August 24, 2025
Psalms of Ascent
Finding Contentment
The Psalms of Ascent have it all: anguish, anger, encouragement, and wild joy.
Psalm 131 is all about contentment. Where does contentment come from? What ruins it? What does it feel like? How can I be content in an age where marketing, social media and mirrors breed discontent?
Songs for this week: Spotify
Questions:
Psalm 131
- When was the last time you were content? Tell that story.
- “My heart is not proud, my eyes are not haughty, I do not worry myself with great matters.” What gets in the way of humans being content?
- “I have calmed and quietened my soul like a weaned child.” Have you learned to calm and quiet your soul? How were you raised to deal with your emotions? Are you comfortable in your own body?
- “Israel, put your hope in the LORD.” How does a Christian ‘put their hope in the LORD’? What has that looked like in your life?
- “Both now and forevermore.’ Do you think there’s power for contentment when Christians can talk confidently about life now and ‘forevermore’? How does your hope for eternity spill into your contentment?
Share with a friend
Recent Sermons
Psalm 133 - The Psalms of Ascent were songs for the journey—worshippers sang them as they travelled together toward Jerusalem and the Temple. These Psalms give voice to the sorts of things that go through worshippers' hearts as they prepare to worship.
Psalm 104 is a song of praise that marvels at the beauty and order of God’s creation. From mountains to seas, seasons to creatures great and small, it reveals a world sustained by His power and care. This psalm invites us to stand in awe, give thanks, and consider our role as stewards of His handiwork.
Psalm 121 - We humans need help! The question is, where will we turn for it? Psalm 121 invites us to look to God for true help.
Psalm 127 - Psalm 127 reminds us that unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts are in vain. It's a call to trust—learning to rest in God's provision while recognizing that every good gift, including our work, our homes, and our children, ultimately rests in His hands.
James 5:13-20 - A life of faith is a life of prayer. It’s also a life lived with others. When we follow Jesus, we belong to Him and to one another as brothers and sisters. As a family, we care for one another in weakness, confess our sins to each other, and gently confront one another.
James 4:6-10 -James knows that the heart of the Christian message is grace. God gives us good that we couldn’t ever deserve. The truth is that we earn and deserve justice and punishment. Thankfully, Jesus took both of those for us and gave us the good he deserved. As powerful as grace is, there is one thing that can re
