Joy and forgiveness

Sunday, June 21, 2020 - 10:15 AM

COVID Worship Week Fourteen—Sunday, June 21—Fathers’ Day

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Preparatory content

Review our memory verse Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Worship service

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Align time

Connect with your group for discussion of our text together. 

Questions to probe our text and live it: 

  1. Two more weeks until we return to campus. How many of you will still need a remote church experience instead meeting together physically?
    Public worship returns to GCC’s campus on July 5. We will offer recorded worship services for any who are unable or cautious about returning to meeting all together if there is enough interest. Please email pastor@hhgcc.org to indicate your interest continuing remote church.
    You will receive more information about precautions to take for worship together physically.
  2. When is the last time you had a really good, long-lasting laugh? And what gives you joy that lasts and lasts?
  3. Has the experience of forgiveness ever brought you deep enjoyment?
  4. Re-read Psalm 51.
  5. List together at least 10 things that impress you about David’s prayer of confession.
  6. How is confession tied to our renewed joy with God? What might sabotage this joy renewal?
  7. Take time to read Luke 15:11-32. Why is the older son grumpy instead of joining in the joy?
  8. Consider the words suggested by Tim Keller as a prayer-response to Psalm 51:
    Lord, create in me true brokenness—not the counterfeit ones of discouragement, bitterness, or despair.
    Let me know liberation from always needing to defend myself, always standing on my dignity, always smarting because I’ve been snubbed. Give me the quiet peace of a broken spirit.
    Amen.
  9. Please give us other updates or prayer needs? As we thought through forgiveness, did any names come to your mind? Let’s pray for these ones together.
  10. Summarize together the main take-aways what has been communicated today.

Resources

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