Surviving the World’s Wilderness
/Pastor Daniel Cormier shares a message entitled "Surviving the World’s Wilderness”.
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Discussion Notes
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Sermon Notes
Reflection & Discussion
Warm-up. Share some positive summer memories.
Read: Psalm 81. Pray for your study!
Observation
In what ways is our world like a wilderness? What stands out to you in the call to worship in verses 1-3? How does the psalm describe God’s past deliverance of Israel (vv. 6-7)? What repeated themes of obedience and disobedience do you notice in verses 8-12? What promises does God give if his people listen to him (vv. 13-16)?
Interpretation
Why do you think the psalmist ties together worship (vv. 1-5) and obedience (vv. 8-16)? What does verse 12 teach us about God’s response when his people persistently refuse to listen? How do verses 13-16 reveal God’s heart toward his people, even in their rebellion? What does “honey from the rock” (v. 16) symbolize about God’s ability to bless us in the wilderness?
Application
In what ways might we, like Israel, be tempted to “not listen” to God’s voice in our daily lives? What “false gods” or misplaced trusts are common in our culture today (v. 9), and with what spiritual disciplines can we guard against them? If God promises abundance and satisfaction to those who walk in his ways, but we have all failed the tests (v. 7), how is that we can find hope, forgiveness, and power to joyfully obey by believing that Jesus Christ is our one true Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4)?