Genesis! (Laying the foundation for how the book -- especially the Creation account -- will be approached)

Guest speaker, Jim Johnson, considers select Bible passages on the (inevitable) prospect of believers enduring hardship or affliction -- and how Scripture offers encouragement and guidance during those times.

Psalm 33!

A terrific psalm for the first Sunday of a new year (a week late since the actual first Sunday was cancelled due to inclement weather). Side note: The recording begins with applause, but that's not for me (the pastor) -- rather, it's from a congregational stereo song that just ended that ends with applause. :-)

Psalm 148

A praise psalm if there ever was one! "Praise" occurs 13x in the English Standard Version Bible; "all" occurs 9x. What are you waiting for?

Psalm 112:6-10

Arthur E. Cundall, Daily Devotional Bible Commentary, Psalms–Malachi, vol. 2, (1974), 98

In Psalm 112 the sentiments are, as might be expected, in the tradition of Proverbs, no mention being made of exceptions. Note the link made by v. 3b between the two psalms; since man's righteousness is derived from God, the same affirmation can be made of man's and God's. We should translate v. 4, 'To those who fear God he is like a light that shines in darkness; he is merciful, gracious and righteous' (Weiser); he shows the same type of attributes as does God. The RSV emendation is unfortunate, for we are dealing with the righteous man, not with God's actions. We must link v. 5 with v. 9 (cf. comments on Psa. 15:5). The righteous is always prepared to lend, but when he meets the genuinely poor he gives. This is what is meant by saying he 'conducts his affairs with justice' (5b) — his standard is not human law, but the moral demands of God.

Psalm 112 (part 1)

The last verse of Psalm 111 reads, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" The first verse of Psalm 112 picks up where the last psalm left off: "Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments!"

Psalm 111

This alphabetic acrostic psalm celebrates the LORD's works and His precepts (what we might recognize as His Word). The psalm ends with the important precept: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever."

Psalm 92:6-15

In part 1 (the week before) we considered the first strophe (movement, stanza). In this message we cover the remainder of the psalm, especially contrasting two kinds of "flourishing" -- one that ends in death and disappointment and one that bears eternal rewards.