10/22/2023 Worship Service and Sermon: Does God Really Expect Me to Suffer? - various passages

Join us for worship!

10/23/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

The audience mics are not working this week. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Scripture: Various passages
Title: Does God Really Expect Me to Suffer?
Worship Leader: Matt Carter
Speaker: Steve Estes

Notes:

1. Suffering was introduced to the world by the fall of man
A. There was no suffering before Adam and Eve sinned
B. After the fall, Earth became a hostile place
C. God promised the restoration of paradise

2. The present age and the age to come
A. How are they described?
B. When will the age to come occur?
i. already, but not yet

3. Why does God heal some, but not others?
A. The age to come has begun, but has not been consummated yet
B. Jesus healed to show what the Kingdom of God was like, but never intended to heal every disease of every believer

4. Conclusion
A. Did Jesus die so believers could live the good life on this earth?
B. Believers, past and present, have tasted the powers of the age to come

#suffering #agetocome

5/7/2023 Worship Service and Sermon: Earthly Suffering, Eternal Glory - 2 Corinthians 4:12-18

Join us for worship!

5/7/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:12-18
Title: Earthly Suffering, Eternal Glory
Worship Leader: Matt Lambert
Speaker: Steve Estes

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. [But] It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Notes:

1. Christians have real troubles in this life

2. Christians are renewed by their faith
A. David's faith in the Old Testament
B. Paul's faith in the New Testament

3. Renewing faith is faith that our troubles will be replaced by resurrection glory
A. The basic teaching
B. Objection: the road is hard and Heaven seems so far away
C. How our trials are "light"
D. How our trials are "momentary"

4. Renewing faith is faith that our troubles actually increase our future glory
A. Your sufferings will make you more glorious
B. Your sufferings increase your future glory by making others more glorious
C. Your sufferings increase your future glory by bringing greater glory to God Himself

5. What all this glory-through-suffering will look like on the Great Day
A. Beauty
B. Splendor
C. Honor
i. The Charge of the Light Brigade
D. All reflecting Christ's glory

#suffering #christianlife #glory