Date: September 22-23, 2012
Series: Uncontrollable
Message: Uncontrollable Power
Passage: Psalm 62
INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES
If you could change your first name to anything, what would you choose?
Leader note: This is just a fun question for everyone to be able to jump in and answer. Follow up with “why?” when they answer. While it seems to be a throwaway question, there may be answers that reveal something else. For instance, if someone gives a name and says, “I knew someone with that name who was so beautiful” it may be because they don’t feel beautiful. Or possibly a name of someone who is successful and they feel as though they have failed. This is particularly good to use if you will be doing the “Labels” activity at the close of your time together (specified below).
OBSERVATION – 15 MINUTES
Read Psalm 62. What do you learn about a “God only” vs. a “God and” lifestyle?
Leader note: While you can use any translation for this discussion, the NLT contains the words “God alone, He alone” and the NIV does not, while it is implied. We are including the NLT translation at the bottom of the page if you prefer to use that. The commentary will be written using the NLT translation.
Commentary:
God only
Resting, patience, waiting on Him
Victory comes from Him
He is my rock
He is my salvation
He is my fortress
Our hope is in Him
Honor comes from Him
Protects us from our enemies,
He is trustworthy in good and bad times
We can come to Him with our troubled hearts
Power belongs to God
Unfailing love is His
He is just
God and ____
People are not trustworthy, two-faced, can’t depend on them, don’t have our best interest at heart, want to destroy us
Have nothing to do with unfairness in dealings
Wealth should not be the center of our life
From your own knowledge of David’s life, what did he hold onto besides God? (What was his God and ______ lifestyle?)
Commentary:
Held onto God and
Power
Army
loyalty of people
stature
strength
UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES
What are things people hold onto in addition to/or instead of God?
We hold onto
Health, Money, Cleverness, Intelligence, Talent, Ability, Security, Pleasure
What does it look like when people live a “God and..” lifestyle? What are the results?
What does it look like when people live a “God only” lifestyle? What are the results?
God and _____
Results:
Feel hopeless, desperate, They are undependable
They are fleeting
People can be knocked down when they hold on to these things
Find they are not enough, in all circumstances
Feel like God let them down
Feel like they failed or are unworthy because they don’t accomplish what they wanted
They hold onto rebellion, sin
God alone
Results:
They confess their failures, and their successes belong to God
They forgive and ask for forgiveness
they are grounded, bad news is put in perspective
They feel hopeful
They don’t feel abandoned or alone
They believe there is a reason for what they are going through
They worship
Their lives reflect their dependence and humility – is attractive to others
Leader note: If any of your group members have specific stories of people they know (maybe without using names) who have lived these lifestyles that would help the discussion. One recent sad example of someone holding onto their own ability and position is the Olympic Coach of the Russian Women’s Volleyball team who committed suicide after a poor showing at the Olympics. When we live with our hope and trust in fleeting ability and reputation, and fail – there is hopelessness. An example on the other side can be seen in the life of Matt Barkley where USC received sanctions guaranteeing he would not participate in a bowl game for two years, yet he held onto God alone, and believed he was placed at USC for a reason.
Personal application story: Two parents of young children have been in a life group with other parents who are living a “God alone” lifestyle in raising their kids. Hearing them confess their struggles, and admit how hard parenting really is has helped the other parents talk to each other, forgive each other for shortcomings and co-parent in a more unified way. They realized they were living a lifestyle of “God and our own ability” and “God and our own reputation”.
APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES
Where are you living a lifestyle of “God and…” When have you lived as “God alone” and what were the results?
Leader note: This moment is a “God only” moment – have them say I’m letting go of ______.
Personal application story: One woman who recently celebrated a milestone birthday was living a “God and youth, puffed up dreams and expectations, believing “I’m less than”. When she let those go, and clung to God alone, God told her she was enough.
Leader note: One fun idea at the end of your time together would be to have two bland labels for each member of your group. After they talk about what they’ve been holding onto, have them write the label for themselves they have taken on, or was given to them by others. Put that label in a trashcan you have placed in the room.
Then on the label that God gives them when they hold onto Him only, and have them wear that one as they leave the discussion time.
Examples of Labels we take on:
Successful
Reputation
Unworthy
Failure
Rich
Poor
Unemployable
Undeserving
Stingy
Greedy
Selfish
Athlete
Popular
Immoral
Labels God gives:
Worthy
Loved
Forgiven
Wealthy/Co heir of Jesus
You are enough
You are not alone
Valued
Leader note: The labels people hold onto can indicate a stronghold that needs to be broken. If you notice that in your group, plan time to pray with them, follow up with them.
5. What does it look like to the world for a group of people to embrace a “God only” lifestyle?
PRAY: As you end your time together pray for God to impress your new label on your heart, to give you glimpses into the victories that come from a God only lifestyle, and to convict you of other places you need to “let go” and depend on, worship, surrender to God alone. Conclude by reading aloud together the first two verses of Psalm 62.
Psalm 62 (NLT)
I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.
3 So many enemies against one man—
all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
or a tottering fence.
4 They plan to topple me from my high position.
They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
but curse me in their hearts.
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge.
9 Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,
and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales,
together they are lighter than a breath of air.
10 Don’t make your living by extortion
or put your hope in stealing.
And if your wealth increases,
don’t make it the center of your life.
11 God has spoken plainly,
and I have heard it many times:
Power, O God, belongs to you;
12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
Surely you repay all people
according to what they have done.