The Trails Church

Micah 6:9-7:17 moves from darkness to light, from cursing to blessing. And the road between these contrasts is one of repentance. Through words of judgment, we feel the chill of sin; yet within the remnant of God’s people, signs of life begin to spring forth. These verses unfold to show the nation restored, a new exodus led by the Good Shepherd, and the nations of the world bowing in worship to th...

We slow down our study of this minor prophet to explore how Micah 6:1-8 helps us understand not only what God requires of us, but also to marvel at what God has done for us. In this poetic courtroom scene, we realize that what was at stake in the lives of God’s people long ago is still an urgent matter for us today.

Micah 5 proclaims the good news of a ruler who will be born in the town of Bethlehem. This Promised Shepherd-King will govern his people, protect them, save them, and bring them peace. The chapter not only describes the coming ruler but also shows what his reign will mean for the lives of his redeemed people

From the ashes of judgment in the previous chapter, Micah 4 rises with a promise of restoration and renewal. The prophet is given a vision of a mountain from which the Word of the Lord goes forth, and the nations of the world flow upstream as God redeems what his people had done. Here we each find a truth we need to rehearse: whether it is to repent of specific sin, or for courage in a specific si...

Micah 3 brings us into the darkest corner of the prophet’s message. The lives the people had built were collapsing, their worship corrupted by sin, and their nation on the brink of being swept away by a storm of judgment. Yet all is not lost. We have already seen that everyone 3 who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And even here, a light shines in the darkness— a prophet declaring the...

If the whole of Scripture tells “A Story of Sin and Salvation,” Micah 2 summarizes it in a single scene. Here we find the hearts and lives of God’s people running headlong in rebellion, even as his Word calls them to repent and return. Yet, like the great narrative of the Bible, this chapter does not leave us without hope—but calls us to hope in the God who saves.

In the opening verses of Micah we are met with an introduction to both “The Message and the Messenger” of this book. While we don’t hear all the parts of the sermon in chapter one, we are given a clear map that will help us chart the rest of the course.

In Psalm 71:14-24 we come to the second half of this “Life Full of Prayer and Praise.” Last week we looked at the first 14 and a half verses under the heading “Lessons in a Life of Prayer.” Today we pick up where we left off and will look at “Reasons for a Life of Praise.” My prayer is that these same reasons would take root in us, shaping our own worship and deepening our joy in the Lord.

Psalm 71 is the song of a seasoned saint who has known well the steadfast love and abundant mercy of God through life. From youth, he was known the ways of the Lord; and over time that knowledge grew into a deep, personal relationship. Even through trials remain, he has learned the joys of A Life Full of Prayer and Praise.

In Psalm 70, We will see David sing a song-prayer. If there is one thing that we have certainly learned from David throughout the Psalms, it's that David's rescuer is not Superman. David's refuge, his Redeemer is God. It is God who has come through, time and time again for David.

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.