Psalm 103: 1-221.  We Bless the Lord because He is a God of Countless BenefitsA. Look at all the action verbs in the first seven verses:1. Forgives and heals2. Redeems and crowns3. Satisfies and renews4. Works and revealsB. Above all else, our God is knowable1. He desires a relationship with us2.   He is a God of Grace A.In verse 8, David quotes directly from Exodus 341. God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast loveB.That grace is personified in Jesus1. Through the cross, our sin has been removed as far as the East is from the West3.  He is a God who is the Complete Opposite of Us A. We are dust, grass, a flower that quickly fadesB. He is eternal and enthroned in Heaven foreverC. He is meant to be worshipped, and we were made to worship Him

Psalm 127:1-51.  Who is Building your House?A) The conditional clauses we see in verse 1 emphasize the futility of human effort without GodB) Whether we are building a house, or protecting a city, we must be following God’s will in every effortC) If Jesus is not our foundation, we will have a life of anxiety instead of joy and rest2.   Are Our Children Arrows or Jewelry? A) The next generation is a blessing to us, but also our responsibilityB) Do we want to protect our kids at all costs, or are we training them to be sent out by God?C) It isn’t our job to make the next generation look like us, it’s our job to equip them to be like Christ3.  Will our Homes Age well? A) The latter half of verse five contains legal language - The city gate is where court was held and children could speak on behalf of their parentsB) If we train the next generation to understand and live out the gospel, we will not be put to shame

Psalm 84:1-121.  We Worship God because He is our SanctuaryA) We should yearn for God in a way that can only be satisfied by communion with HimB) Just as the psalmist is drawn to the temple, so we are called to worship God collectivelyB1) There is strength in unity, when a church gathers together as one2. We Worship God because He is our StrengthA) Even when we walk through the valley of tears, our hearts are on the highway to ZionB) We aren’t aloneB1) God is with us B2) When we journey with other believers, we are stronger together3.  We Worship God because He is our ProviderA) Would you rather be a servant to God or ruler of your own life?A1) There are no little people in the Kingdom of God, and no small things in His planB) He doesn’t withhold any good thing from us!C) We want to grow each day in the gospel so we will be in awe of God each time we think of Him

Equipping and Empowering | Dr. Zach CrookPsalm 78:1-81.  We Can’t Hide the TruthA) We can’t lose sight of the main thing – the gospel!B) Asaph shares the history of Israel and tells us about some great mysteriesB1) The first mystery is why did Israel not trust and obey God?B2) The second is how can God be so gracious?!2.   God Has Given Us a Testimony and a Law A) If God hadn’t spoken, we would be lost without any hopeA1) God has a given us a compass to navigate through the craziness of the twenty-first centuryB) It’s important to note that God’s testimony comes before God’s demands in the lawB1) He saved Israel from bondage! Therefore, we respond in light of God’s salvationC) We obey out of love for the mighty rescue that God has given us 3.  We Must Equip and Empower the Next GenerationA) We teach our children, the next generation, to know the truthA1) This isn’t head knowledge. It’s intimate knowledge. It’s hiding God’s Word in your heart!B) We are one generation away from losing all influence in our culture, but we are also one generation away from revival!B1) We are starting our ministry residency program to equip and empower the next generation of leaders in the church.

Psalm 73:1-17; 24-26Truth #1: Our envy leads us away from God (v.3-14)Truth #2: Our hope comes from God (v.15-20)"If you are a believer, no matter how bad this world gets, it's as close to hell as you'll ever be because heaven is your home.The reality is that if you do not know Jesus, if you have not accepted Him as Lord of your life, no matter how this world gets, if you do not know Jesus, it is as close to heaven as you'll be because hell is your home." - Shane Pruitt, NAMB Next Generation DirectorTruth #3: Our desire & strength is God (v.21-26)Truth #4: Our Refuge is God (v.27-28)"Those far from you will certainly perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do." - Psalms 73:27-28Application:How we can prevent "slipping"1. We pursue accountability2. We pursue community 3. We pursue the LORD4. We pursue the lost to tell them about the LORD

