Bible Study Week 2: Insights on Giving Thanks

WEEK TWO – EXTENDED REFLECTION OF PASSAGE

Insights on Giving Thanks: Psalm 100 NIV

NOTE FOR GROUP LEADER: With the group, read or listen to the passage again and discuss any, or all, of the reflection questions. Items needed: Reading passage and questions.

Psalm 100 New International Version

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

¹ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

1. Why do you believe that the author is telling the reader, “Shout for joy to the Lord .. Worship … with gladness, all the earth.”?
2. What in your life brings you joy and gladness?
3. If the Lord is truly God, what do you suppose He has done for us as a people?
4. If he “made us and we are his,” do we have any responsibility to each other? How should we treat each other?
5. As “sheep of his pasture,” what should we expect from Him?
6. As “sheep of his pasture,” what should he expect from us?
7. The psalm says that we should be thankful and we should praise God. Do you agree? If so, why? If not, why not?
8. The psalm says that we should thank God. Are you thankful for anything special? If so, explain. If not, explain.
9. Are there any reasons why you think you should praise God? If so, what are they? If not, why not?
10. What are ways that we can show that we are thankful to each other? To God?
11. What are ways that we can praise God?
12. What does the author mean when he says that God’s “love endures forever?”
13. Can you give examples of God’s faithfulness through our history as the human family?
14. Can you give examples of God’s faithfulness to you as an individual? If not, why do you feel that God has not been faithful to you?
15. What is the message you received from reading this passage?

NOTE TO GROUP LEADER: At the end of the session, you may want to allow a few moments for open discussion and what the session may have meant for the group.