Bethany Young Adults' Group

Text – Psalm 68

1. The word of the King                 Psalm 68:11-14

a) The authority of the word of the King                 Psalm 68:11a

b) Royal proclamation by many                  Psalm 68:11b

c) Great victory for the King and His army             Psalm 68:12-13

2. Reaction of those who reject the King’s word

a) Kings of armies flee                   Psalm 68:12a

b) Kings are scattered                    Psalm 68:14

3. The Domicile of the King

a) The mountain of God                                Psalm 68:15

b) Chosen residence of the King                   Psalm 68:16

4. The Army of the King

a) Many chariots                           Psalm 68:17

b) Gracious gifts of the King        Psalm 68:18

5. Benefits from the King

a) Daily benefits (physical)                           Psalm 68:19

b) Benefits (spiritual)                                     Psalm 68:20

6. Procession of the King

a) Great procession (victory)                       Psalm 68:24-27

b) Submission to the King                             Psalm 68:28-31

7. Worship of the King                                            Psalm 68:32-35

Text – Psalm 68

A CHALLENGE TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE PRESENCE OF GOD

1. Powerful presence of God                      Psalm 68:1-2, 6

“The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God,
Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.”    Psalm 68:8

“As smoke is driven away, so drive them away,
As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.”                 Psalm 68:2

a) The wicked

They will perish

The wicked are compared to mere smoke and wax    Psalm 68:2

 b) The righteous

i)  They rejoice before God exceedingly                         Psalm 68:3

ii) They extol Him                      Psalm 68:3

2. Name of God

a) YAH

b) Usually translated as LORD                     Cf. Exodus 6:3, 6

3. Character of God

a) Father of the fatherless           Psalm 68:5a

b) Defender of widows                 Psalm 68:5b

c) Sets the solitary in families      Psalm 68:6a

d) Grants prosperity                       Psalm 68:6b

e) Provision for His people           Psalm 68:9-10

f) He confirms His inheritance    Psalm 68:9

Text – Luke 24

REFLECTIONS OVER EASTER

Take time to reflect over Easter

1. Messages

2. Fellowship over tea

Reflecting over Easter

1. Keeping the buzz of Easter

“And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned,” Luke 24:14,15

a) Talked together about what happened

b) Conversed

c) Reasoned

2. Well known but not fully understood

a) Easter is well known

i. A Public Holiday

ii. A Secular Holiday

iii. A religious Holiday

iv. A well known event

“Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” Luke 24:18

v. Talked about things concerning Jesus of Nazareth  (Luke 24:19-24)

- Crucifixion of Christ

- Resurrection of Christ

b) Easter to be fully understood

i. Through the exposition of the Scriptures concerning the resurrection of Christ

“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:26,27

ii. Opening of spiritual eyes to see

“Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him;” Luke 24:31

iii. Heart filled with joy and excitement

“And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32

c) Many deep things learned over Easter

i. Basic things

ii. New things

iii. Deeper things

Text – Psalm 45

A SYSTEM OF FAITH: PRAISE TO GOD AS KING REIGNING IN MOUNT ZION

1. Acknowledgment of God as King

a)      He is a great King

b)      He is the LORD of hosts

c)       He has a name that is worthy of all praise

d)      He is a Guide to His people from birth to death

2. Appreciation of the Capital of the Great King

a)      It is Mount Zion (Jerusalem)

b)      It is also called “the city of God”

c)       It is further called “the city of the great king”

d)      It is strategically elevated

e)      It is beautiful

f)       It is the joy of the whole earth

 3. Astonishment of people

a)      Kings assemble

b)      They check out the city of the great king

c)       They stood in awe

d)      They went away astonished

 4. Aspiration of God’s people

a)      God will establish His kingdom

b)      To dwell on God’s lovingkindness

c)       To focus on the majestic name of God in all His righteousness

d)      To rejoice in the Lord

e)      To admire Zion

f)       To exult in God

g)      To share with subsequent generations the glory of God’s city

 DISCUSSION

1. How did the sons of Korah receive such inspiration?

2. Is this description limited to physical Jerusalem?

3. How do we apply this teaching in our daily life?

Text – Psalm 47

A SYSTEM OF FAITH: THE KING OF THE EARTH

1. Description of the Lord

a)      The LORD Most High

b)      A great King over all the earth

c)       He reigns over all the earth

2. Worship of the Lord

a)      To clap hands with joy

b)      To shout with loud acclamation

c)       To praise God for His awesome greatness

d)      To song praises always (Note emphasis in Psalm 47:6-7)

e)      He is to be greatly exalted

 3. God’s rule over the earth

a)      He reigns over the nations

b)      He sits on His holy throne

c)       The shields of the earth belong to God (all have submitted to His rule)

4. The people who make up God’s kingdom

a)      Princes

b)      People of the God of Abraham

DISCUSSION

1. How may we understand the Lord as King over all the earth?

2. What about the nations that do not acknowledge God as their King?

3. How do we practise this teaching in our daily life?