Grow Guide | November 3, 2024
All Saints Sunday
Series Theme: Offer to God
Reading: Psalm 24:1-6
Connecting Question
What is one question you wish people would ask you?
What question gets under your skin? Why?
Prayer for Illumination
Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Context
This sermon series, we will reflect on Psalm 50:14, “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High”. For 4 weeks, one verse will celebrate and focus on what each of us might ‘Offer to God’. We are called to live and serve sacrificially. Through it all, God’s love is sure and steady no matter what. The whole psalm reminds the people that not only does God delight in our celebrations, but they’re necessary to connect us to our joy in God. We recognize that our offerings, our returning to God what God first gave, also does God’s work in the world. Join us on this journey of faith.
From Dr Fred Gaiser at EntertheBible.org:
The book of Psalms is the hymnbook or prayer book of the Bible, containing 150 poems, addressed to God and varying widely in content and tone; included are cries of lament, shouts of praise, and other liturgies and meditations on Israel’s life before God.
Look at the Book
Who wrote this Psalm? Who is that?
Verse 1 is a statement of belonging. What belongs to whom? Why is that good news?
In what ways do humans behave as if verse one is not true?
Verse one and two rely on nature imagery. What are the two key nature images?
Notice the shift in verse three. The tone and style shift from truth telling and announcement of God’s belonging to what?
In Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, in the explanation of the Apostle’s Creed, how does the creed start? What is our confession about what God has done at the beginning of the creed?
How then are the different teachings in the Small Catechism explained? Compare that style with Psalm 24. Jesus also used “question and answer” as an important way to teach people about God’s mercy and humankind’s hypocrisy.
Verses 3, 8, 10 all contain questions. What are they? Which question are you most drawn to?
What questions do you see younger generations drawn to right now?
Verse four names a key issue that distracts the people of God from keeping a good relationship with God. What is it?
Google Martin Luther’s Small Catechism 1st commandment. Notice again, the question/answer style, like a parent teaching a child. What is Luther’s explanation of why we are called to keep this commandment?
November 3 is All Saints Sunday. Who might you light a candle for? What questions would you like to ask them now?
What is the gift shared in verse five? What does that word mean to you?
What would you like to talk about that we have not yet?
Taking it Home
Thank a living saint in your life today. They could be a child or a peer. Express gratitude for their witness in your life!
God of the promise, you call your people together into your one mission in Christ’s name. Make us brave, grant us peace, challenge our expectations, and empower us to truly follow your Spirit’s lead. You are our one God who calls us together as one people, and we thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.