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Message Notes

Feb 8, 2010 Print This Post

Each week at Riv, our Life Groups go through questions based on the weekend’s message. I thought Paul (the Riv pastor who puts these together) did a great job on the questions for this week especially in light of the topic (Psalms of Lament).
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Here’s the questions for this week:

Overview:
How did this week’s message speak to you about how to deal with difficult times in your life?

Rolling Up Your Sleeves:
1. Understanding our need for God’s help in the circumstances of life will motivate us to go to Him for help when we encounter difficult times.

Read Psalm 86 together and discuss the following questions:

• How would you describe the attitude of the writer of this Psalm?
• What does it mean to be dependent on God?
• Have you ever felt that God hasn’t heard or answered your prayers?
• What would you say is the biggest reason God should answer them?
• Have you ever felt that God let you down? Why?
• What does it mean to have a ‘divided’ heart toward God?

2. Honesty and transparency are vital aspects in our relationship with God – as they are with other people. It takes courage to admit it when we are down and discouraged, and humility to accept it when life if going well.

Look at Psalm 77 and talk about these questions:

• Share a time in your life when you felt extremely hopeless or discouraged?
• Do you find it difficult to admit to God and to your friends when you are struggling with life? Explain.
• What helped you move past that time in your life when things were not ‘OK’?
• Do you ever feel that you should be exempt from difficult times? Why?
• What does it mean to ‘trust’ God when you don’t feel like it? Does ‘trusting God’ mean we don’t ever question Him? Explain.

Bringing It Home:
What steps can you take to be more honest and transparent in your relationship with God and with your friends?

What does it mean to have hope in God’s faithfulness?