August 17, 2025
Psalms of Ascent
Unity That Feels Good To God
The Psalms of Ascent were songs for the journey—worshippers sang them as they traveled together toward Jerusalem and the Temple. These Psalms give voice to the sorts of things that go through worshippers' hearts as they prepare to worship. Today’s Psalm (133) is about relationships, people getting along and how God blesses us as we choose to live in harmony.
Songs for this week: Spotify
Questions:
Psalm 133
- Tell the story of an experience you had when, even in hard circumstances, people got along and lived in unity.
- From your experience, what are the main causes of disunity in relationships?
- Describe how ‘precious oil on the head’ and the ‘dew of Hermon’ capture the satisfaction of living in harmony.
- How might Jesus’ love transform a relationship?
- Is there a breakdown in a relationship that you need to revisit? Without throwing someone under the bus, discuss this with your small group.
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Recent Sermons
Acts 17:16-34 -Paul shares the hope of Jesus in everyday language, guiding seekers toward truth and showing where their search for God had gone astray.
Acts 13:1-5 -The first Christians had small groups! They knew, because Jesus modelled it, that we’re much better in groups than we are as individuals. The group that gathered in Antioch was diverse, zoned in on Jesus and figuring out how to be outward-facing. Your own group will want all that and more!
Acts 8:9-25 - Simon put on a good show (literally!), but his heart was full of bitterness. He wasn’t healthy and wasn’t taking the steps to be healthy. What about us today?
Acts 2:40-47 - As a church, we’re taking some time to talk about our vision and strategy. We’re hoping to add clarity to why and how we do what we do in this season.
Psalm 129 is a bit of a nasty Psalm! The writer has been oppressed and doesn’t hold back in expressing what that feels like. You might think being a believer means your troubles disappear, but that has never been the case. The good news is that God is neither blind nor indifferent to our struggles.
Psalm 131 - The Psalms of Ascent have it all: anguish, anger, encouragement, and wild joy. Psalm 131 is all about contentment. Where does contentment come from? What ruins it? What does it feel like? How can I be content in an age where marketing, social media and mirrors breed discontent?
