Real Life: Finding Unity in Discord // Dr. Jeff Warren
Channel: Park Cities Baptist Church
Date: 2023-05-28

SERMON RESPONSE GUIDE
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE: 
PSALM 41 ESV
1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
    In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
    he is called blessed in the land;
    you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
    in his illness you restore him to full health.
4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
    heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
    while his heart gathers iniquity;
    when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
    they imagine the worst for me.
8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;
    he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
    and raise me up, that I may repay them!
11 By this I know that you delight in me:
    my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
    and set me in your presence forever.
13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
KEY POINTS
Harmony is happiness
Discord is destructive
Unity is healing
MEMORY VERSE
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.”
-Psalm 41:12 ESV

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:

1: Why do you think harmony or restored harmony leads to happiness?

2: How does selfishness lead to discord?

3: How does apathy lead to discord?

4: How do words contribute to discord?

5: What is the difference between unity and uniformity?

6: What unity do you need in your life to bring healing to the discord you are currently experiencing?

7: What is the primary truth God revealed to you today?

How will you respond?
Who do you know who you can encourage with the truth this week?
PRAY
Lord, thank you for paying the price for our selfishness and discord so we could be united with you and one another. Teach us to look beyond ourselves, to care for others, and to use words that seek to build up rather than words that seem to tear down. You are our harmony and our happiness.