Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church: Recent Episodes
Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Judges 7:24-8:21 "Gideon's Failures"
Gideon begins well. He has gathered the army of 300 that God set apart and defeated the Midianites. He chases them out of the Promised Land. The Tribe of Ephraim captures and executes the two generals. But Ephraim is insulted that Gideon did not call them at the beginning of the battle. Gideon handles Ephraim with diplomacy and respect.
However, Gideon crosses the Jordan River and begins to act as an aggressor and agent of vengeance. He punishes Succoth and Penuel for their lack of hospitality. Then he exacts revenge on the kings of Midian. Gideon is not going to finish well.
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Judges 6:33-7:25 "The Victory Is the Lord's"
After destroying the altar of Baal, Gideon is clothed with the Holy Spirit to bring rescue to the people of Israel. He gathers an army and has a moment of fear and doubt.
However, God meets Gideon's fear and doubt with grace. Then, the army is whittled down to 300 men. Gideon is given another sign from God and responds with worship. God brings the victory, and the nation is freed from oppression.
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Judges 6:1-32 "Removing Idols"
Today, we return to our series on the Book of Judges. Once again, Israel is under the hand of God's discipline, and they cry out to God in pain.
Instead of immediately calling a rescuer, God sends a prophet to tell the Israelites that the problem is their idolatry and false worship. Then, Gideon is called. He isn't called to rescue, but to remove the idols from Manasseh.
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Galatians 5:22-25 "Self-Control"
This sermon finishes the series on the Fruit of the Spirit. We wrap up with a sermon on Self-Control.
Self-control is the power to delay gratification with future benefits in mind. Christians must exercise self-control with their bodies, thoughts, and emotions.
Jesus showed self-control when tempted in the wilderness and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Because we are united with Him, we have self-control, and the Holy Spirit applies the Gospel to our hearts so we can learn to live in self-control.
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Matthew 11:28-30 "Blessed Are the Meek"
Gentleness gets a bad rap in our culture. Men are told to be strong and successful and to boast about all their achievements. Gentleness is seen as passive weakness, and nobody wants to be weak.
Biblical gentleness is based on strength. Yes, there is humility and kindness and mildness, but these all rest on the foundation of strength. Biblical gentleness can never be separated from an underlying strength.
And Jesus lived a life of strong gentleness. The Servant Song of Isaiah 42:1-4 and Matthew 11:28-38 highlight the gentleness of Jesus, which brings restoration and rest.
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Matthew 25:21 "Faithfulness"
The Parable of the Talents is one that we think is focused on the money given to the servants. However, the focus of the parable is on the faithfulness of the servants and the reward for their faithfulness.
In this sermon, we learn that God is a faithful God. In the Old Testament, God shows His faithfulness to Israel in the Exodus story. God's faithfulness is also seen in the redemption story told throughout the whole Bible. We show our faithfulness through a "Long Obedience in the Same Direction," as Eugene Peterson titled his book.
God calls us to live lives of holiness. We are to work out the holiness he has given to us in Jesus. We must beware of being faithful to our wants and desires, putting them to death in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Romans 15:14-16 "Goodness"
This sermon focuses on the Fruit of the Spirit, Goodness. Goodness has an internal and external focus.
Internally, Goodness is linked to righteousness. In Luke 6, Jesus said that goodness comes from the heart. Psalm 15 describes what a good or righteous heart looks like. We need the righteousness of Jesus to have good hearts.
Externally, goodness is marked by integrity and generosity. People of integrity live their lives the same publicly as they do privately. Their "Yes means yes," and their "No means no." Generous people focus on meeting the needs of others because God commands his people to care about the poor and oppressed.
We must always keep this order in focus. Our good works flow out of a heart that has been made good by the work of redemption.
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Colossians 3:12-17 "Kindness"
What does it mean to be kind? Jesus defines kindness when he said, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12). God showed His kindness to His people in the Old Testament. Jesus showed kindness to those who interrupted His ministry. Those who follow Jesus are called to cultivate kindness.
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1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 "Long-Suffering & Forbearing"
Patience is something many of us need to develop. But what is patience? Patience is long-suffering in our circumstances and forbearing with the people in our lives. Just as Jesus has exercised patience toward us, we should grow in patience.
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Romans 14:17-19 "Work for Peace"
We live in a world that desperately needs peace. But what is peace? In this sermon, Rev. Hughes explains what peace is. He gives us three dimensions of peace and twelve ways to cultivate peace in the church.
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James 1:2-4 "Joy In Christ"
This sermon in the series of the Fruit of the Spirit covers Joy. We cover some characteristics of joy. Next, we talk about things that hinder our joy. Finally, we discuss things that help grow our joy.
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1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 "Love In Christ"
Love is radical self-sacrifice, but we seek radical self-centeredness. Our love for each other should be like the love of Jesus. He gave all so that we can be holy and blameless before God.
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Galatians 5:16-26 "Flesh vs. Spirit"
This sermon begins a series on the Fruit of the Spirit by highlighting Paul's contrast between walking by the Spirit and walking by the flesh. Our union with Jesus ensures that we are walking by the Spirit.
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Judges 5:19-31 "A Reversal of Glory"
How does the sovereignty of God help us in our Christian life? God's sovereignty brings victory in chaos, brings reversals of glory, and brings love for enemies.
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Habakkuk 3:17-19
Bruce Curry tells us of God's goodness, even when things seem to be going wrong. He calls us to trust and rest in the faithfulness of God.
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Judges 5:1-18 "Remember and Proclaim"
God gives us songs to remember and proclaim the truth that He has given to us. This Song of Deborah & Barak remembers and proclaims the good news that God has saved the Israelites from the hands of Jabin and Sisera.
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Judges 4:1-24 "Faith and Doubt"
Through the story of Deborah & Barak, we see how God delivers Israel from the oppression of Jabin and Sisera. We learn that God is the one who rescues Israel, and God will work through us to do what He calls us to do.
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Judges 4:4-5 "Deborah, the Prophetess"
Is Judges 4 a defense of women's ordination? No, Judges 4 shows Deborah's humility in the face of God calling Barak.
We must ensure that we interpret culture through the lens of Scripture rather than interpreting Scripture through the lens of culture.
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Judges 3:12-31 "Salvation Out of Weakness"
This passage shows that the relationship between God's Sovereignty and human action leads to complete salvation.
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Judges 3:7-11 "Salvation Belongs to the Lord"
Othniel is the first judge. He teaches us that Salvation Belongs to the Lord.
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Judges 2:16-3:6 "The Cycle Begins with Grace"
God exercises grace to the Israelites. He does this by rescuing them, testing them, and disciplining them. Israel responds with greater and greater idolatry.
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Judges 2:6-15 "Consequences of False Worship"
The problems for the people of Israel go deeper than military failures. The failure to settle the Promised Land is rooted in their choice to worship the gods of the Canaanites.
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John 20:1-31 "The Heart of Christianity"
Doubt is a part of life. How do we handle those doubts? In this sermon we look at the Resurrection of Jesus. This is the heart of Christianity. If we are going to question Christianity, we must weigh the historical claims and seek to see how God has shown himself to be good in our lives.
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Judges 1:16-2:5 "The Danger of Trusting What You See"
The Israelites continue the task of settling in the land but fail because they forget God's promises and fear the might of the Canaanites.
