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In Sorrow and In Suffering
Psalm 88:1-18 | What comes to mind when you think of the word lament? We typically use the word in expressing sorrow or regret. For example, “I’m lamenting that I didn’t join them for the weekend retreat,” or “I lament the loss of our friendship.” However, lament is a specific language that God has given us to bring our sorrows before Him. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of lament. A full 1/3 of the Psalms are considered Psalms of lament. The reality is that life is hard, and we will face trouble and sorrow on this earth, and yet we look forward to a time when we will dwell with God, where there will be no more tears and no more suffering. But until then, lament is a language given to us by God to navigate the reality of the present with the promise of the future. In this message, we study one of the darkest and saddest Psalms of lament in the Bible. And yet, we will find in this Psalm some surprising truths that will lead us to trust and hope in the sovereign God of our eternal salvation, even in the midst of sorrow and suffering.
Psalm 88:1-18 | What comes to mind when you think of the word lament? We typically use the word in expressing sorrow or regret. For example, “I’m lamenting that I didn’t join them for the weekend retreat,” or “I lament the loss of our friendship.” However, lament is a specific language that God has given us to bring our sorrows before Him. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of lament. A full 1/3 of the Psalms are considered Psalms of lament.
The reality is that life is hard, and we will face trouble and sorrow on this earth, and yet we look forward to a time when we will dwell with God, where there will be no more tears and no more suffering. But until then, lament is a language given to us by God to navigate the reality of the present with the promise of the future.
In this message, we study one of the darkest and saddest Psalms of lament in the Bible. And yet, we will find in this Psalm some surprising truths that will lead us to trust and hope in the sovereign God of our eternal salvation, even in the midst of sorrow and suffering.
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God Our Refuge
Psalm 16:1-11 | Growing up I was blessed with a wonderful father. He was a very nice man, loved Jesus (When he got saved around my teen years), and loved his family. While being the great man that he was, he also was a man that you did not want to mess with. He is the only human I know who had a healthy balance of being loveable, yet intimidating. My father holds a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do, Brown belt in judo, spent years teaching firearm classes, can break bricks with his bare hands, and he's BALD! (Because being bald adds an element of toughness that just isn’t fair). He reminds me of Denzel Washington in “Equalizer”, a mysterious man who leads a normal life.
With all of this being said, my father made me feel safe. No matter if a grown man was harassing our family or a hurricane was coming with the capabilities to potentially blow over our house, I knew everything was going to be okay because he was there to bring protection. There is no way I would replace him with any other dad in the world. He was a refuge for my family and I growing up.
Likewise, God is our refuge. He is a place that we can run to and find protection and peace, no matter the circumstance. We wouldn’t want to trade that relationship for anything in the world, no matter how strong the pull of temptation is to do so. In this message, we will look at three benefits of having God as our refuge.
- Pastor Cory
Psalm 16:1-11 | Growing up I was blessed with a wonderful father. He was a very nice man, loved Jesus (When he got saved around my teen years), and loved his family. While being the great man that he was, he also was a man that you did not want to mess with. He is the only human I know who had a healthy balance of being loveable, yet intimidating. My father holds a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do, Brown belt in judo, spent years teaching firearm classes, can break bricks with his bare hands, and he's BALD! (Because being bald adds an element of toughness that just isn’t fair). He reminds me of Denzel Washington in “Equalizer”, a mysterious man who leads a normal life.
With all of this being said, my father made me feel safe. No matter if a grown man was harassing our family or a hurricane was coming with the capabilities to potentially blow over our house, I knew everything was going to be okay because he was there to bring protection. There is no way I would replace him with any other dad in the world. He was a refuge for my family and I growing up.
Likewise, God is our refuge. He is a place that we can run to and find protection and peace, no matter the circumstance. We wouldn’t want to trade that relationship for anything in the world, no matter how strong the pull of temptation is to do so. In this message, we will look at three benefits of having God as our refuge.
- Pastor Cory
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When Trusting The LORD Is Hard
Psalm 125:1-5 | In this life, we will always come across opposition or obstacles. And most of the time we anticipate this. But what do you do when you find that your opposition or obstacle isn’t going away? Or the breakthrough you have been asking the LORD for doesn’t seem to come? The scary reality is that when these times come, we sometimes can sense our trust in Jesus beginning to waver. And it must be noted that this is when Satan often moves in closer to whisper lies to us like, "God isn't there with you," "God doesn't care about you," or "God is holding out on you." Can you relate? We will open up God's Word together and look through the portals of time and see what previous generations of God's children did to experience unshakable trust in the LORD in the midst of unstable times in their lives.
