FREE BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR! Download articles for 6 sessions at LifeWay.com/BSFL WINTER LEADER GUIDE RONNIE FLOYD GENERAL EDITOR

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1 FREE BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR! Download articles for 6 sessions at LifeWay.com/BSFL WINTER LEADER GUIDE RONNIE FLOYD GENERAL EDITOR SPOKEN: THE RHYTHM OF GOD S WORD THRIVE: LIVING IN REAL JOY

2 CONTENTS Don t Miss This A Word from Ronnie Using Bible Studies for Life Prayer Requests....8 The Attributes of Discipleship Spoken: The Rhythm of God s Word SUGGESTED FOR THE WEEK OF. Introduction December 4 Session 1 God s Word Delights December 11 Session 2 God s Word Fills My Heart December 18 Session 3 God s Word Gives Courage December 25 Session 4 God s Living Word Saves January 1 Session 5 God s Word Is Always Relevant January 8 Session 6 God s Word Is Truth The Law: God s Gift to His People Created for a Purpose Introduction January 15 Created for a Purpose Creating Aha Moments Reasons Why They Aren t Coming Back Thrive: Living in Real Joy. Introduction January 22 Session 1 Praying with Joy January 29 Session 2 Sharing with Joy February 5 Session 3 Following with Joy February 12 Session 4 Growing with Joy February 19 Session 5 Practicing Joy February 26 Session 6 Giving with Joy Endnotes Winter Playlist Coming Next Quarter BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 3

3 Don t miss this! Social Media The App Connect with a community of Bible Studies for Life users. Post responses to questions, share teaching ideas, and link to great blog content. Get instant updates about new articles, giveaways, and Bible Studies for Life is also available as an ebook. The ebook is opened and read with the Bible Studies for Life App, a free app from the ios App Store or the Google Play Store. Blog Every week, you ll find additional discussion questions and creative teaching ideas to help you tailor each session to the needs of your group. You ll also find links to sermon outlines to complement every session. COMMENTARY WRITERS: Spoken: The Rhythm of God s Word and Created for a Purpose : John Dent and other writers contributed to the commentary for these studies. John is retired from LifeWay, having served more than 20 years as an editor. He is a member of Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Thrive: Living in Real Joy : Michael Stover is a former pastor with over 20 years of experience in local church ministry. He resides in Jonesborough, Tenn. GROUP PLAN CONTRIBUTORS: Spoken: The Rhythm of God s Word and Created for a Purpose : Joe Beckler and Dr. Bob Bunn contributed to these studies. Joe serves as a site pastor at Restoration Community Church in Denver, Co., and as the director of the Breakthrough Leaders Network. Dr. Bob Bunn has written, edited, and designed curriculum in Christian publishing for many years. He currently serves as a team leader/curriculum specialist for Ramsey Solutions in Brentwood, Tenn. Thrive: Living in Real Joy : Mindi Jo Furby and Josh Wilson contributed to these studies. Mindi Jo is an author and speaker who dedicates her ministry to fighting biblical illiteracy. She resides near Hilton Head, S.C. Josh Wilson pastors Vankleek Hill Baptist Church in Ontario, Canada. Bible Studies for Life: Young Adult Leader Guide Volume 4, Number 2 Winter Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ronnie Floyd General Editor Lynn Pryor Team Leader Amber Vaden Content Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Content Editor, Bible Studies for Life: Young Adults, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at Printed in the United States of America Bible Studies for Life: Young Adult Leader Guide (ISSN: ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay For ordering or inquiries, visit or write LifeWay Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@ lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit doctrinalguideline. HCSB All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. NIV Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www. zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.(R) ESV Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible Studies for Life: Young Adults sometimes lists websites that may be helpful to our readers. Our staff verifies each site s usefulness and appropriateness prior to publication. However, website content changes quickly, so we encourage you to approach all websites with caution. Make sure sites are still appropriate before sharing them with participants, friends, and family. 4 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

