Jesus Prays for the Church

Rev. Bruce Brown

July 19, 2020

John 17:20-26

I. Jesus’ Request for Unity (20-23)

II. Jesus’ Desire of Glory (verse 24)

III. Jesus’ Commitment to the Church (verses 25-26)

“We do not see Christ now. We read of Him, hear of Him, believe in Him, and rest our souls in His finished work. But even the best of us, at our best, walk by faith and not by sight, and our poor halting faith often makes us walk very feebly in the way to heaven. There shall be an end of all this state of things one day. We shall at length see Christ as He is and know as we have been known. We shall behold Him face to face, and not through a glass darkly. We shall actually be in His presence and company and go out no more. If faith has been pleasant, much more will sight be and if hope has been sweet, much more will reality be. No wonder that when Paul has written, "We shall ever be with the Lord," he adds, "Comfort one another with these words." (1 Thess. 4:17, 18.) ~ J.C. Ryle

Jesus' Prayer for His Disciples

Rev. Bruce Brown

July 12, 2020

John 17:6-19

I. Jesus’ Prayer in Grace (verses 6-8)

II. Jesus’ Prayer of Protection (verses 9-15)

III. Jesus’ Prayer for Holiness (verses 16-19)

“The special intercession of the LORD Jesus is one grand secret of the believer’s safety.  He is daily watched, and thought for and provided for with unfailing care, by one whose eye never slumbers and never sleeps…. They never perish, because He never ceases to pray for them, and His prayer must prevail.  They stand and persevere to the end, not because of their own strength and goodness, but because Jesus intercedes for them.”  ~ J.C. Ryle

Jesus' Prayer for Glory

Rev. Bruce Brown

July 5, 2020

John 17:1-5

1. Glory in the Cross (verses, (1, 4)

II. Glory in the Heavenlies (verse 5)

III. Glory in the Church (verses 2, 3)

“As Jesus prays in the shadow of Calvary we learn what are his deepest concerns.  In fact, he has only one, and one that does not surprise us, the glory of his Father.  The means to that is his own glorification, ‘Glorify your Son’, since it is in his exaltation and obedience unto death that the Father will be supremely honored.”  ~ Bruce Milne

Peace in Jesus' Victory

I. Jesus’ Victory Provides Assurance (verses 25-28)

II. Jesus’ Victory Promotes Humility (verses 29-32)

III. Jesus’ Victory Promises Peace (verse 33)

Let us lean back our souls on these comfortable words, and take courage. The storms of trial and persecution may sometimes beat heavily on us; but let them only drive us closer to Christ. The sorrows, and losses, and crosses, and disappointments of our life may often make us feel sorely cast down; but let them only make us tighten our hold on Christ. Armed with this very promise let us, under every cross, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Let us often say to our souls, "Why are you cast down, and why are you disturbed?" And let us often say to our gracious Master--"Lord, did not You say, Be of good cheer? Lord, do as You have said, and cheer us to the end." ~ J.C. Ryle 

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 16:16-24

June 14, 2020

I. Mounting Sorrow in a Fallen World (verses 16-20)

II. Transformed Sorrow After the Cross (verses 20-22)

III. Joy for the Asking (verses 23-24)

 “If the disciples’ joy comes from a reunion with Jesus, their position in him, and his promises to them, then what weapons could the devil possibly level against their joy?... Jesus didn’t only conquer betrayal and persecution; he turned them into the agents that brought about the disciples’ joy.  And of course, the ultimate fear, the ultimate weapon, the ultimate joy stealer is death, but Jesus disarmed death.  Jesus conquered every enemy!  If we find our joy in him, we have nothing to fear.  Our joy is impervious to all attacks leveled against it.  Jesus’s resurrection guarantees he can never die again, and those who follow him will never experience separation from him in death.  We may leave our physical bodies, but Jesus will never leave us (John 11:25-26).”  ~ Matt Carter

The Spirit's Conviction

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 16:5-15

June 7, 2020

I. The Spirit’s Convicting Work in the World (verses (5-11)

II. The Spirit’s Convincing Work in the Church (verses 12-15)

 “The work of the faithful ministry is to do the very same [as the Spirit] – to lead weary souls to Christ – to stand pointing not only to the coming deluge, but to the freely offered ark – pointing not only to the threatening storm, but to the strong tower of safety – directing the sinner’s eye not only inwards to his sins, and misery, but outwards also, to the bleeding, dying, rising, reigning Savior.” ~ Robert Murray M’Cheyne

