How good are YOU? Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

TEXT: James 2:10
TITLE: How Good Are You?
PREACHER: Tim Lambros

POINTS:
I. A Misunderstanding of God’s Law
II. A Misunderstanding of Jesus

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.
ILLUSTRATION: story of “I hope so”

“These are the people we run into every day of our lives. James will help us grasp what’s going on in two ways – people misunderstanding God’s Law and people misunderstanding who Jesus is.”

“James is writing to Jewish Christians scattered about and gathered in small Churches. He opens his letter to “the 12 tribes in the Dispersion.” 

“James 2 is dealing with a specific situation where the Church is sinning.  It’s the sin of partiality.  It was easy for Church members to prioritize the rich person visiting the Church. Gold rings, fine designer clothes – hey come sit with me. If you’re rich it means you have credibility and opportunity that may benefit me.  Poor people are a drain on us. This guy, this couple could be super helpful. And so on…”

“Like in all the NT epistles to Churches, God will preserve this situation in His Word so all future Churches will learn.  There is a profound truth that arises from this situation.”

“NOTICE He begins on the positive side READ V. 8.  ROYAL LAW – YOU ARE DOING WELL.  Then he brings correction.  READ V. 9  If you are partial to some in the Church and treat the poor as 2nd class citizens YOU ARE COMMITTING SIN.  Don’t you love how James is clear and direct?”

“More importantly, you are committing sin AND ARE CONVICTED BY THE LAW AS TRANSGRESSORS.  James tells us you are convicted by the law and you are a transgressors.  Being a transgressor of the law is huge.  You have violated the standard of a holy God. Showing partiality to the rich violates a long held law that Israel was to treat the poor the same as the rich.  Israel as God’s chosen people were to be equitable with everyone. James audience of Jewish Christians would know this. Then he drops this grenade into their thinking.”

“READ V. 10. You are guilty of it all because you are a transgressor.  You have transgressed God’s law.  It might seem too high of a bar but that’s how God intended it to be.”

“Most people out there misunderstand God’s law.  Israel certainly did. What is the law?  The law was God’s revelation of His holy standard to Israel.  The law is a reflection of God’s character.”

“Why was it given? The law was given to show Israel how they needed a Savior.  To point them to their utter failure to live to God’s standard. To point to the  hope of the promised Messiah that would come.  The law was given to show Israel they could not keep it.”

“So James says quite succinctly what we know in Scripture.  God’s law is an interdependent whole.  Meaning God’s law functions in our lives in such a way that we violate one aspect of the law we violate the whole thing.   James tells the Churches that if they show partiality to the rich they’ve violated all the law.  We are transgressors of God’s holy law.”

ILLUSTRATION: A jar of water and one drop of poison or food coloring.

“Have you ever thought about what is the most popular religious belief out there?  Is it historic, orthodox Christianity?  Or secular humanism?  I submit to you this – GOOD PEOPLE GO – good people go to heaven. Transgressors go to heaven. Underneath Catholic believers, Muslims, Mormons or any works-based belief system is this common thread GOOD PEOPLE GO.”

“This is the aquarium most of America swims.  People you work with.  Family members you see regularly.  They’ve never really been asked to explain why this functions in their life but it drives their unexamined theology of God’s law, sin and heaven.”

ILLUSTRATION: When was the last time you had a gospel conversation with someone?  Conversations usually progress from social to religious to gospel.  How many of you got to a conversation about the gospel and asked this question “Why would God allow you into heaven?” TYPICAL ANSWERS … I’ve been a good Dad, I’ve worked hard, I’ve never killed anyone … etc etc so why wouldn’t a good God allow me in?

“When you think about the GOOD PEOPLE GO, it makes perfect sense. Good God, good place reserved for good people whose good deeds outweigh bad deeds. Sounds good doesn’t it? Imagine if God sent BAD PEOPLE TO HEAVEN.  That wouldn’t work!!”

“The Bible drops a bomb into this thinking.  James says if you break one part of the law you’re a transgressor.  Transgressors of God’s law don’t get into heaven.  All the people swimming in this aquarium culturally - hearing this day after day misunderstand God’s law. God’s holiness, His perfections, His utter purity.”

ILLUSTRATION: How Good Are You tract
LLUSTRATION: RC Sproul conference

“We need to help our friends who misunderstand God’s law. But theres’ more. People who believe in the GOOD PEOPLE GO religion misunderstand Jesus.”

“So we know from Scripture that if we break one part of the law we’ve broken the entire law.  We are transgressors.  We must accept what God’s Word says about us and not our cultural explanations.  Why?  Because of God’s holiness. Not our flattered view of self and good intentions.  We must see our sin in light of God’s holiness. Otherwise we are a cursed like we saw in Gal. 3:10.”

“God’s Word shows us something very different.  Scripture doesn’t lower the standard for mankind.  God doesn’t look the other way for transgressors who have sinned against Him. The Bible tells us the story of one person – namely Jesus Christ – who perfectly fulfilled the law.”

“The four gospels give us four different views of Christ earthly life and mission. They all say the same thing.  Jesus came and lived in the flesh to fulfill the law.  God’s holiness demands a very high standard.  Jesus put on flesh and lived a perfect life.  Never once broke the law. Paul dealt with this in his letter to the Romans. First he says how people CANNOT be saved: Romans 3:19–20. Then he says how people can be saved: Romans 3:21–26. We are saved by the gift of Christ righteousness by faith.  Not by works.  Not by how good you have been.”

“Think about this for a minute.  The good people go has some pretty easy holes in it to be seriously taken if people stop and think about it for a minute. 1st problem – who decides who is good? For our generation do we put Mother Theresa way up here and Hitler way down here and comfortably put ourselves somewhere in the middle?  That’s what the avg person in America does. Have you ever met someone who sees themselves as a bad person? 2nd problem - what if my good isn’t good for my neighbor – how do we know what is right? Who decides the goodness standard? What if my definition of good in my neighborhood is different than my neighbors definition? Even religious people have differences – are all religious beliefs basically the same? You get below surface and there are massive differences. We just had the 25th anniversary of 9/11.  What if they religious Islamic Jihadist believe they did good when the crashed airplanes into the twin towers? Who am I to say that’s bad?”

“Also, how good do you have to be?  How do you measure? Does 7 get us in? What if you’re a 4.9 and 5.0 is the goodness standard and you’re one good deed from getting int? We can’t know and you will never be sure. No wonder people only hope they will get in.”

“People who believe in the GOOD PEOPLE GO haven’t taken time to fathom that God’s law is a reflection of His holiness, His standard.  They also tend to have a high opinion of self as they compare themselves to others and come away with a flattering self-assessment.”

“The reason the Bible throws a grenade into the comfortable I’m a 6/7 on the goodness scale is because of Jesus.  America is consumed with the goodness theory – consumed because as long as it’s all about me doing more good than bad deeds I’m going to make it.  I don’t have to consider my evil heart intentions, I don’t have to consider the holiness of God and I don’t even have to consider the claims of Jesus.”

“What is God like?  Look to Jesus. What do we see in Jesus? The perfect fulfillment of the law His entire life.  Never once sinned. Here’s the bottom line … Good people don’t go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven.”

APPLICATION:
1. Pray
Remember Paul’s example from last week’s message? - Romans 9:1–2
That should lead us to pray.  Great sorrow for those who are captured by this false religious belief. This is their theology.  They believe there is a God. He is good, He’s created heaven as that place where good people go.  I’m a good person – my good deeds outweigh my bad deeds so I’m in. It starts with prayer.  It calls us to pray.  We are helpless to change what people of believe apart from God’s work in their lives.  So we pray.

2. Grow in asking wise questions 
Tell me about … 
What’s your spiritual journey been like?
What are some of your spiritual beliefs?
What do you believe happens 5 minutes after you die?
Who do you say Jesus is?  Good person, good teacher or Savior?

3. Get acquainted with the Bridge course 
Personal evangelism help
Course designed for unbelievers

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Galatians 3:10
Romans 3:10

QUOTES:
Kent Hughes - “James sees the law as a seamless garment which, when ripped in one place, tears the whole garment.”

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
All Sufficient Merit
It Is Finished
We Have Been Healed
And Can It Be
Rock of Ages

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
James 2:10 - Bridge

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE ONE OF OUR BOOKS OF THE QUARTER:

Israel had all the privileges of the old covenant, yet it was meaningless because they missed the one thing they absolutely needed—Jesus. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: ROMANS: The Power of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
TEXT: Romans 9:1-5
TITLE: Don’t Miss Jesus
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Jesus is everything, and without him we have nothing. Don’t miss Jesus!

POINTS:
I. Jesus is Everything
II. Everything Points to Jesus

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: Stranded in the desert with everything but WATER - the one thing you need to live!

“Today we will see that this is Israel's tragedy. They had all the privileges of the old covenant, yet it was meaningless because they missed the one thing they absolutely needed—Jesus.”

“Paul spent the first eight chapters of Romans to show that the ground is level at the cross. Jew or Gentile, all have sinned, all are under God’s wrath, and all have only one hope—the gospel of Jesus Christ, God’s power unto salvation. No matter who you are or where you come from, faith in Jesus is the only way anyone can be declared righteous and justified in God's eyes.”

“That leaves one big question—How is the gospel consistent with God’s promises to Israel in the OT and His plan throughout salvation history? Romans 9-11, one of the most debated sections in the NT, answers that question. Here’s what we learn today: Jesus is everything, and without him we have nothing. Don’t miss Jesus!”

“We can experience all the joys and privileges of being part of the church, but without faith in Jesus, it’s all meaningless because it’s Christless. If we’re not careful, Israel’s tragedy can be ours.”

“Paul begins Ch 9 shockingly. With a stroke of the pen, he moves from joyful assurance in 8:31-39 to intense anguish. It’s as if he anticipates the shock of his reader, so he frames his anguish in 1, saying—look at it with me—I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit. In other words, I know this sounds radical, but it’s no joke. Paul’s grief isn’t for effect. His sorrow is real, his anguish is deep, and his concerns are grounded in truth from the Spirit. He wants his readers to get it. So what is the source of his great sorrow and unceasing anguish?”

“The source of Paul’s anguish is that many of his fellow Jews are cut off from Christ. The word Paul uses for accursed in 3 is anathema. Paul doesn’t use the word anathema often, but when he does, it’s not good. (1 Corinthians 16:22, Galatians 1:9)”

“To be anathema or accursed is to be cut off from Christ, which means being spiritually damned without hope. Paul’s fellow Jews are lost and under God’s condemnation, and this deeply grieves Paul. So much so that he would, if he could, trade places with them. Of course, he knows he can’t, because, as he just said in the preceding verses—Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”

RUNNING APPLICATION: Paul’s heart for his unsaved fellow Jews is both commendable and convicting. It should compel us to examine our hearts toward the lost in our lives. Do you agonize over the fate of the lost? Do you carry a burden for the unsaved? Or are you indifferent toward them? Do you sit in self-righteous judgment of the unbelievers in your life, or do you grieve over their condition? 