4 A Word from Ronnie I have read through the entire Bible at least once during each of the past twenty-five years. Each time I am amazed at the depth and power of God s Word. This is why I am so excited about our studies this quarter. You are about to engage in a Bible study about the Bible itself! God s Word is so rich, and in his study Spoken: The Rhythm of God s Word, H. B. Charles Jr. takes us into Psalm 119, the longest psalm and chapter in the Bible. In this study, we will discover the beauty of this book that brings us together as we seek to know God and His Word. God gave us His Word to reveal Himself to us and to show us who we can be when our lives are fully devoted to Christ. God calls us to a life of abundant joy. In our second study, we will learn all about that joy. Tony Merida takes us into the Book of Philippians through his study Thrive: Living in Real Joy. Set a spiritual goal: Read through the Bible in one year. Study God s Word, and in the process you will discover the great joy we can have in and through Him. Talk about it with your Bible study group. Ask questions. Learn together. I am confident you will fall in love with God s Word and walk in the joy of Christ. Ronnie Floyd General RonnieFloyd.com BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 5

5 USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE Invite the Holy Spirit s Guidance Because God is the guide for your study, invite Him to show you how to be the best facilitator for your group. Read the Bible passage several times with the Holy Spirit showing you its meaning and application. Personal Study Guide Then read the Personal Study Guide. Its content provides the foundation and direction for the Bible discussion and study by your group. Leader Guide Follow the simple directives in the group plan. This plan will guide you in engaging your group in discussion around the Bible passage. Read the commentary to help you understand the passage. Share insights from the commentary as needed during the group discussion. Leader Pack The optional Leader Pack is designed to enhance the group experience, especially for visual learners. Pull in the Leader Pack items as referenced in the group plan. The Leader Pack also includes a DVD-ROM with: JPEG files of the two main study images that you can use with any presentation software (ie., PowerPoint) (Promote the study by placing these images into an announcement slideshow or display the images during the sessions to reinforce the study topic.) PDF file of each pack item (Create multiple posters, during your session display the image on a screen using any presentation software, or post these images on social media to promote the study.) Sample Twitter and messages to post prior to your Bible study time to raise awareness and promote the session topic A short video presentation (approximately 5 minutes) for each session from the study author to help you prepare An electronic version of the group plans that you can customize and print Leader articles to assist you as you lead your group Biblical Illustrator articles that allow you to go deeper in your study 6 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

6 Additional Ideas Additional discussion questions and teaching suggestions for leaders are available online at You ll also find all the magazine articles we mention in this study guide. Prepare Your Group Members Encourage your group members to read the Personal Study Guide prior to the group meeting. (Some group members will prefer to read it after the meeting as a way to follow up and reflect.) Encourage them to join the conversation with others on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/BibleStudiesforLife); our blog (BibleStudiesforLife.com); or on Twitter (@BibleMeetsLife). For Those Who Want to Go Deeper Advanced Bible Study is written for group members who desire more extensive commentary. It includes exposition of each session s Scripture passage, an examination of key words, an introduction to the setting of the passage and biblical life and times, questions to guide the study, and interactive responses to help readers apply God s truths to their lives today. Herschel Hobbs Commentary is designed specifically for leaders and provides a comprehensive exposition of each session s Scripture passage. Specific attention is called to items in the biblical text that readers would miss without a commentary. This commentary is based on the King James Version but interacts with all major English translations. Each quarter Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth background information on Bible customs, history, culture, archaeology, and word studies through vivid photography, engaging maps and graphics as well as lesson-targeted articles. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to lifeway.com/biblical illustrator or by calling Forty additional articles (in PDF form) that support this quarter s Bible studies are available for $4.99 per bundle at lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 7

