Weekly Discussion Guide

Pastor Chris spoke out of Psalm 136, and showed that God’s love for us is not only infinitely deep, but unwaveringly consistent—no matter what’s going on in our lives.

MY STORY
Without naming anyone, talk about what it’s like to interact with someone who has a reputation for wild mood swings—like you never know “who” you’re going to encounter when you engage with this person.

How is God very much NOT like that?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
Psalm 136
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Why do you think the psalmist keeps repeating the line, “For his steadfast love endures forever”?
Do a quick word association with these three terms—what’s the first phrase that comes to mind when you hear,
(1) steadfast; (2) love; (3) forever?
What types of situations does the psalmist describe here? Which ones would be considered positive and uplifting?

Which ones would be challenging or alarming?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
Pastor Chris asked us ... “What are you anticipating Jesus to do in your life tomorrow? How does what God has done in the past give us anticipation for what he’ll do in the future?”

When is it easy for you to sense the presence and love of God? Under what circumstances is feeling God’s compassion more difficult?

What is absolutely true about the depth and consistency of God’s love, regardless of our emotional ability to perceive those things?

React to these quotes ...

“For those who feel their lives are a grave disappointment to God, it requires enormous trust and reckless, raging confidence to accept that the love of Jesus Christ knows no shadow of alteration or change. When Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened,” He assumed we would grow weary, discouraged,
and disheartened along the way. These words are a touching testimony to the genuine humanness of Jesus. He had no romantic notion of the cost of discipleship. He knew that following Him was as unsentimental as duty, as demanding as love.

“Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.” ― Brennan Manning

What is it about the heaviness of the difficulties we face that may make us doubt the depth of God’s love for us? When we are feeling this way, what assumptions might need to be examined and perhaps challenged?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
Pastor Chris said ...
It’s easy to say that God is the Almighty creator of life and has blessed our family when, when, when you are healthy and everything is good, a good report from the doctor, it’s easy to say God, you sustain life and you’ve kept me strong and healthy, but it’s harder to tell yourself the truth in the difficult times, isn’t it?

Where does your mind go in the hard times? When you’ve experienced loss and you’re going through a season of grief because you’ve lost your spouse or your parent or, or you had a miscarriage or whatever that grief is like. Where does your mind go?

Where does your mind go during the challenging times?

Write out your own version of this psalm following this pattern:

1. Write down three blessings in your life, followed by the words, “The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever”
2. Write down three significant losses in your life, followed by the words, “The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever”

In prayer, tell the Lord how you feel about saying each of the phrases, and perhaps any inner turmoil you may be experiencing with Step #2 above.

Be creative and figure out a new, maybe surprising way to demonstrate the profound compassion and love of God to someone this week.

What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step God is calling you, personally, toward?