Faith in Focus #39
A reflection from Connection Church and other spiritual events from the week
Faith in Focus is a weekly reflection on what God has been teaching me throughout the week regarding my faith. Whether it’s personal interactions, reading, or the Sunday sermon, God speaks through it all, and I hope this helps you focus on His mission.
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Sermon Reflection
Psalm 100 does more than tell us to sing. It calls us to remember who stands at the center of our worship, why our praise is possible, and how that praise should ripple outward into the lives of those around us.
Based on the sermon by James Kliewer, Connection Church Sioux Falls, August 2, 2026.
Full-Throated and Whole-Hearted
There’s something special about welcoming an old friend home. This week at Connection Church, we were blessed to have James Kliewer return to preach. James was once a member of our church before being sent out to plant a church in Hartford, SD. His return gave the morning a sense of familiarity, but the passage he brought us was anything but ordinary.
James walked us through Psalm 100, a short psalm with a surprisingly large reach.
His illustration for the morning was simple. Imagine dropping a rock in a pond. The rock hits the water, and immediately the surface begins to move. One ripple becomes another, which becomes another. The impact travels outward from the place where the rock first landed.
The question James pressed us toward was this, “What is at the center of our ripples?”
For the Christian, the answer can’t ultimately be ourselves. It must be Jesus.
Psalm 100 begins with an invitation to the whole earth to make a joyful noise to the Lord. It calls God’s people to serve Him with gladness, come into His presence with singing, give thanks, and bless His name.
The movement’s outward, but the source is fixed.
The Rock is at the center.
The World Behind the Text
James began the sermon by stepping back from Psalm 100 and explaining the Psalms themselves. He described them as communal, teaching God’s people how to pray, and given by God.
There’s an important nuance here. The Psalms certainly give voice to the gathered people of God, and Psalm 100 itself is unmistakably communal. Its commands are directed toward “all the earth,” and its language repeatedly speaks in the plural. Yet the Psalter also contains deeply personal prayers, laments, confessions, and songs of thanksgiving. The better conclusion is not that the Psalms are never individual, but that even personal prayer belongs within the larger life of God’s people.
Christianity was never intended to be merely a private relationship between us and Jesus. We are saved into a people.
Psalm 100 makes that explicit. We’re reminded that the Lord made us, that we belong to Him, and that we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Worship therefore doesn’t terminate at the individual. What God does in us is meant to become part of what God is doing among us.
That fits naturally with the gospel, community, and mission framework of Connection Church. The church describes its desire as glorifying God by multiplying disciples of Jesus Christ through gospel, community, and mission.
The gospel gives us something worth proclaiming. Community gives us people with whom to proclaim and live it. Mission sends that proclamation beyond the walls of the church.
The ripples keep moving.
Walking the Passage
Psalm 100 is only five verses long, but it’s packed with reasons to worship.
First, we’re told to worship because the Lord is God. The psalm doesn’t begin with our emotional state. It begins with reality.
“Know that the LORD, he is God!” Psalm 100:3.
That’s the Rock.
Our worship doesn’t begin because we happen to feel particularly spiritual on Sunday morning. It begins because God is who He says He is.
James connected that truth to Jesus’ identity. In Matthew 16:13-18, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Jesus speaks about the rock upon which He will build his church.
There’s an important distinction here. Matthew 16:18 has been interpreted in different ways regarding the referent of “this rock.” The passage itself doesn’t simply say, “Jesus is the rock” in that verse. Yet the broader New Testament explicitly identifies Christ as the Rock, while the Old Testament repeatedly uses rock imagery for God. Paul makes the connection especially clearly in 1 Corinthians 10:4, writing that “the Rock was Christ.”
So James’s image gives us something worth holding onto.
The Rock isn’t us. The Rock is Christ.
And if Christ is the Rock, then our praise isn’t built upon shifting sand. It rests upon someone who doesn’t move.