God comes to give His commentary and judgment on the Israelites' disobedience and false worship.
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Judges 1:1-15 "Cracks in Israel's Success
In this sermon, we begin a series on the Book of Judges. Following the conquest of the land in the Book of Joshua, the Israelites are left without a leader. They begin well, but show some compromises with God's directions for taking the land.
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1 Corinthians 15:12-57 "Eternal, Resurrection Life"
This final sermon in the series on the Apostles' Creed examines our hope in the "Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting." Because we have the hope of Resurrection and Eternal life, we can pursue holiness and service with joy.
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1 John 1:5-10 "Forgiveness of Sins"
Our sin violates the Law of God and the Person of God. We need a Savior who can satisfy God's Law and Person. Jesus' active and passive obedience is the satisfaction that secures our forgiveness.
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Hebrews 10:19-25 "Communion of the Saints"
Our union with Jesus creates a communion between believers. We see this in walking with one another toward holiness and in sharing our joys and sadnesses.
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Matthew 16:13-20 "Aren't We Presbyterian?"
Continuing through the Apostles' Creed, we declare we believe in the "holy catholic church."
Matthew 16 gives us four foundations that the church is built upon. We also look at four identifying markers of the church.
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John 14-16 "I Believe in the Holy Spirit"
We have studied the work of the Father Who Creates and the Son Who Redeems. Now we turn to the work of the Holy Spirit Who Re-Creates.
The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity, equal in power, glory, and substance with the Father and the Son. He works in the church and in the individual Christian.
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Matthew 25:31-46 "He Will Return to Judge"
As we continue our series on the Apostles' Creed, we come to the statement "From there He will come to judge the living and the dead."
The return of Jesus is a Glorious Comfort to those who believe. It will be a Glorious Judgment, showing God's justice and holiness.
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Luke 24:50-53 "He Reigns & Intercedes"
The Apostles' Creed declares that Jesus has "ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty."
Jesus is seated with authority to reign over His people and all creation. Jesus' work of intercession includes his role as an advocate and his work of prayer for God's children.
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1 Corinthians 15:1-11 "He Rose Again"
There are many contemporary denials of the resurrection of Jesus. Paul dealt with similar denials in 1 Corinthians 15. In this chapter, he gives historical and theological defenses of the Resurrection.
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John 19:28-37 "Crucified, Died, and Was Buried"
We return to our sermon series on the Apostles' Creed with a look at Jesus' cross. How important is the Cross to our salvation? It is crucial. Rev. Hughes considers three objections to the crucifixion and applies the cross to our daily lives.
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Genesis 2:4-7 "Life Is Sacred"
Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church believes in and teaches the Sanctity of Human Life. What does this mean?
This week's sermon shows us why life is sacred and applies that to our views of children and the elderly.
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Isaiah 52:13-53:12 "He Suffered for You"
The Apostles' Creed affirms that Jesus "suffered under Pontius Pilate." This affirmation teaches us that Jesus' suffering happened in history.
Jesus' suffering purchased our salvation; He stood as a substitute for us.
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The Virgin Birth is one of the New Testament's most doubted and rejected miracles. But our salvation is dependent upon the Virgin Birth. For Jesus to be truly God, the Holy Spirit had to intervene in His birth. And Jesus' sinless humanity depends on the Holy Spirit's intervention.
Rev. Hughes also gives some answers to basic objections to the Virgin Birth.
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As we continue the study of the Apostles' Creed, we come to the statement, "I believe in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord."
This sermon explores the meaning of "the Christ" and how Jesus is God's only Son. It ends with the question, "Is Jesus your Lord?"
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Genesis 1:1-2, 26-2:3 "Creator of Heaven and Earth"
God the Father Almighty is also the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
The act of creation teaches us about God and about us. This brings meaning and purpose to our lives.
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Isaiah 6:1-7 "God the Father Almighty"
As we continue our series on the Apostles Creed, the first phrase is "I Believe in God the Father Almighty."
This week's sermon asks and answers the questions "Which God?" and "How can we know about Him?"
We believe in the God revealed in the Bible. He has a name which is revealed in Exodus 3 & 34. He acts in history.
This God reveals himself in two ways: His immanence ("God with us") is shown to us by calling Him Father. His transcendence ("Holy! Holy! Holy!") is shown in the descriptor "Almighty."
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John 6:66-71 "I Believe"
We continue our series on the Apostles' Creed by looking at the words "I believe..." What does it mean to believe?
Belief has content. The Creed gives us truth claims that are summarized from the Bible.
Belief involves intellectual agreement. We must agree that these truth claims are true.
Believe requires reliant rest. We must hang our hopes for the eternal future on the truths presented in Scripture.
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Ephesians 1:3-14 "A Three-In-One God"
God is One God in Three Persons. This concept is difficult for us to understand because we are humans. But God calls us to look into the difficult doctrines and come away from that study with greater love and deeper worship.
The study of the Trinity opens with a discussion of "Theological Mystery." Because God is infinite we will never fully comprehend who He is and how He exists.
We move on to talking about God's existence as One God in three persons and how God has acted in creation as the Three-In-One God.
All of this should move us to worship God and love Him more.
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Galatians 3:1-14 "Faith and Righteousness"
Paul teaches the Galatian Christians that the blessings of salvation come through faith and not works.
Paul questions the Galatians about who "bewitched" them because he has clearly proclaimed the Good News of Salvation through Christ alone.
He explains that relying on the keeping of the law for salvation is a dangerous proposal because one must keep the whole law.
Then he gives the example of Abraham who "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
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2 Timothy 4:1-5 "Sound Doctrine"
Why does the church have creeds and confessions? Becausethey give us biblical, historical summaries of sound doctrine that can be used for worship and instruction.
Paul calls Timothy to focus on giving sound doctrine to the people of Ephesus. The Bible gives us examples of creeds. Creeds and confessions are beneficial to the church.
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2 Timothy 3:14-17 "God's Revealed Word"
We need God to reveal himself to us. And He does.
The Doctrine of General Revelation teaches that God reveals himself in creation. The heavens declare his power and majesty. You and I should worship when the power and beauty of nature strikes us.
The Doctrine of Special Revelation teaches that God has given us a special word that teaches us of God's salvation. The Bible is God's story of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation.
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A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 9:29-31 "Voting as a Resident Pilgrim"
How do we vote? In a short answer, inspired by John Piper, we vote as though we were not voting. The Christian needs to be involved in the voting process, but we vote with the knowledge that this world is not our home. We look for candidates of integrity, dedicated to God's justice. And we pray for those who present themselves as candidates, even those we disagree with.
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We come to the end of our study of the Book of Hebrews. In Hebrews 13:18-19, the author asked for prayer from the readers of his letter. In Hebrews 13:20-21, the author explains how he has been praying for them. He addresses the prayer to the God of Peace, a peace purchased by the blood of Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep.
Then he makes two requests to God on behalf of the people. He petitions God to equip them for the work He has given them and asks that God would work His will in their hearts.
The author of Hebrews closes with a blessing of grace to all his readers.
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Hebrews 13:1-19 "Theology & Life"
What is the point of theology? Theology is the study of God: Who He is and what He has done in this world. And theology has a point. Theology is application; it is meant to lead to lives that are changed by the power of the Gospel.
