Psalm 67
We live in a Port City, which means we get to see all kinds of ships come into the harbor. Both float; both hold people; both have a captain. But a cruise ship and a battleship have completely different missions. The mission of a cruise ship is comfort and the experiences of those onboard. The mission of the battleship is to fulfill the task of the one who sent them. Every church has to decide what kind of church (ship) we are building based on the mission (outcome) that we are after. This is really the question that Psalm 67 is asking and forcing us to wrestle with. God has blessed us…what will we choose to do with the blessing?
Psalm 62
Sometimes when we approach the Bible we can think…why would we ever need that in real life? But the Psalms come along and remind us of just how applicable and important the Bible is for everyday life. The Psalms give us the truths we need for real life. In particular, the Psalms (and Psalm 62) provide a deep stability for our soul. When life is teetering at home, or things feel chaotic at work, or your emotions keep getting the best of you, or your current situation is just weighing you down…In comes Psalm 62 to give you the truth and the tools to deal with all that life has to offer.
Psalm 72
In this sermon, we explore the longing for a righteous king that echoes throughout Psalm 72. David’s prayer for Solomon captures a vision of a kingdom marked by justice, peace, and prosperity—something that only Jesus, the true and better King, can fulfill. We see how Solomon’s reign, though filled with wisdom and promise, still fell short of the ideal. As we examine the perfect rule of Christ, we are reminded that true justice, mercy, and flourishing can only be found under His reign. This sermon challenges us to look to Jesus, not just as our King, but as our Savior, and to live in light of His kingdom that will one day fill the earth.
Psalm 63
Some of the worst moments in David’s life brought out his best. Psalm 63–one of David’s greatest hits (Sung by the early church each day for centuries–known as the “Morning Hymn”) is when David was at his lowest point. On the run, David pens one of the most significant and hope-filled psalms of praise. It is a reminder to us that regardless of what circumstances we are in, there is always a reason to praise God. In fact, this is the very purpose for our existence, where our lives truly find their place– the praise of the Almighty God. It is the “steadfast love of God” that is “better than life”. Jesus proved this ultimately at the cross, when he gave his life that we might be brought into the steadfast love of God.
Psalm 55
Our lives are full of burdens that we are carrying around and just when we’re able to get rid of one…it seems like life throws another back at us. The burden of paying the bills. Or the burden of an ongoing addiction. Or the burden of raising children. Or the burden of marital strife. All of us are carrying around some type of burden in our life and all of us want desperately to find the solution to freeing ourselves from this burden. When the burdens of life are weighing you down…what do you do? Psalm 55 is gives us that answer.
Psalm 53
Every one of us can think back to a time in our life (maybe last night) when we’ve done something foolish. That’s why Psalm 53 is so pertinent for us. It should resonate with every single one of us because in many ways it is the story of humanity. Psalm 53 is outlining for us our propensity as human beings to not just act foolishly but to be fools. And the Psalmist links foolishness directly with a rejection of God showing us that a life without God is a foolish endeavor.
Psalm 78
Whether you and I realize it or not - whether we have a strategy or not - we are passing something (set of values, beliefs) to the next generation. And if we are not passing on the gospel…we are not doing the primary job that God has given us. This is the message we find in Psalm 78…there the Psalmist is going to tell us that we have something in our possession that we must pass on. We possess the baton of the gospel - the good news of what God has done for us, in us, and through us. That means that we can spend all our time taking our kids on the best vacations, providing them with the best education, and making sure they eat the healthiest (non-GMO) foods. But the most important thing we can pass on to our kids is the good news of the gospel.
Psalm 51
All of us have things about ourselves that we want to change. Negative behaviors, vices, addictions, bad habits. Even if we haven’t seen change or growth in our life for years there’s still something deep within us that wants to see certain things change in our life. So we want to grow and get better. The question is how? How do we actually grow? The answer that we’re looking for in regards to how we become a less selfish person or less angry person or less anxious person or less fearful person is found in Psalm 51. Psalm 51 says that real change takes place through a process the Bible calls repentance.
Psalm 46
Psalm 46 is a poem of remembrance — a powerful testament to God’s faithful protection in a time of overwhelming fear and crisis. Today, more than ever, we are gripped by fear and anxiety. But what does God call us to do with our fears and anxious thoughts? What should our response be?
Psalm 46 reminds us that it is God — and God alone — who is our ultimate refuge in the midst of fear and turmoil. He promises not only to protect us, but to be present with us — walking with us through the storm. And it is only the Lord God Almighty who can transform our fear into peace.
