Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
Ice-Breaker:
Were you spanked as a kid? Grounded? Parents, what works for your kids? How is your style of discipline different from your parents'?
Discussion Questions:
- David is suffering in Psalm 6. Sometimes we suffer in life because of the curse of sin. We live in a cursed and broken world. But SOMETIMES we suffer because of God's discipline in our lives. This is what David is experiencing. He realizes that he is in this situation because God is displeased with his sin. Think about times in your life when you've suffered. Which ones were no fault of your own? And which ones do you think could be a result of your own sin and God's discipline in your life?
- Sometimes we can fall into the trap of treating our own sin casually. We think that since we are saved and our sins are forgiven that our sin is no big deal. But nothing could be further from the truth. God is, and always will be, displeased with our sin. You know from your other relationships that it's possible for you to love someone and still be displeased with their actions. The fact is, our sin grieves the heart of God. And he disciplines us because he loves us. What areas of sin in your life might you be guilty of treating casually? Is there something there that might be grieving the heart of God and bringing his discipline to your life?
- Not all sin is created equal. Yes, it's true that any and all sin separates us from a holy God, but some sin carries with it greater consequences and destruction. When we get used to treating sin casually, it will progress. It will take us deeper and deeper and further and further from God. We can end up living a double life... playing with fire. We end up risking what we want most in life for the temptation of what we want in the moment. Have you ever lived your life this way? Jumping from slippery rock to slippery rock? Have you ever seen a good Christian absolutely implode their lives as a result of this way of living?
- As Clayton said on Sunday, when you experience the consequences of sin, you should curse your sin, not God. Like children getting mad at their parents when they're disciplined, sometimes we can do the same with God. John Calvin said that when we suffer in life, we should immediately check ourselves to see if there might be sin that needs to be dealt with. Instead of shaking our fists at God we should, instead, get angry at our sin. We should want to rid our lives of it because of the destruction it brings. Have you ever considered responding to sin in this way? Have you ever been truly angry at the sin in your life? What kind of difference might that make in your relationship with God?
- Finally, after we get mad at our sin, we need to confess it to God, repent and run to the cross. The cross is what keeps the temporal consequences from becoming permanent, eternal ones. We should run to Jesus and confess our sin because he is faithful and just to forgive. At the cross, Jesus shamed our enemy by defeating him. Sin is forgiven as God's wrath and mercy meet at the cross. And it's all because of his love for us. The refrain of the cross, the line that gets repeated over and over, is that Jesus saves! His love is unfailing. What is your biggest takeaway from this Psalm? Have you been blaming God for something? Is there any sin that you need to confess? Like the prodigal son, do you need to run back to God? What is he speaking to you?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would be quick to recognize God's discipline in our lives.
- That we would be angry at our own sin and quick to repent.
1 Comment
Amen!