Grow In Faith

Join Pastor Paul Fowler from our Lake Forest campus as he delves into Psalm 89 in our ongoing "Psalms" devotional series. This powerful psalm explores themes of God's love, faithfulness, and the enduring promise of the Davidic covenant. Key points: Introduction to Psalm 89 and its authorship by Ethan Historical context of the psalm, including its connection to David's reign Ana...

In this final episode of our series on Psalm 88, we explore the deeper implications of this raw lament and its relevance to our spiritual lives. Join us as we unpack: The importance of keeping difficult psalms in Scripture How Psalm 88 gives us permission to express our darkest emotions to God Athanasius' insight: The Psalms as God's words for our feelings Overcoming cultural and persona...

Title: "Raw Faith: Embracing the Darkness of Psalm 88" Description: Join us as we continue our journey through the Psalms, focusing on the haunting and brutally honest Psalm 88. In this episode, we explore the unique nature of this lament that doesn't end in praise, and what it teaches us about bringing our deepest pain to God. Our key points include: The unusual structure of Psalm...

Join us as we continue our study of the Psalms, delving into the profound depths of Psalm 88. In this episode, we explore the challenging yet essential topic of lament in Scripture. Our key points include: Introduction to Psalms of Lament and their place in the Bible The unique voice of Heman the Ezraite in Psalm 88 Comparing Heman's lament to "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Go...

Description: Join us as we continue our study of the Psalms, focusing on Psalm 88 - one of the most challenging and raw expressions of human suffering in the Bible. In this episode, we explore: What is a Psalm of Lament and why it's important The unique nature of Psalm 88 among the Psalms of Lament How this Psalm encourages honesty with our emotions before God The contrast between religious p...

Join us as we conclude our exploration of Psalm 73 in our Psalms Devotional Series, focusing on the power of prayer in times of doubt and spiritual dryness. Key points: The importance of continuous prayer, even in times of doubt Psalm 73 as a model for expressing frustration and confusion to God The balance between acknowledging doubts and doubting our doubts Finding a "third way" betwee...

Continue our journey through the Psalms as we delve deeper into Psalm 73, exploring the nature of doubt and how to navigate it in our faith walk. Key points: Understanding doubt as both an intellectual and spiritual issue Asaph's envy of the arrogant and its spiritual implications C.S. Lewis's "The Great Divorce" and its insights on the nature of doubt The interplay between our...

Join us as we continue our devotional series on the Psalms, diving deep into Psalm 73 and its powerful message of wrestling with doubt and finding renewed faith. Key points: Asaph's journey from confusion and bitterness to spiritual clarity The contrast between the seeming prosperity of the wicked and the struggles of the faithful The pivotal moment of reframing our perspective in light of Go...

Join us as we continue our devotional series on the Psalms, focusing on Psalm 73 and the important topic of doubt in our faith journey. Key points: Doubt is a natural part of faith; we shouldn't fear it Jesus dealt kindly with doubters and called them to take the next step Psalm 73 models how to pray through our doubts The Psalms are raw and honest, expressing both sorrow and joy Asaph's...

Join us for the final installment of our exploration of Psalm 62 in our "Psalms" devotional series. In this episode, we delve into practical applications of this powerful psalm for our modern, hectic lives. Key Points: The importance of meditating on God's truths in a chaotic world Avoiding the "cancer of comparison" and cultivating gratitude Gaining an eternal perspective...

Join us for the third installment of our deep dive into Psalm 62 in our "Psalms" devotional series. Today, we explore the profound wisdom of David as he reflects on the source of true contentment and peace. Key Points: The importance of self-talk and repetition in meditation David's use of possessive pronouns to emphasize his personal relationship with God The exclusivity of finding...

Welcome back to our "Psalms" devotional series. In this episode, we dive deep into Psalm 62, exploring the concept of finding genuine rest and peace in God amidst life's challenges. Key Points: Understanding the biblical concept of "soul" as our inner command center The meaning of "rest" in Psalm 62 as peace and inner silence Contrasting internal noise with the p...

