8/18/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: Saints, When Absent from the Body, Are Present with the Lord - 2 Corinthians 5:8

8/18/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Worship Leader: Randy Hepler
Speaker: Jonathan Edwards (modified by Steve Estes)
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:8
Title: Saints, When Absent from the Body, Are Present with the Lord

2 Corinthians 5:8--We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Notes:

1. Departed saints live in the same wonderful place as Christ
A. Christ in Heaven still has a human nature
B. Heaven is a place
C. Angels are in Heaven
D. Departed saints are in Heaven
E. We who are saved will be in Heaven

2. The souls of saints in Heaven have an unhindered sight of Jesus Christ
A. When absent from friends, we can only think about them
B. "But then we shall see Him face to face"
C. Those in Heaven see Him "as He is"

3. Departed saints become perfectly like Him by seeing Him

4. Departed saints enjoy a glorious and immediate closeness with Him
A. Departed saints are present with the Lord
B. But His glorious state won't intimidate them
C. Reasons with His majesty won't intimidate them

8/11/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: Elisha’s Fiery Horses & Chariots - 2 Kings 6:8-23

Join us for worship!

8/11/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Worship Leader: Dawson Estes
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 2 Kings 6:8-23
Title: Elisha's Fiery Horses and Chariots

Notes:

1. Intro: Secrets are sometimes hard to keep.
A. Aramean king's secrets are being leaked.
B. The new prophet on the block

2. The Aramean king sends an army to capture Elisha.

3. God is with His people, even when they cannot see it.
A. First of three prayers
B. Picture the fiery beings.
C. Think of their number.
D. Think what the actual miracle was.

4. How God protected Elisha and his servant
A. Who made the first move?
B. Second of three prayers
C. Last of three prayers

5. God protects His people so that unbelievers may find that same protection in Him.
A. How Israel treated the captured Arameans
B. What do we learn about God from this?

6. Lessons

#elisha #benhadad

8/4/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: Elijah, Elisha and Chariots of Fire - 2 Kings 2

Join us for worship!

8/4/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Worship Leader: Luke Stoltzfus
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 2 Kings 2
Title: Elijah, Elisha, and Chariots of Fire

Notes:

1. Vexation at Elijah's departure
A. Anxiety at coming change
B. The prophets go to Bethel
C. The prophets go to Jericho

2. The prophets go to the Jordan
A. Elijah's last miracle
B. Elijah asks his protege what he can do for him
C. God takes Elijah away in style
D. Elisha's reaction

3. God reveals Elijah's successor
A. Elisha mourns, then gets to work
B. Elisha is recognized as Elijah's successor

4. Three short episodes to start Elisha's ministry
A. Episode 1: Ordinary ministry with Jericho's prophets
B. Episode 2: Ministry of God's grace at Jericho
C. Episode 3: Ministry of God's judgment at Bethel

#elijah #elisha #chariotsoffire

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

7/21/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: The Death of Ahab - 1 Kings 22

Join us for worship!

7/21/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Scripture: 1 Kings 22
Title: The Death of Ahab
Worship Leader: TJ Waldy
Speaker: Steve Estes

Notes:

1. A meeting between Ahab and Jehoshaphat
A. The significance of Gilead
B. Ahab proposes to retake Ramoth Gilead
C. Jehoshaphat's request

2. Pressure on Micaiah
A. The pressure in general
B. One pressure in particular

3. Micaiah speaks the truth
A. Micaiah's sarcastic sycophantic answer
B. Micaiah's serious, truthful answer
C. Micaiah recounts his vision

4. Micaiah is punished for speaking the truth
A. Zedekiah slaps Micaiah
B. Ahab incarcerates Micaiah

5. Ahab dies in battle
A. The battle proper
B. God's sovereignty in the battle
C. Ahab's burial
D. A summary of Ahab's life

6. A final word

#ahab #jehoshaphat #micaiah #God

7/14/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: Naboth’s Vineyard - 1 Kings 21:1-29

Join us for worship!

