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
Elijah Raises the Widow's Son
Mr. Steve McCullough
I Kings 17:17-24
December 29, 2019
I. The Son’s Death (verses 17-19)
II. Elijah’ Prayer (verses 20-22)
III. The Widow’s Life-giving Faith (verses 23-24)
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)
Encourage One Another
October 13, 2019
Mr. Jay Krestar
I Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:9-11
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (ESV)
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.”