Trusting God for Protection, Provision, and Perfection

Psalm 16

Sermon Notes

1. God Will Protect You vv.1-4

2. God Will Provide for You vv.5-6

3. God Will Perfect You vv.7-11

Reflection Questions?

1. How has God protected you and those you love? How did God protect David? How did God protect Daniel? How did God protect the 12 Apostles? Can we really say that we have no good apart from God? Do we delight in the saints and avoid those that run after other gods?

2. How has God provided for you and those you love? Is the LORD your chosen portion and your cup? What does David mean when saying, "the lines fallen for me in pleasant places?" Do you have a beautiful inheritance?

3. What does David mean when he says he will "always set the LORD before me?" Is your heart glad, and does your whole being rejoice in God, His presence and His goodness? Do you know the paths of life? Do you find fullness of joy in God's presence? Do you look forward to pleasures forevermore in glory?

The Lone Deliverer

Psalm 3

Sermon Notes:

1. Enemies of the Deliverer

2. Protection of the Deliverer

3. Peace of the Deliverer

4. Justice of the Deliverer

Reflection Questions:

1) Who are the enemies of God in your own personal life? How can you best pray for them?

2) What are things or people you look to for relief and deliverance?

3) What are your abilities, resources, or relationships that you look to as sustaining you? How can we rightly understand God's use of them in our lives vs. a sinful view?

There Can Be Only One

Psalm 2

Sermon Notes:

1) Rival Kingdoms

2) God's Response to His Rivals

3) The Son Declares Salvation & Judgment

4) Injunctions to Respond

Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways do you see the nations in an uproar against God?

2. How can our response to the nations be similar to God's?

3. How should our "thick, blood-bought, family" relationship with our God affect our thoughts, emotions, repentance, and obedience?

Our Great Shepherd and Why It’s Great to Be at Forestgate

Psalm 23

Sermon Notes:

1) Because His Grace has brought us safe thus far, 2 Sam 7:18. Past Grace

  • Fellow Christians

  • Fun Surroundings

  • Strategic Location

2) Because His Grace our hope secures. Present Grace

  • The contrast with the world around us – “Rejoice! The culture has turned against you.”

  • The constant need for missionary activity, across the street and around the world.

  • The perfect place for a counterculture.

3) Because His Grace will lead us home. Future Grace

Reflection questions:

1. How has God brought you safe thus far? How have you seen His grace in the past year, two years, over your entire life?

2. Why do we have reason to believe God will be gracious, despite many dangers, toils, and snares, today and in the future?

3. Consider this quote: “When our joy comes from our gifts and our success, we will always be under pressure. For we are only as good as the last sermon, the last youth talk, the last spiritual conversation, the last few months of Christian service, the last success. … The remedy to glory much in grace. It is a privilege to be used in ministry; but it is a much greater privilege to be recipients of grace.” (Christopher Ash, Zeal without Burnout, pp.105-6)

State of the Church: Meditating, Rooted, and Prospering

Psalm 1

Sermon Notes:

1) The Blessed Man’s Don’t’s, v1

  • Titus 2:11-12

2) The Blessed Man’s Delight, v2

3) The Blessed Man’s Expectation, vv.3-4

4) The Blessed Man’s Destiny, vv. 4-6

5) The Blessed Man’s Secret

  • Psalm 32:1-2

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

6) The Blessed Man’s Lesson for Us:

  • Being a Psalm 1 pastor

  • Being a Psalm 1 church with Psalm 1 Ministry Teams

    • Faithful with what God provides, hopeful in God’s prospering, confident in God’s ultimate protection.

  • Psalm 1 Generosity

  • Psalm 1 Service

Reflection questions:

1. How can Psalm 1 help you with your doubts, fears, or tendencies to despair?

2. How can Psalm 1 help you with your expectations – expectations for your growth in Christ, your future, your fruitfulness?

3. How can “Psalm 1 expectations” help you achieve what someone once called “the rare jewel of Christian contentment”? See 1 Timothy 6:6.

When Suffering Rips Your Guts Out

Psalm 30

Sermon Notes:

1. The problem: Our struggle is we don't know how to respond to intense suffering (Optimism in our own strength, vain optimism, optimism but only for the far-off future, Pessimism?)

2. The main idea: This psalm shows us that oftentimes, "suffering can bring reorientation." David's suffering offers him reorientation:

  • Reoriented Perspective (v.5)

  • Reoriented Relationship (v.8)

  • Reoriented Hope (v.11)

3. The answer: David's experience shows us that we don't face suffering with optimism or pessimism, but God uses the suffering to give us a reoriented "Hopeful Realism."

Reflection Questions:

1. On a scale of 1-10, how much are you feeling signs of depression or anxiety from any suffering you are currently facing?

2. How do you tend to respond to intense suffering (see the list in parenthesis under "the problem" above).

3. Why do you tend toward that response and not the others?

4. What about David's experience in this psalm gives you hope or comfort for your own situation?

5. How might you reorient the way you see this current suffering with more of an outlook of "Hopeful Realism?"

God Rules, so Be Still, not Scared

Psalm 46

Sermon Notes

1. God is our fortress, so we won’t fear roaring waters, 1-3

2. God is our fortress, so we won’t fear roaring nations, 4-7

3. God is our fortress, so we won’t roar, 8-11

Reflection Questions:

1) Compare Psalm 46:1 to Hebrews 4:15-16. What do these verses tell you about God’s character and His willingness to help you? Also see I John 5:14; Matthew 6:8; 6:31-34.

2) Read Psalm 46:4-7; Hebrews 11:8-10; and Philippians 3:20-21. What type of city, and what type of citizenship are these verses ultimately pointing to? Also see I Corinthians 15:19.

3) Does “being still” mean that we stop praying and stop all activity? Consider Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Cor. 15:58; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 127.