10/15/2023 Worship Service and Sermon: We Live by Surrendering - Romans 8:12-17

10/15/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Tyler Estes
Speaker: Rev. Matt Carter
Scripture: Romans 8:12-17
Title: We Live by Surrendering

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

1. Which is easier: fight or surrender?

2. The deceitfulness of our sinful nature
A. Promises fulfillment, but doesn't deliver
B. Surrender to our sinful nature produces death

3. The life-giving leadership of the Holy Spirit
A. Those led by the Holy Spirit are children of God

4. Application

#Romans #christianliving

10/8/23 Worship Service and Sermon: The Shape of Christ in the Quietly Faithful - Philippians 2:25-30

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10/8/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30
Title: The Shape of Christ in the Quietly Faithful
Worship Leader: Randy Hepler
Speaker: Dr. Mark Garcia

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Notes:

1. Paul's relationship to the church in Philippi
A. Converts at the river and at the jail
B. Philippians want to help Paul while he is in Jerusalem

2. Philippian church sent a letter to Paul in prison
A. They are poor and have problems with dissenting members
B. "Keep Epaphroditus and send Timothy"

3. Paul's letter to a church in turmoil
A. "Epaphroditus is the pastor you need"
B. A servant's heart without celebrity

4. What "Epaphrodituses" are in our midst?

10/1/2023 Worship Service and Sermon: Faith for the Generations to Follow - Hebrews 11:20-22

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NOTE: Congregation audio was lost during the worship service. We apologize and are working to fix it!

10/1/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Luke Stoltzfus
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Hebrews 11:20-22
Title: Faith for the Generations to Follow

NIV: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

ESV: By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Notes:

1. Isaac's faith on his deathbed
A. His wife and the birth of his twin sons
B. Jacob and Esau's early life
C. Esau exchanges his birthright for stew
D. Jacob steals the blessing of the firstborn
E. The blessing given to Jacob
F. The blessing given to Esau
G. How Isaac showed faith

2. Jacob's faith on his deathbed
A. Why Jacob fled
B. Jacob in Haran
C. Trials in Canaan
D. How did Jacob have faith?
E. What we learn

3. Joseph's faith on his deathbed
A. Joseph spoke about the exodus
B. Joseph gave instructions about his bones

9/24/2023 Worship Service & Sermon: Offering up Isaac - Hebrews 11:17-19

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9/24/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Dawson Estes
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Hebrews 11:17-19
Title: Offering Up Isaac

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Notes:

1. About human sacrifice
A. God hates human sacrifice
B. The near-sacrifice of Isaac pictures Jesus Christ being sacrificed on the cross

2. What made God's command hard? 3. Abraham thought it through
A. "Is God erratic or am I finite?"
B. Abraham's faith-based reasoning

4. Faith is what makes obedience possible
A. Prompt obedience
B. Sustained obedience
C. Willing obedience

5. God testing your faith always has something glorious in mind

6. Applications
A. What hard thing has God asked of you?
B. Jesus says, "Take up your cross and follow Me"
C. God will show you the glory behind what He called you to either in this life or in Heaven

#Hebrews #faith

9/17/23 Worship Service and Sermon: Waiting for Isaac - Hebrews 11:11-12

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9/17/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:11-12 (Early NIV and ESV)
Title: Waiting for Isaac
Speaker: Steve Estes

NIV 1979 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

ESV By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many and the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Notes:

1. The promise of an heir was made four times
A. The first time
B. The second time
C. The third time
D. Impatience results in Ishmael
E. The fourth time

2. The promise was fulfilled in God's timing

3. Lessons
A. Remember why this story was included in the letter
B. Faith can be real even when it is weak
C. Faith is ultimately always about Christ

#Hebrews #faith #promise

9/10/2023 Worship service and Sermon: Deliverance out of Despair - Exodus 5:20-6:13

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9/10/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Mike Culbert
Speaker: Andrew Hageman
Scripture: Exodus 5:20-6:13
Title: Deliverance out of Despair

Notes:

1. When you are filled with doubts, God graciously repeats His promises.
A. Moses cries out, God comes alongside him caringly.
B. God reminds Moses of who He is.

2. When you are filled with despair, God promises hope for the future.
A. God's name is so powerful, it's like He's using it as His signet ring.
B. What future does God decree for His despairing people?

3. A follower of God is known, not by perfection, but by faith in God's forgiveness.
A. The Israelites won't hear God's offer.
B. Moses doubts his ability to convince people.

