September 30 lesson

A Closer Look at a Familiar Psalm

Text: Psalm 23

Purpose: To realize the greatness of this psalm that we all have known and quoted for many years.

Introduction: A quick look at last week (Psalm 27.) This psalm is possibly the most-quoted passage of Scripture besides John 3:16. So many times, we quote famous passages, but we forget the significance of the words. The Lord really should be our shepherd; he really does restore my soul. Many times we just quote this psalm, but the words are amazing and relevant for us today.

Body:

“The Protection of the Lord.” (v 1)

“The Lord is my shepherd.” What an amazing fact! If we have trusted Christ as our Saviour, we have a Good Shepherd to lead us. So many times, we do not follow our Shepherd like He would want us to. We are just like sheep….quick to leave and go our own way. Let’s stay close to the Shepherd and let Him lead us in the way He would choose.

“The Provision of the Lord.” (v 1)

“…I shall not want.” God will provide for His sheep. He is the fulfillment of everything we think we want. We find all we need in Him. I’m not saying that we are automatically going to be rich because the Lord is our shepherd, but I am saying that the Lord will provide in our times of need.

“The Pleasant Life in the Lord.” (v 2)

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Have you ever been at a spiritual “low point?” Everything just seems to go wrong. You do things, and you feel awful about them. Then have you ever been at a spiritual “high point?” Life just becomes pleasant. You can look people in the eye. You can be open and honest with God. That is what this verse pictures to me…..a person that is completely right with the Lord and the fellowship that he enjoys with the Lord.

“The Positive Pushing from the Lord.” (v 3)

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” When we are at that “low point” spiritually, God is there to restore our souls. He is there to push us in a positive way. After He restores us, He then leads us in the paths of righteousness. IF we will follow Him, He will lead us in the right way. Too many times, we think we know what is best for us. That is just not the case. God created this world; do we not think that he knows where the path of righteousness is? He knows where we need to be and when we need to be there. Just follow Him!

Next Week:

Psalm 23 part two

September 23 lesson

David’s Godly Example of a Godly Outlook

Text: Psalm 27:7-14

Purpose: To show how David is just like we are. He has all the confidence in God at the beginning of the psalm, yet still cries out to God before the psalm is finished. What a great man and a great example to us.

Introduction: A quick look at last week: David’s CONFIDENCE in the Lord and David’s CONCENTRATION on the Lord. We have learned some very helpful things from David up to this point. If we could get those first two points nailed down in our lives, we would be well on our way to a happy Christian life. In finishing this psalm, we will see how David goes from confidence to crying, from victory to fainting, etc…

Body:


“David’s CRY to the Lord.” (v 7-13)

David notes here that he cried out with an audible voice to God. David had a personal relationship with the Lord. He cried out to God audibly just like a child would to a parent. I trust we all will have that type of a relationship with the Lord.

*David asked for God’s mercy. (v 7)

*David obeyed the Lord’s command. (v 8)

*David begs for God’s presence. (v 9)

*David asked for God’s direction. (v 11)

*David asked for victory in battle. (v 12)

*David acknowledged that he would have “fainted” if not for the Lord. (v 13)

David covered a lot of ground in these 7 verses! He goes through a long list with God. Sometimes in our lives, we don’t take the time to really cry out to the Lord. He wants to have that personal relationship with us. He wants our relationships to grow stronger with Him. Many times we just do not take the time to talk to Him.


“David’s COMMAND to us.” (v 14)

This is a very odd verse David places at the end of this psalm. After that big, long prayer, David tells us to wait on the Lord. That’s life. Hurry up….ask God for all these things….then wait on Him. You know, we are not God. We do not really know what is best for us...or when it is best for us. After we bring situations to the Lord, we then have to trust that He will come through when He sees fit.

Lazarus’ sisters learned this lesson. They asked the Lord to come help their brother, and they thought He had let them down. He was four days late. Lazarus had been buried and all hope seemed lost. But the Lord knew exactly what Mary, Martha, and Lazarus needed. He showed up “right on time.” We have to learn patience in our Christian lives. We cannot always get everything we ask for at the exact moment we think we should get it. Wait, I say, on the Lord.


Conclusion: I hope we have learned from this psalm. I know I have. There’s nothing spectacular or supernatural that David talks about here. It is just a man that is describing his outlook on life and God. I trust we can strive to have the same outlook.

September 16 lesson

David’s Godly Example of a Godly Outlook

Text: Psalm 27:1-12

Purpose: To show how David is just like we are. He has all the confidence in God at the beginning of the psalm, yet still cries out to God before the psalm is finished. What a great man and a great example to us.

Introduction: Many times we feel like those men and women that we read about in the Bible were some type of super-human Spiritual giant-type people. That is not the case. Joseph is considered a great man, yet he never really did anything that was “great.” David is called a “man after God’s own heart,” yet he was a murderer and adulterer. Peter denied the Lord three times then preached Pentacost. Here, in this psalm, we will see how David goes from confidence to crying, from victory to fainting, etc…

Body:


“David’s CONFIDENCE in the Lord.” (v 1-3)

“The Lord is my light…” He is that lamp which lights our path. Do we rely on the Lord to show us the way? He already knows what’s ahead…just like a light can pierce through darkness; the True Light can pierce through the darkness of sin. John 1:1-7

“Whom shall I fear?” What confidence he had in the Lord! I only hope that I can have that same confidence that David showed here. Do we REALLY believe that God will come through for us? Most of the time, we live life afraid of what COULD happen.

*God’s help in the past. (v 2)

*God’s promise for help in the future. (v 3)


“David’s CONCENTRATION on the Lord.” (v 4-6)

David had a desire to be in the house of the LORD. David actually WANTED to go to the house of the Lord! Do we view church as a place that we “have” to go to? I know none of you are forced to go come to church, but do you view it as something negative or as something positive? I love coming to this Bible class. I get along with all the people in this class. I love it! STBC is one of the highlights of my week.

David wanted to be in the house of the Lord….

*for the Lord’s protection. (v 5)

*for the victory over his enemies. (v 6)

*for a place to show the Lord how much he loved Him. (v 7)

I hope church isn’t a thing you HAVE to do in order to keep your family off your back. I hope church isn’t something that is a negative thing in your mind. I want Striving Together to be a place that you look FORWARD to every week.

A big thank you....

We had a great opening week! I want to thank each of you that came. What a blessing you were to my wife and me. We hope you will continue to join us each Sunday at 9:30 am. We'll have Starbucks coffee, juice, and breakfast food ready for you each week.

If you did not get the chance to join us this past Sunday, we trust you will be our guest this Sunday morning. Please let me know if my wife and I can do anything for you.

Your friends,

Josh and Sarah Cox

September 9 lesson

Why the name Striving Together?
Philippians 1:1-12 ; 12-27
The words "you" and "you all" are highlighted several times in those verses. That's the real reason for Striving Together.....you......other people.
We are to live our lives for others.


Why live for others?

1. Because we will need someone to lean on. There were several times when Paul needed lodging and other things from those "other people" that he lived for.
2. Because we need to be there for others. People all around us need for us to show them the love of God. We can show our love and concern in many ways; think of a specific thing you can do for someone else.
3. Because life is much more fun if you live it with others! The most fun you will ever have is with a group of "other people" having fun. We want Striving Together to be the place you can come to have fun and learn more.

"That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" Philippians 1:27