Psalm 1

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Sermon Follow Up

Summary

The Psalms are more than a hymnbook—they are the Church’s prayer book, teaching God’s people how to speak back to Him in every season of life. Before the Psalms teach us what to pray, however, Psalm 1 asks a more fundamental question: Which path are you walking, God’s or man’s?

Psalm 1 contrasts two ways of life. One delights in God’s instruction and grows into a fruitful, enduring tree. The other follows the counsel of the wicked and eventually becomes like chaff, dry and rootless. The Psalm reminds us that wisdom and folly are not merely individual choices but communal realities. We become like the people whose voices we trust, whose lives we imitate, and whose company we keep.

The good news is that Jesus doesn’t merely rescue isolated individuals. He plants us among His people, where His Word and Spirit shape us over time into men and women who delight in His instruction and bear fruit for His glory.

Discussion/Reflection Material

• Verse 1 describes a progression: walking, standing, and, finally, sitting with the wicked. Have you ever noticed how small compromises or repeated habits gradually shape a person’s life? Can you think of examples?

• The sermon argued that righteousness functions similarly to wickedness—it, too, grows steadily over time through sustained habits. Have you seen any examples of that?

• The logic of Psalm 1 implies that we are formed by the communities to which we belong. What people, voices, or habits have most shaped your thinking over the last few years? Are they helping you delight in God’s instruction?

• Psalm 1 connects delight with meditation. What practical habits help you meditate on God’s Word rather than simply reading it?

• How does regular participation in the life of the Church (worship, meals, friendship, prayer, Bible study, serving together) cultivate delight in God’s instruction?

• The sermon described salvation as being brought into a new people, not merely making an individual decision. How does that expand or deepen your understanding of what it means to become a Christian?

• Psalm 1 ends with two images: a fruitful tree and windblown chaff. Which image best describes the direction your life is moving right now? Why?

Family-Friendly Short

Big Idea: God wants us to walk His way with His people.

Family Recap: Psalm 1 says there are two roads we can walk. One follows God’s wisdom, and the other follows the world’s wisdom. The road we choose shapes the kind of people we become.

Just like friends can influence how we talk, think, and act, God’s people help us love God’s Word and follow Jesus together. That’s one reason coming to church, reading the Bible, praying, and spending time with other Christians is so important.

Questions: 1) Who are some people who encourage you to love Jesus? 2) Why do you think God wants Christians to follow Him together instead of alone? 3) What is one small way our family can “walk with the righteous” this week?