The Flourishing Church

The Twenty - Fifth Stated Meeting of Catawba Valley Presbyterian

Prosperity Presbyterian Church

September 24th, 2019 - 8:00 AM

Acts 13:1-12

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.  He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.  But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.  But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him  and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.  Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Paul Hahn, a native of Lakeland, FL, is now in his third year as Coordinator of Mission to North America (MNA), the Presbyterian Church in America’s (PCA) agency giving leadership and direction to church planting, church renewal and missional partnerships in the United States and Canada.

Gospel Encouragement

Rev. Andrew Goyzueta

October 6, 2019

I Thessalonians 1:1-10

  I. Gospel Faith   

II. Gospel Conduct

I Thessalonians 1:1-10

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (ESV)

MISSIONS MONTH

Who is The King of Glory?

 Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 24

September 29, 2019

I. The King of Glory Owns the Fullness  (verses 1-2)

II. The King of Glory Sets the Terms (verses 3-6) 

III. The King of Glory is Mighty in Battle (verses 7-10)

“This Psalm teaches us that…. as children of God, we belong to three worlds: the world of creation around us, the world of the new creation within us (2 Cor. 5:17), and “the world to come” of the wonderful final creation that will be our home for eternity (Rev. 21-22).”

Warren Wiersbe

Loving Like Jesus

 Pastor Bruce Brown

John 13:31-38

September 22nd, 2019

I.      Jesus’ Love is Glorious (verses 31-32)

II.     Jesus’ Love is Gentle (verse 33)

IV.    Jesus’ Love is Our Goal (verse 34-35)

III.    Jesus’ Love is Gracious (verse 36-38)

“The command to ‘love’ is called a ‘new’ commandment, not because it had never been given before, but because it was to be more honored, to occupy a higher position, to be backed by a higher example that it ever had been before. Above all, it was to be the test for Christianity before the world. “By this shall men know that you are my disciples if you have love one to another.” … The very people who care nothing for doctrine, and know nothing of the Bible, can appreciate love. It arrests their attention, and makes them think. For the world’s sake, if for no other cause, let us follow after love more and more.” ~ J.C. Ryle

Humility: Life for God's Glory

 Mr. Tyler Spry

John 3:22-30

September 15, 2019

I.       Know Your True PROVIDER (verse 27)

II.     Know Your True POSITION (verse 28)

III.   Know Your True PLEASURE (verse 29)

IV.   Know Your True PURPOSE (verse 30)

As people this side of heaven, we are all plagued by the temptation of selfishness. Whether it is being jealous of our friend’s latest purchase or frustration that we aren’t getting the attention we think we deserve, we are often consumed with ourselves. John the Baptist’s disciples were no different. They thought that their teacher was getting the short end of the stick when Jesus began to draw a larger crowd than John. However, John’s example shows a life of humility that lives for God’s glory. This goes against every fiber in our sinful body. God’s way of doing things is so opposite of ours, we could even call it the Upside Down Kingdom. In God’s kingdom the way up is down, and we find true joy when we draw attention away from ourselves and towards God. God is calling us to flip the way we think about ourselves upside down and to join with John when he says, “He must become greater; I must become less.”

The Betrayal

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 13:18-30

September 8, 2019

I. A Prophecy About the Betrayal (verses 18-20)

II. The Grief in the Betrayal (verses 21-25)

III. Jesus, Satan, and Judas (verses 26-30)

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“Mine own Apostle, who the bag did bear,

Though he had all I had did not forbear

To sell me also and to put me there:

Was ever grief like mine?” ~ George Herbert

“Passages like these should make us see the amazing love of Christ to sinners. How many cups of sorrow He drained to the dregs in working out our salvation, beside the mighty cup of bearing our sins…” ~ J.C. Ryle

Lowly Love

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 13:1-17

September 1, 2019

I. The Compassion of the Servant (verses 1-13)

II. The Cleansing of the Servant (verses 4-11)

III. The Challenge of the Servant (verses 12-17)

“The fact that you are truly Christ’s is the fountain of innumerable pleasures and blessings to your heart.  Jesus calls us “His own” – His own sheep, His own disciples, His own friends, His own brethren, the members of His own body.  What a title for us to wear, “His own!”… This is how he distinguishes us from the rest of mankind and sets us apart for Himself.  “My name shall be named on them,” says He… surely, this is the highest honor that can be put upon us even in the last great day.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Confessing Glory

