Table of Contents
PRAYER
Our main goal in this time together is to build relationships and learn to walk alongside one another in all that God has called us to be and do. Let’s start by praying for each other.
Does anyone have prayer requests or personal stories of how God has been moving in your life that we can celebrate together?
A PRAYER FOR THE PSALMS AND HOPE
Self :: Family :: Community of Faith
THIS WEEK
Today, we’re kicking off a new series called A Prayer For The Psalms and Hope, where we’ll dive into the book of Psalms to learn not just what to pray, but how to pray. The Psalms reveal a raw, authentic, and passionate love for God’s presence while expressing His heart for the brokenness in the world around us.
Over the next six weeks, we’ll journey together, growing in a life of prayer and seeking God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
In A Prayer for a Profound Unity, we explore Psalm 133 and its powerful truth about the key distinction between standing together and standing alone. This psalm reveals that this rare and unique distinction isn’t just an inspiring concept—it’s a divine calling and the very bond that mends life’s broken pieces.
To start our time together, let’s begin with the following questions:
Share a time when you felt out of place, like everyone else had a role and purpose—except you. How did it feel, and how did it impact you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURE
Have someone read Psalm 133 aloud. As you listen, notice any words or phrases that stand out, and ask the Holy Spirit to highlight something for you.
Psalm 133
1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
The Benefit of Multiple Images
“Throughout his letters, Paul describes the Church as a bride, a body, a family, a house, and a living temple. Each of these images helps us better understand and unpack the complexity of our identity.
Imagine studying a flower. If you only ever studied the flower in a photograph, your knowledge of it would be limited by what you saw in the picture. But if you encountered the flower in a field, you could walk around it, look at it from above, touch it. Your insights about the flower and your understanding of its parts and purpose would increase. Your appreciation for it, and likely for its creator, would grow too.”
What does it Mean to Be the Church?, Courtney Jacob
Who is the community of faith?
Psalm 133:1 – 1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
What community of people has positively impacted your life? Is there a group that has negatively impacted your life? If so, how?
How would you define the “community of faith” based on Psalm 133 and other biblical passages?
What distinguishes the community of faith from other groups or social circles in your life?
In what ways does the local church reflect the larger body of Christ?
How do you consistently experience unity within the community of faith?
Why pray for the community of faith?
Psalm 133:2-3 – 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
What does Psalm 133 reveal about prayer and the blessings of unity in the faith community?
How does the imagery of anointing oil and refreshing dew relate to God’s desire for His people?
Why do you think praying for unity and maintaining unity is such a vital aspect of spiritual growth in Jesus and others?
What are some common challenges that threaten unity in the church, and how can prayer address these challenges?
How have you seen prayer help restore unity in difficult times? If so, when and how?
How should one pray for the community of faith?
Jesus prays for His Church in John 17:20-23:
“20 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
What specific prayers can we pray to cultivate and maintain unity in the faith community?
How can we align our prayers with Jesus’ desire for His church to be one, as He and the Father are one?
What role do humility and forgiveness play in praying for unity?
How can we incorporate corporate prayer into our church life to strengthen unity?
CLOSING THOUGHT
As the Israelites sang Psalm 133 on their journey to Jerusalem, uniting in shared purpose, we too can pray and declare the blessing of unity over the Church and our faith community, Mosaic Church Fort Worth. This week:
- Commit to daily prayer for unity, praying Psalm 133.
- Connect with and encourage someone in your faith community.
- Join our weekly prayer call every Wednesday at 12 PM.
Let’s close in prayer, asking God to help us maintain unity, turn from the ways of the world, and draw near to Him. May He reveal practical ways for us to be instruments of His peace and love—not only within the faith community but also in every place we live, work, and play.
Alvin Brown, the Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church Fort Worth, brings over a decade of pastoral ministry experience and more than 20 years of operational and technical leadership expertise. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications Management from DeVry University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Mallary, and their three children and contributing as a writer to various media outlets.
