The Cross and the Crown

Psalm 101 is a call to godly leadership. What can we glean from peering into the heart of a leader after God's own heart. What should be the response to failures in leadership? How does this psalm point beyond David to Christ, the perfect King? 

Psalm 100 is a declaration of thanksgiving rooted in the goodness, steadfast love, and faithfulness of the Lord. In this session, we will examine the foundation for praising God and founding our identity in Him.

Psalm 91 contains some of the most empowering verses in all the psalter. Saints throughout church history have drawn confidence and courage from its inspiring words during their most difficult days... and also, Satan quoted it to Jesus during his wilderness temptations. How do we avoid mishandling its words and cut to the heart if its beauty?

In this session, we examine Psalm 90 verse-by-verse. How does the steadfast love of the Lord help us begin to process the difficulties of life and foster a deeper and meaningful relationship with God?

In this prayer of Moses, we explore the potential settings and themes of the Psalm.

In this session, we examine Psalm 85, exploring this song of forgiveness, salvation, faithfulness and righteousness written by the Sons of Korah. 

In the closing passage of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus- the Light of the World- places before us two types of storm-tossed people: those who are wise builders and those who are foolish builders. In this session, we will learn how Jesus' words are a summons to abide in him, the futility of not abiding in him, and introduce how the book of James helps us learn how to put into practice the teaching...

In this session, we will wrap up Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, with his hearers openly acknowledging his authority. In this next warning passage, Jesus continues the theme of religious hypocricy by giving a dire and sobering warning of the fates of many who not only openly profess his name, but who do many mighty works in his name. We are then given an image of two house immersed in a storm. One sta...

In this session, we will continue to dig deeper into the conclusions of Jesus within the Sermon on the Mount. In this warning passage, Jesus calls his hearers to beware of false prophets. How can previous passages in the Sermon on the Mount help us identify true from false prophets? What does "good and bad fruit" look like? 

In this session, we will dig deeper into the conclusions of Jesus within the Sermon on the Mount. What does he mean when he warns of entering through the broad gate, which is easy, and that leads to destruction? How have previous passages in the Sermon on the Mount helped define what the narrow and wide gates look like? 

In this session, we will enter the conclusions of Jesus within the Sermon on the Mount. What does he mean when he says: "Enter through the narrow gate?" What does he mean by saying the narrow way is hard? What does Jesus mean when he says that that the narrow way leads to life? 

How does our understanding of the context of the Golden Rule help us understand the meaning of Christ's declaration and command? How does it fit into the larger narrative of the Sermon on the Mount? How does it help us better understand our role in the world? 

In this session, we will examine the myriad of reasons we have to be thankful. How does Psalm 75 specifically ground in thanksgiving for the grace of God in Christ Jesus?

How does Psalm 72 point us to the True and Greater Solomon? How has this psalm been used historically as a missionary hymn? 

How does Psalm 68 look backward into history to cultivate peace in the present? How did Psalm 68 press forward into the hope of the person and work of Christ? 

In world full of noise, how does David help us appreciate the wisdom of silence? When is the proper time to speak? What is our message when we do?

How did the events of 1 Samuel inspire much of Psalms 52-60? What truths can we glean from a historical survey of the trials that David experienced that led to composing these psalms? 

Jesus calls his followers to ask, seek, and knock while delivering precious promises to our asking. Considering its place within the context of the Sermon on the Mount, what does Jesus mean and not mean? How does this challenge the meek toward boldness and the peddling of a prosperity gospel at the same time? 

In one of the most famous Bible passages known today, what does Jesus mean when he calls his followers to "judge not?" What happens when we keep reading? 

In this next passage on the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus examines the connection between what we treasure and what/Who we serve. How does Jesus' call to cast off anxiety and seek first His kingdom and righteousness relate to what we value most in the world? 

In this next passage of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains true and proper fasting. Immediately after calling us to pray for daily bread, we are called to fast. How does prayer and fasting help align our hearts to our heavenly Father's aims and hunger and thirst for His righteousness? 

What does Jesus mean when he calls us to pray "lead us not into temptation?" How does this prayer teach us to rely upon God to deliver us from evil and the evil one? How does the example of Jesus and other passages of Scripture equip us to practically wage war against our sin? 

As we explore this next phrase in the Lord's Prayer, how does the forgiveness we recieve relate to the forgiveness we offer others who sin against us? How does the grace of God glorify God? Why is it imperative for forgiven people to forgive people and how can we practically do it? How does our forgiving others lay the groundwork for sharing the gospel? 

How does our reliance upon God's provision glorify the Father's name? How is this theme of reliance upon God for our daily bread threaded throughout the whole of the Scriptures? How can we learn to trust God to provide for our needs?

Psalm 51 offers the believer a crash course on true repentence. Is there grace for our deepest moral failures? Will God forgive the most grievous of sin? How can a holy God remain just in doing so? In this episode, we will explore some of the major theological themes that emerge from this beautiful gem in the psalter.