Before the Session
Facilitator: In advance of the session
- Have the Bible Background Video ready to view.
- Review today’s scripture text and the session activities to help better facilitate the discussion.
- Encourage your group to listen to the Faithelement podcast ahead of the next session (Share the link via email or social media)
Context (From the Mind Session Page)
Begin by asking:
- Consider to a time when someone did something hurtful to you, or when something happened that made you angry or sad. What people did you talk to as you processed that experience and why?
- Sometimes we turn to people who can help “fix” our problems – and sometimes we turn to those who will only listen and understand us. Why are both types of friends important to us?
- For what kinds of things might people turn to you when they are hurting inside or having a personal problem and why?
Content (From the Media Session Page)
Read Psalm 17:1-7, 15, then watch the Bible Background Video.
Ask:
- How confident does the psalmist feel about his innocence?
- How does he feel about the false accusations?
- How would you feel if these types of accusations were leveled towards you?
- Why does the psalmist pray to God about this?
- How do you feel about the idea of going to God to be vindicated from false accusations?
- To what degree is the psalmist truly open in relationship with God?
- At what point do you think that the psalmist should decide that he has done all he gain by praying to God and simply gotten some sleep?
Closure (from the Current Session page)
Billy Joel is one of the most popular musicians from the last fifty years. Even if you are not familiar with much of his work, there is a pretty good chance that you have heard one of his numerous hit songs or hear him sing in a movie soundtrack. What you might not know, however, is that he has also struggled with depression throughout his life and sometimes made questionable choices that made him almost as notorious or famous as his music – and not in a good way. Because of this, it is very telling that one of his most famous songs concerned the topic of honesty.
Watch together the
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuFScoO4tb0) and ask:
- What do you think of this song and why?
- Assuming that you paid good attention to the lyrics, which of them most stood out to you and why?
- Other than liking the sound and the singer, why do you think that a song that makes such an impassioned plea for honesty would be so popular?
- In what ways do we plead for honesty today?
- Where might we need to work on our own honesty issues?
- How does someone become more honest with God, and what in what ways might that change the relationship we have with God and others?
Close with a prayer.