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:
- Why do you believe that the author is telling the reader, “Shout for joy to the Lord .. Worship … with gladness, all the earth.”?
- What in your life brings you joy and gladness?
- If the Lord is truly God, what do you suppose He has done for us as a people?
- If he “made us and we are his,” do we have any responsibility to each other? How should we treat each other?
- As “sheep of his pasture,” what should we expect from Him?
- As “sheep of his pasture,” what should he expect from us?
- The psalm says that we should be thankful and we should praise God. Do you agree? If so, why? If not, why not?
- The psalm says that we should thank God. Are you thankful for anything special? If so, explain. If not, explain.
- Are there any reasons why you think you should praise God? If so, what are they? If not, why not?
- What are ways that we can show that we are thankful to each other? To God?
- What are ways that we can praise God?
- What does the author mean when he says that God’s “love endures forever?”
- Can you give examples of God’s faithfulness through our history as the human family?
- 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?
- 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.