Connect Group Study Notes: 30 October 2022
Theme: “Applause for God.”
Reading: Psalm 66 (The Message Translation)

Fellowship (10 min)
Begin with general conversation and sharing about how the past week has gone. Try not to go over time.

Worship and Prayer (15 min)
Click on the link below on your smartphone, Smart TV, or computer, to select songs to sing; and then spend a few minutes in song and prayer.
PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL SONG'S
PLAYLIST:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbsAkwbV_S1vXdZVPkZ0_tQW5n9RqeZ
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And if you need to check on the Message for the week again, then click on:
PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL (MESSAGE):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1X4YYw1KLpda1yGnqKgfw/videos
This time of worship and prayer will encourage you to move your thoughts
from daily worries and pressures to our time of Bible study and prayer.

Read: Psalm 66: 1-4,5, 8-12,16-20 (The Message Translation)
66  1-4  All together now—applause for God!
    Sing songs to the tune of his glory,
    set glory to the rhythms of his praise.
Say of God, “We’ve never seen anything like him!”
    When your enemies see you in action,
    they slink off like scolded dogs.
The whole earth falls to its knees—
    it worships you, sings to you,
    can’t stop enjoying your name and fame.
5-6  Take a good look at God’s wonders—

they’ll take your breath away.

8-12  Bless our God, O peoples!
    Give him a thunderous welcome!
Didn’t he set us on the road to life?
    Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first,
    passed us like silver through refining fires,
Brought us into hardscrabble country,
    pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out,
    took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us
    to this well-watered place.
16-20  All believers, come here and listen,
    let me tell you what God did for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
    my tongue shaped the sounds of music.
If I had been cozy with evil,
    the Lord would never have listened.
But he most surely did listen,
    he came on the double when he heard my prayer.
Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear,
    he stayed with me, loyal in his love.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

  • Discussion Questions (Approx. 30 min)
    With reference to our recent study of Ephesians, where we focused on the call to “community” and “unity”; is the Psalmist using the singular (I, me) or the plural (we, us)? What difference might that make to how we read this passage?
  • How might both good and difficult life circumstances be a test of our faith?
  • The images of The Message translation are often very different to the traditional Bible versions. Read verses 8-12 again, what do these images say to you, about how we sometimes experience how God works in our lives? What does this say about God?
  • How does this portion of Psalm 66 tell the story of the Israelites? How is the story of your life, of your faith journey, similar and different?
  • How can we live verse 16? How can our churches help members feel more equipped to share their testimonies?
  • Where have you seen God at work in you and through you?
  • How might it be helpful to view each person we encounter, as those who
    are “chosen and precious”?

Prayer (10 minutes)

 Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Prayer (2 min)

End by praying the following or a similar prayer:
Faithful God, the depth of our faith is revealed through the good and the bad we encounter. In all circumstances, help us to turn to you, trust you, and then listen for you and praise you. May we see with the eyes of faith this week, and never be afraid to “tell our stories” of your Love at work within us. Amen.

Have a great week.
God bless,
Tim.