7 My g roup's prayer requests 8

8 My g roup's prayer requests BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 9

9 My g roup's prayer requests 10

10 My g roup's prayer requests BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 11

11 THE ATTRIBUTES OF DISCIPLESHIP How do you measure discipleship? Research conducted by LifeWay revealed eight factors that are consistently present in the lives of believers who are progressing in their spiritual maturity. These attributes of discipleship form the foundation for the scope and sequence of studies used in Bible Studies for Life. By regularly engaging these studies, your group will experience an intentional plan for discipleship in the following eight ways: Bible Engagement Transformation can be recognized when our mind is sharpened by the Bible, our perspective is shaped by the Bible, and our actions are directed by the Bible. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Obeying God and Denying Self Discipleship is the process of obedience to one who is in authority over you. Transformation can be seen when we progressively set aside earthly delights for kingdom priorities. For more detail see page 14. If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me (Luke 9:23). Serving God and Others Transformation is evident when personal needs and even dreams are set aside for the needs we see in others. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me (Matthew 25:40). Sharing Christ Even with the need to live out the effects of the gospel, maturing believers know that speaking about the message is a necessity. Transformation is evident when we talk about the source of it. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). 12

12 For more detail about each of the eight attributes, go to BibleStudiesforLife.com/8attributes. Exercising Faith Transformation is seen in believers when risk-aversion is set aside and our lives are characterized by faithful obedience to God s will. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Seeking God Transformation is seen when our desire is to know God more deeply and experience His work more fully. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you (Matthew 6:33). Building Relationships Our faith is personal but it is not intended to be private. Our horizontal relationships should develop just as our vertical relationship with God does. Transformation is occurring when relational maturity is evident in our lives. And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers (Acts 2:42). Unashamed Transformation is evident when believers are unashamed in presenting their own lives as being aligned with Christ. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16). All Scripture passages included in this article are from the HCSB. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 13

13 OBEYING GOD AND DENYING SELF BY PHILIP NATION Then He said to them all, If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me (Luke 9:23, HCSB). Discipleship is the process of obeying one who is in authority over you. In our Transformational Discipleship study, we found that people who grow in their faith are those who prioritize God s desires. They display a preference to follow God s plan rather than asserting their own. We can see transformation in such people because they progressively and continually set aside earthly temptations for kingdom priorities. Jesus emphasized the need for self-denial through His statement in Luke s Gospel that we must deny self and take up the cross each day. Practically speaking, Jesus was asking for His followers to prefer death to self in the spiritual sense. This was a radical idea in the ancient world, and it still is today. The Roman culture of Jesus day and our modern culture prioritize self-direction and self-satisfaction. Christians who are growing in their walk with Jesus must learn to deny self in order to serve Christ. In practical terms, this means they must avoid situations that present temptations to commit sin. After all, at its core, sin is rebellion against God s sovereignty in our lives. Growing as a disciple requires both the desire to follow God and the activity of doing so. Denying self can seem like a vague concept. But we can put some solid action steps to the attribute. 14

14 First, we begin by confessing our sin to God. Our response to God s call toward repentance should become increasingly easy and urgent to us. As soon as we recognize that our life is not in alignment with God s character, we must turn toward Him. That s why we combine the ideas of obedience and denial in the Attributes of Discipleship (see pages 12-13). As followers of Christ, we are not attempting to simply deny ourselves of worldly pleasures. Rather, growing Christians are consistently finding ways to follow God. When this includes repenting of sinful activity, we are happy to do so. Second, this attribute also means that the change becomes evident in our public life. Rather than try to live out our faith in selected private circumstances, the maturing Christian opts for the path that reflects God s will instead of what might seem easy or expedient. Disciples do this because their obedience to God is informed with the faith that His will is always best. Easy living by the world s standards is inferior to following God s will. Denying selfish living and embracing obedience to God is normal for the growing Christian; therefore, it must be done publicly. Obey BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 15

