Thought For The Week

In a stirring sermon, Steve delivered a powerful message on the centrality of worshiping and praising God in all aspects of life, drawing from Psalm 148, Psalm 22, Acts 17, Matthew 6, and 2 Corinthians 1. The sermon, rooted in scripture, called believers to live God-consciously, recognizing His divine intervention, providence, and preservation in every moment, not just during Sunday worship but every day.

The service began with a reading from Psalm 148, which commands all creation to praise the Lord. From the heavens, angels, sun, moon, and stars to the earth’s sea creatures, mountains, trees, animals, and all people—kings, princes, young and old—everything is called to exalt God’s name. The psalmist emphasizes that God created all things by His command and established them forever, ensuring their sustenance through His eternal decree. Steve connected this to God’s promise after Noah’s flood, symbolized by the rainbow, assuring humanity that the earth’s seasons and provisions would endure. This promise underscores God’s constant care, providing for humanity’s needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring that the earth sustains not only people but also animals, plants, and all creation.

Steve then turned to Psalm 22, a poignant reflection of human struggle and divine faithfulness. The psalm begins with a cry of despair—“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—words Jesus echoed on the cross. Yet, the psalmist quickly acknowledges God’s holiness and the trust of Israel’s ancestors, who were delivered when they cried out. Steve noted that this psalm reminds believers that even in moments of feeling abandoned, God is near, having cared for them since birth. Verses 9-10 beautifully illustrate this: “You brought me out of the womb. You made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth, I was cast on you.” This imagery highlights God’s intimate involvement in each person’s life from the very beginning, ensuring their well-being and guiding them through challenges.

The sermon also drew from Acts 17, where Paul addresses the Athenians about the “unknown God.” Walking through Athens, Paul noticed an altar inscribed to this unknown deity and used it to proclaim the true God who created the world and everything in it. This God, Paul declared, does not live in temples made by human hands nor need human service, for He gives life and breath to all. Steve emphasized Paul’s point that God appointed the times and places for all nations, directing humanity’s history through Noah’s descendants to populate the earth. This divine orchestration ensures that people live where God intends, with the purpose of seeking and finding Him. As Paul states, “In him we live and move and have our being,” a reminder of God’s constant presence and providence.

In Matthew 6, from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches believers not to worry about their material needs—what they will eat, drink, or wear. Steve highlighted Jesus’ comparison to the birds of the air, which neither sow nor reap yet are fed by God, and the flowers of the field, which surpass Solomon’s splendor without labor. If God cares for these, Jesus asks, will He not much more care for His people? The call is to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” trusting that God knows and will meet their needs. This passage reinforces the theme of divine provision, urging believers to live without anxiety, confident in God’s care.

Steve also referenced 2 Corinthians 1, where Paul recounts his trials in Asia, where he faced such pressure that he despaired of life itself. Yet, this suffering taught him to rely not on himself but on God, who raises the dead. Paul’s experience underscores that hardships are opportunities to trust God’s deliverance. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul further shares his contentment in all circumstances, whether in need or plenty, through the strength given by Christ. Steve challenged the congregation to learn this contentment, trusting God’s provision regardless of life’s ups and downs.

The sermon emphasized that worship is not a one-day event but a lifestyle of praising God and living righteously. Steve encouraged the congregation to be God-conscious, recognizing His hand in their lives daily. He shared personal experiences, such as losing jobs, yet testified that God always provided, ensuring he never went hungry. This personal testimony reinforced the biblical promise that God cares for His people, even when they face mockery or trials, as Jesus did on the cross.

Central to the message was the role of Jesus as the high priest, interceding for believers and presenting them blameless before God. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus reconciles humanity to God, making worship possible. Steve stressed that God’s forgiveness is available to all, but it requires coming to Him through Jesus, specifically through baptism as a disciple. Quoting Matthew 28, he noted Jesus’ command to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For those not yet in a covenant relationship with God, he extended an invitation to meet these stipulations, assuring that the church was ready to assist with baptism.

In conclusion, Steve’s sermon was a call to live a life of continuous worship, trusting in God’s providence and praising Him in all seasons. By reflecting on God’s creation, provision, and intervention, believers are encouraged to seek Him daily, rely on His strength, and share His goodness with others. The scriptures read—Psalm 148, Psalm 22, Acts 17, Matthew 6, and 2 Corinthians—collectively affirm that God is ever-present, sustaining His creation and guiding His people, inviting all to a relationship with Him through Jesus.

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In a recent sermon, Steve delivered a heartfelt message centered on the importance of worshiping and praising God in every aspect of life, drawing from Psalm 148 and other scriptures. The sermon emphasized that worship is not confined to a single day but is a daily act of gratitude and recognition of God’s providence, divine intervention, and preservation.

Psalm 148 calls all creation—heavens, angels, sun, moon, stars, sea creatures, and all people—to praise the Lord for His mighty acts and eternal decrees. This universal call underscores that God, as the Creator, has designed the earth to sustain humanity and all living things. Steve highlighted God’s promise, symbolized by the rainbow after Noah’s flood, ensuring the earth’s seasons and provisions will endure. This promise reminds believers that God is always present, providing for their needs 24/7.

The sermon also explored Psalm 22, which begins with a cry of anguish yet transitions to trust in God’s faithfulness. This psalm, echoed by Jesus on the cross, reflects the human experience of feeling forsaken yet finding hope in God’s constant care. Steve emphasized that God has been with each person since birth, guiding and sustaining them through life’s challenges.

Drawing from Acts 17, Steve spoke of Paul’s address to the Athenians about the “unknown God” who created the world and gives life to all. This God is not distant but near, desiring that people seek Him. In Matthew 6, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount reassures believers not to worry about their needs, as God provides for the birds and flowers and will do even more for His people. Finally, in 2 Corinthians 1, Paul’s trials in Asia taught him to rely not on himself but on God, who delivers from peril.

Steve urged the congregation to live God-consciously, praising Him daily and trusting in His provision. He stressed that Jesus, as the high priest, intercedes for believers, presenting them blameless before God. For those not yet in a covenant relationship with God, he extended an invitation to follow Jesus through baptism, emphasizing that God’s forgiveness is available to all. This message calls believers to a life of continuous worship, trusting in God’s unending care.

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