Bible ReadingPsalm 8 “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
[54:13] [55:24] [56:14]Titus 3:3-5 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”
Luke 19:1-10 “He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’ And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”
Luke 15:11-24 “And he said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
Observation questions- In Psalm 8, what details does David point to when he speaks about the Lord’s majesty, and how does the psalm begin and end? [56:57]
- In Titus 3:3-5, what words describe what people were like before God saved them, and what reason is given for why God saved them?
- In Luke 19:1-10, what does Zacchaeus do to try to see Jesus, and what does Jesus do when He reaches the tree? [01:05:40]
- In Luke 15:11-24, what are the father’s actions when the son starts coming home, and what do those actions show about the father’s heart? [01:05:27]
Interpretation questions- Psalm 8 repeats, “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth,” at both the beginning and the end. Why might that repeated line be there, and what does it do to the way a believer reads the psalm? [57:28]
- Titus 3:3-5 says God saved people not because of righteous works, but according to His mercy. How does that truth protect believers from pride and deepen amazement at God’s love for the unlovable? [01:03:39]
- Jesus seeing Zacchaeus and the father running toward the prodigal both show that God’s majesty comes near to sinners. How does that shape the way believers think about God when they have failed badly? [01:05:57]
- God’s faithfulness, nearness, and unchanging character are wonderful gifts. Why can those same truths sometimes lead people to become spiritually dull or casual with God? [01:06:31]
Application questions- When does God feel most familiar to the point of being treated like background noise—during Bible reading, prayer, church, or everyday routine? What usually causes that drift in the heart? [01:06:31]
- Adoration helps put the heart in the right place before confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. What would it look like this week to spend a few unhurried minutes simply telling God who He is and why He is majestic? [01:08:41]
- God sees hidden people and runs toward returning sinners. Where is there a need right now to stop hiding, turn back, and trust that God’s heart is open rather than closed? [01:05:27]
- The gospel should never sound small to people who have known it for years. What parts of the good news have started to sound routine, and what helps restore wonder in the heart? [01:12:52]
- The majesty of God is not meant to be a best kept secret. Who is one actual person—a neighbor, coworker, friend, or family member—who may need to hear about Christ, and what might a faithful next step look like? [01:11:50]
- Many people can get loud and joyful over sports, wins, and big life moments. What does heartfelt joy in God look like in real life for each person in the group, especially for those who are quieter by personality? [01:16:17]
- Good days and hard days both belong to the same majestic Lord. What is one hard day or hard season right now where there is a need to ask, “How might God use even this to draw me closer to Him?” [01:18:53]
