The Trails Church

This morning in our text, we are called to “shout for joy” and to “sing praises.” And while Psalm 66 does not call on us to paint our faces or hump it with the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Yell Leaders, it does dive deeply into praise—commanding us to praise, examining the focus of our praises, and laying out our right response in praise. This morning, we are going to study praise.

Today's sermon is titled, “Praise awaits our God”, and I’d like you to pose a few questions to you as we work our way through this Psalm of David. Shaping Questions: Are you growing in your praise to God? With each day that the Lord give you are you growing in your praise to Him? In what contexts do you need to grow in your awe of the splendor of God?

Psalm 64 portrays a scene in the life of David when his life is threatened not by swords, but by speech. The psalm resounds with the sound of language: words of prayer, words of war, words of praise, and one final word from God. As we listen to “The Word of Psalm 64,” my prayer is that we will listen to David’s voice, hear the voice of Jesus sounding through this text, and along the way, make this psalm our own.

In Psalm 63, we hear the prayer of David as his soul thirsts and his heart aches for the nearness of his God. Even in the danger of the wilderness, his desire for the Lord surpasses every other longing. We will frame our time in Scripture around three prayers to pray when we find our souls in desert places but also fitting for every season of the Christian life.

Psalm 62 teaches us not to waste our waiting, but to find purpose in the seasons and situations where we are called to wait upon God. Here we find King David enrolled in the school of waiting: learning to trust, rest, and hope in the Lord. The title of our sermon is drawn from the heading in the ESV translation, “My Soul Waits for God Alone.”

The book of Acts tells the story of how the Risen Christ advances His kingdom through the proclamation of gospel, resulting in a growing church, who is continually sent on mission. We have highlighted throughout our study how this book is full of, “The Joy of Gospel Advancement.” So as we reflect on what we've seen and look ahead to what lies before us, we are invited into this same joy.

In Acts 28:16–31, we are reminded that we are still “Facing a Task Unfinished;” a task that is as urgent and important as in the time of Paul.

In Acts 28:1–16 we reflect on the end of this “Extraordinary Journey” that led Paul next to the island of Malta and eventually to the heart of the Roman Empire where not only would he defend himself before Caesar but make disciples for the glory of God.

Acts 27 tells the tale of a fierce storm, a fragile ship, and frightened sailors. But in the middle of the storm stands the steady faith of a man who trusts in the one who is the Sovereign of the Seas. This chapter contains incredible detail about one specific event, and yet we discover truths here to help us navigate many different kinds of events in life: unexpected outcomes, stormy trials, and even shipwrecks we may endure. Whether you find yourself in the middle of a storm or resting between them, I want to remind you of three truths about God you can cling in every season.

Acts 26 records Paul’s defense of the gospel before Roman officials. He tells of his former life, his encounter with Christ, and the transformation that followed. At the heart of his speech is the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection: the very center of our faith. The scene concludes with the gospel news ringing out that forgiveness is still available to all who believe.