Living for the Day of the Lord
II Peter 3:10-13
I. What Does the Future Hold? (verses 10-13)
II. What Kind of People Should We Be? (verses 11-12)
III. How Can We Speed the Coming of the Lord? (verses 12-13)
"Christians need to remember the ultimate, “bottom-line,” purpose of ‘end times’ passages: to make us better Christians in the here and now. Careful study of ‘end times’ passages in the Bible is, of course, appropriate and necessary. And our own human curiosity naturally leads us to speculate about just how and when the events those passage teach will actually take shape in history. But we must not study the ‘end times’ for its own sake or for the gratification of our curiosity. Christians bitten by the ‘end times bug’ usually end up with vision problems - a tunnel vision in which all they see is the ‘the last days.’ We must never forget, as Peter makes clear in verse 11, that biblical eschatology is to stimulate in believers a holy and godly lifestyle. In fact, you will find no passage in the New Testament on the last days that does not have that kind of specific, practical focus." ~ Douglas Moo
Doom and Deliverance
Doom and Deliverance
II Peter 2:4-10
I. The Doom of the Ungodly (verses 4-6)
II. The Deliverance of the Righteous (verses 5, 7-8)
III. God is in Control (verse 9)
"We are to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” (Matt. 5:44). But we can love so unreservedly precisely because we know that “it is God's to avenge; He will repay” (Rom. 12:19). God has told us not to worry about seeking vengeance, about righting every wrong—he will take care of that. Love for the unrighteous and satisfaction in God’s judgment of the unrighteous go hand in hand in Scripture. Peter’s reminder of God’s judgment of the ungodly should therefore give us satisfaction in the ultimate rightness of this world at the same time as it provides the foundation for a sacrificial love of sinners." ~ Douglas Moo
A Planned Defeat
II Samuel 17:1-23
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Counsel of the Wicked (verses 1-4)
II. The Confusion of Worldly Wisdom (verses 5-14)
III. The Confounding of the Wretched (verses 15-23)
"The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” ~ Proverbs 21:1
“What a consolation there is here for us! The evil of our day seems quite as invincible as Ahithophel’s counsel, but the same God who sovereignly set the boundaries for Ahithophel does the same with evil today.” ~ Roger Ellsworth
The Opportunists
II Samuel 16:1-23
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Manipulator (verses 1-4)
II. The Hater (verses 5-14)
III. The Traitor (verses 15-23)
"Look back at these people who met David. Ittai, the model disciple, only wanted to be “with” his king (cf. John 6:68). Zadok and Abiathar were willing to risk their lives to serve their king (cf. Philippians 1:21). Hushai was David’s friend (cf. John 15:14, 15). Ziba made a show of his devotion to the king, but it was false (cf. Luke 21:4). Shimei abused the king (cf. John 19:15). Abishai thought that he could help his king by violence (cf. John 18:10). Take time to reflect on these people who met David. It is not difficult to see similarities with people who met Jesus. It is good for us to consider ways in which we are (or should be) like and unlike these people who met the king." ~ John Woodhouse
Preserving Grace
I Peter 5:10-14
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. God's Grace to Finish (verses 10-11)
II. God’s Grace to Stand (verses 12-14)
"On the basis of all he has shared with his readers throughout this letter, Peter now preaches “as a dying man to dying men.” He wants to make sure they know how to stand firm on the basis of the grace of God toward them in Christ, and resist the devil who seeks to destroy their faith. So he begs them to “stand firm” in “the true grace of God” (v 12). What is the true grace of God? It is the promised exaltation that comes through present suffering. It is the guarantee of a future inheritance for all those who have been born again by his grace, and are borne along by his kindness. This has been Peter’s point all along." ~ Juan Sanchez
“Methods of Resistance”
“Methods of Resistance”
I Peter 5:5:7
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. Humble Submission (verses 5-6)
II. Honest Supplication (verses 7-8
III. Hopeful Stability (verses 8-9)
The devil is real, and we must be ready for his attacks, but our Lord has confronted him and defeated him once and for all. Therefore, he who is in us is greater than he who prowls around us. The devil is a real foe, but he is a defeated foe. He is a real threat, but he is a limited threat. He is on a leash, and he can only do what God permits him to do. And God has granted us the grace to resist him. So we “resist him, firm in faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by [our] brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Peter 5:9). Alertness and sobriety provoke an active response to the devil. We are constantly to be on the lookout for him, so that we can resist him time and time again. We resist the devil and his deceptions as we remain steadfast in our trust of God and his gospel. ~ Juan Sanchez
Elders: Shepherds of God's Flock
Elders: Shepherds of God’s Flock
I Peter 5:1-5
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Character of the Godly Elder (verses 1-3)
II. The Crown of the Godly Elder verse 4)
III. The Community of the Godly Elder (verse 5)
