to them

not primarily as a student wanting to acquire knowledge but rather as a fellow pilgrim wanting to acquire

relationship.”

http://www.northstarknox.com/

Summer in Psalms – Psalm 1 | June 8th 2014

Introduction: During the months of June, July and August we’re reading and preaching through the Psalms. Visit

www.NorthStarKnox.com for study guides and the reading plan.

Opener: What are your favorite bands, musicians or songs? Why do you think we instinctively enjoy music?

Key Scriptures: Psalm 1

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Psalm 1. The very first ‘song’ in the Psalms sets the tone for the whole collection. There are

several contrasts and comparisons. Which ones do you see?

2. How do you think a Christian can avoid standing in the way of sinners and sitting in the seat of

mockers, but still be a witness for Jesus in the world? Read Matthew 5:14-16 and 1 Peter 2:11-12.

How do these passages relate to this question?

3. What do you think about when you hear the word "delight"? What are the delights in your life?

4. Give an example of how someone might meditate on the Word of God "day and night".

5. After looking at this Psalm, what is one specific action you need to take regarding your relationship to

the Word of God?

Moving Forward: Visit this helpful resource for further reflection on Psalm 1:

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/psalm-1-when-delight-overcomes-distraction


http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/psalm-1-when-delight-overcomes-distraction

Summer in Psalms – Psalm 3 | June 15th 2014



Opener: What are your favorite memories with your father?

Key Scriptures: I Samuel 15-18, Psalm 3


1. Read the title of Psalm 3. The title of the Psalms often indicates what the ‘story behind the song’ is.

Music and poetry often times communicate deep levels of emotional depth. What modern songs

connect with your story?

2. Brad said in Sunday’s sermon that we often romanticize people in the Bible. Do you agree? Were you

surprised by any of the details in David’s family life Sunday? Did it change the way you thought about

David? How can romanticizing or exaggerating the virtue of Biblical characters hurt our spiritual

growth?

3. Read I Samuel 16. How was David treated by his father as a young son? Do you think his childhood

baggage may have found its way into his life as an adult? How has yours?

4. At the conclusion of the message Brad challenged us to consider the phrase, “I am not the one, but I

know the One.” Meaning, that we can never be everything our children or spouse need – but we can

point them to the one who is more than enough to be there everything. How can you be specifically

be transparent & intentional this week, so to point those around you to Jesus?

Moving Forward: Check this music video – The One you need by: Shane and Shane Video:


http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F9J9MCNU

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F9J9MCNU

Pointing our kids to Jesus seems easier on Sunday. We go to church. But what about Monday on the way to

school? What about Thursday when they get in a fight? In this 2 part video series Brian Smith and Brad Raby

discuss what it looks like to practically point our kids to Jesus Monday to Saturday.

https://vimeo.com/98549903


Summer in Psalms – Psalm 37 | June 22nd 2014



Opener: What are some of things that make you anxious, stressed, or even angry? In a chaotic and broken world

how should our relationship and understanding of God effect how we live?

Key Scriptures: Psalm 37:1-8, 23


1. Why do you think the Bible commands believers not to “fret” when we are constantly fretting, what

does this say about our understanding of God? Is there a noticeable difference between what we say

we believe about God, in light of our fears and angers, and how these truths are lived out in our lives?

2. Why does the Bible tell us to trust only in God, why not our family and friends? As Pastor Scott

pointed out, when troubles come most people withdraw from doing good works; however, what does

it say about our trust in God when we choose to not quit serving during the trials in our lives?

3. Thinking back to our discussion on Psalm 1 and what it means to delight in something, if our delight is

only in the Father and we desire what He desires how should this effect our fretting?

4. In what ways can we commit ourselves to God in our day to day lives?

5. In light of the command to “rest” or “be still” and to “wait on the Lord” in a time when most people

feel uncertain about their future, what confidence does it bring knowing that God has “established

our steps”? Knowing that as Christians we our not to fret, but rather we are to trust, delight, commit,

and wait on the Lord, what are some ways we can live out these truths?

