 If you haven't yet, watch this week's video here
In a comment at the bottom of the page, answer some or all of the questions below: (Some of this content is taken from the study guide. For more in-depth personal study download the study guide here: STUDY GUIDE ) Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. We began this series confronting the question of whether or not an Old Testament psalm applies to us today. And what we see here is that it clearly does. God has led us in paths of righteousness by way of his Son, Jesus Christ. But he does so for a specific reason. What does verse 3 list as the reason for the Lord’s shepherding care? In John 10 we see how Jesus leads us to righteousness. He provides us with a perfect right standing before God, and gives us the fuel to pursue righteous behavior. John 10:11-18 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” God isn’t after our white-knuckled discipline. He wants to set us free. Our righteousness comes about not by our own efforts, but by the obedience of Jesus Christ. And by faith, his righteousness is counted as our own. That’s what sets us free and fuels our obedience—the free gift of God’s grace. In what ways have you found yourself resorting to white-knuckled discipline? How should the truth that Christ purchased your righteousness on the cross change the way you think about obedience? Many think that grace encourages licentiousness. How does a true understanding of God’s grace fuel obedience? How has the Lord led you in righteousness? How has your life changed as a result of coming to know Christ? Where do you find yourself discouraged today? What is fueling that discouragement? What ought the gospel fuel in you today?
3 Comments
 If you haven't yet, watch this week's video here In a comment at the bottom of the page, answer some or all of the questions below: (Some of this content is taken from the study guide. For more in-depth personal study download the study guide here: STUDY GUIDE ) Psalm 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. As Matt pointed out in the session, God invites us to follow him out of drought and weariness and in to spaces of rest. It’s a perpetual invitation because our need for rest ebbs and flows throughout life, but it will always remain a need this side of glory. What does your land of drought look like? Where do you find yourself facing weariness? What causes that exhaustion? What are some ways that you have sought rest outside of the Lord as a response to your exhaustion, either today or at some point in the past? How are those pursuits unable to give you the rest you are looking for? John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. How does Jesus provide the rest we are looking for? How have you seen this in your life? How do you need to pursue it today?  If you haven't yet watch this week's video here In a comment at the bottom of the page, answer some or all of the questions below: (Some of this content is taken from the study guide. For more in-depth personal study download the study guide here: STUDY GUIDE ) Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Many times, we think about God in awe-inspiring terms (which we should). He is creator, sovereign, Lord, and so on. But as Matt pointed out, “shepherd” does not inspire awe so much as nearness and care. It communicates a level of intimacy that God has with his people. How does the idea of God as your shepherd add to your understanding of who God is? What implications does this aspect of God’s relationship with us have on our lives? John 10:7-11 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. One of the characteristics Matt pointed out is that the sheep that belong to Jesus hear his voice and follow wherever he leads. But Jesus is not the only voice we hear in our world today. There are many different things vying for our attention. Matt specifically mentioned three examples: our personal desires, culture, and relationships. What are some of the things you tend to look to as a shepherd other than Jesus? How do these things rob joy and life from you and leave you wanting? How are the struggles associated with this current pandemic revealing some of the false shepherds you look to? How is Jesus the only good Shepherd who can give life and cause us to say “I shall not want”? How ought the reality behind the phrase “I shall not want” transform our lives and relationships? How does it affect the way we face the current difficulty our world is in? IN A COMMENT BELOW ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
Introduce yourself and share some basic info about yourself: Share how this time has been going for you (and your family): Share any ways we can be praying for you and your family at this time: *When posting a comment, please enter your full name so we know who we are interacting with. |
Emerald Bible Fellowship
EBF exists to glorify God by making disciples through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in dependence on His Spirit.
EBF exists to glorify God by making disciples through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in dependence on His Spirit.