The End of An Era
March 1, 2020
Rev. Bruce Brown
I Samuel 31
I. The Tragedy and the Triumph (verses 1-2)
II. The Faithlessness and the Fulfillment (verses 3-7)
III. The Humiliation and the Honor (verses 8-13)
“In a sense, the whole of the history of God’s people and of the world, from the creation of the first Adam to the return of the second Adam, is captured in the tale of two kings that is the book of 1 Samuel. We end with one fallen on his sword; the other poised to reign. We end with one showing us the futility of disobeying God; the other pointing us to the most exalted, most humble, most wise and most loving King of God’s people – Jesus of Nazareth.” ~ Tim Chester
Living in the Thick of It.
February 23, 2020
Rev. Bruce Brown
I Samuel 30:1-31
I. God’s Strength is Sufficient (verses 1-9)
II. God’s Deliverance is Decisive (verses 10-25)
III. God’s Gifts are Generous (26-31)
“In giving gifts to his people out of the treasure of his own spoils, David foreshadows the kind of king Jesus is to believers… Most marvelously, Christ’s gospel gift is such that when we give it to others we do not lose it but possess it more strongly and richly for ourselves. What an incentive for us all to strengthen ourselves in the Lord and start following his Word in renewed faith. Who can tell what God will do in and through any of us if we yield ourselves unreservedly to Jesus?” ~ Richard D. Phillips
God's Cliffhangers
Rev. Bruce Brown
February 16, 2020
I Samuel 29
I. God’s Presence is Almost Silent (verses 6 & 9)
II. God’s Ways are Often Surprising (verses 1-11)
III. God’s Grace is Always Stubborn (verses 7-11)
“Then there is some glad news for all Yahweh’s servants in this fainting fit of His chosen king. God does not cast you off in your foolishness. Our bungling does not evaporate his mercy. It is yet full and warm – and stubborn, so stubborn it insisted on pursing David to Philistia… David’s jam and Yahweh’s deliverance shows that David’s success is due not to David’s savvy but only to Yahweh’s mercy.” Dale Ralph Davis
Without a Word of Hope
Rev. Bruce Brown
February 9, 2020
I Samuel 28:3-25
I. Desperate for a Word (verses 3-6)
II. Misdirected Desperation (verses 7-14)
III. A Message from the Grave (verses 15-25)
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).
What a Mess!
Rev. Bruce Brown
February 2, 2020
I Samuel 27:1-28:2
I. In the Mess of Life Speak God’s Truth to Yourself (verses 27:1-3)
II. In the Mess of Life Learn to Apply God’s Wisdom (verses 27:4-28:2)
III. In the Mess of Life Hope in God’s Amazing Grace (verses 27:4-28:2)
“David would have done well to meditate on the Proverb: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). In the end, it is not our job to save ourselves; as Jonah learned from within the great fish, “Salvation belongs to the LORD!” (Jon. 2:9). Proverbs does not tell us to abandon our own understanding, but it does tell us not to lean on our understanding. It is always God on whom we must lean, and if we are relying on the Lord to be our salvation we will find it easier to retain the wisdom of walking in the straight paths of his Word.” ~ Richard Phillips
Growing in Grace
Pastor Bruce Brown
1 Samuel 26
I. Growth in Grace Brings Patience in Obedience (verses 1-12)
II. Growth in Grace Receives Signs of Reassurance (verses 12-16)
III. Growth in Grace Feels Anguish Away from Home (verses 17-24)
“David will not always be an example of faith. But at least in this text, he is convinced of God’s guidance, even if he does not have immediate confirmation… As we grown and mature in our faith, we also become more confident about God’s guidance, and we spend less time seeking constantly for evidence of his moving.” ~ Bill T. Arnold
Restraining Grace
Pastor Bruce Brown
1 Samuel 25:1-39
I. A Ruthless Response to Abuse (verses 1-13)
II. The Rescuing Grace of Wisdom(verses 14-35)
III. God’s Righteousness Displayed (verses 36-39)
“No man stands a moment longer than divine grace upholds him. The strongest are weak as water immediately the power of the Spirit is withdrawn; the most mature and experienced Christian acts foolishly the moment he be left to himself; none of us has any reserve strength or wisdom in himself to draw from: our source of sufficiency is all treasured up for us in Christ, as soon as communion with Him be broken, as soon as we cease looking alone to Him, we are helpless.” ~ A.W. Pink
What a Chance!
