Matt Zainea ⋅ Rockford Campus ⋅ July 31, 2022
THE GOD WHO REIGNS IN KINDNESS
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
REMINDER
- IGNITE!!! Fall Ministry Volunteer Launch on September 7
- Men’s, Women’s, 1829 Small Groups start on September 11
- Adult Life Groups start on September 18
TOGETHER IN LIFE
**On Sunday, we see that the Psalmist focuses in on the kindness of God. His kindness is often reflected through other believers. Who is the kindest person you have ever met? How has their kindness impacted your life and your view of God himself?
TOGETHER IN THE WORD
13The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. 14The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. Psalm 145:13b-17
QUESTION: The Psalmist moves from talking about the fallen and bowed down to talking about his provision for all. Why do you think this order is important?
QUESTION: The Lord gives provision to all in the proper time regardless of who we are. Have you ever been frustrated with the manor of provision or amount of provision that God has provided for others? What could this possibly reveal about our hearts?
THE FOCUS OF THE PSALMIST: THE LORD IS KIND
- Through PROVISION – He Feeds All & Satisfies All
QUESTION: “All good things come from God.” Describe a time in your life where you have struggled to believe this.
DISTORTIONS: SCARCITY & FLIPPANT MINDSETS
A scarcity mindset means all our actions are driven from the belief that we will not have enough. A flippant mindset means all our actions are driven from the belief that we will always have enough and it doesn’t matter how we use God’s provision.
QUESTION: How have you seen these two distortions played out in your own life or in our world in general?
QUESTION: “No one should care more about the created order than a Christ follower.” At any given moment we can be guilty of placing to much emphasis on the created order or too little. Which way do you tend to lean? What do you think causes us to lean one way or another?
QUESTION: Matt gave us a few questions to help us evaluate if we are distorting God’s provision. Take some time to consider these questions as a group. How are we doing in this area?
- How much time do I spend thinking about what I don’t have?
- How much time do I spend trying to get more stuff at the expense of other people?
- What is my giving like?
- Through INTERVENTION – He Upholds the Falling & Raises the Bowed
QUESTION: “There is a certain type of attention or care we receive when we are going through terrible things.” How have you experienced this in your own life or seen it in the life of someone close to you?
QUESTION: Matt pointed out that God uses the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the People of God as agents to uphold the fallen and raise the bowed. Which of these agents do you struggle to engage with the most? How can we lean into these things more to experience and enjoy more of God’s kindness?
QUESTION: God’s provision and intervention are most clearly seen at the cross. How should the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus impact our view of our own suffering?
TOGETHER IN ACTION
BIG IDEA: Take time this week to recognize and give gratitude to God for His provision and intervention in your life.
QUESTION: How can you use your normal rhythms in life to spend intentional time thanking God for his provision and intervention on a daily basis? i.e. Car ride to work or school, before bed, etc.
TOGETHER IN WORSHIP
Spend time together as a group recounting the provision and intervention of God in your life. Spend extended time in prayer of thanksgiving for who God is and all that he has done to provide and uphold you.