3/30/25 Worship Service & Sermon: Job’s Lament - Job 2:11-13, Job 3

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3/30/25 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Job 2:11-13, Job 3
Title: Job's Lament
Speaker: Steve Estes

When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Notes:

1. Introduction
A. Review
B. Job's friends arrive

2. Job begins his lament

3. Job utters a series of curses
A. A curse
B. "May God not care about that day"
C. "May that day be shrouded in darkness

4. "Why?"
A. The universally spoken three-letter word
B. How Job imagines the grave
C. The final "why"
D. Summary

5. Applications
A. God sometimes lets the righteous suffer terribly
B. It is important for believers to acknowledge another's suffering before explaining it
C. It is appropriate for a Christian to groan, sometimes long and loudly

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 He said:

3 “May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’

4 That day—may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine on it.

5 May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm it.

6 That night—may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months.

7 May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.

8 May those who curse days[a] curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.

9 May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn,

10 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?

12 Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?

13 For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest

14 with kings and rulers of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,

15 with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?

17 There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.

18 Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout.

19 The small and the great are there, and the slaves are freed from their owners.

20 “Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,

21 to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,

22 who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?

23 Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

24 For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.

25 What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.

26 I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.” #job #lament #curse

Additional Notes:

Job utters a series of curses

  1. A curse

  2. “God may not care about the day of his birth”

  3. “May that day be shrouded in Darkness”

“Why” questions

  1. The universally spoken 3-letter word

  2. How He imagines the grave

  3. Final "“Why”

  4. summary

Principle: God sometimes Lets the RIGHTEOUS suffer terribly

  1. Yet God himself affirmed Job as righteous

Principle: It is important for believers to acknowledge another’s suffering before explaining it

It is appropriate for a Christian to groan, sometimes long and loudly

CONCLUSION

02/23/25 Worship Service & Sermon: Love in Heaven - 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

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2/23/25 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Title: Love in Heaven
Worship Leader: Tyler Estes
Speaker: Steve Estes

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I reasoned like a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child. When I became a man, I put childish things behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Notes:

1. Wrong idea of spirituality
A. Tongues
B. Same wrong idea with Prophesy
C. What the chapter has said

2. Summary of this passage

3. Three temporary gifts of ministry
A. Prophecy
B. Tongues
C. Knowledge

4. Two figures of speech and a clear statement
A. Contrast between childhood and adulthood
B. Contrast between reflection and face-to-face
C. The clear statement

5. On verse 13
A. "These three remain"
B. "But the greatest of these is love"

6. Jonathan Edwards on love
A. The cause and fountain of love
B. The objects of love
C. The beings who will love
D. Some aspects of love

#prophecies #tongues #knowledge #faith #hope #love

2/9/25 Worship Service & Sermon: What Love Looks Like - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

2/9/25 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Title: What Love Looks Like
Worship Leader: Dawson Estes
Speaker: Steve Estes

NIV: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

ESV: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Notes:

1. Fifteen verbs

2. First: Two positives about love
A. "Love is patient"
B. "Love is kind"
C. Combination reflects God

3. Seven negatives about love
A. "Does not envy"
B. "Does not boast"
C. "Is not proud"
D. "Is not rude"
E. "Is not self-seeking
F. "Is not easily angered"
G. "Keeps no record of wrongs"
H. "Does not delight in evil

4. Four zippy little phrases about love
A. NIV translation
B. ESV translation
C. Answering objections
D. Steve's Uncle Tom

#love #whatislove

2/2/25 Worship Service & Sermon: Love: Graces Better Than Gifts - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

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

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Title: Love: Graces Better Than Gifts
Worship Leader: Matt Griffith
Speaker: Steve Estes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Notes:

1. Introduction
A. Challenges facing the earliest Christians
B. How God equipped them

2. Love is more important than gifted speaking and teaching
A. The gift of tongues
B. The problem
C. The application

3. Love is much more important than mere religious activity
A. "If I have the gift of prophecy..."
B. "If I can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge..."
C. "If I have a faith that can move mountains..."

4. Love is more important than even acts of personal sacrifice
A. "If I give all I possess to the poor..."
B. "...and surrender my body to the flames..."