15 16 SPOKEN: THE RHYTHM OF GOD S WORD

16 God has spoken through His Word and it is powerful. Our lives are filled with words: Direct conversations, overheard conversations, the non-stop drone of the TV. Words spill at us through s, blogs, and social media. Everybody seems to have something to say. This ceaseless flow of words, though, often brings mixed messages. It s like the cacophony of an orchestra warming up for a concert. Each musician plays what he or she wants, and the combined sounds can be downright unpleasant. The noise has no rhyme or reason. The word God has spoken to us, the Bible, is far different. Even though more than 40 different people were used by God to write over a period of 1,500 years, we hear the steady beat of God s heart throughout the pages of His Word. Regardless of the time period, the style, and the purpose of each book in God s Word, He has spoken clearly and consistently and His words still speak. Psalm 119 has a single focus: to make known the beauty of God s Word and its power to speak into our lives. In this study, we will discover the way God has spoken through Scripture. When we listen to what God has spoken through Scripture, the rhythm of God s Word becomes the rhythm of our own lives. H.B. CHARLES, JR. H. B. Charles, Jr. is the pastor-teacher at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Fla. He and his wife, Crystal, have three children. He is the author of several books, including It Happens After Prayer (Moody, 2013). He blogs about life at hbcharlesjr.com. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 17

17 Spoken: The Rhythm of God s Word Session 1 God s Word Delights Psalm 119:1-8 Session 2 God s Word Fills My Heart Psalm 119:9-16 Session 3 God s Word Gives Courage Psalm 119:17-24 Session 4 God s Living Word Saves Psalm 119:41; Luke 1:30-35 Session 5 God s Word Is Always Relevant Psalm 119:89-96 Session 6 God s Word Is Truth Psalm 119:

18 SESSION 1 GOD S WORD DELIGHTS The Point We experience joy as we follow God s Word. The Passage Psalm 119:1-8 The Bible Meets Life Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a well-known phrase in the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson even called these unalienable rights given by our Creator, but too many people want the liberty to pursue happiness their way without any thought of God. Yet God created us and knows what will bring us contentment and joy. God has revealed that through His Word, and when we follow His Word, we experience a joy far beyond any human pursuit of happiness. The Setting Two psalms after the shortest psalm in the Bible (Psalm 117, which is two verses), we find the longest psalm, Psalm 119 (176 verses). Psalm 119 s theme is delight in the Word of God. The psalmist learned God s Word not as an academic exercise, but as a matter of applying it to his life and living by its commandments. All 176 verses of Psalm 119 are arranged in 22 eight-verse sections, each beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, with each verse within that section beginning with that same Hebrew letter. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 19

19 What does the Bible say? Psalm 119:1-8 (HCSB) Decrees, precepts, statutes, and commands (v. 1-8) Psalm 119 uses eight synonyms for God s Word, at least one of which occurs in almost every verse of the psalm. The Hebrew words are: (1) torah (usually translated as law but perhaps better understood as instruction ); (2) mishpat ( ordinance or judgment ); (3) eduth ( decree, statute, or testimony ); (4) dabar ( word ); (5) mitsvah ( command or commandment ); (6) choq ( decree or statute ); (7) piqqud ( precept or charge ); and (8) imrah ( saying or word ). 1 How happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the Lord s instruction! 2 Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart. 3 They do nothing wrong; they follow His ways. 4 You have commanded that Your precepts be diligently kept. 5 If only my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes! 6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all Your commands. 7 I will praise You with a sincere heart when I learn Your righteous judgments. 8 I will keep Your statutes; never abandon me. 20 Session 1

20 THE POINT We experience joy as we follow God s Word. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Invite your group members to discuss Question #1 on page 13 of the PSG (Personal Study Guide): When have you felt truly delighted? Allow time for each person to respond. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 14): Ever tried to decide as a group where to eat? When it comes to the things we enjoy, we all have our preferences. Some in the group want to go for sushi, but others would rather starve than eat raw fish. It seems, however, that everybody enjoys certain things, such as: catching up with an old friend, watching TV in front of a roaring fire, and getting recognition for a job well done. Notes Want to know about biblical culture, people, archaeology, and history? Biblical Illustrator has articles that tie to each session in this study at lifeway.com/bi. Where does God s Word fall in your list of preferences? SAY: Psalm 119 celebrates the total sufficiency of the Word of God to meet every need in your life. And that is a cause for joy and delight. LEADER PACK: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #1, Spoken poster, to introduce the topic of this six-week study. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 14 of the PSG: We experience joy as we follow God s Word. PRAY: Transition into the discussion with prayer. Thank God for all that He has provided to us in His Word and ask Him to increase your knowledge of it. Post Pack Item #1 to highlight the focus of this six-week study. Display Pack Item #2 to use with your discussion of Psalm 119:1-3. PLAYLIST PICK: Psalm 27 (One Thing) by Shane & Shane BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 21

