This Sunday, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary as a nation, studied Psalm 37. Our sermon is called, Keep Calm and Cultivate On. Psalm 37 addresses a lingering ancient problem for the people of God: What do you do when the world seems to be getting darker and evil seems to prevail unchecked? There is a most likely apocryphal quote attributed to the theologian and reformer Martin Luther when someone supposedly asked him what he would do if he knew this was going to be the last day of the world. The story goes that Luther answered, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” I think that is a good picture of what David is teaching in Psalm 37. When evil seems to be prevailing, don’t panic. Don’t rage. Cultivate godly character and kingdom priorities. Or, keep calm and cultivate on!

I hope this text will give you direction, encouragement, and hope. God’s people have a glorious privilege and a holy calling in a world that has lost its moorings and its way. Let’s celebrate King Jesus together and encourage each other towards love and good deeds as the people of God.

Reminder for next Sunday, July 12th we will have one service at 10am. If you can join us in person, we will be gathering outside by the lake. Bring a chair or a blanket. Lunch provided after.

This Sunday, during our outdoor service, studied Psalm 73. In this psalm, the psalm writer, Asaph, sings about a great struggle that almost ruined him. He started comparing himself to those who didn’t seek after God or live for God but still seemed happy and prosperous. He fell into the deadly sin of comparison.

Psalm 73 reminds us that the greatest treasure in our lives is not possessing the gifts but being the treasured possession of the Giver. It’s not having all the so-called blessings of this life but rather, it is knowing that you belong to the Giver of every good and perfect gift. One of the greatest needs of every child of God is to learn the secret of godly contentment. The apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6 - “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Do you struggle with the sin of comparison? At some point, don’t we all? Is it killing your joy and making you miserable? Do you know how to possess what the puritan writer Jeremiah Burroughs called “The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment”?

Come this Sunday as we study another wisdom Psalm. Come, worship, stay and be encouraged (and bring a friend)!

There is something strikingly unique and powerful about a person who has the ability to stay calm and steady in a world that is constantly shifting, unpredictable, and anxiety laden. This week in our study of the wisdom Psalms, we looked at just such a person in Psalm 112. Our sermon is entitled, The Steady Hearted Person.

One of the battles that Christians face is trying not to allow the inner person to reflect the chaos and uncertainty of the world around us. Too often, perpetual turmoil in our circumstances is reflected by perpetual turmoil in our hearts. Romans 12:2 exhorts us to live differently: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” External chaos (testing) is to be seen as a divinely appointed means for internal transformation. It is a time of learning and then living out the wisdom of the Word of God.

Do you long for more stability in your life? Is it your testimony that the increasing chaos of the world around you has resulted, by God’s grace, in increased calm and steadiness of character within you? Join us this week as we learn about the impact of growing into a spiritually steady person in a world that definitely is not! Looking forward to worshipping with you next Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m. Invite a friend!

This Sunday, we looked at a well-known Psalm, the 127th. Our sermon is called “The Redemptive Family.” We live in a world that has seen families decimated by sin and brokenness. That’s not new. We have experienced it! Family heartache begins in the book of Genesis and carries right on into the New Testament. Sin has shattered families and left a staggering and disorienting effect on many men, women and young people. Yet, there is hope.

The good news that the Scriptures reveal to us is that God has come not merely to offer us a better way to live. God has purposed to adopt us as his own children. In his wisdom and grace, God has created a new family called the church. The mission of God advances as we proclaim the hope of the gospel as a community of brothers and sisters in Christ. The mission advances as the Father and Son welcome the broken, the wounded, the abandoned, and the lost into a new community - a redemptive family – which is built upon the mercy and grace of a Father who loves the orphan and the widow and an elder Brother who redeems and rescues the prodigal. The church is God’s redemptive family.

We hope that you will join us this Sunday as we gather not just as a group of people but as God's family. Pray that God might transform your vision of the church and its mission so that more and more people will not only hear but experience the joy of belonging to the family of God.

Join us next Sunday at 9 or 11am.

