August 31, 2025
Psalms of Ascent
Let Him Have It!
Psalm 129 is a bit of a nasty Psalm! The writer has been oppressed and doesn’t hold back in expressing what that feels like. You might think being a believer means your troubles disappear, but that has never been the case. The good news is that God is neither blind nor indifferent to our struggles. In time (often not as fast as we want), God always intervenes. There’s even hope for the oppressor in this Psalm! Good news travels.
Songs for this week: Spotify
Questions:
Psalm 129
- Recall a recent experience of hardship. What was it like? How did you navigate that experience—emotionally, relationally, or prayerfully?
- Israel experienced God’s intervention—His “cutting loose the cords”—many times. Recall some of those stories together. Have you experienced God setting you free from something—an addiction, a negative attitude, or a toxic relationship? Share your story.
- “May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.” This Psalm records lots of honest and strong emotions! How do you deal with your strong emotions? Do you blurt them out, bury them, or process them in another way?
- Jesus had some clear teachings about how to treat our enemies. How are you practically living that out with the difficult people in your life right now?
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Recent Sermons
Exodus 3:1-14 - The rescue begins. God looks for a person to lead the way—not someone perfect, but someone willing. In Exodus, God calls Moses through a burning bush and rekindles a relationship that had been years in the making.
Exodus 1:6-14 - This Sunday, we begin Roots, a new teaching series from the book of Exodus—discovering how the story of rescue in Exodus shapes our understanding of Jesus.
Exodus 36:1-7 - God calls Israel to give their wealth to build the Tabernacle, raising a timeless question: will we live open-handed, trusting God with what we hold?
Luke 12:13-21 - Jesus warns us about the hidden danger of greed. Discover three heart attitudes toward money—I deserve it, it’s all for me, and I’m better off with more—and why they matter.
Acts 20:32-38 - For three weeks, we explore what Jesus says about money. This week, Paul’s final message highlights contentment, hard work, and caring for the weak.
Luke 2:22-40 - This week we reflect on the quiet faithfulness of Joseph and Mary as they bring Jesus to the temple. In this moment of ordinary obedience, God meets them with extraordinary hope through Simeon and Anna.
