Denver Baptist Church

Psalm 122 | A Song of Peace

Pastor Blaine continues our series through the Psalms of Ascent as we come to Psalm 122—a song of peace that invites us to examine our hearts and consider how we view the House of the Lord. Psalm 122 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. Sermon Notes: Main Idea: There’s No Place Like Church I. A “House of the Lord” Definition: The Place of God’s Presence II. A “House of the Lord” Delight: The Gathering of God’s People III. A “House of the Lord” Desire: The Blessing of God’s Peace Discussion Questions: 1. Read Psalm 122. What is in the text that signals to us that Psalm 122 is not primarily about our delight in and desire for modern day Jerusalem? 2. In what ways do we neglect the church gathering? In what ways can we diminish the delight of the gathering for us and others? 3. What is something you need to do to cultivate a delight in the gathered people of God? 4. Our prayers reveal our desires. What does the prayer of the psalmist reveal? What do your prayers reveal?

Psalm 121 | A Song of Protection

Pastor Tyler Miller preaches through Psalm 121, encouraging the church to look to Christ as her Keeper rather than turning to refuges of worldly rubbish. Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Sermon Notes: Main Idea: Christian sojourners have an all-powerful and ever-present Keeper. I. God will keep you. II. God will keep you. III. God will keep you. Discussion Questions: 1. Six times in this Psalm we are told God will keep us. How hard is it for you to deeply believe that God cares for and watches over you? Why? 2. The Psalmist preaches to himself that God is his helper. What kind of self talk do you regularly engage in? How can you improve in the practice of preaching the gospel to yourself? 3. What are some of the hills in your life that represent the presence of trouble? The things that test your faith, tempt you to fear and doubt? Is God able to keep you? 4. What are some ways you tend to be tempted to take refuge in the hills, rather than in the God who created them? Where are you tempted to look for help other than God? 5. What is the gospel? How does it relate to God’s helping and keeping care for you?

Psalm 120 | A Song of Deliverance

We've got a new sermon series kicking off through the Psalms of Ascent! Pastor Blaine set the stage in Psalm 120 as we see how to sojourn in a world that is not our home. Psalm 120 In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree! Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war! Sermon Notes: Main Idea: Christ Delivers His Sojourners Home I. Sojourners Long for a Peaceful Home II. Sojourners Trust in a Delivering God III. Sojourners Wait for a Final Victory Discussion Questions: 1. Should Christians expect conflict with this world? What are some Bible verses that inform your answer? 2. In what ways do we make this world our home? 3. How should Christian sojourners relate to a hostile world? 4. What promises of Christ help you sojourn in this world?

Psalm 110 | The Session of Christ

Pastor Blaine preaches out of Psalm 110 about the 𝙎𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩, our great Priest-King. Psalm 110 A Psalm of David. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head. Sermon Notes: Main Idea: Jesus on the Heavenly Throne Means Confidence for Our Earthly Lives I. The Seated King Rules a Rebellious World II. The Seated King Serves as Royal Priest III. The Seated King Waits to Restore Justice Discussion Questions: 1. How does the reality that Christ's enemies, and maybe ours, are subject to Him, but not yet subdued by Him, impact our lives here in the City of Destruction? 2. What are areas in our lives that are hard to offer freely to our King? Are there cultural things that influence the difficulty? 3. What does the session of Christ mean for our evangelism? 4. Jesus is not just the King, he is the Priest-King. How does his ongoing priestly service bring comfort to the Christians?

Acts 1:6-11 | The Ascension of Christ

Pastor Blaine preaches about the 𝘼𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 out of Acts 1. Acts 1:6-11 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Sermon Notes: Main Idea: An Absent Christ Means A Present Hope I. The Ascension Advances Jesus’s Glory II. The Ascension Affirms Jesus’s Body III. The Ascension Announces Jesus’s Victory IV. The Ascension Allows Jesus’s Sending V. The Ascension Assures Jesus’s Coming Discussion Questions: 1. In general, what different kinds of hope do we get from Jesus's ascension? 2. How does the fact that Jesus ascended and is in heaven in a physical body shape our understanding of the physical body? What are the implications of this doctrine? 3. How does Jesus's ascension relate to the Holy Spirit? 4. How does the assurance of Jesus's return help us in our ongoing mission?