This week the theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking died. In an interview a few years ago Hawking said this: "There is probably no heaven and no afterlife. We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that, I am extremely grateful." Hawking spent his life looking at the skies, but his final conclusion was that after this life there is nothing else. We can enjoy the grand design of the universe while we live, but in the end we cease to exist. When we come to Psalm 8, as David looks at the skies he has a very different conclusion. David’s response is one of worship and wonder. David is amazed by God’s creation and by God’s relationship to man, and David’s amazement leads to worship.

As we come to Psalm 2 we are, in many senses, in the second part of Psalm 1. There was a time when Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 were merged together as on Psalm that served as the introduction to the Psalter. While Psalm 1 begins with Blessed be the man, Psalm 2 ends with the same refrain. In Psalm 1 the emphasis is on two ways of life: The way of the righteous and the way of the wicked and how each relates to God. In the second Psalm we see a third group, the rulers of the earth that are in opposition to God. So, the big idea that connects the two Psalms is this: Those who trust God and submit to Him are blessed, but those who oppose Him will be judged.

In this message we are at the beginning of a journey as we begin taking time as a church to consider the Psalms. This first message is twofold: First we will take time to consider the book as a whole, and then we will consider the Psalm that serves as the preface to the rest of the Psalter, Psalm 1.

There is a sweetness found in unity (Psa 133). Unity is both beautiful and life-giving and while it is rare in our culture, it should flourish in the church. The unity found in the church is particularly stunning as it is born in the midst of great diversity. The barriers that so often divide in our country are overcome by a treasuring of Jesus. This unity, however, is often threatened. Paul calls for believers to fight for this unity by living out of our Gospel identity.

The primary goal of the Gospel of John is to help us see Jesus and believe in Him. As we wrap up the book we are going to try, one more time, to walk through the Gospel of John and see Jesus more fully. The thread that we are going to follow through the book is the symbol of Jesus as the Light. This is a repeated theme and it helps us see who Jesus is, who we are and why we need Him.

As we have worked through the Gospel of John there has been on overarching theme – John wants the reader to see Jesus clearly. He wants us to see Him and believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God. One way this is emphasized is by the use of the word “reveal” or “manifest.” In chapter one John the Baptist says that He has come so that Jesus can be “revealed.” Following the miracle of water to wine John says that through this sign the glory of Jesus was “revealed.” In John 17 Jesus says that throughout His ministry He has “revealed the name of God in the world.” Now, as we come to chapter 21, three times we are told that Jesus comes to “reveal” Himself to the disciples. This interaction between Jesus and His disciples is a chance for us to see the Lord more clearly. To see who He is and what He has called us to.

Doubt isn’t a cookie-cutter problem; it can be as unique as the individual and their experiences. Just as the cause of doubt is diverse, the remedies are diverse as well. With that in mind, we should be careful not to look to Thomas’ story as a universal cure-all for doubt. Instead, we should try to understand Thomas’ doubt and watch how Jesus addresses it.

On the Sunday evening following the death of Christ the disciples gathered together in fear. For three days they had been living in a fog. The one whom they had given their lives to following had died. But as they gathered in a locked room someone was able to enter the room

There is no denying that Jesus has forever changed the world that we live in, but His public ministry was only 3 years long. How is it that someone could have had such an impact on the world in only 3 years? Simple answer. The resurrection. Jesus did what no one else could, overcome death. The miracle was far more than a cool twist ending to Jesus’ tragic death, it was the essential capstone of Jesus’ redemptive work.