Wawasee Bible Sermon Audio

Part 13 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 Unity in the Church is a good and precious thing—but sadly all to rare. David declares how good unity is among God's people, then gives two pictures to communicate it. He wraps up by pointing out the blessing of unity—life! One of the keys to unity in a church is to view your church as family. We must also keep Jesus, not our own interests and agendas, front and center. He's the Senior Pastor, and it's his church!

Part 12 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 Psalm 93 is one of a handful of "enthronement" Psalms that celebrate God as King. This week we make some observations about God as King from Psalm 93. Jesus' kingdom is forever, is all powerful, and is unlike any other! Are you worshiping God as King?

Part 11 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 David writes Psalm 142 from the cave of Adullam. He was running for his life from King Saul, his jealous and insecure father-in-law. David had to wonder how he ended up in this place. God had chosen and anointed him to be king one day and used him mightily to save Israel in battle on multiple occasions. So why would God lead him here? Do you find yourself in a desolate cave wondering if God cares or even knows? Psalm 142 is for you.

Part 10 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 Psalm 111 is a Psalm of praise to the Lord. As we study it we're reminded that we must praise the Lord corporately, as his church! We must praise him for his great works. We must praise him for his sure word. And we must praise the Lord for his wise will.

Part 9– SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 When you face a "day of trouble" in your life, where is your trust? Do you find it in yourself? In things you can see? Or do you root your trust in the name of the Lord? That's the issue at hand in Psalm 20 — and it begs the question for you: Where is your trust?

Part 8 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 In some ways you could say that Psalm 104 is a note that the psalmist wrote to himself. He preaches to his own soul saying, "Soul, bless the Lord!" Then, working through God's creation, gives reasons to bless the Lord. Do you need to write a note to yourself? "Bless the Lord, o my soul!"

Part 7 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 Living a life that honors God and that is blessed ALWAYS begins with fearing and delighting in Jesus. Once we repent, turn to Jesus, and find our identity in him, then we begin to live a life honoring to the Lord and blessed by him. This week we look at four blessings of a life that fears and delights in Jesus: We leave a family heritage, we receive God's favor and guidance, we become generous and compassionate, and our hearts and faith become steadfast.

Part 6 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 In whatever situation you are in, God knows. All who have repented and turned to Jesus are adopted as God's own children. So not only does he know, but he cares—and you should trust him! You have a Father who is strong and you need not be afraid of anything. David begins this Psalm stuck in his fear, but ends it with confidence and security because of the strength of his Father.

Part 5 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 Blessed is the one whose sin is forgiven. What a truth! Transgression can be forgiven and our hearts set free from deceit. Spiritual contentment is only possible when you have repented and put your trust in Jesus Christ. Psalm 32 points us to Jesus, that we might experience his protection, preservation, proximity, peace, and praise.

Part 4 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 Every thirst we have is ultimately for God, whether we realize it or not. When we find ourselves down, we need to be honest about where we're at with God and with our friends. Then we need to lift our eyes off ourself and toward Jesus so that we put our hope in God. Remember that it's ok to be down and it's ok to be honest about it with God—but it's not ok to stay there! Put your hope in God!

Part 3 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 You need help. Without Jesus' help, every effort and ever endeavor of your life is a waste of time. You need Jesus' help to build your home, protect your home, and to make a living. Children are a particular gift of Jesus' grace and expression of his help to you. All of the Christian life is one of depending on Jesus' gracious help to you.

Part 2 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 Where do you look for help? When you face anxiety, depression, worry, anticipation... where do you go? Psalm 121 reminds us that all true help comes from the Lord, from Jesus. He is your keeper. He'll watch over you today and protect you throughout your life. And for those who have looked to Jesus and turned to him in faith, he promises to keep you forever.

Part 1 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 The Psalmist identifies two ways to live. We choose to delight in Jesus (this is called the way of the "righteous"), or we can choose to delight in sin (this is called the way of the "wicked"). The righteous and the wicked are often contrasted and compared in the Psalms. Which way will you choose? Will you delight in Jesus and his word and be like a strong fruitful tree? Or will you choose the way of the wicked and be driven away like chaff by the wind?

Part 61 - SERIES: Lionman of Judah Jesus is said to be amazed on only two occasions in the New Testament. On one occasion he is amazed at the faith of the centurion in Matthew 8. On the second occasion he is amazed at the lack of faith of the people in Nazareth. This week we look at this second occasion in Mark 6. Biblical faith is believing God's Word, and acting upon it, no matter how I feel, because God promises a good result! (And he keeps all of his promises!) Jesus is amazed by you as well... is it because of your faith? Or your lack of it?

Part 60 - SERIES: Lionman of Judah Jesus returns from the other side of the Lake of Galillee and a crowd is waiting for him. Working his way through the crowd is Jairus, the Ruler of the Synagogue in Cappernaum. His daughter is dying and he asks Jesus to come and heal her. Next a woman who had been sick for 12 years reaches out in faith to touch Jesus' garments and she is healed. In both Jairus and the woman we see faith put into action, unleashing God's power to save and heal. Have you reached out in faith to Jesus?

Part 59 - SERIES: Lionman of Judah After crossing to the other side of the lake, Jesus is met on the shore by a demon possessed man. It is impossible for believers to possessed by a demon, but they are open to demonic oppression. Christians can and should resist oppression by running to Jesus and trusting him to stand firm. After Jesus casts out the demons from this man and into the herd of pigs, he sends the man out to tell others of all that Jesus had done for him and how he showed mercy to him. We're sent to do the same.

Part 57 - SERIES: Lionman of Judah After a long day, Jesus tells his disciples to pack it up, get in the boat, and head across the lake of Galilee to the other side. On their way a great windstorm arises and the disciples are scared for their lives while Jesus is asleep in the back of the boat. He wakes up, calms the storm, then rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith. As we'll see this week, the real issue isn't being in the storm, the issue is the storm being inside the disciples (or us!).

Extra – SERIES: Lionman of Judah This week Simon Lissak was our guest. The son of Holocaust survivors, Simon is from London, England and spends much of his time helping orthodox Jews see how the Old Testament points clearly to Jesus as the Messiah. In this message Simon walks through the Jewish Passover and how all of it is meant to reveal and point to Jesus.

Part 56 - SERIES: Lionman of Judah This week we wrap up a series of parables Jesus told to describe his Kingdom, finishing with 5 short parables: The Parable of the Mustard Seed, The Parable of the Leavened Bread, The Parable of the Hidden Treasure, The Parable of the Valuable Pearl, and The Parable of the House Owner. The first two describe how Jesus' Kingdom grows, the second two describe the great value and worth of the Kingdom, and Jesus wraps up asking if the disciples (and us!) get it yet. Before unpacking the parables, Pastor Josh explains some of the common aspects of any Kingdom, and how they are manifest in Jesus' Kingdom.

Part 55 - SERIES: Lionman of Judah Jesus continues teaching the crowds about the Kingdom in parables. He divides people into two categories and compares one category to wheat and one to weeds (or "tares" in some translations). After explaining the parable to his disciples, he tells them another to drive home his point using the imagery of a fishing net and fishermen sorting their catch into two groups. At the end of the day, the question for you is which category do you find yourself in? There are only two. And only you can choose.