Moving Forward:

What “step” do you see yourself in right now? Maybe it’s a job that isn’t your dream job. Maybe you’re single,

but long for a meaningful relationship. Whatever your “step” is – write it down on a 3x5 card. Underneath it

write out Psalms 37:23. Carry the card around you – in your wallet, on your fridge, propped on your desk – as a

reminder to trust in the Lord and to delight in the step. Not because it’s the place you ultimately want to be, but

because the Lord is there with you.


Recently Brad Raby sat down with Leslie Vogel to talk about trusting God in the midst of suffering. For over two

years she’s fought cancer. With her medical future still unsure, Leslie talks about learning to fight anxiety and

worry over the future by trusting in who God is.


Summer in Psalms – Psalm 85 | July 13th 2014



Opener: We are almost halfway through reading the book of Psalms. Which has been your favorite? Why?



In Sunday’s message Scott talked about characteristics of true revival…

1. Holiness: “It’s all too easy to turn the fight of faith into sanctification-by-checklist. Take care of a few

bad habits, develop a couple good ones, and you’re set. But a moral checklist doesn’t take into

consideration the idols of the hearts. It may not even have the gospel as part of the equation. And

inevitably, checklist spirituality is highly selective. So you end up feeling successful at sanctification

because you stayed away from drugs, lost weight, served at the soup kitchen, and renounced

Styrofoam. But you’ve ignored gentleness, humility, joy, and sexual purity.” - Kevin DeYoung

Does this quote change the way you think about holiness? If so, how?

2. Fear of God: How can we know God as both Father and an Awesome God who is to be feared? Do

those two characteristics of God conflict?

3. Love and Faithfulness: How are love and faithfulness connected in relationship? Read Psalm 84:10.

Does this describe your relationship with God occasionally or regularly? How can God be feared, yet

also be desire more than anything?

4. Righteousness and Peace: “Righteousness and Peace” go before the Psalmist and make a path. What

does this mean and how does it play out in our lives?

Moving Forward:

Revival in a city and nation begins in the hearts of individuals. Where do you need to steadfastly seek the Lord for

personal revival today? Make a point this week to pursue that end with your motivation being love of God.





Opener: For those with children – how many times have you looked at your kids and wondered, “Where did the

time go?” Does time seem to be even more fleeting the older you get? For singles or couples without children,

does it seem like it was yesterday that you were in High School or College? Does it seem like time flies by?



1. Read all of Psalm 90. Consider trading off with different members of your group. The theme of this

Psalm is very somber. What is the background and setting of this Psalm? How does this affect the

mood of the writing?

2. Verse 1 says, Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. This poetic phrase carries a

lot of weight. What does Moses mean by this statement and how does it speak to the predicament

the Israelites found themselves in?

3. Moses doesn’t open up with a complaint, but rather worship and praise. How should this impact our

prayer life? Is this how you begin your prayers of desperation to God?

4. Read James 4:14. How have you experienced this to be true in your life, or the life of someone else?

5. Scott said that time cannot be saved. Since it cannot be saved we must 1) Invest our time 2) Manage

our time and 3) Enjoy our time. What does it look like specifically for you to begin to number your

days? Be specific about various aspects of your life.

Moving Forward:

Every day is a gift. How will you leverage tomorrow?





Opener: Have you ever had a near-death experience? What happened?

Leader Tip: Remember, it’s not your job to try to convict your group members of their sin or to get them to

repent--this is the work of the Holy Spirit. As a leader, it IS your job to continually draw them back to the Word, to

encourage them the come to know and spend time with the Lord on their own, and to listen to them with

patience and grace--the Holy Spirit will do the rest!



Bryan Creswell talked about confession and repentance from the life of David this Sunday.

1. What do you think the difference is between guilt and repentance? Do you sometimes feel you've repented when maybe you've just felt guilty? This is sometimes called “counterfeit repentance”.

2. If you feel comfortable, share about a time when your sinfulness brought you to genuine sorrow and repentance (without giving details of the sin).

