Ascent #6 - Ascend for Forgiveness
Psalm 129-130
Bryce Vaught
Part of Ascent—January 5 - February 23, 2025
February 7, 2025

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Message Notes and Group Study Guide

Date: February 8-9, 2025
Speaker: Bryce Vaught
Series: Ascent
Message: #6 - Ascend for Forgiveness

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Scripture

1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
let Israel say;
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”
5 May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.
6 May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you in the name of the Lord.” —Psalm 129:1-8 (NIV)

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins. —Psalm 130:1-8 (NIV)

Notes

Study Guide

Step One: Icebreaker (Optional)
As you consider your life in this current season, what might you say is your greatest need right now? If you can’t think of a specific need – what is something you want in this season of life.

Step Two: Prayer and Scripture Reading
Ask someone in your group to pray to open your time together. Ask another person to read Psalm 129-130.

Step Three: Discuss

  1. Weekend Message: What was most challenging, encouraging, confusing, or stood out most to you?

  2. Affliction & Suffering: The Psalmist in 129 speaks of being greatly afflicted. How should we understand suffering in our lives? How might this help us realize our need for God’s forgiveness?

  3. Repentance in Forgiveness: Psalm 130:3-4 emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our sin before God. What does true repentance look like? How can we cultivate a heart that is repentant?

  4. Waiting on the Lord: In Psalm 130, the writer speaks of waiting for the Lord. What does it mean to wait on the Lord? How does understanding God’s forgiveness influence us as we wait on him?

  5. God’s Forgiveness: Reflect on Psalm 130:7-8. What do these verses reveal about the nature of God’s forgiveness?

  6. Forgiving Others: Consider what it means to forgive others. How do you know you have forgiven someone? How does understanding God’s forgiveness change how we think of those who have wronged us?

Step Four: Close in Prayer
Ask someone in your group to close in prayer, focusing on specific requests for people to find and follow Jesus.