Small groups: explore the Psalms


"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

Gather some friends together, bring copies of the Bible, and utilize this small group outline as structure and a starting point for a small group study and discussion. Our topic this time is on Exploring the Psalms.

Week one: call on the Lord

Task

When faced with a fear or worry turn to the Lord in prayer and read His Word.

Readings

Psalm 5, Psalm 13, Psalm 28, Psalm 42, Psalm 145

Discussion Questions

  • What has prayer looked like in your life in the past? Currently?
  • What does calling on the Lord mean to you?
  • Discuss the relationship between prayer and reading the Word in your life.

Quotations

There are three things by which faith is formed in a person; first by going to the Lord; secondly, by learning truths from the Word; and thirdly, by living according to them. –True Christianity 348

So far as you approach and draw near to God, so far does God approach and draw near to you. –True Christianity 89

Week two: providence

Task

Trust God’s plan (providence) for your life, and find comfort in His presence.

Readings

Psalm 16, Psalm 20, Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Psalm 118

Discussion Questions

  • Consider times in your life when you have been able to see providence.
  • What would it look like to hand your fear and worries over to the Lord?

Quotations

Peace has in it confidence in the Lord, that He directs all things, and provides all things, and that He leads to a good end. When a person is in this faith, he is in peace, for he then fears nothing, and no solicitude about things to come disquiets him. A person comes into this state in proportion as he comes into love to the Lord.  –Secrets of Heaven 8455

Week three: courage

Task

Choose to take the courageous step of dealing with fears and worries

Readings

Psalm 27, Psalm 31 , Psalm 71, Psalm 139

Discussion Questions

  • Where do you notice resistance to dealing with fear and worry in your life?
  • What does taking courageous steps mean to you?
  • How could you use the message of a Psalm to help you take courageous steps?

Quotations

“Every smallest moment of person’s life involves a series of consequences extending to eternity, each moment being as a new beginning to those which follow; and so with all and each of the moments of one’s life, both of one’s understanding and of one’s will.”  –Secrets of Heaven 3854

Week four: gratitude

Task

Acknowledge the blessings in your life and find ways to express gratitude for them.

Readings

Psalm 24, Psalm 30, Psalm 47, Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 100

Discussion Questions

  • How does spending time in gratitude impact your attitude?
  • How do you see the relationship between gratitude and humility in your life?
  • Share some of the blessings in your life.

Quotations

“The angels can know from a single word that comes from the thought the quality of a person’s spirit.”  –Secrets of Heaven 6623

“For those who trust in the Divine all things are moving toward an everlasting state of happiness, and no matter what happens at anytime, it contributes to that state.”  –Secrets of Heaven 8478

Week five: God's love

Task

Experience God’s love in your life and the joy of it.

Readings

Psalm 34, Psalm 36, Psalm 46, Psalm 51, Psalm 136

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to have God in your life?
  • Share an intention or goal you have for going forward.

Quotations

“The more closely we are united to the Lord, the more clearly we seem to have our own identity, and yet the more obvious it is to us that we belong to the Lord.”  –Divine Providence 42

“The Lord is present with every person, urging and pressing to be received.” –True Christianity 766

Full issue

Daily Inspiration

"The working of Divine Providence for our salvation starts with our birth and lasts to the end of our life and then on to eternity."

Divine Providence 332.1