Ruf At Tcu (reformed University Fellowship)

Every person, at some point in their lives, has wrestled with the question, "Why am I here?". In Ps. 145 David invites us to consider that our singular purpose is not for ourselves, but for God alone. And, contrary to the belief that this brings misery, it actually brings great joy for life to not be about 'you.'

Many of believe that if there is a God, He can't be bothered with the affairs of our everyday lives. Psalm 139 shows us how involved God is without lives and why He would want to do so

Here the psalmist asserts that everyone, everywhere makes something supreme in their lives. The Bible calls this posture 'worship'. How do we fix our 'worship disorders' such that Life is given to us? NOTE: Poor recording quality. Bummer, we know. Sorry.

In God's being in love (among other things, to be sure). But His goodness, doesn't 'stay' there; it gets expressed to his creation...and especially his people. This sort of love is uncomfortable, at times, but is the very thing that makes our hearts sing.

The Psalms give us a range of human emotions. Most of us, however, never really explore the sorrow and pain that are often in our lives. This leads to burying or denying what is really there. Psalm 88 gives us language so that we might express our darkest of moments before God.

It is easy to believe that when the 'bad guys' are winning, God must not be involved (at best) or he doesn't care at all (at worst). Psalm 72 reminds us of what is REAL and how this gives us the ability to face the dark side of life in the world.

What do you do when you're 'busted', when you've been found out? The 51st Psalm is a confession (of sorts) of a man who was found out by God. In it we see the inner workings of repentance that ultimately lead to real freedom.

Ps. 34 invites us to examine the ways that God gives us His grace in times of difficulty. This psalm invites us to sing in the midst of our difficulties.

In this classic Psalm, David models singing our weakness before God. Instead of burying them or denying them, he is able to name them honestly. Only a God who has first become weak for us can free us to do this.

Every heart longs to be happy. It motivates everything we do. And happiness is only had by loving something. David says our hearts are happiest when the love God alone.

Every human culture has some vision of what human flourishing looks like. Psalm 1 show us that every heart is shaped by something and that something will direct the course for that individual's life. "What will you love?" the Psalms asks and provides a future for the answering of that question.

To be a human being means to be dependent and limited. Yet, the lure of our culture and own hearts is to pursue independency and power. What does have to say about Power--it's glory and ruin? Here, we learn that power, rightly expressed, is to give up independence and love others by serving them.

What do we make of a good God and the notion of Hell? Listen here to hear about how a God of justice and a God of love are not opposites. Rather we see that love is always just...and how God has made a way for those deserving justice.

What do we do when the spiritual "high" wears off? Ryan talks about the importance--and problems of trusting in--our spiritual states...and how Jesus is better than the best of our states.

The Christian Scriptures teach that there is no such thing as a solo-Christian. When God rescues us, He puts us in community with others...and this is for our, and their, good.

Perhaps you perceive religion as morally constraining. Or, have you thought about following a religious code as a means for ultimate moral freedom? This sermon shows how in Christianity one gets something utterly unique: Real Freedom within Real Limits.

Does God really help those who help themselves? Here we learn that God doesn't save morally good people (no matter how squeaky-clean they may be). Rather, God's grace comes to people who are needy, realizing that they are helpless without Him.

All of us are people-pleasers to some degree or another. We want to be liked and esteemed. Christianity asserts that all of the opinions of all the people in the world don't hold a candle to the approval that comes from God himself to those who are in Christ.

What are we to make of the claim that not all religions can be equally true? Is our culture now now forced to deal with the subjective value of religion alone. Christianity is unique in what it affirms. It says that God as a person has come and to do so that He might be with men. Listen here for a sermon on the challenge of exclusivity.

Nobody likes being out of control. This leads many of us to want to have a god that we can easily manage and control. Listen in to hear how we can have the Jesus as he really is and not as we wish He could be.