Below is a summary of the week and some questions to ask in your Tribe. Feel free to use any of the resources at the bottom too! The idea is that we are growing in our connection with God.
Hello, it's great to see you!
This week we began a new series called Summer Playlist. This summer we will learn about our soul. To start, we began with the trouble soul and found how different authors in the Psalms dealt with it. It's about being very connected with God and comfortable giving Him all the troubles we endure.
KEY SCRIPTURE
KEY POINTS
Five stages of lament
1. Expression of deep pain to God (Psalms 22:1)
Laments are prayers of petition that arise out of need, in a response to deep suffering. The example we see in Psalms tells us no matter how deep our pain and suffering, God will listen, and He can handle it.
2. Expression of deep complaint with God (Psalms 22:2)
This pattern of prayer confronts the brutal facts. We can use our complaints to explain to God all that is troubling our hearts, what angers or saddens us. Complaining to our friends does not bring peace, but He will hear all of it with patience and compassion.
3. Expression of deep trust in God (Psalms 22:3-4)
We can rely on the knowledge that God has been trustworthy for many generations, including our ancestors and many people around us. During times of uncertainty, we too can trust God to handle whatever we are in the midst of.
4. Expression of deep petition to God (Psalms 22:11)
Petitioning our needs to God is letting Him know we need Him. We acknowledge what we are praying for, and WHY. Once we have revealed to Him the suffering involved, we show our awareness of the need for our request to be answered.
5. Expression of deep praise to God (Psalms 22:22)
Praising God for who He is as well as what He will do can stabilize our hearts because it focuses on His goodness, sovereignty, and power. Make a plan and be prepared for praising Him and declaring His goodness.
Just as others have wrestled spiritually with feelings and questions, we can be assured that our feelings and doubts are not new or uncomfortable to God. He wants us to turn to Him during times of even our deepest pain, complaints and disappointments.
We are praying for your connection with God and others to be fulfilling, rewarding, and refreshing. We pray that you release your biggest concerns to God and trust Him to handle your fears, complaints and worries.
TVC TRIBES TEAM
If you haven't yet watched the sermon from this past weekend, we encourage you to check it out. The current sermon video will be available this Tuesday. Click on the link below to view:
Recent TVC Sermon Video
1. Do you find it easy to complain to God? Is it easy to express trust in Him?
2. What are some ways you can express praise on a regular basis?
3. What can you do to fully give God your petitions and laments, and unburden your own heart?