The Cost of Following Jesus

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 15:18-16:4

May 31, 2020

I. Following Jesus Provokes the World’s Hatred (verses 18-25)

II. Following Jesus Provides Spiritual Witness (verses 26-27)

III. Following Jesus Prepares Us to Persevere in Mission (chapter 16, verses 1-4)

Nothing is so mischievous as the habit of indulging false expectations. Let us realize that human nature never changes, that "the carnal mind is enmity against God," and against God's image in His people. Let us settle it in our minds that no holiness of life or consistency of conduct will ever prevent wicked people hating the servants of Christ, just as they hated their blameless Master. Let us remember these things, and then we shall not be disappointed. ~ J.C. Ryle 

Friends with Jesus

Rev. Bruce Brown

May 24, 2020

John 15:12-17

I. Jesus’ Friends Love Sacrificially (verses 12-13, 17)

II. Jesus’ Friends Long to Obey the Word (verses 14-15)

III. Jesus’ Friends Live Out of Electing Love (verse 16)

“This is indeed a glorious privilege. To know Christ, serve Christ, follow Christ, obey Christ, work in Christ's vineyard, fight Christ's battles, all this is no small matter. But for sinful men and women like ourselves to be called "friends of Christ," is something that our weak minds can hardly grasp and take in. The King of kings and Lord of lords not only pities and saves all those who believe in Him, but actually calls them His "friends.”  ~ J.C. Ryle

Abiding in the Vine

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 15:1-11

May 17, 2020

I. Abiding Bears Fruit (verses 1, 2, 4, 5)

II. Abiding Brings Pruning (verses 2, 3)

III. Abiding Blesses God and Others (verses 6-11)

“The union between the branch of a vine and the main stem, is the closest that can be conceived… The union between Christ and believers is just as close, and just as real.  In themselves believers have no life, or strength, or spiritual power. All that they have of vital religion comes from Christ. They are what they are, and feel what they feel, and do what they do, because they draw out of Jesus a continual supply of grace, help, and ability. Joined to the Lord by faith, and united in mysterious union with Him by the Spirit, they stand, and walk, and continue, and run the Christian race. But every jot of good about them is drawn from their spiritual Head, Jesus Christ.”  ~ J.C. Ryle

A Legacy of Peace

John 14:25-31

May 10, 2020, Mother’s Day

Rev. Bruce Brown

I. Peace as a Deposit for a Heavenly King (verses 25-26

II. Peace as a Legacy in a Warring World (verse 27)

III. Peace as a Weapon Against a Raging Adversary (verses 28-31)

“Peace is Christ's distinctive gift--not money, not worldly ease, not temporal prosperity. These are at best very questionable possessions. They often do more harm than good to the soul. They act as clogs and weights to our spiritual life. Inward peace of conscience, arising from a sense of pardoned sin and reconciliation with God, is a far greater blessing. This peace is the property of all believers, whether high or low, rich or poor… And what He gives He gives into all eternity, and never takes away. He is ready to give abundantly above all that we can ask or think. "Open your mouth wide," He says, "and I will fill it." (Psalm 81:10.)”  J.C. Ryle

Another Comforter

John 14:15-24

May 3, 2020

Rev. Bruce Brown

I. Who Is the Holy Spirit? (verses 16-17)

II. The Work of the Holy Spirit (verses 18-24)

III. Empowered to Love (verses 15, 21, 23, 24)

“What could bring more security in this world than a deepening realization of the fact that the Holy Spirit is indwelling us, not just working alongside us, and that He puts potent spiritual truth to work in our lives...  What is our Helper like?  He is just like Jesus.  He comes alongside us, encourages and exhorts us.  He picks us up, dusts us off, and gets us going again… That is the remedy for troubled hearts.” ~ Kent Hughes

Greater Works

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 14:12-14

April 26, 2020

I. The Works Believers Will Do (verse 12)

II. How Believers Do Greater Works (verses 13-14)

III. Before the Throne of God Above (verse 12b)

“Let us learn that Jesus visible presence is not absolutely necessary to the progress of His kingdom. He can help forward His cause on earth quite as much by sitting at the right hand of the Father, and sending forth the Holy Spirit, as by walking to and fro in the world. Let us believe that there is nothing too hard or too great for believers to do, so long as their Lord intercedes for them in heaven. Let us work on in faith, and expect great things, though we feel weak and lonely, like the disciples. Our Lord is working with us and for us, though we cannot see Him. It was not so much the sword of Joshua that defeated Amalek, as the intercession of Moses on the hill. (Ex. 17:11.)”  J.C. Ryle

Comfort for Troubled Souls

Rev. Bruce Brown

John 14:1-11

I. Comfort for the Silent (Vss. 1-4)

II. Comfort for the Skeptic (Vss. 5-7)

III. Comfort for the Stranger (Vss. 8-11)

“Let us however take comfort in the simple truth, that Christ is very God of very God; equal with the Father in all things, and One with Him. He who loved us, and shed His blood for us on the cross, and bids us trust Him for pardon, is no mere man like ourselves. He is "God over all, blessed forever," and able to save to the uttermost the chief of sinners. Though our sins be as scarlet, He can make them white as snow. He that casts his soul on Christ has an Almighty Friend--a Friend who is One with the Father, and very God.”

