A Grace That Endures: Eleven Words of Comfort in Times of Crisis (Ps 119:25-32)
January 2, 2022 • David Schrock • Psalm 119:25–32
"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.” (Job 1:21) And the Word of God says: "Blessed be the name of the Lord.” As I write this email on the last day of the year, I am reminded that many families in our church have have lost loved ones in 2021. And just this week, our church body has been tossed and torn as the Lord took Tracy Dugan home to be with him. In moments like this, where the specter of death overshadows us and the pain of loss afflicts us, words are not sufficient. But neither is silence. And thus, we come to the Word of God and find confessions like this: "My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!” and "My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!” When our words fail us, the Word of God does not. And this Sunday we will gather to hear that Word and to meditate on Psalm 119:25–32. While January will be a month where we focus on spiritual disciplines, personal and public, the first Sunday of the year will be spent considering how the Word of God gives grace when death afflicts. As you have time read Psalm 119---its the long one, so give yourself time to soak it in—and pray for our gathering. Please pray for Collene and her girls (Kelsey, Mabry, and Naomi) and the rest of the family. May the Lord give them grace and strength as they make funeral arrangements for Tracy. As we have more information, we will share them with you. Until then, let us bless the name of the Lord, for he is good and he does good. And ultimately, his work will put death to death, as life swallows the grave. Meditating on that point you may find help here: From Death to Life: How Joshua Teaches us to Find Resurrection Hope in the Midst of Loss. I look forward to seeing you Sunday, as the Lord allows and the Lord gathers us together. Sorrowful, yet rejoicing in the Lord, Pastor David -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions for Psalm 119 Psalm 119:25-32 1. As you reflect on 2021, for what are you thankful? Sorrowful? Prayerful? 2. As you begin 2022, what are you praying for or striving for in the power of the Lord? 3. When you have read Psalm 1:19 in the past, what have you learned or appreciated? 4. In verses 25–32, what are some of the words that stand out to you? How does beginning by looking at repeated words help you to understand these verses? 5. What is the flow of thought in these eight verses? How does that help you apply these verses to you? 6. In verses 25- 32, what do you learn about God? His word? And yourself? 7. how do these verses encourage you? And help you going into this year? How might they minister grace to you or someone else who has been suffering loss? 8. How does Mark 4 illustrate Psalm 119? How does the enfleshed omnipotence of Jesus encourage you? How does it give you confidence to approach this year? 9. What else are you praying for in 2022?
10. The Righteousness of God Revealed (Romans 3:21-30)
November 14, 2021 • David Schrock • Romans 3:21–30, Psalm 32
Know justice, know peace. No justice, no peace. For the last few years, the theme of justice has filled America’s pulpits and public discourse. Yet, for all the attention given to it, there remains an insufficient understanding of this precious virtue. In Scripture, the God of justice, the righteous God of Israel, displays his justice in ways beyond his sending of prophets to decry Israel’s sin. Yes, the Old Testament has numerous prophets condemning Israel for their sins of injustice and idolatry. Just read Isaiah 5 or Amos 5. Yet, the prophets' main message centers on the coming messiah and the justice, make that the justification, that he will bring. Indeed, justice apart from justification is a pronouncement of law without gospel. Not surprisingly, a world that does not know the grace of the gospel will call for justice based upon their fallen understandings of law. However, for Christians, when we speak of justice, we must begin with God and follow his Word until it brings us to Christ’s cross. For on the cross, we see justice and justification. And this Sunday we will learn from Paul in Romans 3:21–31 what justice truly looks like. In preparation for Sunday, take time to read Romans 1–3. These chapters hang together and show us both our guilt before God and his grace in justifying sinners. This is the center of God’s gospel and the way that he brings justice into the world. Therefore, for Christians led by the Spirit and the Word, a call for justice is a call to seek the grace of God. And on Sunday, we will do just that. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday and to worshiping the God of justice and justification! For His Glory and your joy, Pastor David --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions for Romans 3:21-31 1. How is justice discussed today? In what ways is the rise of “justice-talk” helpful? Or unhelpful? 2. Where do we find the source and substance of justice? 3. What is the relationship between righteousness and justice? What are the ways Scripture talks about righteousness-justice? 4. How does Paul talk about justice in Romans 3:21–31? Why does it matter so much that Christians always connect justice to justification? 5. How did God reveal his righteousness? Was this revelation merely a display, or did this revelation do something? 6. What did the cross achieve, according to Romans 3:24–26? 7. Take time to talk about the three background images of these verses—the temple and altar (propitiation), the exodus/marketplace (redemption), and the law court (justification). How do these background images help us understand the cross? 8. What is the relationship between grace and faith, grace and justice, faith and justification? 9. How does Romans 3:21–31 help you know God? His Son? Your sin? Your salvation?