Psalm 125:1-5 | In this life, we will always come across opposition or obstacles. And most of the time we anticipate this. But what do you do when you find that your opposition or obstacle isn’t going away? Or the breakthrough you have been asking the LORD for doesn’t seem to come?
The scary reality is that when these times come, we sometimes can sense our trust in Jesus beginning to waver. And it must be noted that this is when Satan often moves in closer to whisper lies to us like, "God isn't there with you," "God doesn't care about you," or "God is holding out on you."
Can you relate? We will open up God's Word together and look through the portals of time and see what previous generations of God's children did to experience unshakable trust in the LORD in the midst of unstable times in their lives.
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Freedom From The Fear Of Man
Psalm 56:1-13 | Proverbs warns us that the fear of man is a snare in our life, and yet I think all of us have struggled at times with fearing man more than God or seeking man's approval above God's. Some of us may even be controlled by the fear of man. Maybe for you, it's as if someone has strings connected to your back, puppeteering your every move through life as you live too afraid to say no or stand up for what you ultimately know God would want.
How do we have victory over the fear of man? How do we walk in the freedom of a God-fearing life, not controlled by the trap that is the fear of man?
Psalm 56:1-13 | Proverbs warns us that the fear of man is a snare in our life, and yet I think all of us have struggled at times with fearing man more than God or seeking man's approval above God's.
Some of us may even be controlled by the fear of man. Maybe for you, it's as if someone has strings connected to your back, puppeteering your every move through life as you live too afraid to say no or stand up for what you ultimately know God would want.
How do we have victory over the fear of man? How do we walk in the freedom of a God-fearing life, not controlled by the trap that is the fear of man?
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Good, Bad, Or Ugly... I Will Bless The Lord
Psalm 34:1-22 | When we think about blessings and the Lord we often think about how the Lord blesses us. What does it mean for us to bless the Lord? In the first line of Psalm 34, David writes, "I will bless the Lord at all times..."
What does it mean to bless the Lord? And why is the Lord worthy of our lives being lived as an offering of blessing back to Him?
Psalm 34:1-22 | When we think about blessings and the Lord we often think about how the Lord blesses us. What does it mean for us to bless the Lord? In the first line of Psalm 34, David writes, "I will bless the Lord at all times..."
What does it mean to bless the Lord? And why is the Lord worthy of our lives being lived as an offering of blessing back to Him?
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Our Fortress and Our Fears
Psalm 27:1-14 | We are all scared of something. Come on, admit it. The toughest person who walks into church on Sunday is scared of something. Fear can manifest in our life as a subtle undercurrent of worry and anxiety or it can manifest as an ever-present crippling paralysis.
In this message, we look at one fear crushing reminder and 5 outcomes for our life when our heart is clinging to this reminder!
So...let's walk away from this like Kevin from Home Alone walked down his front sidewalk shouting, "I'm not afraid anymore! Did you hear me? I'm not afraid anymore!"
Psalm 27:1-14 | We are all scared of something. Come on, admit it. The toughest person who walks into church on Sunday is scared of something. Fear can manifest in our life as a subtle undercurrent of worry and anxiety or it can manifest as an ever-present crippling paralysis.
In this message, we look at one fear crushing reminder and 5 outcomes for our life when our heart is clinging to this reminder!
So...let's walk away from this like Kevin from Home Alone walked down his front sidewalk shouting, "I'm not afraid anymore! Did you hear me? I'm not afraid anymore!"
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Be The Light
Matthew 5:14-16 | We are so excited about the work God is already doing and will continue to do through CB and Beacon in Downtown Denver. Denver is literally a "city on a hill," and we are praying that the Lord shines His light brightly in that place.
CB Barthlow is the Planting Pastor of Beacon in Denver, CO. https://www.denverbeacon.org/
Matthew 5:14-16 | We are so excited about the work God is already doing and will continue to do through CB and Beacon in Downtown Denver. Denver is literally a "city on a hill," and we are praying that the Lord shines His light brightly in that place.
CB Barthlow is the Planting Pastor of Beacon in Denver, CO. https://www.denverbeacon.org/
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God's Plan To Change The World
Mark 4:26-28 | What is the natural result of disciples making disciples? What happens when disciples of Jesus are committed to reproducing other disciples? Reproducing disciples will result in reproducing churches! When disciples multiply, churches multiply.
