Date Posted: 2024-08-05 06:32:32 | Video Duration: 01:03:12
At Highland Park Presbyterian Church, the spirit of community and faith is palpable. This past Sunday, Pastor Josh Peek returned from a vacation to deliver a message that resonated deeply with all in attendance. Drawing from Psalm 95, the sermon called the congregation to worship with joy and thanksgiving, reminding everyone of the greatness of God. “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation,” he read, setting the tone for a service filled with music, prayer, and reflection.
As the service continued, a spirit of confession and renewal took hold. The congregation joined in a prayer of confession, echoing the words of Psalm 51: “Have mercy on us, oh God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out our transgressions.” With these words, Pastor Josh reassured everyone of God’s forgiving nature, emphasizing that through Christ, we are renewed and called to love and serve with confidence.
The sermon took an engaging turn as Pastor Emily shared a personal anecdote about a whitewater rafting trip in Colorado. Just as the rapids were unpredictable and required trust in the guide, she paralleled this experience with the need for trust and dependence on God, especially when navigating life’s challenges. This story served as an introduction to the exploration of Psalm 5, a passage that encourages us to bring our groans and cries to God, trusting in His steadfast love.
Psalm 5 was the focal point of the sermon, a passage that Pastor Emily described as having “level five rapids,” moments that challenge us to confront the reality of God’s holiness and love. She urged the congregation to adopt three heart postures: dependence, remembrance, and expectancy. In her words, “We must come before God vulnerable and needy, remembering His steadfast love and expecting Him to move mightily in our lives.”
Dependence was highlighted as a crucial posture, with David’s example of bringing his unfiltered emotions to God. This raw honesty in prayer reflects a childlike faith and vulnerability that God welcomes. Remembrance, the second posture, calls us to recall God’s holiness and lovingkindness, acknowledging His justice and mercy. In Psalm 5:7, David expresses this beautifully: “But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.”
Finally, expectancy was emphasized as an audacious belief in God’s promises. Pastor Emily encouraged the congregation to approach God with the same certainty as her dog Brody expects treats, confidently asking God to fulfill His promises in our lives. This expectancy is not about demanding our timing or methods but trusting God to be present and active in our circumstances.
As the service transitioned to communion, the congregation was invited to come to the table with these heart postures. The act of taking communion was framed as an encounter with “reality himself,” a moment to depend on, remember, and expect the transformative power of God’s love. “These are the gifts of God for the people of God,” Pastor Emily declared, inviting everyone to partake in the sacred meal.
In closing, the congregation was reminded of their role as bearers of God’s presence in the world. “You go no by accident where you are going; God is sending you,” Pastor Josh affirmed, sending the congregation forth with a blessing to live out their faith with purpose and confidence.
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