Christmas in the Psalms
Sunday, December 11, 2022
1. Jason began this week with a list of “sad Christmas carols” – review the list and ask for other examples.
2. Many voices speak into the “sadness” experienced by some during the Holidays. Why is this so? What causes this sadness?
Ours Psalms passage this week addresses how to have hope in a season of sadness.
Read Psalms 42-43 (Tip: read around the circle one verse at a time).
First, we discussed the reality of being spiritual downcast.
3. Scan our passage and make a list of the psalmist’s reasons for being spiritually down.
4. Share some of the symptoms of spiritual depression (as noted in the passage and also reflected by our lives).
5. Note: It’s a very real thing to be sad in the Christian life. It’s not evidence of a lack of faith or being “less than Christian.” It’s a reality of living in a broken world.
Ask: would anyone want to share about a season they worked through this issue?
Second, Jason pointed out the remedy for times we are spiritually downcast. Reread 42:5-6, 42:11 and 43:5.
6. What’s the significance of the psalmist “preaching to himself”? What is the central theme of his “sermon”? (Tip: Hope in the Lord)
Jason gave us four steps for how to hope - review Jason’s acronym: ASAP.
-Ask honest questions
-Summon your past memories with the Lord.
-Acknowledge your present need of the Lord.
-Proclaim your future worship of Him.
7. What questions does the Psalmist ask? (cf. 42:3, 42:9, and 43:2)
8. What might other “deep” questions be that we sometimes ask of the Lord?
9. Why is it so important that we get these questions out in the open?
10. What kind of memories does the Psalmist summon? (cf. 42:4)
11. Why is it so vital to acknowledge our need of God (cf. 43:1)?
o What did Jason mean by the following statement: “Many of our downcast times arise due to our need to remain in control”?
o Can anyone share a time like this in his/her own life?
12. Finally, we are to proclaim our future worship. How does the Psalmist do this? (43:4-5)
o What does that look like in our lives during Christmas of 2022?
13. Give time for anyone to share if he/she is going though a particular time of sadness or know of anyone close to them. Spend time praying as a group.