Everything the author of Hebrews has been teaching us about Jesus should lead to changes in your life. Christology - the study of Jesus' life and work - leads to reordered worship, reordered loves, and reordered relationship with the leadership of the church.
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The author of Hebrews takes us to two mountains. The first is Mount Sinai where God's holy presence descended upon the mountain with fire, wind, and a loud trumpet blast. God's holy justice confronted the Israelites.
The second is Mount Zion. At Zion, the blood of Jesus calls us into the presence of God to join in the angelic worship. The great High Priest calls us to approach God's throne boldly.
We have a choice. Will we turn our backs on Zion and place our hope in Sinai, or will we find the peace of God's presence through Jesus?
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A Sermon on Hebrews 12:3-17 "Discipline, Love, & Holiness"
God disciplines us through hardship and suffering. We bear up under hardship and suffering by considering Jesus and His suffering for our salvation.
God brings discipline because He loves us and is leading us to holiness.
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The Christian life is like an endurance race, an ultra-marathon.
The author of Hebrews calls us to run this race with perseverance and endurance.
He also shows us three aid stations that God has provided along the way. God has given us the examples of those who have gone before us. They faced the dangers and struggles of this world by keeping their eyes on the promises of God.
God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us to remove obstacles along the way. Some obstacles are good things we pursue rather than the better service to God. Other obstacles are the sins that entangle us.
And God has given us Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We set our eyes on Him as we run the race before us.
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The history of the Western States Endurance Run is found here: https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a31982895/first-hundred-mile-race/
"Love Lustres at Calvary" is found here: https://banneroftruth.org/us/devotional/love-lustres-at-calvary/
The author of Hebrews has given us all we need to understand that faith in Jesus is the better way to live: Better than faith in Old Testament rituals. Better than faith in our righteousness.
He tells us of others who have done, by faith, what otherwise could not be done and endured, by faith, what otherwise could not have been endured.
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This week we learn about Israel and Rahab from Hebrews 11:29-31.
The generation that leaves Egypt is trapped between the mountains, an army, and the Sea. God opens an unexpected way through the Sea. We overcome adversity by faith.
The generation that enters the Promised Land unconventionally defeats Jericho. We overcome the world by faith.
Rahab rejects her allegiance to Jericho and chooses allegiance to God. We overcome judgment by faith.
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As we continue through our study of Hebrews 11, we come to the account of Moses and parents and how they lived by faith.
Moses' parents are presented with a choice: surrender their baby to the Egyptian soldiers to be thrown into the river, or hide the baby and preserve his life. Moses' parents choose to hide the baby from the murderous intent of Pharaoh because of their faith in the promises of God.
When Moses grows up, he is presented with the choice between the temporary pleasures of being in Pharaoh's court or the rejection and insult of following God. Moses chose, by faith, to seek the promises of God's eternal glory.
You and I have these choices before us today. How will we choose to live in light of our faith?
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The author of Hebrews takes us to Genesis 22 and God's testing of Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. This testing is to show that Abraham lived by faith, in even the deepest of trials.
By faith, Abraham bore up under severe trial. By faith Abraham gave a difficult obedience. By faith, Abraham received important blessings.
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This is a sermon on Hebrews 11:8-16, 20-22 called "Faith & the Unseen."
In this sermon, Rev. Hughes shows us the faith of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He teaches us that the patriarchs went by faith, wandered by faith, and waited by faith.
God gave rewards to the patriarchs. The first was the real hope of a city whose architect and builder is God - the city described for us in Revelation 21. The second reward is that God is not ashamed to be called our God. We stumble and sin as we go, wander, and wait by faith, but God still delights to call us His people and the sheep of His fold.
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The author of Hebrews continues showing us that God calls all of His people from the beginning of recorded history to live and seek Him by faith. The author points us to consider Noah's faith.
By faith Noah received righteousness. This teaches us that justification - the declaration of righteousness - has always been by faith.
By faith Noah took action on his faith. Noah built the ark. Building the ark did not earn righteousness and reconciliation for Noah, but it did SHOW his righteousness.
By faith Noah proclaimed to those who witnessed the oddity of the ark. Noah showed his faith in God's declaration by building, and it is likely that he proclaimed God's message of judgment and salvation to those who asked.
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After describing what faith is in Hebrews 11:1-3, the author now begins to give us examples of people who lived by faith. As we consider these examples, we must keep in mind that we don't imitate the actions of these men and women, but we are to imitate the faith by which they lived.
This faith is further defined for us in this passage. Living by faith means to believe that the God of the Bible exists. It is not enough to merely believe in any god, but we must believe that the God of the Bible exists. And we must believe that the God of the Bible rewards those who earnestly seek Him. He rewards those who seek Him with salvation, sanctification, and glorification.
Abel and Enoch show us how to live by faith, even though the two men met very different ends because of living by faith. God has always required faith for men to please Him, and He still calls us to live by faith.
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Everyone has faith. But what does faith mean?
For the Christian, faith is a gift from God, and, being a gift from God, faith has some characteristics.
Faith is assurance that what we hope for will come to pass. Assurance is not a subjective feeling but an objective reality rooted in the unchangeable nature of God. His promises are what we hope in; His promises are concrete realities in Jesus.
Faith is conviction. We have evidence for our faith: the life, death, resurrection, and current work of Jesus. We find this evidence when we open our Bibles and see what God has done in our life.
Faith is acknowledging that God is creator. Ideas have consequences. Your view of the origins of humanity shape how you view fellow human beings. Creation also shapes salvation and new creation.
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Guest Speaker Bruce Curry leads us to consider how art points us to God's creative work and helps us to understand the Gospel.
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God calls us to persevere in faithfulness. We are to remember His faithfulness as we pursue faithfulness to Him and the holiness He has called us to. Among the tools He gives us to help in our perseverance we find the warnings and encouragements of the Scriptures.
The author of Hebrews warns against apostasy. We must always keep the authors words and context in mind as we read these warnings, otherwise the true Christian can get discouraged with their struggle with sin. The author warns against compromising or rejecting the Truth of the Gospel; he warns against trampling under foot the Son of God; he warns against treating the blood of the covenant as something less than holy; and he warns against insulting the Holy Spirit. Rejection of the Gospel is rejection of the Holy and Three-in-One God.
Then the author encourages his audience to remember their past faithfulness and God's promises for a glorious future.
All of this is given to strengthen the child of God to persevere until Jesus returns.
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How do we live in this world in a way that brings honor and glory to God? This is an age old question.
The author of Hebrews reminds us of three foundational truths then gives us three directives that influence how we live in this world as followers of Jesus.
The Christian life is rooted in the truths that Jesus has paved a way, through His life and death, He has paved a way for us to confidently enter God's presence. He is also acting as our Great High Priest in the true, heavenly Holy of Holies. And God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - has provided for us the cleansing and purification needed to enter God's presence as children.
These truths should lead us to three applications. First, we drew near to God in faith through prayer and worship. Second, we hold tightly to the hope that we have in Jesus. Third, we "provoke" one another on the love and good works as we gather together, even in the face of persecution and hardship.
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The author of Hebrews comes to the end of His teaching on the superiority of Jesus to the Old Testament Ceremonial Law.
In Hebrews 10:1-18, the author summarizes for us the glory of Jesus' completed work in contrast to the continual, day-in-day-out work of the High Priests. In this summary, he points to two new considerations.