As we come to the end of our Vitals series, we begin to shift our attention not just on the health of the individual Jesus follower but the health of the gathering of Jesus followers- The Church. Part of being a healthy Jesus follower is participating in a local expression of the body of Christ. And part of what makes a healthy church is a multiplying church.
Mark 4:26-28 | What is the natural result of disciples making disciples? What happens when disciples of Jesus are committed to reproducing other disciples? Reproducing disciples will result in reproducing churches! When disciples multiply, churches multiply.
As we come to the end of our Vitals series, we begin to shift our attention not just on the health of the individual Jesus follower but the health of the gathering of Jesus followers- The Church. Part of being a healthy Jesus follower is participating in a local expression of the body of Christ. And part of what makes a healthy church is a multiplying church.
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Disciples Making Disciples
Matthew 28:16-20 | At the end of the book of Matthew, we find what every Christian knows to be called “The Great Commission”. It’s this commission from Jesus that is life-shaping! When we see what Christ has invited us into—disciples made all over the globe—it changes the way we do everything. The vital sign of vital signs for disciples of Jesus is our joyful faithfulness to make more disciples of Jesus!
Matthew 28:16-20 | At the end of the book of Matthew, we find what every Christian knows to be called “The Great Commission”. It’s this commission from Jesus that is life-shaping! When we see what Christ has invited us into—disciples made all over the globe—it changes the way we do everything.
The vital sign of vital signs for disciples of Jesus is our joyful faithfulness to make more disciples of Jesus!
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The Joy of Gospel Witness
Romans 10:13-15 | We talk about what we love. We share what has thrilled our heart. We pass on to others things that have changed our life.
If we have a red-hot walk with Christ we have to tell others about it. In this message we look at the vital sign of gospel witness. Someone walking intimately with the Savior can't NOT tell other people about Him.
Let's stoke the fire for Jesus, our love for the lost, and our urgency to share the good news of what He has done.
Romans 10:13-15 | We talk about what we love. We share what has thrilled our heart. We pass on to others things that have changed our life.
If we have a red-hot walk with Christ we have to tell others about it. In this message we look at the vital sign of gospel witness. Someone walking intimately with the Savior can't NOT tell other people about Him.
Let's stoke the fire for Jesus, our love for the lost, and our urgency to share the good news of what He has done.
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For the Good of the Body
1 Corinthians 12:1–31 | We love to watch when multiple people work together to accomplish something great. We watch teams, orchestras, choirs, and plays where every individual is doing their part, using their gifts, and fulfilling their role to be a piece of something much bigger than themselves.
The church is the most beautiful picture on the face of the earth in this regard. Each person in the church has gifts and roles given to them that must be used for the good of the whole. And what makes this more amazing than a sport or choir or orchestra or play? Each of our roles is given to us directly by the Spirit of God AND it means we get a role in building up the church which is taking the gospel to the ends of the earth to the glory of God. What could be more exciting to be a part of?
A healthy walk in Christ is one in which we are using the gifts given to us by God. This week, we look at the vital sign of spiritual gifts and ask: Do I know my gifts? Am I using my gifts? Have I experienced the joy and fulfillment of playing my part so that the church as a whole can thrive?
1 Corinthians 12:1–31 | We love to watch when multiple people work together to accomplish something great. We watch teams, orchestras, choirs, and plays where every individual is doing their part, using their gifts, and fulfilling their role to be a piece of something much bigger than themselves.
The church is the most beautiful picture on the face of the earth in this regard. Each person in the church has gifts and roles given to them that must be used for the good of the whole. And what makes this more amazing than a sport or choir or orchestra or play? Each of our roles is given to us directly by the Spirit of God AND it means we get a role in building up the church which is taking the gospel to the ends of the earth to the glory of God. What could be more exciting to be a part of?
A healthy walk in Christ is one in which we are using the gifts given to us by God. This week, we look at the vital sign of spiritual gifts and ask: Do I know my gifts? Am I using my gifts? Have I experienced the joy and fulfillment of playing my part so that the church as a whole can thrive?
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Growing in Christ
Ephesians 4:17–32 | The moment we are in Christ we are a new creation. We have a new identity, a new heart, and a brand new nature. And yet, scripture tells us that we also grow in our new life. The longer we follow Jesus, the more we are to be growing into looking more and more like Him.
