The Christian Sabbath
John 5:9-18
Rev. Bruce Brown
May 7, 2017
I. Missing the Point of Sabbath (John 5:9-10, 16, 18)
II. The Christian Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13-14)
III. Enjoying Christ's Rest (John 5:17-18; Matthew 11:28-29)
John 5:9-18 (ESV) -- 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews[a] said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
“New graces ever gaining from this our day of rest, we reach the rest remaining to spirits of the blest. We sing to you our praises, O Father, Spirit, Son; the church its voice upraises to you, blest Three in One.” -- Hymn – O Day of Rest and Gladness
Prosperity Presbyterian Church, 5533 PPC Drive, Charlotte, NC 28269 - 704-875-1182 ext. 4
Sunday Worship Service is at 10:00 AM -- Come and worship with us.
Covenantal Infant Baptism
April 30, 2017
Rev. Bruce Brown
Acts 16:25-34
I. The Old Testament Background for Infant Baptism (Genesis 12:1-3 & 17:1-8)
II. The New Testament Basis for infant Baptism (Acts 2:39; I Corinthians 7:14; Acts 16:25-34)
III. The Gracious Benefits of Infant Baptism (Romans 9:4; Acts 16:25-34)
Acts 16:25-34 (ESV)
The Philippian Jailer Converted
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer[a] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
The Heidelberg Catechism in question 74 asks: Should infants also be baptized?
Answer: Yes. Infants as well as adults are included in God’s covenant and people, and they, no less than adults, are promised deliverance from sin through Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit who produces faith. Therefore, by baptism, the sign of the covenant, they too should be incorporated into the Christian church and distinguished from children of unbelievers. This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision, which was replaced in the New Testament by baptism.
Receiving the Testimony of the Father
John 5:31-47
Rev. Bruce Brown
April 23, 2017
I. John the baptist and Miracles (verses 31-36)
II. The Witness of scripture (verses 37-40)
III. Missing the Message (verses 41-47)
John 5:31-47 (ESV)
31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
“There is more here than first meets the eye. Self – glorification will keep us from the truth, and in fact any moral deficiency is capable of doing so. Finding the truth is as much a matter of the heart as of the mind… So when we come to the Scriptures, there must be a yielding of our lives, a focus not on self but on God. Then we will be able to hear what the Scriptures have to say to us.” R. Kent Hughes
Prosperity Presbyterian Church, 5533 PPC Drive, Charlotte, NC 28269 - 704-875-1182 ext 4.
That All May Honor the Son
John 5:19-30
Rev. Bruce Brown
Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017
I. Like Father, Like Son (verses 19-20)
II. Life In Himself (verses 21, 24-26)
III. Lord of All (verses 22, 27-30)
John 5:19-30 (ESV)
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[a] does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
“Life is the highest and greatest gift that can be bestowed. It is precisely that thing that man, with all his cleverness, can neither give to the work of his hands, nor restore when taken away. But life, we are told, is in the hands of the Lord Jesus, to bestow and give at His discretion. Dead bodies and dead souls are both alike under His dominion. He has the keys of death and hell. In Him is life. He is the life.” ~ J.C. Ryle
Sunday Service 10:00 AM
Prosperity Presbyterian Church
5533 PPC Drive
Charlotte NC 28269
704-875-1182
Established in 1789
When Jesus Rolls Up His Sleeves
PALM SUNDAY
John 5:1-18
Rev. Bruce Brown
April 9, 2017
I. Jesus Restores a Paralytic (verses 1-9)
II. Jesus Disturbs the Jewish Leaders (verses 10-13)
III. Jesus Claims All Authority (verses 14-18)
John 5:1-18 (ESV)
The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath
5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic[a]called Bethesda,[b] which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.[c] 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews[d] said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Jesus Is Equal with God
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
“Now, when Jesus did this miracle on theSabbath and commandedthe paralytic to carry his bed on the Sabbath, he widened the breach between the Pharisees and himself. At that time the Pharisees decided they were going to have to do away with Jesus. So humanly speaking, our Lord sealed his death warrant with this miracle. It sent him to the cross. He loved the paralytic that much. He loves us that much.” R. Kent Hughes
From Faith to Faith
April 2, 2017
John 4:43-54
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. Jesus Tests an Imperfect Faith (verses 43-48)
II. Jesus Strengthens a Growing Faith (verses 49-50)
III. Jesus Confirms a Proven Faith (verses 51-54)
John 4:43-54 (ESV)
43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.
