10/27/24 Worship Service & Sermon: Jeroboam II and the Writing Prophets - 2 Kings 14:23-29

10/27/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Worship Leader: Dave Stoltzfus
Sermon: Steve Estes
Scripture: 2 Kings 14:23-29
Title: Jeroboam II and the Writing Prophets

In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash. As for the other events of Jeroboam's reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Yaudi, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.

Notes:

1. Review and introduction
A. Israel splits in two
B. The southern kingdom
C. The northern kingdom

2. Opening description of Jeroboam II

3. Point 1: It's God's nature to bless undeserving people
A. How God blessed Jeroboam II
B. Why God blessed Jeroboam II

4. God's blessing does not necessarily mean God's approval
A. Examples from the minor prophets
B. Applications

5. God's judgments in one time/place are always to show mercy in another time/place
A. Examples
B. Where is this in today's passage?

#jeroboam #amos #blessings

7/28/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: Ahaziah’s Death-Bed Unrepentance and God’s Stubborn Holiness - 1 Kings 22:51-53 and 2 Kings 1:18

7/28/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Scripture: 1 Kings 22:51-53 and 2 Kings 1:18
Title: Ahaziah's Death-Bed Unrepentance and God's Stubborn Holiness
Worship Leader: Dave Stoltzfus
Speaker: Steve Estes

Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. He served and worshiped Baal and provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.

Notes:

1. Ahaziah's disappointments
A. Disappointments over money
B. Disappointments over his country
C. Disappointments over physical trauma
D. Disappointments from a shortened life span

2. In his disappointments, Ahaziah sought relief in idols
A. The lord of the flies
B. The insanity of idolatry
C. How people "consult idols" today

3. God refused to tolerate Ahaziah's idols
A. Elijah intercepts, Ahaziah responds
B. The ethics of the fire from heaven
C. Ahaziah's final attempt to arrest Elijah

4. God gives grace to the humble
A. Humility grows from proper fear
B. The Lamb of God bore God's wrath for those who would believe

#ahaziah #Elijah

5/5/2024 Worship Service and Sermon: Where Are You Hiding? - Psalm 11

5/5/2024 Worship Service from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Sermon: Dr. Rick Horne
Worship Leader: Dave Stoltzfus
Scripture: Psalm 11
Title: Where Are You Hiding?

The LORD Is in His Holy Temple To the choirmaster. Of David.

In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, "Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven, his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Notes:

1. David wants to hide
A. Why so much attention to hiding?
B. David hides when there are threats...he was at war; so are you at war
C. Many descriptions of the Christian life have reference to spiritual warfare

2. David finds his safety "in the LORD"
A. YHWH--the Redeemer
B. Jesus identifies Himself as YHWH
C. "Refuge" is for those who are in Christ, not those who just know about him

3. David gets misleading advice
A. Their advice was sincere
B. Their advice was logical
C. Their advice was filled with urgency
D. Their advice was contrary to trust in God's promise
E. Who do you look to for your counsel for hiding?

4. David hides by faith--in the secure refuge of God's provision
A. YHWH is secure
B. YHWH has a plan and a timetable
C. YHWH treats His people with parental love
D. This leads to a sobering teaching

5. Conclusion

#hiding #David #refuge

12/31/23 Worship Service: Stewardship Failure - Malachi 3:6-12

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12/31/23 Worship Service from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Dave Stoltzfus
Speaker: Wendell Stoltzfus
Scripture: Malachi 3:6-12
Title: Stewardship Failure

Notes:

1. Introduction

2. Robbing God
A. Admonition
B. Extortion
C. Condemnation

3. Returning to God
A. Exhortation
B. Declaration
C. Protection
D. Reputation

4. Practical Applications

#Malachi #tithing

05/21/2023 Worship Service & Sermon: Working Out Our Salvation - Philippians 2:12-18

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5/21/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Dave Stoltzfus
Speaker: Steve Midgley (Executive Director, Biblical Counselling UK)
Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18
Title: Working Out Our Salvation

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Notes:

1. Because God is in you, work out your salvation
A. How does the Christian life work?

2. Because the world is difficult, shine like stars
A. Do everything without grumbling or arguing
B. Hold firmly to the word of life

3. Because of one another, rejoice

#Philippians #christianliving

1/16/2022 Worship Service and Sermon: Amazing Grace or accustomed grace? - Jonah 4

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01/16/2022 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Dave Stoltzfus
Speaker: David Royes
Title: Amazing Grace or accustomed grace?
Scripture: Jonah 4

“We sing about ‘amazing grace’ and speak of ‘amazing grace’, but far too often it [grace] has ceased to amaze us. Sadly, we might more truthfully sing of ‘accustomed grace.’ We have lost the joy and energy that are experienced when grace seems truly amazing.” ~ Sinclair Ferguson

Literary Structure of Jonah:

Jonah 1: Jonah commissioned & disobedience → Jonah 3: Jonah recommissioned & obedience
Jonah 1b: Jonah & pagan sailors → Jonah 3: Jonah and pagan Ninevites.
Jonah 2: Jonah’s grateful prayer → Jonah 4a: Jonah’s angry prayer.
Jonah 4b: GOD Schools Jonah in Compassion. (*1)

1. Accustomed Grace: Jonah’s Angry Prayer
2. Amazing Grace: God’s Gracious Pursuit

a. His appointing is perfect
b. His word is persistent
c. His compassion is plentiful

3. Extending Grace: The Author’s hanging question

(*1) Adapted from David Dorsey, Literary Structure of the Old Testament (Baker Books, 2004).