First, he teaches us of a holiness that comes through the work of Jesus for sinners. Believers are set apart as a holy people before God, and, through the blood of Jesus, are being made holy by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Second, he teaches that God prefers righteousness over ritual. It is the broken and contrite heart that God seeks over the following of ritual. And we know that Jesus is the only one who truly live His life seeking to do God's will with a focus on God's glory above all things.
As we move on to the the exhortations that the author gives in light of Jesus' superiority to all earthly attempts to reach redemption, we must search our hearts to make sure that we approach God in humility, rather than in the pride of our own "righteousness."
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What is so important about blood? Blood was used in the Ancient Near East to seal covenants, to bind the parties together in the covenant defined relationship. Leviticus 17:11 takes this one step further: Life comes through blood.
Throughout the history of God's people, the shedding of blood marked the redemption that God promised in Genesis 3. But the blood of animals was not enough.
Jesus' blood secures a more perfect redemption, a more perfect inheritance than the blood of bulls and goats ever could. His blood secures the representation that Jesus gives us before the Father in the true throne room. The shedding of His blood has put away our sins, once and for all. And Jesus' blood assures that God looks at us as righteous.
The combination of Jesus' divine and human natures secures for us an eternal redemption through His blood.
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We can get so caught up in the buildings and rituals of religious life that we forget to see the glory of Christ to which they point.
The author of Hebrews takes us on a brief tour of the Tabernacle and the Day of Atonement to show us how they pointed to the glory of Jesus' completed atonement. The Tabernacle showed God's glory with His people, while, at the same time, showing that this access to God was incomplete. The Day of Atonement showed God's providing the means for reconciliation and purification while, at the same time, showing that this purification was external only.
However, both the Tabernacle and the Day of Atonement pointed to our need for a better sacrifice. And Jesus is that once for all redemption to which the Old Covenant pointed. To turn your back on Jesus and seek access to and reconciliation with God in the things of this world is a dangerous and ineffective search.
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Jesus is better than the prophets; He is better than the angels; He is better than Moses and the priests. But, what about the Old Covenant, the one mediated by Moses and the one that defined the life and hope of the Jewish people of the first century?
The author of Hebrews points out that we are in need of a new and better covenant because the old one is not able to fill our greatest need: A new, living heart. Jeremiah tells us that the heart of man is engraved with sin; for true righteousness and reconciliation, we need a heart engraved with love for God and His word.
Through the New Covenant - a covenant sealed in the life and blood of Jesus - God is able to provide the change of heart that we need to be truly and perfectly righteous before Him. In this New Covenant God promises to write His Law on our new and living hearts, He promises to give us life changing knowledge of Him, and He promises to perfectly forgive us.
The Old Covenant is obsolete; the New Covenant offers life to all who repent and believe.
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The author of Hebrews tells us his main point: We have a high priest, One in the order of Melchizedek and One who has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
He points us to the truth that this High Priest serves in the true Holy of Holies. The Tabernacle and Temple were merely the artists' sketch of the true, heavenly masterpiece of God's throne room.
We see how Jesus currently serves as Priest in his role of intercession for the people of God.
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After giving warning to those who have a false profession and offering encouragement to those who are holding fast to their faith, the author returns to the subject of Melchizedek's priesthood. Melchizedek, the mysterious king and priest of Genesis 14, is the model for Jesus' priesthood.
Levi & Aaron's priestly line fell short of what was needed for true reconciliation with God because they were limited in what they could do; they were constrained by death; they served by command and not by oath; their ministries as priests was interrupted; they were not morally perfect. Jesus fills all of these shortcomings, becoming a better priest and giving us complete redemption, a redemption that Aaron's descendants could never give.
The author also explains how Melchizedek's priesthood is the better priesthood, and how Jesus fills that model of priesthood.
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In Hebrews 5:11, the author of Hebrews began to call the Hebrew Christians to greater maturity. He was concerned that they had not grown in their love and knowledge of God and what He had done. This call shifted to a warning for those who refused to grow and would end up turning away from the message of reconciliation with God through Jesus.
He returns to his exhortation by offering comfort to the Christians who remained faithful. But this comfort is not rooted in anything the faithful did; it is rooted in the nature of God.
The author has confidence that his readers will have the better things related to and connected to their salvation. HIs confidence is rooted in two truths: God is reliable and God is just. Because of this God-rooted confidence, Christians are to be anchored to the hope of their salvation and avoid laziness in their growth toward maturity.
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What would you do if the teacher and leader you had put all your hopes on had been executed for crimes he didn't commit?
Two followers of Jesus make the decision to head out from Jerusalem on that Resurrection Day. On their way to Emmaus, they are met by a stranger who asks why they are so sad. These disciples respond by explaining the death of the man they thought was the Messiah.
Then the stranger does a wonderful thing. He opens up the Old Testament Scriptures and explains to them why things worked out the way they did. He goes to the books of Moses to explain how rescue for the people of God comes through the death of the Messiah. And he goes to the prophetic books to show how that rescue involves the forgiveness of sins.
It is after this teaching, as they are sitting down for a meal that their eyes are opened, and they find themselves sitting face to face with Jesus, who has risen from the dead!
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The author of Hebrews wants to tell his audience more about Jesus' role as priest in the order of Melchizedek, but he can't. And the problem is that the Christians he is writing to are slow of hearing and infants in their knowledge of deep things.
He begins by declaring that he knows why they cannot understand. Because of their choice, they have not progressed in their understanding of the deep things of the Gospel. He calls them to study and grow.
He calls them to move beyond the basics and to deepen their understanding of those foundational truths. And he reminds them that God is the one who empowers their growth in knowledge and grace.
He finishes with a warning for those who "fall away" or turn their back on Jesus. This is a dire warning meant to move the Hebrew Christians to search their heart and find true faith there.
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Do we need a high priest? A better sacrifice has been given and the sacrificial system has been fulfilled, so do we still need a high priest? The author of Hebrews says, "Yes! We need a superior high priest."
Jesus is our great high priest who has a superior calling. He is called to be God's anointed King and High Priest. Like the mysterious figure Melchizedek, Jesus is called to be our Priest and King.
Jesus is our great high priest who has a superior sympathy. Aaron could deal gently with the Israelites because he could commiserate with them in his failure to resist temptation. Jesus offers the "omnipotent sympathy" that comes from resisting and defeating sin and temptation. He shows this omnipotent sympathy in the effective prayers he prays for us.
Jesus is our great high priest who offers a superior salvation. His salvation, won through His obedience to God's moral law and His obedience to God's righteous wrath, His salvation is an eternal salvation for those who obey. The call to obedience is a call to believe and repent.
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This sermon begins a section in the book of Hebrews that focuses on Jesus being superior to the High Priest in the line of Aaron. This section will run through chapter 10.
For the Jewish Christian of the First Century, the question of the High Priest was an important consideration. In the life of Israel, the High Priest was one of the most important and prestigious persons in their religious life. How can Christianity be a valid religious option when they don't have a High Priest.
The glorious truth is we do have a High Priest, and He is a great High Priest because he is Jesus, the truly human and truly divine High Priest who has passed through the heavens to present the true atoning sacrifice in the heavenly throne room.
He is also a sympathetic High Priest, who has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Because Jesus is the great and sympathetic High Priest, we are called to hold firmly to our faith and to confidently approach God's throne in the middle of our temptations and trials.
