Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 69:1-18

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

1  Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.

2  I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.

3  I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

4  More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?

5  O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6  Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

7  For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face.

8  I have become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mother’s sons.

9  For zeal for your house has consumed me, and insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

10  When I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

11  When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12  I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.

13  But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your mercy answer me.

14  With your faithful help rescue me from sinking in the mire; Let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

15  Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

16  Answer me, O LORD, for your merciful love is good; according to your abundant compassion, turn to me.

17  Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress, make haste to answer me.

18  Draw near to me, redeem me, set me free because of my enemies!

   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.

The First Covenant

Genesis 8-9

1.       The world can be a wicked and dangerous place. How does God protect Noah? How do you protect your family? How does God commission Noah after the flood? How do you intentionally commission your children?

2.       In Genesis 8, Noah is the first to build a religious monument. What is it? What does he do upon it? What does God smell from it? How do men commonly celebrate with “burnt offerings” now? How could these occasions of feasting be linked to faith?

3.       What are the parallels between what God says to Adam and to Noah? What new commandments does God give Noah?

4.       The word “covenant” is repeated seven times in Genesis 9. What is a covenant? What promise is made? What is the sign of the covenant?

5.       What covenant/s am I a part of? What are the promises? What are the signs? How are you preparing your offspring to commit to covenant?

6.       How does Noah respond to the sin of his son? What are the results of a Father’s spoken curses? Of a Father’s spoken blessings? How are your words shaping those who follow you? 

Prayer Partners

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