Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Psalm 87), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1-3] “Yahweh loves the gates of Zion,” and loves to talk about his City. He loves to talk about how people can enter his community and belong among his people. What is the “City of God?” How can one enter into it?

• God loves missions, evangelism, and Gospel preaching more than anybody else does! Why do you think this is true? Do you share any of his enthusiasm? In what ways might you be in opposition to the speaking of glorious things of the City of God?

• [4] The Rahab mentioned here is not the woman from Jericho (Joshua 2, 6), but the sea dragon (Job 26:12-13) metaphorically linked to Egypt (Isaiah 30:7; 51:9). Why do you think Egypt is referred to this way here instead of simply as “Egypt”? (Remember, this is a representative list of nations from among whom God takes people to be full citizens of his City.)

• [5-6] How do you know if your spiritual birthplace is the heavenly Jerusalem? How do you know if the LORD has recorded your name as he has registered his people? How do you know if your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27)?

• [7] “Singers and dancers” are probably liturgical celebrants—joyful worshipers—not just effusively happy people in general. And these joyful worshipers locate the source of their refreshment and vitality in the City of God, like John sees the River of the Water of Life flowing from God’s throne in the heart of the City (Revelation 22:1-2). Do you find the Spirit’s presence at church to be life-giving? Does this prompt you to worship joyfully? Do you “say” this, and talk this way about the church, the City of God? What aspects of life in the City of God do you currently find most refreshing and vitalizing?