CONNECT
1. If new people have joined your group, take time to introduce yourselves to each other.
2. Share something that brought you either joy or heartache this week.

PRAY TOGETHER
Allow a moment for silence. This is often the most meaningful moment.

Then spend a few minutes asking God to meet each of you personally, right where you are. Pray that He would show you new and beautiful things and lead you further along the path of life. Allow time for everyone to contribute as God leads.

INSIGHT
Psalm 85 was written by the Sons of Korah.
Who were they?
◾ They came from the family line of a priest (Levite) who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16).

◾ Korah himself was judged severely by God (the earth literally swallowed him).
◾ His sons were spared. A common theme in Scripture is that God’s grace overrides the cycle of generational failure.
◾ One part of this family became the temple doorkeepers and guardians, another part the singers and musicians of the temple choir.
◾ They became known for their steady, faithful service to God.

STUDY AND DISCUSSION
◾ Resist the urge to get through all the questions. It’s OK if you don’t. That’s not the point. Let the Holy Spirit guide your reflection and discussion. Spend time reading and really thinking about what the Bible is saying.
◾ If your group has eight or more people, it might be helpful to break into circles of four or five for greater participation and deeper discussion. When you come back together, invite each group to share a few takeaways from their conversation.

1. The writer (or writers) recalls God restoring, forgiving, covering sin and turning away anger—why do you think remembering these actions is important?

2. When you hear the land and fortunes of Jacob, what might that look like in our lives today?

3. What are ways God has shown favor to Brookwood?

4. As the psalm continues, what changes do you notice about the tone or emotion?

5. How can you relate to the writer’s relationship with God?

6. When it feels like God is distant or displeased, how do you usually respond internally?

7. How do those responses tend to shape or affect your connection with God over time?

8. And how do you think those same responses impact the people around you—maybe more than you realize?

9. It’s clear from this psalm and other passages of Scripture that God has displeasure and anger toward His people when they sin. Explain how the death and resurrection of Jesus change that.

10. The writer talks about listening to God individually. What would it look like to listen to Him together as a group?

11. How might you need God to do it again (1) in your life? and (2) at Brookwood?

12. What do you think verse 10 means? What do you think it might be saying about God?

13. Why do you think God sometimes allows a gap between past blessings and present struggles?

14. Where do you currently find yourself in this psalm—remembering, struggling, listening or hoping? What makes you say that?

PERSONAL APPLICATION
After this week’s lesson, what’s one thought, question or takeaway you’re sitting with right now? Pause and ask God what He wants to say to you. Allow time for Him to speak, being sensitive to thoughts that come to mind. Growing often comes by simply making yourself available to God.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY
Memorizing Scripture enables us to carry within us the life-giving, life-shaping words of God at all times in all places. Here’s a verse to memorize based on this week’s teaching:

Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Psalm 85:10 (NIV)

PRAY
Invite someone to close your time in prayer.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
These are the psalms written by the Sons of Korah. Read and reflect on one of them based on its theme. Then consider the questions below.

◾ Psalms 42-43 — Longing for God in dryness
◾ Psalm 44 — Faith in crisis as a people
◾ Psalm 45 — The King and His beauty
◾ Psalm 46 — God our refuge
◾ Psalm 47 — God as King over all the earth
◾ Psalm 48 — The beauty of Zion
◾ Psalm 49 — Wisdom for all people
◾ Psalm 84 — Delight in God’s presence
◾ Psalm 85 — Revival and restoration
◾ Psalm 87 — The nations belonging to God
◾ Psalm 88 — Darkness and unresolved pain

Ten great questions to ask when studying the Psalms.

1. What stands out to you right away—and why do you think that caught your attention?

2. What does this psalm reveal about God’s character or heart?

3. What emotions do you hear in the psalmist? Where do those same emotions show up in your own life?

4. What situation or season might the writer be going through? How does that compare to anything you’ve experienced?

5. Is there a word, phrase or image you feel drawn to sit with longer? Why that one?

6. Where do you feel aligned with this psalm—and where do you feel tension or resistance?

7. What does this psalm invite you to bring honestly before God right now?

8. How might God be inviting you to respond—internally or externally—through this passage?

9. What would it look like to live this psalm out in a practical way this week?

10. If you turned this psalm into your own prayer today, what would you say to God?

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.