"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" Psalm 32

We Make Disciples

"We believe that followers of Christ are called to multiply through the proclamation of the gospel from one person to the next through the ensuing process of relational discipleship. Therefore, we mobilize our people in order to expand God’s kingdom to the neighborhoods and the nations until they all know the gospel."  ECBC Core Values

A disciple is a forgiven sinner who is committed to the transformational learning of Christ in repentance and faith. “Disciples are made by the persevering proclamation of the word of God by the people of God, in prayerful dependence on the Spirit of God.”  Marshall and Payne, The Vine Project, pg. 145

Happiness/joy/security is found in the gospel of grace (v.1-2, 10-11). The price of your happiness has been paid. The basis for your happiness is secure. The resources for your happiness are daily. The assurance of your eternal happiness is absolute, providing an objective reason for your happiness today. 

Heidelberg Catechism: Question 60
Q: How are you right with God?
A: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments and of never having kept any of them, and even though I am still inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without my deserving it al all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me. All I need to do is to accept the gift of God with a believing heart.

 3. Abba Father! (who corrects and lovingly disciplines) (v.3-4) "Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject two the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness." Hebrews 12:9-10 "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity."  Proverbs 28:13-14

3. Abba Father! (who invites/receives repenting children) (v.5)

4. Abba Father! (who is a hiding place of strength; even when “all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts”) (The Message, v.6-7)  

5. Grace-filled initiatives and worshipful response (v.8-9)

Application Statements:

1. We’re to be lifelong learners (Hebrews 4:12).

2. The necessity of being a disciple of Christ who is a lifelong learner is based upon the ongoing reality of the devil’s opposition (the battle is real and unrelenting), the seduction of certain elements of a fallen world and the indwelling sin in the believer (“from which arises a continual and irreconcilable war” Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch.13, Part 2). 

3. The lifelong learning takes place in the context of community. 

4. This learning is a daily pursuit of joy and desperation (playing golf or baseball vs. learning the multiplication tables). 

5. This learning is done on the basis of the steadfast understanding of the Word of God.