Sermon Theme
Those of us married know the feeling first hand – Some get a good idea of it through ‘chick flicks’
Love leads to longing – not just sexual but more importantly, just to be with the one you love
When married couples are parted for any length of time this becomes especially evident
The psalms are filled with the pining of God’s people for God – a longing to meet with Him
How do we approach God and the worship of God – is it with longing, panting?
Some feel guilty because they do not have this feeling of love, closeness – ‘warm fuzzies’ about God
Others are like roller coasters – one moment on a high with God – next in a trough and feeling removed
What ought we to be experiencing as to our love for God? What place does Sunday worship have in it?
Sermon outline
- PANTING FOR MY GOD
- NOT WAITING TILL I AM DEPRIVED OF CORPORATE WORSHIP
- MAKING CORPORATE WORSHIP THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Sermon Outline
Order of WorshipReadings
Psalm 137 (NIV84)
1By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
2There on the poplars we hung our harps,
3for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?
5If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.
6May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
7Remember, O Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!”
8O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us—
9he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
Text
Psalm 42 (NIV84)
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
3My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
5Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and
6my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
8By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
9I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”
10My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
