Many picture the path to God like a mountain to climb through religion, good works, or devotion. But Psalm 24 asks, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” The reality is, none of us can. Our hands aren’t clean, our hearts aren’t pure. That’s the mess.

But the good news? The Messiah came down. Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live, died the death we deserved, and rose to bring us up into the presence of the King of Glory. The mountain, the mess, the Messiah—this is the gospel of Psalm 24.

Sermon Outline

I. The Mountain.

II. The Mess.

III. The Messiah.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1. David asks, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? Who shall stand in His holy place?” (Psalm 24:3). How do you personally feel when you hear that question? Does it stir confidence, fear, discouragement, or something else? Why?

2. Psalm 24 describes the requirement as “clean hands and a pure heart.” What’s the difference between outwardly “clean hands” and inwardly a “pure heart”? Which one do you tend to focus on more in your walk with God, and why?

3. In the sermon, we saw David’s life reveal both moments of clean hands (sparing Saul) and times of failure (Bathsheba, Uriah, passivity with his children). What encouragement do we find in knowing that even David, “a man after God’s own heart”, fell short?

4. Jesus alone has the perfectly clean hands and pure heart. How does it change your outlook on the Christian life when you realize your acceptance before God rests on His record, not yours?

5. The sermon emphasized that Christianity is not about us climbing the mountain to God, but about God coming down to us in Christ. Where in your life are you most tempted to “climb” and prove yourself, instead of resting in Christ’s finished work?

6. Psalm 24 shifts from instruction to worship: “Lift up your heads, O gates… that the King of glory may come in.” How can we “open the gates” of our own lives this week to let Jesus reign more fully…in our habits, relationships, or decisions?

7. The closing challenge was framed in the question, “Do you love Jesus?” How would you answer that right now? What’s one concrete way you could live out your love for Jesus this week?