On a weekly basis our ministers deliver sermons based in God’s Word that seek to encourage, challenge, and edify the church. Check out the Waterview livestream to watch our services as they happen.
Waterview Elders Dr. Bill Shumate and Dr. Jerry Barker give the Waterview family an update on COVID-19 and the progress that has been made to understand the virus and our efforts to battle it.
They say "absence makes the heart grow fonder." So it isn't ironic that being separated from God's people has made many of us appreciate the gathering of God's people more than ever before. David was a man of God who could relate. When separated from the city Jerusalem he longed to return to worship God again. Psalm 122 tells us his story and it has become our story too because it affirms why we gather with God's people.
COVID-19 dragged something foreign into the lives of most people. Masks. Masks were the territory of robbers, clowns, and Halloween Trick-or-Treaters. Now, to stay safe, we wear a mask. It prevents us if we have the virus but no symptoms to protect others. Yet, it protects us, as well. Most people flinch at wearing the mask. We don’t like it. We want to show our faces and see facial expressions. Masks hide something. Not all masks cover the nose and mouth. Some cover intention and motive. The ancient Greek theater had a slim cast of characters, sometimes only one. The way you changed the role was to put on a different mask. Once donned, that mask conveyed a distinct personality apart from the actor’s own. Hence, the New Testament borrows the term “hypocrite” for the actor under the mask. What he shows is not who he is. Paul warned people of the theatrics of spiritual motives. “You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.” (1 Thessalonians 2:5) Paul was telling people, “my face is open, and my motives are clear.” He did not cover up motives but was genuine. Sadly, modern Christianity has its share of performers who play the role to gain the trust, the money, and the loyalty of the gullible. So, we live in two worlds. Wear a mask to protect yourself but take off your spiritual mask to show the genuineness of Christian devotion. Both masked and unmasked provide some measure of safety. -Robert G. Taylor-
In times of trouble, we need to hold fast to a faithful view of God. Not only does the book of Psalms show us God, but Psalm 103:2 cautions us to not forget God's benefits. As a result, Psalm 103 is really the gushing praise of David as he remembers what God has done for him. Literally everything that is good comes from God, but David mentions many specific blessings that all who fear God should never forget!
Tired of the expression "shelter in place?" This lesson seeks to put a twist on our unfortunate situation. As we continue our "Serenity from the Psalms" series, we are reminded that Psalm 91 teaches us we can "Shelter in Grace!" We are not the first generation that needed help during times of pestilence. This comforting Psalm reminds us why God is the place of shelter for his people during difficult times.
Perhaps the most recognizable words in the Bible come from Psalm 23. "The Lord is my shepherd" is a thought that comforts believers and intrigues countless individuals. In this lesson, we will sit at David's feet and let him explain why the Lord was his shepherd. What he saw in the Lord can be your hope and blessing too!
Most people probably think the story of Jesus is more of a New Testament focus. But this story is first told in the Old Testament Scriptures. In this lesson, we'll specifically center our attention on the Psalms. It's powerful to imagine that his story was told in prophecy long before Jesus was incarnate. All the significant parts of the story are there, but we'll highlight the parts that matter the most for our future and hope!
The news today is depressing. Things are going to get worse before they get better. But Psalms 16 has a different message: "Things are going to get better!" In this lesson, we learn how David found the benefits and hope of being in a covenant relationship with God. Christians can have this too! These blessings are both here and in the hereafter!
In this lesson, we dig into how David felt about this terrible event and what he did in response in Psalms 3. This is a message for our times when life turns upside down!
How we deal with problems begins with our attitude. Any problem, including this pandemic, can be a challenge but the Bible actually show us how to approach any problem with a renewed attitude if we are a Christian. When Paul wrote Philippians he was in jail, but if you didn't know that it would be hard to detect based on his great attitude. In this lesson, we focus on five things from Phil. 4:4-9 that Paul reminds us we can do to make the best of this difficult situation.
