More Than a Feeling: Worship, Community, and Hope
In the final message of our series on the Psalms of Ascent, Senior Pastor David Rose explores Psalms 130, 133, and 134, reminding us that worship goes far beyond Sunday mornings—it touches every part of our lives, from how we relate to others to how we manage our time and resources.
But what do we do when our emotions don’t match our desire to worship? Do we need to clean up our lives before we can approach God? Pastor David addresses this head-on. God welcomes our honest emotions in worship. We don’t have to hide our fears, frustrations, or joys—He meets us right where we are, in the full range of our human experience.
If you’re wrestling with past failures, feeling distant from God, or simply looking to deepen your faith, this message offers practical encouragment. Worship isn’t an occasional act—it’s a way of life that flows from a heart continually transformed by God.
Key Takeaways
- God is not afraid of our emotions (130:1-2)
- God is not approachable without forgiveness (130:3-4)
- God is the hope of His people (130:5-8)
- God blesses the community of believers (133:1-3; 134:3)
- God deserves continual celebration from His people (134:1-2)
Further Study
- In Psalm 130:3-4, the psalmist asks, “If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?” How does this connect to Romans 3:23-24 and Christ’s work on the cross?
- Psalm 133 speaks of the blessing of unity among believers. Take a minute to read and through and mediate on John 17:20-23. What was the context of Christ’s prayer? What does this tell us about the priority He places on the unity of His people?
- How does unity among believers serve as a testimony to the world, and what does Ephesians 4:3-6 say about maintaining this unity?
- In Psalm 134:1-2, the psalmist urges the Lord’s servants to bless God. How does this relate to Pastor David’s emphasis on blessing God instead of simply seeking blessings for ourselves? How does 1 Peter 2:9-10 help us understand worship as a response to God’s grace?
The Gospel
If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.
Reach outThe Gospel is the incredible news that, even though we are sinful and separated from God, there is hope and redemption through Jesus Christ. Psalm 130 asks, “Lord, if You kept a record of sins, who could stand?” This question captures the depth of our problem—we’re all sinners, incapable of standing before a holy God on our own merit.
But the psalm also brings hope: “With [Him] there is forgiveness.” This forgiveness comes through Jesus, who took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. The Gospel assures us that Christ not only died for our sins but rose from the dead, defeating death and offering us new life.
As Pastor David said, “Our greatest problem is sin because it separates us from God. And if Jesus can solve that problem, He can solve them all.” By trusting in Christ—believing in His death and resurrection—we are forgiven and made right with God. As Colossians 1:13-14 says, we are “rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred into His kingdom.”
This salvation is a gift of grace from God, not something we can earn. Once we accept this gift, we’re called to live lives of worship—worship that extends beyond Sundays and impacts every part of our lives. We also become part of God’s family, the church, where we grow in faith and encourage one another.