A sermon from the series “Summer in the Psalms (2021).” According to God, you don’t need a feather, a mantra, or a pose. This weekend, let the author of Psalm 77 teach you God’s way to meditate. He was facing something difficult, but he wasn’t being stoic or gritting his teeth until the storm passed or just venting his feelings to a friend. Instead, he redirected his thoughts and feelings toward the truth about God and took God’s truth deep into his heart. It’s not the work of a moment; it is the practice of a lifetime. We’re glad you are with us today to grow in this lifetime of worship and seeking God’s truth.

A sermon from the series “Summer in the Psalms (2021).” Praise the Lord. It’s more than a Pinterest board, the full name of a defunct televangelist group (PTL), or a spontaneous outburst of a believer’s gratitude. In fact, the setting of those words in Psalm 146 have more to do with justice and care for the poor or sick. Find the interesting juxtaposition in Psalm 146, but don’t be too surprised. Our Lord specializes in the unexpected.

A sermon from the series “Summer in the Psalms (2021).” Deliver us from evil (inside and outside) The writer of Psalm 73 confesses he’s in the grip of envy. To envy is to want someone else’s life. It’s not only to feel that they don’t deserve the good life they have; but it’s to want it for yourself. This kind of spiritual self-pity will drain your joy and make it impossible to enjoy the good things God has given you. But by the end of the psalm, the author has a breakthrough and sees the antidote.

A sermon from the series “Summer in the Psalms (2021).” Box Tops for Education is a program to use shopping rebates to fund education. But what’s education for? Psalm 100 gives us God’s answer. He created and redeemed to praise him. If education doesn’t lead to praising God, it fails. If knowing the truth doesn’t lead to knowing God and his love, it fails. Education is either for the praise of God or it’s hollow and rootless, a noisy gong. We’re so glad you made it here today to know, enjoy, and praise the Lord by sinking your roots into his truth.

A sermon from the series “Acts (2020).” Transfiguration. Today we recall a day in Jesus’ life when he was with his disciples, Peter, James and John, on a mountain and, according to Matthew’s record, “he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light.” Two giants of the Old Testament also appeared there, Moses, the giver of the law and Elijah, the great prophet. Imagine the boost this gave to the apostles who would soon see Jesus betrayed, beaten, and crucified. You wonder how many times during those days they recalled, “But on the mountain…” Let this event do the same for you. This week marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a time to rehearse and remember Jesus’ suffering and death for the world, for you. Until we make it to the empty grave of Easter, recall as they did, “But on the mountain…”

A sermon from the series “Acts (2020).” Waiting for a miracle? Does that describe you? If it hasn’t, or doesn’t, it will. In the section of Acts we’re encountering today, the author Dr. Luke records Peter and John meeting a man who had been praying for a miracle for decades. Then healing came. Let that man’s suffering and healing open your eyes to a biblical view of your suffering and healing.

A sermon from the series “Acts (2020).” What do Spirit-filled people do? Early in Dr. Luke’s record of the seedling Christian church he recorded the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit. But then what? What happens next? Spirit-filled flapping of arms and fainting from being overcome by the presence of God? No. Here’s how “spiritual” people became when the Holy Spirit filled them: they hung out together. There’s more, of course, but people who are filled with the Spirit look for reasons and find ways to be together…like you…like right now…together.

A sermon from the series “Acts (2020).” It is sometimes called the sermon that launched the Christian Church. Jesus launched his church, but we get an amazing picture of how God uses his children. In the moments following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter stands boldly and preaches of Jesus and the forgiveness given by Jesus. What takes Peter from a terrified, timid fisherman to a bold proclaimer of the faith? It is the same gospel God has placed in your heart! Today, learn from Peter’s first sermon how to proclaim Jesus and the means by which God gives his grace.

A sermon from the series “Acts (2020).” Burning but not burning out: There’s a fine line between the two, isn’t there? You pour yourself into your job, sport, or some hobby so fully because it fills you. You get energy from it. But if you’re not filled, the time comes when you burn out. In Acts 2, Jesus keeps a promise to fill his church with energy, the Spirit. He’s still doing that for you. The Spirit’s work of filling you with purpose, grace, and gifts is the difference between burning out and burning for a lifetime. We’re glad you’re here because the Spirit promises to do that work through the Good News of Jesus. Let him light you up and keep you burning.

A sermon from the series “Acts (2020).” Jesus inspires us with his commission to go and be his witnesses. But then he says, “Wait.” Today, learn what earlier followers of Jesus did when they waited.