ILLUSTRATION: Older man in the coffee shop

“This needs continual evaluation. It sounds like a good CG discussion. If I believe what the Bible teaches about the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the judgment of hell, but I don’t grieve over the lost—why not?”

“At the heart of Romans 9-11 is God’s sovereignty in saving sinners. But the doctrine of election should not make us indifferent to the lost; it should give us a heart for them, knowing God will save whom he will save.”

“When we see God in His sovereignty and holiness, and we see others in their sin, just like we were, and we know what our sin deserves and where it ultimately leads us, and we know what Christ has done for us, it should give us a heart of grief and compassion for the lost. It did for Paul, and it should for us.”

“Nothing is more serious in this world than being outside of Christ, and nothing in this world matters more than being united to Christ by faith. Jesus is everything!”

“Paul’s anguish runs so deep because of everything God has given to them as His people. He rattles off numerous spiritual privileges that belong to Israel as God’s people. Let’s briefly look at each one…”

“Adoption: This adoption language goes back to the Exodus. In His love and mercy, God led the Jewish people out of Egypt and redeemed them as His own. As Hosea 11:1 says—Out of Egypt I called my son. This was not an individual adoption like the NT adoption in Ch. 8. That adoption comes through faith in Jesus and guarantees personal salvation to all who believe. Israel’s adoption was corporate. Out of all the nations, God chose to brand Israel as His people who would serve Him and be a blessing to others. What a privilege.”

“Glory: Israel had the privilege of being the people among whom God dwelt. This has always marked God’s relationship with His people—His presence with them. Think of the fiery cloud in the Exodus, God’s presence at Mt. Sinai, or the Ark of the Covenant, first in the tabernacle and then in the Temple. This is where God’s glory, His supernatural majesty, was manifested—in the presence of Israel and no other nation. What a privilege.”

“Covenants: The covenants, those strategic moments in redemptive history when God said in different ways—You will be my people, and I will be your God—from Adam to David—belonged to Israel.”

“Giving of the Law: After leading them out of Egypt, God led Israel to Mt. Sinai, where for the very first time He gave them His written word. He did not leave them to figure out who He is and how they should live for Him. He graciously gave them His Word. What an amazing privilege.”

“Worship: Paul probably has the temple worship system in mind. The priesthood rituals. The animal sacrifices. The festivals. All of these were central to God’s people entering God's presence to praise Him.”

“Promises: God is the God of promise. His ultimate promise in Genesis 3, where God promised that the seed of Eve would crush the serpent, was the first promise of the gospel. Then from Abraham to the patriarchs to the prophets, God was and is faithful to His promises.”

“There’s actually one more privilege. It’s different from the others. Instead of belonging to them, Paul says it comes from them—read 5.”

“Paul’s words are stunning. This Jesus, the Messiah whom the Jews have rejected and been cut off from, comes from their own flesh. He comes from the lineage of Abraham, Moses, and David. Yet he is far greater. He is God in the flesh. Paul declares this emphatically at the end of 5 when he says—Christ who is God over all.”

“They missed Jesus. This is what breaks Paul’s heart. Amid all their rules and religion, they missed Jesus. The privileges of 5, as glorious as they are, were all pointers to Christ and are ultimately nothing unless you are joined to Christ by faith.”

“They missed Jesus, so they have nothing. That’s what Paul is saying here. Your privileges are real. They are precious. They matter. But if you haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, it doesn't matter what privileges and advantages you have. You don’t have Christ. And if you don’t have Christ, you don’t have God and all His promises and blessings.”

“That’s the source of Paul’s grief and the tragedy of a Christless religion. It’s just as relevant to us as it was to the church in Rome.
You can come to church every Sunday and miss Jesus

• You can read the Bible every day and miss Jesus

• You can have deep theological conversation and miss Jesus

• You can attend CG and miss Jesus

• You can have great morals and miss Jesus

• You can have all the Christian traditions and miss Jesus

• You can give generously and miss Jesus

• You can serve everywhere all the time and miss Jesus”

“For the young people:
You can grow up in a gospel-centered home and miss Jesus. 

• You can attend youth faithfully and miss Jesus. 

• You can be homeschooled or attend Christian school and miss Jesus.”

“Don’t miss Jesus, because without him you have nothing. Your religion is Christless, which makes it meaningless. Are you missing Jesus? If you are, come to him now through repentance and faith.”

RUNNING APPLICATION: Maybe you haven’t missed Jesus, but you have misplaced him. You love Jesus as your Savior, but if you're honest, he’s getting lost in the shuffle of your life. Every Sunday, you leave him in this room instead of taking him with you. You have Christ, yet your life seems Christless. You are like the Ephesians in Revelation 2:4, to whom Jesus says you have abandoned the love you had at first. Come back to Jesus today and lay it all down.”

“If you get stranded in the desert, it doesn’t matter what supplies you have; without water, you have nothing. When it comes to faith, without Jesus, it’s all meaningless. But with Jesus, you have everything you’ll ever need for a life of joy, meaning, peace, and an eternity with God. Jesus is everything, and without him we have nothing—Don’t miss Jesus!”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
This is what the Jews missed. In all their glorious privileges, they missed Jesus:

• According to Matthew 2:15, Jesus is the focus and fulfillment of Israel’s adoption.

• According to John 1:14, Jesus is the presence of divine glory with God’s people. He condescended to our world, born a man, while remaining fully God.

• Through his saving work on the cross, Jesus is the climax of the covenants, ushering in a new covenant, as Matthew 26:28 states, with his blood.

• As 10:4 says, Jesus is the goal and fulfillment of the law, keeping it perfectly and providing the righteousness God demands of us. 

• As the letter to the Hebrews powerfully proclaims, Jesus fulfills the priesthood and is the ultimate once-for-all sacrifice that all other sacrifices pointed to.

• As 2 Cor 1:20 says, Jesus fulfills and confirms all of God’s promises, making them Yes and Amen in him.

QUOTES:
John Stott - “One would think that Israel, favored with these blessings, prepared and educated for centuries for the arrival of her Messiah, would recognize and welcome him when he came.”

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
All I Have Is Christ
Christ Is Mine Forevermore
Christ Our Hope In Life And Death
All Glory Be Forever
I Need You

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
James 2:10 - Bridge

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE ONE OF OUR BOOKS OF THE QUARTER:

It is true that Cheyenne is a secure place to be. But what we discover in our Psalm today, is that there is an eternally greater fortress for the Christian. That fortress is God Himself. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: SUMMER IN THE PSALMS
TEXT: Psalm 91
TITLE: My God in Whom I trust
PREACHER: Tom Wilkins
BIG IDEA: Because our God is a mighty fortress, trust Him!

POINTS:
I. God is our mighty fortress
II. We must trust God in the darkest of times

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: Cheyenne Mountain Complex - one of the most fortified places on earth with granite armor, blast doors, and indestructible interior

“It is true that Cheyenne is a secure place to be. But what we discover in our Psalm today, is that there is an eternally greater fortress for the Christian. That fortress is God Himself.”

“Since the fall of mankind into sin, our world has become a dangerous place: physical threats and enemies of our soul lurk around every corner: war, disease, accidents, tyranny, governments, murder, theft, loss of income, storms, death, loss… Yet, our problem is that we are surprised when we suddenly find ourselves in danger. A hard situation is coming, and we cannot avoid it. Things can get really dark really fast.”

RUNNING APPLICATION: Q. When this happens, where do you go for help? Where do you go to find refuge? What do you fly, drive, or run to? In times like these, It is all too easy to forget and even abandon deep abiding truths that we dearly hold. Our hearts sink! Our faith plummets! We are not going to survive this!

“Psalm 91 is good news in the face of our worst circumstances! In fact, it sounds too good to be true. But it is infinitely good and true! Spurgeon describes this as one of the most ‘cheerful’ Psalms! And here is why we can believe that Ps 91 is most cheerful: Because our God is a mighty fortress, trust Him!”

“No matter what trouble makes it way to you, trust Him!  No matter what terror crouches near, trust Him! Q. Who will rescue you in the darkest of hours? Q. Where will you go when your very life is threatened? Q. What will protect you from the gravest of circumstances? Psalm 91 ANSWERS our deepest concerning questions! God is our mighty fortress!”

“The truth claim of the text is found in Vs 1 and 2. ‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.’ These two phrases repeat the same meaning for emphasis ‘Shelter.’ ‘Shadow.’ ‘Most High.’ ‘Almighty.’”

“Verse 1 tells us that there is a place that we can dwell, we can abide, we can live securely against anything that comes our way. That place is in the shelter of the Most High. This “shelter” is a secret and secure place as God hides safely in Himself! Nothing and no one can get to us! That place is in the shadow of the Almighty. This “shadow” is the active abiding presence of our all-powerful God. There is none like him in power!”

“God the Most High! God the Almighty, Himself is present! Try to imagine any fortress that even comes close to the security and protection of our God. Believing what Vs 1 declares, we join the chorus with the psalmist in Vs 2.”

“It’s personal! The Most High, the Almighty, is MY refuge, MY fortress, MY GOD! He is your God! YOUR security is in the shelter of YOUR Most High! YOUR safety is in the shadow of YOUR ALMIGHTY GOD!”

“Understanding that the LORD is our refuge and our fortress, the implications for us are staggering! Our response is “My God, in whom I trust.”

“TRUST ME! The Lord has in a sense, has taken our heads in His hands and has said, trust ME! I am your refuge! I am your Almighty fortress! He then illustrates His power, His care, and His faithfulness. He promises His protection and assures of victory. No matter what trouble lies ahead, trust Him! In the darkest of times, trust Him! Really LORD? In the darkest of times? YES, In the darkest of times. The psalmist samples the peril, threat, treachery, evil and danger in verses 3.”

“Consider the treachery of this world in verses 3-6. Some of these are real and some as metaphors the sense is that they serve as illustrations of impossible situations:

• (vs 3) The snares and pestilence (we trapped in trouble and cannot free ourselves, disease and sickness allround, pandemic like)

• (vs 5) The terrors of night, the arrow that flies by day (Sleepless nights of worry or sudden trials that hit while we are asleep. While all seems well today, we are struck down)

• (vs 6) The pestilence that stalks in darkness, and destruction that wastes at noonday. (driving home the same sudden unexpected trouble)

• (vs 10) evils and plagues

• (vs 12) stumbling

• (vs 13) lions and snakes (evil enemies including the demonic)

The threat is real! The dangers are verified! Both physical and spiritual treachery abounds! Both the weak and strong are vulnerable to these!”

“Here is the reality. When we consider the true dangers of this world, all our fixes and places we think are secure are temporary. Their walls of protection are thin. And they are powerless against these perils. They cannot shield us from these dangers. Rather than a true fortress, it's a cardboard fort. BUT Psalm 91 bursts forth in your soul, and we find that ONLY GOD CAN BE OUR TRUE SHELTER IN ALL OF THIS! We must trust Him in the darkest of times! God is your shelter against all of this, in all of this, from all of this! We see this in a beautiful illustration in verse 4”

“This verse illustrates the shadow of the Almighty. Wings of pinions (feathers) and shields of metal are metaphors describing God covering us with his wings and protecting us with his shield. The description of God’s wings is a tender covering of us with the reassuring warmth of safety and comfort “under his wings.”

