The Goodness Of God Series

In just a few minutes, we’ll be serving the Lord’s Supper. We invite Christ-followers to join with us in celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus just as Christians have done for thousands of years.

I brought a globe with me this morning. If you believe this globe (this world) is all there is then you believe in a closed system. If you believe this globe (this world) is all there is then I depend greatly on politics, education and science to solve the human condition. If you believe this globe (this world) is all there is then I’m passionate about saving the planet, because I believe this planet is all there is. I am just the latest rung on the evolutionary ladder & I need to hope that we can all raise to some kind of moral level. But if you believe there is more to this world than the world … If I believe that there is a God who exists outside this world, then I can use the tools of politics, education and science without having to worship them as gods. If I believe that there is a God who exists outside this world, then I can live for His glory, which will far outlive myself or anyone on this planet - doing things here on earth that will resonate into eternity.

Knowing God Makes Life Meaningful

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). Life finds purpose and meaning when you know God. Knowing God intimately means more than having supermodel good looks, losing 20 pounds or being offering the director’s role to the next Star Wars film. You live completely differently when you believe in God. The quality of your life will be determined by how well you know God.

We have been in a series on the attributes of God- God’s love, His power, & God’s holiness. Today, we finish up the series by looking at God’s goodness. You and I have no idea how good God is. God is good “all the time” … all the time “God is good.” This is one of the most vibrant and expressive passages on praise in all the Bible.

Today’s Scripture

“A SONG OF PRAISE. OF DAVID.

1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] 14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 20 The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” (Psalm 145:1–21)

This psalm is nearly an alphabetical psalm. Each verse begins with a Hebrew letter except one letter – nun (comparable to our letter “n”). You could say that we are given a reason to praise God from A to Z – an alphabet of glory. The entire alphabet is put together as a parade to praise God.