"I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you

and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,

and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,

and I will declare your greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness

and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all,

and his mercy is over all that he has made.

The Lord upholds all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand;

you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways

and kind in all his works.

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

he also hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord preserves all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy."  Psalm 145:1-9, 14-20

A disciple is a forgiven sinner who is committed to the transformational learning of Christ in repentance and faith.“Disciples are made by the persevering proclamation of the word of God by the people of God, in prayerful dependence on the Spirit of God.”  Marshall and Payne, The Vine Project, pg. 1451. The threefold personal worship pursuit

“I will extol you” (v.1)

“I will bless you” (v.2) and remember that your greatness is “no one can fathom” (NIV)

“I will meditate” (v.5) (to think deeply with praise and thanksgiving/to ponder)

“Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: grant us to so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of our everlasting life, which you have given us and our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen."  The Book of Common Prayer (1552)2. …which leads to iron resolve (v.4-6)

to commend means to happily pronounce or boast

to declare equals to remember, to make a written report APPLICATION STATEMENTS1. A love for the gospel and the understanding of God's heart for the nations/generations is at the core of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.2. We are called to deeply ponder/meditate on the wondrous works of the Lord in an impulsive, entertainment-saturated age of distractions.3. “We pour forth the fame” of that which we deeply treasure.4. The pouring forth of His fame involves joyful singing (Psalm 145:7, Psalm 100)5. We commend the reality of Christ with passion to the coming generations as we heartily rejoice in the mercies of the Father (v.14-20)"My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!"  Galatians 4:19 "Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church."  Colossians 1:246. We live with resolve because legacies are established and secured.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:8-9

7. We want to instill a culture of generos... Speaker: Buster Brown