“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”
—Philippians 4:12

In talking with our kids we discovered a simple truth: if our enjoyment of something can only have right now and in our preferred way, we will not only miss out on life, we will also injure others.

This is a symptom of self-centeredness, and the Father is actively training the opposite direction: that we as His kids of Grace, can learn contentment in every circumstance, cultivating wide, wider … even the widest … joy.

Message title: Wide, Wider, Widest Joy (Psalm 65)
Sixth week in Summer Psalms
Scriptures: Psalm 65
Preacher: Jeff Patterson
Date: 7/16/17

Listen or download:

The shorter clip is a meditation on atonement (at-one-ment).

In the message Pastor Jeff referenced a writing by Justin (aka Justin Martyr, c. AD 100-165), who noted in the fourteenth chapter of Apologies four primary challenges to disciple-making in the ways of Jesus:

Four challenges for early disciples of Jesus, with Justin’s categories on the left; updated summary categories on right.

Quotes:

There’s nothing better than to know we belong
We’ve been adopted by the Father of love
Our brother suffered on the cross in our place
We are kids of grace
—”Kids” by Citizens & Saints

“The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of. Our attention would have been on God.”
—C.S. Lewis

“We wake up before our devices do & they go to bed before we do.” — Andy Crouch, The Tech-Wise Family

“He is more honoured in our dependence than in our service.”
—Thomas Goodwin

Story Catechism this week is on the Great Rescue (chapter 11):

God’s love is bigger and better than sin.
God would never stop pursuing his creation (us).
God’s love story is about Jesus.
God’s love story about Jesus is called the gospel.
The gospel means that Jesus came to rescue us.

Scripture readings:

Romans 8:1-6 (ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

3 John 2-4 (ESV)

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Psalm 65 (ESV)

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

65 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
    and to you shall vows be performed.
O you who hear prayer,
    to you shall all flesh come.
When iniquities prevail against me,
    you atone for our transgressions.
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
    to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
    the holiness of your temple!

By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
    O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
    and of the farthest seas;
the one who by his strength established the mountains,
    being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    the tumult of the peoples,
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it;
    you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
    you provide their grain,
    for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
    settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
    and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty;
    your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
    the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
    the valleys deck themselves with grain,
    they shout and sing together for joy.


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.

This year each of us is invited on an adventure to build an altar to God each new day, to look up and love our Creator first. What will be your plan to develop a new rhythm of seeking God each day? » Find some help here.