Beyond Repair: Psalm 11

Read Psalm 11

Psalm 11 is a Psalm about temptation. It acknowledges the pull that all of us feel when the circumstances of life and the situations we find ourselves in are overwhelming. The pull that we feel is to retreat. We all are tempted to run away from the hard things, the things that are uncertain, or the things that we cannot control.

And, Psalm 11 is a Psalm of confidence, it is the power of God to save his people through difficulty, even if not always from difficulty.

In verses 1-3 the Psalmist describes the nature of his temptation. There is someone “speaking” to his soul to go to a place of earthly safety and comfort, “the mountain”. While it isn’t clear who it is that is speaking, we all experience temptation from three places: satan and the powers of darkness, the world and the people in the world, and our own desires and internal motivation. Regardless of which of these is speaking to the Psalmist here, the message is the same: “this is too much for you, retreat.” The first part of verse 1 shows how the Psalmist plans to combat the message he is receiving, it is through remembering and believing that it is the LORD who sustains us, not our circumstances.

In verses 4-7, the Psalmist focuses on the LORD in a meditative manner. He looks deeply into who God is and what God does in order to draw comfort for his time of need. As he does this, we see the LORD as holy (vs. 4a). God’s holiness is his perfect moral beauty and purity. God is good, righteous, and beautiful. This brings us comfort because we know that God will do no wrong and that everything else about who God is and what he does will be purely good and beyond our wildest dreams.

We also see that God is on his throne, which is in heaven (vs. 4b). In other words, not only is God completely morally pure and good, he also is able to do everything that he wants, this is known as God’s omnipotence or sovereignty. There is no situation beyond his control because his position is one of supreme authority over everything and everyone.

Next, we learn that God is completely aware (vs. 4c). This is known as his omniscience, he knows everything and he is paying close attention to everything that happens in all of creation. He knows our every thought and desire and nothing gets by him. Even more than a mother is attentive to a newborn infant, God is attentive to his creation because of his love and care for it.

In verses 5-7 the Psalmist recalls what it looks like for God to act in creation. Because of who he is, where he is, and what he sees and hears, God will simultaneously act in testing and confirming the faith of the righteous and executing perfect and just judgment on the wicked.

The Psalmist finishes his battle against temptation with triumph as he meditates on God looking further into who God is instead of looking intently on the circumstances and spinning out because of a seemingly uncontrollable context. This gives the Psalmist, and us, the ability to trust in God’s strength when ours is not enough.

Questions

1. What about your current context and situation are overwhelming and what “mountain” are you tempted to find refuge in?

2. Discuss the attributes of God that are listed in verse 4. How do these provide comfort for you in the midst of your circumstances?

3. In what ways does God’s justice bring you comfort?

4. How does your own personal sin meet God’s justice? (In other words, what will God’s judgment be of your sin, and how can be stand upright before his face)?

5. Why is Jesus the only way that any of us can pray this psalm with any hope?

Praise the Lord: Psalm 150

Read Psalm 150

Psalm 150 is the final Psalm of the book of Psalms and it has a unique purpose as we look at the book as a whole. It serves as the destination of the Psalter, and as a result, the destination of our lives. The Psalms are compiled in such a way as to make it very clear that we are to end up in praise. The book of Psalms is divided into 5 “mini-books” that each end with a word of praise or doxology. This momentum and trajectory towards praise continues to ebb and flow throughout the Psalms in a way that mimics the various situations and experiences of life in a fallen world. The constant insertion of these words of praise help confirm the overall trajectory of the Christian life as moving towards praise.

Psalm 150 is crafted to be a definitive answer to the questions of where we should praise God, why we should praise God, how we should praise God, and who should praise God. The answer to each of these questions is all-encompassing showing the pervasiveness of praise in God’s creation. The goal of all of creation is to praise God. Therefore, we should praise God everywhere, not only in the sanctuary but also in his mighty heavens (vs. 1). We should praise God not only for what he has done (his mighty deeds), but also because of who he is (his excellent greatness vs. 2). We should praise God in every way we can think to praise him, with all of our minds, bodies, and strength (vs. 3-5). Finally, EVERYONE should praise God (vs. 6).

Reading this Psalm in the midst of a fallen world can create a disconnection between this ideal and the reality that we live. After all, there are so many events and reasons that make us cool towards God and distract us from the destination of praise. Viewing this Psalm as the end of our journey is helpful in reconciling this disconnect. Jesus, as he learned to pray the Psalms as a child and as he lived in a fallen world is a great example. He did not pray Psalm 150 on the cross, but he prayed Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?…” This is not to say that Jesus was not praising God, but it is an example of how God takes our lament and every prayer that we utter from our lips by his Spirit and uses those prayers to move us towards praise. This is a gradual and building movement that is only perfected when we are in the presence of God as we enter into eternal life with him. This Psalm is a great encouragement that regardless of the season that you are in currently, your destination in Christ is one of surpassing value and worth. Even that encouragement can help us praise the Lord everywhere, for every reason, in all ways, and with everyone.

