David's lament after Saul's death 2 Samuel 1: 17 - 27 1. the reason for David's lament 2. the grief expressed in David's lament 3. the focus of David's lament

Paul identified the church in Thessalonica as a model church. The testimony of their faithfulness was spreading throughout the region and encouraged other suffering churches. However, even this model church was not immune from the devastating pain of loss. Even though they knew that the resurrection was true, in the moment of grief, some members of the church were shaken. Paul wrote these words to remind those who had lost loved ones that they could find comfort in the certainty of their hope. Hope in Christ's return is the source of Christian comfort. The death of loved ones is a tragically common part of life. Death is inevitable in a fallen world. Whether because of a sudden disaster like a car crash, the gradual encroachment of cancer, or slow decay of age, death comes to us all. When death invades your life, where will you find comfort in the midst of grief? The answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. Our passage presents two promises that fix our hope on the return of Christ so that we can be comforted in times of loss. 1 - The Promise of the Resurrection that Fixes Our Hope (13-16) a - Grounded in the Gospel (14) b - Realized by Christ's Return (15-16) 2 - The Promise of Reunion that Focuses Our Hope (17-18) a - Reunion with One Another b - Reunion with Christ

This world does not satisfy our bodies. It certainly cannot satisfy our souls. In Psalm 81 the Lord offers to satisfy the souls of those who are seeking some needful thing, revealing his goodness, his grief, and his grace. Taking his offered mercies as gospel emblems, here is God offering out of himself both substance and sweetness, and so delighting the hungry soul forever.

Due to recent events in the life of our congregation, Pastor Trey elected to take a break this past weekend from our sermon series through Genesis 12-25 to preach a sermon from Psalm 90 entitled, "On Mortality". In this prayer of Moses, we are reminded to "number our days" and so gain a heart of wisdom. Ultimately, we are driven to lift up our heads and to find our comfort, assurance, and hope in Jesus Christ—whether in life or death. For more information on River Community Church and its ministries, please visit https://www.rivercommunity.org

The sermon explores the life of David as a model for believers navigating the Christian journey from grief to glory. Using the metaphor of a J-curve, it illustrates how descent into adversity and mourning is a necessary process for spiritual maturity and ultimate restoration. The preacher emphasizes that grieving is not a sign of failed faith but a vital part of trusting God's promises during times of trial. By referencing David's lament over Saul and Jonathan, the message encourages listeners to remain steadfast in their 'already but not yet' state of salvation. Ultimately, it points to Jesus Christ as the one who descended into suffering to secure eternal glory for all who trust in Him.

On the evening of the first Easter, the risen Lord told His disciples that everything written about Him in the Psalms must be fulfilled, and in this final session of our series we take Him at His word. We walk through Psalms 22, 23, and 24, the Cross, the Crook, and the Crown, and behold the Savior who died, the Shepherd who lives, and the Sovereign who reigns right now. We then face the hardest songs in the book, the imprecatory psalms, and discover how the cross of Christ teaches us to pray even these rightly. The session closes with practical counsel for a lifetime in the Psalter, including a verse-by-verse walk through Psalm 23 as a prayer, so that when grief, joy, or guilt leaves you without words, you will know where God has already supplied them.

The Christian's sorrow is temporary; resurrection joy is full and forever!