Covenant Baptist Church
Sermon Guide for 7/2/17
Verses 1-2 Becoming praise
Psalms 146:1-2 NASB1995
Verses 3-4 Be careful where you place your trust
Psalms 146:3-4 NASB1995
Verses 5-9 A portrait of the God/King in whom we trust
Psalms 146:5-9 NASB1995
Verse 10 He is the praiseworthy King
Psalms 146:10 NASB1995
Implication of Psalm 146…
In Imitation of God… Three wrong ways people think about God’s generosity:
● God helps those who help themselves
● If I give it away I have less for me
● It’s mine and I’ll use it as I please
In Imitation of God… Three right ways we can think about God’s generosity in all arenas of life
● God helps those who cannot help themselves
● When we share we all have enough
● What I have I’ll use it for your glory
For reflection
Continuing in Psalm 146
● In verses 1-2 we see that a lifetime full of praise pleases the Lord. How do you do in this area of offering continuous praise to the Lord for who he is? Set an alarm 2-3 times daily. Offer God the prise due his name.
● In verses 3-4 we see that it’s possible to misplace our trust. Trusting in mortals as opposed to trusting in God. Is this an area that needs your attention today? Do you need to be careful about where your trust is? Earthly leaders die, can’t deliver, can be wrong.
● In verses 5-9 we see that God is good and great. Many actions of God are named here. Jesus also did many of the actions that God does. Take one or two of the actions that God has done and personalize them. How are they true in your own life?
● In the last verse, verse 10, we see that our destiny is to praise God forever and ever. God is king of his kingdom. Praise is the language he loves from his people. Spend an extended time on a walk today and praise God for the many beautiful things you see.
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington is best known for his roles in Glory, The Preacher's Wife, Remember the Titans, and Training Day. But the Hollywood A-lister has sounded more like a pastor when has spoken at recent events. Washington has publicly stated that he reads his Bible every day and that he strives to consistently "get up and speak of what God has done for him."
At a November 2015 church banquet he urged his listeners to live in a constant attitude of gratitude for God's goodness:
Give thanks for blessings every day. Every day. Embrace gratitude. Encourage others. It is impossible to be grateful and hateful at the same time. I pray that you put your slippers way under your bed at night, so that when you wake in the morning you have to start on your knees to find them. And while you're down there, say "thank you." A bad attitude is like a flat tire. Until you change it, you're not going anywhere.
Jeannie Law, "Denzel Washington: God Has 'Faith in Me,'" Christian Post (11-12-15)
What words jump out at you from Denzel Washington’s practice?
What prayer comes to mind about the words that caught your attention?
Find a few moments to appreciate the blessings of life you have enjoyed so far