ILLUSTRATION: Vulnerable baby quail

“We find that we are in the shadow of the wings of the Almighty! And from our perspective, THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE. … and the illustration gets even better! He covers us with the comfort of His pinions. His faithfulness is now a massive shield around us. And He wields a second shield (buckler) as we face the enemy! This is God’s double-shielding of us! The interior is the warmth and comfort of His covering. The exterior a double layer of protection. What I can imagine with the two combined is a fortress of wings of iron-clad feathers forming an impenetrable fortress against all enemies. His faithfulness is impenetrable! He will remain faithful to you in the trial.”

“Because God is our faithful fortress, we trust him! Dwelling in God is trusting Him. Abiding in God is trusting Him. The sense is that we continue our trust in Him. We place our confidence in Him alone. It is not a divided confidence.”

“We now arrive at a very sobering portion of this Psalm. Vs 7 and 8 sober us. If we are not IN God our Fortress, IT IS TERRIBLE! Outside of God’s safety and comfort, IT IS NOT SAFE! IT IS HORRIFYING. The wicked will receive God’s recompense! They will pay dearly for wickedness! They will receive God’s unshielded wrath. The imagery here is you and me on the battlefield. Thousands upon thousands are falling all around us. Arrows that fly by day and destruction laying waste to everyone! Everyone but us! The words “but it will not come near you” are all of MERCY! We have been shielded from the dangers and terrors of this world! Most importantly, we have been shielded from the terror of God’s destruction and righteous wrath.”

“We did not get what we deserved! THIS IS ALL OF MERCY. We did nothing! We observed all that God did around us. These verses must drive us toward humble worship. In God, and in His mercy, we are in the safest refuge. We are in the safest refuge from His wrath! In our sin, we should have fallen with the wicked! ‘...but it will not come near you…’ These words must drive us toward unspeakable relief and joy!”

“Christian, you have Gospel REFUGE in the shadow of the Cross of Jesus Christ! God is your mighty fortress. But you had nothing to do with it. The story on the battlefield that day should have ended with our corpses littered among the thousands! But that is not our story. My story is this: ‘It did not come near me!’ Your story is: ‘It did not come near you!’ How? Why? It did not come near us because we were in the shadow of the cross of Jesus! There, My God, My Savior took my place! And it did not come near to us because there, IT CAME TO HIM. He fell in my place! Jesus received the terror and fury of Father’s wrath for you! I should have received the due recompense for my sin. But My Savior, Jesus, did! Jesus is our Mighty Fortress, trust Him!”

RUNNING APPLICATION:  We decidedly make God our dwelling place, who is already our refuge!
That which is already true, I will make mine. My shelter is Christ, and that is entirely His doing. Yet, I will make him my shelter - my confession and my life.
Q. Where do you go when trouble strikes? Q. Where do you go when you sense evil coming near? Q. Where do you go when fear and panic flood in? Q. What refuge do you seek? 

• A drink? 

• A drug? 

• You run. 

• You move. 

• You shrink back from relationships… shrink back into yourself? Isn’t this our go-to refuge: ourselves! In the end, we think WE are the safest fortress. Clouded by the severity of the trial and the sinfulness of our heart, we run into ourselves seeking rest and security.

“I COMMEND VERSES 11-12 to your further study and delight - But what we find in these verses is that God will hold you up by sending His heavenly angels to guard you. He is all in to secure you and your victory!”

“Where does all this lead us? What can we do with this? We can hear the MOST CHEERFUL VOICE STANDING BEFORE THIS CHOIR! In verses 14-16, we hear the voice of our Mighty Fortress Himself. Our God sings joy, hope, and cheer back to us! What God sings are the most CHEERFUL truths for our ears:

• I will deliver him

• I will protect him

• I will answer him

• I will be with him in trouble

• I will rescue him

• I will honor him

• I will satisfy him with long life

• I will show him my salvation

8 times - ‘I will’. What a manifold unfolding of what God will do for those who dwell in Him. - Promise upon promise upon promise! ‘I will’”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 18:2–3

QUOTES:
Unknown - “If you are safe with the all-powerful God, you are safe with the all-powerful God!”

C.H. Spurgeon - “No shelter can be imagined at all comparable to the protection of Jehovah's own shadow. The Almighty himself is where his shadow is, and hence those who dwell in his secret place are shielded by himself.”

APPLICATION:
Because God is our mighty fortress, trust him.

His promises are sure!

The beauty of this Psalm is that it gives us handles to hold onto these promises. These help us dwell in His shelter. These help us abide in His shadow. They help us trust in Him. Let’s look at these last 3 handles together:

• Hold fast to Him in love - In love, we hold Him fast, only because He, in infinite love, has held us fast. In Vs. 14, our Almighty loves it when we hold fast to Him alone in steadfast love! “Hold fast to me, remembering that I hold you fast” You hold fast to me - don’t let go, because I hold fast to you and will not let you go! Now that is gospel hope! Let’s sing it back to Him!

• Know His name - God came to reveal Himself to us. Jesus came to make the Father known. The Holy Spirit is making Jesus known to us. We know His name because He made it known to us!

• Call to Him - Are you in trouble? Do you need His help? Are you alone? Are you ensnared? Are you trapped? Do you see no way out? CALL TO HIM, and he will answer! Are you afraid for your life? Are you afraid for your soul? CALL TO HIM, and He will give you eternal life and salvation!

GET TO CHRIST! GET IN HIM!

1. Jesus is your mighty fortress

2. In the face of darkest times, We trust you Jesus! 

This morning we close with beholding and worshiping our glorious Savior, our Mighty Refuge and Fortress, Our God, in whom we trust!

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
God Is For Us
My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62)
I Have A Shelter
O Lord My Rock And My Redeemer
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Romans 9:1-5

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE ONE OF OUR BOOKS OF THE QUARTER:

Individually and corporately God uses His Church to be that unique part of the mission that says – Look what God has done in our life.   Look at how the steadfast love of God has transformed me.  The Church’s existence testifies to God’s CHESED LOVE and His FAITHFULNESS. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: SUMMER IN THE PSALMS
TEXT: Psalm 117
TITLE: The Reason and Result of Evangelism
PREACHER: Tim Lambros
BIG IDEA: Evangelism exists because worship doesn’t.

POINTS:
I. The Reason for Evangelism
II. The Result of Evangelism

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: Mark Cahill’s book, ONE THING YOU CAN’T DO IN HEAVEN

“Mark's favorite thing to do is to go out and meet people and find out what they believe and why they believe it. You can find Mark at malls, concerts, art and music festivals, airports, beaches, sporting events, bar sections of towns, college campuses, etc., doing just that.”

“Psalm 117 is often seen as a summary conclusion for Psalm 111 – Psalm 117. These are called the Hallelujah series.  Psalm 117 is an appropriate climax to these Psalms.”

RUNNING APPLICATION: Read Paslms 111-117

“Notice in V. 1 there is a call to the entire world.  ALL NATIONS brings attention to God’s desire from the beginning that all mankind would Praise the Lord!  All the people groups would extol Him.”

“In the OT “NATIONS” was the word typically used to speak of the Gentiles.  There was the people of God – Israel, chosen to be God’s people then there was the others – Gentiles.  The word “PEOPLES” is a lesser used word in the OT but typically addresses people groups. Less than the size of a nation like the Canaanites, the Jebusites, the Samaritans, etc.”

“Notice the repeated use of the word ALL.  This is not just a simple call for all the world to come join them in Sunday worship for a few songs.  The summons here is to the world to come and submit to the Creator of the world, embrace the offer of His grace and join with Israel – and now the Church – in the praises of His name.”

“Two things that can easily be overlooked in this first verse. 1. God’s plan has always been to the nations 2. Mission and evangelism are at the heart of God’s character.”

“God’s plan has always been to the nations -  Israel is singing this Psalm, this divine summons that ALL NATIONS are called to praise Him. From Abraham to the nation of Israel to the temple life Israel was called to God had the “nations” in mind.  The NT authors clearly saw this after Pentecost.”

“Unfortunately, Isreal failed  in their effort to evangelize the Gentiles. Israel did what many of us NT believers tend to do. We experience the goodness of God and we functionally believe God’s plan is inside these four walls only!”

ILLUSTRATION: How the nature of God shapes and drives the mission of the Church, Michael Reeves book, GOD SHINES FORTH

“God desires that His glory be praised in every inch of the world. Every heart of every human. Why? Because the glory of God is the most precious “thing” if you will in the universe.  It would be wrong for God to promote or desire something else. …The end game of God’s saving purposes are to the praise of His glory.”

“Creation/Fall/Redemption is the revelation of who God is. The Bible is the story of God’s mission to accomplish this. God works in the lives of people to open their eyes.  To what? To the glory of God. For the purpose of praising Him! God has been actively doing this from the garden.”

“His ultimate display of His glory is in the person of Jesus Christ.”

“Part of being on mission is putting on display what God has done in our life.”

“As we read our Bibles, it’s very clear very early in Genesis that God has a redemptive plan in mind.  From Gen. 3 to Noah, to Abraham to Israel to David to Christ you can easily see in God’s Word that He is on the move. God is the initiator. God is working His redemptive plan out in all that He created.”

“God redeems.  God’s plan is that He initiates to save people. People experiencing God’s loving, transforming power in our lives. Notice the Psalmist points the reader to God’s work in their lives in v. 2. FOR GREAT IS HIS STEADFAST LOVE TOWARD US. One of the obvious results of evangelism is that we experience God’s love – or the OT understanding of it is God’s Chesed love.”

“The Hebrew word here is a strong one and carries with it the idea of prevailing. In Exodus 17:11, whenever Moses held up his arms, Israel prevailed in battle. In Genesis 7:18-20, the flood waters in Noah’s days are said to prevail … mightily.”

“Israel singing this song – most likely when they returned from exile and rebuilt the temple – those singing would immediately believe the object of God’s steadfast love would be on them.  HIS STEADFAST LOVE TOWARD US. God’s steadfast love conveys loyalty. It’s like a family or people that covenant together. It’s the kind of love that keeps parents up at night.  Blood is thicker than water. Love that drops everything to help a friend –– helps us continue to forgive over and over.”

“Why is God’s steadfast love GREAT?  God’s love always comes in the presence of our failure, our sin – when he’s always there to pick them up in their depravity.  We sing the great Hymn I once was lost but now I’m found. God’s love to Israel’s was great.  Great in the sense of Israel constantly failing. It’s no different than you and I.  He loves and is committed to His people.”

“As NT believers, we know from 1 Peter that God caused us to be born again.  God initiated in your life.  Scripture knows no context where people are called out of their faithfulness but only out of sinful failure.  This is why the CHESED love of God is so great. What is the result?  People are transformed, changed and brought into the family of God TO PRAISE HIM!”

