Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

 

Psalm 34

Pray the Psalm together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections on the Psalm as a group

1  I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2  My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad.

3  O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

4  I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5  Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.

6  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8  O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!

9  O fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!

10  The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11  Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12  What man is there who desires life, and covets many days, that he may enjoy good?

13  Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15  The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry.

16  The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17  When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20  He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

21  Evil shall slay the wicked; and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

22  The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

Moses and Jethro

Exodus 18

1.       Moses left his wife and children in the care of his father-in-law when he departed for Egypt.  What role do parents and in-laws play in a Patriarch’s family?  How does a Patriarch successfully include parents and in-laws in sensitive family matters while still acting as the leader of his family?

2.       Moses was away from his family for an extended time to complete the mission God gave him.  What are some reasons a Patriarch may need to be away from his family for a time?  How did you arrange for the care of your family and your marriage during a long period of being away?  How does a Patriarch discern when travelling for work is negatively affecting his family?

3.       On the day that Moses is reunited with his family, where do he and Jethro go to talk?  What do they discuss?  What spiritual practice did Moses and Jethro take part in together?  How does this inform your relationship with your father and your father-in-law?

4.       What did Jethro observe about Moses’ way of acting as judge for the people?  What advice did Jethro offer as a better solution?  How did Moses respond to Jethro’s advice?  How do you respond to advice or criticism from your parents and in-laws?

Prayer Partners

Discuss with your prayer partner the success/failure of your previous resolution & offer a vocal prayer for one another.