Here are some good posts for small-town pastors:
A Small Church in a Mega-Church World – Joshua Jenkins (FTC)
A Simple Way to Pray for a Small Congregation – Michael Herrington (TGC)
We Are Open! The Story of Little Mill Church – Colin Berg (EM)
Author: Brian
Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor
Revelation Quote
The goal of Revelation is to bring encouragement to believers of all ages that God is working out His purposes even in the midst of tragedy, suffering, and apparent Satanic domination. It is the Bible’s battle cry of victory, for in it, more than anywhere else in the NT, is revealed the final victory of God over all the forces of evil. As such, it is an encouragement to God’s people to persevere in the assurance that their final reward is certain and to worship and glorify God despite trials and despite temptations to march to the world’s drumbeat.
– G.K. Beale in Revelation
Reflections on Psalms 120-126
Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.
- Songs of Ascent – Today’s psalms are all Songs of Ascent – psalms that the people of Israel would sing on their pilgrimage to the temple. They would sing with joy at the opportunity to go to the house of the Lord (122:1). What attitude do you have as you go to the house of the Lord?
- God our Helper – Many of these psalms speak of God as one who helps us (121, 124), keeps us (121), surrounds us (125), and restores us (126). And so we look to him in times of trouble (123). What do you need to look to the Lord for today?
Psalms 120-129: Our Helper
(120, 123, 124, 129) In what difficult situations does the psalmist need help in these psalms?
In what ways do you face similar situations today?
(120-121, 123) To whom does the psalmist look for help?
What picture does the psalmist paint in Psalm 123? How is this a helpful picture?
(121, 124) Where does our help come from (121:1-2, 124:8)? Why is it important for us to grasp this? Where else might we look?
What does the psalmist say about his helper in those verses? Why is that important?
(121) In what ways does God keep us according to this psalm? How have you experienced this?
(125) Not only does God help and keep us, but he also surrounds us (v2). How is this a helpful picture?
(122) What help does the psalmist seek for Jerusalem? Why?
What reasons do we have to be glad to go to the house of the Lord today? Were you glad to come today?
(127) What help do we need from God in our work (v1-2)? What lessons can we learn from this truth?
What help do we need from the Lord in our families? How does this recognition affect our view of children? How does this recognition compare with our culture’s various views?
(120-129) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?
Reflections on Psalms 113-118
Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.
- Praise and Thanks – Psalms 113 and 117 offer up praises to God for his great deeds of love and faithfulness. Psalm 116 and 118 offer thanks for answered prayer and help in time of need. How has he shown his love and faithfulness to you this week? How has he helped you? How has he answered prayer? Praise and give thanks to him.
- Trust – Psalm 115 compares God to idols. Idols can do nothing – it is folly to trust in them. But God shows us love and faithfulness, he is our help and shield – so we place our trust in him. What idols are you tempted to trust in? What do you need to trust God for?
What God Hates, Part 2
Tim Challies recently finished an excellent series on eight things God hates. In Challies’ words:
The God who loves must also hate. The God who loves all that is good and pure and holy must hate all that is evil and defiled and perverse.
Last week I provided links to the first four posts. Below are links to the final four. Again I encourage you to take the time to read them, and examine your life. Where do you see these tendencies in your life? For which of these might you need to repent and find forgiveness in the sacrifice of our Savior?
Prayer Quote of the Week
The giants of church history dwarf us in true prayer…. What most separates them from us is that prayer was their priority; they devoted considerable time and energy to it.
– Joel Beeke
Reflections on Psalms 110-112
Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.
- King and Priest – Psalm 110 speaks of a king who is to come – a king in the line of David who is greater than David (for David calls him Lord). This king is also a priest – one who mediates between God and man. This king and priest has come – and his name is Jesus.
- Praise – Psalm 111 pours out praise to God for who he is and what he has done. Use this psalm to pour out your own praise to the Lord.
Classic Quote
Holiness comes from Christ. It is the result of vital union with Him. It is the fruit of being a living branch of the True Vine.
– J.C. Ryle
Psalms 110-118: All Glory To The One True God
(115) When are we tempted to glory in ourselves (v1)? Why?
(115) How does the psalmist respond to the nations’ taunt in v2-3?
How does God’s ability compare to the nations’ idols (v3-7)?
How would you define an idol (see v8 for a hint)?
What are some modern idols in our culture today? Which idols are you tempted to follow?
What does the psalmist mean when he says people become like their idols (v8)?
(115) Unlike the idols, our God can act. How does God act towards his people in v9-15?
(111, 113-114, 118) What further examples of God’s actions toward his people do you find in 111:5-9, 113:7-9, 114:1-8, and 118:13-16?
(115) Why then should we glory in God and not ourselves (v1)?
(115) How should we respond to God’s actions toward us?
v9-11 (118:8-9) –
v18 (111:1, 113:1-3, 117:1-2, 118:28-29) –
v11, 13 (111:10) –
(110, 118) How do the following passages point to Jesus?
118:22-24 (Matthew 21:42) –
118:26 (Matthew 21:9) –
110:1-3 (Matthew 22:41-45) –
110:4 (Hebrews 5-7) –
(110-118) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?
Brian J. Mikul 