3. What do you think causes Christians to get to the point where they’re no longer affected by their sin?

4. Bryan also emphasized the grace of God in his message. How is grace a better motivator than guilt or fear mongering?

5. Read Psalm 51:7. What does David say God's cleansing does to our guilt?

Moving Forward:

Take sometime this week and pray David’s prayer in Psalm 139:” Search me, God, and know my heart; test me

and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.


Summer in Psalms – Psalm 104 | August 3rd 2014



Opener: Have you spent time recently marveling at creation? Maybe at the beach, or in the mountains? Talk about your favorite experience.



1. Read Psalm 104:1-9. The Psalmist opens up this vividly poetic piece of literature extolling the

greatness of God. (you are very great! v. 1) Why is the order of praise significant here? (Creator vs. Creation)

2. It's easy to find ourselves marveling at creation more than the Creator. Sometimes we even marvel at human creation more so than we marvel at the Divine Creator? Do you ever catch yourself marveling at creation more than the Creator? Why is this so easy?

3. Read Psalm 104:10-26. The Psalmist addresses astronomy, biology, physics and other sciences. What does the intricateness of the creation's design teach you about God?

4. Read Psalm 104:27-30. Creation isn't as self sufficient as it may seem. What do these verses teach us about creation? What do they teach us about ourselves?

5. Read Psalm 104:33. The Psalmist describes the response to all he has seen and experienced. What is his response and how does it relate to you?

Moving Forward:

This week read Genesis 1-2 and see if you can identify the correlation between it and Psalm 104.


Summer in Psalms – Psalm 120-122 | August 10th 2014



Opener: Can you relate to Cesar's story about long family trip? What memories - good or bad - do you have of a long road trip?

Key Scriptures: Psalm 120-122


1. Read Psalm 120:5-7. Have you ever felt like you didn't belong because what you desired out of life

seemed so incompatible with everything around you? Consider C.S. Lewis' famous quote: “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”

2. When you take a family trip, do you feel like you have to be in control? Do you program the remote, pick the hotel, the dinner stops - even the destination? How do you typically respond when you find yourself out of control on life's road trip?

3. Do you think 'trust' is hard because of the object of our trust (God) or because of the outcome of trust? (our giving up control)

4. Read Psalm 121:1-2. What direction do we look for help? What does this visual description of where our help lies teach us?

5. Read Psalm 122. The Psalm stands in contrast to the previous two Psalms in that fear and worry has been replaced by worship. How has worship helped you outside of Sunday morning?

Moving Forward:

Select your favorite verse(s) from #SummerInPsalms and write it out on an index card and place the index card

where you'll see it daily for several months.


Summer in Psalms – Psalm 139 | August 17th 2014



Opener: Psalm 139 is one of the wisdom psalms, written by David from a deeply personal perspective. The occasion for its composition is unknown, but its message is unmistakably clear. In it we find reason for the awesome wonder with which David worshipped the God who created the universe, yet who intimately knew him and became involved in the daily details of David’s life. This poem beautifully describes the omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, and divine holiness of God, aspects of His character that forever impact the lives of all His children.



1. Read Psalm 139. According to Psalm 139 . . . What does God know about you? What do you know about God?

2. Do you sometimes ACT like God is not present at a particular place or in a particular situation? Why? How would conscious acknowledgment of His presence change YOUR attitude and/or behavior in those places?

3. Read v. 13-16. What is the fact brought to our attention in v.13 that we often seem to forget?

4. Is there anything that deep in your heart-of-hearts you think God might not understand about you? Do you question why He made you the way He did? How do your answers reveal the quality of your faith and walk in Christ?

5. How often do you specifically pray for God to identify areas of weakness and then provide His ways of addressing them?

Moving Forward:

Select your favorite verse from Psalm 139 and memorize it this week.


Documents

We trust that the #SummerinPsalms series will be ...northstarknox.com/site/.../Summer-in-Psalms-Digital... · ^The Psalms ^comprise a sampling of spiritual journals. They are personal