Main Text: Psalm 51:1–19 (ESV) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Preaching Point: When confronted with the reality of your sin, we must respond to God in penitent faith, seeking his forgiveness and restoration.

Teaching Points:

1. Request God’s Mercy (vv.1-2)
2. Repent of Your Sin (vv.3-6)
3. Ask for Inward Restoration (vv.7-12)
4. Respond with Outward Profession (vv.13-17)
5. Rebuild Communal Fractures (vv.18-19)

Application Questions:

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Why did it stand out to you?
2. Read Psalm 51:1-2 and Luke 18:9–14. When you sin, how should you approach God?
3. How does this differ from the ways our culture typically responds to sin and guilt?
4. Read Psalm 51:3–6 and 2 Corinthians 7:9–10. What do these passages teach about the anatomy of genuine repentance? What does David recognize about his sin, himself, and God in Psalm 51:3-6?
5. Read Psalm 51:7–12 and Ezekiel 36:25–27. What do these passages teach about the kind of cleansing and restoration you need from God?
6. Read Psalm 51:13–17 and 2 Corinthians 5:17–20. How should experiencing God's mercy and forgiveness change the way you speak about him and serve him?
7. What is one way you can publicly testify to God's mercy and grace toward you this week?
8. Read Psalm 51:18-19 and Matthew 5:23–24. Why should genuine repentance include concern for how your sin affects others and the people of God? What responsibility do you have to pursue reconciliation when your sin has damaged relationships?
9. Compare a healthy church that works to rebuild relationships damaged by sin with an unhealthy church that neglects that responsibility. What do these two churches look like?