Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.
- Discuss in your group whether you think of God being present in a building, or in people, and what is the difference?
- Share any experiences you may have had of journeying to celebrate a festival occasion such as Christmas with others away from your normal home.
- Is it possible for us to live in God’s ‘courts’ today and not leave them? What does verse 10 mean to people today?
Use the programme which can be found on the link ‘discipleship challenges’. The ‘worksheet’ will help you follow through anything you feel is right to take up. The following notes are for your interest and consideration.
Personal comment:
The psalm seems on first reading to give glory to the Temple in Jerusalem, and we have to be careful to understand the complex way in which people thought about God’s presence with them in Old Testament times. The Temple was a visible sign of God’s presence more than a solitary ‘abode’ where He alone could be found, and there are times when we need to see our buildings as a visible sign of God’s presence in a community, for example. However, there can be no substitute today for the active worship of God’s people, in which He is to be uniquely experienced. Carol services are a great example of God’s people opening up their worship to the community and making God’s presence in the world real and exciting for all who will receive God’s message of love.
Ideas for discipleship programme
- Do you really enjoy worshipping God together with others? This is a serious question, because God does intend us to enjoy each other’s company in worship. Pray and ask the Lord to help you enjoy your worship!
- Pray for those who do not have the physical freedom to worship the living God because of the prejudices of governments, regimes and oppressive faiths.
Through love, Lord Jesus, You have won for us the greatest of gifts, the redemption of our souls. From Your birth at Bethlehem to Your death on Calvary, Your life was given for us; how can we ever thank You? We offer You our love and give You all glory and honour Lord Jesus. Thank You for our salvation: AMEN
