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

Taste and See the Lord's Goodness

Psalm 34

Rev. Bruce Brown

I. Testimony to the Lord’s Goodness (verses 1-7)

II. Living Out the Lord’s Goodness (verses 8-14)

III. Assurance of the Lord’s Goodness (verses 15-22)

"Note well: they look to "him," not just ideas or speculative theories about what he's like.  They settle for nothing less than the intimacy of spiritual eye contact.  The result is that they are never ashamed (vs. 5b).  When we seek God this way he promises never to shame us or humiliate  us or mock our feeble efforts.  God will never belittle or demean you for coming to him.  Just think of it: no shame for those who seek God!" ~ Sam Storms

The Grace of Confession

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 51

January 19, 2020

I. Confession Relies on God’s Mercy (verse 1)

II. Confession Seeks Christ’s Cleansing (verses 2-7)

III. Confession Brings Spiritual Renewal (verses 8-12ff)

“Mercy is the sole basis of any approach to God by sinners. We cannot come to God on the basis of his justice; justice strikes us with fear and causes us to hide from him. We are not drawn to God by his wisdom; wisdom does not embolden us, though we stand in awe of it. No more does omniscience, omnipotence, or omnipresence. The only reason we dare come to God and dare hope for a solution to our sin problem is his mercy.” ~ James Montgomery Boice

Praying Our Sorrow

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 13

January 12, 2020

I. The Problem: Sorrow and Delay (verses 1-2)

II. The Plea: Strong Arguments (verses 3-4)

III. The Praise: Steadfast Hope (verses 5-6)

“God’s love for you always shines bright.  But if clouds of pain and rejection and sorrow have for the moment blackened the sky, rest assured that gracious winds will again blow strong, and the warmth of his passionate love will renew you… in anticipation, go ahead and sing like David did.  Who knows, you just might hear God join you with a song of his own (see Zeph. 3:17).” ~ Sam Storms

A Fruitful Church

Rev. Bruce Brown

Titus 3:1, 2, 8-15

I. Preach the Message (verse 8)

II. Protect the Members (verses 9-11)

III. Pursue the Mission (verses 1, 2, 12-15

Imagine a community within our society that is subject to authorities, obedient, and ready to do whatever is good.  A community that slanders no one, which is peaceable and considerate, and which shows gentleness to all people without discrimination.  That community would shine like stars as it held to the word of life and held out the Word of Life. (Philippians 2:14-16) ~  Tim Chester  

Why God Became Man

December 22, 2019

Rev. Bruce Brown

Hebrews 2:14-18

I. To Destroy the Devil’s Grip (verses 14-15)

II. By Paying Sins Penalty (verses 16-17)

III. Leading us to Freedom (verse 18)

“Do you understand that Jesus didn't just come and walk a mile in your shoes? When He took on your flesh and blood, He took on your flesh and blood forever. Do you realize that? That there is a human being sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty right now ruling this universe by the word of His power? There is flesh and blood at the right hand of the Father Almighty. And what does that mean for you and me? It means that our God understands from the inside the temptations and sufferings that we all face as humans.”   Ligon Duncan

Christmas Kindness

Rev. Bruce Brown

Titus 3:3-7

December 15, 2019

I. The Kindness of God the Father (verses 3-4)

II. The Grace of God the Son (verses 4, 6-7)

III. The Renewal of God the Holy Spirit (verses 5-6)

“So, Christmas is about love appearing in the form of kindness. The kind Son of God took our flesh, shared our nature, expressed His love for us, and died our death. And when He rose, He was no less kind. He has been kind to us in our sin and need. That kindness is intended to “lead you to repentance” says Paul (Romans 2:4). That is what it did to Saul of Tarsus (Paul)… Perhaps you also saw that kindness in someone, and it has drawn you to the love of Christ.” ~ Sinclair Ferguson

The Power of Grace

Rev. Bruce Brown

Titus 2:11-15

December 8, 2019

I. God’s Grace Brings Salvation (verse 11)

II. God’s Grace Enables Godliness (verses 12, 14-15)

III. God’s Grace Fuels Perseverance (verses 13-15)

“Grace should make us so in love with God that we cannot stand whatever in our lives resoils us and offends Him.  Biblical grace makes us intolerant of evil in our lives.  The apostle here underscores this truth, saying the grace of God “trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions” (vss. 11, 12).  Grace – rightly perceived – compels holiness.”  Bryan Chappell 

