Table of Contents
PRAYER
Our main goal in this time together is to build relationships and learn how to walk alongside one another in all that God has called us to be and do. With that in mind, 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
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 the Blessing of Belonging, we dive into Psalm 128—a prayerful song of ascent that reflects God’s desire to bless and invite all people into His family. This psalm reveals the true meaning of belonging, transcending race, class, or background, and shows how we can experience this deep sense of community through biological, spiritual, or chosen family in the everyday spaces of our lives.
To start our time together, let’s begin with the following questions:
What’s one place where you feel a strong sense of belonging, and what makes it feel that way for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURE
Have someone read Psalm 128 aloud. As you listen, notice any words or phrases that stand out, and ask the Holy Spirit to highlight something for you.
Psalm 128
1 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house; your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.
5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children's children!
Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm Reflections
Psalm 128, as a “Song of Ascent,” reveals God’s heart for family as a multigenerational source of blessing and belonging. Just as songs often stir memories in our hearts, this psalm calls us to pray, sing, and live out God’s love for family.
Let’s discuss how this psalm shapes our view of blessing, belonging, and family, and how God’s definition of family impacts our relationships and understanding of true belonging.
How have you experienced a sense of belonging in your own life—either in family, friendships, or community?
When you think of “family,” what comes to mind first—biological ties or chosen relationships?
In a world full of communities that often mimic family, what sets belonging to God’s family apart from every other kind of community claiming to be family?
Sunday’s message defines family as a “multigenerational source of blessing and belonging.” In today’s world, “blessing” can mean anything from a promotion to finding a parking spot. However, Psalm 128 says that those who “fear the Lord” are blessed, meaning they honor and respect God in how they live and relate to Him, others, and all creation.
When you think of “blessing” what comes to mind first, and how does Psalm 128 help you see blessing as God sees it?
What does “fearing the Lord” or honoring God in everyday life mean to you?
Can you think of a time when honoring God’s ways led to a sense of peace or blessing in your life and the lives of others? What did that experience teach you?
Psalm 128 describes family as the evidence of blessing for those who follow God—a wife like a fruitful vine, children like olive shoots, enjoying the fruit of our labor, and peace in our souls.
How did Jesus model family for and to us, and how does this Psalm foreshadow Jesus modeling family for us today?
How does knowing Jesus became a curse so we could be a blessing to future generations change how you see yourself and others?
Why is family a central theme and role throughout God’s story of redemption?
How does knowing that God’s blessing of belonging in His family isn’t limited by race, class, or status impact your view of yourself and others?
What challenges prevent us from being a multigenerational family of blessing and belonging today?
How can you invite and honor God’s wisdom in your life to make family a multigenerational source of blessing and belonging to where you live, work, and play?
Who has God placed in your life to help guide you in honoring Him and being part of a family that is a source of blessing and belonging?
How could praying this Psalm help you connect with God’s heart for family as a source of blessing and belonging in your life?
CLOSING THOUGHT
As we close, let’s remember Psalm 128 as a prayer that connects us to God’s vision for a family that transcends race, class, and status, where blessing and belonging flow through generations. By honoring God daily, we receive His blessings and become part of His redemptive plan. Let’s reflect on how we can live out this psalm, making family a source of blessing and belonging wherever we are, rooted in God’s love, grace, and peace.
Closing prayer: May the Lord bless you and empower you through the Holy Spirit to honor God as Jesus did, becoming the curse of our sin so everyone could be blessed and find belonging in His family—beyond race, class, or status. In Jesus, may generations be freed from sin and experience the security of belonging to His family. May you witness the blessing of your children’s children, both naturally and spiritually. Peace be upon you and in all creation where you live, work, and play. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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.