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God's offer of rest still stands. It did not expire with the generation of Israelites that entered Canaan under Joshua. But what does this rest mean for you and me.
The author of Hebrews teaches us that it is God's rest that we are entering. God created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He rested from that work on the seventh, giving us a patter of six days of work and one day of rest. He offers us rest from the pursuit of pleasing Him and from the toils of serving Him; we still serve, but as we serve under the power of the Holy Spirit, we will find the rest of Jesus' easy labor in our work.
How do we find this rest? We must first hear the good news. Just as the Israelites heard, we must hear. Then we must have faith. The author of Hebrews points out that the first generation of Israelites that left Egypt heard the good news that God would conquer Canaan for them, but the did not believe the words spoken by God. We must believe that Jesus is the only way to reconciliation and restored communion with God. Then we must reverently and obediently fear God. To fear God means that we are loyally committed to serving and obeying Him.
Those who have heard and believed are called to find rest in following Jesus. Those who have heard but refused to believe are called to have faith in the finished work of salvation.
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The author of Hebrews pauses for the second warning. This warning is against the unbelief that leads to turning your back on God.
This turning away from God begins with sinful unbelief. Sinful unbelief can be made worse by the deceitfulness of sin. Finally, our hearts are hardened as we move away from Jesus as the only means of salvation. The author uses the example of the Exodus generation as given to us in Psalm 95.
As part of the warning, the author shows us that the solution to turning our backs on God is the exhortation and encouragement of the church. Brothers and sisters who share in union with Christ are called to disciple each other so that apostasy does not happen.
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In Hebrews 3:1-6, the author of Hebrews narrows his focus from prophets and angels to one important prophet in the history of Israel - Moses.
The author maintains the importance of Moses in the history of God's people by showing his faithfulness as a servant in the household of God.
But the author goes on to show the greater glory and honor of Jesus, showing us that Jesus is the Son of God and the builder of the house.
Because Jesus has greater glory than Moses, we are called to fix our thoughts on Him, which involves meditation on the person and work of Jesus. This consideration of Jesus also involves public profession and proclamation of what we believe.
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How important is the Incarnation, the doctrine that Jesus took on a human nature? The author of Hebrews shows us the necessity of the Incarnation and benefits that come to us because of the Incarnation.
Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among us. This was necessary because it brings glory to God and human sinners need a human savior. The benefits of the Incarnation include being made sons and daughters of God, help and encouragement to trust God in the middle of temptation, freedom from the bondage of the fear of death, a better high priest and atonement, and the hope of a glorious future.
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The author of Hebrews has shown us that the Son is a better revelation of God's salvation than the prophets and that He has greater glory than the angels. How can this be when we also know that He was a man who died?
By showing us what we don't see and what we do see, the author teaches us that the path to the glory that belongs to Jesus went through the humiliation of "taking on flesh, and dwelling among us."
If we claim to follow Jesus, we must be aware that our glory comes after humiliation, and we must not lose sight of the glory and honor that belong to Jesus when we do suffer.
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The author of Hebrews takes a break to give us the first of severalwarnings that can be found throughout the book of Hebrews. This is a warning to avoid drifting away.
By comparing the revelation given by prophets and angels to the revelation that has come to us through the Son of God, we can also see that the danger of ignoring the revelation of salvation in Jesus alone comes with a harsher, just punishment. Drifting away from the salvation brings eternal consequences.
To avoid the danger of drifting away, the author of Hebrews calls us to “pay more careful attention” to the message of the Good News. We do this by knowing the Gospel, by seeing the proofs for the truth of the Gospel, by linking the Gospel to the attributes of God, and by making sure that the Gospel is changing our lives.
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The author of Hebrews compares Jesus to angels. By pointing us to the Old Testament Scriptures, the author shows us that Jesus has a superior nature and superior office to the angels.
The author's use of Old Testament Scriptures teaches us that we should be more diligent in using Scripture when we are offering encouragement to fellow believers who are struggling and when we are speaking with those who don't believe. The Holy Spirit will use the reading of the Word of God in those conversations to changes hearts and lives.
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Jesus is the superior revelation of God's plan of salvation. That salvation is superior to the Old Testament sacrificial system because, "It is finished."
This week, Rev. Hughes defines God's wrath and gives us characteristics of that wrath.
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What does it mean that God has foreknowledge? Is it a particular choice of God's love or based on human action?
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God is Love. What does this mean? In this week's sermon, Rev. Hughes teaches on the meaning of God's love and how it should change our lives.
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God is a God who is gracious. And His grace is a grace in action.
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God is good. He shows His goodness to all of creation, and He shows His goodness in specific ways to His children.
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God is wise. This means that God always the best means to reach His highest purpose. His wisdom is demonstrated in creation, providence, and salvation.
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In this sermon we learn that God is Truth, and His people are called to speak the truth in love.
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We change, but God doesn't change. And this is good news. Rev. Hughes teaches us that God is unchanging in His BEING and in His WORD.
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What does it mean that God is Omnipotent and how does this affect your life? These are the questions Rev. Hughes answers in this week's sermon.
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God's Infinite and Perfect Knowledge brings Conviction and Comfort.
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In this sermon, we learn of the COMFORT and CONVICTION in knowing that God is EVERYWHERE PRESENT.
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Why take the time to put together Scriptures describing God's attributes and preach through them, applying those attributes to our lives? That is the question Rev. Hughes answers in this sermon.
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God is Holy! Holy! Holy!
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Continuing our series on the Attributes of God, Rev. Hughes calls us to worship God for His Sovereignty.
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God is spirit. He is not made of matter, He is not visible, and He is not finite.
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What does God need? In this sermon, Rev. Hughes shows that God is utterly and completely self-sufficient, applies this to our salvation, and gives some points of application.
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What is the work of the family, and how does family worship help in that work? Rev. Hughes seeks to answer those questions in this week's sermon.
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We are called to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ because of our union with Him. Fellowship begins at church and overflows into the rest of your life.
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We are called to bring the Good News of Jesus' victory over sin and death to a dark and dying world. The Gospel is the central message of the church.
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As we finish our series on Psalm 119, we learn that the present Christian experience is unresolved tension utterly dependent on God's grace.
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Love for God and His Word leads to Joy, Peace, and a Hopeful Obedience.
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God's present and future activity in the church calls us to whole hearted sacrifice for the kingdom of God.
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Life needs constant renewal, a renewal which depends on God's promises, decrees, and love.
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When the darkness and sadness of this world press in, we are called to cry out to the God who is near.
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Song quoted is "How Emptiness Sings" by Christa Wells.
God is righteous & true, and, because of this, His Word is righteous and true. We are called to zeal for, dedication to, and delight in God's Word.
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Guest speaker Bruce Curry presented the sermon this week. From Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, Bruce taught that we are tempted to give to the needy, pray, and fast in ways that bring public praise for our actions. Jesus reminds us that it is God's reward that matters, and that we are to pursue the Spiritual Disciplines in private.
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Because God's Word is WONDROUS and reveals God's BLESSING, you should desperately long to meditate on all that it teaches.
Thank you for listening to this sermon from Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. We pray that the message helps you with your walk.
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Those who are faithful to God and love His Word will seek God's power to persevere in suffering. The psalmist declares FAITHFULNESS AS THE BASIS OF HIS PRAYER, ASKS FOR GOD'S ACTION, and shares the VALUE OF THE WORD.
