StoneBridge Community Church
Senior Pastor Jon Saur
Psalms Greatest Hits
The Psalms are the Bible's guide to worship. They guide us through normal times, times of despair and times of deep joy. They help us understand how our emotions relate to God.
This sermon series will highlight five classic Psalms, in the hopes that we will learn how to worship God throughout our days.
Psalms 150:1-6 NRSV
Different Translation
Here is the translation of Psalm 150 from Robert Alter that Pastor Jon used in worship this week.
Psalm 150
Hallelujah.
Praise God in His holy place,
praise Him in the vault of his power.
Praise Him for his mighty acts,
praise Him as befits His abounding greatness.
Praise Him with the ram's horn blast,
praise Him with the lute and the lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dance,
praise Him with strings and flute.
Praise Him with sounding cymbals,
praise Him with crashing cymbals.
Let all that has breath praise Yah.
Hallelujah!
SERMON OUTLINE:
I. The End
II. Psalm 1 Again
III. Happiness
IV. Celebration
V. Instruments
NEXT STEPS:
1. Think of something that God has done worth of celebrating.
2. Celebrate it with someone.
3. Praise God as you do so.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. In Psalm 150, various musical instruments are mentioned as tools for praising the Lord. What is the significance of using instruments in worship and praise? Does music enhance the worship experience? If so, how? If not, why not?
2. Psalm 150 encourages all living creatures to praise the Lord. Why do you think it emphasizes this universal aspect of praise? Is this idea relatable to you or do consider it an exaggeration - not meant to be taken literally?
3. Psalm 150 mentions praising God in His sanctuary and in the heavens. What is the difference between praising God in a specific place of worship and praising God in the broader context of the world and/or universe? How do you find God in various settings?
4. Psalm 150 mentions dancing as a form of praise. How can physical expressions like dance be a powerful way to worship and connect with God? Do you have any physical expressions you use to connect with God? If so, what are they? How do they help you connect?
5. Psalm 150 encourages us to praise God with everything we have - our breath, musical instruments, and our very existence. How can we apply this idea of giving all of ourselves to God as an act of praise/worship? What steps can we take to live a life of continuous praise?
We encourage you to use Facebook, Instagram, and other social media to share images, quotes, links, or what you've learned from this week's message and YouVersion message notes. Social media can also be a great way of inviting your friends to worship and special events.