Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Psalm 51), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1-2] What is forgiveness? On what basis does David plead God’s forgiveness? To what does he appeal? On what basis do we as Christians plead God’s forgiveness? Compare and contrast the Christian’s prayer for forgiveness with the common “apology” of our culture.

• [4, 11] “Against you, you only have I sinned… Cast me not away from your presence…” David certainly violated his relationships with others in the Bathsheba/Uriah scandal, but he is chiefly concerned about his relationship with God. How can he say he has “only” sinned against God? Does the God-centeredness of his problem make any sense to you?

• [8, 12] David knows that God severely struck his conscience in order to convict him of his sin and his need for forgiveness—and he has the audacity to ask God for joy and gladness instead! Do your prayers for forgiveness have this sort of confidence in God’s goodwill toward you in spite of your sin? Can you believe that God’s ultimate intention for the conviction of your sins is to bring you the joy of salvation? Is it really possible to find joy in relationship with God after the deep conviction of terrible sin? How would you communicate God’s purpose for the conviction/confession of sins to those who have never prayed for God’s forgiveness (v. 13)?