June 7, 2015
June 7, 2015
What has been the most restful vacation you have experienced? What made it this way? Have you ever returned from a vacation seemingly more tired than when you left? What made it this way? What parallels can be drawn and applied to your daytoday lives? Read Genesis 2:23. Did God need to rest? Why do you think He rested? Do you think He needed to rest? Do you have a time in the week where you rest? What do you rest from? What types of activities do you do on your day of rest? Read Deut. 5:15. Do you take time to remember and thank God for the ways in which He has provided for you? What does that look like for you/and or your family? Rest in God’s Faithfulness Read Psalm 62. What stands out to you? Why? In verses 1 and 5 David makes the statement, “I am at rest in God alone.” In the following verse(s), what gives David such confidence in these statements? How can/should/ought this truth affect the way in which you approach God? Is this consistently true of your spiritual journey? Rest in God’s Mercy – Read Psalm 23:56. Matt Crutchmer’s writing “Rest, God’s Mercy Towards Us” speaks to the story of Frodo and Sam from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He writes, “Tolkien repeatedly tells the reader about Frodo’s sleeping, his resting, and their eating all along the way from the Shire to Mordor…..Tolkien is doing something profoundly biblical with his characters. Frodo and Sam exhibit distinctly Christian virtues in their travels and are contrasted against the sleepless, restless, selfmanufacturing activities of the Enemy. The hobbits are often shown as sleeping or resting despite the danger that surrounds them” Crutchmer adds, We ask: how can I feel that same confidence, that same lack of despair that these heroes felt? I have no reason not to despair of the enemies in my life when they are so many and so strong . More like Frodo than the mighty King David, our weakness is similar to the hobbit’s small stature. Thankfully, God through David gives us a solid ground to stand on in v. 6: “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Describe a time God’s mercy (and goodness) provided you with strength in the midst of difficulties? How can you encourage others through this experience? Rest in God’s Peace On Youtube, watch the following video from John Piper entitled, “How God Gives Peace on Earth.” Piper makes the statement: “God’s purpose is to give you peace by being the most gloriest person in your life”. What does God being the most gloriest person in your life look like? How is this lived out? Consider conversations you have with those in your life (coworkers, friends, neighbors) – do you hear people struggling to find and experience peace, mercy, and faithfulness in their lives? How can truths from the scriptures reviewed earlier be shared to help? GOINGDEEPER (split up guys/gals) God intends for you to experience His faithfulness, mercy, and peace in everyday life. When have you best experienced these? When have you have most struggled to experience these?