Join us for another enlightening episode in our "Psalms" devotional series as we explore the profound wisdom of Psalm 62. In this video, we delve into the timeless pursuit of contentment and peace, drawing insights from one of the Bible's most beautiful meditations. Key Points: The universal quest for happiness and contentment Solomon's exploration of contentment in Ecclesiaste...

In the final episode of our "Psalms" devotional series on Psalm 51, we explore the theme of repentance, drawing insights from both David's prayer and C.S. Lewis' character Eustace Scrubb in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Here are the key points covered: David pours out his heart to God, begging for forgiveness and a clean heart, fearing that he has irreparably brok...

In this episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we delve deeper into Psalm 51, focusing on David's acknowledgment of his sin and his plea for God's cleansing and restoration. Here are the key points covered: David recognizes that his sin is always before him, and he has sinned against God alone. He understands that he was born with a sinful nature, not because conception is...

In this episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we continue our exploration of Psalm 51, focusing on the surprising nature of David's confession and its implications for our own lives. Here are the key points covered: Despite his power, status, and reputation, David's sin with Bathsheba is not surprising. What is surprising is his willingness to confess and own his sin. It&a...

In this episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we dive into Psalm 51, a powerful prayer of confession from King David. Here are the key points covered: Psalm 51 serves as a playbook for repentance, which goes beyond dealing with guilt and turning from sin. It's about turning to God and finding a way forward with joy and hope. The context of Psalm 51 is David's affair with B...

In this final episode of our "Psalms" devotional series on Psalm 16, we explore the profound promises found in verses 9-11. David's concluding words reveal the abundant joy and eternal pleasures that await those who find refuge in God, a promise ultimately fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Key points: David expresses his heart's gladness, his spirit's rejoicing, and his body...

In this episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we explore verses 7-8 of Psalm 16, where David expresses his commitment to keeping the Lord always on his mind. As we navigate the challenges and insecurities of life, this Psalm encourages us to stay close to God and seek His counsel at all times. Key points: David receives counsel from the Lord, even in the middle of the night when his...

In this episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we dive into verses 4-6 of Psalm 16, where David proclaims his choice to make God his refuge and portion. As we face the temptations of the world and the false promises of fulfillment, this Psalm reminds us to anchor our lives in God alone. Key points: David warns that those who chase after other gods will multiply their sorrows, emphasi...

In this episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we explore the first three verses of Psalm 16, where David seeks protection and refuge in God amidst challenging circumstances. As we navigate the uncertainties of life, this Psalm reminds us to turn to God as our ultimate source of safety, goodness, and security. Key points: - David begins Psalm 16 with a prayer, crying out to God for p...

In this final episode of our "Psalms" devotional series on Psalm 11, we dive deeper into the life-changing wisdom of this powerful passage. As we face crises and the crumbling foundations of our world, Psalm 11 offers us a roadmap to finding peace and stability in the midst of chaos. Key points: Psalm 11 is framed in the context of a crisis David is facing, where the foundations seem to...

In this third episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we continue to explore the profound wisdom of Psalm 11. As King David faces bad advice from his panicked friends, he reminds himself and us of the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty during times of crisis. Key points: David's advisors urge him to flee in the face of danger, but he chooses not to act on their pani...

In this second episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we continue our exploration of Psalm 11, a powerful meditation by King David during a time of crisis. As we face our own challenges and hear the panicked voices around us, this Psalm offers wisdom and encouragement. Key points: Psalm 11 is primarily a meditation, giving us a glimpse into David's inner thoughts during a crisis...

In this episode of our "Psalms" devotional series, we dive into Psalm 11, a powerful prayer by David during a time of crisis. As we navigate the tumultuous world around us, this Psalm offers valuable insights and encouragement. Key points: The Psalms are a rich collection of prayers and meditations that John Calvin called "An Anatomy of the Soul." Psalm 11 is a short reflection...