Questions

1. How does viewing this Psalm as a destination change your experience with reading and praying it?

2. Do you have a disconnect with how you praise God on Sunday morning and throughout the week? How does this Psalm address that?

3. Discuss how your work can be a way for you to praise God.

4. Think of Jesus and verse 2 together. How does Jesus help us praise God for both his mighty deeds and for his excellent greatness?

5. Why is God always worthy of your praise?

Psalm 2

READ PSALM 2:1-12

Psalm 1 begins with the words, “Blessed is the man”. Psalm 2 ends with the same pronouncement: “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Blessedness bookends Psalm 1 and 2 because they serve as a gateway to the rest of the Psalms. They set expectations and point the way for all who are willing to experience God in a life of costly and even dangerous faith. While Psalm 1 focuses on building a life on the instruction of the Lord, Psalm 2 focuses on the necessary humility and hope that flow from having God as your King. Anyone who builds their life on God’s word will experience the privilege, purpose and power of having God as their King.

Psalm 2 is a “Royal Psalm” meaning it focuses on God’s rule. Specifically, it shows how God moves his promises forward through real people, places, events and history. God’s covenant (promise) with Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) to bless the nations is being realized through the nation of Israel and her King. Singing this Psalm would’ve reminded Israel of God’s promise to bless the nations through them. It would’ve given Israel a reason to hope because God has provided a king (David). And, it gives the promise that no enemy will overturn God’s purposes for Israel.Psalm 2 is organized around 3 basic movements. 1) Rebellion: the world’s response to God. 2) Coronation of God’s King: God’s response to the world’s rebellion. 3) Humble yourself now: the Psalmists charge to all.

SERMON MAIN IDEA: Choose humility or experience futility.

• God’s rule in question. The Psalm begins by showing the surrounding nation’s response to Israel and her God. They conspire to live a life free from God’s rule. This is the overwhelming response of our hearts to God’s loving rule.

• God’s rule in person. God’s response to the world’s rebellion is laughter. Instead of executing judgement, God places his King in Zion. The immediate context of Psalm 2 would’ve identified this king as David. Jesus as the Son of David (cf Matthew 1) is the total fulfillment of God’s promise. The Apostle Paul reveals that the resurrection of Jesus is his coronation as King (Acts 13:30-33).

• God’s rule in power. The promise of Psalm 2 is a King who’s rule and power are unlimited. He will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Ps 2:8-9, Rev 19:15). Therefore, all who have power are called to humbly lay it down at the feet of Christ in worship. Everyone is called to take refuge in Jesus, the King of Glory. 

QUESTIONS

• How does the world define freedom? 

• How can God’s laughter at the world’s rebellion be a comfort to you? How can it unsettle you?

• How does the kingship of Jesus create peace now and at the end of history?  

• Where do you need to humble yourself and obey God as King today?

• When it comes to the Church, how is racism less of a social issue and more of “Kingdom” issue?

Psalm 118: The Goodness of Gratitude

READ PSALM 118

Can you find any lasting joy if all of your key plans for the future are fading away? In seasons of sustained loss, one of the hardest things to give is “thanksgiving.” Gratitude is a hard lens to look at your life through when you experience loss. We are prone to focus on what we’ve lost instead of what we have. Psalm 118 is an important part of our playlist because it refocuses our eyes on the treasure we have in Christ, giving us gratitude as a lens for life.  

Psalm 118 is known as the “Egyptian Hallel.” Hallel in Hebrew means “praise” (think Hallel-ujah, which means praise God). Egyptian because this Psalm was an anthem of praise for God’s deliverance of Israel out of Egyptian bondage (Exodus), probably being sung at Passover. So, Psalm 118 pulls God’s people together in unified praise for all that He has done, while building an expectation for God’s continued presence and deliverance.

 “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!.” This familiar Old Testament refrain begins and closes this song. Think of it as the chorus in your favorite song. It contains the big idea of the song which is explained in the verses. For God’s people, this refrain is an expression of celebrated confidence in God’s covenant love. God’s gracious commitment to his people is their sole source of celebration and the lens through which all of life is to be understood. 

Sermon main idea: Gratitude lives with God’s goodness in full focus. 

The text calls us to gratitude in God’s goodness by showing us three aspects of His love for us:

1.He is your helper: “I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.” (Psalm 118:13). As helper, God provides strength where you are weak. Yet, you must call on Him. 

2.He is your salvation: “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” (Psalm 118:14). We cannot experience God’s power when we refuse to rely on his strength. God has made Jesus the Cornerstone meaning he is the only stable foundation upon which to build your life.

3.He is your God. “You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.” (Psalm 118:28). The song closes with the Psalmist making God his own. He is giving God praise, choosing to lift up God as good in all of life. Live your life for Him.