Wholehearted Gratitude

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 138

December 1, 2019

I. Gratitude Produces Godly Courage (verses 1-3)

II. Gratitude Lives in God’s Mission (verses 4-5)

III. Gratitude Accomplishes God’s Purpose (verses 6-9)

“Our hope of final perseverance is the final perseverance of the God we love and serve.  Because His mercy endures for ever, His work in and for us will continue until we are perfected when we see Him in all His perfection.”  Herbert Lockyer

Lessons From a Leper

Rev. Bruce Brown

Luke 17:11-19

November 26th, 2019

Lesson 1 - Gratitude is Chief (summary)

Lesson 2 - Gratitude is Expressive (Vs. 15)

Lesson 3 - Gratitude is Humble (vs. 16)

“Oh, how much we have recieved from His hand! 1 Cor. 4:7 asks - “What do you have that you did not recieve?” And what a matchless gift in recieving Jesus. When we were “unclean” and “unfit” before our maker, full of rot and decay and misery. Our Jesus reached out with His life to heal us and make us whole! Let’s look for opportunities, not just tomorrow, but every day to say thank you to the LORD for the overwhelming gift of Christ!”  ~ Pastor Bruce

Discipleship Together

Rev. Bruce Brown

Titus 2:1-10

I. Learn Gospel Life Together (verse 1 and overview)

II. Live Gospel Life Together (verses 2 - 10)

III. Love Gospel Life Together (verses 2 - 10)

“Prayer, praise, instruction, fellowship and the service of the church do not fulfill their purposes if we do not function in community.  There is always the temptation to privatize our faith.  We tend to make decisions about whom to hear, what to do, and where to serve largely based upon what will be good for us.  But Paul’s instructions to Titus prick our consciences in order to make us sense the importance of being responsible for others.” 

 ~ Bryan Chapell

Threats to a Healthy Church

Rev. Bruce Brown

Titus 1:10-16

November 17, 2019

I. The Characteristics of False Teachers (verses 10-13, 16)

II. The Cure for False Teaching (verses 9, 14-16)

“How did Paul react to this distressing situation?  What was his strategy in the face of spreading error?... It was this: when false teachers increase, we must multiply the number of true teachers.  Titus was to appoint elders in every town (vs. 5), who would hold fast God’s reliable word, teach it faithfully and refute those who contradicted it (vs. 9).  Why?  Because of the number of rebellious people or deceivers (vs. 10).  So, the more false teachers there are, the more true teachers are needed.”  ~ John R. W. Stott

"What Does a Christian Leader Look Like?"

Rev. Bruce Brown

November 10, 2019

Titus 1:5-9

I.   The Need for Leadership in Christ’s Church (verse 5)

II. The Character of the Christian Leader (verses 6-8)

III. The Passion of a Christian Leader (verse 9)

“A godly example demonstrates not that elders are more deserving of grace than others, but that One who is in us is more powerful that the one who is in the world (see 1 John 4:4). Godly leadership proves that freedom from the slavery of sin and selfishness is possible in Jesus Christ.” 

Bryan Chapell

Mature Ministry

Rev. Bruce Brown

Titus 1:1-4

November 3rd, 2019

I. The Goal: The Faith of the Elect  (verse 1, verse 4)

II. The Context: The Truth of Godliness (verses 1b-2) 

III. The Method: The Proclamation of His Word (verse 3)

“Life must conform to doctrine. The message is the same for leaders and servants, parents and children, male and female, young and old: Grace should produce godliness.”

Bryan Chapell

Our Mighty Fortress

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 46

Our Only Strength (verses 1-3)

Our Greatest Need (verses 4-7)

Our lasting Peace (verses 8-11)

“In spite of the worst possible scenarios, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (vs. 1).  Though the basis of all things visible should convulse, though the most solid and stable of all things created should shake or fall headlong into the sea, our God remains steadfast and faithful.  There is no earthquake of any sort, whether natural, moral, physical, financial, or spiritual, that can shake us out of his loving arms.” ~ Sam Storms

Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Applying Wisdom in Our Relationships

Rev. Shaun Hurrie

Proverbs

October 20th, 2019

I. Applying Wisdom Against Gossip  (Proverbs 11:13; 16:28; 20:19; 26:20)

II. Applying Wisdom by Listening (Proverbs 12:1; 15:32-33; 29:1) 

III. Applying Wisdom in Conflicts (Proverbs 14:21; 17:19; 24:29; 17:9)