DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

Series: Replenish
Passage: Psalm 62:1-8
Main Idea: Living in the rhythm of rest replenishes your soul and brings rest to the busyness of your life.

Download PDF VersionLeader Guide

GROUP DISCUSSION

Lean In

1. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without using your phone/email/computer/technology? What prompted that time?

Look Down

We occasionally identify things as “good for my soul,” but oftentimes we don’t truly know what’s good for our souls. We crave replenishment, we crave soul rest, but we find it so hard to grasp. Through our passage today, we see that the key to finding rest is in our reliance on God. It’s trusting that God is good in and out of the storm.

2. Read Psalm 62:1-8. What do you see about David’s posture towards God? What is David’s response to his troubles and adversity? Why do you think David starts and ends with praise in this section? What can you learn about his ability to put his faith into practice?

3. Read Luke 4:1-14. What do we learn about Jesus’ relationship to God through this passage? In Luke 4:4 we see Jesus respond “Man shall not live on bread alone (but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God).” What does this response tell you about where our reliance should lie?

Look Out

In today’s culture it can feel like we’re all on a hamster wheel, going and going and going. While this obviously takes a physical toll, there is also a spiritual toll. We continue to need spiritual replenishment. The definition that we use for replenish is: To supply with fresh fuel.

With that in mind, answer these next few questions.

4. What sort of side effects do you see in people (especially on the inside) who run and run
and run?

5. Why do you think it’s so hard for us, as a society, to slow down?

6.
Have you observed anyone who practices replenishment (as described above)? What do you observe about their internal lives?

Look In

7. As you look at your own life, where do you need replenishment? In what ways have you felt that you’ve been running non-stop?

8. When it comes to spiritual replenishment, what might it look like for you to find the space and time to be spiritually replenished? What sort of sacrifices would you have to make in order to find true rest for your soul?

9. Look back at Psalm 62. What verse or phrase sticks out to you that relates to where you can find true spiritual rest?

Live It Out

10. Spend time right now as a group praying together. Spend a few minutes in silence, as you play a worship song (We encourage you to listen to Highs and Lows by Hillsong: Young and Free).

As you pray, listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. Maybe you hear something for yourself, or maybe you hear something that you need to pray for others in your group.

After you listen to the song, spend time praying for each other with what you heard from the Holy Spirit.

11. As a group, what are some practical ways that you can help bring rest to each other? Maybe it’s watching each other’s kids, or coming over to clean a dirty house, or taking someone out camping for a couple days.

We are called to bear each other’s burdens, and this is a great opportunity to do this.

LEADER GUIDE

Lean In

Purpose: Introduce topic and get everyone talking.

1. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without using your phone/email/computer/technology? What prompted that time?

This is a “lighter” question intended to get the conversation going.

Look Down

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

We occasionally identify things as “good for my soul,” but oftentimes we don’t truly know what’s good for our souls. We crave replenishment, we crave soul rest, but we find it so hard to grasp. Through our passage today, we see that the key to finding rest is in our reliance on God. It’s trusting that God is good in and out of the storm.

2. Read Psalm 62:1-8. What do you see about David’s posture towards God? What is David’s response to his troubles and adversity? Why do you think David starts and ends with praise in this section? What can you learn about his ability to put his faith into practice?

3. Read Luke 4:1-14. What do we learn about Jesus’ relationship to God through this passage? In Luke 4:4 we see Jesus respond “Man shall not live on bread alone (but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God).” What does this response tell you about where our reliance should lie?

Look Out

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

In today’s culture it can feel like we’re all on a hamster wheel, going and going and going. While this obviously takes a physical toll, there is also a spiritual toll. We continue to need spiritual replenishment. The definition that we use for replenish is: To supply with fresh fuel.

With that in mind, answer these next few questions.

4. What sort of side effects do you see in people (especially on the inside) who run and run
and run?

– Lack of sensitivity to others
– Lack of margin
– Difficulty slowing down and listening
– Burnout/fatigue
– Feeling overwhelmed
– Unavailable for relationships, not present, shallow connections
– Inflexibility
– Reacting rather than responding in the tyranny of the urgent
– Emptiness

If you’re looking for some great resources, check out the book by Tim Hansel, “When I Relax I Feel Guilty.” You may also read Charles Hummel’s pamphlet “The Tyranny of the Urgent.”

5. Why do you think it’s so hard for us, as a society, to slow down?

– “FOMO” – Fear Of Missing Out
– Technology makes us constantly accessible
– Our culture puts a high value on being “Open 24 hours”
– Our identity is tied to what we do or “produce”
– We are unpracticed at stillness, quiet, reflection, and contentment
– Consumerism is the spirit of the day – we are addicted to the next thing
– There are innumerable options to entertain and engage us

6. Have you observed anyone who practices replenishment (as described above)? What do you observe about their internal lives?

Look In

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

7. As you look at your own life, where do you need replenishment? In what ways have you felt that you have been running non-stop?

8. When it comes to spiritual replenishment, what might it look like for you to find the space and time to be spiritually replenished? What sort of sacrifices would you have to make in order to find true rest for your soul?

Definition of Spiritual Replenishment… a period of rest to focus on God.

Examples:
– Knowing where you unplug and get restored best
– Being in nature
– Going for a walk
– Setting aside a time each day where there is no technology on
– Finding ways to play

Sacrifices:
– Finances (i.e. spending money on a babysitter so that you can find sanity)
– Pride and self sufficiency (i.e asking someone for help)
– Productivity and efficiency – you aren’t going to get as much done when you stop to smell the roses. (Conversely, sometimes you get more done by taking time to replenish)
– The appearance of having it all together
– Control

9. Look back at Psalm 62. What verse or phrase sticks out to you that relates to where you can find true spiritual rest?

Leaders: Take time from your own schedule to rest in this Psalm and be replenished by the truth here.

Live It Out

Purpose: Imagine what your world would look like if the truths from the passage were lived out.

10. Spend time right now as a group praying together. Spend a few minutes in silence, as you play a worship song (we encourage you to listen to Highs and Lows by Hillsong: Young and Free).

As you pray, listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. Maybe you hear something for yourself, or maybe you hear something that you need to pray for others in your group.

After you listen to the song, spend time praying for each other with what you heard from the Holy Spirit.

11. As a group, what are some practical ways that you can help bring rest to each other? Maybe it’s watching each other’s kids, or coming over to clean a dirty house, or taking someone out camping for a couple days.

We are called to bear each other’s burdens, and this is a great opportunity to do this.