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God sets Bezalel & Oholiab apart for doing the work to build the temple. In this passage we see that ARTS ARE GOD'S WILL, GOD GIVES GIFTS TO THE ARTIST, and ARTS CAN GO WRONG.
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Grace, Spiritual Maturity, and Godly Character are required of the elder.
We pray these sermons are a blessing to you. For more information about Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, please visit us at https://arpchurchfairlea.org.
Because God is a prayer hearing, promise keeping God, we can come to Him in utter dependence when pursuing holiness in hard times.
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Our freewill offering to God is a life pursuing holiness in light of the guidance given by the Holy Spirit.
The psalmist finds himself at rest from his affliction. He repeats his dedication to learn, love, and live the Law of God and shows benefits in his life from this pursuit of God's path to holiness.
The Psalmist is waiting for God to keep His promises. He has assurance that God will keep His promises because God is an unchanging God and because of his redemption.
Beginning in May of 2023, our podcast will be hosted at https://anchor.fm/arpchurchfairlea. Episodes from January 2017 to April 2023 will remain on this site.
Paul presents the basics of the Good News that he preached and the necessity of the resurrection.
Beginning in May of 2023, our podcast will be hosted at https://anchor.fm/arpchurchfairlea. Episodes from January 2017 to April 2023 will remain on this site.
The arrogant and wicked have pursued a path that puts them at odds with God and leads them to persecute the psalmist. The psalmist finds that GOD'S WORD IS HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS.
Beginning in May of 2023, our podcast will be hosted at https://anchor.fm/arpchurchfairlea. Episodes from January 2017 to April 2023 will not be moved from this site.
God brings loving and merciful comfort through the fellowship of believers.
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God's Goodness is seen in the middle of the pain and difficulty of living in this world.
PLEASE NOTE: In the next few weeks, our podcast host will move. All episodes prior to the move will remain hosted here.
Bible soaked prayer gives us comfort in God's promises, hope in waiting on God's actions, and joy in God's future Glory.
The happy or blessed life is a HOLY LIFE marked by knowledge of and obedience to God's Word.
Psalm 119 is given to us to help us develop LOVE, DESIRE, and LONGING for the Word and Law of God.
Answering three questions about the New Heavens and the New Earth: WHO WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN, WHAT WILL HAPPEN, and WHO WILL BE THERE?
Satan is bound from deceiving the nations for 1,000 years while the saints reign in the heavenly throne room.
The angels and saints in heaven sing two songs calling us to worship God for who He is and what He has done.
This passages shows those who benefited from Babylon's sin lamenting her loss and their impending judgment. God calls His church out of Babylon.
Jesus shows John the allure of Lady Babylon then reveals that evil ultimately destroys itself.
The Dragon calls forth a monster from the land, the false prophet of Revelation 16 & 19. You are called to BE ON GUARD AGAINST BOTH BLATANT AND SUBTLE FALSE TEACHING SO THAT YOU CAN BE FOUND OBEDIENT AND FAITHFUL.
Jesus reveals that Satan seeks to mimic the works of God as he tries to control kingdoms for the persecution of the church.
God uses the destructive power of nature and the rise and fall of kingdoms to warn of His judgment.
Our prayers are one of the means God uses to bring about His will on earth as it is in heaven.
OUR SECURITY IN TRIBULATION COMES THROUGH JESUS' ATONING BLOOD, WHICH IS GOD'S SEAL ON HIS PEOPLE.
Church Membership is a DECLARATION OF WHO YOU ARE, A DECLARATION OF WHERE YOU STAND, AND A DECLARATION OF HOW YOU WILL LIVE.
When God's sovereign plan for the church is presented, no one is found who is worthy to carry it out. Then John is introduced to the one who is worthy, The Lion of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb slain for the redemption of sinful humanity!
In love, Jesus rebukes and disciplines the church of Laodicea for their complacency and self-sufficiency.
Jesus opens the door for ASSURANCE and MINISTRY, and what Jesus has opened, no one can shut!
Jesus brings the Life-Giving Spirit to a dead church. Jesus calls you to Remember, Obey, and Repent!
While the Ephesian church had a ZEAL FOR TRUTH, they had LOST THEIR LOVE. If the church can REMEMBER, REPENT, AND RECOVER, Jesus will gift them with ETERNAL LIFE.
John is a brother and fellow partaker of the suffering, the kingdom, and the patient endurance. Where can the church find security in the tribulations that come on her? John answers this in telling us WHAT HE HAS SEEN, WHAT IS NOW HAPPENING, and WHAT WILL COME TO PASS.
The Triune God greets the seven churches of Asia. We learn in the greeting that GOD BUILDS HIS CHURCH, GOD BLESSES HIS CHURCH, and GOD DISCIPLINES HIS CHURCH.
This episode includes the full service from January 16, 2022.
We begin our series on the Book of Revelation by asking the question, "What is the Book of Revelation?" REVELATION IS A PROPHECY, REVELATION IS A LETTER, and REVELATION IS A BLESSING!
To give us hope, Micah answers the questions "Who Is Coming?" "Where Will He Come From?" and "What Will He Do?"
God is wearied by the Israelites lies about Him. He tells them of the arrival of two messengers. The first will prepare them for the arrival of the second.
GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES, GOD HAS ETERNALLY ESTABLISHED HIS KING AND PRIESTHOOD, GOD IS AT WORK DESPITE EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
King Lemuel's mother teaches us about prayer, pursuing God's calling, and self-control.
God's judgment is coming against those who attack marriage. Blindness to impending judgment can be due to spiritual blindness or willful turning from the truth. God offers hope through repentance.
The author calls the son to AVOID MEDDLING IN OTHERS' FAMILY BUSINESS, to realize that SIN CONSUMES, and gives direction on HOW TO RESPOND.
What do you do when you realize you have been following the path of folly rather than wisdom? Let's look at Agur's DECLARATION OF HUMANITY, DECLARATION OF HOLINESS, and TWO PETITIONS.
Solomon calls us to put our trust in God and to avoid the FANTASY OF TRUSTWORTHY GOVERNMENT, the FANTASY OF TRUSTWORTHY WEALTH, and the FANTASY OF TRUSTWORTHY SELF.
Solomon teaches that we preserve wealth through A WISE AND HARMONIOUS BALANCE and SHEPHERDING PEOPLE WELL.
The wise friends gives PROTECTION FROM TEMPTATION, PROTECTION FROM PRIDE, AND PROTECTION FROM JUDGMENT.
Solomon calls us to deal with the trouble difficult people bring into our lives with TRUST, SELF-CONTROL, and KINDNESS.
Advisors become valuable to the king as they lead him to righteousness through HUMILITY, WISE WORDS, and PATIENCE. (Sermon only)
Solomon explains THE SWEETNESS OF WISDOM, WARNINGS TO THE WICKED, and WARNINGS TO THE WISE.
Prayer is CONVERSATION WITH THE KING. HOW TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE KING, and PRACTICAL HELPS.
Solomon teaches that the abuse of alcohol is a poison that has PHYSICAL EFFECTS, RELATIONAL EFFECTS, and SPIRITUAL EFFECTS.
What makes you happy? Solomon warns us against ENVY of the wicked and calls us to FEAR the Lord.
