Respond to Sunday, October 6th , 2019
“Joy On The Journey” – Psalm 84 | Pastor Bob Bolander
Truth: There is joy in our destination. The Hebrew word used in Psalm 84 for “blessed” means joy or happiness. It is the state of mind, or response, resulting from the blessing we receive from God. God intends for us to experience true joy because of what he has done and the journey we are on to ultimately worship Him. There is joy when we focus on the destination rather than our current condition.
Response: What are you living for? Are you living more for the pleasures of this world than for the worship of God? For God? If you had to be absent from church, and worship, for an extended period, what would you miss the most? Ask God for a greater desire to worship Him for who He is.
Truth: There is joy in our journey. God is preparing us for our destination through the journey. God has provided a highway for us that lifts us above the dangers, temptations, and enemies so we can have a journey full of joy. God provides a way to make it a place of springs and pools of water. God’s provision on this highway is one another. He has given us each other. Our need for strength from God prepares us to be stronger for the next need for strength.
Response: Do you have an instance when you experienced that the strength of God through community was actually found in the dry valley of your life? Do you find that you isolate yourself going from “strength to strength” rather than leaning in to community and fellowship? Resolve, in God’s strength, to seek out the community and fellowship of the saints as you walk the journey of this life.
Truth: There is joy in our position. You can’t trust in yourself to get to the destination. We are prepared for eternity with God because this world of our journey has reminded us that there is a God who delivered us. He is our hope. He is our security because of the position we have in Him through Christ.
Response: Have you dwelt too long in the tents of the wicked? What would dwelling in these tents look like for somebody living in our day? Repent in prayer for trusting in yourself, the church or your heritage for your salvation. Trust in your Sun, your Shield and your Savior only. Blessed are those trusting in God.
Family Response
Truth: God cares so much for us that His desire is for us to know Him and enjoy Him right now, not just when we get to heaven. Psalm 84 was a reminder to the Israelites of God’s provision for them when they sang it every year during the Festival of Booths.
Response: It’s that time of year when families take weekend getaways to break up the routine of school and work. Everybody loves the destination, but the getting there can be rough. Sometimes the journey is so unpleasant that the joy of the destination is diminished or lost. Well, now you have Scripture on your side. Read Psalm 84 before your next road trip and talk about how each family member can provide relief, encouragement, and support along the highway so that the joy of the destination is multiplied.
Response: Pilgrim’s Progress is a tremendous literary work that creates a dynamic visual of saving faith through the words of John Bunyan. There have been numerous adaptations of this classic so that it is accessible to children of many ages. Look for an abridged version or a graphic novel that is a good fit for your young one.
Prepare for Sunday, Oct. 13th, 2019
Pray for the Church
- Leaders in worship: Pastor Rickey Primrose, Brandon Ramey & the Worship Music Ministry.
- God will meet with us through His word and by His Spirit, lead us to worship Christ and grow in Christ-likeness.
- God will help us to be a church of zeal and hope, passionate about ministry and confident in His promises.
- God will make us more passionate about and obedient to His mission of leading people to trust and follow Christ.
Prepare for the Message
Joshua 13-19 | Pastor Rickey Primrose
We are returning to our series from Joshua, “Seizing the Promises of God.” This week Pastor Rickey Primrose will be bringing us a sermon from Joshua chapters 13-19. Chapter 13 begins a new chapter in Israel’s life. The word “inheritance” appeared just once in the first twelve chapters. It appears over fifty times from chapter 13 through the rest of the book. Read through chapter 14 this week in preparation for this sermon. Chapter 14 provides a small snapshot, or example, of the rest of the chapters in this section. Where do you see inheritance discussed or mentioned in chapter 14? Does the inheritance of the Levites seem unfair? Does the inheritance of Caleb seem unfair? In seeing Christ throughout the Scriptures, what is our future inheritance in Christ? How does this passage lead you to praise God, repent of sin, and trust in his gracious promises?
Music for Sunday
Come Into His Courts With Praise
Praise The King
Resurrecting