Meditation
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: How Praying Changes Us
Psalm 1 (ESV)
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Sermon Outline
Spiritual health and growth (v3) require a certain kind of meditation (v2)
1. Unintentional Meditation
v1 “who walks not… nor stands… nor sits…”
2. Focused Meditation
v2 “on his law he meditates”
v1 “blessed is the man”
3. Willing Meditation
v2 “his delight is in the law of the Lord”
v3 “he meditates day and night”
Prayer of Confession
Our Father, we long for blessing, but we often walk in ways that weaken us and result in withering. Night and day we ruminate, we fantasize about success and prosperity, we rehearse our regrets, we dream of fame and fortune, we long for escape, we make plans that are dishonorable. Our lives are not properly rooted in you. We have been so shaped by the actions and goals of others that our default thinking has few links to you and what brings you delight. Our actions have betrayed that our hearts and minds are often far from you. Our ways are not your ways. Forgive us our many sins. Cleanse our hearts and minds and help us to discern the greatness of your ways. Grant us the joy of salvation. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
When your mind wanders, where does it go? What do you frequently think about, or what characterizes your thoughts?
Where are your thoughts rooted? Do you think about the past? Who are your thoughts connected with or influenced by: your family, friends, media, colleagues, etc.?
Why is it hard to keep your thoughts tethered to God?
What are some specific practices or ways of being proactive in meditating on the gospel with greater frequency and depth?
What are helpful ways of dealing with intrusive thoughts or things that come to mind that you don’t want to be thinking about?
Why is Jesus essential for a healthy thought life? What role does Jesus play in the story of the Bible that helps us understand the Bible, ourselves, our world, our future? How does the gospel put perspective on what troubles us and offer us genuinely good things to focus on?
How can “delight” be a more regular part of your devotional life? Of your regular thought life?
What is a next step you can take to aid your meditation? Memorizing scripture? Scheduling particular times? Working through this with a friend? Reading more on the topic?