The 4 Relationships: God
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: The 4 Relationships
Psalm 115 (ESV)
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the small and the great.
14 May the Lord give you increase,
you and your children!
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
16 The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!
Sermon Outline
God is personal, so when we come to know God (not just have knowledge about God) we experience renewal in our lives.
1. A Personal God
v1 “steadfast love… faithfulness”
v3 “he does all that he pleases”
2. Lifeless gods
v4 “Their idols… the work of human hands”
v8 “Those who make them become like them”
3. The living God
v12 “the Lord has remembered us”
vv9-11 “trust in the Lord!”
vv17-18 “the dead do not… but we will bless the Lord…”
Prayer of Confession
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. We admit our lack of love and faithlessness. We have not trusted you. Instead, we have trusted in ourselves, the things of this world, and the work of our own hands. Our thoughts, feelings, words and actions evidence our sin. Forgive us. We remember your steadfast love and faithfulness, and pray that you will remember us with mercy. May Jesus, who reconciled us to you by taking on flesh and suffering death, receive glory even as we ask to receive forgiveness. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Is relating to God easier or harder than relating to people? Why?
Does it trouble you that God does whatever he pleases? Does it encourage you? Why?
What do you think are the top 5 things people look to in place of God (for help, significance, status, comfort, etc.)? What are the idols of our place/time? Which of these are you most drawn to?
In what ways do we become like the things we devote ourselves to? Do you see any symptoms in your life of having become like something you have trusted and devoted yourself to?
Do you want God to remember you? Why is God’s steadfast love and faithfulness so crucial to our drawing near to God?
How can the work of Christ, who laid down his life so that we are reconciled to God, bring life to our souls? What things should we continually remember to thrive?
If you had a firm conviction that God will bless you, would that motivate you to live more sacrificially for his glory? What motivates you (or would motivate you) to seek God’s honor above your own?
What are the marks of a healthy relationship with God?