
PREPARE
I once read a poem titled; Jesus Volta. While finding the poem to be clear, by not realizing it was a Sonnet nor remembering what the term Volta meant, it was difficult for me to truly understand it. The term Volta describes the turning point in a sonnet. Just that information alone even makes the title more clear!
Why all this talk about poetry? Over the next 15 weeks we will be moving into a new sermon series on the Psalms, the poetry and songbook of the Bible. In this book you will find a wide variety of structure, subject, and emotions: Joy, triumph, peace, praise, worship, war, distress, judgment, and, lament, along with prophecy of the Messiah – Jesus!
Poetry is a style of writing, often using an economy of words and cadence and rhyming scheme. Poems put to music are what we call hymns and songs. Our understanding and application of this rich and meaningful book can give us words for our emotions and deepen our relationship with Jesus.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalms 1 and using the questions below.
Questions:
What did you learn about the book of Psalms? How does the dominant culture define happiness? How is the good life portrayed in movies, songs, and social media? Where do you find happiness? How is knowing God through His word a blessing from God?
Read Psalm 1:1. In the Psalms, what does it mean to be “blessed”? In this verse, what negative things does a blessed person not do? Describe these things.
Notice the way interaction with people who don’t know God yet can have on a person. What is the progression? (Notice the location of the person.) What caution is the psalmist giving for the reader as he or she interacts with the world?
Read Psalm 1:2-3. Next the psalmist lists several positive attributes of the blessed person. What does the blessed person do? What are their lives like?
The core of the blessed person’s life is relationship with God through His word. What does it mean to meditate on God’s word? What are the benefits of biblical meditation?
Explain the analogy of the tree. What qualities of the blessed person does this analogy reveal?
Read Psalm 1:4-6. How does the psalmist describe the wicked? What does it mean to be wicked? What is “chaff”? How does this term describe the life of the wicked?
What does verse six say about the lives and the destinies of the blessed and the wicked? What implications does this reality have for you and the people around you?
ATTEND
Verses: Psalms 1
Main Point:
The person who is blessed by God obeys and delights in God as He has revealed Himself in His word.
REFLECT
- What impacted you most from this week’s message? What challenged you or encouraged you?
- What did you learn about the character of God?
- How did this week’s sermon affect your perspective on God or your perspective on yourself?
ACT
- What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
- How can you deepen your relationship with God and follow Him more closely this week?
- Who is someone you can share what you learned with?