Winter Warmers: The Lord is My Rock

Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThis is the first sermon in our mini series in ‘Winter Warmers’. This sermon is ‘The Lord is My Rock’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Psalm 28DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF). Next Steps this Week BIBLE READING: Psalm 28 To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock,do not turn a deaf ear to me.For if you remain silent,I will be like those who go down to the pit.Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my handstoward your Most Holy Place.Do not drag me away with the wicked,with those who do evil,who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work;repay them for what their hands have doneand bring back on them what they deserve.Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORDand what his hands have done,he will tear them down and never build them up again.Praise be to the LORD,for he has heard my cry for mercy.The LORD is my strength and my shield;my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.My heart leaps for joy,and with my song I praise him.The LORD is the strength of his people,a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.Save your people and bless your inheritance;be their shepherd and carry them forever. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS Download in PDF format.CONNECT: How can your choices and actions this week be sensitive to the needs of others?WARM-UP When was the last time that you got stuck in a situation and had to call someone for help?What comes to mind for you when you think of justice? What does the world think about justice?Read Psalm 28:1-5Who does David call upon for help?What does it mean when we see a big capital ‘L’ in our bible and then the rest of the word ‘lord’ in small caps? Why is this significant?Why is the Lord more than able to help? What is he like?What does it mean for David to lift up his hands towards the Holy Place? What was dwelling there?Who are the wicked and what are they like? What does David want for them?How can we reconcile the command that we are to love our enemy and this Psalm which calls upon God to repay David’s enemies?How is God’s justice different to that of any human justice? Why are his judgements good news for us? How then should we act when we face opposition?Read Psalm 28:6-9What is David’s response to seeing God at work in the world? How should we respond even when our prayers aren’t answered in the way that we may have hoped?For you, what does it mean for the Lord to be your strength and shield? Can you recall a time that you have had to explicitly remind yourself of this?When we aren’t feeling particularly close to or joyful in the Lord, who and what can we turn to?What does it mean for God to save his people? How are God’s people sustained through the ages?How does relying on God as our rock and strength change the way we live on our frontlines? How could this shape your actions and words to others?APPLY:  How can you remind yourself that the Lord is your Rock this week? PRAYER  Heavenly Father, thank you that you love us, that you care for us, and that you are more than able to save us. You are the God who has sustained and been and will be faithful to his promises for eternity. Help us to rest in the sure hope that you are good, that you will judge, and that you will strengthen us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.   GOING DEEPER On Your Frontline This Week: Who could you invite along to a Sunday service? With the appeal of warm food - Winter Warmers might be a great opportunity.Listen, Watch, and Read: VIDEO: Prayer in the Psalms: Discovering How to Pray by Tim KellerVIDEO: Psalm 28 Devotion by Peter OrrCOMMENTARY: Psalm 28 by John CalvinSeries Resources:Some helpful resources for our Series:Website: “Psalms” by the Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com/learn/psalms/Book: “The Case for the Psalms” by Tom WrightDevotional: “My Rock and My Refuge” by Tim KellerCourse: “Introduction to Psalms” by the Gospel Coalition https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/psalms/Course: “The Psalms” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course). WITH CHILDREN Grow as Families Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.Families: Read, Chat, Do, and PrayHigh School: CHARGE Discussion QuestionsKids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ TalkeBook: Watch the eBook