The Trails Church

Psalm 69 is titled Save Me, O God and we find the author in deep distress and despair. This situation is not caused by war or physical hardship, but by words. The thoughts and words spewed by others bring shame upon David. You remember a few weeks ago in Psalm 64, where the David’s enemies “whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows?” It appears a similar situation is happeni...

Psalm 68 is Israel’s victory march celebrating God’s provision for his people and his defeat of their enemies. Most of this psalm is about what the Lord has already done (or will do). But dispersed throughout these 35 verses is one singular command that repeats over and over: to sing.

Psalm 67 shows that God’s blessing rests on His people so that his ways might be known and his glory magnified among the nations of the world! It teaches us to pray joy-filled, God-centered, gospel-advancing prayers for our lives and our church.

This morning in our text, we are called to “shout for joy” and to “sing praises.” And while Psalm 66 does not call on us to paint our faces or hump it with the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Yell Leaders, it does dive deeply into praise—commanding us to praise, examining the focus of our praises, and laying out our right response in praise. This morning, we are going to study praise.

Today's sermon is titled, “Praise awaits our God”, and I’d like you to pose a few questions to you as we work our way through this Psalm of David. Shaping Questions: Are you growing in your praise to God? With each day that the Lord give you are you growing in your praise to Him? In what contexts do you need to grow in your awe of the splendor of God?

Psalm 64 portrays a scene in the life of David when his life is threatened not by swords, but by speech. The psalm resounds with the sound of language: words of prayer, words of war, words of praise, and one final word from God. As we listen to “The Word of Psalm 64,” my prayer is that we will listen to David’s voice, hear the voice of Jesus sounding through this text, and along the way, make this...

In Psalm 63, we hear the prayer of David as his soul thirsts and his heart aches for the nearness of his God. Even in the danger of the wilderness, his desire for the Lord surpasses every other longing. We will frame our time in Scripture around three prayers to pray when we find our souls in desert places but also fitting for every season of the Christian life.

Psalm 62 teaches us not to waste our waiting, but to find purpose in the seasons and situations where we are called to wait upon God. Here we find King David enrolled in the school of waiting: learning to trust, rest, and hope in the Lord. The title of our sermon is drawn from the heading in the ESV translation, “My Soul Waits for God Alone.”

The book of Acts tells the story of how the Risen Christ advances His kingdom through the proclamation of gospel, resulting in a growing church, who is continually sent on mission. We have highlighted throughout our study how this book is full of, “The Joy of Gospel Advancement.” So as we reflect on what we've seen and look ahead to what lies before us, we are invited into this same joy.

In Acts 28:16–31, we are reminded that we are still “Facing a Task Unfinished;” a task that is as urgent and important as in the time of Paul.

In Acts 28:1–16 we reflect on the end of this “Extraordinary Journey” that led Paul next to the island of Malta and eventually to the heart of the Roman Empire where not only would he defend himself before Caesar but make disciples for the glory of God.

Acts 27 tells the tale of a fierce storm, a fragile ship, and frightened sailors. But in the middle of the storm stands the steady faith of a man who trusts in the one who is the Sovereign of the Seas. This chapter contains incredible detail about one specific event, and yet we discover truths here to help us navigate many different kinds of events in life: unexpected outcomes, stormy trials, and...

Acts 26 records Paul’s defense of the gospel before Roman officials. He tells of his former life, his encounter with Christ, and the transformation that followed. At the heart of his speech is the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection: the very center of our faith. The scene concludes with the gospel news ringing out that forgiveness is still available to all who believe.

Good Friday slows us down. It invites us to linger near the cross. We reflect on those final moments of Jesus’ earthly suffering: how he was mocked and scorned, tried and beaten, crowned with thorns and nailed to a Roman cross, lifted up and crucified as a man humiliated, rejected. But this death was no ordinary death. It was the death of death itself. In 1 Peter 3:18, we are not only shown the si...

In Acts 25, Paul remains in chains, not because God has forgotten him, but because Christ is forming him. Through his enemies, through their opposition, persecution, and their schemes to take his life, Paul is sustained, carried along by the presence and promises of Christ. Today, we highlight three specific comforts that Paul quietly clings to, so that as we face trials of many kinds, we would cl...

Acts 24 records the Apostle Paul standing before Governor Felix in what is essentially a kangaroo court. Falsely accused by fierce opponents, Paul nevertheless seizes the moment to glorify Christ. His unshakable joy and gospel courage under pressure offer a helpful model to us today as we face trials of many kinds.

This sermon is titled, “Acts 23 in Three Acts,” and, as the name implies, we will look at three different sections of this text. Act 1 is called “Man versus Man.” Act 2 is called “Man versus Himself” and Act 3 is called “Man versus God.”

Today we have another scene of remarkable gospel courage. Here we meet the apostle Paul in Jerusalem. He’s just been delivered from an angry Jewish mob into the hands of Roman authorities. The one was surely going to kill him; the other, surely going to punish him. What does the apostle do? What does he say? How does he conduct himself in this moment? What is at the heart of all of it? And what do...

In Acts 21:1-36, we encounter a chapter filled with a man earnestly pursuing the will of the Lord. As the Apostle Paul journeys to Jerusalem, he gains deeper insight into God’s purposes for his life: some expected others surprising. Yet through it all, one truth remains clear: Paul understood that God’s will for him was to walk in the footsteps of his Savior. What we learn in these three scenes ar...

As the Ephesian elders look upon Paul’s face for the last time, the weight of the moment is unmistakable. Yet beyond the emotion, this passage provides a profound model for ministry—one defined by integrity, gospel faithfulness, and deep trust in God’s sustaining grace. It’s a word we all need to hear, one that speaks directly to our church today. In this second part of our study on “Gospel Goodby...

Acts 20:17–24 records Paul’s final words to the elders of the church in Ephesus. Standing on the shore, he reflects on his ministry among them, urging them to continue in the example he has set. At the heart of this passage is Paul’s deep love for the Lord Jesus, his devotion to the people of God, and his unwavering commitment to the ongoing work of the gospel. In this “Gospel Goodbye,” we hear an...

Acts 20:1-16 helps understand that 1. Gospel Partnership Refreshes Us (1-6) 2. Gospel Power Reawakens Us (7-12), and 3. Gospel Purpose Refocuses Us (13-16)

Acts 19:21-41 tells the story of how the Gospel advanced so powerfully in Ephesus that the city’s idols could not stand against it. As people came to recognize Jesus Christ alone as the True and Living God, the idols that once held their devotion simply faded from significance. However, not everyone experienced this transformation. When the prevailing culture and its established ways of life are t...

In Acts 19:8-20, we see the power of God’s Word at work—it strengthens believers, unsettles opponents, exposes deception, breaks spiritual strongholds, leads sinners to repentance, and brings true revival. As people witness the supremacy of Jesus, they confess their sins, turn from their idols, and surrender to Him. As we reflect on this passage and consider this ancient place “Where the Word Prev...

Guest speaker Bob Lepine shares best practices for a Thriving Marriage as part of our marriage conference weekend: (1) Extravagant Love, (2) Generous Forgiveness, and (3) Enthusiastic Encouragement.