QUESTIONS:

1.How has your life has been focusing on what you’ve lost, lately?

2.What does it mean that God is your “helper”?

3.Does God promise to deliver Christians from turmoil or through it? How does this change how you see pain and loss (Ps 118:18)?  

4.What does it mean that Jesus is the Cornerstone (Ps 118:22-23, Acts 4:10-12)?

5.Share one way your relationship with God has made you grateful this week.

Psalm 130: Out of the Depths

Read Psalm 130

Psalm 130 can be divided into three sections: vs 1-4, vs 5-6, and vs 7-8. The overall impact of the Psalm is one of moving from lament to praise. The setting of the Psalm is identified with the first words: out of the depths. This metaphorical language alludes to the waters of judgment that would have been a prevalent metaphor for the Israelites as it is prominent in their history. Starting with Genesis 1 where the Spirit hovers over the depths before the Word of God forms order into chaotic waters, to the flood in the days of Noah when God judged the wickedness of the earth, to the waters of the Red Sea when Moses led the Israelites through and witnessed the judgment on Pharaoh and his armies as the waters closed in on them. The depths that the Psalmist cries out from are the overwhelming force of God’s judgment on all unrighteousness. Vs 3 further emphasizes the universality of this cry by asking the rhetorical question of “if you should mark iniquities who could stand?”

The major shift in momentum occurs in vs 4 when the Psalmist uses “but” to emphasize the shift that centers on forgiveness being with God. This is the beginning of an answer to the Psalmist’s pleas for mercy as he remembers the covenant promises of the LORD to his people. Central to this promise was the forgiveness of sins. In the Old Testament the Israelites were under the Temple system of worship and a central element of that worship was the offering of sacrifices. The guilt offering and the scape goat are keys to understanding how God views forgiveness. The guilt offering is made by slaughtering an animal and sprinkling its blood against the altar. This element of forgiveness demonstrates the destruction of the guilt of our sinfulness through the blood of another. Secondly, the scapegoat ceremony was when the Priest would symbolically transfer the sins of the people onto a goat and then send the goat out of the city connoting the banishment of the sins of the people from the presence of God’s people. Jesus ultimately fulfills both of these types of forgiveness by being judged outside of Jerusalem by Pilate and then by being put to death on a cross.

Despite how freeing the knowledge of forgiveness is for the Psalmist, he does not stop there. In fact he even shows that forgiveness of sins is not an end in itself but a means to an end. Forgiveness serves the purpose of bringing us into right relationship with God here described as “fear”. This type of fear is no longer fear of destruction (we have been forgiven perfectly!) but it instead is fear of separation. Having been reconciled to God through his forgiveness we now have a restored relationship with him that we do not want to lose.

The result of fearing the Lord in this way is that we now wait for him and hope in his word. The depths of our soul grow anxiously expectant for God’s presence in a way that is analogous to how watchmen wait for the morning. The watchmen were anxious for the morning because danger lurks in the night. The enemy would stage attacks and as a result getting through the night was cause for celebration. In the same way, we wait for the Lord with our very souls because we have a deep understanding of the danger that our souls are in apart from the Lord’s word: his covenant promises of grace and sustaining power made to us.

The Word that meets us in our waiting is none other than the crucified and resurrected Jesus. He is the merciful high priest who is living, breathing, walking proof of God’s forgiveness and our loving relationship with him as his children. Jesus does not come unwillingly to us in our waiting, but he comes with tenderness, mercy, and even eagerness to meet us in the midst of our misery, and to lead us to the Father with joy. In experiencing the grace of God in this way, we overflow with a desire for it to be proclaimed in all the world and for everyone to worship God together. This is the culmination of the Psalm, the universal invitation to come and worship God who redeems plentifully and eternally.

Questions

1. Why is it important to have an understanding of “the depths” as described above?

2. Discuss the rhetorical question in verse 3. Why is the implied answer to this: “no one”?

3. How does verse 4 challenge how you think about God forgiving you? How do you understand fear in this verse?

4. What does it look like to wait for the LORD? Describe how you experience Jesus when he meets you in your misery? What is Jesus like?

5. What is your response to God’s grace? Is it similar or dissimilar to the Psalmist’s in verses 7-8?

Psalm 1: Building Your Playlist

Read Psalm 1

Introduction

This Psalm was likely composed as an introduction to the entire Psalter. In this Psalm we are confronted with the reality of perfect judgement coming to all people, and the weight of our choices and actions in this life. Simultaneously, Psalm 1 points to the blessedness of Godliness. In some circles, people have tried to separate our concept of happiness from the blessing that is described in Psalm 1. However, the most accurate translation of the word blessing is happiness. Psalm 1 is ultimately a reminder that God desires his people to be happy, and in order to help them with this, he provided the Law to help them.

