BBC Sermon Cast

Psalm 117 is the shortest of the Psalms and the shortest chapter in the Bible. It is also the middle chapter of the Bible. Remarkably, this chapter sums up the entire corpus of the 66 books of the Bible: praise to God for so great salvation.

Sadly, division and disharmony—even hostility—is not confined to spheres outside of the church. Rather these very same ugly realities sometimes pervade the church and are sometimes pervasive within local churches. Such an attitude is inexcusable, unconscionable and ungodly. In fact, it may reveal an unregenerate heart. In Ephesians 2:11–22 Paul makes this very point as he emphasises that, in Christ, a whole new “race of man” has been formed.

If the church will grow in holiness, then each member must be lovingly involved in the pursuit of bearing burdens and restoring the fallen. This is the appeal of Galatians 6:1.

Being prolife is not merely an anti-abortion worldview. At least it should not be. Being prolife is a gospel issue, which informs our worldview on a wide range of sanctity of life issues: orphan care, caring for the marginalised, issues of human trafficking, racism, etc. If we are pro-gospel then we will necessarily be prolife.

The gospel is a sanctity of life message. After all, God sent His Son into the world to save sinners; human beings made in the image of God. That fact alone has much to say about the issue of the sanctity of life. Mark 5 has much to say to us in this regard.

Psalm 115 teaches us all that discussions and debates around the sanctity of human life are actually not about us at all. The great and gracious God who made us all is worthy of all our worship, wonder and work.

Psalm 114 is one of Israel’s great celebration songs, stemming from the exodus. The goal was to remind them of the central act of God’s saving grace: the power that delivered them and the presence that kept them. We can likewise sing songs of celebratory remembrance as we remember God’s great deliverance for us.

Paul has exhorted believers in Galatians 5 to walk in the Spirit. The natural question arises, what does it look like to walk in the Spirit? Paul answers this question in 5:26–5:5 by showing that walking in the Spirit is manifested in the way in which we relate to one another in the community of faith.

Anne Lamott wrote, “I do not understand the mystery of grace; only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.” Ephesians 2:5–10 addresses the question, where are you? Where are you regarding your relationship with the Lord? Where are you spiritually? A wide range of related where-are-you questions could be added to these. The point of these questions is to drive home the truth that God does not leave is where He meets us. He treats us with grace in order to transform us into His trophies of grace.

We will study this passage with our primary focus on the big idea of the grace of God as the means of our salvation. We can learn several things from these verses.

“This short hymn of praise celebrates the way in which the great and majestic God who rules over all takes notice of the lowly. Such a God is indeed worthy to be praised by all mankind.” (ESV Study Bible)

This psalm is short, but powerful in encouragement. It presents God as majestic and yet near; transcendent and yet immanent. It is a call to praise Yahweh, who, though enthroned in majesty in heaven, condescends to care for the weak and lowly on the earth.

Perspective is important for faithful, fruitful living. The big picture is important. In Ephesians 2:1–10 we have a “big picture”—a big picture of saving grace. Paul wanted these believers to see who they were in Christ, to see the glory of Christ and His church. He wanted them to properly consider the community of faith—God’s new community—because, as they gave it due to consideration, they would prioritise what God prioritises: the church.