The Bridge Church
Summer in the Psalms - Psalm 103: The Heart of the Father
June 18, 2023
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
A.W. Tozer
A.W. Tozer
1. Be grateful for His benefits
2. Be transformed by His forgiveness
Iniquity = inner moral distortion, inward crookedness.
Transgression = rebellion, knowing God's will and doing the opposite.
Transgression = rebellion, knowing God's will and doing the opposite.
3. Be changed by His compassion
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
Dig Deeper:
1. A.W. Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. What might come into people’s mind when they think about God?
2. Why do you think A.W. Tozer says that this is the most important thing about us? How does our perspective of God determine our path in life?
3. Read Psalm 103:1-8. What action steps are given to the author/readers in this passage? What actions of God are described? Based on this information, why is it important to recognize the difference?
4. Have you ever found yourself in a persistently negative frame of mind? How can praising God help us to stop feeding the negative side of our soul?
5. Of what the psalmist shares about God, what do you most easily remember? What do you most easily forget? Why?
6. Is it easy or challenging for you to worship God with all that you are when you feel overwhelmed or are facing challenges? Explain you answer.
7. When you bring “all that is within you” to God, whatever your circumstances may be, describe how that changes you. How is the outcome different than when you talk to yourself instead of God?
8. Discuss how gratitude is one of the healthiest emotions that God has given us.
9. Read Psalm 103:3,10-12. What is the difference between an iniquity and a transgression?
10. Read Hebrews 8:12. What is the importance of knowing that God forgives both iniquities and transgressions?
11. Read Psalm 103:4,8-9. How is God compassionate to us?
12. Read Psalm 103:13-14. What does it mean to “fear” God? Look up the definition of revere and discuss its relevance to this passage.
13. What is the significance of God “remembering that we are dust”?
14. Read Luke 15:17-21,31-32. Describe how this story is identical to our relationship with God through Jesus.
15. How does seeing God as sovereign of all His creation move us to worship and trust Him?
16. What did you learn about prayer through this psalm?
17. Has anything from this discussion, or time in the Word, made you view God differently than you’ve have previously? If so, how?
18. How would you summarize the psalm?
Live It Out:
We have an amazing heavenly Father. This week, focus on being…
1. Grateful for His benefits. As a child of God, we have received healthy benefits. Spend time this week in prayer, thanking God for all of His benefits. Write down your blessings in a gratitude journal. Search the Bible for more evidence of the endless blessings we receive from God.
2. Transformed by His forgiveness. Some of us are hurting because of our own decisions and need the help of the Father today. God is the healer of our sin and for the effects of the sin in the world. Spend time with God, repenting for your heart attitude (iniquity) and your rebellion (transgression). Praise him for being the forgiving Father that He is.
3. Changed by His compassion. God is not emotionless or distant. He is a loving, patient God who runs to us with deep compassion. Spend time with Him, sharing your hurts and concerns with Him. Be compassionate to others, remembering how we can reflect God’s love to others.
Reading Plan:
Monday: Psalm 103:1-14
Tuesday: Psalm 103:15-22
Wednesday: Luke 15:1-10
Thursday: Luke 15:11-21
Friday: Luke 15:22-32
Saturday: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
1. A.W. Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. What might come into people’s mind when they think about God?
2. Why do you think A.W. Tozer says that this is the most important thing about us? How does our perspective of God determine our path in life?
3. Read Psalm 103:1-8. What action steps are given to the author/readers in this passage? What actions of God are described? Based on this information, why is it important to recognize the difference?
4. Have you ever found yourself in a persistently negative frame of mind? How can praising God help us to stop feeding the negative side of our soul?
5. Of what the psalmist shares about God, what do you most easily remember? What do you most easily forget? Why?
6. Is it easy or challenging for you to worship God with all that you are when you feel overwhelmed or are facing challenges? Explain you answer.
7. When you bring “all that is within you” to God, whatever your circumstances may be, describe how that changes you. How is the outcome different than when you talk to yourself instead of God?
8. Discuss how gratitude is one of the healthiest emotions that God has given us.
9. Read Psalm 103:3,10-12. What is the difference between an iniquity and a transgression?
10. Read Hebrews 8:12. What is the importance of knowing that God forgives both iniquities and transgressions?
11. Read Psalm 103:4,8-9. How is God compassionate to us?
12. Read Psalm 103:13-14. What does it mean to “fear” God? Look up the definition of revere and discuss its relevance to this passage.
13. What is the significance of God “remembering that we are dust”?
14. Read Luke 15:17-21,31-32. Describe how this story is identical to our relationship with God through Jesus.
15. How does seeing God as sovereign of all His creation move us to worship and trust Him?
16. What did you learn about prayer through this psalm?
17. Has anything from this discussion, or time in the Word, made you view God differently than you’ve have previously? If so, how?
18. How would you summarize the psalm?
Live It Out:
We have an amazing heavenly Father. This week, focus on being…
1. Grateful for His benefits. As a child of God, we have received healthy benefits. Spend time this week in prayer, thanking God for all of His benefits. Write down your blessings in a gratitude journal. Search the Bible for more evidence of the endless blessings we receive from God.
2. Transformed by His forgiveness. Some of us are hurting because of our own decisions and need the help of the Father today. God is the healer of our sin and for the effects of the sin in the world. Spend time with God, repenting for your heart attitude (iniquity) and your rebellion (transgression). Praise him for being the forgiving Father that He is.
3. Changed by His compassion. God is not emotionless or distant. He is a loving, patient God who runs to us with deep compassion. Spend time with Him, sharing your hurts and concerns with Him. Be compassionate to others, remembering how we can reflect God’s love to others.
Reading Plan:
Monday: Psalm 103:1-14
Tuesday: Psalm 103:15-22
Wednesday: Luke 15:1-10
Thursday: Luke 15:11-21
Friday: Luke 15:22-32
Saturday: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7