Psalm 71:1-241. We have Confidence because of God’s FaithfulnessA) While David is approaching the end of his life, he is able to recount how faithful God has been for his entire life!B) There is so much we can learn from our senior saints who have been faithful to God for decades!B1) We need wisdom from our older generations and we should value them2. A Hopeful PrayerA) David knows what others are saying about him, but he is leaning into God and his prayer is full of hope!B) If you still have breath in your lungs, God isn’t done with you!C) We need to seek God’s strength to finish strong3. We Will Proclaim God’s Goodness Until the EndA) God, don’t abandon me until I…A1) Share the gospel with all of my neighborsA2) See revival in our nationA3) See our church plant another churchA4) Help our church send out missionaries to every continentA5) See the debt paid offB) Let’s proclaim God’s goodness to the next generation and to the world!

Our Fortress | Dr. Zach CrookPsalm 46:1-111. God is our Refuge in Natural TroublesA) Because we live in a broken world, creation is groaning and there will be issuesB) It’s more than that, Psalm 46 is eschatological in nature and is talking about the natural disasters that come before Christ returns to judge the worldC) Though there may be temporary issues, God has us eternally secured2. God is our Refuge in Societal TroublesA) The tremors don’t just affect the natural world, but all the nations of this worldB) Surrounded by chaos, the city of God will not fallC) The help of God at “break of day” shows that He will not let his people suffer in the darkness of distress for too long3. God will be Exalted no Matter WhatA) We need to cease striving, and trust in God!A1) Judgment is coming, but God is our fortressB) Every struggle in this life is temporary, but God will be our eternal refuge, if we trust in Him

1.  We Show God’s Heart for the Nations through SongA) We are called three times to sing to GodA1) Singing has been a way to worship God since the beginning of creation and will be something we do through all eternityB) Singing a new song is more than just being creative. It’s sharing about fresh experiences with God!C) Singing is a great way to point others to God2.   We Show God’s Heart for the Nations through MissionsA) We have a message, a method, and a mandateA1) The message is the gospelA2) The method is to share the good news dailyA3) The mandate is to take it to all peoplesB) Missions and evangelism aren’t optional, they are the expectation for all believers! 3.  We Show God’s Heart for the Nations through SacrificeA) We can offer a sacrifice of praise – Hebrews 13:15B) We can also sacrifice through our givingC) Jesus is worthy of worship and we must sacrifice to take his message to the world!

1. Invest in Your Walk with the Lord A) There is no substitute for spending time with GodB) We need to cling to Him and allow Him to guide us2. Invest in Your Work and Community A) In godly living, the judgment of God on humankind’s work (Genesis 3:17-19) is alleviated in that labor is truly blessed by God. A1) Work will be hard, but it can be a blessing B) We are blessed by God to impact our JerusalemB1) We should seek to improve of our city 3. Invest in Your FamilyA) This is a long-term investmentA1) Olive trees may not produce for 40 years! (But they can last for hundreds of years after being properly taken care of) B) Through the power of the gospel, the blessedness of a godly man can extend to multiple generations

Psalm 42:1-11 We are ThirstyWe all long for something because we were made to craveWhen is the last time you have desperately sought God with all that you are?Without true sustenance, we realize how weak we really areIt’s Ok to LamentIn the midst of despair, pour out your heart to GodBe honest with your feelings!Have your tears ever been your food? - v. 3Have you ever felt forgotten? – v. 9Have you ever been taunted? – v. 10Simply put, you aren’t alone in those experiencesHope will See Us ThroughRemember times you have experience GodAdverse conditions create an optimum context for reflectionIn times of self-doubt, focus on God’s covenantal loveJesus is our great reminder of God’s unfailing loveHe’s never failed, and he won’t start now!