Solomon teaches Rehoboam the BLESSINGS OF WISDOM, the COMFORT OF WISDOM, and the FOUNDATION OF WISDOM.
Theology is application! GOD IS JUST, GOD IS SOVEREIGN, and GOD IS OMNISCIENT; these truths should change how we live.
Solomon calls us to the life of wisdom through finding REST AND CONTENTMENT in God's sovereignty.
Spiritual Gifts are trinitarian gifts of God's grace which He gives to the redeemed to carry out the work of making disciples.
In light of Solomon's warning that the fool's attempts at destruction will only lead to self-destruction, he instructs responses to the fool that are marked by the POWER OF WORDS, the POWER OF LISTENING WELL, and THE POWER OF TRUST.
In this week's sermon, Rev. Hughes looks at the Incarnation of Christ. This doctrine teaches that the Second Person of the Trinity took on flesh. We look at the reliability of the Scriptures, the definition of the Incarnation, and the Scriptural proofs and importance that Jesus was fully or truly divine.
The fool brings the PARENT'S GRIEF, FRIENDS' GRIEF, AND COMMUNITY GRIEF. We see that
SINCE GOD HAS GIVEN US SUCH GREAT RESOURCES, WE SHOULD PURSUE WISDOM.
BECAUSE WE ARE ADOPTED AS SONS, WE SHOULD WALK THE LIFELONG PATH OF GROWING IN PATIENCE AND SELF-CONTROL
SINCE THE LIFE OF WISDOM LEADS TO LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY, WE SHOULD PURSUE THE WISDOM OF THE LAW.
This week, Solomon teaches us that BECAUSE GOD REIGNS, WE SHOULD FIND A RESTFUL PEACE IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS.
THE LIFE OF WISDOM BRINGS JOY TO PARENTS, JOY TO THE COMMUNITY, AND JOY TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
Solomon teaches us to Overcome Through Wisdom by warning of the DANGER TO THE FOOL and teaching us CONTENTMENT THROUGH WISDOM.
God calls us to pursue righteousness in our nation through WISE GUIDANCE and WISE WORDS.
God is a God of justice, and we are called to exercise justice according to His glory and our status as image bearers of God. Solomon speaks of this through MORE BENEFITS OF WISDOM, JUSTICE EXERCISED, and GOD'S JUSTICE AND GRACE.
Church Membership Is Biblical, Church Membership Is Good for You, and Church Membership Is Good for the Church.
- BECAUSE GOD IS ETERNALLY FAITHFUL TO KEEP HIS PROMISES, WE SHOULD PURSUE WISDOM EVEN WHEN THE REWARDS ARE NOT APPARENT.
When we seek to build friendships we should look for friends with a NOBLE CHARACTER, who are ROOTED IN WISDOM, and who SEEK THE FAVOR OF GOD.
SINCE WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE WORDS AND GENEROSITY OF JESUS, WE SHOULD SEEK TO BLESS OUR COMMUNITIES WITH OUR WORDS AND THROUGH GENEROSITY.
When we pursue wealth we should pursue it with HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, and AN EYE TO THE FUTURE.
- THE PURSUIT OF WISDOM BRINGS GOD'S BLESSINGS OF FULFILLED HOPES AND THE STABILITY OF PERMANENCE. THEREFORE, WE SHOULD PURSUE THE WISE SPEECH THAT BRINGS LIFE.
- WE ARE RESPONSIBLE BEFORE GOD TO CHOOSE WISDOM OVER FOLLY, TO CHOOSE HIM OVER OUR APPETITES.
We take a second look at Lady Wisdom's call, seeing that WISDOM'S LINK WITH CREATION DEMANDS A RESPONSE.
Wisdom cries out her message. WISDOM OFFERS HER TREASURES TO ALL HUMANITY, BUT SHE IS ONLY FOUND BY THOSE WHO LOVE AND SEEK HER.
On June 14, 2020 we looked at the issue of Christian Liberty and Paul's guidelines for those who may disagree on "disputable matters." Paul's call includes the command to "DON'T JUDGE" and to "LOVE AND ENCOURAGE."
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This week we look at the issue of race from a Gospel perspective. We look at Luke 10:25-37 and ask WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR; we look at Genesis 1:26 and THE IMAGE OF GOD; we then consider Galatians 2:11-16 & 3:26-29 and see that we are SONS IN CHRIST.
Solomon calls his son to listen to and treasure his teachings regarding sexual sin. In the teaching he tells a parable to help the son know the strategies that Satan employs to tempt to sin. In this we see THE WARNING, THE YOUTH, and THE TEMPTRESS.
We look at the teaching against adultery in Proverbs 6:20-35 and see THE PRICE IS HIGHER THAN YOU CAN AFFORD, THE DAMAGE IS MORE THAN YOU CAN SUSTAIN, and THE SHAME IS MORE THAN YOU CAN BEAR.
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NOTE: I forgot to press record at the beginning of the service. The call to worship comes from Psalm 146.
As we look at this portion of Proverbs 6, Solomon introduces us to the VILLAINOUS SCOUNDREL, we see THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL, and we learn to walk A BETTER PATH.
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Solomon calls the sluggard to "Wake up and learn wisdom!" Today we study A BIBLICAL VIEW OF WORK, the call GO TO THE ANT, and the WARNING TO THE SLUGGARD.
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Solomon calls his son to wisdom in security in lending and debt. As we consider this call, Rev. Hughes tells us about LENDING PRACTICES IN ISRAEL, UNWISE SURETY, and Solomon's call to PROTECT YOUR FUTURE.
Solomon gives WARNINGS AGAINST ADULTERY, CONSEQUENCES OF ADULTERY, and THREE GUARDS AGAINST ADULTERY.
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Solomon calls the son to GUARD YOUR HEART BY GUARDING WHAT GOES IN AND GUARDING WHAT COMES OUT.
Today we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We look at the two disciples walking to Emmaus and their encounter with Jesus. Jesus teaches them from Moses and the Prophets.
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A brief meditation on John 13:31-35 for Maunday Thursday 2020.
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Rev. Hughes talks about Solomon's call for his son to "Keep to the Path." He answers the question WHICH PATH WILL YOU FOLLOW, and describes how the wicked STUMBLE IN DARKNESS and the LIGHT ON THE PATH of the wise.
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This the full service for March 29, 2020. The sermon came from Proverbs 4:1-9 and old us of the importance of Generational Wisdom. We were reminded to GET WISDOM and of the BENEFITS OF WISDOM.
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DON'T BE LIKE THE WICKED. BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, BECAUSE GOD REWARDS THE SAINT AND CURSES THE SINNER.
This episode includes the entire services for March 22, 2020.
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We look at the father's words to his son in Proverbs 1:20-33. The father explains WISDOM'S CHOICES and WISDOM'S CONSEQUENCES.
The father tells the son that wisdom will offer PROTECTION FROM WILLFULLY WICKED PATHS and PROTECTION FROM WICKEDLY FLESHLY PATHS. The choice of wisdom is a MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.
The father teaches the son that wisdom will bring favor from God and man. Then he tells the son that TRUST BRINGS FAVOR, HUMILITY BRINGS FAVOR, WORSHIP BRINGS FAVOR, and SUBMISSION BRINGS FAVOR
As we consider the call to a wise life, we look at the contrast between wisdom and folly through TWO CALLS, TWO ENTICEMENTS, and TWO REWARDS.
