Sunday, December 10th, 2023 - 9am Contemporary Service Second Half - Peace in His Presence

In one paragraph

This message worked through Psalm 145, letting David's words about the character of God push back against the human habit of taking credit for what we have and complaining about what we don't. The preacher walked the congregation through the psalm's claims about God's faithfulness, gentleness, and nearness, and then led directly into communion as an act of proclaiming those same things. the...

Read together

1. Psalm 145:10 repeated as the opening text: 'All your works will give thanks to you, Lord, and your godly ones will bless you'
2. Psalm 145:11 they will speak of the glory of God's kingdom and talk of His might
3. Psalm 145:12 making known God's mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of His kingdom to the sons of mankind
4. Psalm 145:13 God's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His dominion endures throughout all generations
5. Psalm 145:14 the Lord supports all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down
6. Psalm 145:15-16 the eyes of all look to God and He gives food in due time, opening His hand to satisfy every living thing
7. Psalm 145:17 the Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works
8. Psalm 145:18 the Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth
9. Psalm 145:19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him and hears their cry
10. Psalm 145:20 the Lord watches over those who love Him but will destroy the wicked
11. Psalm 145:21 closing declaration that the speaker's mouth will speak the praise of the Lord and all flesh will bless His holy name
12. Galatians 6:7 do not be deceived, God is not mocked, whatever a person sows he will reap
13. Galatians 6:8-10 sowing to the flesh reaps destruction, sowing to the Spirit reaps eternal life, do not grow weary in doing good
14. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus saying this is my body and this is the new covenant in my blood
15. 1 Corinthians 11:26 every time we take communion we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again

Talk about it

1. Pastor talked about the Jimmy Stewart prayer from Shenandoah, where the character essentially thanks God while giving himself the credit. In what areas of your own life do you tend to think that way, even if you would not say it out loud?
2. The preacher said that if you believe God is not righteous in all His ways, you are putting yourself above Him. How do you personally work through situations where God's ways do not feel righteous or kind to you?
3. David moved back and forth between lament and trust throughout the Psalms, and the preacher pointed out that David always got back to trusting God's unfailing love. What has helped you make that same turn when you are stuck in the lament?
4. Pastor read that the Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth, and described God as always listening for the call of faith. What does it look like in practice for you to call on God in truth rather than just going through the motions?
5. Toward the end of the sermon, Pastor tied Galatians and Psalm 145 together around the idea that what we sow, we reap, and that speaking praise is a choice we make even in hard circumstances. What does it cost you personally to choose praise and doing good when things are difficult, and what has that choice produced in your life?