7/14/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-29
Title: Naboth's Vineyard
Worship Leader: Matt Griffith
Pastor: Steve Estes

Notes:

1. The exchange between Ahab and Naboth
A. Ahab's offer
B. Naboth's refusal

2. Back at the palace
A. Ahab sulks in his room
B. Jezebel promises a solution

3. Jezebel's murderous scheme
A. The letters
B. Who was blasphemed: Jehovah or Baal?
C. The trial and the verdict
D. Ahab takes possession

4. The exchange between Elijah and Ahab
A. Elijah confronts Ahab in the vineyard
B. Jehovah's verdict on Ahab and Jezebel

5. God's amazing grace
A. Ahab's change

6. Lessons
A. Naboth is a picture of the lot of God's people
B. Such injustice is often inflicted by the government
C. God's servants must be prepared to pay a price for standing for justice
D. God will intervene to bring justice to His wronged people
E. God delights to exercise mercy while imposing His justice

#ahab #elijah #naboth

7/72024 Worship Service & Sermon: Ahab vs. Ben-Hadad - 1 Kings 20

Join us for worship!

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

Scripture: 1 Kings 20
Title: Ahab vs. Ben-Hadad
Worship Leader: Matt Lambert
Sermon: Pastor Steve Estes

Notes:

1. The thread
A. Ben Hadad's invasion
B. Israel's desperate condition
C. Ben Hadad's intimidating demands

2. The first battle
A. An unnamed prophet advises Ahab
B. An Israelite victory stuns Ben Hadad

3. The second battle
A. Both sides regroup
B. Arameans march to Aphek the following year
C. Why does Ahab pardon Ben Hadad?

4. A prophet condemns Ahab
A. The story
B. What was Ahab's sin?

5. Getting clear about God
A. Getting clear about God's grace
B. Getting clear about God's power
C. Getting clear about God's judgment

#ahab #benhadad #God

6/30/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: What God Promises to Those Who Repent - Joel 2:18-27

Join us for worship!

6/30/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Scripture: Joel 2:18-27
Title: What God Promises to Those Who Repent
Worship Leader: Tyler Estes
Sermon: Clint Estes

Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. The LORD answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. “I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield. “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. “The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

Notes:

1. What God will remove
A. Judgment
B. Shame
C. Application

2. What God will restore
A. Land
B. Prosperity for Judah
C. Application

3. What the result will be
A. Satisfaction
B. Certainty and experience of God never before had
C. Worship

#repentence #restoration #Joel

6/23/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: Recruiting Elisha - 1 Kings 19:19-21

Join us for worship!

6/23/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:19-21
Title: Recruiting Elisha
Worship Leader: Randy Hepler
Sermon: Senior Pastor Steve Estes

So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?" So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the mean and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

Notes:

1. Elijah goes to Abel Meholah
A. The journey
B. The destination
C. The family of farmers

2. Elijah recruits Elisha
A. A hard-working heir
B. A silent summons

3. Elisha's response
A. He chases after Elijah
B. He asks to kiss his parents goodbye
C. He breaks all ties with the past

4. What the day's events meant for the people affected
A. Elijah
B. Elisha's parents
C. Elisha himself

#Elijah #Elisha

6/16/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: Elijah Restored on Mount Horab - 1 Kings 19:7-18

Join us for worship!

6/16/2024 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:7-18
Title: Elijah Restored on Mount Horeb
Worship Leader: Matt Carter
Sermon: Senior Pastor Steve Estes

Notes:

1. The Story
A. The place
B. God and Elijah address one another
C. Three dramatic elements
D. The voice in a low whisper

2. God's twice-asked question
A. Some suggest God's question is a rebuke
B. A better suggestion is God's question is an invitation

3. The meaning of it all
A. The meaning of the earthquake, wind, fire, and low whisper
B. God encourages Elijah with a promise

#Elijah #Horeb