Pastor Bruce Brown
1 Samuel 24
I. A Test of Circumstances (verses 1-7)
II. Trust in the LORD’s Righteous Ways (verses 8-15)
III. Truth from an Unlikely Source (verses 16-22)
“Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” ~ Psalm 37:34
“Are you tempted to justify worldly means because the outward results will come more easily? May God grant us the power, along with David, looking at the crucified and resurrected Jesus, never to lay our hands on the blessings God has promised in a manner contrary to the will of God in his Word. Let us, instead, commit to receive whatever blessings God has for us from God’s own hand or not all.”
~ Richard D. Phillips
Help in Every Trouble
Pastor Bruce Brown
1 Samuel 23
I. The LORD Provides Divine Guidance (verses 1-13)
II. The LORD Provides Devoted Encouragement (verses 14-18)
III. The LORD Provides Delivering Providence (verses 19-28)
“With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you, I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.” ~ Psalm 54:6-7
“If it is God’s purpose to deliver you, He has thousands of unseen methods, to any one of which He may resort, when, to the eye of sense, there seems not the shadow of a hope.”
~ William Blaikie
When Evil Rises
Pastor Bruce Brown
1 Samuel 22:6-23
I. Evil Rises When Truth is Rejected (verses 6-16)
II. Holding On When Evil is Unleashed (verses 16-19)
III. A Refuge Remains (verses 20-23)
“David and Saul illustrate two types of people… David illustrates the person who responds to God’s call and begins the lifelong process of transformation. Saul is the contrast. He shows the natural and inevitable consequences of refusing God’s call. In this text, the two are going in opposite directions. The narrator has driven a wedge between Saul and David, and the distance is greater with each passing chapter.” ~ Bill Arnold
Desperate Times Call for Gracious Aid
Rev. Bruce Brown
1 Samuel 21:1-22:5
I. Provision for the Destitute (verses 1-9)
II. Praise for the Panicked (verses 10-15)
III. Prophecy for the Wandering (chapter 22:1-5)
“Do you find yourself under a heavy load of worry and cares? Do you sometimes think you will crumble under the pressure? Look, then, to God’s daily provision and remember that just as God did not cast off David in his folly and sin, God will remain faithful to His children.” ~ Richard D. Phillps
Jesus On Investing
Rev. Bruce Brown
Luke 16:1-15
I. Material Resources Require Creative Thought (verses 1-9)
II. Material Resources Provide an Index of Character (verses 10-12)
III. Material Resources Raise the Possibility of Idolatry (verses 13-15)
“The parable… is deeply instructive. It may well raise within us great searchings of heart. The diligence of worldly men about the things of time — should put to shame the coldness of professing Christians about the things of eternity. The zeal and tenacity of men of business in compassing sea and land to get earthly treasures — may well reprove the slackness and indolence of believers about treasures in Heaven. The words of our Lord are indeed weighty and solemn, “The children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light.” May these words sink into our hearts and bear fruit in our lives!”
~ J.C. Ryle
Our Anchor in Distress
I Samuel 20:1-42
March 18, 2018
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Plea for Covenantal Faithfulness (verse 1:17)
II. The Priority of Covenantal Relationships (verses 18-34)
III. The Peace that Covenant Brings (verses 35-42)
His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.” Edward Mote, The Solid Rock
PROSPERITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP IS SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM, 5533 PPC DRIVE, CHARLOTTE, NC,
704-875-1182.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE SERVICE
~ Edward Mote, The Solid Rock
Safe in the Fortress
I Samuel 18:17-19:24
March 11, 2018
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. God's Hidden protection (verses 18:17-30)
II. God's Human Protectors (verses 9:1-17)
III. God's Humbling Power (verses 19:18-24)
“God primarily preserves his cause through his children testifying of the grace of God to a dark world. We can say of Christianity what Jonathan said of David: “It has done you good. Why should you do it harm?” Roger Ellsworth
PROSPERITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP IS SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM, 5533 PPC DRIVE, CHARLOTTE, NC,
704-875-1182.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE SERVICE
Loyal Love
I Samuel 18;1-16
March 4, 2018
Pastor Bruce Brown
I. Jonathan's Love (verses 1-5)
II. Saul's envy (verses 6-11)
III. The Favor of God (verses 12-16)
“The prince of Israel made a covenant with the shepherd boy. He gave his clothing and weapons to David as symbols of his devoted friendship. One day Jonathan would even express agreement with God’s will that David should have the crown intended for him! It was a selfless, sacrificial, loyal love for David that would endure until death. Mutual loyalty was pledged that very day, and it proved to be a most satisfying fellowship to both men for a lifetime.” ~ Walter Chantry
PROSPERITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP IS SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM, 5533 PPC DRIVE, CHARLOTTE, NC,
704-875-1182.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE SERVICE.