Israelites would have understood the Law to be the Pentateuch and the teaching of the Prophets, that was later written down and recorded as the rest of the Old Testament. For us today, the Law is best understood to be all of Scripture. We are to delight in God’s Word because it is the only way we can come to know, love, and trust God. The Psalmist paints a picture of two roads that lead in very different directions, one is the way of life and happiness, the other is the way of doom. In the middle of this Psalm he uses two illustrations to give his audience a word picture of what it looks like for a person to walk on the two roads: a flourishing tree, and chaff that is displaced by the wind.

Reading the Psalm

The Psalm is meant to be read over and over, its simple construction makes it ideal for memorization as it uses a format that links the Psalm seamlessly together: IntroductionàIllustrationàConclusion. The imagery provided is a wonderful way of meditating on the meaning of the Psalm as you can picture the flourishing tree planted by the stream of water in contrast to the chaff that is being swept away by the wind.

Finally, the conclusion of the Psalm is the doorway into the rest of the Psalter because it poses a question to the reader: which way will you choose to travel, every day, hour, and minute of your life? Are you among the blessed and righteous, or among the way of the wicked.

Jesus in the Psalm

Reading this Psalm can be a dreadful experience. After all, who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, stood in the way of sinners, or sat in the seat of scoffers before? The weight of the Psalm’s call for obedience should create a great need and desperation in our souls. In Jesus’ life, we find one who was truly blessed. He never walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of scoffers. He was the tree who was planted by the streams, and the streams that fed him were from his Father, and the fruit that he produced was the fruit of the Spirit. Yet, at his crucifixion, he took on the punishment that was due to his people, and his life became like chaff as he was driven away from his Father for us. However, his resurrection, the fact that he did not perish, shows us that Jesus is righteous, and the fact that he lives and reigns, is the only way that we can hope to be blessed. Despite all circumstances, we can know that God has blessed us more abundantly than we could ever imagine because Jesus is blessed. What else could even compare to the kind of happiness that this gives us?

Questions

1. Do you feel blessed (happy, content, full) in your life? Does how you live support your answer?

2. Does God’s Word inform and transform your desires? How might you allow this to happen more?

3. What is one area where you see yourself walking in the counsel of the wicked (the world, your natural desires, rebellion against God) and do you believe that this will lead to doom?

4. Read Matthew 5:2-12. How Do these verses help with allowing God to transform our understanding of what will make us happy?

Raised to New Creation

Read Revelation 21:1-8

The destination of history is a New World. In Revelation 21:1-8 we are given a glimpse of what the finished and eternal product of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ looks like. The heavenly reality is lowered down to earth just as the old earth passes away and is forever replaced by something new, something better, something perfect. This new world is a gift of God’s grace and demonstrates the beauty of who he is as perfect, holy, and good God.

In this new city, God dwells with man without any separation, veil, or distance between them. The God of all comfort is perpetually comforting, sustaining, protection, and providing for the people perfectly. There is no longer even the potential of anything evil disrupting the bliss of union and communion with God. There is no looming threat or possibility that the other shoe will drop. Perfect security sets all of creation free to fully realize its purpose of praising God and proclaiming his glory with a united and resounding voice.

In this passage we receive a promised future that is altogether too good and too grand to fully comprehend. We cannot fathom all of the rich details of what it will be like to live in a land with God in an immediate proximity to us knowing that nothing will be able to disturb or delay our enjoyment of him. All of the grandest treasures of this world are dust compared to the promised new world, and the evil that has attempted to thwart and threaten the realization of God’s promises to all of his creation are stamped out and banished by God’s zeal for all that is good.

Questions

1. What do you find significant about the new heaven and earth coming down from heaven form God? How is this different than the earthly city ascending to heaven?

2. What are some things that we are supposed to take away from the description of God as a husband and this new city described as a bride?

3. How does Jesus’ ministry give us a foretaste of this promised New Creation?

4. What are some of the things that you are looking forward to the most about dwelling eternally with God in this New Creation?

5. How does this passage about the future change how you should live in the present?

Raised to New Purpose

Read Philippians 3:8-16

How does the Resurrection of Christ bring purpose to your life right now? This is one of the main questions that is answered in Philippians 3:8-16. Paul answers this implied question by providing a personal illustration of his own life and the purpose that he has received from the resurrected Christ. The first element that Paul discusses in this passage is that he is COMPLETELY trusting Jesus for his sense of value, worth, and purpose. Even though Paul has every reason to trust in his own abilities and talents, he has utterly forsaken them. Why would Paul do this?

Paul tells us that it is the worth of”knowing Jesus my Lord”, because in knowing Jesus, Paul has seen the freedom of losing everything in order to gain Jesus. In other words, when Paul came to know Jesus, he came to know how valuable and wonderful Jesus is. As a result, there was nothing that was worth holding onto, and nothing could be added to gaining Christ. This is complete trust, and the gain of Christ is dependent on trust. Having the righteousness of God, rather than our own personal righteousness is not possible if we are not first and foremost dependent on God for it.

