As humans, we are creatures of desire. From our desire for seemingly small things, such as what we want to eat for our next meal, to larger desires concerning how we want our lives to go, our desires guide our actions. This week, we looked at Psalm 84, where we find the psalmist desiring something so strongly that he is desperate for it. But what we see is that he is not simply desperate for a change in his circumstances. Instead, he teaches us that lasting joy comes only from longing for the blessing of being in the Lord’s presence with the Lord’s people.

We all desire to experience deep satisfaction in our souls. In fact, whether we realize it or not, we are constantly in pursuit of it. Where is true satisfaction found, and what does our praise have to do with it? This Sunday as we considered these questions and continued our series in the Psalms, entitled “Psalms: Hearts Tuned by Praise.”

We seek to pass on to the next generation what is most important to us. As Christians, nothing is more important to us than knowing our God and living a life of worship to Him. This Sunday we continued our series in the Psalms, entitled “Psalms: Hearts Tuned by Praise.” We studied Psalm 48 together, where we find the psalmist declaring the greatness of our God and seeking to pass on this heart of praise to the next generation.

We are excited to begin a short sermon series this week entitled “Psalms: Hearts Tuned by Praise.” Over the next four weeks, we will be looking at how, as Christians, we are to be people whose lives are always full of praise to our God.This week, we kicked things off by looking at Psalm 34 together. In it, we find the psalmist addressing how to keep the troubles we face in life from taking our eyes off God, which can so easily cause our praise to go silent.

Often times we put lots of emphasis on getting the final word in a conversation. And yet, can’t it be so easy at times to just read right over the final words at the end of many of the letters in the New Testament? Yet as we finished up our series in Philippians, we came to Paul’s final words in the last 3 verses of this letter, Philippians 4:21-23 and we saw that there is much for us to learn and apply to our own lives in this often overlooked ending.

As followers of Christ when the Lord saves us from our sins he also invites us into partnership with one another for the sake of the gospel. Yet to see the gospel advance requires us to live lives of sacrificial generosity. How do we do this? And where do we find the strength we need? This Sunday we studied Philippians 4:14-20 and were encouraged in the gospel partnership we have been called to.

Isn’t it so easy to think, ‘If I could just have _____ then I would be happy and content’? We can all seek to fill that _____ with endless things, but isn’t it true that contentment can often be so elusive? This Sunday we looked at Philippians 4:10-13, where Paul tells us the secret to contentment.

We live in a world where peace can be so elusive. Yet through the gospel we can know true peace - peace with God, with one another, and within. This Sunday, we considered Philippians 4:1–9 and how we can experience this peace through Christ as we walk with Him.

Can’t it be so easy to find ourselves captivated by the things of this world? Isn’t it easy to spend much of our lives focusing on the joys and disappointments we may experience in this life? This Sunday we looked at Philippians 3:17-4:1 where Paul points us to the importance of fighting this kind of tendency through pursing a heavenly mindset alongside one another.

As Christians what kind of goals should we set for ourselves? This Sunday we considered Philippians 3:12-16, a goal the Apostle Paul set for himself that he is pursuing with all of his energy and focus. What can we learn from this about our own goals in the Christian life?