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Today we look at the Lord's Prayer as a whole and learn how we can use the prayer for our prayers.
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In this sermon we are introduced to the Book of Proverbs. We answer the questions WHAT WILL WE LEARN, TO WHOM IS PROVERBS WRITTEN, and WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
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As we look at the Sanctity of Life we ask WHY DO WE HAVE ABORTION, look at the Bible's teaching on LIFE IS SACRED, and GOD'S FORGIVENESS.
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Why is this phrase found in the footnotes of modern translations? Rev. Hughes seeks to answer this question and tell us that the power to answer prayer is God's, and He will answer our prayers according to His glory.
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Is evil real? In this sermon Rev. Hughes talks about the reality of evil and how God leads us and delivers us from evil.
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In this sermon we consider the relationship between God's forgiveness to us and our willingness to forgive others.
In this sermon Rev. Hughes discusses the meaning of the petition "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread," and reminds us to keep in mind the first three petitions that focus on God's glory, kingdom, and will.
What are we praying for when we pray "Your will be done?" We look at the answer to this question and an example from the life of Jesus where He prays this prayer.
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Rev. Hughes looks at the 2nd petition in the Lord's Prayer "Your Kingdom Come." He answers the questions "WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD" and "WHAT DOES A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM LOOK LIKE?"
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What does Jesus mean when He tells us to pray, "Hallowed be Your name"? Rev. Hughes teaches us that GOD WILL GLORIFY HIS NAME THROUGH US and gives us five facets to glorify God in our prayer life.
Visit the Gospel in Life podcast, episode 307 "Awe: Hallowed Be Thy Name" for the Tim Keller sermon referenced in the sermon.
If you would like more information of Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian, please visit us on Sunday morning at 11:00 for worship or our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fairleapreschurch
In this sermon, we look at the opening line of the Lord's Prayer, "OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN."
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As we look at the introduction to the Lord's Prayer, we see Jesus' teaching that WE SHOULD BE A PRAYING PEOPLE, WRONG MOTIVES IN PRAYER, and WORSHIP: THE ONLY MOTIVE FOR PRAYER.
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What does the Apostles' Creed mean when it says, "He Descended Into Hell"? Rev. Hughes looks at a BRIEF HISTORY OF THE APOSTLES' CREED, SOME DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS, and THE WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM'S TEACHING ON THE CREED.
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Is Jesus the only way to the God? To answer this question Rev. Hughes teaches that GOD MUST JUDGE SIN and GOD FORGIVES SIN. It is the cross that holds these two truths together.
Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a Reformed Church in the Greenbrier Valley, WV.
Why is the Bible so difficult to understand? To answer this question, we first look at the INCOMPREHENSIBILITY OF GOD. Then we hear two answers to the question, WHY DO WE STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE? Lastly, we consider some helps for STUDYING THE WORD.
Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a reformed church in the Greenbrier Valley, WV.
In this sermon we consider the question "Are some sins worse than others?" We answer with ALL SINS ARE EQUAL IN EFFECT BUT DIFFER IN WICKEDNESS.
In this sermon, Rev. Hughes answers the question "How is prayer a conversation with God?" He talks about prayer being a CONVERSATION WITH A KING, how to CONVERSE WITH THE KING, and some PRACTICAL HELPS from the Puritans.
Looking at Malachi 1:1-5 we see that GOD HATES ESAU AND LOVES JACOB and how GOD'S LOVE LEADS TO SALVATION.
In a busy world, are we supposed to be still or seek for the still small voice? Today we take a look at Psalm 46 and 1 Kings 19:1-18 to see what role stillness plays in our lives.
As we consider Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 we look at PAUL'S BOASTS IN GOD'S HONOR, PAUL'S HUMBLING THROUGH SUFFERING, and GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.
This podcast is made up of the sermons of Rev. Ike Hughes from Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Fairlea ARP Church is located in Fairlea, WV across from the State Fairgrounds. We offer Sunday School for all ages on Sunday at 10:00 am and worship at 11:00 am. Please join us for our times of worship.
We seek to answer the question "If Paul wrote a letter to the church today, what would it say?" by considering the GOSPEL FOUNDATION of Paul's letters and the GOSPEL APPLICATION of Paul's letters before answering the question.
If you are in the Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia and do not have a church home, please visit us at 11:00 on Sunday mornings. Visitors are welcome.
We see that Revelation 22:6-19 gives us BLESSINGS FOR KEEPING GOD'S WORD, CURSES FOR COMPROMISING GOD'S WORD, and WARNS AGAINST OUR OWN COMPROMISES OF GOD'S WORD.
Paul shows his confidence in Philemon by sharing THE ROUTINE OF THE GOSPEL, THE RECONCILIATION OF THE GOSPEL, and THE REFRESHING OF THE GOSPEL.
Paul gives thanks for Philemon and highlights RECONCILING LOVE REFRESHES, EQUALS IN CHRIST, and the POWER OF THE GOSPEL.
As Paul prepares to ask Philemon the unthinkable, he builds a foundation with an APPEAL TO LOVE, an APPEAL TO THE GOSPEL, and an APPEAL TO PROVIDENCE.
Rev. Hughes looks at James' call to Personal Prayer, Healing Prayer, and an Old Testament Example of Prayer's Power
God places us in a Fellowship of Love, a Fellowship of Prayer, and A Fellowship in Christ.
Rev. Hughes looks at these instructions to the church in Colossae and expounds on the PRAYER LIFE OF A SAINT and the WALK OF A SAINT
In this sermon, Rev. Ike Hughes discusses the PROBLEM WITH LANGUAGE, how UNION WITH CHRIST CHANGES OUR WORK AS EMPLOYEES, and how UNION WITH CHRIST CHANGES OUR WORK AS EMPLOYERS.
On May 26, 2019 Rev. Hughes preached from Colossians 3:18-19 and taught that Holiness Is an Everyday, Ordinary Pursuit and I Am Not My Own.
We put on holiness through the power of the Gospel at work in us, and we put on this holiness in the context of the Body of Christ - the Church.
We consider what Paul says regarding: 1) What Is True About Me? 2) Keep Your Eye On the Prize, and 3) What Do I Do?
Paul confronts legalism and explains The Difference a Death Makes, Wisdom Worth Living By, and the Only Antidote for Sin.
Jesus did for us what we couldn't do by nailing our sinful record to the cross, giving us victory in Him.
Paul reminds us that Christ is Preeminent and calls us to WALK IN CHRIST and BEWARE OF FORGETTING CHRIST
Paul answers the questions 1) How should we pray for one another? 2) What is the foundation of our assurance? 3) What is the foundation of our sanctification?
The Supremacy of Christ, pt. 2
The Gospel Deals With Our Past
The Gospel Transforms Our Present
The Gospel Is the Hope For Our Future
Why does false teaching seem so attractive and find its way into the church? Because we forget that Jesus is supreme over any pleasures to be found in creation and over any works that we try to add to our salvation.
Jesus is Lord of Creation.
Jesus is Lord of Salvation.
Paul and His Companions Pray Intercessory Prayers For the Colossians
The Gospel Is Better Than Pagan Philosophy
The Gospel Is Better Than Legalism
Jesus gives two ways his disciples can show their love, and He promises the Holy Spirit