21 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes ALTERNATE QUESTION: What words would you use to describe God s law? Psalm 119:1-3 (HCSB) 1 How happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the Lord s instruction! 2 Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart. 3 They do nothing wrong; they follow His ways. DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 15 of the PSG: How would you describe your relationship with the Bible over the years? (Note: This question jumpstarts discussion about your group members interaction with Scripture in the past as well as the present. While we all encounter peaks and valleys in our spiritual growth, Psalm 119 teaches that we re blessed when we regularly engage God s Word.) SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 15): With 176 verses, Psalm 119 is the longest of the psalms. In fact, Psalm 119 is longer than 30 other entire books of the Bible. Each of its stanzas begins with one of the 22 Hebrew letters to form an acrostic; every stanza extols the value and expresses delight in God s Word. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Psalm 119:1-3. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 15): Psalm 119 begins with a beatitude, a statement of blessing and happiness. The word happy speaks of true happiness surpassing joy full contentment, perfect peace, and complete satisfaction found only in God. All 176 verses affirm that God blesses those who follow His Word. When we follow God s Word, it will be obvious by how we live our lives. Because God s Word is perfect, it will always lead us into righteousness (v. 3). LEADER PACK: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #2, 8 Synonyms poster. Give a brief summary of the terms found in this passage. DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 16 of the PSG: What do young adults stand to gain by regularly engaging God s Word? TRANSITION: In the next verses, the psalmist spoke openly about his desire to keep God s commands, even when he fell short. 22 Session 1

22 THE POINT We experience joy as we follow God s Word. Psalm 119:1-3 Commentary Joy comes from obeying God s Word. Verse 1: Psalm 119 opens in a similar way to Psalm 1, describing people who are following God s instruction as happy (also often translated as blessed ). The Hebrew term translated happy denotes great joy. It suggests the experience of good fortune or favorable circumstances, in this case resulting from one s obedient relationship with God. A person can be blessed either by pronouncement (God s action), by doing what God commands (a person s actions), or as a combination of both. In Psalm 119:1 God s blessing is achieved by a person s lifestyle ( way ), which is described as blameless. Being blameless means to stand before God without having fault by living according to God s instruction. It describes people who are totally committed to God and living in obedience to His ways. In this context, live has the meaning of a person s lifestyle, how that individual consistently lives his or her life. It is not enough merely to know what God says in His Word and know how God desires for us to live. What we know God requires must be lived out in our daily lives. The Hebrew term torah (instruction) is used to refer to all of God s spoken and written self-revelation to humanity, which we today refer to as the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments). True, deep-seated joy comes from living according to (obeying) God s Word. Verses 2-3. Those whom God calls happy are those who keep His decrees. The Hebrew term eduth (decrees) refers to the standard of conduct communicated through the testimony of God, as related to who He is (His Person/character) and His purpose (His will). In relation to God s testimony, the term carries the idea of a witness as to both the dependability of God s standards and a warning for failing to obey God s high standards. The blessed do no wrong. A person does no wrong by following God s ways. This is not an isolated act (or acts) of obedience, but rather a lifestyle of consistently following God in obedience to His Word. Doing so serves as both a preventative and a protection from transgressing against God and His will. Before we can obey God s Word, we have to know it (Psalm 1:2). But learning the Bible is not enough. The psalmist refuted the idea that learning is merely an academic exercise. Rather, the act of learning and knowing God s Word is an active, transformative experience. The happy (blessed) individual is the one who lives according to God s instruction (v. 1), keeps (obeys) God s decrees (v. 2a), seeks God with his or her whole heart (v. 2b), and follows God s ways (v. 3b). When we do these things, God sees us as happy (blessed), not doing anything wrong (having no iniquity), blameless, and undefiled. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 23