Rev. Bruce Brown

August 25, 2019

John 12:37-50

I. The Causes of Silence (verses 36b-43)

II. The Consequences of Rejecting Christ (verses 44-50)

III. Confessing Glory (verses 41, 43, 44-50)  

“A believing view of an unseen God, an unseen Christ, an unseen heaven, and an unseen judgment-day--this is the grand secret of overcoming the fear of man. The expulsive power of a new principle is required to heal the disease. "This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:4.) Let us pray for faith, if we would conquer that deadly enemy of souls, the fear of man and the love of man's praise. And if we have any faith, let us pray for more. Let our daily cry be, "Lord, increase our faith." We may easily have too much money, or too much worldly prosperity; but we can never have too much faith.” ~ J.C. Ryle

The Power of the Cross

August 18, 2019

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 12:27-36

I. The Glory of the Cross (verses 27-30)

II. The Conquest of the Cross (verses 31-32)

III. The Offence of the Cross (verses 34-36)

“A day shall come when every knee shall bow before the Lamb that was slain, and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. He who was "lifted up" on the cross shall yet sit on the throne of glory, and before Him shall be gathered all nations. Friends and foes, each in their own order, shall be "drawn" from their graves, and appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. Let us take heed in that day that we are found on His right hand!” ~ J.C. Ryle

We Would See Jesus!

Rev. Bruce Brown

August 11, 2019

John 12:12-28

1. A Christ for One and All (verses 12-24)

2. A Christ of Great Cost (verses 25-26)

3. A Troubled Christ (verses 27-28

“Forever let us rest our hearts on this most comfortable thought. We have a most willing and loving Savior. It was His delight to do His Father's will, and to make a way for lost and guilty man to draw near to God in peace. He loved the work He had taken in hand, and the poor sinful world which He came to save… He who was a most willing Sacrifice on the cross is also a most willing Savior at the right hand of God.” ~ J.C. Ryle

Fragrant Devotion to Christ

August 4th, 2019

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 12:1-11

1. Devotion on Display (verses 1-3, 7-8)

2. Devotion Defied (verses 4-7, 9-10)

3. Devotion Defended (verses 7-8

“She did it under the influence of a heart full of love and gratitude. She thought nothing to great an good to bestow on such a Savior... Greatly loved, she thought she could not show too much love in return. Having freely received, she freely gave.”

— J. C. Ryle

What Are We to Do With Jesus?"

July 28, 2019

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 11:45-48

1. A Council that Plotted (verses 45-48)

2. A Chief Priest Who Prophesied (verses 49-53)

3. The Sovereign Christ (verse 54)

“God can make the designs of His enemies work together for the good of His people, and cause the wrath of man to praise Him. In days of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy, believers may rest patiently in the Lord. The very things that at one time seem likely to hurt them, shall prove in the end to be for their gain.” ~ J. C. Ryle

Jesus in the Graveyard

John 11:28-44

July 21, 2019

Rev. Bruce Brown

1. Jesus Sheds Tears of Love (verses 28-37)

2. Jesus Quakes in anger (verses 33, 38)

3. Jesus Speaks with Words of Power (38-44)

“There is nothing unworthy of a child of God in tears. Even the Son of God could weep. It shows us, above all, that the Savior in whom believers trust is a most tender and feeling Savior… He knows what we go through and can pity. And He is One who never changes. Though He now sits at God's right hand in heaven, His heart is still the same that it was upon earth. We have an Advocate with the Father, who, when He was upon earth, could weep.” ~ J.C. Ryle

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:17-27

July 14, 2019

Rev. Bruce Brown

I. The Cry of Faith (verses 20-22,24)

II. The Claim of Jesus (verses 23, 25-26)

III. The Clarifying Question (verses 26-27)

“Many Christians do not feel the inward peace which they desire… yet true Christians strive, as Paul says, to "comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge."  As they do, they are amazed at the discoveries they make. They soon find, like Hagar, that there are wells of water near them of which they had no knowledge. They soon discover that there is more heaven to be enjoyed on earth than they had ever thought possible. The root of a happy religion is clear, distinct, well-defined knowledge of Jesus Christ.”  ~ adapted from J.C. Ryle

