God & Government - Capitol Commission

April 21, 2024 • Brad Harbaugh • Psalm 2

In Acts 13:1–3, the church in Antioch gathered to worship the Lord. And as they worshiped, the Holy Spirit identified Barnabas and Saul for missionary service. In response, the church continued to fast and pray, and then they laid hands on the newfound missionaries and sent them out. Ever since, faithful churches have followed a similar pattern. They have recognized men called by God preach the Word (see 1 Tim. 4:14), and they have commissioned them to serve as elders locally or missionaries globally.  On Sunday, we have the chance to participate in this missionary drama too. For the last 13 years the Comoglio family have been faithful members of our church. During that time, Ron has served as an elder for nearly a decade. However, in the last year, the Lord has made it clear that he is calling Ron to a ministry of evangelism and encouragement to the public servants in Alabama. After much prayer and counsel, Ron received a call to go with a ministry called Capitol Commission, and next month he is moving to Alabama to begin that work. As he goes, our church will be one of many that support him. In this way, we participate in the great work of recognizing ministers of the gospel and sending them out into the highways and hedges to share the message of Christ with those who need to hear the gospel. In celebration and commemoration of this commissioning (which will officially take place in May), Brad Harbaugh, president of Capitol Commission, is coming to bring the Word. He will preach from Psalm 2 and its message that Christ rules over all the governors who rage against God.  In our day, this is a needed message. And one that fits with the ministry that Ron is being sent to fulfill, and one that we need to support as well. So as we prepare for Sunday, let us pray for our gathering and for God to raise up laborers in our church and from our nation to go and speak truth to those in power. On Sunday, that is the message we will hear, and as the Lord allows, I look forward to joining you to worship our risen and reigning Lord. We are also starting a new Sunday School series this week and invite you to https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3ddf983448dd%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c02%7c%7c1e095339e83a40ab1f4508dc60af685f%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638491553705302667%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=xhjyxkz2scci6db0s3f6j5sv7o3zuug278lhgflf2my%3d&reserved=0on Simeon Trust's First Principles for Bible Reading. For His Glory and your joy in Christ, Pastor David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Discussion & Response Questions (Psalm 2) 1. What do we know about Psalm 2—in its relationship to the Psalter? And the rest of the Bible? 2. Acts 4:25 tells us that David is the author. How does that truth inform our reading of Psalm 2? 3. What is the condition of the nations (Psalm 2:1–3)? How did they get that way? 4. What is God’s response to the rage of the nations (Psalm 2:4–6)? What is his planned response? 5. What is the promise of sonship? And when is this fulfilled? See Acts 13:33; Matthew 28:18. 6. What confidence does the Lordship of Christ give to us today? How does that impact our relation to the nations? 7. How does the authority of Christ impact the Great Commission? Do we need earthly authorization to preach Christ? 8. What is our response to the risen Christ? 9. In light of Christ’s Lordship, what is our calling? 10. Take time to pray for our nation, the nations, and the gathering of God’s holy nation (the elect from every nation).

Holding Fast in the Midst of a (Midlife) Crisis (Psalm 102)

December 31, 2023 • David Schrock • Psalm 102

December 31 is a day unlike any other. As the final day of our calendar hits, it makes us look back on our last year and consider what God did, what we did, and what we might do going forward. Looking into the rear view gives us a chance to give thanks to God for his faithfulness, to lament over various sins and sorrows, to learn from mistakes, and to seek fresh grace to walk more faithfully in 2024. Indeed, looking back at 2023 is only good if we learn more how to walk more faithfully in 2024. And that is how we plan to spend our time together this Sunday. As we gather for worship one more time in 2023, we come as a church family with a host of mixed emotions. But most importantly, we come to December 31 trusting that the God who saved us from our sins as individuals can sanctify us together as brothers and sisters in Christ. To that end, we are going to look at Psalm 102 on Sunday. If you read the title, it is a song for the afflicted. And if you read the whole the thing, the affliction is something like a Mid-Life Crisis.  In the life of our church, we are also facing something similar, as questions of past, present, and future arise. Who are we? Where are we going? How are we going to get there?  While we wait on the Lord to answer some of those questions, we are going to look to the Lord from where our help comes from. And as we do, we need to learn a few things from Psalm 102.  With that in mind, let us pray for our gathering together and ask God to teach us how to look to him when we feel afflicted by the grinding days of life.  I am grateful to God for the family of faith at OBC. And I am hopeful for what the Lord will teach us in the last days of 2023 and all the days of 2024. God does not let anything happen by accident and there are many reasons to trust him as we move from this year to next. Let us gather then with hope on Sunday, for he who has brought us safe thus far will surely bring us safely home. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday. For His Glory and your joy in Christ, Pastor David -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions (Psalm 102) How would you summarize Psalms 102? What are main themes? What is the progression of the psalm from beginning to end? What is the psalmist’s condition, and the psalmist’s future hope? What does this psalm reveal about God’s character and attributes? To what end does God create and save? How does the psalmist contrast himself with God in regards to time? What might we learn from this? What are the implications of the immutability of God? How does this psalm speak about how God relates to His people and their prayers? What truths in this psalm might you use to counsel someone who is discouraged? How ought we to respond to this text?

Seeing Christ in the Psalms (Psalm 1-150)

November 29, 2015 • David Schrock