2025
A Life of Praise
Passage: Psalm 146
“Religion isn’t about your piety, it’s about loving your neighbor (not his house). And it isn’t about heroics – trying to make a difference with your life by moving to Bangladesh. It starts with a simple awakening to the suffering around you. It opens you up to a world that is more rich and reflective of the heart of God.” David Goetz, Death By Suburb
During this sermon series Trellis & Vine: Habits of Healthy Christian, we are considering the following practices:
- Silence and solitude to pray
- Fasting to pray
- Listening to God’s word
- Community in sabbath & corporate worship
- Community in small groups & friendships
- Generosity with money
- Generosity with time
Sermon Outline:
- Who deserves our attention?
- Who does God pay attention to?
- How does the gospel refocus our attention?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What is something that is easy for you to spend time doing? Why?
Read Psalm 146 . What challenges, encourages, or sparks questions for you in this passage? What phrases stand out to you that help shape your understanding of God’s character and your identity as a member of God’s family?
There is a stark contrast in verses 3-6 of who deserves our trust/attention and who does not. What people or systems are you most prone to entrust yourself to? How does the perspective of verse 4 shape the way you can positively receive help from people without entrusting yourself to them in forms of idolatry?
The Maker of heaven and earth deserves our full attention and complete trust as our ultimate help and hope. What does praising the LORD look like in your daily life and what characteristics of God typically come to your mind to praise him for?
Discuss the difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant. How have you experienced doing each?
Note who God pays attention to in verses 7-9 and what his care looks like in action. How does God’s attention for those mentioned in these verses challenge or encourage the way you relate to people in your life who fit in these descriptions?
Being generous with our time is not a matter of adding up acts of service, but it is a comprehensive pattern of living. What helps you pay attention to those who are marginalized and vulnerable? What hinders you?
Praying for God to show us who we can help today, listening to learn about others’ needs, and showing hospitality to others are a few ways that can help us pay attention to those in need. How have you practiced these suggestions or what are other ways you have found helpful to seeking those God cares about?
What from this passage and this discussion is something you want to put into practice or be more aware of this week?
PRAYER
Share with your group how they can be praying for you: what is weighing on you from this past week? What are you praising God for from this past week?
Prayer of Confession from Sunday: Father, you are kind, but we often fall short. Forgive us for ignoring the needs of others. Forgive us for being harsh. By the work of your Holy Spirit, please give us a heat that is tender, hands that are ready to serve, and a mouth that graciously speaks the truth. Thank you for always dealing kindly with us.
John 15:5 / “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”