Prayer
As always, we start with prayer. Is there anything we as a group can pray for this evening that’s going on in your personal world?
Passage
Psalm 103
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who revere him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who revere him.
14 For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who revere him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers who do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise
Amazing Grace
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
We have already come
'Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun
Than when we've first begun
-John Newton
Ponder
1. When you read this section of the Psalms, what seems to jump off the page for you? Is there anything here or in the song above that connects with you that you would like to share?
2. King David calls upon us to Bless the LORD with our entire soul/being [all that is within us]. What emotions or thoughts come to mind when you hear that? Why do you think that he calls upon us to bless the Lord with all we have within us—and how does that relate to the theme of the Psalm?
3. In Psalm 103:8-11, David lists off many characteristics of the Lord. What are they, and which ones do we feel like we most need in our current situation right now?
4. When you think about the context of King David writing a psalm like this about himself, how his transgressions are removed from him, and how such grace is available to those who are reading this Psalm, what comes to mind for you? Or, when you think about John Newton and is own life, conversion, and change, what comes to mind in regards to Amazing Grace?
5. In v.11-13, David seems to be making a comparison: the extent of God’s love seems to also be the extent of God’s forgiveness. How does that encourage or challenge you?
We have been given amazing grace. Who do we give amazing grace as we apply this into our own lives?
Pray and Part