A month before they were to leave for the mission field in Poland, their host pulled an envelope from his pocket and slid it across the table, inside was a cheque for every rent payment of the previous four years. That scene opens a reflection on Psalm 126, the song of people who came back from exile and felt as though they were dreaming. The sermon confronts a thought that can poison a life: that the best days are behind us and nothing good is still ahead. Listen if you need the courage to expect more from God than you have so far.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Psalm 126 recalls the return from exile in Babylon: "we were like those who dream." What did this return mean for the Israelites, given that they saw the exile as God's judgment for their unfaithfulness?
- The psalm opens with joy over what the Lord has already done and ends with a plea: "Restore our fortunes, O Lord," along with the picture of sowing in tears. Why does the psalmist, remembering God's great deeds, ask for more?
- The speaker tells of an envelope with a check that felt like a window into heaven. What moment in your life feels like a dream to you, and what does it tell you about God?
- The sermon warns against the whisper, "from this peak the only way is down," or "the good days are behind you." In what situations does that voice sound most convincing to you?
- The story of Elijah and Elisha, who performed twice as many miracles, is meant to show that what God will do in the future is greater than what He has done so far. What helps you believe this, and what gets in the way?
- The speaker encourages us to ask God to do again what He once did, but here and now and even more. What specific renewal do you want to ask Him for this week, remembering that His mercies are new every morning?
