Weekly Theme July 7 through July 13

Hungers for the Presence of God
Click Here to Listen to Pastor Mark's Sermon

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

—Hebrews 12:1b-2

This week we begin a sermon series that is going to highlight the kind of church that heaven applauds.  In other words, what kind of church makes all of heaven rejoice and give thanks to God for its mission and ministry?  The answer to that question is what we are going to discover as we progress through this sermon series. 

We will see that when a church hungers for the presence of God through glorifying Jesus that heaven applauds and affirms that desire.  What does it mean to hunger for the presence of God?  It means this, nothing more or nothing less.  Our hearts say, “Give me more of Jesus.  No matter what I have to do.  No matter what I have to sacrifice.  Just give me more of Jesus.”  That’s what it means to hunger after the presence of God.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Psalm 119:33-48

³³ Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, so that I may keep   

    your law and obey it with all my heart.
³⁵ Direct me in the path of your commands,
    for there I find delight.
³⁶ Turn my heart toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain.
³⁷ Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life according to your word
³⁸ Fulfill your promise to your servant,
    so that you may be feared.
³⁹ Take away the disgrace I dread,
    for your laws are good.
⁴⁰ How I long for your precepts!
    In your righteousness preserve my life.

⁴¹ May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;
⁴² then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
⁴³ Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
    for I have put my hope in your laws.
⁴⁴ I will always obey your law,
    for ever and ever.
⁴⁵ I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts.
⁴⁶ I will speak of your statutes before kings
    and will not be put to shame,
⁴⁷ for I delight in your commands
    because I love them.
⁴⁸ I reach out for your commands, which I love,
    that I may meditate on your decrees.

Reflection

The continuation of Psalm 119 is much like our reading yesterday. This time reread the Psalm and find a phrase or request that speaks to you  and let it be your prayer to God.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Psalm 119:9-24

⁹ How can a young person stay on the path

   of purity? By living according to your word.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
¹² Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
¹³ With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
¹⁴ I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

¹⁷ Be good to your servant while I live,
    that I may obey your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.
¹⁹ I am a stranger on earth;
    do not hide your commands from me.
²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing
    for your laws at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed,
    those who stray from your commands.
²² Remove from me their scorn and contempt,
    for I keep your statutes.
²³ Though rulers sit together and slander me,
    your servant will meditate on your decrees.
²⁴ Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

 Reflection

This segment of Psalm 119 echoes the argument of Psalm 1 that we read on Monday. The Word of God is the best instruction we have to walk in the path of the righteous. The Psalmist makes a number of petitions to God all referring to being taught and guided by God’s Word.  Reread this entire segment. Are there words or phrases that speak to you? Why?

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Psalm 33:1-11

¹ Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
² Praise the Lord with the harp;
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
³ Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.

⁴ For the word of the Lord is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
⁵ The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

⁶ By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
    he puts the deep into storehouses.
⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the people of the world revere him.
⁹ For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

¹⁰ The Lord foils the plans of the nations; 
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
¹¹ But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,

    the purpose of his heart through all generations.

Reflection

In verse 4 the Psalmist reminds us that the Word of God is “right and true” and that God is faithful.  In the words of the Psalmist we should be reassured that God is trustworthy and that God’s Word is a covenant with us that is right and true, detailing promises God has fulfilled and promises that God extends to you. Yesterday we learned that God’s Word is alive and active. It begins in Scripture and is revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is alive and active in the world today as we are all a part of the amazing story of God’s grace.  How has God been faithful to you? What promise from God are you still waiting to be fulfilled in your life?

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Psalm 130

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
² Lord, hear my voice.
   Let your ears be attentive
   to my cry for mercy.

³ If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
⁶ I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

Isaiah 40:6-8

⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.”
   And I said, “What shall I cry?”

   “All people are like grass,  and all their

   faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷ The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever. ”

 Reflection

Have you ever wondered why we are drawn to God’s Word in the midst of our deepest sorrow and hurt? The most common answer to this is hope. Why does the Word of God inspire hope in the midst of sorrow, loss, and grief? Because in the midst of our sorrow, loss, and grief we come face to face with our own mortality. Martin Luther points to the great hope we have in the midst of our mortality in his great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”

“ Let good and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill: God's truth abideth still,“ Is there hope in these words for you? Share it with God.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Psalm 18:30-36

³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
³¹ For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
³² It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
³³ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
³⁴ He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁵ You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
³⁶ You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.

Hebrews 4:12-13

¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Reflection

Reread verse 12 in the scripture from Hebrews. Hear the words alive and active? How do you think the Word of God is alive and active? Think about the Word of God being a never ending story. The story that begins in Scripture and embodied in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is still unfolding today. The story of God’s grace is unending and you are a part of that story. Where do you find yourself in the great history of God’s grace?

Monday, July 1, 2013

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one 

    who does not walk in step with the wicked 

    or stand in the way that sinners take 

    or sit in the company of mockers, 

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, 

    and who meditates on his law day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by 

    streams of water, 

    which yields its fruit in season

   and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!

    They are like chaff 

    that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the 

   judgment,  nor sinners in the assembly of the 

   righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the 

   righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to  

   destruction.

Reflection

The book of Psalms was assembled, meaning that it is a collection of various prayers and praises. Because of this its order is quite intentional. It is arranged into five books and the order in which the Psalms come is no accident. With this in mind it is important to note that Psalm 1 sets the tone for the rest of the book of Psalms. Reread the first two verses. The Psalm sets its agenda that there are at least two paths. One is the path of sinners (in other translations

unrighteous). The other is the path of the righteous and this path is clarified as walking in the delight of the law of the Lord. In a more modern translation “Blessed are those who delight and meditate on God’s Word.” What could you do to walk the path marked by delight and meditation on God’s Word?