When Jesus Pulls the Brake

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 11:1-16

July 7, 2019

I. The Desire of a Patient Savior (verses 1- 5)

II. The Delay of a Loving Lord (verses 5-7)

III. The Death that Leads to Life (verses 7-16)

“John 11 elevates our perspective.  It explains to Christ’s praying, devoted children that no matter how it may appear, these inexplicable delays are delays of love.  That is what our text says!  When we are being ravaged by the events of life, it is very difficult to believe that God really loves us.  But John 11 and many other Scriptures clearly claim that these delays are delays of love.  God is all-powerful.  He can do anything.  He knows all.  He even knows when a sparrow falls to the ground.  He knows our trouble, and he cares!”  ~  R. Kent Hughes 

Who Will Live With God?

Rev. Bruce Brown

June 23, 2019

Psalm 15

I. The Question that Matters Most (verse 1)

II. The Answer that Searches Hearts (verses 2-5)

III. The Promise of God (verse 5)

“Not worthy, Lord! To gather up the crumbs

With trembling hand that from Thy table fall,

A weary, heavy-laden sinner comes

to plead Thy promise and obey Thy call.

I am not worthy to be thought Thy child,

nor sit the last and lowest at Thy board;

too long a wand’rer and too oft beguiled,

I only ask one reconciling word.

~ Edward H. Bickersteth

Leaving a Biblical Legacy

Rev. Bruce Brown

June 16, 2019

Psalm 78:1-8

I. Proclaiming God’s Works (verses 1 -4)

II. Passing on God’s Commands (verses 5-6)

III. Purposing God’s Plan (verses 6-8)

 “All Christian parenting… begins with God. There is One ultimate, unchanging Reality, namely, God. All else in parenting comes from Him. All else is for Him. He is the first and the last and the center of parenting and education. He is the main thing in how you rear children and teach children and discipline children. It all begins with God and it all is built on God and it all is to be shaped by God. If there is one memory that our children should have of our families and our church it is this; they should remember God. God was first. God was central. There was a passion for the supremacy of God in all things.” 

~ John Piper

Treading on the Heights

June 9, 2019

Rev. Bruce Brown

Habakkuk 3:3-19

I. The Path Faith May Face (verses 16-17)

II. The Power Praise Brings to the Faithful (verses 3-15)

III. The Promised Perseverance of Faith (verses 18-19)

“Though vine nor fig tree neither their wonted fruits should bear,

Though all the fields should wither, nor flocks nor herds be there;

Yet, God the same abiding His praise shall tune my voice;

For, while in him confiding, I cannot but rejoice” (William Cowper)

Seeking God for Revival

Rev. Bruce Brown

Habakkuk 3:1-3

I. Approaching God in Humble Fear (verses 1-2a)

II. Approaching God for Renewed Work (verse 2b)

III. Approaching God to Plead for Mercy (verse 2c)

 “The last of Habakkuk’s requests is a simple one, but it goes to the heart of all we have been saying: ‘In wrath remember mercy.’  What a great request to leave with God!  What an effective request!  What an appropriate way to win and be assured of God’s favor!  God is the God of mercy, so to pray for mercy (even in the day of His wrath) is to plead for that which is central to His character.” ~James M. Boice

Waiting for God's Just Judgment

Rev. Bruce Brown

Habakkuk 2:6-20

1. God’s Judgment Is Just (6-8)

2. God’s Judgment Brings Futility (9-14)

3. God’s Judgment Proves Overwhelming (verses 15-17)

4. God’s Judgment Is Our Protection (verses 18-20)

“The way of the righteous is the way of faith in God. The way of the wicked is the way of drawing back from faith in God. The first submits to God and trusts God. The second submits to no one. The person who chooses the second way is arrogant.  He says, “I don’t need religion. I can take care of myself. I can do without God.” The bulk of Habakkuk chapter two shows the course and dismal end of the ungodly.”

~ James M. Boice