Rebuild

Reconnect With the People of God

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; – Psalm 92:1 (ESV)

The hymn “Now Thank We All Our God” says: “Now Thank We All Our God, With hearts and hands and voice, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices; Who, from our mothers’ arms, Hath blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today. Thankfulness does not have to wait for prosperity and peace.” It’s always a good time to praise God for the “wondrous things” He has done.

Do you know the background for this hymn? It was the worst of times. In the first half of the 17th century, Germany was in the midst of wars, hunger, and a pandemic. Pastor Martin Rinkart conducted up to 50 funerals a day as a plague swept through his town. Yet, during those years of darkness and despair, when death and destruction greeted each new day, Pastor Rinkart wrote 66 sacred songs and hymns. Among them was the song “Now Thank We All Our God.”

We can give thanks at all times. Psalm 92 teaches it is “good to give thanks” to God. Good seems like too weak of a word for giving thanks and praise to the Most High God. In what sense is it good? C. H. Spurgeon said (The Treasury of David), “It is good ethically, for it is the Lord’s right; it is good emotionally, for it is pleasant to the heart; it is good practically, for it leads others to render the same homage.”

Reflection

Pastor Jim reminded us on Sunday; it is better when we do life together in the community of other believers. Hebrews 10:24–25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Are there times when you take for granted the privilege and freedom we have to worship together?

Praise

Thank God for life, health, food, clothing, air, water, friends, memories, hopes, and, above all, the blessings of redemption and the assurance that we may be happy forever together with Him.

Reconnect With the People of God: Sing Praise Together 

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; – Psalm 92:1 (ESV)

Years ago, there was a Scottish Presbyterian minister who had good theology but was very reserved in the pulpit. God blessed him with one woman in his congregation who was exceptionally warmhearted and full of love for the Savior. She was in the habit of shouting, “praise the Lord,” or “hallelujah,” when deeply moved by something in his sermon. This bothered the pastor, so one New Year’s Day, he went to her and said, “Betty, I’ll make you a promise. If you will stop saying “praise the Lord” and “hallelujah” during my sermons this year, I’ll give you the two wool blankets that I hear you’ve been wanting.” Betty was poor, and the offer sounded so good she promised to try. Sunday after Sunday, she kept quiet.

But one Sunday, the pastor had a guest preacher fill in. This man was bubbling over with zeal for the Lord. As he spoke on the forgiveness of sins and the blessings of salvation, Betty’s joy grew brighter and brighter, and her vision of the blankets began to fade. At last, she could stand it no longer. She leaped to her feet and cried, “Blankets or no blankets, Hallelujah!” (Our Daily Bread).

Psalm 92 is called a “Song for the Sabbath.” This teaches us that one of the appropriate services of the day of worship is “praise.” The psalmist calls God “O Most High.” This means He is God over everything. He is God over our family, our neighbors, and all our circumstances at all times.

Reflection

Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Praising God with other believers is one of the ways God wants our hearts to be encouraged. The Life Groups in our church are a great place to rejoice together and weep together. Are you in a Life Group? Can you remember a time when your Life Group rejoiced with you or wept with you?

 Praise

Thank God for the believers in your life who are there for the good times and the bad times. Praise God for being there in the good times and the bad times.

Reconnect With the People of God: Love Together

…to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,  – Psalm 92:2 (ESV)

Years ago, a subscriber to the Theatre Arts magazine called Directory Assistance for the magazine’s number. “Sorry,” said the operator, “but there is nobody listed by the name of Theodore Arts.” The subscriber insisted, “It’s not a person; it’s a publication. I want Theatre Arts.” The operator repeated, “I told you, we have no listing for Theodore Arts.” By now, the subscriber was hollering, “The word is Theatre: T-H-E-A-T-R-E.” The operator responded: “That is not the way to spell Theodore.”

The word “steadfast love” used in Psalm 92:2 is a Hebrew word, hesed. What does it mean? One man defines it this way: “Hesed is God’s stubborn determination to be true to His covenant and to be kind to your soul, no matter how long it takes Him, no matter how much it costs Him, and no matter what you deserve.” The psalmist invites us to talk about God’s stubborn love for us to start our day. There is no better preparation for a day than a cheerful mind in the morning. He who sees nothing to be thankful for in the morning will see nothing to hope for in the day.

Reflection

C.S. Lewis wrote, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” God’s love for us should translate into our love for Him and others. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” Our Second family is a great place to love and be loved because we have all been forgiven. Can you think of a powerful story of forgiveness within our church family?

Praise

Thank God for forgiving the “inexcusable” in your life. Thank God for showing you love through our church family.

Reconnect With the People of God: Stay Together 

…to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,  – Psalm 92:2 (ESV)

A young man walked into a photography studio with a picture of his girlfriend. He wanted the picture duplicated. The store owner noticed the inscription on the back of the picture, which said, “My Dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.” It was signed “Diane,” and it contained a P.S. “If we ever break up, I want this picture back.”

In Psalm 92, the psalmist is celebrating the fact that God is ours for eternity and will never “break up.” In the first part of the verse, he describes God’s “steadfast love” in the morning. Now, he describes God’s “faithfulness by night.” Every morning he looks forward with the love of God in his eyes, and every evening he looks back, and he celebrates God’s faithfulness to him through the day.

Reflection

This “call and response” Affirmation of Faith is often used in church tradition. The leader proclaims, “God is good,” and the congregation responds, “All the time.” Then the leader echoes, “All the time,” and the congregation answers, “God is good.” Pastor Jim reminded us in the sermon that celebrating the faithfulness of God is better together.

 Praise

Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that God’s mercy is new every morning and His faithful love never ceases. Read all of Lamentations 3 as a time of praising God today.

Reconnect With the People of God: Flourish Together 

The righteous like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.  – Psalm 92:12-13 (ESV)

An old farmer frequently described his Christian experience by saying, “Well, I’m not making much progress, but I’m established!” One spring, when he was hauling some logs, his wagon wheels sank down to the axles in mud. Try as he would, he couldn’t get the wagon out. Defeated, he sat atop the logs, viewing the dismal situation. Soon a neighbor who had always felt uncomfortable with the farmer’s worn-out testimony came along and greeted him, “Well, brother Jones, I see you’re not making much progress, but you must be content because you’re well-established!”

The psalmist describes the people of God as established and growing together. The palm tree historically has been called the representative tree of Israel. The palm tree’s growth is a symbol of the condition, prosperity, and happiness of God’s people. In Psalm 92, the wicked will be cut down, but the righteous shall flourish. The passage may also be regarded as furnishing proof of what will result from being “planted” and nurtured in connection with the church, inasmuch as trees carefully planted and cultivated are expected to produce more and better fruit than those which grow wild.

Reflection

At Second Baptist Church, we strongly believe we can flourish better together than we can apart. We also believe Life Groups are one of the best places to grow together. Life Groups meet at both 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM on Sunday mornings as well as at some nontraditional times.  If you are interested in joining a life group, go online to our church website and see what groups are available.

 Praise

Thank God for the growth He is producing in your life. Thank God for using others to help you grow