August 31, 2025
Psalms of Ascent
Let Him Have It!
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. In time (often not as fast as we want), God always intervenes. There’s even hope for the oppressor in this Psalm! Good news travels.
Songs for this week: Spotify
Questions:
Psalm 129
- Recall a recent experience of hardship. What was it like? How did you navigate that experience—emotionally, relationally, or prayerfully?
- Israel experienced God’s intervention—His “cutting loose the cords”—many times. Recall some of those stories together. Have you experienced God setting you free from something—an addiction, a negative attitude, or a toxic relationship? Share your story.
- “May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.” This Psalm records lots of honest and strong emotions! How do you deal with your strong emotions? Do you blurt them out, bury them, or process them in another way?
- Jesus had some clear teachings about how to treat our enemies. How are you practically living that out with the difficult people in your life right now?
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Recent Sermons
Mark 1:35 - Jesus modelled a life of restraint and rhythm, showing us how to live with peace and purpose even amid urgency through the practices he shared.
Luke 6:39-49 - Jesus reminds us that we all have teachers shaping us. Some lead us astray, but when we follow him, we learn to live as we were truly meant to.
Romans 12:1-2 - Jesus’ invitation is to follow him: to be with him, become like him, and do what he did. We surrender control to Jesus, resist the pattern of the world that shapes us, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit for transformation.
Mark 1:16-18 -We begin our series on Practicing the Way—exploring how Jesus’ rhythms of prayer, fasting, solitude, and Sabbath invite ordinary people to grow in grace and intimacy with God
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!
