Psalm 96
August 1, 2021
preached by Pastor Doug Cooper
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“Mercy is given to be shared. And what it touches, it ultimately sweetens. We are to pass along what we have received from God – steadfast love, inexplicable kindness, overflowing compassion. We sinned against God and He responded with mercy. We are called to go and do the same.”

~ Dave Harvey (1960-present), contemporary writer and pastor

“The way to open our hearts to others is by receiving afresh the grace of God and appreciating what it means: seeing our own need of Christ; coming to receive His mercy; sensing how undeserved His love for us is; remembering how He has also opened His heart to those whose hearts are closed against us.”

~ Sinclair Ferguson (1948-present), Scottish writer and minister

“Ideally the church itself is not made up of natural ‘friends.’ It is made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything of the sort. Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ and owe him a common allegiance. In the light of this common allegiance, in light of the fact that they have all been loved by Jesus himself, they commit themselves to doing what he says—and he commands them to love one another.”

~ D.A. Carson (1946-present), Emeritus Professor of New Testament and writer

“Having received such grace, Christians have a compelling reason to be remarkably gracious, inviting, and endearing toward others, including and especially those who disagree with us. Are we known by what we are for instead of what we are against? Are we less concerned about defending our rights—for Jesus laid down his rights—and more concerned about joining Jesus in his mission of loving people, places, and things to life?”

~ Scott Sauls, contemporary pastor and writer

Sermon Passage

Psalm 96 (ESV)

¹ Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
² Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
⁴ For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵ For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
⁷ Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
⁸ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
⁹ Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!
¹⁰ Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
¹¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
¹² let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
¹³ before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.