~ J.C. Ryle

A Prayer for Living and Dying

April 10, 2020

Rev. Bruce Brown

Luke 23:46

I. Jesus’ Full Control In Life and Death

II. Jesus’ Devotional Life Prepared Him for His Death

“I lay down My life that I may take it again.  “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”  ~ John 10:17-18

The Victory Psalm

April 12, 2020

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 22:22-31

I. The Risen LORD Leads Heavenly Praise (Vss. 22, 25)

II. The Risen LORD Seeks Your Praise (Vss. 23, 26)

III. The Risen LORD Proclaims Worldwide Praise (Vs.. 27-31)

“But there is this element too: those who believe will also be witnesses.  At the start of this section Jesus said that he would declare the name of God to his brothers.  But here, as the psalm closes, it is the future generations who will come to Christ who have become his witnesses:  “They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn.”  That is our task.  To trust and tell others – until Jesus comes again.”  ~ J. M. Boice

The Good Friday Psalm

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 22:1-21

April 5, 2020

I. The Christ Forsaken by God (verses 1-5)

II. The Christ Despised of the People (verses 6-11)

III. The Christ Cursed in Crucifixion (verses 12-21)

“His (Jesus’) prayers are answered, but in accordance with the will and timing of the Father.  Was he delivered before death?  No.  Was he delivered out of death?  Yes.  Was he delivered on Good Friday?  No.  Was he delivered on Easter Sunday?  Yes.  It was a better time and a better way… There comes a time, when one is reading certain passages of God’s Word, that commentary must yield to contemplation.  May God impress deeply on your heart the profound reality that the Son did this for you.”  ~ Sam Storms

Sheltering In God Most High

Rev. Bruce Brown

March 29, 2020

I. Sheltering in the LORD (verses 1-2)

II. God’s Shelter Provides Peace (verses 3-13)

III. God’s Promise for Those Who Shelter in Him (verses 14-16)

“Try to envision God’s power as forging His love into a strong and impregnable fortress.  God doesn’t build us a shanty out of leaves and rotting wood.  God’s love is our shelter!  He Himself is our hiding place!  His presence is our peace, our protection, our refuge… God is our permanent refuge in whom we abide while at work or at school or wherever.  We never have to leave God and go home.  He is our home.  It is in Him and in His love that we live and move and have our being (cf. Acts 17:28).”  ~ Sam Storms

World-Changing Care

Rev. Aaron Gray

Philippians 4:10-23

March 22, 2020

I. The Picture of Christlike Care

II. The Heart of Christlike Care

III. The Power of Christlike Care

“The world thirsts for a different kind of neighbor—not the kind who deny their fellow man, take up their comforts, and follow their dreams—but the kind who deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Jesus in his mission of loving a weary world to life.” - Scott Sauls

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Christian Confidence

Rev. Bruce Brown

Romans 8:28-30

March 15, 2020

I. The Bad is Always for the Good of God’s People (vs. 28)

II. A Christian’s Good Can Never Be Lost (vs. 29)

III. The Best is Yet to Come (vs. 30)

“Take a moment and contemplate what is being said here. Your present sufferings may be excruciatingly painful. These trials you carry are cross-shaped (cf. Matt. 16:18). But they are a mere trifle in comparison with what God has in store for you. If we find that difficult to believe, it is because our view of glory is out of focus. Spiritual shortsightedness robs us of gospel comfort that God desires us to enjoy.”  ~ Derek W.H. Thomas

Kingdom Matters

Rev. Bruce Brown

March 8, 2020

II Samuel 1:1-16

I. The Kingdom Brings Full Disclosure (verses 2-10, 15-16)

II. The Kingdom Calls Us to Sincere Grief (verses 11-12)

III. The Kingdom Operates on godly Fear (verses (13-26)

“Will you learn from what the young Amalekite learned (too late) about God’s king?  If you take God’s kingdom seriously, you must take righteousness seriously.  Jesus is King: do not imagine that any wrongdoing will every bring you a benefit worth having.  Jesus is the Christ!  To seek first the kingdom of God will mean to seek His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).”  ~ John Woodhouse