46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you[a] see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.51 As he was going down, his servants[b] met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour[c] the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.54This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
“Let us settle it firmly in our minds, that there is a meaning, a needs-be, and a message from God, in every sorrow that falls upon us. There are no lessons so useful as those learned in the school of affliction. There is no commentary that opens up the Bible so much as sickness and sorrow. "No chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous--nevertheless afterward it yields peaceable fruit." (Heb. 12:11.) The resurrection morning will prove, that many of the losses of God's people were in reality eternal gains.” J.C. Ryle
A Hungry Savior
March 26, 2017
Rev. Bruce Brown
John 4:27-42
I. The Woman's Work (verses 27-30)
II. Jesus' Food (verses 31-38)
III. A Savior Revealed (verses 39-42)
John 4:27-42
27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word.42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (ESV)
“Jesus is the glorious Son of God and Savior of the World whose food is to accomplish God’s purpose, namely, to be food that gives eternal life. He doesn’t need life-giving food; he is life-giving food. He sows the world, and he reaps eternal life. May God give you eyes to see his glory and treasure him over all.”
John Piper
A Unique Opportunity
March 19, 2017
Isaiah 53:6 - Proverbs 29:18 - Isaiah 30:21
Rev. Richard Altork
Isaiah 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Proverbs 29:18
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.
Isaiah 30:21
21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Thirsty No More
John 4:1-26
Rev. Bruce Brown
March 12, 2017
I. Jesus' Loving Purpose (verses 1-10)
II Jesus' Daring Proclamation (verses 11-15)
III. Jesus' Cleansing Pursuit (verses 16-26)
“There is no true satisfaction in this world, until we believe on Christ. Jesus alone can fill up the empty places of our heart. Jesus alone can give solid, lasting, enduring happiness. The peace that He imparts is a fountain, which, once set flowing within the soul, flows on to all eternity. Its waters may have their ebbing seasons; but they are living waters, and they shall never be completely dried.” J.C. Ryle
THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL
March 5, 2017
John 3:16-21
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. God's Great Love (verse 16)
II. Our Highest Possession (verses 17-18
III. The Truest Condemnation (verses 19-21)
“When he comes, the truth about all things comes. The truth about God. The truth about ourselves. The truth about the way of salvation. The truth about what is good and beautiful. The truth about evil and ugliness. The truth about how we ought to live. All right thinking, and all right feeling, and all right doing is defined and measured by Jesus. That is some of what it means to be the light of the world.”
John Piper
Nicodemus and New Birth
John 3:1-15
Rev. Bruce Brown
February 26, 2017
I. Why is the New Birth Important? (verses 1-3)
II. What is the New Birth? (verses 4-8)
III. How is the New Birth Experienced? (verses 9-15)
“This mighty change, we must remember, is a thing without which we cannot go to heaven, and could not enjoy heaven if we went there. Our Lord's words on this point are distinct and express. "Except a man be born again, he can neither see nor enter the kingdom of God." Heaven may be reached without money, or rank, or learning. But it is clear as daylight, if words have any meaning, that nobody can enter heaven without a "new birth”." J.C. Ryle
THE NEW TEMPLE
John 2:13-22
February 19, 2017
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. Jesus' Passion for Pure Worship (verses 13-17)
II. Jesus' Authority to Cleanse Religion (verses 18-22)
III. Jesus' body as New Temple (verse 21)
“To glorify God was the very purpose of the temple. Therefore the sin of the money changers and the religious authorities lay in the fact that while they loudly proclaimed the holiness and otherness of God, they denied it in practice. Our Lord’s whip opposes anything that detracts from the communication of God’s glory, especially in worship.”