ILLUSTRATION: How God’s steadfast love has affected JOEY AND BRODY

“When people see the Church what do they see? People who have been transformed by the love of God. One of the RESULTS OF EVANGELISM is the testimony of the Church.  When outsiders look at the Church says “if you want to see a good reason to see and savor Christ just look at those who have failed him over and over.  His goodness and love toward us is amazing.  We should in no way be in His family.”

“Little did they know that 500 years later the fullness of God’s love and redemptive plan would burst forth into all the known world – Jew and Gentile – would experience God’s chesed love.  All nations and people groups would experience the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Psalmist would have no idea of God’s plan about 500 years later.  God would incarnate Himself – people would physically SEE what God was like.  John’s gospel account says ‘the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.’”

“What happens when the steadfast love of Christ meets broken people? What do we see in the four gospels when Jesus encounters people?  Men born deaf and blind hear and see, a woman shackled with a blood issue all her life is healed, a demon possessed man cast out of the community is restored – all sorts of people who encounter the steadfast love of Jesus are never left the same.  Transformed forever.  That’s the power of the steadfast love of the Lord.”

RUNNING APPLICATION: Think about this.  His faithfulness is constant.  It never lets up.  I know at times you think ‘where is God right now” but His faithfulness endures forever.  Say that to yourself. How much more evidence do we need to see than what’s recorded in God’s faithfulness to His plan – ultimately sending His Son?

ILLUSTRATION: We can all relate to this.  What happens when you get a call in the middle of the night that your daughter is in trouble?

“This becomes part of our mission and evangelism.  The steadfast love and the faithfulness of God we have experienced fuels what we say and do. CHURCH – we are a people that God has set His love on and will be faithful to us until the end. It’s the demonstration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in your life.  Psalm 117 isn’t just a generic call for the lost to come join us in singing!  It’s much more than that.  It’s much than singing. Planting a Church on the east side of Tucson is not the end game. All of Tucson praising the Lord is the end game. Mission statement: We exist to glorify God through the proclamation and demonstration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Romans 15:8–12
Ephesians 1
Exodus 34:6–7
Philippians 1:6
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

QUOTES:
Martin Luther - “With a few short words the Psalmist prophesies and proclaims the great work and wonder of God, namely the Gospel and the kingdom of Christ, which was foretold but not yet revealed at that time, and he says: Praise the Lord, all heathens.”

Ray Ortland - “God called Abraham and his descendants to be a channel, not a dam; to pass on, not gobble up, God’s grace and mercy. And the true and final descendant of Abraham, Jesus Christ, broke open God’s grace for all the world once and for all.”

Michael Reeves - “Yet God’s glory is not only the fuel of missions in the sense of being its grand objective. God’s glory – His own naturally overspilling life, showcased in His Son – is Misson’s rationale and it’s motor.”

Michael Reeves - “If someone were to ask us, “What is God like?” the answer must be “Jesus Christ.” That is the result of all we have seen about the glory of God. Bound up in all this is the fact that the very being of God is outwardly propulsive.  God, in having glory radiates; in having a Word; speaks, in have a Son, loves.  It is his very nature to shine, communicate and give Himself in relationship. This is the beating heart of mission.”

APPLICATION:
Challenge you to consider some geographical divides.  Here and east side.  It will take sacrifice over the coming months to prep for a Church plant.  

Start with the easy stuff to overcome your reluctance. Review the love of God in your life and His faithfulness in the many times we fail Him.  

I have an even geographical divide I want you to consider crossing.  Not crossing the great divide of the Atlantic ocean to Europe, the Middle East or Africa. Not the great divide of the Pacific ocean to Asia or Japan.  A different geographical divide.  One that might even be more challenging than crossing the great divide of oceans.  I’m talking about crossing the great geographical divide of your street.  Yes, the street you live on. Your street.  Crossing the great divide of your street to reach your neighbors. 

Individually and corporately God uses His Church to be that unique part of the mission that says – Look what God has done in our life.   Look at how the steadfast love of God has transformed me.  The Church’s existence testifies to God’s CHESED LOVE and His FAITHFULNESS.  John 13: they will know you are my disciples by your love for one another.

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
He Is Our God
How Great Thou Art
Jesus, There's No One Like You
All I Have Is Christ
Let Your Kingdom Come
Come Praise And Glorify

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Psalm 91

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE ONE OF OUR BOOKS OF THE QUARTER:

Nothing can and should bring us more joy, wonder, and a sense of purpose than gathering as God’s people. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: SUMMER IN THE PSALMS
TEXT: Psalm 122
TITLE: Let’s Go To Church
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Gathering with God’s people should be one of the most joyful things we do as Christians.

POINTS:
I. A Joyful Eagerness
II. An Informed Wonder
III. A Resolve to Pray

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: Trey Richardson looking around the room—Look what God has done!

“Few people I have known found joy and wonder in the church like Trey Richardson. That’s what Psalm 122 is about—joy and wonder in God and His people.”

“Gathering with God’s people should be one of the most joyful things we do as Christians.”

“When you ‘come to church,’ you enter into something the world cannot duplicate. With all our wonderful innovation, powerful technology, and mind-boggling AI, nothing can and should bring us more joy, wonder, and a sense of purpose than gathering as God’s people.”

““Here’s the problem: We are too easily distracted. We are too easily satisfied. We too often settle for things less glorious than God’s glory. The result is that gathering with God’s people becomes optional, bothersome, and tedious. Gathering with God’s people should be one of the most joyful things we do as Christians.”

“I want to draw our three points from Psalm 122 that, if we take them to heart, should fuel our affections for God and His people.”

“Verse 1 serves as the banner over this entire psalm—I was GLAD when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Those words express the psalmist’s deep affections for the people of God, God’s presence, and God’s worship. A number of commentators argue that Psalms 120-122 form a unit.”

“In 120, we meet the psalmist crying out to God from the pit of misery as he longs for peace. In 121, we join the psalmist as he journeys to Jerusalem to worship God. In Psalm 122, the psalmist stands at the house of the Lord, and as he looks around, he finds himself moving from misery to joy.”

“But 1 says that someone sometime between Psalm 120 and 121 gave him some really good advice—Let’s go to the house of the Lord together. And he went. Despite how he was feeling, he joined his friends and went to worship at the house of the Lord. And now that he is there, he could not be happier. Why? Because it’s the house of the Lord. It’s the beautiful place where God meets with His covenant people, and where His covenant people worship Him.”

“Of course, the church is for us what Jerusalem was for ancient Israel, only far better. We live under a new covenant, with Jesus himself as the ultimate temple of the Lord, having fulfilled what the temple typified through his life, death, and resurrection. The gospel makes us new and brings us into His church, where the manifold wisdom and unmatched glory of God are most clearly revealed. This is why Sundays are the dearest day of the week and the church the dearest place on earth.”

RUNNING APPLICATION: Let us be to one another the person who says— Let us go to the house of the Lord. That’s not just for the pastor to do. That’s an every member ministry. The world blows us up during the week, and we don’t want to go to church on Sunday, right? I’m too tired, I’m too angry, I’m too busy for church today. We’ve all been there. In that moment, I need that someone saying to me—Come to church with me! Don’t underestimate that simple invitation. It may be the best counsel you can offer in the moment. Some of us need that invitation more than others.

ILLUSTRATION: My last words—See you on Sunday.

“Who in your CG or relational network could use a call on Saturday—Hey brother or sister, tomorrow is Sunday, let’s go to church! It’s an application of Hebrews 10:24-25 that says—In light of the gospel: ‘…let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.’”

“I want to be clear: We don’t worship the Sunday gathering. But if we understand that God created it, Jesus died for it, and the Spirit empowers it (what a leadership team) our joy in participating in it should be overwhelming.”

RUNNING APPLICATION: Hebrews 12:18-24 (Church in heaven; what we are participating in now).

“Hopefully, Hebrews 12 strengthens your faith because faith is key. Martin Luther said—Faith produces rejoicing.”

“So we should all ask ourselves: Do I believe that when God gathers His people on a Sunday morning, He is uniquely present through His Word, the sacraments, the song, the prayers, the preaching, the serving, and the fellowship, and that He wants to do something amazing in our midst? God is never merely present in church; He is always powerfully present. Maybe you didn’t feel like coming to church when the alarm went off this morning, but you did, by God’s grace. Aren’t you glad you did?”

“Faith in God’s promises for His gathered people will make you like the psalmist—’I was glad when they said to me, Let’s go to the house of the Lord!’ The psalmist's enthusiasm isn’t blind; it’s theologically informed.”

“I love visiting the city of Denver. Do you know why? It’s home to the four-time, soon-to-be five-time Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos. In Psalm 122, the psalmist celebrates and wonders at Jerusalem, not ultimately for its physical beauty but for its spiritual significance. Jerusalem is the city where the house of the Lord, or, as we see in 5, the house of David, is found. Jerusalem was the holy city because it was home to the temple, the place of God’s holy presence.”

“While we can identify a few reasons for the psalmist’s wonder at Jerusalem in these verses, one rises above them all—UNITY. Not uniformity, UNITY.”

“Think about the twelve tribes of Israel. They had rivalries. They hailed from different geographical areas. They had different historical roles—some priests, some kings, some warriors, some farmers, some maritime traders. But they all had this in common: They were God’s people called to worship Him. They all came, just as commanded, to God’s city, Jerusalem, the city of their God, the place of His holy presence in the temple, to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as it says in 4. In this, they were together. This was the common bond they shared.”

“It’s the same for us. This UNITY foreshadows what only Jesus Christ can bring. The gospel takes sinners like you and me, people who differ in so many ways, and gives us one thing we share—THIS! We belong to God because we have been saved by the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. That is the only hope for everyone in this room. No one here became part of this in any other way.” 

“When you come on Sundays, you are participating in a miracle.”

“The application is clear—Pray for peace. He uses the word peace three times (6,7,8). Jerusalem was an important city for ancient Israel. David brought the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle to Jerusalem. As you may recall, in 2 Samuel 7, David said, Something is wrong here. I’m in a palace, and God is in a tent. I need to build a house for God. Of course, God told David, No, your son Solomon will build a Temple. This made Jerusalem the city of the priesthood, the king, and the center of worship.  Because the Temple was in Jerusalem, peace there ensured that God’s people would always have a place to go to worship God.”

“Now, our dispensational brothers and sisters, whom we love dearly in Christ, would use these verses to tell us that we have a unique responsibility to pray for the well-being of the modern nation-state of Israel, and even that our well-being is tied to Israel's well-being and to our seeking it. Well, certainly, let us pray for peace everywhere. But as we said earlier, what Jerusalem was to the Israelites, the Church is to us as Christians. Through the cross, Christ has become our high priest and reigning king in heaven. We are his worshipping people, the Church. More on that soon in Romans. On this side of the cross, our unique responsibility is to pray for peace within the Church and love and work toward her good. And God loves it when we do.”

“Listen, the church is not perfect, but God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit love and cherish it. One day, Jesus will return with his righteous judgment and make all things new. The New Heavens and the New Jerusalem will be where the church will revel and shine in the glory of God and Christ. I want to end by having you turn to the end of your Bible in Revelation 21—read 22-27.”

