Preparing For The Lord's Day

preparing

Preparing for the Lord's Day 

How are we to understand what God is saying to us in a world that is so crowded with noise and distractions? In the midst of our mixed up and confusing circumstances how are we to listen to God’s voice? We are living in a time of great uncertainty. It is difficult to know whose advice to follow and how to make sense of it all. There are days when I think all of this Covid-19 talk is overblown and there are other days that I am fearful of being in crowds or moving forward with church actives. Politically, there are times when I feel very strongly in support of a candidate or a position and the next day feel almost as strongly opposed. Economically, things are up and down as well. Last week the broader American markets tanked and early this week they seem to be rebounding. Socially, we have all been made acutely aware of the continuing racial tension in our country and yet we have also become jaded by months of protests turning into riots. In such a world, to whose voice do we listen? Where are we to find direction in the midst of this wilderness of uncertainty?

In our sermon for this week we come to Psalm 81. In this Psalm, the people of God are called upon to listen to the voice of the Lord alone in the midst of their hardships. And what we will see is that if we would listen to the voice of the Lord in the midst of our struggles we must remember that he has first heard our voice, we must dedicate to following his voice alone, and we must trust the blessing of listening to his voice. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 81, Exodus 3:7-12; 20:1-6, Numbers 14, John 10:16, 2 Corinthians 6:2, and this article on the Feast of Booths.

As we gather to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the Acclamation of Praise, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven,” and the Hymn of Response “More about Jesus Would I Know.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!

Sermon Information:

Text: Psalm 81

Title: Listening in the Wilderness

Outline:

  1. Remember the Lord has Heard Your Voice
  2. Dedicate to Follow the Lord’s Voice Alone
  3. Trust the Blessing of the Lord’s Voice

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