Maranatha Baptist Church Sermon Podcast

Download a copy of the class notes here.

"I have you in my heart." I'm sure you can say that about some people in your life. But could you say it about everyone in the church? In his opening to the letter Philippians, the Apostle Paul says that he loves them all in this way. What created such love and affection? Paul's relationship with them was rooted in the gospel.

Download a copy of the class notes here.

There's nothing heavier than the weight of sin. Our sin hurts others, destroys relationships, and worst of all, cuts off our fellowship with God. The guilt of it all turns our stomachs and weighs heavily on our shoulders. But Psalm 106 reminds us that God's steadfast love is greater than our sin. Because of His steadfast love, we must turn to God, confess, and restore our relationship with Him.

We can't see the future. It is just one big question mark to us - a fuzzy unknown - and that can leave us feeling anxious and afraid. Instead, Psalm 105 teaches us to look at the past and to see the faithfulness of God. When we remember His faithfulness, we replace worry with worship. Praise the Lord Who Keeps His Promises.

Is your world falling apart? Maybe it's the circumstances around you - politics, family, employment. Maybe it's within you - health, emotions, or spiritual life. When we feel this way, it's time to worship the One who holds it all together. Psalm 104 reminds us that God made everything, and He holds everything together. He is the King of the universe, and all creation declares the glory of God.

Do you ever find yourself forgetting things like your keys, your to-do list, or where you placed something important? Just as we forget everyday details, it’s also easy to forget the character of God and the many ways He blesses us. Psalm 103 invites us to pause and remember. This beautiful passage reminds us of God’s unending mercy, His compassion, and His faithfulness to those who love Him.

"Time flies!" You may have said this when facing project deadlines or when you’re heading home from vacation. But it’s true every day. Our days on earth are vanishing quickly. This is the lament of the afflicted man who prayed and sang Psalm 102. When facing our last days on earth, we must pray to our eternal God. Because Jesus died and rose again to save us, we have hope and fellowship with Him.

Integrity is a sought-after virtue. While we want to be known as people of integrity, we must admit that we have things hidden in our hearts that we don’t want people to know. King David wanted to be a man of integrity, and in Psalm 101, he wrote about his desire to walk faithfully with God. The psalm gives us practical ideas on how we can both walk in integrity and devote ourselves to the Lord.

Big truths produce big responses. "You're a dad!" "You won!" "You're free!" Psalm 100 points us to some of the biggest truths of all for the believer: "God made you!" "God cares for you!" "God is good, loving, and faithful!" In response, the psalm calls us to offer big praise. It is called a "Psalm of Thanksgiving." Because God is our good Maker and Shepherd, we should give joyful thanks to Him.

"Holiness" can seem distant to us. We know God is holy, but how does it impact daily life? Psalm 99 shows the connection. It praises God for being holy, or "set apart." He’s unique, higher than all beings. While we often rightly relate sinlessness with "holy", Psalm 99 points out that God is holy in greatness, justice, and forgiveness. He’s set apart from all others. So, He deserves our praise.

Very few things make us burst out in joy. Maybe the thrill of a roller coaster, the victory of your favorite sports team, or the announcement of good news has had that effect on you. Psalm 98 teaches us that the Lord deserves our outbursts of praise because His salvation is the best news, His reign as King is the greatest thrill, and His righteous reign will be the supreme victory.

We are drawn to displays of power. When one shows wisdom or intelligence, we want to talk with them. When one shows strength, we want them on our side. When one is successful, we promote their leadership. While we wait for the Lord's powerful return, we can be distracted to follow lesser powers. Psalm 97 paints a powerful picture of the Lord's return and calls us to devote ourselves to Him alone.

The world, our lives, and even the earth groans at the mess. Can anyone fix our mess? Can anyone establish righteousness again? Psalm 96 answers the question - yes - but it calls us to worship the King who is coming to judge the earth. He will fix everything! He offers salvation to the unrighteous. He will rule with righteousness. He will establish righteousness and truth all over the world.

If you asked anyone, "What do you worship?" they’d probably give you one of two answers: "God (or a divine being)" or "nothing." Most people don't realize our lives are full of worship. While we may not physically bow down, our choices show our worship. When I do something for myself, I am bowing to myself in worship. Instead, Psalm 95 invites us to worship the Lord as King, Maker, and Shepherd.

Notice how often revenge is a theme of movies and books through the years! We rarely see true justice served and so we want to take matters into our own hands. But Psalm 94 reminds us to turn to the King of the Universe. Vengeance belongs to Him, and we trust Him. When the anxieties caused by injustice multiply within us, only the comfort of the Lord's perfect nature can delight our souls.

This world is full of power struggles. Whether it's nations on the global scale, or siblings in the home, we encounter the battle for control. Psalm 93 stops the striving by turning our attention to the Lord and reminding us that He reigns. Period. He is the King of the Universe. No power can compete with Him. From eternity past, and for eternity future, the Lord reigns.

As we face trials and suffering in this life, it can be tempting to despair when we cannot see an end or turn to what the world claims will bring comfort. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, we will learn to praise the God of all Comfort not just in spite of suffering, but because of how He works through it.

Download a copy of the handout here .

Download a copy of the class notes here.

Many things cry out for our attention and affection. Facebook wants us to continue scrolling. Lust tells us to take one more look. Greed tells us we need more. Wisdom calls us to listen and avoid every trap. How do we avoid the sinful traps of life? In this Proverbs section, Solomon tells his son how to walk the path of wisdom. It's the only path that leads to goodness, righteousness, and life.

Download a copy of the handout here .

Download a copy of the handout here .

Everyone loves the idea of wisdom, but few of us pour energy into seeking wisdom because, if we are honest with ourselves, we see ourselves as relatively wise. But wisdom is not found in comparing ourselves with others. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. From there, we realize how much we need to grow.

Download a copy of the handout here .