Psalm 23
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This is the second sermon in our mini series in ‘Winter Warmers’. This sermon is ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’.
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
CONNECT: How can your choices and actions this week be sensitive to the needs of others?
WARM-UP
- Where have you heard this Psalm before but not in a Sunday service? Why do you think this Psalm is so popular even in the world?
- How have your friends who aren’t christian reacted to the past 18 months of uncertainty?
Read Psalm 23
- What was the role and purpose of a shepherd in these times of David? Why were the sheep so dependant on the shepherds?
- How does God provide for us the best and most fruitful place to live and thrive?
- Can you recall a time when you have felt the refreshment of the soul that David speaks of in V3? Where does our greatest refreshment and restoration come from?
- What does it mean to walk in the right paths? Who do we follow to guide us along these paths?
- What does V4 assume for us this side of eternity? How can we possibly not be afraid in this darkness and even in the face of death?
- How has the Lord provided for us in abundance? Where do we primarily see God’s goodness and love poured out for us?
- How can we have the confidence of dwelling in the house of the Lord even after death?
- What could it look like for us to act more like a sheep in our lifetime? How can we continually keep our eyes on the shepherd
Read John 10:11-18
- What does the good shepherd do for his sheep? How have we seen this? Why does the shepherd do this for us?
- How well does the shepherd know us? How could that shape our relationship with him?
- What does the opposite of this Psalm say to the person who isn’t a believer? Who could we tell of the comfort of the shepherd this week?
APPLY: hat prompts you to look to the shepherd? What troubles or concerns this week could you bring to him?
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for your compassion for us in being our shepherd. Please help us to remember that we are your sheep, that you care for us, and that we can call upon you to help us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Going deeper resources
On Your Frontline This Week: Alpha begins Monday 12 July. Who could you invite along?
Listen, Watch, and Read:
- AUDIO: The Future! by Dick Lucas
- AUDIO: The Psalm of the Sheep by D.A. Carson
- VIDEO: Psalm 23 by Peter Orr
- AUDIO: The Shepherd Who He Is and What He Does by Simon Manchester
- SONG: I’m Not Alone by Church by the Bridge
Series Resources:
Some helpful resources for our Series:
- Series Outline by St Bart’s Toowoomba: https://stbarts.com.au/blog/2021/6/20/winter-warmers-miniseries-outline
- Website: “Psalms” by the Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com/learn/psalms/
- Book: “The Case for the Psalms” by Tom Wright
- Devotional: “My Rock and My Refuge” by Tim Keller
- Course: “Introduction to Psalms” by the Gospel Coalition https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/psalms/
- Course: “The Psalms” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course).
