Summer of Psalms (Part 5)

God’s Name Upon a People

August 27, 2023 • Mike Schumann

In this sermon, Pastor Mike Schumann expounds upon Psalm 74 which gives us a destructive story of the Temple. The psalmist’s reaction to this upheaval reveals a three-fold truth that he knows about God: He’s powerful, he has made promises to these people, and he is wholly devoted to the praise of his own name.

In Search of the Good Life

August 20, 2023 • Jonathan Parnell

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell asks the question “What is the good life?” In Psalm 73, we learn of 3 major lessons that are absolutely necessary in pursuit of the good life: recognize our broken perspectives, remember that God is real, and reorder our heart’s affections.

Win Them With Mercy

August 13, 2023 • David Mathis

In this sermon on Psalm 72, Pastor David Mathis expounds upon this 3000-year-old, yet timeless, prayer for an ideal leader. This passage points to the ideal leader, King Jesus, who is unmoved. Jesus is the one true, perfect, immovable leader. Beyond Jesus, the passage reveals four aspects of the ideal leader: his people flourish, his strengths serve his people’s good, his heart pities the needy, and his God get glory. All of us are led and lead in some way so this passage is very practically applicable to all of us.

We Will Praise Him More and More

August 6, 2023 • Mike Schumann

In this sermon on Psalm 71, Pastor Mike Schumann expounds upon the significance of the Psalmist's praise and how that connects to the way God cares for us. The psalmist wants us to see that his own praising of God is proof that God is his strong refuge, his mighty fortress. Let’s hear the songs ourselves when we praise God, “Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee.” Following the season of life we never wanted, never asked for, and don’t see any way out of: Let’s continue to praise God more and more.

Hurry, God!

July 30, 2023 • Kevin Kleiman

In this sermon on Psalm 70, Pastor Kevin Kleiman expounds upon the text by looking at what the text says, how it points to Jesus, and why it matters for us. David is in crisis, and he responds by crying out to God for help, also praying for the souls of those persecuting him. Jesus responds similarly in the Gospels, although he takes it even a step further by praying that God would deal with his enemies by forgiving them. How then should we respond?

King of the Valley

July 23, 2023 • Mike Polley

In this sermon, Pastor Mike Polley expounds upon David's response to his distress and suffering in Psalm 69. This psalm is a lament for a time of suffering and distress. David was being piled upon, yet God did not abandon David, he did not abandon Jesus, and he will not abandon us. So we, like David, can praise God in the midst of the valley. We are not yet home, but he will see us through, and we can in confidence praise Him now.

Our Role in Global Missions

July 16, 2023 • Jonathan Parnell

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell continues the ‘all nations’ conversation from last week's sermon (Ps. 67) by expounding upon the meaning of Psalm 68 – that the ‘all nations’ hope will be realized by the coming of a victorious divine king named Jesus – and then gets practical by sharing the ways Cities Church specifically may join in on this ‘all nations’ mission.

Our Missionary Calling

July 9, 2023 • Jonathan Parnell

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds upon the hope of Psalm 67 – that all nations of the earth would worship God. Our missionary calling is to continue spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. And what we should realize is that we are apart of “all the ends of the earth.” We have heard the gospel because global missionaries were sent. It’s because Jesus did have witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Come and See

July 2, 2023 • Joe Rigney

In this sermon on Psalm 66, Pastor Joe Rigney expounds upon five exhortations or calls from the psalmist's song. When we are facing trials, sad and frustrated, harried by the day and haunted by the night, with anxieties piling up in our soul – we should know God is the one doing it; he's purifying your faith. And so do you offer superficial obedience and bail when he sends relief? Or do you rebel and exalt yourself by accusing God of doing evil to you? Or, because you know that his steadfast love is better than life and that the goodness of his house is supremely satisfying, do you bless God for his awesome deeds and sing his praises?

Set Your Sights on Satisfaction

June 25, 2023 • Mike Schumann

In this sermon, Pastor Mike Schumann expounds upon Psalm 65 in which the tone is silence, awe, and joy. In this Psalm, the psalmist testifies to God's working on behalf of his people: God supplies his people with life, he saves them from death, and he satisfies them with himself.

Joy With Jesus

June 18, 2023 • Jonathan Parnell

In this sermon on Psalm 64, Pastor Jonathan Parnell looks at a common theme in the psalms and slows down to think about how we approach the psalms as readers. When we look at the text we should look at it in three ways: text, Jesus, life. Psalm 64 leads us to the invitation from Jesus to join him in his joy. Jesus gives us joy, down deep in our souls.

The King Delights in God

June 11, 2023 • Kenneth Ortiz

In this sermon, Pastor Kenny Ortiz expounds upon Psalm 63 where David gives us a good example of how we should follow God. David knows that the things of God are better than life. Let our souls thirst for God, for he has been our help and he upholds us. His “steadfast love is better than life.”

Radical Faith

June 4, 2023 • Jonathan Parnell

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell begins our fifth summer of Psalms by expounding upon David's words in Psalm 62. The main message of Psalm 62, and the whole Book of Psalms, is to show what it looks like to have radical faith in God. Radical faith is the full-throated, consistent faith that we’re all called to, and it’s faith that only makes sense because of who God is.

Cities Church