for the week of February 21, 2016: The Lamp that leads…
God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. The Bible is not given to impart information. It is given to provide us
revelation— the revelation of God’s intention to be our Saving Father. The Bible is His story written to impart, invite,
instruct, and influence every part of our lives so that we might live devoted to Him and be developed into the likeness
of Jesus. God intends to guide our choices, re-direct our lives, and change us as we read, study, and reflect on His
Word. We must not deceive ourselves by just sampling random Bible verses instead God expects us to reflect
thoughtfully upon the Scriptures so that we might live the Word — this is true obedience. (see James 1.22)
Someone once said,
“One does not pray, ‘God, help me resolve the seeming contradictions I have found in the Bible.’
Instead one prays, ‘God help me to receive your Word wholly, unquestioningly, obediently. Let
me make it the lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path.’”
We must let God’s Word address us, challenge us, activate us, comfort us, assure us, inspire us, strengthen us, and
free us as we hear the voice of God revealing, illuminating, and speaking to us through the pages of this book.
Please do not offer the often heard lame excuse that it is challenging to read, difficult to study, or I am just not a
reader. The truth is we learn what has priority and value. If we didn’t, most of us would not be using smart phones,
using digital cameras, using computers, or developing our craft. Life, real life, is challenging, complex, and frequently
uncertain or ambiguous. Personally, I am grateful that God has given us a book that can reveal His presence and
promises amidst the confounding realities that is life in this mortal and fallen world. Therefore please:
Let the Bible shape your life. We must allow the Word of God to saturate our minds and hearts if we are to be the
prophetic and counter-cultural movement God calls us to be. Scripture, not culture, must define our understanding of
justice, love, virtue, wholeness, and relationships.
Let the Bible strengthen you in temptation. Learn from Jesus who overcame the attacks of Satan in the wilderness with scriptures from Deuteronomy 6 and 8. Remember the Sword of the Spirit IS the Word of God: " For the
word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit,
between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4.12; see Ephesians 6.17)
Let the Bible guide you. The Bible is not a random “promise box” of blessings that you pull from each day. It is a
book that will impart the “mind of Christ” that will inspire and inform our daily navigation amidst life’s joys and challenges.
Let the Bible help others through you. Use the scriptures to encourage, comfort, correct, and instruct. God’s
word, compassionately and humbly shared, feeds faith and can renew others in His love.
Coming home from Houston last Saturday night I sat next to a mom whose 19 year old daughter died of cancer 5
months ago… As we spoke together it was the gentle sharing of Scripture, not my thoughts or perspectives, that
transformed our conversation and created a window of opportunity to pray with her.
Essential to the vitality of Faith Community and our LifeGroups is the Word of God. This week we take a fresh look at
how to study, reflect, and benefit from time well-spent in the Word.
Enjoy your LifeGroup!
Mark
Getting to know one another better…
What is the strangest Bible story that that causes you to go, “Really?!”
reflecting on Psalm 34…
Read Psalm 34.
Write down which verses seem to group together naturally. Give a brief title to each grouping you made.
One key to unlocking any passage is to look for repeated words or ideas. Read Psalm 34 again and, as you
read, jot down repeated words or ideas.
Another key to understanding a passage is to look for who is mentioned. What groups of people are referred
to in this psalm? What do you learn about each?
A third key to understanding a passage is to look for what response (if any) the passage calls for. What invitation(s) does David seem to be making to the reader?
Based on verses 1-3, what can we learn about the meaning of the words extol, praise, boast and glorify? How
are they similar? How are they different?
Based on verses 4-14, what do you think David means when he tells the reader to "taste and see that the Lord
is good"?
Make a list of what benefits come to the righteous. Which of these benefits have you experienced?
What does the “fear of the Lord” mean for you? Is this a phrase you would use in describing your relationship
with God? Why or why not?
What can you tell about the character of David, the author, from this psalm? How does he view God?
What influence do you think David wants this psalm to make on those who hear it? How is it affecting you
personally?
How can you/your LifeGroup be a refuge/safe place for others?
What in these verses expresses what you need or desire from God? Pray in partners or as a whole group, using the language of the Psalm, to express your desires to God.
My prayer requests (think of what you want to share in advance)
Praying for my group…