When Distress Seems Endless

We are continuing this year our preaching through the Psalter. Since I do not plan to preach through all the psalms (it would take too long) I have to be selective. I find that one of the most difficult issues is choosing which psalms to skip - as all of them can teach us some very important truths about God and ourselves.

After much thinking and praying I decided that this Sunday (January 29, 2012) we will be looking at Psalm 13. The plan is to continue with psalms 14, 15, and 16 - all of them very important for teaching and living.

I am posting here a Teaching Outline from Steve Lawson's Holman Old Testament Commentary on the Psalms. While I probably will not follow it closely in my message, it is useful to visualize the tripartite structure of the psalm (recognized by most commentators).

TEACHING OUTLINE

A. David's Sorrow (1-2)

1. How long will God forget? (1a)

2. How long will God hide? (1b)

3. How long must I be discouraged? (2a)

4. How long must I be defeated? (2b)

B. David's Supplication (3-4)

1. Remember me, God (3a)

2. Rescue me, God (3b-4)

C. David's Singing (5-6)

1. I will rely upon God (5)

2. I will rejoice in God (6)

QUESTIONS for discussion:

1) How does this psalm resonate with you? Have you ever felt this way?

2) How can a believer remain steadfast through difficult times?

3) How do you understand/define the ‘steadfast love’ (ESV)/ ‘mercy’ [Hebrew – chesed] of God in verse 5?

Here is a great quote from Spurgeon:

“Whenever you look into David’s Psalms, you will somewhere or other see yourself. You never get into a corner, but you find David in that corner. I think that I was never so low that I could not find that David was lower; and I never climbed so high that I could not find David was up above me.”

Thank you for your prayers and for your daily living of the Psalter!

Your teaching pastor, Cristian

Sermon: July 12, 2009

So, Love the Lord Your God

Joshua 23:1-13

1. Joshua's reminder for Israel

• Remember how God has fought for you
• Remember how God has given this land to you

2. Joshua's charge for Israel

• Be strong and careful to obey all the words of God
• Love your God in response to His love to you

3. Joshua's warning for Israel

• Do not intermarry with the world
• You will be cut off from the all the blessings

Discussion

1. Do you something by some reason realize how God has given you the life you have? What was the occasion? Can you share?
2. When you do that, what was the after-thought? For example, were you not scared of the thought that God might take all away if you are not faithful to Him?
3. What is it like to love God? And compare it with the meaning of love between man and woman?
4. What would you do this week or near future as a way to express your love to God?

Sermon: June 28, 2009

Consecrate Yourselves in Preparation for Tomorrow
Joshua 7:10-13

1. Israel sinned against God

• Israel failed the mission
• Embarrassment to the Lord's name

2. Consecrate yourselves

• Find out the sin
• Remove it from yourselves

3. The covenant confirmed before Israel

• Israel completed the mission: Israel destroyed Ai
• Joshua read the words of the law

Discussion

1. It is important for athletes to take hard trainings during the off season in order to prepare for the following season. Do you have any experience that your lack of preparation caused failure in your performances, like exams, interviews and so on?
2. It took a long procedure for Israel to find out the cause of their failure, Achan. Why is it normally difficult to find out the sin that may cause the failure in our lives? Share them.
3. How should we consecrate ourselves as we prepare for Thai mission? Share your thoughts on it.

Sermon: June 14, 2009

To Enjoy What You Already Have

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

1. The Word is very near you

• Not too difficult or beyond for your reach
• In your mouth and in your heart

2. Blessings or curses in the land you are entering?

• Life of abundance in the land you are entering
• Death and destruction in the land you are entering

3. Many years in the land of your forefathers

• Choose the Lord for you and your children
• You may have many tears in the you enter

Sermon: 7 June, 2009

The Lord's Covenant

Deuteronomy 29:1-15

1. A convenant that the Lord is making with you

• God's initiative
• Reaffirmation by God: Horeb and Moab

2. Your eyes have seen how God has blessed you

• You have sustained until now
• God has defeated your enemies

3. Careful follow the terms of the covenant

• You are standing in the presence of the Lord
• His faithfulness endures forever

Sermon: May 17, 2009

Foolishness of Witnessing

1 Corinthians 1:21

1. Folishness in content

• Foolishness for the worldly wisdom
• Death on the cross is foolishness

2. Folishness in method

• You can't boast about yourself
• Example: John the Baptist

3. Nothing but the cross of Jesus Christ

• Come and buy without money (Is.55:1)
• Just preach Jesus Christ

Discussion

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased throgh the foolishness of what was preached save those who belive.

Sermon: May 10, 2009

Formula for Happiness

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

1. Deuteronomy: a farewell sermon of Moses

• The second law: the repeat of the law
  
• Elaboration not revision
  

2. Know your laws

• Preparation for the new life in Canaan: particularly for 2nd generation
  
• No addition or subtraction
  

3. Obey your laws

• Formula for happiness
  
• The Kingdom law (Mt 22:37-38)
  

Discussion

1. Do you realize that you are a new people, that is, you belong to the kingdom of God now? Then, what are the difference in your life in comparison to the life?
   
2. What makes you a new people that belong to God's kingdom? Name one person that characterized the new kind of people.
   
3. Why is it important to know your law (the law of God) as Kingdom people?
   

Sermon: 5/3/09

Nothing Will Change God's Plan

Numbers 23:13-26

1. Persistent threat around Israel

• Recurrence of distraction
• Not and easy work ahead of us

2. Indisputable Plan

• Irresistible grace
• Success comes with the plan

3. Application: Our commitment for the plan

• Evangelism as a part of Kingdom-building
• Our work will bear fruits

Discussion

1. Compare Israel on their way to Canaan woth the work of evangelism today. Do you see analogy between them?
2. Do you truly believe that the Kingdom of God will triumph at the end; that is, our effort for evangelism will eventually bear fruits?
3. What is your effort for that effort? And what is your strategy for it?

Sermon: 4/26/09

What is Islam?

Islam is a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of the Islamicprophet Muhammmd, a 7th century Arab religious and political figuare. The word Islam means "submission", or the total surrender of oneself to God (Allah). An adherent of Islam is known as a Muslim, meaning "one who submits [to God]." There are between 1 billion and 1.8billion Muslims, makingIslam the second-largest religion in the world, after Christianity.

Muslim believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, God's final prophet, through the angel Gabriel, and regard the Qur'an and the Sunnh (words and deeds of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam. They do not regard Muhammad as the founder of a new religion, but asthe restorer of the original monotheistic faith of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets.


Discussion

1. What did you learn new from the message?
2. How important is it to do your share of witnessing?
3. How is your progress with Numbers Project?
4. What is your group doing as a part of effort for Numbers Project?

Sermon: 4/19/09

Numbers Project: Count Your People!
Numbers 1:1-4, 16-19

1. God counted Israel into His Kingdom

• A. God’s ultimate intention: to count His people
• B. God commanded to Moses [application]

2. God counted Israel one by one by name

• A. One vs. many
• B. By clans and families [application]

3. God used ass=instants to count Israel

• A. Many people served to carry out God’s command
• B. Numbers project [application]

Discussion
1. Do you know who are in your group? Do you know them by name? Do you know who in your group missed the church today?
2. Discuss about the ways and system to count members in your group and to keep connected with each other during the weekdays?
3. Do you know any old members that have not come to church for a while? Discuss how to bring them back. (It is good to share jobs so that everybody is involved in the project.)

Sermon: 4/12/09

Go and Tell Them about Me

1 Corinthians 15:1-8)(John 20:1-18)

1. The gospel handed down to Paul

• A. The gospel on which you have taken your stand
• B. By this gospel you are saved

2. The gospel Paul passes on to us

• A. Christ died according to Scripture
• B. Christ was raised according to Scripture

3. The call to be a witness of Christ’s resurrection

• A. The mission commended by Christ
• B. The mission has begun

Discussion
1. Do you really that a man can come back to life after death? Why yes and why not?
2. What do you think about 2000 years of history of the preaching that Christ has resurrected?
3. Are you a part of this tradition of witness of Christ’s resurrection? What would you do in order for it?

Sermon: 3/29/09

The Day of Atonement
Leviticus 16:6-10, 20-22

1. Need to atone for sins

• Most Holy Place, Then of Meeting, altar, himself, is household, and Israel
• Need of Mediator

2. A substitute for atonement

• Animal to substitute for human sin
• Christ to substitute for us

3. Provision of the substitute of atonement

• History of provision of the substitute
• No other substitutes

Discussion

1. Have you ever violated the law and had to pay the fine? Did you feel justified by paying the penalty?
2. When something else or someone else becomes a substitute for your wrongdoings, what could be the limitations and problems related to it?
3. The Bibl shows a long history of providing the ultimate substitute for our sins. What do you think are the qualifications for anyone to be the ultimate substitute for us?

Sermon: 3/22/09

Priesthood
Leviticus 8:1-9

1. Separation of Aaron and his sons

• Set separate from the people
• As the Lord commanded

2. Perform the sacrifices on behalf of people

• Role of intercession between God and Israel

3. Imprecation of human priesthood

• Priesthood fulfilled thorough Christ
• All believers’ priestly role

Discussion

1. How do you like the thought that some other person stands between God and you and make a plea on behalf of you?
2. In what sense was the priesthood of the Old Testament imperfect? In what sense did Christ become the high priest?
3. How would you take the idea that you have a priestly duty for someone? What are the thin stou can do for other people?

Sermon: 3/15/09

The Holiness of God and the Holiness of Israel

Leviticus 1:1-9

1. Israel the earthly representation of God’

• God speaks to Israel
• Israel separated for God

2. Spiritual holiness and physical perfection

• Holiness of God
• Holiness of Israel

3. god’s specific prescription of worship

• God gives specific prescription
• Worship sets Israel apart from the rest of the world

Discussion

1. How does the holiness of God translate for you in practical sense?
2. What do you think your holiness means for God?
3. How is the physical perfection related with spiritual holiness for Israel?
4. How would relate the lesson of the message to yourself?

Sermon: 3/8/09

Faithful God

Exodus 40:34-38

1. Unfaithfuness of Israel

• Repeaed acts of unfaithfuness
• Exodus story of rebelious children

2. Faithfulness of God

• Unceasing faithfuness to His own promise
• Exodus story of a faithfule father

3. Israel as God's glory

• Worldwide news: Israel over Egypt
• Exodus story of victory's glory

Discussion

1. Do you see how God is involved in your life? How important is the relationship with God for you?
2. Do you see at the end God's faithfulness prevails in your life? Share your story.
3. In what ways does God's glory manifest itself in your life? How does God's glory affect (or Change) you?

Sermon: 2/22/09

Church's Responsiblility for the Society

Exodus 23:1-9 (20:22-23:13)

1. Redemption, worship and law

• Wholistic view of redemption

• book of Covenant(24:7) as a law for th nation of God

2. Social dimension of redemption

• No sacred-seculat dichotomy

• Socil dimension of "subdue the earth" (Gen 1:28)

3. Jesus' Emphasis (Matt. 22:37-40)

• Vertical and horizontal

• Curch's fault today

Discussion

1. As s Christian how do you see the issues like social justice and service for society? How are you implementong it to your Christian life?
2. Explain the function and place of the law in the life of Israelites who are just deliverared out of Egypt?
3. Explain why redemption, worship and law are presented in such order in the Book of Covenat? What is the practical lesson for us?

Sermon: 2/15/09

No Other Gods beore Me

Exodus 20:1~6

1. Preamble: Deliverance out of Egypt
A. I am the Lord your God
B. Remember that I saved you

2. You have only one God
A. Man's self-frustration
B. "before me":the weight of indignity

3. Danger for the observance of it
A. Multiplication of image making (e.g.,magic)
B. God's jealously: monogamic relation between God and Israel


Discussion

1. Do you agree that there has to be one God, the Fod of the Bible? Why is it that all other gods have to be false gods?
2. People often create their own gods to whom they pray for blessings. But they rather hget frustrated because their gods fail to bless them. Share your story if yoy know any examples of that kind.
3. How does "before me" affect you?
4. How would you livfe knowing that God is jealous God? How does it change your attitude about the things that you value highly?

Sermon: 2/8/09

The Passover Sacrifice

Exodus 12:21~30

1. Redemption
A. The Passover lamb slain in the place of the firstborn of Israelites
B. The Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites

2. Purification
A. The blood was applied by a bunch of a bunch of hyssop
B. The houses of Israelites distinguished by the blood

3. Fellowship
A. Eating the meat signifies fellowship
B. More than a private feast, it was a national feast

4. A lasting ordinance to remember
A. Teach your children the meaning of Passover
B. veryone is to remember how the Lord had saved you


Discussion

a. The Passover has brought two opposite meaning: redemption for Israel but judgment for Egypt. Ot is the same for us well; salvation for us means the judgemnt for the evil world. How do you take that?

2. remember the order; redemption, purification, and fellowship. Do you see thsese elements i your walk with the Lord? What happens if any do to them is missiong?

3. What do you do to remember how God has saved you, just as the Passover is a lasting ordinance? Share your practical suggestions.

Sermon: November 2, 2008

Assurance of the Love of God

Ephesians 3:16~19

1. He may strengthen you through the Spirit

• The power of the Holy Spirit
• Out of the glorious riches of God

2. Firm in the love of God

• Rooted in love
• Grasp how wide, lone, high and deep is love

3. To the measure of the fullness of God

• Love surpasses knowledge
• The fullness of God

Discussion

• How often do you pray to God for strength? How do you know that the Holy Spirit working within you?
• What was your recent experience of the love of Christ? Does your experience with God meet up to your expectation?
• In what ways your experience of God surpasses your knowledge of Him? What would it be like to be filled with love to the measure of the fullness of God?

Sermon: October 26, 2008

Perseverance of the Saints

Luke 22:54~62(John 21:15~18)

1. Meaning of perseverance

• not that salvation is certain if we have once believed
• but that perseverance in holiness is certain if we have truly believed

2. Chief misunderstanding: A tendency to relax watchful effort to grow in grace because true Christians will not fall away totally, is an evidence that we are not in a gracious state

3. Certainty of success

• not that persistent effort on our part is not necessary
• but that in this effort we are certain of success

4. Ground of perseverance

• God's decree of election
• The intercessory work of Christ
• The constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Discussion

• Are you sure of your salvation? What makes you think that way?
• Can a person believe in Christ and eventually deny Him later? Then, how should we take his first confession of faith?
• Is salvation dependent upon whether you persevere in this world? How does the lesson on perseverance give us comport and assurance?