What a hope-filled message we heard from Pastor Mike this week! What we chase in life determines our race in life. May we be a people who chases Christ alone, our greatest source of joy and peace.
If you haven’t had a chance to catch the online worship experience this week, you can do so here.
Personal Devotional
As we consider a wholehearted pursuit of Jesus, let’s spend a moment in Psalm 63.
Read Psalm 63:1-2
Jot down each verb David uses to describe His pursuit of God. Notice the sensory language in these verses – David longs for Jesus with all of his being. Do you long for Jesus in this way? Why or why not?
How does David describe the land in which he lives? In what ways is our current world similar?
Read Psalm 63:3-5
What is “better than life” according to David?
In these verses, David’s tone shifts from longing for God to being satisfied in God. Lately, how have you experienced satisfaction in Christ?
Read Psalm 63:6-8
Draw a vertical line down a sheet of paper. On the left-hand side, list the things your mind is prone to drift toward as you lie in bed. On the right-hand side, list gospel truths about Jesus. Ask God to help you follow David’s example of thinking of Him as you lie in bed at night.
David captures three images in these verses: meditating on God at night, rejoicing in the shadow of His wings, and following closely as God’s hand holds on to him. Which of these images is the most comforting to you and why?
Close by choosing your favorite verse from Psalm 63 and copying it on a notecard. Place it somewhere in your house and reflect on it throughout the week.
Grace Communities: Sermon Discussion Questions
- Pastor Mike gave examples of chasing idols like materialism, beauty, or intellectualism. What “mute idols” are you tempted to chase, and how do they affect your race in life?
- In teaching on Hebrews 12:1, Pastor Mike talked about “go-to sins” that easily entangle us. Would anyone like to share an example of a “go-to sin” that once entangled you, and how you broke free?
- What’s the difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts?
- What are some of your spiritual gifts? How could you use your gifts right now to build up the church?
- How would your life be different if you abandoned idols and chased Jesus wholeheartedly? What fears would lose their grip on you? What newfound freedom might you enjoy? How could you take a next step, today, toward pursuing Jesus supremely?
GraceStudents 5th/6th Grade
Word of the Week—Immanent
This word could easily be confused with a very similar word, “imminent.” Imminent means something is about to happen. (Picture a meteor hurtling toward earth: “You are in imminent danger!”)
Immanent is a completely different word. It means “within,” and it’s used to describe God. Some people believe God exists, but He’s not “within” the world. They think He’s far away and completely disinterested in us. The Bible disagrees. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Psalm 34:18 says, “God is close to the brokenhearted.”
God is immanent. He sees you, loves you, and knows everything about you. God cares about the big things in your life and the little things. When you chase after God, you will find Him, because He is immanent.
GraceStudents (7-12 Grades)
If you haven’t done so already, be sure to download the zoom app on your device so you can tune in to our live GraceStudents service every Sunday night! For more information and links, head to the calendar.