5. The result of no love
A. "I gain nothing"
B. "I am nothing"

6. Three closing thoughts

Benediction: (From Psalm 28) Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard our cry for mercy. Our hearts trust in him, and we are helped. Save your people and bless your inheritance, be our shepherd and carry us forever. Amen

#love #graces #gifts #nothing

1/26/25 Worship Service & Sermon: A Fine Wife - Proverbs 31:10-31

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1/26/25 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31
Title: A Fine Wife
Worship Leader: Matt Carter
Speaker: Steve Estes

Notes:

1. A wife of noble character
A. Who is the passage speaking of?
B. What if I'm not a wife or a mother?
C. A woman of noble character

2. First area of her attention: her husband
A. A helper suitable for him
B. "clothed in fine linen and purple"

3. Second area of her attention: her children
A. Basic needs
B. Involved in their lives
C. All this takes energy!

4. Third area of her attention: outside her home
A. Finances (for her home)
B. The needy

5. Near the end: "Who can find?!"

6. Applications

#wife #noble #noblecharacter

1/12/25 Worship Service & Sermon: Human Suffering & The Sovereignty of God - Various Scripture

1/12/25 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Various
Title: Human Suffering & The Sovereignty of God
Speaker: Steve Estes
Worship Leader: Steve Boyer

Notes:

1. Introduction
A. Where is God when we suffer?
B. The story of Rabbi Harold Kushner
C. Many evangelicals are like Rabbi Kushner
D. Some people take the opposite view

2. The causes behind suffering in the Book of Job
A. What caused Job's troubles?
B. God governs nature and its laws
C. God governs both intentional and unintentional actions of people
D. God governs Satan and demons

3. An objection...and two answers
A. The objection
B. God is drawn to suffering people
C. God's motives for decreeing evil are good

4. Summary
A. What about suffering is God sovereign over?
B. For what purpose?

#suffering #sovereignty #God

1/5/25 Worship Service & Sermon: The Christians Eternal Rest - Hebrews 4:9-10

1/5/25 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:9-10
Title: The Christians Eternal Rest
Speaker: Steve Estes
Worship Leader: John Sletta

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

Notes:

1. Introduction
A. Baxter's life/illnesses
B. Old Testament saints in the desert were promised rest
C. Christians have hard lives, but God has promised eternal rest

2. Our eternal rest
A. Our eternal rest means the end of tiring effort
B. Our eternal rest means we will experience perfect love
C. Our eternal rest means we'll have the capacity for all heaven's delights

3. How our souls will respond to all this in heaven

#eternalrest #richardbaxter

12/22/24 Worship Service & Sermon: An Angel, A Virgin - Luke 1:26-38

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12/22/24 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
Title: An Angel, A Virgin
Speaker: Steve Estes
Worship Leader: TJ Waldy

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God.

36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.

37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Notes:

1. The angel

2. The place
A. Far from Jerusalem
B. Of "inferior Jewishness"
C. The town of Nazareth

3. The time

4. The virgin
A. Her need for a Savior
B. Her modest role
C. Her godliness

5. The conversation
A. Gabriel's graciousness and Mary's fear
B. Gabriel's reassuring message
C. Mary requests an explanation
D. Gabriel's astounding, mysterious answer
E. Gabriel's help to Mary's faith
F. Mary's courageous, submissive reply

6. The applications

#God #Jesus #time #gabriel #mary

12/15/24 Worship Service & Sermon: When the Time Has Fully Come - Galatians 4:4-5

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12/15/24 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-5
Title: When the Time Has Fully Come
Worship Leader: Luke Stoltzfus
Speaker: Steve Estes

NIV: But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

ESV: But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Notes:

1. "When the time had fully come, GOD sent his Son"
A. The Father behind the Christmas story
B. God moved toward us

2. "When the time had fully come, God sent his SON"
A. Doctrine of the Holy Trinity
B. Relationship of love
C. Relationship of likeness
D. The self-existent Son

3. "When the time had fully come, God SENT his Son"

4. "When the TIME HAD FULLY COME, God sent his Son"
A. God sent His Son when He alone knew the time was perfect
B. God sent His Son when the means were in place to spread the good news
C. God sent His Son when the felt need for Him had ripened
D. God sent His Son when the time had fully come

#God #Jesus #time

12/8/24 Worship Service & Sermon: Weary of Waiting for Messiah - Malachi 3:13-4:6

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12/8/24 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Speaker: Steve Estes
Worship Leader: Tyler Estes
Scripture: Malachi 3:13-4:6
Title: Weary of Waiting for Messiah

"You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?' You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'"

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."

"Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty. "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

Notes:

1. Background
A. Return from exile
B. Weary of waiting
C. God's list of grievances

2. The general problem: Religion wasn't paying off
A. They had religion
B. But their hearts weren't in it
C. From a resentful heart come resentful words

3. How true believers responded to Malachi's preaching

4. God's reaction to the conversations of believers
A. God paid attention
B. What God did for these believers

5. The future Day of the Lord
A. What unbelievers experience
B. What believers experience

6. God's closing words
A. "Remember the law of my servant Moses"
B. "I will send Elijah"