2/16/25 Worship Service & Sermon: Growth in God’s Kingdom - Mark 4:26-29

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2/16/25 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Mark 4:26-29
Title: Growth in God's Kingdom
Worship Leader: TJ Waldy
Speaker: Mark Estes

NIV: He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.

NLT: Jesus also said, The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he's asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the former comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest has come.

Notes:

1. Introduction: Parables as allegory
A. E.g. Pilgrim's Progress
B. Prodigal son
i. Some church fathers took it too far
ii. Hyper-allegorical
C. Avoid over-allegorizing and de-allegorizing
D. E.g. Wicked Tenants
i. Pharisees knew Jesus was talking about them

2. Why are parables hard to understand?
A. Key: Mark 4:10-12
B. Jesus' two-fold purpose in telling parables
i. Reveal the truth to his disciples
ii. Conceal the truth from the Pharisees
C. Why do this?
D. Parables were a form of judgment on Israel

3. The parable of the growing seed
A. Symbolism
B. Four principles
i. In both the growth of corn and the work of grace, there must be a sower
ii. In both the growth of grain and grace, much is outside our understanding or control
iii. True life shows itself gradually
iv. Grain isn't harvested until it is ripe

4. Applications

#parables #spiritualgrowth #God #seeds

10/6/24 Worship Service & Sermon: Risky Request - Philemon 1

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10/6/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Worship Leader: Mark Estes
Speaker: David Foglebach
Scripture: Philemon 1
Title: Risky Request

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker--also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier--and to the church that meets in your home:

Grace and peach to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people.

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want you to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever--no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you'll do even more than I ask. And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Notes:

1. The request
A. Reconcile with a runaway slave
B. The modern equivalent

2. The risks
A. Paul's friendship with Philemon
B. Philemon's reputation
C. Onesimus' life

3. Risking reconciliation

#philemonmorris #onesimus #Paul

6/19/22 Worship Service and Sermon - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - Daniel 3:16-18

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6/19/2022 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." - Daniel 3:16-18

Worship Leader: Mark Estes
Speaker: Tyler Estes
Title: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Scripture: Daniel 3:16-18

1. Their principled resolve. Note the timing of their resolve. The matter is already settled. They were resolved to worship only God long before the statue was built.

2. Their trust in God. First, they know the power of God. Second, they know the salvation of God. Third, they know their service to their true King

3. Their submission to God's sovereignty. Duties, not events

4. The outcome: God saved them. They still went into the flames. God went with them into the flames

5. "How do I become firm in my resolve?" Read the Bible frequently. Make church a priority/. Do these things through faith in Christ

#Daniel #fierytrial #integrity #resolve #Shadrach #Meshach #Abednego

2/20/2022 Worship Service and Sermon: Cancer in the Church - Joshua 7

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2/20/2022 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Randy Hepler
Speaker: Mark Estes
Title: Cancer in the Church
Scripture: Joshua 7

1. Sometimes a great victory is followed by a great defeat
a. Sin leads to defeat
b. Dissatisfaction leads to coveting
c. Decisive action is needed
d. Sin is a cancer-like threat

2. Unrepentant sin cannot be tolerated in the Christian life
a. Individually
b. Corporately
c. A word to the young

#sin #unrepentantsin #churchdiscipline

1/2/2022 Worship Service and Sermon: Our Need for Self-Control - Galatians 5:22-23

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1/2/2022 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Mark Estes
Speaker: Rich Goswiller
Title: Our Need for Self-Control
Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is live, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

#selfcontrol #spiritualfruit

Notes:

The fruit of the Spirit is produced by God the Holy Spirit, not by us as His people.

Branches (believers) have no ability to produce the fruit; they just bear the fruit that the vine (Jesus Christ) is producing through the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit doesn't just give us self-control with the snap of His fingers; He develops it in relation to other qualities, primarily the wisdom that comes from Him.

In the moment, at a crossroads--heavenly wisdom directs--self-control settles the matter.