CLOSING APPLICATION: What an eternity that will be! It will blow our minds! But as we prepare for that eternity, let us be found overwhelmingly glad to be part of the church, loving one another, wondering at what the Lord is doing, and passionately praying and participating for her good and God’s glory!

QUOTES:
Matthew Henry - “It is the will of God that we should worship him in concert, that many should join together to wait upon him in public ordinances. We ought to worship God in our own houses, but that is not enough; we must go into the house of the Lord, to pay our homage to him there, and not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We should not only agree with one another, but excite and stir up one another, to go to worship God in public. Let us go; not, “Do you go and pray for us, and we will stay at home;” but, “We will go also.” Not, “Do you go before, and we will follow at our leisure;” or, “We will go first, and you shall come after us;” but, “Let us go together, for the honor of God and for our mutual edification and encouragement.” We ourselves are slow and backward, and others are so too, and therefore we should thus quicken and sharpen one another to that which is good, as iron sharpens iron. Those that rejoice in God will rejoice in calls and opportunities to wait upon him. We should desire our Christian friends, when they have any good work in hand, to call for us and take us along with them.”

Ligon Duncan - “You can't pray for the Church with zeal unless you love Her passionately. You can't pray for the Church with zeal unless you love Her passionately. And no one who loves the Church passionately and loves for Her well-being will go unrewarded by God. That's what the psalmist says. If you love God's Church, you’re passionate about God's Church, you pray for God's Church, you long for, you study, you strive for the unity, the harmony, the peace, the purity of that Church, God will not leave you unrewarded because He loves His Church and He will bless those who love Her.”

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Praise to the Lord
Sing
Jesus Thank You
There is One Gospel

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Psalm 117

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE ONE OF OUR BOOKS OF THE QUARTER:

The heavens proclaim His righteousness. Jesus life and His death proclaim His righteousness but there’s a day coming when He will return AND ALL WILL SEE HIS GLORY. And God’s active presence necessitates an appropriate response. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: SUMMER IN THE PSALMS
TEXT: Psalm 97
TITLE: When God Shows Up
PREACHER: Tim Lambros
BIG IDEA: God’s active presence necessitates an appropriate response!

POINTS:
I. The Glorious Presence of the Lord
II. The Ultimate Presence of the Lord
III. Our Response to the Presence of the Lord

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: When the “blue coats” are coming

“God’s active presence necessitates an appropriate response.”

“God is a Sovereign being who manifests Himself in many ways in the past and when He shows up – there is an appropriate response needed.”

“The Psalm opens up with the reality of our God.  He reigns.  The Lord reigns!  To “REIGN” brings to mind a royal, kingly word and perspective. What’s the appropriate response? Therefore, let the earth rejoice.”

“What does it mean for the Lord to reign?  It means He’s sovereign over everything.  Everything?  Yes, every cell in your body and every molecule in the universe functions and operates and proceeds under the reign of the LORD.  All capitals, YWHE.”

“V. 1b literally means “let them rejoice the coastlands many” to the OT Jewish person singing this song there would be a limited view of the Mediterranean coastlands. V. 2-5  echoes God’s awesome appearance to Israel at Sinai.  God showed up in  a powerful way.  In a way Israel would never forget.  This is what we call a theophany.”

“A theophany is usually defined as a temporary, visible manifestation of God or a divine being.  Picture Moses at the burning bush, God showing up at the dedication of the temple in a way that none could even stand.
V. 2 clouds and thick darkness – these represent a prior manifestation of God’s presence to Israel after they were delivered from Egypt. 
V. 3 Fire goes before Him 
V. 4 Lightnings light up 
V. 5 The mountains melt like wax 
V. 1 the Lord reigns let the earth rejoice v. 5 the Lord of all the earth”

“Would you rather be humbled by the lack of knowledge on how a holy God reigns with earthly disaster or would you rather serve a God who doesn’t fully reign over all things? What would the world be like if He didn’t reign? Too many times we live our functional lives as if we don’t have a God who reigns over every action and reaction in the world and in our lives.”

“Every action God does is part of His master plan. God is not like Disneyland.  Let that sink in.  God’s purposes are not simply to create the earth, create man in His image and then send us out to enjoy it like we do when we go to Disneyland. No! God has revealed His redemptive plan and it is built around building a people for Himself.  His ways are not our ways but He’s not like Disneyland and hopes we come and enjoy it while He sits back and smiles.”

“How mankind responds to the truth about God creates deep divisions. That’s just the reality of humans when they encounter God or encounter truth about Him.”

“V. 6 & V. 9 are little bookends for this section. V. 6  The heavens proclaim His righteousness.  The created heavens scream that God is Creator.  Now jump down to V. 9. He is Lord over all!  He is exalted above all other gods.  God doesn’t mince words so let’s look a bit closer.  He is exalted FAR ABOVE all gods.”

ILLUSTRATION - A million people arose this morning in the Tucson area and most ignored that the heavens proclaim truths about God.  We see it and ignore His presence.  The LORD reigns. We see His obvious glory – in the sunset, in the formation of monsoons that come together in a matter of hours at times. 

“In God’s redemptive plan He didn’t leave it up to His people to figure it out.  Look closely again at v. 6.  ALL THE PEOPLES SEE HIS GLORY. v. 7 All worshipers of images are put to shame.  The challenge is we don’t just make worthless idols in our lives, we boast about them.  ALL WORSHIPERS. God created us to worship.  Why do you think we are in awe with a starry night while camping or impressed with an amazing dunk in basketball or a home run hit in baseball. God created us that way! In light of the LORD who reigns, who is most high over all the earth/exalted FAR above all gods, all the idols we could create – that LORD puts worshipers to shame.”

“Church, God knows mankind, He created us.  He builds His redemptive plan knowing we would give ourselves to man made idols and will be put to shame. God’s ultimate plan was to display His glory and ALL THE PEOPLES WOULD SEE HIS GLORY. God sent His Son so that there would be a day that all the peoples would see His glory AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT.  The Psalmist sings because Zion rejoices at what God has revealed of Himself to Israel.  But there would be more.  God would send His Son to proclaim His righteousness.”

“Jesus would take on flesh, He would live a perfect life.  He would be tempted in every way and never sin.  He would be rejected by His own people Israel and be rejected by the idol loving Gentiles.  They would put Him through a bloody death but God would raise Him up.  Then God would preserve this revelation of His Son SO ALL COULD SEE HIS GLORY.”

“But there is still even more.  The heavens proclaim His righteousness.  Jesus life and His death proclaim His righteousness but there’s a day coming when He will return AND ALL WILL SEE HIS GLORY.”

“…we still give ourselves to worthless idols.  Today it’s not idols we make with wooden things, it’s the idols of the heart we worship.  I doubt you have a wooden idol in our living room or back yard but you have idols you’re bowing down to in your heart. You bow down to that friend’s request because you idolize their acceptance of you.  You have an idol of your reputation, some financial status, your house is a museum instead of an outpost for the gospel because it’s an idol.  Teens you want something at school so bad this idol controls how you look, speak and act.  The list is endless.”

“Church, in our homes and in our community groups let’s be honest about those worthless idols we create in our heart.  Let’s grow in identifying these idols of the heart, confessing them to God and to our friends and put them to death.  Why? Cuz our God is highly exalted above all gods.  Jesus is highly exalted and more satisfying than any worthless idol we could create in our hearts and begin to bow down to.”

“Remember when we introduced the Psalms and gave reasons to continually come back to the Psalms?  One of those reasons was that the Psalms teach us godly living.  V. 10-12 is Psalm 97’s application and a call to godly living in light of God’s glorious presence.  The creation and the revelation of God in Christ necessitate a response. v. 10 hate evil. V. 12 rejoice and give thanks - If you love the Lord, hate evil!  Trust that God will preserve you in your struggle to put to death idols.”

“Who is this application directed towards?  Believers. The Church.  The Psalmist says it a few different ways.  

• Those WHO LOVE THE LORD – 

• OF HIS SAINTS – 

• light for the RIGHTEOUS – 

• joy for the UPRIGHT IN HEART – 

• rejoice O YOU RIGHTEOUS.  

This is a call to a godly response to Israel and a call to godly living in believers.  Because of Christ we don’t encounter the God who reigns like Israel did.  We encounter Jesus who calls us to come to Him, the One who lived a perfect life, hating evil.  He’s the One who preserves you and delivers you from the hand of the wicked.  He’s the One that causes you to be upright in heart.”

“We hate evil while we simultaneously rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to His holy name! How do we do this?  You know it as sanctification.  Use Thomas Chalmers famous sermon title from 250 years ago as your reminder.  The expulsive power of a new affection.”

“It’s never about simply using your own power to hate evil.  We need a power outside of ourselves – the Promised Holy Spirit – to create new affections deep in our heart.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Proverbs 16:33
Deuteronomy 4:11–12
Romans 1:18-23

QUOTES:
John Calvin, on the theophany - “a representation of the formidable majesty attaching to God, that he may dash and humble vain confidence and carnal pride.”

Paul Tripp - “Acknowledging God as Creator means acknowledging that he owns you and has a purpose for you and everything in your life. Believing him as Sovereign means resting in his active control of every detail of your life. Trusting him as Savior means repenting of your sin and trusting in his resurrection grace.”

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Great (Psalm 145)
Behold Our God
We Are Yours Forever
Tis' So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
The Lord Almighty Reigns (Psalm 93)

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Psalm 122

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 In God’s kindness, He gives us Psalm 103. Psalm 103 is for His people who forget. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: SUMMER IN THE PSALMS
TEXT: Psalm 103
TITLE: Never Forget
PREACHER: Tom Wilkins
BIG IDEA: When we remember the gospel, all that is within us rejoices!

POINTS:
I. Never forget God is gracious (1-5)
II. Never forget God is merciful (6-11)
III. Never forget God is loving (12-19)
Application - Bless the LORD (1)

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: “the man who woke up” every few minutes, Clive Wearing

“Memory loss is scary. The mental and emotional anguish is severe!

The resulting amnesia can be devastating to the one afflicted and to the friends and loved ones who know them. But there is something even more devastating than amnesia. When our soul experiences spiritual amnesia. We forget. We forget the milk. We forget to get gas in the car. We forget about appointments. We forget names. We forget these things. Most concerning, most alarming, most serious, is that our soul forgets. In particular, we forget God. We forget who He is. We forget what He has done.”

“Yet, God knows this about us. In His kindness, He gives us Psalm 103. Psalm 103 is for His people who forget. Look with me at Vs 5-8. These verses are key to this Psalm. Speaking to the original hearers of this Psalm, God reminds them of the salvation history in these 3 verses. And vs 8 is almost word-for-word how the LORD describes Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6.”

“This Psalm was for His people then, and it is for us now! It is for those who have forgotten their yesterday! It is for those who are prone to spiritual amnesia! Psalm 103 is for your soul. Psalm 103 speaks to your soul. It says, ‘Soul, remember the LORD and bless the LORD’ Psalm 103 helps us “hold onto our yesterday” and so much more!”