4. The Exodus from Egypt foreshadows God's Ultimate Deliverance in our Savior.
A. The Israelites were freed from slavery to Egypt, but not from slavery to sin.
B. God progressively revealed His plan to free them from slavery to sin.
C. This passage highlights the perfection of Christ's work on the cross and His role as our perfect leader

#doubt #despair #Moses

9/3/23 Worship Service and Sermon: The Faith Behind Noah’s Ark - Hebrews 11:7

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9/3/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Steve Boyer
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Hebrews 11:7
Title: The Faith Behind Noah's Ark

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Notes:

1. Human wickedness spreads
A. Adam and Eve
B. Cain and Abel
C. The righteous and unrighteous family lines
D. The family lines merge

2. How God responded to human wickedness
A. Delayed judgement for Noah's sake
B. Blueprints for Noah's Ark

3. Noah's faith
A. Noah believed God's warning of incoming judgement
B. Noah believed God when he had no children
C. Noah believed God over a long period of time
D. Noah believed God despite the world's scorn

4. The Great Flood

5. What do we learn from Noah's faith?
A. Faith can rescue one's family
B. Faith draws a line between the redeemed and the unredeemed

#Hebrews #faith

8/27/23 Worship Service and Sermon: Faith Through the Unfamiliar (Abraham) - Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16

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8/27/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16
Title: Faith Through the Unfamiliar (Abraham)
Speaker: Steve Estes

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with fundations, whose architect and builder is God.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Notes:

1. The life of faith often involves leaving all that's familiar
A. What Ur was like
B. God's command to leave Ur
C. Abraham's faith in unfamiliar Canaan
D. Abraham's life pictures faith when we leave all that's familiar

2. The life of faith often means seeing only one step at a time
A. When he left Ur, Abraham did not know his destination
B. Even when Abraham learned the general trajectory, he was detoured
C. Had God's word dropped to the ground? No.
D. The life of faith is one step at a time for all believers

3. The life of faith often involves disappointments in how God fulfills His promises
A. Abraham had constant struggles
B. Abraham needed to keep moving
C. Abraham and his family were foreigners in the land
D. For all believers, this life is full of disappointment with how God's promises are fulfilled

4. The life of faith involves knowing that God's promises--only dimly fulfilled in this life--will come blazing true in heaven
A. Ur
i. for Abraham
ii. for us
B. Canaan
i. for Abraham
ii. for us
C. Disappointing Canaan
i. for Abraham
ii. for us

D. What God had in store was far greater than Abraham pictured

5. Closing: God will not fail to keep His promise

#Hebrews #faith

8/20/2023 Worship Service and Sermon: -Three- Two Ancient Believers - Hebrews 11:4-7

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8/20/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:4-7
Title: -Three- Two Ancient Believers
Speaker: Steve Estes

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Notes:

1. Introduction

2. Abel (Genesis 4:1-16)
A. How did Abel know God approved of his offering?
B. Why did God accept Abel and not Cain?

3. Lessons from Abel
A. Faith makes your prayers and church attendance acceptable
B. Faith makes your life speak long past your death

4. Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24)
A. His lifespan
B. He walked with God
C. He hadn't always lived acceptably to God
D. He never experienced physical death
E. His faith is what pleased God

5. Lessons from Enoch
A. Faith in God saves believers from hell

#Hebrews #faith

8/13/2023 Worship Service and Sermon: Finding Bread for Your Friends - Luke 11:1-13

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Scripture: Luke 11:1-13
Title: Finding Bread for Your Friends
Speaker: Wendell Stoltzfus
Worship Leader: Dawson Estes

Notes:

1. The Prayer and the Parable
A. The theme in Luke 11 is prayer
B. And yet, we struggle to pray

2. The Three Friends
A. An Unexpected Guest
B. An Inconvenient Hour
C. Who the three friends represent

3. The Bread of Assurance
A. We who have the Bread of life rub shoulders with those who don't
B. In the terms of the parable, each of the three friends is, ultimately, starving

4. Real Bread, Real Impudence
A. No doubt many of us struggle with assurance at times
B. Obnoxious persistence in prayer
C. How do we begin?

5. God's Answer to Prayer
A. Jesus says you and I are the link between His bread and our hungry friends
B. What will happen if you pray for your hungry friends every day?
C. What if we don't see any change?

6. Conclusion
A. An Inconvenienced Friend
B. An Unfailing God

#Luke #assurance #prayer