The Trails Church

Psalm 74 is a corporate lament, sung and prayed by Israel in the midst of an unspeakable tragedy that has occurred at the hands of their enemies. And what I want us to see today is that these words were not just meant for a people 2,500 years ago. But that this psalm is just as useful and necessary for God’s people today, especially as we face suffering and hardship from the enemy. The solution that Psalm 74 offers us is prayer.

There’s an implicit question that first rolls off of the forked tongue of the serpent in Eden. And it was Adam and Eve’s response to this question that plunged all of humanity into a world filled with sin and death in Genesis 3. It is a question facing the people of God in every age: is God good? Psalm 73 explores this question by considering a particular struggle in the life of a believer: the temptation to see the prosperity of the wicked, compare it to their own suffering, and contemplate defecting to the dark side. And so, the hope of the psalmist for us today is that we would be strengthened to see the foolishness of envying the wicked as we learn to live by faith and not by sight in the promises of a good and just God.

In Romans 1:18, we read that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. In the final movement of the chapter (vv. 24-32), Paul unfolds what this wrath looks like in practice, in the hearts, minds, and lives of those who have exchanged the truth of God for a lie and, as a result, find every part of life disordered.

Proclaiming the good news of God. Preaching that the Kingdom of God has come near. Calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Mark articulated the mission statement of Jesus in just those two verses. So, fully aware of the threats of mission drift, we are going to look at a big chunk of narrative text that helps us understand the mission of Jesus Christ. And, in so doing, we will hopefully be drawn even more closely into that mission.

Romans 1:18-23 begins an extended and difficult diagnosis of the human condition. This presentation of the sinfulness of man begins right here in Romans 1:18.

Romans 1:17 continues to unfold why the Apostle Paul is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news is not only the power of God for salvation, it is also the revelation of the righteousness of God, a righteousness received by faith. These verses serve as a summary for the letter, outlining primary themes that follow: the gospel, God, righteousness, and faith. Each of these are doctrines that we both want to understand and apply as we grow together in Christ.

Galatians 2:20 holds one of the most beloved statements in the New Testament and for good reason. This verse teaches us not only how the Apostle Paul viewed himself but also shows how every true believer is to understand their life: in light of the grace of God given in Jesus Christ.