“When we truly hear and believe what is contained in the gospel, we will not be able to stay quiet about it. The gospel, from the mouth of God, when rightly heard with the ears of our soul, calls forth everything within us to praise God! Joy is created! But we have a problem. We forget. We forget the gospel. And Psalm 103 comes along and says REMEMBER! Remember the good news! AND…When we remember the gospel, all that is within us rejoices!”

“This Psalm of praise begins and ends with the exhortation: ‘Bless the Lord!’ Repeated essentially 3 times in the first two verses. Bless the LORD, bless his holy name, Bless the LORD! And in the final 3 verses in 20-22 it is repeated 4 times! I think it’s clear. The point of this Psalm? BLESS THE LORD.”

“H.B. Charles calls this Psalm a masterclass in gospel “Self Speak!” It is clear that this Psalm is a perfect example of preaching the gospel to yourself.”

“The opening 5 verses are very personal. It is a call to you to do something. In effect, you are addressing your own soul. “Soul, bless the Lord.” We are calling our soul to action. Bless the Lord. I often hear people answering the question, How’s it going? Blessed. I’ve seen various forms of “Bless” on license plates, coffee mugs, t-shirts. How true it is! This Psalm’s exhortation to Bless the Lord is very different from God’s blessing of us. When He blesses us, He helps and strengthens us. It brings benefit to us. It increases our faith. It grants us hope. BUT to bless the LORD, is to worship Him. When we bless Him, we speak well of Him. We honor Him. We praise Him for who He is and for what He has done. ‘Lord, you have done great things! You are greatly to be praised!’”

“Soul, Bless the LORD! Vs 2 - But, before your soul can do this, you must REMEMBER. Speaking well of God requires that you remember who He is. ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits!’ Never forget ‘all his benefits’ The following verses 3-5 will now list for us the string of his benefits. Spurgeon describes God’s benefits listed here as the Psalmist selecting ‘...a few of the choicest pearls’ and threading ‘them on the string of memory, and hangs them about…’ your neck.”

“God forgives you. God heals you. God redeems you. God crowns you. God satisfies you.”

“Never forget these “choicest pearls” of grace!

Each of these pearls is strung and hung on our necks as a means of memory. This morning we paused our time of singing to REMEMBER the gospel of Jesus and His cross. Remembering that Jesus’ body was broken for us and that His blood was shed for us! David’s Psalm reminds us to remember the Gospel of God’s grace!”

“God’s grace is the undeserved favor of God! God freely gives blessing and favor to you. And you did not/cannot earn it.”

“God’s mercy is our not getting what we do deserve. He withholds His deserved wrath and punishment.”

“God forgives you - God graciously releases us from the penalty of sin - wrath. On the cross, Jesus receives the wrath we deserve, and we receive the forgiveness that we do not deserve! Never forget that you are forgiven by God! God is gracious!”

“God heals you - All our sins are forgiven, but some of them will result in painful consequences. ALL of the lingering consequences of our sin will finally be healed by God! God will graciously heal the effects of our sin!

"My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more!" and this is the unearned grace of God.”

“God redeems you - (v 4) Christ graciously pays the price on the cross for purchase back from the bondage of our sin. Enslaved to sin, we were lying in the pit of death and destruction. We were powerless and pennyless. 
‘The greatest of all transactions
The costliest purchase price
Father, Your Son's atoning death
Was given in payment for mine’  -  Poor Soul, Rejoice and Bless the LORD for His gracious payment that set you free!”

“God crowns you. His crowning of us is God graciously bestowing honor on us! We do not deserve this crown. Illustration: I have a childhood memory. It is the drawing of a skinny boy sitting on a massive throne 4 X his size. A large crown barely hanging his tiny head. The crown could fall off any second. The honor with which he has been greater than his stature! The crown of honor in verse 4 far exceeds our stature. We are completely unworthy of this crown. Yet, the King of Heaven and Earth crowns US! He honors us with His steadfast love! He honors us with His mercy!”

“God satisfies you - (vs 5) God graciously pours out His goodness to you - all that we have just seen and so much more. This undeserved satisfying good stirs up our soul. It is so satisfying; it lifts the aged up to youthfulness.”

“God will not always chide - God mercifully decides not to bring a prosecution against us in His righteous court! God will not keep His anger - God mercifully will not hold on to His just anger! God will not deal with us according to our sins - God mercifully chooses to not treat us as our sins deserve! God will not repay us according to our sins - God mercifully will not repay us with His holy wrath.”

“What would happen? What should happen, if it were not for God’s mercy? It’s terrifying! There is no place that we could hide from the wrath of God. God has every HOLY right to not only prosecute us but also judge us and execute us on the spot! We should not even get a trial! God’s anger should burn hot against us in His all-consuming fire! (Vs 10) God knows every single one of our sins. We deserve to receive the full payment for each one. God has every right to remember every one of our sins.ALL OF THIS WOULD BE DESERVED.”

“Without God’s mercy, your eternal suffering is simply indescribable. Join the thief next to Christ. Acknowledge that you will get what you deserve. BUT Christ is merciful. Cry out to Jesus, and He will remember you! You will have eternal life! What we deserved, Jesus received in our place! What began in the garden was completed in His cross.”

“Jesus bears our sins, and He gets the justice that we deserved. Jesus bears our sins, and He gets the unmitigated wrath that we deserved. Jesus bears our sins, and He receives the holy treatment that we deserved. Jesus bears our sins and pays the price for every single one of them! Jesus got what we deserved. Jesus satisfies the wrath of God. Worship Jesus, O my soul! Never forget that He is merciful!When we remember the gospel of God’s mercy, all that is within us rejoices!”

“Never forget God’s love. We are reminded that God is loving in 11-19 in that. God’s love for us has no bounds. God’s love for us is compassionate. God’s love for us is endless. In vs 11-12, God’s love for us has no bounds. We cannot measure the height of God’s love for us. From our position, we are blown away by the vastness of His love.”

“David peels back the curtain of the universe. He sets to measure the distance from the earth to the end of the cosmos! THAT is the measure of God’s steadfast love! God’s steadfast love is limitless and He proved His love by sending His Beloved Son into this sinful world.”

“At times we have theoretical belief in the love of God. We hear about it. It sounds wonderful! But, DO YOU TRULY KNOW IT? Building your faith in Him. DO YOU FEEL HIS LOVE? Leading to your passion for Him. God’s love for you is illustrated as a father’s profound affection. He will not shrink back from you. He will not sulk over your failure. He understands that until he calls us home, we struggle and strive. At the deepest level, he knows you. He knows you inside-out. He knows your frame. He REMEMBERS that we are dust. It’s a lie to believe that no one knows you nor understands you. HE DOES. Never forget that HE REMEMBERS you! He knows you through and through. AND THIS is part of what makes His love immeasurably steadfast! He knows that we here today and gone tomorrow. Never forget God’s love! It is boundless. It is compassionate. God’s love for you is forever!”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah 43:4
Luke 23:39–43
Jeremiah 31
Hebrews 8
Romans 8:39

QUOTES:
C.H. Spurgeon - “Our sin deprived us of all our honors; [punishment without a trial] was issued against us as traitors; but he who removed the sentence of death by redeeming us from destruction restores to us more than all our former honors by crowning us anew. Shall God crown us and shall not we crown him? Up, my soul, and cast your crown at his feet, and in lowliest reverence worship him, who has so greatly exalted you, as to lift you from the dunghill and set you among princes.”

Dane Ortland - “Let this psalm wash over you. Growth in the Christian life is the process of bringing your sense of self, your swirling internal world of fretful panic arising out of gospel deficit, into alignment with the more fundamental truth that ‘The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.’ In Christ, God proved it.”

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Bless The Lord O My Soul (Psalm 103)
Jesus Your Mercy
We Receive
His Mercy Is More
Thy Mercy

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Psalm 97

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Today, in Psalm 147, we discover that there is something about God that draws our affections. What God does and Who God is draws our affection. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: SUMMER IN THE PSALMS
TEXT: Psalm 147
TITLE: Worthy of Our Praise and Confidence
PREACHER: Tom Wilkins
BIG IDEA: Because of what God is doing and who He is, He is worthy of our praise and our confidence!

POINTS:
I. God is Building His Church
II. God is Able

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: Being afraid at bedtime, “There was something about my Dad; when I was afraid, being near him somehow calmed my fears. I knew that I was safe.”

“Today, in Psalm 147, we discover that there is something about God that draws our affections. What God does and Who God is draws our affection.”

“‘Praise the LORD!’ - This imperative are the first words of the Psalm. They are repeated again in 12. And these are the last words of this Psalm. Psalm 147 is clear. We are called to praise the LORD.”

“Vs 1 describes God as altogether beautiful and that ignites our joy and delight in Him! The original hearers of this Psalm would have heard it and rejoiced! In verse 1 - ‘We, the redeemed, see our Redeemer as altogether beautiful. This ignites our joy. Our delight in our Savior is altogether enjoyable!’”

“Praising the LORD is altogether enjoyably right. There is something about Him! There is something beautiful about Him! WE HAVE GOOD REASON TO PRAISE HIM! HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED! THIS is what I hope will help us see in God’s word this morning: Because of what God is doing and who He is, He is worthy of our praise and our confidence!”

“What God is doing is altogether reason enough to praise Him! Who God is is altogether reason enough to put our confidence in Him!”

“Understanding the context of PS 147 will serve us. God had called his people to Himself. He had placed them in the land he had promised. They sinned against him again and again. So, he disciplined them. He drove them out of their promised land. The Israelites had been exiled for their sin. But God… is merciful. What has He done? He forgave them and redeemed them from exile! He gathered the outcasts of Israel back. He would be their God and they would be his people.”

“What was true for the Israelites held a greater hope and promise for the Church. The Promised One, Jesus Christ, has come and has called His church back in. He continues calling His church together! The very definition of CHURCH is the ‘ones called out and gathered together.’ God is building up His church. But how is he building up His church?”

“God is building His Church by gathering us (v2). Echoing the words in Psalm 107:3 (in our Call to Worship), God gathers his people “from the east and the west, from the north and the south.” SING, Jerusalem! Your God is building you up! PRAISE THE LORD CHURCH, because ‘The LORD is gathering you!’”

“He has gone to the ends of the earth and gathered you back to himself! God is gathering you in from all of the desolate places you find yourself in! Our sin has broken this world. Our sin has us scattered into all of this brokenness. God could have, in His righteousness, left us there! But He didn’t! He is gracious sends His beloved Son into this world. (Luke 19:10)”

“God is building His Church by healing us (v3) ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.’ He heals the brokenhearted is not the last 10 minutes of your favorite Hallmark show. The couple finds each other… again, but under the town square Christmas lights, they slowdance, and their broken hearts are healed. This is NOT what verse 3 is talking about. This matter here is eternally more serious and infinitely more hopeful. It describes us as broken and bowed down under the weight of our sin and the sins in the world. Our souls are wrenched as they become aware of the righteous judgment of God. (Ex. Jeremiah knows that God’s judgment is about to exile Israel. He declares in Jeremiah 23:9, ‘My heart is broken within me!’ ) In the broken-heartedness of our sin, we suffer deep pain - an anguish and pain of the soul. This severe painful sorrow and suffering lie like an open wound that will not heal. But PS 147:3 preaches JOY of JOYs to the brokenhearted! God heals you!”

