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Psalm Genres (Part Five): Psalms of Praise

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's value to us is a profound theme that calls for our heartfelt praise and recognition. We are to glorify Him for what He is and what He has revealed to us through creation and the Bible, which provide deep insights into His character and wondrous deeds. His worthiness is evident in His role as Creator, crafting a world of beauty and symbiosis that sustains us, and in His countless acts of goodness, even when His judgments are ultimately for our benefit. Our primary function, as reflected throughout the scriptures, is to offer praise to Him, acknowledging that all creation will ultimately join in this celebration of His glory. Praise, at its core, is an expression of our estimation, reverence, and gratitude for His beneficial qualities. When we praise Him, we recognize His supreme value and worth, as seen in the heavenly scenes where angels and elders fall before Him, proclaiming His worthiness for creating all things and for the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He is worthy of glory, honor, and power, deserving our worship and abasement, for we stand as mere creatures before His transcendent greatness. His value is further revealed in His works of creation and nature, His interventions in history, and His gracious interactions with us. He is praised for making us and our environment, for providing for us, rescuing us from enemies, and saving us from countless perils, often in ways we may not immediately recognize. His character, marked by lovingkindness, mercy, and steadfast love, is a covenantal promise of His commitment to us, binding Him to act with grace and mercy as part of His unchanging nature. This covenant love, expressed as goodness and salvation, fills the earth with examples of His fidelity, calling us to respond with praise for His righteousness, justice, and enduring truth. Specific reasons for praising Him include His sovereignty as the highest God, His act of creating us and all things, and His choice to call us as His people, tending to us as a shepherd cares for His sheep. His omnipotence ensures the functionality of creation, His saving acts deliver us through history, and His infinite superiority over false gods underscores His unique ability to hear, help, and guide us. Even His judgment, paired with compassion, is a cause for praise, as it reflects His promise to ultimately bring good through atonement and restoration. His enduring name and fame signify His eternal, unchanging character, ensuring that He remains true to His promises of salvation and grace, a reality that should inspire ceaseless praise for His boundless love and covenant-keeping nature.

Lessons From First-Century Christianity

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

Even though the believers of the first century experienced extraordinary events, because of entropy, their zeal atrophied after the shockwaves dissipated.

Worship Always

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

Worship, not merely a set of behaviors performed in a religious service but a response to what God is, is a state of mind one must maintain 24/7.