"So who should be an elder? We don’t just appoint whomever we want or whoever is popular in the church... We don’t want to follow men we don’t respect or trust; we don’t want to follow men who abuse authority or are helpless in leadership. But we can, and should, follow men who faithfully model the Christian life for us. These are men we can learn from as they love their wives and parent their children. We can imitate their personal and public character. We can learn from their spiritual life and doctrinal teaching. These are men who are “followable” because they lead by example, not by oppression and tyranny. Let’s affirm, trust, honor, pray for and follow such men." Juan Sanchez
Joy and Joists in Christian Suffering
February 13, 2022
I Peter 4:12-19
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. Expect Suffering as a Christian (verse 12)
II. Exult in Suffering for Christ (verses 13-14)
III. Examine Your Suffering in Christ (verses 15-18)
IV. Entrust Yourself to God through Christ (verse 19)
"When we have a biblical theology of Christian suffering, then just as Jesus “continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” during his suffering (2:23), we will be “those who suffer according to God’s will” and able to “entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (4:19). The Creator God is sovereign over all things, and he is faithful in all things. Therefore, we can live as exiles—suffering exiles—without surprise or despair, and with a joy-filled, God-glorifying trust, all the while “doing good”—no matter what the world may do to us!" ~ Juan Sanchez
Life in Light of the Lord’s Return
I Peter 4:7-11
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. A Call to Steady Prayer (verse 7)
II. A Covering of Strong Love (verses 8-9)
III. A Command for Simple Service (verses 9-11)
"We glorify God (in the last days) by living a normal, ordinary Christian life, which is the life of a believer who knows the end is near, who keep his or her head, who prays hard, loves well, welcomes much and uses their gifts for the church. If you live like that, God is glorified in you because you display Christ’s work in and through you. As we love one another, those around us will come to realize now, or to confess on the last day, that the Father has sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world and that we belong to him. “To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” ~ Juan Sanchez
The Drive for Holiness
Sept. 26, 2021
I Peter 1:14-21
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Motivation of Present Identity (verses 14-16)
II. The Motivation of Future Judgement (verses 17-18)
III. The Motivation of Past Redemption (verses 18-21)
“This gospel, this good news, is the primary motivation for our holiness as we sojourn in a hostile world during the time of our exile. Because God is holy, he will judge sin. We deserve such judgment. But instead of judgment, we receive mercy because God has purchased us with the blood of Jesus. Because we have been delivered from the bondage of our former ways, we are now to display our Father’s holiness during our time on the earth. When we meditate on this gospel and continue believing this gospel, we will be warned by God’s judgment and motivated by God’s grace to walk in holiness—to become more like him as we journey toward the day when we meet him—not only as our King, but as our Father." ~ Juan Sanchez
So Great a Salvation!
I Peter 1:10-16
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Investigation of Prophets (verses 10-11)
II. The Revelation that Angels Love (verses 12-13)
III. The Application of Our Hope (verses 13-16)
"...we can experience today some of that future glory. Charles Spurgeon used to say, “Little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” It is not enough that we long for heaven during times of suffering, for anybody can do that. What Peter urged his readers to do was exercise love, faith, and rejoicing, so that they might experience some of the glory of heaven in the midst of suffering now." ~ Warren Wiersbe
Mature Ministry
September 12, 2021
Titus 1:1-4
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Goal: The Faith of the Elect (verses 1-4)
II. The Content: The Truth of Godliness (verses 1b-2)
III. The Method: The Proclamation of His Word (verse 3)
“How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his saber clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember, as God's minister, you are God’s sword – His instrument – I trust a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfections of the instrument will be the success. It is not great talent God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy officer is an awful weapon in the hand of God.” ~ Robert Murray McCheyne
Living Hope
Living Hope Peter 1:1-9
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Hope in our Situation (verses 1-2)
II. The Hope with our Sorrow (verses 3-6)
III. The Hope of our Sincerity (verses 7-9)
“He {Peter} calls it a living hope. Why? It is a living hope because it is grounded on the living Word of God (1 Peter 1:23) and was made possible by the living Son of God who arose from the dead. A “living hope” is one that has life in it and therefore can give life to us. Because it has life, it grows and becomes greater and more beautiful as time goes on. Time destroys most hopes; they fade and then die. But the passing of time only makes a Christian’s hope that much more glorious.” ~ Warren Wiersbe
In the Courtroom with Christ
