Brian Webster Rockford Campus July 23, 2023
Seek (Part 3: Praying the Psalms)
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
REMINDERS
Check out the summer schedule for upcoming events.
TOGETHER IN LIFE
The Psalms have sometimes been called “Jesus’s songbook” because they would have been the worship songs that Jesus grew up with. Share a song that has meant a lot to you in your Christian life (it could be a psalm, hymn, praise chorus, Christian radio hit, etc.). What made it significant to you?
TOGETHER IN THE WORD
THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Psalm 38–41
Note: Normally we encourage you to read the entire text together as a group out loud, but we’re going to break it up this week.
Big Idea
In addition to being ancient songs, the Psalms are models of prayer. As Christians we have inherited a rich treasury of songs and prayers to meet us in everyday life. These four psalms stand together, and in studying them together we learn better how to use them in our prayer lives today.
Warm Up Questions
- What role did the Psalms play in your life growing up? Did you see them as songs, as prayers, or something different? Or were they off your radar altogether?
- How do you feel about praying a prescribed prayer? Does it make a difference if that prayer is from the Bible versus some other source?
- What are some of your questions or concerns about praying the Psalms in particular? Is it difficult to connect with what you read there, given that they came from a distant time and culture?
Activity: Pause and Pray
We always come to the Bible as disciples, not critics. We sometimes don’t understand what we read, and sometimes we wish we felt more connection with it regardless. But the disciple comes in faith to receive what God has for us, knowing His Word is good and trustworthy because He is good and trustworthy. Take a moment and thank God for the Psalms as a gift from a wise and loving Father. Confess any frustrations or concerns you may have about using the Psalms in prayer, and ask for God’s help to approach His Word with faith and humility and open hearts.
Lament and Wisdom
A theme in these psalms is lament, which is a song of mourning. It cries out to God either personally or corporately about some pain, hardship, or evil. In a lament we call out what is wrong with the world and bring it before God, who is our only hope. They often concern the three Rs: relief, restoration, and God’s reputation. In these psalms, faith-filled lament produces wisdom. We may not see relief and restoration right away, but by considering our problems in light of God’s nature, character, and promises, we grow in wisdom now.
QUESTIONS
- Have you ever used a song to help process your grief or related emotions? What was the end result?
- Is it easy for you to bring your laments to God? If not, what do you think is blocking you?
- Have you seen God turn lament into wisdom before? If so, share the story and reflect on the connection.
- Jesus was called a “man of sorrows,” and we see examples in his response to the death of Lazarus (John 11:33–35), His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39–42), and His words on the cross (Matthew 27:46). How do you think lament functioned in His life?
Experiencing Praying the Psalms in Church
Brian began by surveying some key points about the text, theology, and emotions of each Psalm. (You can review the slides here.) Then he invited us to close our eyes as he read each psalm, and to interact with the words through our posture in subtle ways. Finally, we were given time to respond with a prayer of our own on the theme of the psalm.
QUESTIONS
- Did you follow his instructions while listening? If so, what was the experience like? If not, why not?
- Which of the four psalms best fits your life right now? Is there a specific passage that you felt you could really relate to?
- Did you recognize any of the music playing in the background during our time of responsive prayer? How did it help or hinder your prayer?
- Was it easier for you to pray along with what you heard or to respond with your own prayer? What are the pros and cons for you personally of being given words versus finding your own?
- Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
Activity: Practice and Reflect
Choose four members of your group to lead the reading/prayer of a psalm from today’s lesson; if possible, try to connect each psalm with the person who said it fit their life best right now. Discuss ahead of time whether you will make any changes to Brian’s instructions; for example, you might pray with eyes open, try out different postures, or respond by praying aloud instead of silently. (You may skip a psalm or read them out of order, just remember that they fit together in sequence and so you may lose something by doing so.)
After you have prayed through the four psalms together, reflect: did going through it a second time help you connect with it better? Did any of your changes influence the result? Remember that God hears our prayers regardless of how easy or hard it is to say them or how we feel (or don’t feel) in the process. We are not heard because of our many words, but because our loving Father is faithful to listen. With this in mind, what practices will you take with you throughout the week?
TOGETHER IN ACTION
Brian challenged us to practice praying a Psalm of your choosing each day this week. Begin by reading through the main thoughts and emotions, and then meditate on the similarities in your life. Finally, talk to God and let the Psalm guide you.
Do you have any ideas about which psalms you will pray? If not, how will you choose? Keep track throughout the week so you can share at your next gathering; you might even consider sharing your choices with one another each day in a text or email.