The discipline of forsaking our own efforts to earn God’s approval (righteousness) and relying completely on Jesus is one that will continue to develop over the course of our lives. Even the Apostle Paul had to continue to strain towards that goal by denying himself and living for Christ. This involves not only letting go of the righteousness that we think we have on our own, but also trusting that the righteousness of Christ is more than sufficient to cover your sins. This is what Paul means when he is telling us to forget what lies behind but to “strain forward to what lies ahead”. Knowing that Christ is our reward, we are able to persevere with him and finish the race.

The purpose that we receive with the resurrection of Christ is to be resurrected with him, to be with him forever, which brings him glory and wraps us in that glory. Our new purpose is not something that remains abstract as we continue our day-to-day lives in the present. Instead, it is a purpose that completely transforms how we live in the present because our sights have been set on something better than the present.

Questions

1. In what ways are you tempted to boast in your accomplishments rather than in Christ?

2. How does actively pursuing an experiential knowledge of Jesus help you forsake your own righteousness and depend on Jesus?

3. How does Paul’s example of straining toward the goal encourage you?

4. Describe why any purpose other than “glorifying God and enjoying him forever” is settling for infinitely less than what our purpose is?

5. Why does Paul conclude this section by stating that it is those who are “mature” think this way?

Raised to New Power

READ: Romans 6:4-11

Context: Romans 6 is a chapter that is about a new objective reality. After explaining the implications of being united to Christ rather than to Adam in Romans 5, Paul now addresses a question that he often received when he proclaimed the justification of sinners by faith and not by works: “What shall we say then? Are we to sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:1-3). The passage we are dealing with is a detailed explanation of why for the Christian it is complete nonsense to consider remaining in sin. It is a description of the breadth and depth of our union with Christ and the implications that has for our relationship to sin.

Observations: Paul chooses to use sin in the singular rather than the plural. He does this because he is referring to sin as a power or as a realm. It’s as if he is anthropomorphizing sin as a master who has power and control over all of the subjects in its realm. The entire chapter alludes to this language of bondage and slavery. Additionally, Paul uses the past tense to describe the Christian’s relationship to sin: “we have died”, “was crucified”, “have been united”, “has died”. This gives us a clue as to what exactly Paul is talking about. He is not talking about something that we (with God) are still doing (sanctification), if he were talking about sanctification he would certainly have used the present or future-present tense because it is a work that is ongoing and progressive. Instead, we can be certain that Paul is talking about our justification, God’s declaration of us as righteous. The unique aspect of God declaring us righteous is that it takes us from one realm (sin, death, slavery), and puts us into another realm (resurrection, life, freedom). Paul is rooting the answer to the question he poses in verse 1, to an objective reality of our position to sin. It has already happened, it is done, it is finished.

Meaning: Objective reality has fundamentally changed for all of those who are united to Christ by faith. Our union to Christ includes freedom from sin, we are no longer under compulsion to sin because we are not controlled by our sin nature. This objective reality is rooted in the resurrection of Christ. Christ was crucified, we were crucified, Christ is alive, so too will we be alive with Christ. To be united to Christ is both a call to die and a call to life. If we are united to Christ it is fundamentally a confession of our guilt and therefore our standing condemned before a perfect and just God. AND, if we are united to Christ it is also fundamentally a confession of Jesus’ perfection and righteousness, and therefore in Christ, we stand before God and he justifies us on account of Christ.

Application: The Christian life can be described as learning to be who you are, but in the following way: our old self has died, was crucified, was buried, with Christ. Therefore, the old is gone and the new is here. Our new identity and position before God is something that changes who we are. Paul’s encouragement for us is to then live like it! Live your life consistently with your new master, and the new power that Jesus gives all of those who are united to him by faith.

QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean to continue in sin? (vs. 1)

2. How does being united to Christ change our relationship to sin? (vs. 3-4)

3. Do you feel any tension with the reality of Christians as those who are “dead to sin”?

4. Why is it important to know that this passage is primarily about how God sees us?

5. What is an area of your life where you need to live more consistently with who you are in Christ?

6. What does it mean to live to God just as Christ lives to God? (vs. 10-11)

Missing. Matthew 27:61-28:10

Read: Matthew 27:61-28:10

The resurrection is the climax of the Bible. It marks the redemption of the son of God, the messiah, the Christ, and in him the entire cosmos. The scope of the resurrection is often lost when we focus on an individualistic approach to salvation. When we see our own salvation as the most important thing in the world, we miss the grandeur of what is happening at the resurrection of Christ. Of course, this does not deny that he is resurrected for OUR justification, but it is to note that our justification is not the only thing that the resurrection accomplishes.

Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, the promises of God to remake the earth and to provide a dwelling place with man where the LORD’s presence would again be at peace with his creation. This was lost in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve rebelled, it was regained here in Matthew 28. One of my favorite parts about this narrative is the verse in Matthew 27:65, Pilate’s order to the Roman guards to go and make the tomb as secure as they can. What a pointless mission! And yet, that is exactly what humans had been doing since Genesis 3, attempting to thwart God’s good purposes and his plan to redeem the entire cosmos. The futility of these plans comes through when we consider what happened. If death could not hold Jesus, what was a measly stone in front of the tomb going to do?!

The Resurrection of Christ is also the great interrupter. People do not come back from the dead, they stay dead. As a result, the claim of this account of resurrection demands our attention. Can this be true? Isn’t this just a nice story that is meant to give us something positive to think about? NO! The resurrection is either historically true or it is foolishness. If Jesus was not redeemed through his physical resurrection, then there is no hope for this world and man’s attempt to thwart the redemptive plans of God have succeeded. There can be no cause for hope if Jesus is dead. But if he’s alive…then the best possible outcome happened 2000+ years ago. In the real, historical redemption of Jesus is the real historical redemption of all things.

Questions

1. Why is it important that the resurrection is a historical fact rather than just a nice story?

2. What significance does Jesus appearing to the women first have?

3. What are some ways that the Resurrection points to the redemption of all things?

4. What does it mean that Jesus was resurrected for our justification?

5. How does placing our own salvation at the center of the resurrection give us a small view of what actually happened?

6. What questions do you have about the details of the resurrection?

Preparing for Easter: Psalm 16

READ PSALM 16

Psalm 16:1-11 is a Psalm that is uniquely helpful in preparing for Easter Sunday. This might not be obvious upon a first reading of this Psalm, (or even a second!), however, both Peter and Paul clearly understood the application that this Psalm had for the resurrection of Christ.

In Acts 2:25-28 Peter uses the text of this Psalm as a primary text for his “Pentecost Sermon” when he is discussing the impossibility of Jesus being held in death. The LORD had promised David an imperishable inheritance, and Christ is that inheritance! For Peter, Jesus is clearly the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise that David is claiming in Psalm 16.

In Acts 13:35, Paul also references this Psalm to show the continuity of the Old Testament promise of good news and the New Testament fulfillment of that good news in Jesus Christ. Here, we see one of the many ways that Jesus is greater and better than David, namely that he did not see corruption. David ultimately failed to be a pure hearted King, Jesus, on the other hand, is the perfect King that Israel had longed for. The evidence of Jesus’ purity is the resurrection. Death could not hold him because he was righteous.

Now that we have seen how this Psalm is pointing to Jesus and finds its fulfillment in him, let’s consider the ultimate hope of this Psalm. David’s hope is connected to the presence of the LORD. The presence of the Lord brings refuge (Psalm 16:1), community (Psalm 16:3), provision and sustenance (Psalm 16:5), beautiful inheritance (Psalm 16:6), wisdom (Psalm 16:7), stability (Psalm 16:8), joy (Psalm 16:9), eternal security (Psalm 16:10), eternal pleasure (Psalm 16:11). All of these blessings come with the presence of the LORD and they are ultimately dependent on God fulfilling his promises to David. If the promises rest on the faithfulness of David, there is no hope of these blessings. And if we pursue the blessings apart from the only faithful servant, our hope is fading at best.

This Easter Sunday, perhaps more tangibly than many of us have experienced before, we can direct our hearts to the only place where an undefiled hope can be found: to the presence of the LORD in Jesus and by the power of the Spirit.

QUESTIONS

1. Read Acts 2:25-28. How is Peter using this Psalm in the context of his sermon?

2. Read Acts 13:35. What point is Paul trying to make by referencing this Psalm?

3. How does reading this Psalm as primarily about Jesus change how you understand it?

4. Why does the resurrection matter to us now?

5. How has preparing for Easter this Year been different for you?

6. What do you hope God does in your heart this week?

PRAY

Pray for each other in the following ways:

• Pray for real ways that the resurrection can bring new HOPE

• Pray for specific ways that the resurrection can bring new LIFE

• Pray for areas in your lives where you are in need of new JOY

Purchased Peace: Romans 5:1-2

READ: ROMANS 5:1-2

Romans 5:1-2 describes the outcome of being justified by faith: peace with God. This portion of Paul’s letter to the Romans begins to unpack some of the ramifications of sinners being declared righteous by God because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Chapters 1-3, Paul describes the prerequisite for the Gospel, the realization that God’s righteous judgment lays upon all people (both Jew and Gentile) and that under that just judgment, all people stand condemned. In Romans 4, Paul outlines the nature of Justification by faith and uses Abraham as an illustration of the difference between being counted righteous based on what we do and being counted righteous based on who we are trusting. So now at the beginning of chapter 5, Paul states that because we have been justified by faith we have peace with God.