Zechariah 3:1-10
Mr. Tyler Spry
1. The Accuser (verse 1)
2. The Advocate (verse 2)
3. Sin Removed (verses 3-4)
4. Righteousness Received (verses 4-5)
5. Walking Rightly (verse 7)
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by. And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”
The Roughest of Outlines
Mark 1:1-13
Mr. Caleb Eldridge
August 22, 2021
a. Verses 1-3: Jesus: New Adam, New Israel, and New Exodus
b. Verses 4-6: John the Baptizer: The Elijah we have been waiting for
c. Verses 7-8: The Master of Mankind becomes the servant of men
d. Verses 9-11: Recreation, Renewal, and Representation
e. Verses 12-13: Jesus succeeds where Adam and Israel Fail
Inspirational Quotation:
"I do not worship matter, I worship the God of matter, who became matter for my sake and deigned to inhabit matter, who worked out my salvation through matter." (John of Damascus)
Speaking Hope to the Weary Heart
Psalm 42
(with reference to 43)
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Psalmist's Sorrow (verses 1-4, 6-10)
II. The Psalmist's Strength (verses 5, 8, 11)
III. The Psalmist's Salvation (verses 1-4, 6)
"There are countless lessons to learn from this Psalm... but perhaps the most urgent is this, the psalmist grieves, remembers, and composes himself with a sermon to his soul, not once, or even twice, but three times! The psalmist never felt as if he were being needlessly repetitive or that his pleadings were akin to nagging. Rather, he was spiritually relentless, refusing to concede the battle to his enemies, knowing that his God was the kind of God who quenches the thirst of those who faithfully seek him for the water of renewal and hope." ~ Sam Storms
A Confident Heart in a Corrupted World
Psalm 36
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Corruption of the Human Heart (verses 1-4)
II. The Character of the LORD's Heart (verses 5-9)
III. The Confidence of the Believer's Heart (verses 10-12)
“Unbelievers do not acknowledge that it is in God they live, move, and have their being, but rather imagine that they are sustained by their own power; but David, on the contrary, here affirms from the experience of the godly, that the fountain of life is in God. By this he means, that there is a not a drop of life to be found without him, or which flows not from his grace… true godliness springs from the knowledge of God, and again, the light of faith must necessarily prepare us to uprightness of heart. At the same time, we ought always to bear in mind, that we only know God aright when we render to him the honor to which he is entitled; that is when we place entire confidence in Him.” ~ John Calvin
Fight, O Lord!
Psalm 35
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. David's Ignorance and Prayer for Protection (verses 1-10)
II. David's Intention and Prayer for Rescue (verses 11-18)
III. David's Innocence and Prayer for Vindication (verses 19-28)
"Those who criticize David for his imprecatory prayer in verses 4-8 should remember that first he prayed for their help and healing. Saul’s men “tore David apart” with their wicked words (v. 15). Like court jesters, at their meals they made him the butt of their vicious jokes (v. 16; and see 69:12)… David’s experience reminds us of Jesus Christ, the son of David, who was also hated without a cause (John 15:25) and falsely accused and attacked by those for whom He had shown nothing but truth and love. God delivered David from his enemies, but the Father “spared not his own Son” (Rom. 8:32) but willingly gave Him to die for the sins of the world." ~ Warren Wiersbe
“Rejoicing in the LORD’s Unfailing Love ”
Psalm 33
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Joy of the LORD is Our Strength (verses 1-3)
II. Rejoicing in His Work of Creation (verses 4-9)
III. Rejoicing in His Work in History (verses 10-15)
IV. Rejoicing in His Work Amidst Difficulty (verses 16-22)
"However loving and skillful a human father might be there are always dangers in life that are beyond us, and no one is able to guarantee the physical, much less spiritual safety of another. Yet with God there can be no misplacing of confidence, no error of trust. How could there be? God has made the entire universe by his mere word and by the breath of his mouth. He foils evil plans, not merely of individuals but of nations. God's purposes prevail. His plans prosper. He constantly looks upon the affairs of the world to care for His people -- to bless, defend, preserve, and prosper them. No one who trusts in the LORD is ever disappointed." ~ J. M. Boice
“The Way to Joyful Relief”
Psalm 32
Rev. Bruce Brown
I. The Misery with Silence (verses 3-4)
II. The Miracle of Forgiveness (verses 1-2, 5)
III. The Mercy in Instruction (verses 6-11)
“God will continually watch over us… I am glad God promises to do that for us. For great as forgiveness is, the one who has sinned and been forgiven does not want to repeat the sin or again fall into error but rather wants to go on walking in the right way and so please our heavenly Father. How are we to do that unless God continues to keep His eye on us? If we ignore that care and refuse that counsel, we will be like brute beats that have no understanding (vs. 9). If we persist in our folly, we will be like the wicked who experience many woes (vs. 10). But if we listen to God, obey him, and so walk in his right way, we will be able to rejoice in God. And we will be able to teach others also, which is what David has been doing in this psalm.” ~ James M. Boice