So some questions: Are you growing in Christ? What does this growth look like? And maybe most importantly, how do you grow spiritually?
In this message we look at the broad, but crucial, vital sign of spiritual growth and seek to gain a better understanding of how spiritual growth happens in Christ.
Ephesians 4:17–32 | The moment we are in Christ we are a new creation. We have a new identity, a new heart, and a brand new nature. And yet, scripture tells us that we also grow in our new life. The longer we follow Jesus, the more we are to be growing into looking more and more like Him.
So some questions: Are you growing in Christ? What does this growth look like? And maybe most importantly, how do you grow spiritually?
In this message we look at the broad, but crucial, vital sign of spiritual growth and seek to gain a better understanding of how spiritual growth happens in Christ.
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Transformed in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17–18 | The beginning of a Doctor's visit usually looks the same.
Thermometer...
Blood pressure cuff...
Stethoscope...
A doctor starts nearly every appointment the same way. They check your vitals. They can tell a lot about our basic health by quickly checking just a few things on us physically.
This is the beginning of a series where we'll ask, "What are the vital signs of a healthy walk with Jesus?" For 6 weeks we will discover some vital signs scripture would identify as indicators of health in our walk with Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17–18 | The beginning of a Doctor's visit usually looks the same.
Thermometer...
Blood pressure cuff...
Stethoscope...
A doctor starts nearly every appointment the same way. They check your vitals. They can tell a lot about our basic health by quickly checking just a few things on us physically.
This is the beginning of a series where we'll ask, "What are the vital signs of a healthy walk with Jesus?" For 6 weeks we will discover some vital signs scripture would identify as indicators of health in our walk with Christ.
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The Glory of the Risen Conqueror
John 20:1–31 | "For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." 1 Corinthians 15:16-17
Our faith rests on a resurrected Jesus. If there was no resurrection, there is no Christianity. But Easter Sunday is the celebration of celebrations. We gaze on the glory of the resurrected Christ. We will recount the story of the resurrection, a story that never gets old, and then we will look at how the story of the resurrection has the power to change our life.
John 20:1–31 | "For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." 1 Corinthians 15:16-17
Our faith rests on a resurrected Jesus. If there was no resurrection, there is no Christianity. But Easter Sunday is the celebration of celebrations. We gaze on the glory of the resurrected Christ. We will recount the story of the resurrection, a story that never gets old, and then we will look at how the story of the resurrection has the power to change our life.
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The Glory of the Suffering Priest
John 17:1–26 | Heart Check... This phrase can bring both positive and negative thoughts to our mind. Heart checks may not be the most fun in the moment but we know that in the long run, they're good for us. They help us see the state of things as they actually are and not as we necessarily thought they were.
Our passage this week is going to be a great heart check for us. We're going to walk through Jesus' High Priestly prayer in John 17. This is one of the greatest prayers in all of Scripture. It's one of the only times we actually see the content of what Jesus prays. And as we walk through this text together, God is going to give us some heart checks to evaluate our lives.
John 17:1–26 | Heart Check... This phrase can bring both positive and negative thoughts to our mind. Heart checks may not be the most fun in the moment but we know that in the long run, they're good for us. They help us see the state of things as they actually are and not as we necessarily thought they were.
Our passage this week is going to be a great heart check for us. We're going to walk through Jesus' High Priestly prayer in John 17. This is one of the greatest prayers in all of Scripture. It's one of the only times we actually see the content of what Jesus prays. And as we walk through this text together, God is going to give us some heart checks to evaluate our lives.
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The Glory of the Suffering Servant
John 13:1–17 | When was the last time you were impressed by something or someone? Impression is a funny thing, isn't it? The actual meaning comes from the action of pressing something in. So when we say, "I am impressed by so and so's ability to play basketball." what we are actually saying is, "I can't get this person's talent out of my mind." They made an impression on your mind.
Well in this passage, we will be joining Jesus and His disciples around the dinner table for their very last meal together. And it was around this dinner table that Jesus desired deeply to impress on their hearts a lesson that would change the way they would live the rest of their lives.
John 13:1–17 | When was the last time you were impressed by something or someone? Impression is a funny thing, isn't it? The actual meaning comes from the action of pressing something in. So when we say, "I am impressed by so and so's ability to play basketball." what we are actually saying is, "I can't get this person's talent out of my mind." They made an impression on your mind.