Psalm 100 then gives us another reason to praise as we belong to Him. We aren’t self made people wandering through the world trying to determine our own ultimate identity. We’re God’s people.
That should change the way we understand worship.
Worship’s not primarily about what we get out of singing. It’s about recognizing who God is and responding to what is true about Him.
The psalm closes by giving us three reasons to praise God: He’s good, His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness extends to all generations.
That sounds remarkably different from praising a tyrant.
God’s authority isn’t arbitrary domination. The King we worship is both just and loving. His goodness isn’t separated from His sovereignty, and His authority is not opposed to His steadfast love.
This is why confessing Jesus as Lord isn’t merely checking a theological box.
Romans 10:9 connects confession with belief and salvation, declaring that those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe in His resurrection will be saved.
The confession matters because the reality matters.
Jesus is Lord.
A Fair Counter-Reading
There’s a danger in turning the ripple illustration into a formula.
We could hear it and conclude that if our Christian lives aren’t producing obvious results, then something must be wrong with us. That can quickly become exhausting, especially for someone already carrying shame, grief, trauma, or the weight of feeling like they never do enough.
But the gospel doesn’t teach us that God’s power depends on the quality of our performance.
The Rock doesn’t become unstable because the water around us is still.
Our faithfulness matters. Our obedience matters. Our witness matters. But the effectiveness of the gospel ultimately belongs to God.
Jesus remains Lord whether the ripple is immediately visible or not. We are called to faithful obedience, not control over outcomes.
The Turn
Here’s where Psalm 100 becomes uncomfortably personal.
If Jesus is truly Lord, then he can’t simply be an accessory to our lives.
We can’t place Him at the edge of the pond and then live as though we are the rock at the center.
Lordship means submission.
That doesn’t mean Jesus is a tyrant demanding obedience because He enjoys control. It means that the One who created us, redeemed us, and loves us has the rightful authority to direct our lives.
The question isn’t whether Jesus gets a place in our lives.
The question is whether He gets the center.
This’s where James’s call to be “full-throated and whole-hearted” becomes so powerful. Our confession shouldn’t merely exist on our lips while our lives tell another story.
Hebrews 13:15 describes praise as a sacrifice offered to God through Christ, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
But the Christian life doesn’t stop at singing.
The praise that comes from our lips should increasingly become visible in our lives.
That’s where the ripples begin.
We worship, and someone else sees what we value.
We serve, and someone else encounters the character of Christ.
We confess Jesus as Lord, and someone else hears the gospel.
We forgive, love, sacrifice, welcome, and tell the truth because Jesus is Lord.
The ripple moves.
Carry It Into the Week
So what does Psalm 100 look like on a weekday afternoon?
It looks like remembering.
When life is frustrating, remember who is Lord.
When temptation promises satisfaction, remember who is Lord.
When success tempts you toward pride, remember who is Lord.
When suffering makes you question whether God is good, remember what Psalm 100 says about his steadfast love and faithfulness.
When you gather with other believers, don’t treat worship as a private experience. Sing knowing that someone beside you may need the reminder you are singing.
And when you leave the church building, don’t assume the worship service has ended.
The ripples continue.
Psalm 96 gives the same outward movement, calling God’s people to sing, bless God’s name, and declare his glory among the nations.
That’s gospel, community, and mission working together.
We know who Jesus is. We gather around Him. Then we go tell others.
The goal isn’t to manufacture impressive ripples so that we can congratulate ourselves on how influential we’ve become.
The goal is to keep pointing back to the Rock.
Because when people notice the ripples, they should eventually ask where they came from.
And our answer should always be Jesus.
Not us.
Jesus.
The Rock at the center.
Song of the Week: Meet Me In The Valley - Tasha Layton
This week’s song by Tasha Layton is pure encouragement wrapped in beautiful lyrics. It’s a reminder that no matter where life finds us, whether we are celebrating on the mountaintop or struggling to take another step through the valley, Jesus never abandons His people. He’s present in our greatest joys just as much as He’s in our deepest sorrows. He doesn’t wait for us to have everything figured out before drawing near. He meets us exactly where we are. Better yet, He was already there before we arrived.
