Focus Verse

Psalm 32:5
“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
Review Psalm 32:1-11

Going Deeper

Day 1
Sermon Reflection: Christians often try to carry the guilt of our sin or transgression by keeping silent. When we do so, we, like David, suffer: 1) physical deterioration; 2) mental suffering; 3) spiritual separation. Silence and deceit only compounds the guilt and fear of judgment, which hinders our relationship with God.

Question: Why do you think the psalmist emphasizes the importance of confessing our sins to God?

Study Text: James 5:16

Day 2
Sermon Reflection: If we uncover our sins before God, He covers them from His judgment. As such, we must acknowledge our sin by: 1) calling sin “sin”; 2) seeing sin as serious; 3) seeing confessed sin as forgiven. It’s not enough to simply confess sin, we must also forsake it.

Question: In verse 1, David speaks of the blessing of having his transgressions forgiven. How does forgiveness impact our relationship with God and others?

Study Text: 1 John 1:9

Day 3
Sermon Reflection: God will teach and guide the person who is sensitive to Him. If we confess our sins and grow in sensitivity to His word, He will direct us in His ways.

Question: According to Psalm 32:8-9, what does it mean to be guided by God’s counsel? How can we apply this guidance in our daily lives?

Study Text: Psalm 1:1-2

Day 4
Sermon Reflection: The righteous are not those who never sin, but rather those “upright in heart” because they have confessed their sins.

Question: Reflect on the contrasts between silence and groaning in verses 3-4. How does acknowledging our sins and bringing them to God bring freedom?

Study Text: Acts 3:19

Day 5)
Sermon Reflection: We were not pardoned to go our own way, but rather to go God’s way. The person who understands forgiveness by God’s grace would not continue in sin, but will grow more sensitive to the ways of the God who has freely pardoned him.

Question: The psalmist encourages us not to be like the horse or mule. What does this mean, and how can we cultivate a responsive heart to God?

Study Text: Acts 7:51

Overarching Questioins

How can you apply the lessons from Psalm 32 in your personal prayer and devotional life?

Sermon Main Points

“Pursue a Clean Conscience Before God”
- Identify the sin in our lives
- Acknowledge and confess our sin to God
- Be attentive and willingly follow God’s instruction

Note: Psalms were originally composed to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. David and others originally wrote the Psalms to be sung to the accompaniment of the harp. In the New Testament, we are told to sing the psalms to the accompaniment of the heart.

Sermon Highlights

We are all guilty of sin before God. When we repent and God forgives us: 1) we are forgiven; 2) we are covered; 3) our sin is not counted to our account. We are blessed when our sins are all forgiven, and we stand with a clean conscience before God

Sermon Reflection

What point/idea resonated most with you? Why?
How would you summarize/paraphrase the message in your own words?

5 Day Study Plan

Use the Inductive Bible Study method to study these scriptures this week and remember to share with someone else.

Follow these steps
1. Observe the text.
*_{(What do you see in the text? Look for answers to questions like: Who? What? When? Where? Why?

2. Interpret the text.

_{(What did God and the human author of the text want the original people reading this text to understand/do? Why?)}

3. Apply the text.

*_{(How do I need to change in my thinking, my affections, m}}

_{Harvest Bible Chapel Barbados - 2023}