Mike Williams is the chair of our elder board, and one of his (many) wise counsels is that we make sure we don’t confuse our causes for our purpose. Now, to be completely transparent, the first few times he shared that with me, I would nod sagely as if I understood exactly what he meant (even though I didn’t). Years later, I think I’m beginning to figure it out.

Generally speaking, a cause focuses on stopping something, whereas a purpose is rooted in the desire to start something. So, for example, feeding the hungry could be called a cause, whereas creating affordable food for all is a purpose.

Of course, both causes and purposes are absolutely necessary. But these days, my sense is that there are so many people crusading for causes that we might get confused about our purpose as God’s people.

Enter Psalm 67, and its bold petition that God “bless us.” But this centering Psalm doesn’t end there, and as Buddy Hoffman, the founding pastor of Grace who passed away three years ago this week, asked about this text, “Why does God bless us?”

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Title: Psalms: Why Does God Bless Us? // Psalm 67

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
The questions in the drought can lead us to the deluge of truth.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
Likely sung by Jewish farmers during various festivals, Psalm 67 is a request for God to bless, and verse 7 answers the question of why He would bless His people: that all the ends of the earth may fear Him. Psalm 67 harkens back to the blessing that was promised to Abram in Genesis 12: that God would provide land, a child, a nation, a great name, protection, and ultimately the opportunity to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. Likewise, the blessing prayer that is repeated in Psalm 67 asks that God bless His people so that all the peoples, all the nations would praise Him—the great mission of the people of God. This multi-national praise will finally be realized when “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” will sing a song of praise to the Lamb who is worthy (Revelation 5:9-14).

THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
God blesses us to be a blessing.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What’s the significance behind the fact that farmers were the likely singers of this Psalm? How does this Psalm encourage us to think beyond our own little world? What is the chief end of missions?

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Where have you seen the blessings of God in your life? Where have you seen God use you to be a blessing to others? How would you rate your concern for the world knowing and praising God? How do you exemplify that concern?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): Where does your life intersect with the unknowing world? What is your local mission field? How might you get involved in worldwide missions? (Read books on missionaries, support a Bible translation project, write letters to missionaries).

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 5 minutes
God loves to bless us. Jon talked about how God blesses us through the variety of foods He’s provided and the variation in landscapes. Take turns thanking God for His blessings. Be specific. Nothing is too small or too big.

Change IN // Group Activity 10 minutes
Spend time in prayer for the nations. Pray that there would be revival around the world as people from every tribe and tongue, people and nation would be drawn to the Savior. Pray for missionaries who are discouraged because they are not seeing the fruit of their labors. Pray for God to raise up Bible translators who can accurately translate the Word. Pray for the finances of those raising support to go to unreached peoples.

Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
On the blue sheet from Buddy’s original sermon, He listed 12 ways to be involved in missions—everything from becoming a friend of a missionary to financially supporting missions, to going on a short-term mission trip. Talk through options for your group. Perhaps your group could financially support a missionary or commit to writing them each month.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.