9. The Rejected and Resurrected Stone (Luke 20:9-18)
November 7, 2021 • David Schrock • Luke 20:9–18, Psalm 118
‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’ There are few sentences in the Bible more important for understanding the cross of Christ. And this Sunday, we will examine this verse (Psalm 118:22) through the eyes of Jesus, who in Luke 20:9–18 concludes his parable of the wicked tenants by citing the words of Psalm 118. For more than a month we have spent most of our time looking at the cross through the Old Testament. As Jesus said in John 5:39, all Scripture speaks of him. And so we have learned about the cross in the inspired words of Moses, David, and Isaiah. But now, we turn to the New Testament, where we will continue to meditate on the meaning of Christ’s cross. And this Sunday, we will look at one of the last parables Jesus told as he moved toward the cross. This is parable not only preaches the cross and resurrection, but it recalls the fact that all humanity will rise or fall in response to Jesus. So in preparation for Sunday, let us read Luke 20 and pray for God to have mercy on us as we come to seek his mercy. Additionally on Sunday, we will also have a time of prayer in the sanctuary during the Sunday School hour. If you have not joined us for Great Commission Prayer, please do. It is an important time of bringing our labors before the Lord who has sent us into his vineyard. Indeed, as we will discover in Luke 20, how God’s laborers respond to the Lord of the harvest is of the utmost importance. And during Sunday School this week, we have the privilege of asking God to bless the works of our hands. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday. For His Glory and your joy, Pastor David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions for Luke 20 1. Why did Jesus speak in parables? How did Jesus use the Old Testament in his parables? 2. Who were the cast of characters in his parable? 3. Why is it important to see who Jesus is talking about? And who he is talking to? 4. Why does his audience have such a hard time believing him? What does the people’s response to Jesus and their support of the reigning priests teach us? Who do we trust in times of cultural upheaval? 5. Why is it misleading to say “the Jews killed Jesus”? Who stood behind the death of Jesus? 6. And who stood behind the human opponents of Jesus? How does seeing the owner as the ultimate sovereign help us understand the cross? 7. How does this parable affirm the fact that Christ’s death brought judgment and salvation? Or even, salvation through judgment? 8. What does the final verse mean? How does this apply to you? In what ways do you need to reconsider the cross of Christ? To whom can you share it’s world-splitting message?
7. The Suffering King (Psalm 22)
October 24, 2021 • Ben Purves • Psalm 22
Dear OBC Family, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As we hear these familiar words, we cannot help but think of our Lord’s sufferings at the cross. Yet, as Jesus cries out, he is pointing us to the words of David in Psalm 22. As we continue in our series on the cross, this Sunday we will turn our attention to Psalm 22. We will consider David’s sufferings, how this psalm is fulfilled by Christ, and what this teaches us about the sufferings of our Lord. I invite you to read Psalm 22 in advance of this Sunday, and consider how this Psalm speaks about suffering, deliverance, and all that is to come. I look forward to gathering with you for worship this Lord’s day. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Ben ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion and Response Questions for Psalm 22 1. Where do you see the fulfillment of Psalm 22 in the cross of Christ? 2. How do the Gospels teach us to read Psalm 22? (Jn 19:24; Lk 24:44) 3. How does the author of Hebrews use Psalm 22 in speaking of Christ? (See Hebrews 2:12) 4. Notice how the psalmist alternates between suffering and faith (vv. 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11). What might we learn from this? 5. How does Psalm 22 describe God? 6. What does Christ’s suffering and victory accomplish according to Psalm 22? 7. What might we learn from the concluding section of praise (vv. 22-31)? 8. How does this psalm call us to respond? How ought we to respond to these truths?
