Falls Presbyterian Church (OPC)

Because our God is The LORD, we must cry out to Him in repentance when our joy dies. (v.1-4) How do we respond to difficulty and sadness? 1. Cry out to The LORD solemnly – mourning over sin. (v.13-14) 2. Cry out to The LORD humbly – with utter dependence. (v.15-18) 3. Cry out to The LORD longingly – panting for Him. (v.19-20) What is our reaction to suffering? To what extent do we have pride? 2 Chronicles 7:13-14. Why would apathy be a struggle for us? Romans 8:18-25. When are we tempted toward passivity? John 15:11.

The LORD is our keeper. 1. Where can we look for help? (v.1-2) 2. What does the LORD do for us, and how consistently? (v.3-7) 3. When does it start? (v.8) How do we know that everything will be okay? Who should keep us? Gen.4:9, Is.64:1 Rom.8:35-39, Heb.12:3 The sages of wisdom ask if we know whose name? Pv. 30:1-4 What will it be like in the future? Psalm 23, Rev. 21:23

God, because of His love for us, shows us that our joy withers whenever we fail to give Him our undivided attention! 1. God shows Himself to us in our suffering. (v.1-4) 2. God insists that we awake from our complacency. (v.5) 3. God reveals the withering of our joy, whenever He is not our very life. (v.6-12) What is distracting us from God, and how harmful is that? To whom are we called to pass on truth? 2 Tim 2:2, Ps. 78:4 How is complacency a present danger in our lives? Rev. 4:11. Evaluate our level of joy; what is God's goal? John 15:11

Since our Heavenly Father cares so well for birds, lilies and grass, it would be non-sensical for us to be anxious about our own food, lodging, clothing, or the future. Caution: anxiety is distracting! 1. Don't fret, for our Creator-Father takes good care of everything He created, always knowing what we need. a. Look at the birds of the air. (v.26-27) b. Consider the lilies of the field (v.28-30) c. He cares for us! Our souls, bodies, even clothing. (v.32) 2. Don't be anxious, for our Savior-Father has taken our souls into His care-kingdom-reign and He has placed His righteousness upon us, so of course God will take care of our bodies, too. (v.33) 3. Don't imagine tomorrow's possible troubles, which is worrying (distraction!); instead focus today on the One who holds tomorrow. If tomorrow contains trouble for us, then it will also contain grace for us to overcome that trouble, too. (v.34) Conclusion: Whenever we feel anxious, we are falling for a distraction! Quickly, we turn our minds back to the spir

Study directions: how to get passion for Christ back/teach future generations to do so. Direction 1. Draw near (v. 19-22) Direction 2. Hold fast (v. 23) Direction 3. Consider others (v. 24-25) Conclusion: got enthusiasm?

1. Let us be thankful for fellow believers, despite their present sins and shortcomings. 2. Let us be thankful for fellow believers, because they, like you, partake of Christ's Salvation

Since Jesus is our Prince of Peace, we look to Him as we cope with lies, hatred and warring. 1. As we join with Jesus in praying, we can be confident that the lies of Satan will be fully repaid in The Judgment. (v.1-4) 2. We enter into the grief of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, after He lived in this hateful world. (v.5-6) 3. We walk in the footsteps of Jesus, as he journeyed through a warring world. (v.7) Why is peace so precious in our fallen world? What is the relationship between Satan and lies? John 8:44 Where is the fire of the lying tongue kindled? James 3:6 Who understands our misery regarding liars? Mt. 17:17, Heb. 4:15

The Lord fully equipped His apostles with authority to upbuild His church and to gently restore unity. 1. The proof of true apostles was that they gently warned of the impending exercise of the power of Christ. (v.1-4) 2. True apostles taught others how to prayerfully detect where Christ truly was in His church: in you and in me! (v.5-9) 3. As gently as possible, true apostles were upbuilding Christ's church and restoring peace, harmony and unity. (v.10-14) How important is a soft touch when exercising authority? Why are multiple witnesses required? Deuteronomy 19:15 For whom did both Jesus and Paul pray? Mt. 5:44-45 Where are unity and harmony found? Col. 3:14

Because we are powerless, we must ask God for power. What power? 1. The power to understand and to be delivered. (v.169-170) 2. The power to praise. (v.171-172) 3. The power of rescue. (v.173-176) What do we really need? How are we able to grasp truth? Eph 3:18 Philemon 1:6 What active role of rescuing is necessary for us? 2 Tim.4:18 Where is God's power visible in the world? 1 Cor. 1:5-8. Phil. 1:6.

