Psalm 51 and 2 Samuel 12 Helps.

Here are the notes and questions from the week's Soul Care sheet.  Additional comments and helps are in red

FROM PSALM 51:

Read Psalm 51 together as a group and then answer the next three  questions.  Please don’t rush through these questions.

What does this Psalm tell us about God?

God hates sin.

God is merciful and loving.

God is the only one who can take care of our sin problem.  You don't need to forgive yourself.

He is worthy of praise.

What great truths we need to remember.  Each and every one of us need to remember.

What does David say he needs?  Consider the different ways he says the same thing.

Forgiveness.

Cleansing/Washing/Purge
To hear joy and gladness.  To be reminded of God's goodness in the midst of "broken bones"
A clean heart, which can only come from God.
God's presence.
Restoration of Joy

What does David say his response is and will be to God?
He will teach transgressors 
He will sing aloud of God's righteousness.
He would sacrifice, if that is what God wanted
He will have a broken spirit & a broken, contrite heart.

FROM THE SERMON AND PASSAGE:

How does David show real repentance?  (Look for specific things)

Look at the things you wrote down from Psalm 51 and consider his response to Nathan's rebuke.

What should true repentance look like in your life?  (Think general principles)

Personal answers.
Ask if group members have a tendency to do the following...
  excuse or downplay sin.
  not seek out forgiveness right away.

Can you think of a SPECIFIC time in YOUR life when sin took you farther than you wanted to go and cost you more than you wanted to pay?  If you repented, what did it look like?  If you didn’t what do you need to do?

Whether you use this question in your group or not, challenge members to think about and maybe even write down an answer.
It is important to identify areas of weakness when it comes to sin and temptation.

Some thoughts to remember:

The lie is simply:  Sin is better than God.

We do what we do because we want what we want.

God is gracious towards sinners.  He sends a Savior, Jesus Christ to bring repentant children home.