The heart of this song centers on those valley seasons. Those moments when the weight of life feels overwhelming, prayers seem to linger without answers, and hope can feel just out of reach. It’s in those moments that we often need the reminder that God has not forgotten us. He walks with us through every trial, every disappointment, every moment of grief, and every battle we face. The valley may feel lonely, but for those who belong to Christ, it’s never walked alone.
At the same time, we shouldn’t overlook the mountaintops. It’s easy to cry out for God when life hurts, but we should be just as eager to praise Him when life is full of blessing. Every good gift comes from Him, and our worship shouldn’t depend on our circumstances. Whether we find ourselves rejoicing or weeping, He’s equally worthy of our praise.
As I listened to this song, I found myself hoping it becomes more than just another track on a playlist but that it becomes a prayer. A simple, heartfelt cry to the Lord that says, “Jesus, meet me in this valley. Be my strength when I am weak. Be my shield in the battle that surrounds me. Remind me that You are near, even when I can’t see what You’re doing. I know You’re faithful, so help me trust You one step at a time.”
If you’re walking through a difficult season today, I hope Tasha Layton’s words point you beyond the music and toward the One who never leaves nor forsakes His children. And when those inevitable valleys come, may this song remind you to lift your eyes to Christ, confidently asking Him to meet you there, knowing He already has.
Week in Reflection
This week was filled with both incredible highs and painful lows. In many ways, it was a picture of the Christian life. There were moments of joy that reminded me of God’s goodness and moments of failure that reminded me just how much I need His grace.
The lowest point of my week was falling into the same sin yet again. It’s frustrating because I know exactly where that road leads. I know it will never truly satisfy, yet my flesh still wages war against my spirit, and sometimes I give in.
The shame that follows is real, but so is God’s grace. When I confess my sin and genuinely repent, God is faithful to forgive because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. As 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” My standing before God isn’t based on how well I performed this week but on the finished work of Jesus.
Even in the middle of my shortcomings, God continued to pour out blessings I certainly don’t deserve.
One of the biggest highlights of my week was photographing one of my favorite Christian bands, Skillet, at the Sioux Empire Fair. This was a dream opportunity ever since I started concert photography. They were everything I hoped they would be from behind the lens, but what made the experience even more meaningful was covering artists whose music boldly points people to Christ. It reminded me how thankful I am that God has allowed me to combine my love for photography with opportunities to serve through writing.
The second blessing came through my church family. This week I was asked to step into a leadership role within our Gospel Community. I’ll be serving alongside our current leaders as we work toward multiplying our group in 2027.
If I’m honest, that responsibility is intimidating. Leadership exposes your weaknesses, but it also reminds you that the work is God’s, not yours. I’m humbled that my church leaders trust me enough to serve in this capacity, and I know that whatever lies ahead, God will provide the wisdom and strength I need.
Looking back on this week, I see the beauty of the gospel. I see a sinner who still stumbles, a Savior who continues to forgive, and a Father who continues to bless His children despite what they deserve.
Paul reminds us in Romans 5:8, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
My prayer is that we would never allow our failures to push us away from God. Instead, may they drive us to repentance, deeper dependence on Christ, and continued growth in holiness. Sanctification isn’t about becoming perfect overnight. It’s about faithfully following Jesus a day at a time, trusting that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it for His glory.
And always remember, God loves you, and so do I.
Connection Church in Sioux Falls is a gospel-centered community committed to helping people follow Jesus through authentic relationships, biblical teaching, and everyday mission. Rooted in historic Christian belief and aligned with gospel renewal movements, the church exists to see lives transformed by Jesus. Learn more: https://siouxfallsconnection.com/who-we-are