Well in this passage, we will be joining Jesus and His disciples around the dinner table for their very last meal together. And it was around this dinner table that Jesus desired deeply to impress on their hearts a lesson that would change the way they would live the rest of their lives.
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The Glory of the Suffering King
John 12:1–26 | What comes to mind when you think of a king? The grandiose living. The servant's waiting on him at every turn. The beautiful palace with no expenses spared.
Whatever you think of when you think of a king...Jesus was the opposite. We follow a King, but He was servant King. He was a suffering King. And He was establishing a kingdom, unlike any other kingdom.
We are beginning a series leading up to Easter looking at the Glory of the Suffering Christ. This week, we worship as we study our Suffering King. What kind of impact does understanding Jesus as Suffering King have on the way we go about living the life of following Him?
John 12:1–26 | What comes to mind when you think of a king? The grandiose living. The servant's waiting on him at every turn. The beautiful palace with no expenses spared.
Whatever you think of when you think of a king...Jesus was the opposite. We follow a King, but He was servant King. He was a suffering King. And He was establishing a kingdom, unlike any other kingdom.
We are beginning a series leading up to Easter looking at the Glory of the Suffering Christ. This week, we worship as we study our Suffering King. What kind of impact does understanding Jesus as Suffering King have on the way we go about living the life of following Him?
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The Fear of the Lord and the Day of the Lord
Malachi 3:13–4:6 | Throughout scripture, two themes recur often. These two themes are the "Fear of the Lord" and the "Day of the Lord." In many regards, these two themes are very connected.
We will see their connection powerfully in the passage this week. What does it mean for us to live with a healthy fear of the Lord? What do we need to know about the Day of the Lord? And how does knowledge of the Day of the Lord lead to a greater fear of the Lord?
These are life-shaping, eternity defining truths for us to study.
Malachi 3:13–4:6 | Throughout scripture, two themes recur often. These two themes are the "Fear of the Lord" and the "Day of the Lord." In many regards, these two themes are very connected.
We will see their connection powerfully in the passage this week. What does it mean for us to live with a healthy fear of the Lord? What do we need to know about the Day of the Lord? And how does knowledge of the Day of the Lord lead to a greater fear of the Lord?
These are life-shaping, eternity defining truths for us to study.
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Giving God What Is God's
Malachi 3:7–12 | It is kind of weird to think about, but we can actually rob God. To commit robbery is to take for ourselves what rightfully belongs to someone else. In this week's passage, the Lord lovingly confronts His people for not giving their tithes and offerings to Him. He calls this robbery.
Now none of us want to be guilty of divine robbery, so we need to understand how this passage applies to us today. What does it look like to give to the Lord in a God-honoring way? Are we required to "tithe" of our income? What does our giving tell us about our worship?
This message isn't ultimately about giving. This message is ultimately about worship. When our worship is right, our giving gets right.
Malachi 3:7–12 | It is kind of weird to think about, but we can actually rob God. To commit robbery is to take for ourselves what rightfully belongs to someone else. In this week's passage, the Lord lovingly confronts His people for not giving their tithes and offerings to Him. He calls this robbery.
Now none of us want to be guilty of divine robbery, so we need to understand how this passage applies to us today. What does it look like to give to the Lord in a God-honoring way? Are we required to "tithe" of our income? What does our giving tell us about our worship?
This message isn't ultimately about giving. This message is ultimately about worship. When our worship is right, our giving gets right.
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The Lovingly Patient Justice of God
Malachi 2:17–3:6 | "God, where is your justice?" This is the question the people were asking. God's people were looking at worshippers of false gods and watching them seemingly flourish. What was up with that? Was the perceived flourishing of those other people God’s hand of approval on them? Where is the justice in that?
There are times where life doesn't seem to be going our way. In these times we often look around and see people who have no desire to honor God seemingly flourish. What do we need to understand about the justice of God? How can we be awakened to know that always, in the end, God's perfect, patient, loving justice will prevail?
Malachi 2:17–3:6 | "God, where is your justice?" This is the question the people were asking. God's people were looking at worshippers of false gods and watching them seemingly flourish. What was up with that? Was the perceived flourishing of those other people God’s hand of approval on them? Where is the justice in that?
There are times where life doesn't seem to be going our way. In these times we often look around and see people who have no desire to honor God seemingly flourish. What do we need to understand about the justice of God? How can we be awakened to know that always, in the end, God's perfect, patient, loving justice will prevail?
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