cover of episode Praying the Gospel
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这段讲道围绕诗篇103展开，核心观点是处理人生各种境遇的关键在于铭记上帝的恩惠（benefits）。这并非简单的记忆，而是将上帝的恩惠深深植根于内心，使其成为行动的准则。讲道者指出，我们内心的问题源于对上帝恩惠的遗忘，这种遗忘是由于我们内心深处渴望自主，不愿承认对上帝的亏欠。因此，我们需要通过积极的默想和沉思，将福音的真理深入内心，直到它点燃我们的热情。讲道者详细解释了福音的内涵，强调耶稣在十字架上被遗弃的代价，以及这对于我们永远被上帝记念的意义。他鼓励听众将福音的各个方面融入内心深处，以此来战胜恐惧、绝望、愤怒等负面情绪，从而改变人生。 讲道者认为，诗篇103提供了一种处理人生各种境遇的普遍方法，其核心在于不要忘记上帝的恩惠。他指出，我们日常理解的“记住”与圣经中的含义有很大不同，圣经中的“记住”是指让某事成为我们意识的核心，从而影响我们的行为。他进一步解释说，忘记上帝的恩惠会导致我们内心失衡，好的事情容易遗忘，而坏的事情却难以忘怀。因此，我们需要通过默想和沉思，将上帝的恩惠融入内心深处，使之成为我们行动的准则。他强调，默想并非简单的认同，而是将真理深入内心，直到它点燃我们的热情。这需要理性分析与祈祷的结合，既要深入了解自身内心，又要用真理来挑战和改变内心。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What is the key approach to handling all of life's circumstances according to Psalm 103?

The key approach is to praise the Lord with your entire soul by not forgetting His benefits.

Why does the concept of 'remembering' in the Bible go beyond mere mental recall?

In the Bible, remembering means having something so central to your consciousness that it controls your behavior and affects your actions.

What is the main problem with human memory according to the Bible?

The main problem is that the good things, which should keep the heart confident and joyful, fade quickly, while the bad things remain vivid and gripping.

Why does the human heart struggle to remember God's goodness?

The human heart struggles because it wants to be its own master and cannot bear the thought of the greatness of God and what we owe Him, leading to a semi-conscious desire to forget.

What is the significance of Jesus being 'forgotten' on the cross?

Jesus being 'forgotten' on the cross means He experienced the penalty of being treated as insignificant by God, which is hell. This was done so that we would always be remembered by God.

How does meditation and contemplation help in remembering God's benefits?

Meditation and contemplation involve taking the truth and praying it into the center of your being, making it central to your consciousness and affecting your heart deeply.

What is the gospel, and why is it central to remembering God's benefits?

The gospel is the good news that God does not treat us as our sins deserve, and He has removed our transgressions infinitely far. It is central because it is the truth that needs to be at the core of our consciousness to transform our hearts.

What is the metaphor used in Psalm 103 to describe the removal of our sins?

The metaphor used is that our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west, meaning they are infinitely and unconditionally gone.

How does the story of the ghost in 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' illustrate the human struggle with forgetting and remembering?

The story shows a woman who wants to forget a painful love but cannot fully forget, leading to a haunting reminder of what she lost. This mirrors the human struggle of wanting to forget God but still longing for Him.

What is the role of the gospel in addressing various emotional struggles?

The gospel addresses emotional struggles by reminding us of God's forgiveness, healing, lovingkindness, and redemption, which are the solutions to guilt, fear, dishonor, and other issues.

Chapters
This chapter introduces Psalm 103 as a guide to navigating life's challenges. The core message is the importance of remembering God's benefits, a concept deeper than simple recall, impacting behavior and shaping our outlook. The sermon will explore the 'why,' 'where,' 'what,' and 'how' of remembering.
  • Psalm 103 offers a key approach to handling all life's situations.
  • Remembering God's benefits is crucial, going beyond mental recall.
  • The sermon will explore why, where, what, and how to remember God's benefits.

Shownotes Transcript

Psalm 103 is about how to handle life in general. It, in a sense, gives you the key approach to handle all of life’s circumstances, all of life’s situations, no matter what they are. And at first, this key feels anticlimactic. 

What does it say the whole problem of our hearts is? That we need to praise the Lord with our entire souls. How? By not forgetting his benefits. David is saying, “The main thing I need to do, the main thing you need to do, is to not forget.” I know that’s anticlimactic. But it’s because of ur word for remember is so much more shallow than the biblical and Hebrew concept. David is calling for something far deeper than mental recall, and he’s dealing with something far more transforming than just counting your blessings.

We’re going to learn here 1) why we need to remember, 2) where we need to remember, 3) what we need to remember, and 4) how we need to remember.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on March 19, 2000. Series: Psalms – The Songs of Jesus. Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22.

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