Preparing for the Lord's Day
Augustine famously said, “our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.” We are creatures who long for satisfaction. We have been created with a desire to be fulfilled, an itch that needs to be scratched, a thirst to be quenched. However, we pursue our longing in all the wrong things. In Psalm 84 we find that the longing we experience is only fulfilled as we come into the presence of the Lord. When we were created God designed us to dwell in his presence. However our sin caused us to be exiled from the very presence of God. Since our fall into sin the Lord has pursued his people to bring them back into his presence that their longing might again be fulfilled. As we come to Psalm 84, we will see that it is in the presence of the Lord alone that our longings will be fulfilled. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 84, Genesis 1:28; 2:10-17, Exodus 25:18-22, 2 Chronicles 6:1-11, Psalm 42:1, Isaiah 56:7, John 1:14; 2:19, and Revelation 21:1-4.
This week we will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine we look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits. Our hymns for this week include “All People That on Earth Do Dwell,” “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” and “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken.”
Text: Psalm 84
Title: Better Is One Day
Outline:
Introduction: The Temple and God’s Dwelling with Man
- You Must Long for God’s Dwelling Place (vv. 1-4)
- You Must Pursue God’s Dwelling Place (vv. 5-9)
- You Must Prioritize God’s Dwelling Place (vv. 10-12)