Restored Joy – Psalm 96

Introduction Video

Watch the following video introducing our mission focus for this term.


Opening Question

What would need to change for you to be ready to invite someone to Alpha in 10 weeks’ time?

For example:

  • Knowing how to invite someone

  • Having people you could invite

  • Beginning some initial conversations about faith

  • Growing in confidence to speak about Jesus

Read Psalm 96

  1. What does the psalm tell us about who God is and what he has done?

  2. What does this Psalm reveal about the scope of God’s mission?

  3. What might the motivations be for someone to tell others about God and his salvation based on this psalm?

  4. How are joy, worship and making God known connected in this psalm?

  5. What does the phrase “The Lord reigns” offer to a fearful, unstable or unjust world?

  6. Why is God’s coming judgement presented as good news? How might it motivate us to make him known?

  7. If we truly believed that God deserves the worship of every nation, what would change about our priorities?

    Read and Reflect:

J. Campbell White, secretary of the Laymen’s Missionary Movement, wrote in 1909:

Most men are not satisfied with the permanent output of their lives. Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within his followers except the adoption of Christ’s purpose toward the world he came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of working with God for the fulfillment of his eternal plans. The men who are putting everything into Christ’s undertaking are getting out of life its sweetest and most priceless rewards.

Do you see participating in God’s plan to make his name known as something that gives joy and meaning? Why or why not?


Application: Who Has God Placed in Your Life?

Take a couple of minutes to consider the following questions as individuals (send the questions to people so they can can see them)

  • Who are the people God has placed around me?

  • Which relationships might be open to deeper conversations?

  • What assumptions am I making about people’s interest in faith?

  • Is there someone with whom I could initiate a spiritual conversation this month?

  • Who might be open to a closer relationship or a conversation about things of significance?

  • If I were intentional between now and October, who might be ready to receive an invitation to Alpha?

Share and Pray

Share the names of one or two people based on this reflection with the group

Pray for them by name, asking God for opportunities, courage, wisdom and genuine love.