Summary: Inside devotion there’s a heart that fears the Lord.  Those who fear God are marked by specific traits of that relationship, and also receive the effects of stunning, eternal promises.

1.  Is your relationship characterized by nonchalance?  By viewing God as an angry Diety with impossible standards?  Or by the middle ground of reverent fear?

2. What is your impulse in times of trouble?  Do you move toward God or away?  Do you call out or turn to your own resources?  (see 34:4-6)

3. Do you have a changed life as a result of meeting the Lord?  What are some examples?  (see 34:13-14)

4. The promises of the Lord are great indeed.  How are you looking to him for protection, provision, or a taste of his goodness? (Ps 34:7-10).  How can God promise these things in light of the world’s pain and trouble?

Summary: A heart of devotion begins with praise. God command praise out of His love, as magnifying God accomplishes good in us, aligning us with what is true, regardless of circumstance.

1. What sets apart biblical devotion from the way the word is used commonly in our culture?  What are you devoted to?

2. Why does God command praise?  Have you seen this take place in your life?  Is praise the soundtrack of your life?

3. As we magnify and exalt God, he grows in our eyes and we are lifted up in the strength of God.  What are ways that you could develop habits of praise no matter the circumstance?

4. Praise is invitational, welcoming others into God’s goodness and joy.

Summary: Words have power – they form us and affect others.  The words we speak arise from our hearts, and as the gospel changes our hearts it will change our words also.  New Person, New Words.

1.  How have the words of others shaped you, either for building up or tearing down? Do you have any seared memories of words of condemnation or great encouragement?

2. The gospel exchanges our old self for a new self (Eph. 4:21-24).  Do you understand that process?  Do you feel like you know how to live from the new self?

3. Ephesians 4:17-32 implies three gospel-motivated questions related to our words:

4.  What next steps is the Lord asking you to take in response to these questions?

Summary: Passing the baton of faith onto the next generations is an awesome responsibility – and not only for parents.  How are we actively discipling the next generation?

1. How much do you think about your responsibility to the next generations?  To what extent are you working, in faith, to pass the baton?

2. What mistakes did Joshua’s generation make in their day (Judges 2:6-15)?  What are some things we can do to guard against “assuming” the gospel?

3.  Are you parenting out of appearance or toward the heart?  How can you tell the difference?