Peace is given priority in these verses as the descriptor for our relationship with God. However, it is important to note that for Paul, peace did not simply mean absence of conflict, but it meant a full and harmonious relationship. Another observation about peace being an outcome of being justified by faith is that it implies that if you are not trusting in Christ for this justification, you are in need of peace. In other words, there is a deficit and an animosity that is present between you and the Creator God Almighty. This is why Paul describes this peace as having access to grace that we stand in. We now relate to God in grace and grace alone. The logic of this passage is one that follows the logic of the entire letter to the Romans thus far. If we are all under condemnation regardless of our ethnicity, good works, or family heritage, then we are in despair. However, the grace of God is that he has given Christ, his Son, as the one who reconciles a people to God. When we then receive justification through faith, and relate to God through the grace of his Son, we have perfect peace with God and rejoice at the glory of God.

What does it look like in everyday life to have peace with God? Romans 5:3-5 describes a life that continues to be shaped by this reality, holding the objective peace with God. When we have peace with God, there is no turmoil that will shake us from his grasp. Instead, God will use all of the suffering that we endure on this earth, and through the grace of Christ working in our lives, we will become more hopeful and secure, become more and more familiar with the love of God that is in Jesus.

QUESTIONS:

1. How does this passage relate to the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Romans? (See Romans 1:16, 1:18, 2:1, 3:9-18, 4:4-5, 4:16-17).

2. What does” justified by faith” mean?

3. What do you think is the emotional tone of this portion of the letter?

4. What does peace with God look like in everyday life?

5. How does suffering produce hope? (see Romans 5:3-5). How have you seen this play out in your life?

PRAY:

Pray that we would continue to live according to the truth of our peace with God. Pray that our friends and neighbors who don’t trust Christ would feel the conviction of God’s righteous judgment and would trust Christ for forgiveness of sin and receive peace with God through faith. Pray that we would learn to rejoice/boast in the glory of God over and above ANYTHING else.

Power Play: Romans 6:1-11

READ: ROMANS 6:1-11

How do Christians relate to sin in light of Christ’s death? This is one of the most logical questions that people who understand the Gospel will want answered. In Romans 6:1-11, Paul presents the beginning of a rich and wonderful answer to that question. In this section we learn that for all of those who are IN CHRIST we have already died to sin. We can say that we are dead towards sin and that sin has no claim on us because we have been “baptized” into Christ’s death.

There is a union that is so deep and wonderful between Jesus and everyone who trusts in Jesus, that Paul has no problem saying that his death is our death, and his life is our life. Therefore, we are too look upon the death and resurrection of Jesus for the answers to our own personal questions and the meaning for our lives. When we come to trust Jesus and worship him as Lord and Savior, the most important thing about our lives is what happened to Christ.

In his death, Jesus accepted the full payment for and punishment of our sins. There is no longer a debt for all of those who are in Christ. In resurrection, Jesus proclaims freedom over sin and the grave. The resurrection is living proof that Christians are no longer dead to sin because Christ is alive, and if we are in Christ then we are alive too!

This plays out in our lives progressively. That is to say, there will be times in our lives when it doesn’t feel like we are dead to sin but dead in sin. However, the good news of the cross and resurrection is that our experience does not determine our destination. With the freedom that we are given through the power of Christ over sin and death, we are progressively and truly set free from sin both on the macro level and the micro level. Paul wants us to look to Christ, identify more with his death and resurrection than we do with our own success or failures, and continue to walk in the life that we have in Christ.

QUESTIONS:

1. In what ways does sin have power over people outside of Christ?

2. How does Jesus death change how we relate to sin?

3. How can we know that we are actually free from the bondage of sin?

4. In what ways have you died with Christ?

5. What is one way that you can live your life more in line with the resurrection of Jesus?

PRAY:

Pray for continued experience of freedom in Christ. Pray that you would look upon Jesus death and resurrection as the basis for your freedom from the power of sin. Pray that we would all grow to hate sin more and more and as we do so, to live for Christ with our entire lives.

Divine Deliverance

READ: MATTHEW 6:9-13

The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer is a petition for deliverance. There is one request that is expressed in two different ways: first, that God would not lead us into temptation, second, that God would deliver us from evil. This final petition follows the plea for forgiveness and the request for help in forgiving others in a very logical way. There is an implied acknowledgement that not only do we need forgiveness, but once receiving that forgiveness we will continue to fight temptation to sin. Temptation comes from 3 main sources: Satan, our residual indwelling sin, and the draw of the things in the world.

This final petition is a sweet relief to weak and weary sinners. Not only does Christ offer us forgiveness of our sins, he also teaches us to pray for sustenance throughout our Christian lives. Knowing our weakness (Hebrews 2:17) Jesus teaches us to continually coming to him. And when we come to Christ for help in temptation and to seek his deliverance, we know that Jesus will meet us with compassion, tenderness, and power. We have assurance that the penalty of our sins is PAID IN FULL.

