What feels “out of control” to you right now? It can be something you’ve seen in the world, online, the news, or even something personally.
How would you describe the “peace” of God? What kind of peace do you think Paul is talking about in Philippians?
What are some practical ways and/or places that you can praise God more consistently this week?
Church Refresh is a new church experience created to meet you where you are on your spiritual journey and give you hope and tools for transformation.
Think of it as an expansion of online gatherings. Rather than church once a week, our weekly teaching and transformational tools will be available on-demand, seven days a week for you to experience individually, with your family or community together.
Going deeper into transformation
Lauren has served in a variety of capacities at Soul City, including grief support, prayer, and most recently, she’s been part of our Care team, delivering meals to families in need. Her own journey through pain prepared her to hold space for those who are suffering.
Four years ago, Lauren was facing Stage 3 lymphoma. “I went septic twice, which is when you have no immune system.” She remembers her darkest night: “Things were beeping, residents coming in every 20 minutes to check your vitals, none of your 27 anti-biotics seem to be working yet. There’s all this chaos going on around the patient in the hospital bed.”
And yet, even in this place, Lauren experienced God’s comfort. “I knew that God was crafting a story – it pulled me through that night, knowing that there was a great story being woven. Some of my most peaceful moments were staring death in the face. God is the prince of peace. He will fight for you when you can’t fight.
When you have a near death experience, you’re left with the final decision of: are you gonna choose life?”
Since that night, Lauren has had to make that choice in new ways. “This is something we learn over and over again.” We all have the opportunity to practice turning towards sacred peace even now, with our world in turmoil.
“The question is: do you believe who He says He is?” Lauren reminds herself. “A passage of Scripture that I’ve been obsessed with is Jesus calming the storm.” Whatever storm you are facing, may you find that God is already there. May you experience the peace He offers.
Set a timer for 7 minutes.
Close your eyes, and open your hands with your palms facing up in a posture of release and surrender to God.
Breathe deeply, and bring whatever worry, anxiety, or fear you are experiencing to God in prayer.
Then ask yourself, “WHAT ELSE?” Continue to ask, “What else is going on inside of me that I can bring to God?” until the timer runs out.
One of the main places in scripture that we find praise for God is in the Psalms. This ancient poetry often expresses worship and praise for who God is and all he has done. As we reflect on Jarrett’s teaching this week and the words of Paul in Philippians 4, may we also make space to meditate on these Psalms of praise.
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[c]
5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their[g] feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
4 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5 How great are your works, Lord,
how profound your thoughts!
6 Senseless people do not know,
fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
9 For surely your enemies, Lord,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn[b] like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.[c]
14 The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
Grab a journal and reflect on the following writing prompts…
Write words of praise to God for who he is (focus on his attributes and character)
Write words of praise to God for what he has done. The ways he has been active throughout history and throughout your life.
A quick message for those joining us in person this weekend:
Recently, the CDC shared new guidelines for wearing face masks in public and in indoor settings to promote safety in areas with substantial risks of transmission. Therefore, we are requiring that masks are worn while in the building on Sundays.
We are continuously reviewing the CDC guidelines and what our next steps will be – as your safety remains our priority.
