Service Video, Message Notes, & Community Group Guide

Crossroads Community Group Guide

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A. Welcome

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: The Way

D. Announcements

• Weekly Resources on Crossroads Facebook Page

• Daily Devotional Video: The Encouraging Word with Pastor Willie

• Events: Crossroads Website

E. Review

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?

2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

F. Opening Question: Why is walking in God's vision for your life important?

G. Background Information

Psalm 84 was a song that was used by the people of Israel during their worship services in the temple. It was probably sung with the music of a gittith which is believed to be a type of instrument. It is mentioned in Psalms 8, 81, and 84. Psalm 84 was written for the director of music at the temple. It was written by the sons of Korah who were in charge of the temple.

The purpose of singing is for us to worship God and also to learn about God. The words teach us and guide us. The word Selah that is used in this Psalm was a musical term that indicates a pause. This makes it easy to divide the psalm into portions. The key focus of psalm 84 is the journey to God or the journey to God's presence. The world is depicted as a dry place. The valley of Baca is in the southern part of Israel and was a dry desert place. The Psalm depicts a journey toward God through a dry and broken world.

Warren Wiersbe said, "the valley of Baca is any difficult and painful place in life, where everything seems hopeless and you feel helpless.”

This Psalm or song is about our journey through life to one day meet God. We can all relate to this journey and especially our desire to be with the Lord and how in this world we walk through many dry times.

It is expressing our deep desire to go home.

A. Psalm 84:1-4 - The beauty and satisfaction that comes from dwelling with God

B. Psalm 85:5-8 - The journey (pilgrimage) we have to God through this dry broken world.

C. Psalm 84:9-12 Trusting in God as we walk towards him 

H. Word: Psalm 84

1. What key words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

I. Discuss the following general questions together.

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus, or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

J. Commitment - Obedience - Application: What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study?

K. Prayer Time:

1. Pray for new people by name who you want to join your group.

2. Pray for your group to multiply.

3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. Divide into 2 groups, for male and female.

L. For Next time: Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group for next week.