13. The Blessing of Forgiveness (Psalm 32)

Connect

What are you thankful for today?
How have you seen God working in your life this past week?
What difficulties are you experiencing in life? How may we help?
How did you apply last session’s discovery? What happened?
With whom did you share last session’s discovery with? What was their response?

Instructions:

Please use the following steps to guide your discovery of God’s truth in the passages below. Need to review the Group Guidelines?

Discover

Step 1-Participants take turns reading sections of the passage (clarify new words/terms)
Step 2-One person reads the entire passage out loud while the rest listen
Step 3-A participant retells the passage in their own words (others add their thoughts)

The Blessing of Forgiveness (Psalm 32)

1Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2Yes, what joy for those whose record the lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 6Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. 7For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. 8The lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 9Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” 10Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the lord. 11So rejoice in the lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Ask/Answer:

What do you see in this passage?
What does this passage mean to you?
What do you like/not like about this passage?
How does this passage change the way you see God/people?

Respond: If this is true...

How should it change the way you live?
With whom will you share today’s discovery?

Close

Decide when the group will meet again
Close in prayer (for needs mentioned above)