Capital Church Messages

“Praying Bigger Prayers”

Society is often quick to assign labels to people—you’ve surely acquired some kind of label yourself. No matter what the label is, you’ve probably been limited by that label. Maybe you’re labeled “successful” or “perfectionist”, and now your sleep, peace, and relationships are limited because you constantly feel the need to outperform yourself. Maybe your label is a source of shame: “ruthless”, “untrustworthy”, or “aimless”. The limiting labels we give ourselves are crippling. These labels are lies. These labels are not who you are—you are a child of God, and you’re more than they say you are.

“You’re More…”

What’s your favorite love song? From power ballads of the 80s to contemporary love songs, the experience of love has resulted in some of the most passionate poetry & literature our world has ever seen. Believe it or not, the bible is a tale of the experience of true love between God and humanity. The truth is, you are already loved more than you can fathom, and Paul’s prayer for you in Ephesians 3 invites you to feel more of this unimaginable love. When you grasp that you’re more loved than you realize, you can walk the earth filled up with the full measure of the life of God.

“More Loved Than You Realize”

In short, strength is the ability to do what needs doing. If life hurls challenges at you, strength is the ability to overcome them. If life pummels you with pain and problems, strength is the capacity to power through. Sometimes, you might not feel very strong—perhaps you’re battling chronic pain; perhaps you’re on the last string of a tattering marriage; perhaps you’re not sure you can handle another piece of bad news from the doctors who keep delivering bad news. If you’re stuck and stalled in life or feel weary, worried, or weak, Paul’s prayer from Ephesians 3 is for you. May its words help you grasp that, with God's glorious riches in you, you’re stronger than you think.

Stronger Than You Think

The story of the first Palm Sunday in Matthew 21, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, teaches us lessons that transcend time and space to be as relevant today as they were then. Now, just as then, is a time to affirm the Lord of history and eternity. Now is a time to ask ourselves if we know the real Jesus—not an idea of Jesus that’s conveniently aligned with our desires or expectations. The story shows us that now is a time to realize that Jesus came to stir us, not just to comfort us. And it is because of that stirring that now is the time to share the news about what it means to follow Christ.

“When Jesus Comes to Town”

Maybe you’re in a season of waiting right now—waiting and striving for a new job with no success, waiting on God to heal your body, but it hasn’t happened; waiting and begging God to restore your marriage, but the arguments keep getting louder… If you find yourself feeling miserable and abandoned in God’s waiting room, Psalm 130 is a Psalm that can teach you how to wait well as you comprehend and contemplate the character of God. No matter what you’re waiting on, how you thinkabout God shapes how you wait.

“Thinking & Waiting”

God doesn’t promise a life absent of trouble, but he promises that he’ll take us through the trouble. Psalm 121 is meant to be sung as a reminder of God’s character and faithfulness—it delivers confidence that God’s vigilant and caring competence is trustworthy. You can trust him with your eternal life and with your day-to-day. You can trust him when you experience things that are out of control; when you lose your job or lose a loved one; or hear a bad report from the doctor—no matter what you face, you can trust that God’s got you!

“Look Up!”

Temptation and sin are deceptive and powerful. Sin convinces you that you can’t be helped; sin convinces you that it is the best way to help; sin convinces you that it’s not even sin. It over-promises and under-delivers. Sin lies. David wrote Psalm 51 in the aftermath of incredible and heavy sin (2 Samuel 11 & 12). In giving into sin, David didn’t become an atheist; he didn’t stop believing in God or his Law. He just let God become unreal to him. Perhaps David’s story of stupidity could stop you from continuing yours. While sin lies, God is faithful to forgive, and trustworthy to transform.

“Sin’s Lie and God’s Love”

Psalm 131 reminds us to put our hope in God at all times. You probably don’t need to be reminded to put your hope in God when you’re battling depression, facing chronic pain, or the loss of a job or a loved one. But what about when the depression lifts; when you get the promotion; and when everything seems to be going right? If you depend on yourself alone, and play the role of God in your life, you will fall short. The message of Psalm 131 is simple, but it is not easy: you will always be restless until you learn to rest with Jesus.

“Why Can’t You Stop?”

It is one thing to know the facts of creation and to have a conceptual idea of the power of God. From the start of the universe, to the creation of man, to the intricate design of every unique snowflake on earth, God is the all-powerful, ultimate creator. But can you trust him with your addiction? Can you trust him with your struggling marriage? Is he with you in your finances? Can you lean on him in your unanswered questions? God cares personally for you and wants a relationship with you. God is big enough for the universe, and he is big enough for you.

“God is Big Enough”

Psalm 73 is a lament in which the Psalmist looks at the world around him and concludes that something is not right. While the psalm writer does his part in being faithful to God and checks all the right boxes to live righteously, God doesn’t seem to show up how we might expect. Perhaps you can relate to this feeling… Have you felt like God didn’t show up when you needed him most? Psalm 73 can serve as a manual on how to handle unfairness, injustice, and doubt. As you resolve to seek God in the suffering, may you find him and realize that there is nothing better than Jesus.

“Nothing Better”

“Trust Me”

The entire book of Psalms ends with 6 short verses all about praising the Lord. Praise isn’t just a mode of happiness because we feel good, or we’ve gotten through some storm. We praise because we know that lament isn’t the end of the story. We praise because there is restoration, redemption, and reconciliation in Christ. We are safe to have high expectations of God, and our praise can be anticipation. The hallelujah in Psalm 150 isn’t just a statement—it’s a command. Even in the storms of rejection, confusion, and pain throughout the rest of the Psalms, Psalm 150 is a beautiful command from God to praise him for who he is with what you have.

“Praise the Lord for Who He is with What You Have”

David wrote Psalm 27 during a difficult and dark season—he was going through the unimaginable. Can you relate? Have you had a time in your life when it seemed like you were being pummeled on all sides? On top of the global challenges that we all face, maybe you’ve experienced your own unrelenting, pain-filled season. No matter what you face—be it cancer, unemployment, an impossible decision, a difficult relationship, or whatever else—God is with you and he is for you. When you’re in the middle of the storm, rather than turn from God, turn to him. Because in the worst of life you can find the best of God.

“He is Worth the Wait”

People fail all the time. Politicians, public figures, personal friends–but it’s especially disappointing when God’s people fail. Even if the most important people in your life fail you, your faith doesn’t have to fail because you can place that faith in something far more trustworthy than people. If…actually, WHEN God’s people fail you, don’t ever forget that though God’s people fail, God’s love will never fail.

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Capital Church Messages

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