Given our helplessness and childlike dependence on God, this final petition is a cry to God for HIM to deliver us and by implication it means that we leave all of our own attempts at self-deliverance behind. Trying to fight evil on our own is a recipe for disaster. Here are 6 ways that we often operate in our own strength against evil:

1. Infrequent prayer for help in resisting temptation.

2. Not going to Scripture for specific help regarding our specific weakness.

3. Praying alone ONLY, never going to other Christians to receive prayer.

4. Needlessly putting yourself in situations that will tempt you.

5. Indifference to sin and not preemptively praying for help before you are in temptation.

6. Neglecting ordinary Christian means of grace: corporate worship, sacraments, singing songs with other Christians, praying with each other, and receiving from God’s word together.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is temptation? Where does it come from?

2. What does temptation seek to take away from us?

3. How can we grow in praying for and with each other?

4. Where are you operating with temptation and evil in your own strength?

5. How does the Gospel help in our on-going battle with sin? Why can we know that Jesus is compassionate and merciful to all those who are trusting him?

PRAY:

As you pray, pray for a humble and contrite heart that takes sin seriously, AND has confidence in the perfect mercy and compassion of Jesus. Pray for growing trust that God will lead you out of temptation, and for a growing desire to fully experience deliverance that only God can bring.

Double Debt

READ: MATTHEW 6:9-13

Forgiveness is a concept that is easy to remain abstract until it is necessary. Living life in a fallen world means that there will be an abundance of opportunities to forgive and seek forgiveness. In this section of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus speaks powerfully to the reality that we will need divine assistance both in seeking God’s forgiveness as well as in forgiving others.

Forgiveness is one of the most fundamental needs that all humans have as they stand before a perfect holy and just God. Because of his perfection and his just nature, no transgression can go unpunished. For God to “overlook” even the smallest offense is impossible as he is all knowing and all seeing. As God’s children, we have received a special blessing of being able to seek forgiveness in Christ. God remains just and the justifier (Romans 3:21-26) of the ungodly because Jesus has paid the penalty for all of God’s people.

Knowing that we have been forgiven in Christ, causes radical transformation in how we view people who sin against us. Knowing the pain of past hurts and how deep wounds can be in a fallen world, Jesus tells us to pray as a way of resourcing us with the grace God provides us to engage the process of forgiveness. Nonetheless, out of the abundance of our forgiveness before God in Christ we have all the resources we need to forgive others as we have been forgiven (Matthew 18:21-35).

QUESTIONS:

1. Why are all people in debt to God?

2. What is the difference between overlooking something and forgiving something?

3. How does the Gospel inform how we approach forgiving others?

4. What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?

5. What are some practical steps you can take in forgiving someone?

PRAY:

As you pray, pray for forgiveness in specific areas for sins against God. Pray with full assurance of your forgiveness in Christ and remind yourself daily that we are free to commune with God not because of what we’ve done but because of Christ’s work on our behalf. Pray for a heart that is ready and willing to forgive.

Daily Dependence

Read: Matthew 6:9-13

Depending on God for our daily bread is an exercise in trust. In this portion of the Lord’s Prayer there is a major transition that occurs from focusing primarily on God independent of our experience to a focus on the most basic elements of human existence: physical sustenance.

All of the Israelites in Jesus’ audience would have had an immediate context for this petition of the Lord’s prayer as it is linked directly back to Israel’s wandering in the wilderness after being delivered from Egypt. During this time the LORD was providing the Israelites with “Manna” a bread-like food that was given everyday but would only last for that one day with the exception of Fridays, when the Israelites were allowed to gather two days worth. In this context, the Israelites were experiencing a direct dependence on the LORD for every meal, testing the bounds of their trust in God.

In Matthew, the LORD’s prayer comes shortly after Jesus own wandering in the dessert (Matthew 4:1-4). It was during his time in the dessert that Jesus was undergoing a period of fasting, which was drawing him closer to the Father in a perfect relationship of trust that was proven during his temptation by Satan. Jesus displays daily dependence perfectly. Therefore, it is only by the Spirit working Jesus’ perfect obedience in us that we will also pray like Jesus prays, for our daily bread, trusting God to provide. Trust like this takes a lifetime to cultivate and Jesus is faithful to persevere in us.

Questions:

1. How does the context of Israel wandering in the dessert help us to understand this prayer?

2. What are some of the hardest parts of depending on God daily for all we need?

3. How has God shown himself to be faithful in answering this prayer (even if it’s not how you expected it to be answered)?

4. What about life in Northern Virginia/DC makes it hard to pray this prayer with conviction?

5. Do you really believe that God wants you to pray like this? Why/why not?

Pray:

Spend some time praying for each other’s hearts in asking God for our daily needs and trusting him to provide. Pray against the temptations of hoarding, coveting, and envying that display a mindset of scarcity and skepticism rather than daily dependence. Pray for wisdom in applying the principles of this part of the Lord’s Prayer in daily life and life decisions.