This Sunday, continued in our study of the Summer of Wisdom by studying Psalm 3. Psalm 3 is written at the time of one of the most heart-wrenching moments of King David’s life: his son Absalom seeks to usurp his father’s throne. David’s son despises him. David’s son believes David is not fit to be king. Absalom works methodically and even gains the support of some of David’s closest allies to reject David as King and replace him. It’s interesting that in 2 Samuel, the story of David and Bathsheba takes up only two chapters of the book (ch.11 and 12). The story of Absalom takes up six chapters (ch. 13-18).

Here’s the thing: David really has blown it. David didn’t just blow it when he fell into sin with Bathsheba and had Uriah the Hittite murdered. David blew it as a father and a king to Absalom in the years that followed. His failings as a parent are very apparent in 2 Samuel. However, what those around him fail to see is that God’s grace is greater than all David’s sin. David’s son and his former allies assume that because of David’s sin and weaknesses that God cannot be with David. But the story of the gospel is the story of a heavenly Father who is faithful to His people even when his people fail to be faithful to Him.

Our sermon this Sunday is called Grace that is Greater than All Our Sin. One of the most helpful principles that we as believers need to have when we are acutely aware of our shortcomings is that God is faithful and just to forgive those who have fallen and failed if they take refuge in Him. We hope that you will find encouragement and comfort this Sunday as we gather to worship our great and glorious God and Savior.

Hope you will join us soon and that you will invite a friend.

Relationships can be hard. We have broken relationships all around us because we are all so human. Yet God shares with us His vision for a church living in unity as a family in Psalm 133. There, David shares how sweet this experience can be.

We will spend our time exploring the rich guidance scripture provides for addressing fractures in these relationships, so that we can experience Psalm 133 goodness more and more in our relationships.

This Sunday, we will continue our series in the Psalms entitled Summer of Wisdom. Our Psalm this week will be Psalm 2. Psalm 2 is a very important psalm because in it we see the promise of God the Father to God the Son to give Him dominion over all the nations.

Where this psalm challenges us is that it is a call to surrender our lives to King Jesus. One of the basic instincts that each of us possesses is the sin of self-sovereignty… we want to be kings of our own lives. At its core, sin is a determination to usurp the authority of God over our lives and to live according to our desires. As Satan said in Genesis to Adam and Eve… “You can become like God.” Psalm 2 not only challenges the notion of our self-sovereignty but it reveals to us the urgency of surrendering our lives to King Jesus. The message is entitled “God’s Kingdom Over Mine” and it is one that we all need to hear.

Remember this Sunday, there is only one service together at 10 a.m. It is followed by lunch together. A chicken dinner will be provided for everyone. We hope that you will join us this week and may the Lord use our time together to bring glory and honor to His name and good to our souls.

"Summer of Wisdom: The Blessing of Wisdom" | Psalm 1

This Sunday, we are going to begin a summer sermon series in the Psalms called “Summer of Wisdom.” The “wisdom psalms” are psalms designed to do exactly what you would expect… to impart to us divine wisdom. Psalm 111 reads “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it will have understanding. His praise endures forever!” Biblical wisdom is possessing a true knowledge of God and living a life that is consistently aligned with bringing glory to God and good/blessing to humanity. Wisdom possesses true knowledge and practices it.

This Sunday, we will begin with Psalm 1. It is suggested by Bible scholars that Psalm 1 and 2 are the introductory summary statements for understanding all of the Psalms. Psalm 1 shows both the present practical implications of pursuing God’s wisdom and the eternal implications of choosing the right or wrong path. Pursuing wisdom has serious implications for our lives.

Here’s a simple question for you: How intentional is your pursuit of possessing the wisdom of God? Think for just a moment: What are the influences that are predominantly shaping your understanding of life and how to live it? What is shaping your values? Where do you get your wisdom?

Psalm 1 will teach us that it is the joy and the duty of every sincere Christian to make the pursuit of God’s wisdom the priority of his or her life. God’s blessing is for those who take this calling seriously.

We are looking forward to growing together in God’s Word and God’s wisdom this summer. Invite a friend as we join to worship our Lord at 9 and 11 a.m. God is good! Stay up to date with all our events this summer.

We have worship by the lake some Sundays at 10am followed by a church luncheon. Check out our Summer Opportunities page - https://www.waterbrooke.church/pages/summer-opportunities-at-waterbrooke