Teaching Outline

GPNAZ TEACHING OUTLINE: December 3, 2023
Breadcrumbs: “Joy of Every Longing Heart – Love”
Advent 2 – Psalm 85
 

• God made a covenant with Abraham.

 
 
This covenant was for Abraham and all his descendants, and it revealed the steadfast love of God because of God’s demonstration of taking both sides of responsibility for the covenant.

• Psalm 85 is a lament that is focused on faithfulness. 

 
 
Faithfulness and righteousness are viewed as abundance from God. We see this illustrated through the image of land yielding a harvest. There is abundance when we are in right relationship (covenant) with God.

• God’s steadfast love is present for us as well. 

Because we have watched relationships disregard steadfast love, it is sometimes challenging for us to accept the steadfast love of God. We can, and often do, project upon God the human experiences we have had. We also can project feelings of our own unworthiness.

• After we lament, we repent the ways we have been unfaithful to God, all the while knowing that God still loves us.

 
 
Celebrating the steadfast love of God reminds us we are loved, reminds others of the faithfulness of God, and gives us a moment to look back on later when we need to remember the love of God.