Sermon 630: I Love the Lord (Psalm 116)

Today’s Bulletin

Continuing the Summer Psalms Series

Pastor Jeremy Preaches

OUtline

Psalm 116

I Love the Lord

116 I love the Lord, because he has heard 

my voice and my pleas for mercy. 

Because he inclined his ear to me, 

therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 

The snares of death encompassed me; 

the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; 

I suffered distress and anguish. 

Then I called on the name of the Lord: 

“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” 

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; 

our God is merciful. 

The Lord preserves the simple; 

when I was brought low, he saved me. 

Return, O my soul, to your rest; 

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 

For you have delivered my soul from death, 

my eyes from tears, 

my feet from stumbling; 

I will walk before the Lord 

in the land of the living. 

10  I believed, even when I spoke: 

“I am greatly afflicted”; 

11  I said in my alarm, 

“All mankind are liars.” 

12  What shall I render to the Lord 

for all his benefits to me? 

13  I will lift up the cup of salvation 

and call on the name of the Lord, 

14  I will pay my vows to the Lord 

in the presence of all his people. 

15  Precious in the sight of the Lord 

is the death of his saints. 

16  O Lord, I am your servant; 

I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. 

You have loosed my bonds. 

17  I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving 

and call on the name of the Lord. 

18  I will pay my vows to the Lord 

in the presence of all his people, 

19  in the courts of the house of the Lord, 

in your midst, O Jerusalem. 

Praise the Lord! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH3TSmMuHSc&list=RDMH3TSmMuHSc&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSmcs5IXMjI&list=RDqSmcs5IXMjI&start_radio=1

Sermon 629: Hail to the Lord's Anointed (Psalm 72)

Today’s Bulletin

Continuing the Summer Psalms Series

Pastor Jeremy Preaches

OUtline

Psalm 72

Give the King Your Justice

72 Of Solomon. 

Give the king your justice, O God, 

and your righteousness to the royal son! 

May he judge your people with righteousness, 

and your poor with justice! 

Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, 

and the hills, in righteousness! 

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, 

give deliverance to the children of the needy, 

and crush the oppressor! 

May they fear you while the sun endures, 

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, 

like showers that water the earth! 

In his days may the righteous flourish, 

and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 

May he have dominion from sea to sea, 

and from the River to the ends of the earth! 

May desert tribes bow down before him, 

and his enemies lick the dust! 

10  May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands 

render him tribute; 

may the kings of Sheba and Seba 

bring gifts! 

11  May all kings fall down before him, 

all nations serve him! 

12  For he delivers the needy when he calls, 

the poor and him who has no helper. 

13  He has pity on the weak and the needy, 

and saves the lives of the needy. 

14  From oppression and violence he redeems their life, 

and precious is their blood in his sight. 

15  Long may he live; 

may gold of Sheba be given to him! 

May prayer be made for him continually, 

and blessings invoked for him all the day! 

16  May there be abundance of grain in the land; 

on the tops of the mountains may it wave; 

may its fruit be like Lebanon; 

and may people blossom in the cities 

like the grass of the field! 

17  May his name endure forever, 

his fame continue as long as the sun! 

May people be blessed in him, 

all nations call him blessed! 

18  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, 

who alone does wondrous things. 

19  Blessed be his glorious name forever; 

may the whole earth be filled with his glory! 

Amen and Amen! 

20  The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td7jbyXBXQA&list=RDTd7jbyXBXQA&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnSrTvw-h4E&list=RDfnSrTvw-h4E&start_radio=1

Sermon 628: Ancient Words, Hearts on Fire (Psalm 119:137-152)

Today’s Bulletin

Continuing the Summer Psalms Series

OUtline

Psalm 119:137-144

Tsadhe

137  Righteous are you, O Lord, 

and right are your rules. 

138  You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness 

and in all faithfulness. 

139  My zeal consumes me, 

because my foes forget your words. 

140  Your promise is well tried, 

and your servant loves it. 

141  I am small and despised, 

yet I do not forget your precepts. 

142  Your righteousness is righteous forever, 

and your law is true. 

143  Trouble and anguish have found me out, 

but your commandments are my delight. 

144  Your testimonies are righteous forever; 

give me understanding that I may live. 

Sermon 627: A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Psalm 91)

Today’s Bulletin

Continuing the Summer Psalms Series

Pastor Jeremy Preaches

OUtline

Psalm 91

Great Is Your Steadfast Love

My Refuge and My Fortress

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust.” 

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler 

and from the deadly pestilence. 

He will cover you with his pinions, 

and under his wings you will find refuge; 

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 

You will not fear the terror of the night, 

nor the arrow that flies by day, 

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, 

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 

A thousand may fall at your side, 

ten thousand at your right hand, 

but it will not come near you. 

You will only look with your eyes 

and see the recompense of the wicked. 

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— 

the Most High, who is my refuge— 

10  no evil shall be allowed to befall you, 

no plague come near your tent. 

11  For he will command his angels concerning you 

to guard you in all your ways. 

12  On their hands they will bear you up, 

lest you strike your foot against a stone. 

13  You will tread on the lion and the adder; 

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 

14  “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; 

I will protect him, because he knows my name. 

15  When he calls to me, I will answer him; 

I will be with him in trouble; 

I will rescue him and honor him. 

16  With long life I will satisfy him 

and show him my salvation.”

The Psalms are the hymnbook of the people of God. One of the best ways to benefit most fully from the Psalms is to sing them. Singing them instills the words in your heart and forms the sentiment of the song in you in a way that just reading them does not. Give these two a listen, they have been the go-to versions in writing this sermon!

Sermon 626: A Scattered Heart (Psalm 86)

Today’s Bulletin

Continuing the Summer Psalms Series

OUtline

Psalm 86

Great Is Your Steadfast Love

86 A Prayer of David. 

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, 

for I am poor and needy. 

Preserve my life, for I am godly; 

save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 

Be gracious to me, O Lord, 

for to you do I cry all the day. 

Gladden the soul of your servant, 

for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, 

abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; 

listen to my plea for grace. 

In the day of my trouble I call upon you, 

for you answer me. 

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, 

nor are there any works like yours. 

All the nations you have made shall come 

and worship before you, O Lord, 

and shall glorify your name. 

10  For you are great and do wondrous things; 

you alone are God. 

11  Teach me your way, O Lord, 

that I may walk in your truth; 

unite my heart to fear your name. 

12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, 

and I will glorify your name forever. 

13  For great is your steadfast love toward me; 

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 

14  O God, insolent men have risen up against me; 

a band of ruthless men seeks my life, 

and they do not set you before them. 

15  But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, 

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 

16  Turn to me and be gracious to me; 

give your strength to your servant, 

and save the son of your maidservant. 

17  Show me a sign of your favor, 

that those who hate me may see and be put to shame 

because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. 

Sermon 625: Rooted (Psalm 1)

Today’s Bulletin

Beginning of Summer Psalms Series

OUtline

Psalm 1

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

Blessed is the man 

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 

nor stands in the way of sinners, 

nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 

but his delight is in the law of the Lord, 

and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree 

planted by streams of water 

that yields its fruit in its season, 

and its leaf does not wither. 

In all that he does, he prospers. 

The wicked are not so, 

but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, 

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 

for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, 

but the way of the wicked will perish. 

Sermon 624: Not a TED Talk (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Sermon 623: The Missing World of the Present (Titus 1:1-5) [Jon Dunning]

Today’s Bulletin

RUF Campus Minister Jon Dunning Preaches

OUtline

Titus 1:1-5

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; 

To Titus, my true child in a common faith: 

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 

Qualifications for Elders

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

Sermon 622: Flexing In the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Sermon 621: The Cross: Foolishness to Some, Power to Others(1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, 

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, 

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 

Sermon 620: Dusty Bibles, Dirty Hearts (2 Kings 22:8-23:3)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

2 Kings 22:8-23:3

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 

11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 

14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. 15 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’ ” And they brought back word to the king. 

Josiah’s Reforms

23 Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant. 

Sermon 619: Like, Subscribe, and Divide (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Divisions in the Church

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 

Sermon 618: Our Calling (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

EPHESIANS 4:1-6

Unity in the Body of Christ

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Sermon 616: Hail to the King (Luke 19:28-40)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

Luke 19:28-40

The Triumphal Entry

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” 

Sermon 615: What's Jesus Doing Now (Acts 1:1-14) [Jon Dunning]

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

Acts 1:1-14

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

The Ascension

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” 

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 

Sermon 614: A Gratuitous Amount of Peace (Psalm 4) [Matt Stuver]

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

Psalm 4

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. 

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! 

You have given me relief when I was in distress. 

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! 

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? 

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah 

But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; 

the Lord hears when I call to him. 

Be angry, and do not sin; 

ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah 

Offer right sacrifices, 

and put your trust in the Lord. 

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? 

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” 

You have put more joy in my heart 

than they have when their grain and wine abound. 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; 

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. 

Sermon 613: Gratitude before Rebuke-atude (1 Corinthians 1:4-9)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sermon 612: Let's Begin (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Sermon 611: End of Beginning (Genesis 50)

Today’s Bulletin

OUtline

Genesis 50

50 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 

And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’ ” And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. 

God’s Good Purposes

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. 

The Death of Joseph

22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.