Sermons

(Exposition of Psalm 103)
11/20/05
Pastor Rick Vasquez

Thanksgiving should be sincere and genuine. Ps 103:1 teaches us to
bless the Lord with all that is within us. Unless we have whole-hearted
devotion to Christ, we cannot be his disciple. There is no such thing
as a half-hearted Christian.

Thanksgiving is directed to God for his undeserved mercy. Ps 103:10
teaches us that God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor
does He repay us according to our iniquities.

"God's Provision in Prayer"
Give us this day our daily bread.
12/04/05
Ed Hansen

Q. What does Jesus mean by "bread"?
A. The provision that God freely gives to sustain our life.

Q. What is being conveyed in the words "daily" and "day"?
A. That we should pray this prayer daily.

Q. Why does Jesus ask us to pray for "our" bread?
A. The word "our" teaches us that we should pray with and for others, with thankful
acknowledgement of God's provision and mercy.

"God's Pardon in Prayer" The Lord's Prayer Series
Psalm 32; Matthew 18:21ff
12/11/05
Pastor Rick Vasquez

Shorter Catecism #105: In the fifth petition, which is And forgive us our debts as
we forgive our debtors, we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all
our sins, which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are
enabled from the heart to forgive others.

1. Forgive us our debts is a prayer for pardon.

A. We acknowledge the reality of

guilt

. Guilt is the result of sin, a debt that

requires payment, a form of slavery, not simply feelings or worldly sorrow that lead

to death.

B. We make a real

confession

of real sin. Why do we, as Christians, confess our

sins? Confession is not required to restore our salvation, but is required to restore

our relationship to God. Sin hardens our hearts and damages our relationship to

God.

2. ...as we also have forgiven our debtors is pardon for others.

A. The benefit of forgiving others not only prevents bitterness from harming

ourselves, but also from harming others (Heb 12:14-15).

B. The

motivation

for forgiving others becomes apparent when we put our sins in

the right perspective. Our sins demand payment, and we are hopelessly indebted

to God, the injured party. God has freely forgiven our sins, and God's example

motivates us to forgive the relatively lesser debts incurred from each other.

"God's Protection in Prayer" The Lord's Prayer Series
Psalm 32; Matthew 18:21ff
12/18/05
Pastor Rick Vasquez

Shorter Catecism #106: In the sixth petition, which is And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil, we pray that God would either keep us from
being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

1. Divinely appointed trials not become temptations.
2. God would increase our understanding of what he is doing.
3. For grace to admit to ourselves our own weaknesses candidly.