What's Your Measure?
I Samuel 17:1-58
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. Goliath and Saul (verses 1-11)
II. David and Israel (verses 12-40
III. David and Goliath (verses 40-45)
IV. Our Champion (verses 55-58)
"It is David who stands between Israel and their enemies. What is at stake is not just David's future, but Israel's future (vss. 8-9). The outcome of his battle will be their outcome... In the same way, on the cross Jesus was our Champion, our man of the in between. He stood between us and judgement, between us and death. Judgement and death bear down on us with violent force, threatening to destroy us. But Jesus has stood in between. He bore the full force of their fury. Our future hung on His shoulders as He hung on the cross." ~ Tim Chester
PROSPERITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP IS SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM, 5533 PPC DRIVE, CHARLOTTE, NC,
704-875-1182.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE SERVICE.
The LORD is With Him
I Samuel 16:14-23
February 18, 2018
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Fall of Saul (verses 15-17)
II. The Rise of David (verses 18-22)
III. God's Hand at Work (verses 13, 14, 23)
“The description given of young David is a good agenda for the mentoring of any Christian... The key to it all is David’s last accolade: “the LORD is with him” (1 Sam. 16:18). Today, the Lord is with everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ, just as the Lord’s voice is heard in his Word and the Lord’s presence is felt in believing prayer. The way for us to experience spiritual growth and to develop a gracious character is to be often with the Lord and through faith to know that the Lord is with us.” ~ Richard D. Phillips
Prosperity Presbyterian Church Worship is Sunday at 10:00 AM, 5533 PPC Drive, Charlotte, NC,
704-875-1182.
Everyone is invited to the service.
The LORD Sees the Heart
I Samuel 16:1-13
February 11, 2018
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. God's Point of View (verses 1-5)
II. Two Ways of Seeing (verses 6:13)
III. Looking on the Heart (verses 1-13)
The lowly sense of personal unworthiness, wondering over Divine love, the eager longing for mercy to pardon and grace to help, faith that grasps the promises, the hope that is anchored within the veil, the kindness that breathes blessings all round, the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things – it is these things, breathing forth from the hearts of a congregation, that give pleasure to God. ~ William G. Blaikie
Prosperity Presbyterian Church Worship is Sunday at 10:00 AM, 5533 PPC Drive, Charlotte, NC,
704-875-1182.
Everyone is invited to the service.
Obedience is Better
I Samuel 15
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Calling of Saul (verses 1-9)
II. The Excuses of Sin (verses 10-23)
III. The Glory of Israel (verses 24-31)
“What, then, do we give in gratitude to the God who already has everything? Does he need money or songs or prayers? We should indeed offer these to God in thanks and love. But if we really want to please God – and what could be more worthwhile in all of life? – we will do his will, as it is written in his Book, in the name of Jesus Christ, the true and perfectly righteous king who offered no other sacrifice to God than his own obedient life, shedding his own blood for our sins.” ~ Richard D. Phillips
Everyone is invited to the 10:00 AM Prosperity Church Worship Service at 5533 PPC Drive, Charlotte, NC - 704-875-1182
The Trouble with Foolishness.
July 30, 2017
Rev. Bruce Brown
5533 PPC Drive, Charlotte 10:00 AM Worship Service
I. A Foolish Vow That Troubles Israel (verses 24-30)
II. Foolish Orders that Shift the Blame (verses 31-39)
III. A Foolish Act that angers the People (verses 40-46)
“What a fearful thing it is to leave God and His ways, and give one’s self up to the impulses of one’s own heart? Fearful for even the humblest of us, but infinitely fearful for one of great resources and influence, with a whole people under him!”
William G. Blaikie