R. Kent Hughes
A Sign of Glorious Supply
John 2:1-11
February 12, 2017 Rev. Bruce Brown
I. When the Wine Runs Out (verses 2-3)
II. The Transformation Jesus Brings (verses 4-10)
III. His Glory Our Good (verse 11)
“Happy are those who, like the disciples, believe on Him who worked this miracle. A greater marriage feast than that of Cana will one day be held, when Christ Himself will be the bridegroom and believers will be the bride. A greater glory will one day be manifested, when Jesus shall take to Himself His great power and reign. Blessed will they be in that day who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (Rev. 19:9) ~ J.C. Ryle
FAITHFUL WITNESS
John 1:19-51
February 5, 2017
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. A Humble Messenger (verses 19-28)
II. An Honest Message (verses 29-37)
III. A Hopeful Method (verses 38-51)
“Nathanael owed his early acquaintance with Christ to that frank invitation, "Come and see." Few are ever moved by reasoning and argument. Still fewer are frightened into repentance. The man who does most good to souls, is often the simple believer who says to his friends, "I have found a Savior; come and see Him." JC Ryle
God's Guidance for Troubled Saints
Psalm 25:4-5; 8-15
Rev. Bruce Brown
January 29, 2017
I. Circumstances that Darken the Way (verses 4-5)
II. Characteristics of Those God Guides (verses 8-15)
III. Confidence in the LORD's Friendship (verses 10, 14)
“Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim though this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.”
William Williams
THE CRY FOR GLORY
Psalm 8
Rev. Bruce Brown
January 22, 2017
I. A Celebration of God's Glory (verses 1-2, 9)
II. A Confession of God's Care (verses 3-4)
III. A Consideration of God's Purpose (verses 5-8)
“God does not wait until a sucking babe is rational and independent to ascribe to him the glory and majesty of verse 5—he doesn't have to be a NASA scientist. When the suckling opens his mouth, God is praised, strength is established by the sheer truth that a human creation in the image of the majestic God is here. Let all the adversaries of God take note and tremble. If they treat God's supreme creation with contempt, they will lose. They will be silenced.”
~ John Piper
A Prayer for the King
Psalm 72
Rev. Bruce Brown
January 15, 2017
I. A Prayer for Lawful Administration
(verses 1-4)
II. A Prayer for Lasting Impact (5-7)
III. A Prayer for Long Influence (verses 8-11)
IV. A Prayer for Loving Concern (verses 12-14)
V. A Prayer for Lavish Success (verses 15-17)
“David was a great king. He ruled in Israel for forty years. But at last David died, and the kingdom passed to his son, Solomon. Solomon reigned another forty years, but he died. So also with all the rulers of this world. No matter how powerful, how just, how good, how beneficial their reigns over their subjects may have been or how loudly their subjects may have cried out, “O King, live forever!” in the end all these earthly rulers died and their kingdoms pass to others. Not so with Jesus Christ! He is an ever-living king and his kingdom an everlasting kingdom.”
James Montgomery Boice
Embracing the Word Made Flesh
John 1:1-18
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. Who Is He? (verses 1:3, 18)
II. What Did He Do? (verses 9-10, 14)
III. Why Did He Do it? (verses 14-18)
December 25, 2016
“Why lies He in such mean estate,
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here,
the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
the Cross He borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the Son of Mary.”
~ William Chatterton Dix
COME WORSHIP WITH US. ENJOY SINGING TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS HYMNS AND HEARING A TRADITIONAL MESSAGE FROM GOD'S WORD.
PROSPERITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5533 PPC DRIVE
CHARLOTTE NC 28269
704-875-1182
THE HOPE OF KING AND KINGDOM
ISAIAH 1:1-10
December 18, 2016
10:00 AM Worship Service
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Roots of the King (verses 1-2)
II. The Rule of the King (verses 3-5)
III. The Results of the King (verses 6-10)
“No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found – far as the curse is found.”
“He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love – and wonders of His love.” ~ Isaac Watts ~