Psalm 42 & 43
Psalm 42 & 43 (traditionally one Psalm, not two) begin the second section in the library of Psalms. This Psalm speaks to the inner man held back from God by feelings of being spiritually depressed. The Psalm, though heavy, also shows a progression from feeling God is absent (spiritual dryness) to a place of deeper closeness and trust in God’s promises. The repeated refrain (42:5, 11, 43:5) reminds us that Christians must lead our selves by constantly setting before us, even preaching—God's word and truth to ourselves. Ultimately, it is God’s revealed truth in the Gospel that is our only hope, beyond (and greater than) our feelings.
Psalm 34
The gospel is an invitation to find our full satisfaction in God. And Psalm 34 is an invitation to taste and see the goodness of—as seen in the gospel—together. David invites us to taste and see b/c David knows something about the human soul. The human soul is hungry—it is searching after that thing that will ultimately satisfy. Relationships, money, successful career, status. The Bible is helping us to see here that none of those things will satisfy the deep hunger of our soul... Jesus is the only one who can satisfy the deep hunger of our soul.
Psalm 32
In the quiet moments of life—when all the distractions fade—we are all too familiar with that nagging feeling of guilt. Ever since Genesis 3 humanity has had a problem with guilt and shame. In short, we don’t want people to see the “real me”. We don’t want people to see who we are—we feel the need to cover up. You might not believe in heaven or hell but there’s also a part of you that feels unsettled and not OK with yourself. It’s why we overwork, overspend, overexercise, and the list goes on and on. The good news of the gospel and the message of Psalm 32 is that we indeed have a covering. And the key to unlocking that in our life is found through confessing our sin.
Psalm 27
Psalm 27 shows us that there is one thing in this life that we cannot live without. Every single one of us has something that immediately comes to mind. Whether acknowledged or just functionally lived out there is something in our life that we think we can’t live without. Things like money, a spouse, your career, recognition, your possessions. The Psalmist is not saying that those are unimportant or that they don’t matter. Rather, he shows us, that none of those things are the one thing. Instead, God’s presence in our life is the one thing we actually need.
Psalm 24
Psalm 24 shows us the extent of God’s right over everything. This is good news for those who follow Christ. He is the Creator God who rules and reigns over creation. He is the Holy God who sets the standard for morality and our approach to Him. He is the Victorious God who conquers over every enemy and enters into His rightful place as the King worthy of worship. He is the King of glory. This is good news for followers of Christ because Jesus Christ is the true living God who became creation, lived a perfect life, and conquered sin and death by taking our place. We have full assurance in God’s presence because of Christ. He is the King of glory!
Psalm 23
This life is full of deep, dark valleys—places of hurt, pain and ultimately death. The well-known Psalm 23 reminds us that our Lord is our shepherd king! He is our provider, protector, and promise keeper. We are His sheep and are dependent on His goodness and grace to save us and sustain us for His glory and righteousness. The life of a Christian under the care of the Good Shepherd could not be more safe, secure, and abundant. Psalm 23 reveals the heart of God for mankind and is a picture of the gospel now and what’s to come.
Psalm 16
Where is man at the greatest point in his life? What experiences of life are enough to fulfill, either in life or in death? These “high view” questions are at the core of Psalm 16. King David, under threat of death, needs something to get between him and the trouble, a joyful confidence that cannot be shaken. Before God, he finds a covering that he can confide in, a connection in relationship with God and others, a contentment in the Lord that spills over into praise, and a completion that gives hope and permanence. All this is available and accessible to Christians because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 8
All of us want to know that we have meaning in life. The bad news, though, is that sin has caused us to completely lose focus of what that meaning is and where to find it, which is why Psalm 8 is so crucial to our life. This week we looked at how your purpose and meaning has already been given in the majesty of God (not in your intellect, or your abilities, or even your morality). Each of us were created by God and in doing so God has given us meaning.
Psalm 3
All of us have things that we fear in our life - big fears, small fears, normal fears, irrational fears, which is why Psalm 3 is so crucial for our spiritual formation. Psalm 3 specifically shows us how to deal with the issue of fear in our life. In Psalm 3 we found that the Bible doesn’t simply give us platitudes or cute Hallmark sayings to recite when faced with fear. Instead it gives us real “in time” help from a God who is not distant or uncaring or unconcerned. God wants to meet you right where you are at with whatever fear you are living in or with this morning. He doesn’t want to leave you there…he wants to pull you out from it.
Psalm 1
The Psalms are the language of the soul and they provide for us the full expression and experience of a real life relationship with the living God. And Psalm 1 lays the foundation for the entire book by providing the context for what’s to come by laying out the two possible paths that we can travel on in life. One path leads away from God and brings death – the other towards God and brings life. We all walk on one of these two... which one will you choose?