4/21/24 Worship Service & Sermon: The Rise of Ahab & Elijah - 1 Kings 16:29-17:1

4/21/2024 Worship Service from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Sermon: Senior Pastor, Steve Estes
Worship Leader: Luke Stoltzfus
Scripture: 1 Kings 16:29-17:1
Title: The Rise of Ahab & Elijah

In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.

In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun. Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

Notes:

1. Ahab's day didn't seem evil

2. Alliance with Sidon
A. King Ethbaal
B. Princess Jezebel
C. Canaanite religion
D. Jezebel's unholy mission

3. Two brief episodes
A. The sons of Hiel at Jericho
B. The prophet Elijah at Samaria

4. Lessons
A. Sin usually presents itself as "no big deal"
B. Sin always progresses
C. God is always working even while evil rages

#1kings #Ahab #Elijah

4/14/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: A Story of Three Dynasties - 1 Kings 16:8-28

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4/14/2024 Worship Service from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: 1 Kings 16:8-28
Title: A Story of Three Dynasties
Worship Leader: Randy Hepler
Speaker: Steve Estes

Notes:

1. Elah: The Carousing King
A. His degenerate reign
B. His sad end
C. A warning about the worship of pleasure
D. The double evil of pulling others into our own sins

2. Zimri: The Tough-Guy King
A .He ends Baasha's dynasty the same way it began
B. His dynasty ends in a blaze of defiance
C. The ultimate expression of self-determination

3. Four years of civil war

4. Omri: The Winner Who Was a Loser
A. Politically a winner
B. Spiritually a loser

#Elah #Zimri #Omri

3/31/2024 Easter Service & Sermon: Adam, Christ, Easter & You - 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

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3/31/2024 Easter Service from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Title: Adam, Christ, Easter, and You
Worship Leader: Matt Griffith
Speaker: Steve Estes

NIV: If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

ESV: If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as all die in Adam, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Notes:

1. The Bible acknowledges: When viewed a certain way, Christians appear pathetic
A. Not many early Christians were high-achievers
B. Many Christians appear to miss out
C. Jesus' followers sometimes lack the skills that seem to matter in this life
D. If this life is all there is, Christians are to be pitied

2. The resurrection of Jesus is what guarantees the resurrection of His followers

3. Our link to Christ's resurrection is illustrated by our link with Adam
A. All human beings have moral weaknesses
B. We are morally flawed because we are all descended from Adam

4. A defense of the doctrine of original sin: "My fate is affected by others"
A. Everyone agrees with this principle when it works in our favor
B. Everyone agrees with this principle in situations where we must often be represented by others
C. It makes sense that the same principle applies in spiritual matters

5. Death through Adam, life through Christ

6. One final thought

Benediction May the God of life who raised our Lord Jesus raise you on that great day because you believe in His Son. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Amen.

#Adam #Christ #Easter

3/17/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: Jeroboam’s Dying Son & Dying Kingdom

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3/17/2024 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: 1 Kings 14:1-20
Title: Jeroboam's Dying Son & Dying Kingdom
Worship Leader: Steve Boyer
Speaker: Steve Estes

Notes:

1. Sorrow in Tirzah
A. Jeroboam's son is gravely ill
B. Jeroboam sends his wife to inquire of Ahijah the prophet
C. Jeroboam's message travels ahead of his wife
D. Ahijah's message looks backward
E. Ahijah's message looks forward

2. God wants us to feel the loss that comes from rejecting Him
A. We learn Abijah's name
B. The story grows gradually darker
C. Tragedy is told through the sad experience of the mother
D. A short summary of Jeroboam's life
E. The point

3. This tragedy exposes the horrible nature of sin
A. Sin = ingratitude for mercies God has shown
B. Sin = attempting to manipulate God
C. Sin = Thrusting God behind one's back
D. Result

4. God's mercy in a message of judgment
A. Mercy to David
B. Mercy to Abijah
C. Mercy to readers of 1 Kings

#Jeroboam #sin

3/10/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: The Young Prophet and the Old Prophet - 1 Kings 13

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3/10/2024 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Scripture: 1 Kings 13
Title: The Young Prophet and the Old Prophet
Worship Leader: Dawson Estes
Speaker: Steve Estes

Notes:

1. The young prophet denounces Jeroboam
A. The grand opening for Jeroboam's religion
B. A voice from the crowd
C. A supernatural sign
D. Jeroboam's response
E. Jeroboam's chastening

2. The young prophet meets the old prophet
A. The sons' report
B. The old prophet's deception
C. The young prophet's punishment

3. Questions the writer deems unimportant

4. Theme of the passage
A. What does matter to the writer?
B. Jeroboam and the Word of the Lord
C. The young prophet and the Word of the Lord
D. The old prophet and the Word of the Lord

#1Kings #WordoftheLord

2/4/2024 Worship Service and Sermon

2/4/2024 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Mike Culbert
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 1 Kings 11:26-12:24
Title: Jeroboam's Revolt: Israel Is Split

Notes:

1. Jeroboam of the tribe of Ephraim
A. Ephraim's early promise
B. Tensions with other tribes
C. Crown given to David of the tribe of Judah
D. Jeroboam put over labor force of Ephraim and Manasseh

2. Ahijah's Prophecy to Jeroboam

3. Result of the Prophecy
A. Jeroboam revolts, fails, and flees
B. The prophecy is fulfilled

4. Lessons
A. Your spiritual condition affects those around you and those who come after you
B. God is sovereign over national calamities
C. God's determination to save His people can never be stopped

#Jeroboam #Rehoboam #David

1/21/2024 Worship Service & Sermon: God will build a house for David - 1 Kings 11:9-13, 2 Samuel 7:1-17

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1/21/2024 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Matt Griffith
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 1 Kings 11:9-13, 2 Samuel 7:1-17
Title: God will build a house for David

Notes:

1. Human reason can lead godly leaders down the wrong path

2. God is surprisingly humble
A. God has gladly gone without a temple for a long time
B. In this sense, God is not like other "gods"

3. God is kind and full of grace
A. He reminds David of His past grace and kindness
B. He promises David future grace and kindness
C. He promises David a dynasty
D. Why is God kind to David and his dynasty?

4. God promises that David's dynasty will be unending
A. Death will not annul this promise
B. Sin cannot destroy the promise
C. Time will not exhaust the promise

1/14/2023 Worship Service & Sermon: Solomon’s Fall, God’s Verdict - 1 Kings 11

1/7/2024 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Tyler Estes
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 1 Kings 11
Title: Solomon's Fall, God's Verdict

Notes:

1. Introducing Solomon's sin
A. His drift into idolatry
B. Young Solomon wouldn't have dreamed of following other gods
C. How he started with other gods

2. God became angry with Solomon

3. God's discipline of Solomon
A. Discipline via Hadad of Edom
B. Discipline via Rezon of Aram
C. Discipline via Jeroboam

4. Lessons
A. