Podcast. Instagraphics. Website. iTunes. Spotify

Who’s the richest man in the world? This question fascinates people as they follow Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Warren Buffet, and Jeff Bezos jockeying for first place. Why so much interest? People like to imagine the kind of life that kind of money would give them. The weekly TV series, The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, tapped into this fantasy. Now, there’s the multiple daily updates on massively popular social media accounts like Rich Kids of Instagram and the Kardashian reality show. They all invite us to imagine, “If I were rich, I could live like that.”

Psalm 49 blows up such fantasies and shows us reality. Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together! My mouth shall speak wisdom (1-3). Once he’s got our attention, the Psalmist says to us, Riches may help us to live but they cannot help us to die.

Podcast. Instagraphics. Website. iTunes. Spotify

If you were to ask people to describe the church in three words, what three words would top the poll? Here’s my guess: divided, dying, judgmental. That’s a PR disaster isn’t it. With such a poor public image, no wonder it’s so hard to get people interested in coming to church. Many of the young who grow up in the church eventually leave it because they’re ashamed of being associated with such a ‘brand.’ Even those who stay are sometimes embarrassed about being part of it.

In Psalm 48, God re-brands the church. He doesn’t do anything innovative, but simply supplies his three words for the church: beautiful, forever, and loved. The Psalm says to the church: Wear God’s brand with confidence and joy.

Sermon notes for Daniel 4:34-37.

Sermon notes on Joshua 1:1-9.

Podcast. Instagraphics. Website. iTunes. Spotify

Why do sports fans shout, cheer, and clap for their team? It’s to inspire them to win, isn’t it? We believe that our hands and our mouths we can inject energy and endurance into our team and fuel another victory. Our volume helps their victory.

Psalm 47 tells us that God has chosen to connect the volume of our praises with the victories of his power. It says, Increase the volume of your praise to increase the victories of God’s power.

Podcast. Instagraphics. Website. iTunes. Spotify

Since coming to America thirteen years ago, I’ve fallen in love with College Football. I still don’t understand all the jargon and all the tactics, but I do understand that the best teams need both a great defense and a great offense. One without the other is not a championship team. But when both are in place, it gives the whole team confidence that they’ll have a winning season.

Psalm 46 describes the Christian’s awesome defense and offense. It’s God. He’s our defense and offense. He’s a team of one, but gives us complete confidence that we’ll have a winning season. The Psalm says Be still and watch God win for you.