“He is building His Church by lifting you up (v 6) 

V 6, bookending V 3, The LORD is building you up by lifting you out of humiliation, out of affliction that was the result of your sin against Him. We should have been cast to the ground and left with the wicked. But God graciously lifts them out of their affliction.”

“God walks the hospitals of our lives looking for the mourners, the sick, and the dying! This is what He does! He, who is high and lifted up, comes down to the wretched and wounded, and lifts them up. All of what we are hearing in Psalm 147 is FULLY revealed in the Gospel of our Savior. Jesus came to us in our affliction and lifted us out! He humbled himself to save the humble. He willingly humbled himself, being afflicted, in order build up his people!”

“How God is building up His people? He is gathering us, healing us, and lifting us up.”

“He is building His church by strengthening us. The Lord is building His church by ‘strengthening the bars of your gates.’ (V 13) This original language clarifies its meaning. This means the Lord is securing His Church through His promise and blessing. His promises are sure. His blessings are sure. What He said He would do, He is doing it! He said He will build His church, and He is doing it! He said that He will heal the brokenhearted, and He is doing it! He said that He will lift up the humble, and He is doing it!”

“He is building His church by making peace in her borders! (no more war in her). He is building His church by filling you, Church, with the finest! Meaning, YOUR DEEPEST SATISFACTION. The people of Israel had turned to other gods for their satisfaction. Church, we turn to the world and other gods for our satisfaction. BUT, PRAISE THE LORD. He gathered us back in! And our affections and longings are being changed from the inside out. THE LORD is now at “filling you”... with Himself! HE IS THE ANSWER AND THE SATISFACTION of our deepest desires. He is making His Church the safest place, filled with the deepest satisfaction!”

“Can God truly do all that the Psalmist says that He is doing? Vs 5 declares that God is all-powerful and all-knowing. We are not all-powerful. We quickly find ourselves powerless. We are not all-knowing. We quickly find that we are shockingly limited in knowledge. This is one of the major reasons that AI sounds attractive. It is so promising. It promises to answer all of our questions and solve all of our problems. - IT NEVER WILL! AI can help me with a printer problem. AI cannot lift up my grieving heart. Only God can lift up the afflicted. On matters of the heart and soul, you struggle deeply. You cannot fix this, but Great is our LORD! God understands the heart. He understands everything, “beyond measure.” In matters of salvation, we have no power. But God’s power to save is abundant. The stars are nothing for him (Vs 4). But he knows them ALL! He names them.”

“O, how we need to be reminded that HE IS ABLE! That this would result in us turning to God and praising Him!”

“Q. Is God able? Psalm 147 says, “He is!”

Q. Can God truly heal the brokenhearted? Vs 5 tells us He can!

God is able!

Q. Can God gather all of His children? Vs 4 tells us He can!

Q. Can God provide for you? Vs 8 and 9 tell us God is able!

Q. Is God able to provide for even the lowest? Vs 9 tells us He is!

Q. Where is your confidence? You believe in God, yet you lack confidence in God. Vs 10 clues us in on where we often put our confidence - the ability of man (legs) and his resources (his horse). The mightiest of men in battle and the mightiest of his weapons - where is your trust? In what or in whom are you confident to save you?

Q. [The situation seems impossible.] Can God do anything? Vs 15-18 say that God needs to simply say the word. He is able!”

“There is a cadence of God’s works and ability in this Psalm.

Praise the LORD

God builds His church!

God gathers the outcasts!

God heals the brokenhearted!

God lifts up the humble!

God strengthens His church!

God blesses His church!

God makes peace in His church!

God is able in His greatness!

God is able in His power!

God is able in His understanding!

God is able in His provision!

God is able in His word!

Praise the LORD. Over and over we are told in the Psalm what God is doing and who God is. THEN SINGS MY SOUL, HOW GREAT THOU ART!”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Isaiah 53:5

QUOTES:
C.H. Spurgeon - “Behold, the Most High has to do with the sick and the sorry, with the wretched and the wounded! He walks the hospitals as the good Physician! His deep sympathy with mourners is a special mark of his goodness. Few will associate with the despondent, but Jehovah chooses their company, and abides with them till he has healed them by his comforts. He deigns [stoops below himself] to handle and heal broken hearts: he himself lays on the ointment of grace, and the soft bandages of love, and thus binds up the bleeding wounds of those convinced of sin. … The Lord is always healing and binding… Come, broken hearts, come to the Physician who never fails to heal: uncover your wounds to him who so tenderly binds them up!”

APPLICATION:
Q. Has the Church become unsatisfying to you? Are you beginning to be bored with the church? The Lord builds her up and delights in her, filling her with deep satisfaction - meeting all of her righteous longings. Where are you going to find the safest place? Where are you going to find your deepest satisfaction? It’s in the church! (Vs 14) God is building His church! How can you delight in her again? Discover again who God is and what he is doing?

Q. Are you brokenhearted and afflicted? How far have you fallen into the depths of your sin? He lifts up the humble! Has sin in this world led to deep pain and grief? How far have you sunk into the depths of sorrow? Psalm 139:9–10 (ESV) If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Behold the power of your God to hold you and lift you up.

Q. Is there anything that seems impossible for you right now? What area do you need to know that God is at work and that He is able?

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
The Greatest Of All
Jesus Paid It All
Praise His Name (Psalm 148)
We Are Thankful

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Psalm 103

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The truth is, there is very little in this life that cannot be broken. But the gospel assures us that there is at least one thing that cannot be broken: God’s love for you in Christ. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Romans: The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ
TEXT: Romans 8:31-39
TITLE: Unbreakable Love
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Because you are bound to God in Christ, NOTHING can separate you from His love.

“TABS”:
Tab #1 Since God is for you, no one can successfully oppose you
Tab #2 Since God has justified you, no one can successfully condemn you before God
Tab #3 Since you are bound by Christ’s love, nothing and no one can successfully separate you from God’s love

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: Browser tabs open for quick access

“As Paul brings the first half of Romans to a climax—what a climax it is—he gives us three gospel tabs. If you want to grow and thrive spiritually, in good times and bad, you need quick and constant access to these three tabs. They can be described this way: Because you are bound to God in Christ, NOTHING can separate you from His love.”

“God’s love for you is unbreakable. Nothing can deprive, disqualify, or separate you from God’s love. Nothing! You may feel like God’s love for you is fading. You may feel like God has separated Himself from you. You are wrong. God loves you with a love that is unbreakable because it is rooted in the victorious work of Jesus Christ.”

ILLUSTRATION: Cancel culture

“It might not be as vicious as cancel culture, but you know what it’s like when someone is determined to come against you. As a pastor, I’ve experienced it. As a family of churches, we’ve experienced it. No doubt, you’ve experienced it. At times, it feels as though the whole world is against you.”

“In this verse, Paul is not saying that no one will oppose us. He’s saying that, in the end, all opposition in this life is meaningless because it cannot overthrow the glory of God that awaits us, as we saw last week.”

“Even the great accuser, Satan himself, cannot oppose us successfully. He thrives on trying to cancel out your faith; to sow spiritual doubt and fear in our hearts…Satan is right. We don’t stand a chance against him. But Paul qualifies the question with If God is for us, who can be against us? That’s a different question. If God is for us, no one, not even the collective powers of hell, has a chance against us because God is on our side! The proof of that is the cross—read 32. The cross of Jesus is God’s way of doing all he could do for us. And (32). Who gave Jesus up to death? It wasn’t Judas for silver. It wasn’t Pilate for peace. It wasn’t the religious leaders for power. God Himself gave Jesus up to death! That is the supreme evidence that God is for you.”

“Write that down: Because of the cross, I know God is for ME!”

“That means God will withhold nothing in taking care of you and preserving you for heaven. The cross was the ultimate sacrifice. God will not allow it to be in vain. People and things may come against you. It may even seem as if they are successful. But ultimately, no one can successfully oppose you because God is for you!”

“Since God has justified you, no one can successfully condemn you before God. We need quick access to this tab because we are vulnerable to self-sufficiency that leads to self-righteousness. No one can oppose me, not because I am a super-Christian, but ONLY because God is for me in Christ!”

“There’s plenty of material for accusations and condemnation. And they’re all true. But Paul says none of them can stick. Why? 33-34 says that it is God who justifies us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.”

“To be justified is to be declared righteous by God. It means God no longer holds our sin against us and sees us through the lens of Jesus’ perfect righteousness. God is the Judge of the world. He hears Satan’s ongoing accusations against us and knows the extent of our sins. But through our faith in Jesus, the Spirit has removed our sin as far as the east is from the west, and God no longer counts it against us. So who can bring any charge against God’s chosen people that will stick? No one. Ever. God has already spoken on the matter at the cross. In Christ, we have been pardoned.”

“There is no Double Jeopardy in God’s kingdom. Jesus paid the price for your sins at the cross. Judgment has been rendered. God has declared all who come before Him in the name of Jesus not guilty. Pardon has been granted. It’s finished. It’s done and can’t be undone. No mistrial. No retrial. God’s word at the cross is final. All charges are dismissed, and all accusing voices are silenced.”

“To ensure this, Jesus continually intercedes for our justification before the throne of God—read 34. Jesus died to remove the curse and penalty of sin from us. His resurrection demonstrated the Father’s acceptance and satisfaction that Christ’s work on the cross was sufficient.”

“Now, Jesus sits at the right hand of God, the place of all power and authority. His work is finished, yet he is not idle. Jesus is not bored as he awaits the Father’s word to return for his Bride, the Church.”

“Paul says that Jesus, with his nail-scarred hands and feet, is interceding for us. He is an ever-present mediator who sits between you and the throne of God, silencing every voice that tries to condemn you before God.”

“When condemnation sits in, which tab are you clicking? The tab of your performance—Just do better, Derek—or the tab of Christ’s perfect performance on your behalf, which is the basis of your justification?”

“The truth is, there is very little in this life that cannot be broken. But the gospel assures us that there is at least one thing that cannot be broken: God’s love for you in Christ.”

“In these verses, Paul considers every conceivable thing that could separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus. He throws out every worst-case scenario and concludes that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”

“First, Paul says that no amount of suffering can separate us from God’s love—read 35-36. After exhaustively listing the sufferings in 35, Paul quotes Psalm 44:22 to acknowledge that God’s people aren’t exempt from suffering. Suffering is unavoidable. At times, we feel like sheep being led to slaughter. Yet even our suffering cannot separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.”

“Listen, in the midst of suffering, it can feel as if we’ve been separated from God’s love. It can feel as if His love for us has been severed. It’s easy to say—He’s not for me. How can He be when I see all the things happening in my life? To the contrary—read 37. When Paul says Christians are more than conquerors in our suffering, he means we are super conquerors. We can’t be beaten. We will win. We will persevere. We will endure to the end. We can say this because of the gospel. We are super conquerors—look at the second half of 37—THROUGH Christ who loved us.”