23 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Psalm 119:4-6 (HCSB) 4 You have commanded that Your precepts be diligently kept. 5 If only my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes! 6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all Your commands. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): To illustrate the authority of Scripture as God s Word, show a yardstick to your group and ask: How long is a yard? (Answer: 36 inches or 3 feet) Then, ask: How do you know that? We know this because a yard is a standard of measurement. Explain that Scripture also provides a standard the standard for how we should live our lives. As God s Word, it s His message to us. It s perfect because He is perfect, and it carries authority because He has all authority. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How can we avoid treating God s Word like helpful hints rather than commands to be diligently kept? READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Psalm 119:4-6. DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 17 of the PSG: Why is it so important to obey Scripture? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGES 16-17): Joy comes from keeping God s Word and that requires obedience on our part. Our obedience includes acknowledging God s authority. In Verse 4, the psalmist acknowledged God s sovereign authority, as well as the authority of Scripture: You have commanded that Your precepts be diligently kept. The word precepts refers to the covenant regulations God laid down for His people, and that which a master may rightly demand of his servants. Our obedience includes confessing our own shortcomings. If only my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes! (v. 5). In verses 1-3, the psalmist acknowledged that joy comes from obeying God, but in verse 5 he acknowledged he had failed to do that as he should. TRANSITION: Thankfully, we re not left to fulfill God s commands in our own power. We can only keep God s statutes by depending on Christ. 24 Session 1

24 THE POINT We experience joy as we follow God s Word. Psalm 119:4-6 Commentary God commands us to obey His Word. Verse 4: In this verse, the psalmist addressed God Himself, the One who reveals His precepts, which He requires that all people diligently keep. The psalmist s words reflect God s authority as the Creator to direct and instruct His creation (us). Since God made us, only God knows exactly how we were created and designed to live, and only He has the ultimate authority to tell us how to live. This truth reveals and reflects the permanent authority of the Bible, God s Word (Isaiah 40:8). The Hebrew word translated precepts (piqqud) refers to particular rules governing thinking or acting. The word s background is related to the task of a commissioner or deputy to a king whose duty was to manage (oversee) the details of the various tasks (and people) for which he was responsible. God gives precepts to help us learn how to think and live in ways that reflect His character and bring honor to Him. The psalmist directed his readers to obey God s precepts diligently. The Hebrew term translated diligently has the meanings of exceedingly, to a great degree, and abundance. Another aspect of the word s meaning is force or vehemence (passion). To be diligent about God s precepts is to be intensely passionate about our relationship with God. Being diligent requires us to know and obey God s precepts consistently (Psalm 119:1-3). Verse 5: The words if only imply a desire that is not completely fulfilled. The psalmist s desire was for his commitment to God and His Word to be singular and unshakable. The intensity of were committed can be seen in the meaning of the Hebrew term from which the phrase is translated. It means to be firmly established, to be fixed, or to be securely determined. The Hebrew word choq, translated statutes, means what was clearly established, appointed, or enacted such as a law, commandment, or decree. In relation to God, the term denotes binding commands or laws that God requires His people to obey. The Hebrew word for keeping means to watch or to guard. The psalmist desired to keep watch over his ways so as not to trespass against God s Word, to guard (against breaking) God s statutes. To reflect the intensity of this prayer, many English translations of the Bible end the verse with an exclamation point. Verse 6: This verse completes the conditional (if/then) thought begun in verse 5. To the extent we keep God s commands, we will not be ashamed before God. The psalmist emphasized all God s commands. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 25

25 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Psalm 119:7-8 (HCSB) 7 I will praise You with a sincere heart when I learn Your righteous judgments. 8 I will keep Your statutes; never abandon me. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Psalm 119:7-8. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 18): How can you identify a person who is devoted to God s Word? That person depends on God. Verses 7-8 teach us two ways to lean on God s presence to obey His Word. Lean on God s presence through praise. The psalmist stressed the connection between learning God s precepts and offering praise. Lean on God s presence through prayer. The psalmist had determined to live in obedience to God s Word. Admitting his own strength as insufficient, he prayed that God s presence would support and strengthen him. ALTERNATE QUESTION: When has God s Word led to praise in your life? DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 18 of the PSG: What specific steps can you take to increase the influence of God s Word on your life? (Note: Encourage your group to think of practices they can adopt to help them make daily Bible reading a habit and practical tools that will enable them to grow in knowledge of God s Word.) ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Take a moment to share what helps you remain consistent in your own personal Bible reading and highlight some daily devotions accessible via smartphone or tablet. Our favorites include: SheReadsTruth.com, HeReadsTruth.com, and Bible.com (click on the Plans button for a list of options). Follow up this week by sending links to these sites to your group via text or . DO: Divide group members into subgroups of three or four people. Instruct subgroups to complete the activity on page 19 of the PSG together. GOD S WORD FOR US: The Bible teaches us about God and how we re to follow Him. What do you currently need from God s Word? Circle the image that depicts this need and write out a brief prayer in the space below. (Note: The PSG includes three images: a map, a new plant budding, and a group of people together.) 26 Session 1

26 THE POINT We experience joy as we follow God s Word. Psalm 119:7-8 Commentary Lean on God s presence to obey His Word. Verse 7: The psalmist s response to learning God s Word was that he would praise God. In this context, praise is the response of a person to someone greater than himself. This praise was done with a sincere heart. The Hebrew term translated sincere has the meaning of being straight or level in the sense of not being twisted or crooked. In this context, it refers to being morally straight, upright, just, and pleasing to God. This uprightness or sincerity is related to right behavior (righteousness) in the inner being of a person. As previously noted, the heart refers to the innermost part of the person. The praise the psalmist gave to God came from the deepest, innermost part of himself. The reason for the psalmist s praise was his learning God s righteous judgments. For a person, being righteous means that one s thoughts and actions are in accordance with God s standards. It means being and acting like God making the right decisions and acting in the right ways. As righteousness is a quality of God, part of His character, the righteous are those (and only those) who are rightly related to God. For believers today, that relationship comes through their faith in Jesus Christ and His actions for their salvation. The righteous behavior of believers flows out of their relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit within them that empowers their righteous behavior. The Hebrew word for judgments (mishpat) refers to justice or judicial decisions which serve as rules and precedents for other decisions. Why would the psalmist praise God for His righteous judgments? Perhaps the answer lies in the security that people need. We need to know what is right and what is wrong so that we can do the right thing. Since God is faithful (that is, always consistent) we can trust that His judgments always provide us with the right way to live. We don t need to fear when we live according to God s ways (the first step of which is receiving salvation through repentance and placing faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins). Verse 8: The result of praising God for His righteous judgments was a promise that the psalmist would keep God s statutes and a plea that God would not abandon him. The word statutes is the synonym for God s Word previously used in verse 5. The psalmist prayed that God would never abandon him. Taken in the context of this verse, the psalmist was asking for God s help in obeying His commands (God s Word). Furthermore, with his words he acknowledged that without God s help, if God were to leave him, he would never be able to keep God s statutes. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 27

27 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes SAY: How can you dig deep into God s Word this week? GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 20 of the PSG. Memorize a portion of Psalm 119:1-8. Choose a verse (or two) that remind you of the benefits we re offered in God s Word. Post this verse in a highly visible spot you ll see often and commit it to memory. Commit to spend time daily in God s Word. Identify a book of the Bible, daily devotional, or reading plan, then set aside at least 15 minutes a day to spend in God s Word and prayer. Do all you can to be consistent and this will soon become a daily practice. Identify a situation you re currently dealing with in which you need biblical wisdom. Each day this week, seek God s guidance from Scripture regarding this matter. Be patient and attentive to how God provides what you need through His Word. Wrap It Up SAY: Scripture is God s holy Word, so we shouldn t be surprised at what awaits the person who seeks God and His wisdom within its pages. God s instruction leads to joy. Following His commands isn t always easy, but obedience always leads us to a deeper relationship with Him which is our greatest delight. Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid. MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 28 Session 1