Christ provided the tell-tale mark of true Christ-likeness: strength in weakness while reaching out to souls in order to build them up. 1. The signs of a true apostle. (v.11-12) 2. The sacrifices of a true apostle. (v.13-18) 3. The concerns of a true apostle. (v.19-21) How much does a believer care about the souls of others? Why did Paul view himself as the least? Eph. 3:8 What are the family responsibilities of Christians? 1 Tim. 5:8 Which love do we imitate? 1 John 3:16 and 4:19

The power of Christ is seen when He uses our suffering to bless us. 1. Christ uses our suffering to reveal to us our spiritual condition. (v.1-5) 2. Christ uses our suffering to keep us humble. (v.6-8) 3. Christ uses our suffering to display His grace and power. (v.9-10) Why would a Christian experience weakness? How does God accomplish His will in us? Gen. 50:20 When is the power of darkness felt? Luke 22:53 Who are more than conquerors? Rom. 8:37

Even when we are rattled, we remain undeterred in our awe of God the Father through Jesus His Son. 1. Well-kept hearts: our awe, our treasure, our love. (v.161-163) 2. Well-kept lives: our praise, our steadiness, our obedience. (v.164-166) 3. Well-kept motivation: our obeying, our seeking how to please. (v.167-168) How does treasuring God help us with difficulties? Why does the world hate Jesus and Christians? John 15:25 Whom do we respect; result? Mt.10:28,Jn.16:33,Eph. 2:14 What are we urged to discern? Eph. 5:10.

Christ upheld His servant Paul as he dealt with fools according to their folly in order to show Christ's wisdom and their folly. 1. Christ upheld Paul in his identity and in his service. (v.16-22) 2. Christ upheld Paul in his dangers and in his heartaches. (v.23-29) 3. Christ upheld Paul in his weaknesses and in his preservation. (v.30-33) How did Christ uphold Paul? What is the gain/loss of having a good resume? Phil 3:4-8 Why did God tell Zechariah to act out 2 parts? Zech. 11:4-17 How can we identify The True Shepherd? Mark 10:42-45

Because God is merciful, when we draw near through the risen Jesus, we receive His life-giving touch, that revives and refreshes our souls. 1. Asking God to see our upsurging need for His mercy. (v.153-154) 2. Celebrating the abundance of God's mercy. (v.155-158) 3. Expressing confidence that God sees us and will revive us. (v.159-160) Our Daily Issue: Vivifying or Dying What is it that revives our souls? Why? Ps. 19:7 How can we become spiritually alive? Eph. 2:1-10 In our suffering, which trait of God stands out? Jms. 5:11.

Allegiance to Christ was necessary for all believers in Corinth, so Paul's boasting in the Lord was needed. 1. Paul's boasting in the Lord protected believers from roaming. (v.1-6) 2. Paul's boasting in the Lord showed his motive was love, not money. (v.7-11) 3. Paul's boasting in the Lord was needed to identify false apostles. (v.12-15) Why is allegiance to Christ so crucial? How could a person in truth become deceived? 1 Tim. 2:14 What is the gospel, as expressed with financial terms? 2 Cor. 8:9 What do we know about Satan? John 8:44

The nearer we draw to God, the nearer God draws to us. 1. We draw near to God with all our hearts and this is seen in our lives. (v.145-146) 2. We draw near to God first thing each morning, and even through the night. (v.147-149) 3. When difficulties are near to us, the Lord Himself is near to us. (v.150-151) Where is God when we need Him? How self-seeking are our prayers? Mt. 6:33 How should Christians start each day? Phil. 4:7-9 In what way does God help with difficulties? Deut.4:7