Sermon Notes:
1. Happiness is— being free of your sins. (Psalm 32:1)
2. When we hold onto sin, God puts His hand on us—for our own good. (Psalm 32:3-4)
3. Our burden is lifted when we confess and become real before God. (Psalm 32:5)
4. Those who are right with God will find Him when they need Him most. (Psalm 32:6-7)
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Digging Deeper:
1. What is your favorite worship song? How does it help you find strength and encouragement?
2. David was the author of almost a third of the Psalms. The Psalms come in several types. One of those types is lament, which expresses sadness and asks the Lord for His help. Read Psalm 13. What fears does David express to the Lord? What is the turning point where he rests in God’s love? Think about a time you faced difficulty and God was faithful to you.
3. Another type of psalm is descriptive praise. In these psalms, God is praised for his attributes and mighty deeds. Read Psalm 8. In this psalm, David is amazed at how much honor God bestows on mere human beings. What are some of the ways in this psalm God reveals his care and concern for us? How is it a comfort, knowing you are so important to God?
4. Another type of psalm is declarative praise. In these psalms, God is praised for his deliverance in a specific situation. Read Psalm 32:1-5. This was probably written after David’s sin in 2 Samuel 11:1-12:12 (read the story about Bathsheba, if you don’t know it). David was King of Israel but counts himself blessed because he was forgiven of his sin. Have you ever been weighed down with your failures? What are some of the ways that being right with God and free of guilt is a blessing?
5. Read Ephesians 5:15-20. Paul gives instructions about living a holy life and not getting drawn into sinful behavior. As part of his warning, he tells the readers to be filled with the Spirit, “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit” (v. 19). How often do you immerse yourself in worship music? How can psalms (worship songs) keep us focused on the Lord and out of trouble?
Taking it Home:
What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?
Write your own personal Psalm:
Many theologians are thankful that King David journaled his thoughts and feelings towards the Lord as he was encountering many different circumstances in life. Take some time this week to express your thoughts and feelings to the Lord about what is happening in your life.