The Path of Life
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Easter
Psalm 49 (ESV)
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.
10 For he sees that even the wise die;
the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp will not remain;
he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah
16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.
20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
Sermon Outline
How does the resurrection of Jesus make us wise? (vv1-4)
1. Where are you going?
v6 “trust in their wealth… boast…”, v13 “the path of… foolish confidence”
v14 “like sheep… death shall be their shepherd”
vv7-9 “the ransom… can never suffice”
2. Who can you count on?
v9 “that he should live on and never see the pit”
v15 “but God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me”
3. What are you attaining?
v17 “his glory will not go down with him”
v14 “the upright shall rule over them in the morning”
Prayer of Confession
Sovereign Lord, our shepherd and redeemer: we thank you for the life you have generously given to us. We admit we are like sheep who have gone astray. We have trusted in fame and fortune. We have walked a path leading to death. We have suffered and caused suffering because of our foolishness. Our thoughts, words, and actions are corrupt. Forgive all our sins. Thank you for the good shepherd, Jesus, who laid down his life, and who leads us in paths of righteousness. We trust him for life, giving thanks to the glory of his name. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
How can you tell if someone is living wisely?
What is your understanding of death? How much does mortality inform your priorities or choices?
Why do people seek fame and fortune? What is the appeal? What problems arise when fame and fortune become a person’s ultimate hope?
What do you fear? How does fear indicate the need for understanding or to have help that you can trust?
Do you need a guide in life? Who do you trust to inform you on how to live well? How do you know you can trust that person?
What does the Bible teach about Jesus that makes him trustworthy? How does his going before us into death convey to us the care, generosity, and love of God?
How does the resurrection of Jesus strengthen the case that he is worth following?
What does a wise orientation to success and achievement look like? What value is there in living well in this life?
How can the resurrection of Jesus make you wise? What do you understand differently, or what priorities or choices will change when you trust that life is given by God?