Bible Study Guide

---

Bible Study Guide Sunday, March 18, 2018

The Purpose of the Mission Sermon Text:​ Psalm 67 Study Texts:​ Psalm 57 Sermon Recap:​ In this week’s sermon text, Psalm 67, we learned that “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” In these first six verses, Psalm 67 presented the evangelistic theme of the Old Testament long before the coming of Christ. The psalmist gives praise to the LORD for a future time when all peoples of the earth will be blessed by Him. This passage looks beyond the nation of Israel to a time when even Gentile nations will come under the rule and reign of the LORD and will also carry the message that God's mercy is for all peoples. “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise You!”​ This Psalm is first and foremost a prayer to God. When we pray like this, we pray according to the heart of God, Who desires that none perish but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), and Who has ordained a great multitude from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues to praise Him before His throne (Revelation 7:9). Sermon Connection: ​One of the means that God has ordained for His name to be worshipped throughout the earth is through the prayers of His people. Using our Growth Group passage, Psalm 57, we will learn how to pray with God’s glory in the center of our hearts. This God-centered prayer can be divided into three sections: (1.) David, a trusting soul, prays for God’s deliverance (vv. 1-3), (2.) From danger to praise above the heavens (vv. 4-6), and (3.) David prays that all people(s) will worship God (vv. 7-11). In summary, David’s chief desire is that God will be exalted above the heavens and the earth. Despite his own particular troubles, David prays for God’s name to be praised.

Lesson Plan Lesson Goal: ​The goal of this lesson is to pray that all nations will worship God for what He has done in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Opening Question:​ A person of prayer once said, “​God gave the Psalms to us so that we would give the Psalms back to God.” In other words, God gave the Psalms to teach us how to pray (See Luke 11:1). Why is it helpful to pray the Bible? Context: ​Psalm 57 is a prayer written in a period of David’s life when he was seeking deliverance from King Saul. To seek refuge, David hides in a local cave and calls on the name of the Lord. ​The ​cave ​was probably “​the cave of Adullam​,” mentioned in 1 Samuel 22:1​. During the prayer, you will see David move from great distress, crying out to God, to worship and adoration of God. Read and Study God’s Word (​Psalm 57:1-3). Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, ​for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, ​till the storms of destruction pass by. ​I cry out to God Most High, ​to God who fulfills his purpose for me. ​He will send from heaven and save me; ​he will put to shame him who tramples on me. ​Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! Prayer Focus: Pray as a Growth Group… 1. Pray a prayer of dependence upon God,​ “​Be merciful to me, O God…” 2. Pray expressing thanks to God for never leaving or forsaking us. 3. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s mercies; specifically His fatherly care for His people (1 Peter 5:7) and salvation (Romans 12:1). 4. Pray for the lost in our local communities. There are many in our area in need of the saving mercies of God. Ask the Lord to use your Growth Group to reach the lost with the Gospel. 5. Pray for the MIC Missionaries. Their labor for the Gospel is often challenging. Pray for God’s sustaining mercies and for the lost to come to know His saving grace. Read and Study God’s Word (​Psalm 57:4-6). My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah Prayer Focus: Pray as a Growth Group… 1. David faced fierce enemies. Many of us face enemies, very difficult people in our lives. Pray for “our enemies” as Jesus taught us in Matt. 5:44. 2. Pray for those who persecute us, who seek to harm us because of our faith in Jesus Christ (John 15:20). 3. Pray for our MIC missionaries’ perseverance, for their encouragement, and for their joy. 4. Pray for the ​unreached and least reached​ to hear the gospel and believe, that they too may become worshippers of the Most High God. Read and Study God’s Word (​Psalm 57:7-11). My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Prayer Focus: Pray as a Growth Group… 1. Pray that we will be a people fixed on seeing God worshipped for what He has done in Christ. 2. Pray for opportunities for our Growth Group to testify to the glory of God in salvation. Pray that the Lord will grant Parkwood a culture of evangelism. 3. Pray for the MIC Missionaries. Pray for their hearts to remain steadfast on seeing the Gospel transform lives for the praise and glory of God. 4. Pray for God’s global Church to embrace the mission of God and give their lives to spread the fame of His name.