“The gospel brings us into union with Jesus, guaranteeing we will be victorious in life and in death because Jesus was. Jesus came out on the winning side, triumphant and inheriting the world. In him, this is who we are now and will be forever. Last week’s passage, 28-30, is the guarantee—God is working all things for our good in this life and to ensure we will see him in glory! We are Super Conquerors!”

“When life gets difficult, are you clicking the tab of your roaring subjective feelings to inform you or the tab of the objective gospel that says you can live triumphantly in trials because you know they can’t separate you from Christ; they are actually conforming you to Christ.”

“Now, like the grand finale of a July 4th fireworks show, Paul pulls out all the stops, even switching to the first person—read 38-39.”

“Paul names ten things that would seem powerful enough to separate anyone from anything. 

• Our greatest enemy: death

• Life with all its powerful allurements

• Spiritual powers, whether good or bad

• Cosmic forces and powerful rulers

• Nothing in the present or the future—disappointment, disease, broken marriage, mental illness, physical suffering, besetting sin

• Nothing in the highest heights of heaven or the deepest depths of hell

“Here is the exclamation point on the first half of Romans—I am convinced, and I remain convinced that nothing in all of God’s creation, at any time, in any place, in any way, can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is no match for and no outer limits to the divine love of God that flows to us from the one who has all authority over all things in all of creation—Jesus Christ!”

“I don’t know which tabs you keep open for quick access on your computer, but I am convinced that if we want to thrive spiritually, in good times and bad, we need quick and constant access to these three tabs. 1. Since God is for you, no one can successfully oppose you, 2. Since God has justified you, no one can successfully condemn you before God, 3. Since you are bound by Christ’s love, nothing and no one can successfully separate you from God’s love!”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 56:9

QUOTES:
Kent Hughes - “If accusations are brought against us, we need not fear, for the charges are silenced by the upraised, pierced hands of our Intercessor. If we are to be condemned, it will have to be over Christ’s dead and now resurrected body, which actually is the basis of our salvation!”

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Sing
How Vast The Love
In Christ Alone
It Is Well With My Soul

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Psalm 147

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE ONE OF OUR BOOKS OF THE QUARTER:

Nothing in your life is pointless. Whether it’s the good, the bad, or the ugly, there is a purpose for it all. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Romans: The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ
TEXT: Romans 8:28-30
TITLE: Unstoppable Glory
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: God is using everything in your story to bring you to His glory.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

ILLUSTRATION: “What’s the point?”

“How often have you said, “What’s the point?” not to your bugging spouse but to God? When the heartache, difficulty, and disappointments of life strike, how often is your response discouraged, downcast, or even defiant—Lord, what’s the point?”

“We can all relate, but take heart! Romans 8:28-30 not only tells us what the point is but also promises the outcome. God is using everything in your story to bring you to His glory.”

“Nothing in your life is pointless. Whether it’s the good, the bad, or the ugly, there is a purpose for it all. God is moving you from one glory to another until you reach the glories of heaven. In this work, God is unstoppable. God is using everything in your story to bring you to His glory.”

“Paul begins our passage by admitting that what he is about to say is nothing new. He says—And we know. What follows is very familiar. Romans 8:28 is one of the best-known passages in the Bible. How many times have you used it to find comfort and confidence in your life and to help others do the same?”

“At the same time, Romans 8:28 is one of the hardest truths in the Bible to accept and to believe with joy, peace, and contentment. So what do we know according to 28?
- We know that God is at work in His people
- We know that God’s work is for our good
- We know that God’s work is not aimless; it’s purposeful.”

“We know this. We are grateful for it. We love it. God is powerfully, persistently, and purposefully at work in us—AMEN! Here’s the hard part: Romans 28 says God works ALL things together for our good. Every circumstance in your life, including the really hard things—the miscarriage, the wayward child, the chronic pain, the painful chapter in your marriage, the mystery illness, the unreasonable boss, the hostile neighbor—ALL of it is being used by God for your good, according to His purpose for you.”

“God’s not saying—’I wasn’t expecting that but I think I can make it work.’ There isn’t a single thing in your life that fails to accomplish God’s purpose for you because everything in your story, not just the good things, not just the nice things, not just the comfortable things, but ALL things is part of that purpose. None of it is by chance. None of it is in vain. None of it is pointless. There is always a point, and it’s a profound one because it ALL comes from your Abba Father’s loving hand and He is perfectly used by Him to fulfill His purpose in you.”

“It’s called providence. Without getting technical, it means God has ordained all things and is using all things to bring about His redemptive purposes in and through you. Scripture presents two powerful examples. Joseph and his brothers: Genesis 50:20. What you meant for evil, God meant for good… to save many people. Jesus and the cross: Acts 2:23 and 4:27 say that the horrific death of Jesus was ultimately from the hand of God, according to His purposes. The most horrible thing that ever happened led to the most wonderful thing that could ever happen—Jesus’ death became our life!”

“And now, God is providentially working ALL things for our good. I want you to take note of the word good in 28. Earlier, I said that Romans 8:28 is one of the hardest truths in the Bible to believe. I think that’s because we wrongly define good. What does Paul mean by good? He tells us—read 29”

“Our highest good, the good Paul has in mind here, is being conformed to the image of Jesus as we wait for our full glorification at Christ’s return. That is God’s ultimate purpose for us and our highest good.”

“The preparation for this future glory is called progressive sanctification, or, as 29 puts it, being conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

“Through the gospel, you have been saved. You are now united with Christ, who went before us, paving the way for our adoption into the family of God through his life and death. Now God is working out His gospel purposes in you, causing you to look more and more like the royal child of God you already are. God is making you more like Jesus in your character, thoughts, affections, and behavior. To that end, God uses whatever means He deems necessary to bring about His gospel purposes in you. He knows exactly what we need to move us closer to Him and to conform us more fully to Christ.”

“But God’s sanctifying work is moving us toward something. Progressive sanctification isn’t an end; it’s a means. God is preparing us for His eternal glory. Look at what Paul says next—read 29-30. Scholars call these verses the Golden Chain of Salvation because they explain the stages of God’s redemptive work from beginning to end. I’m going to give you a snapshot of each one.”

“Foreknowledge (29) For those he foreknew…Translation: God foreloved you. That’s what you’ll learn when you study the word know in the context of God and His people, particularly in the OT. This foreknowledge isn’t merely that God knew facts about you. The point isn’t that God looked down the corridors of time and saw you would respond to Him favorably. It’s an intimate, affectionate knowing. In the words of John Murray, it’s a sovereign and distinguishing love. God set His love on you and set you apart for Himself in eternity past.”

“Predestination (29) Those he foreknew he predestined…The verb predestined means to be decided beforehand. The Bible calls sinners to repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a real decision we must willingly make in order to be saved. That said, we can never take credit for our salvation because ultimately, God has our destiny planned out. He fixed the moment of your salvation in eternity past according to His good pleasure. You decided to follow Christ because God had already decided it for you. That’s predestination. God knew you and set His love on you in eternity past, and He began to put His foreknowledge of you into effect by predestining you to salvation.”

“Calling (30) And those whom he predestined he also called…This calling refers to the moment you heard and believed the gospel. In one sense, there is an open invitation for all to come to Jesus whenever the gospel is proclaimed. This calling in 30 is the effectual call that makes grace saving grace irresistible.The moment you heard the gospel and believed, through the Holy Spirit's regenerative work, is the moment you were called to follow Jesus. You believed because God foreknew you and predestined you to believe. So in God’s perfect timing, you willingly believed in Jesus!”

“Justification (30) and those whom he called he also justified…We have talked a lot about justification lately because it’s at the heart of Romans. The moment you placed your faith in Jesus, you were declared not only forgiven but righteous in the eyes of God. By virtue of your faith union with Jesus, you were robed in his perfect righteousness, and that is the lens through which God now sees you. Holy and without blemish!”

“Glorification (30) and those whom he justified he also glorified. Our glorification is what we talked about last week. It is that moment when Jesus returns, we receive our resurrection bodies, and we will be made like him in every way. It is the consummation of our salvation that 1 Thes 4 and 1 Cor 15 reveal. All will be made right in the presence of Jesus, as we will finally and fully be saved! If you’re a Christian, this is where it’s all going. This is the point of the circumstances in your life. The prosperity and pleasures. The sin and suffering. The heartaches and headaches of life. God is using it all to prepare you to enter His glory!”

“Did you notice the tense of glorification? It’s the only step in the Golden Chain of Salvation that has yet to come. Those God foreknew, He predestined. Those He predestined, He called. Those He called, He justified. All of that miraculous and glorious work of God is complete. Yet Paul states our glorification in the past tense. Because it is God doing the work—He, He, He—the work will be completed. The glorification that will be ours when Christ returns is so certain that it’s as good as done. I am sure of this—God will finish the work He began in you (Phi 1:6).”

“Nothing in your life is pointless. God is using everything in your story to bring you to His glory. In this, He is unstoppable. So take heart and embrace His work as your friend, so you will fully benefit as you await your full entry into His glory.”

QUOTES:
John Stott - “On it believers of every age and place have stayed their minds. It has been likened to a pillow on which we rest our weary heads.”

Thomas Schreiner - “God’s unstoppable purpose in calling believers to salvation cannot be frustrated, and thus he employs all things to bring about the plan he had from the beginning in the lives of believers.”

APPLICATION:
So how can we benefit from this precious passage? How can we grow in seeing our trials as friends because through them God is bringing about His gospel purposes in us? 

1. Cherish Romans 8:28-30 as a gift from God because it is.

Imagine a world without Romans 8:28-30. What assurance would we have, and where would our confidence come from amid suffering? In a world without Romans 8:28-30, we would be left to believe that there is no good and that no goodness could ever come from our trials and suffering. In a world without Romans 8:28-30, we would be left wondering whether we are alone in our suffering and whether it’s all in vain. In a world without Romans 8:28-30, we would be vulnerable to believing that our purpose, not God’s, is why we exist.

Are you living as if Romans 8:28-30 didn’t exist? Good news! We have Romans 8:28-30. God has given us this passage as a gift. Give your mind to it. Give your heart to it. Give your time and energy to it by memorizing it. Give your fellowship to it.

2. Embrace God’s gospel work in you as a friend because it is. Read “Perspective in Trials” in The Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent

3. Don’t limit God’s purpose to yourself because it’s much bigger than you. ILLUSTRATION: Imagine I was unjustly fired from my job. As a Christian, you are part of God's greater purposes. He is saving sinners. He is building His kingdom. He is preparing His church for heaven. And yes, God is using your trials and sufferings to conform you to Christ and, at times, to bring about His purposes in others, bringing them to glory. What a privilege!

SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
Romans 8 (entire chapter)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62)
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
All Sufficient Merit
All Things

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Romans 8:31-39

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE ONE OF OUR BOOKS OF THE QUARTER: