Ministry of the Elders (1 Tim. 5:17-25)

The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture. It has comforted God's people for centuries, from childhood memorization to the bedside of dying saints. But why has this psalm endured as such a treasured source of hope? In this sermon, we discover that Psalm 23 is not merely a comforting poem—it is a profound declaration of who God is. The eternal, holy LORD reveals Himself as the Good Shepherd who lovingly cares for His sheep. As we walk verse by verse through this familiar psalm, we see that because the Lord is our Shepherd, we lack nothing that truly matters. He provides: * **Rest** for weary souls. * **Life** for those who are spiritually helpless. * **Guidance** for wandering sheep. * **Protection** through the darkest valleys. * **Provision** as a generous King. * **A Heavenly Home** where we will dwell with Him forever. Ultimately, Psalm 23 points us to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). Through His death and resurrection, Christ gathers wandering sinners into His flock, faithfully leads them through every trial, and safely brings them into the Father's house. Whether you are walking through seasons of peace or the valley of the shadow of death, Psalm 23 reminds us that our greatest comfort is not the absence of suffering—it is the presence of our Shepherd. **Scripture:** Psalm 23 **Key Passages:** * John 10:11–18 * Matthew 9:35–38 * Isaiah 53:6 * John 14:1–3 * Romans 8:16–17 * 1 Peter 1:3–4

Kids Message: BC 60-61--Honor God's Name

How does God make Himself known to us? And how should we respond? In this children's message, we continue our study through the Baptist Catechism by exploring Questions 60–61 on the Third Commandment: *"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain."* Children learn that because God is holy, we should honor everything that tells us about Him. Together we discover three ways God reveals Himself: * **His Name** — We honor God's name because it represents who He is. * **His Word** — The Bible teaches us who God is, and we should treat it with reverence and obey what it says. * **His People** — Christians bear God's name before the world, so our lives should reflect His character. Most importantly, children are reminded that none of us has perfectly honored God's name. But Jesus did. He perfectly obeyed His Father, perfectly honored God's name, and gave His life for those who have failed. Through faith in Christ, we receive forgiveness and the power to live for God's glory. **Core Truth:** *"Because God is holy, we honor everything that tells us about Him."* **Scripture References:** * Exodus 20:7 * Malachi 1:6 * Philippians 2:9–11 Harvest Liberty Lake Church Liberty Lake, Washington

The Psalm of the Cross (Psalm 22)

What if someone described the crucifixion of Jesus 1,000 years before it happened? Psalm 22 is one of the clearest and most remarkable Messianic prophecies in all of Scripture. Long before crucifixion was even practiced, David wrote of pierced hands and feet, mocking crowds, divided garments, and the cry that Jesus Himself would utter from the cross: **"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"** In this message, Pastor Sam Kraemer walks through this incredible psalm, showing that the cross was never a tragic accident—it was the eternal plan of God to redeem sinners through His Son. Jesus became the Forsaken One so that all who trust in Him could be forgiven, accepted, and declared righteous before God. You'll discover: • Why Psalm 22 points unmistakably to Jesus Christ • How the crucifixion fulfilled Old Testament prophecy in remarkable detail • What Jesus meant when He cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" • How Christ bore God's wrath in the place of sinners • What this psalm teaches us about trusting God in our own suffering • Why the gospel is a message for every nation and every generation If this message encouraged you, we'd love for you to subscribe and share it with someone who needs the hope of the gospel. Harvest Liberty Lake Church 📍 Selkirk Middle School – Liberty Lake, WA 🕙 Sundays at 10:00 AM Learn more about our church: https://www.harvestlibertylake.org #Psalm22 #JesusChrist #TheCross #Gospel #ExpositoryPreaching #ReformedTheology #BibleTeaching #HarvestLibertyLake #ChristianSermon #MessianicProphecy

Kids Message: BC 56-57--God is Real Even Though We Cannot See Him

How can we know God is real if we cannot see Him? In this week's kids message, we explore the Second Commandment and learn why God forbids making images of Him. God is spirit, and no drawing, picture, or statue could ever truly show what He is like. Instead, God has revealed Himself through His Word, through people made in His image, and most perfectly through Jesus Christ—the image of the invisible God. Children will discover that many real things cannot be seen with our eyes, such as the wind, gravity, love, and even our thoughts. In the same way, God is real even though we cannot see Him. One day, however, all who belong to Christ will see Him face to face. **Core Truth:** *"God is real, even though we cannot see Him."* **Key Scriptures:** * Deuteronomy 4:15 * Colossians 1:15 * Revelation 22:4 Harvest Liberty Lake Church Liberty Lake, Washington

The King Rejoices in the Strength of God (Psalm 21)

Psalm 21 is a song of victory, thanksgiving, and worship. Following the prayers of Psalm 20, David now rejoices because the Lord has answered the king's cries for help. Yet as we examine this royal psalm, we discover that it ultimately points beyond David to a greater King—Jesus Christ. In this sermon we consider: * The King who rejoices in God's strength rather than his own. * The King whose desires are perfectly aligned with the will of God. * The King who receives glory, blessing, life, and a crown from the Lord. * The King who finds joy in the presence of God. * The God who judges His enemies with perfect justice. * The wrath that Christ willingly bore so sinners could be saved. David trusted in the Lord, but Jesus trusted perfectly. David's life was preserved, but Jesus conquered death forever. David wore an earthly crown, but Jesus reigns with an eternal crown above every king and kingdom. Psalm 21 reminds us that God's strength is a comfort to those who belong to Him and a warning to those who reject Him. Most importantly, it points us to Christ, who absorbed the wrath we deserved and now reigns forever as King of kings and Lord of lords. **Key Passage:** Psalm 21 **Main Theme:** The king rejoices in the strength of God, and that King finds his ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.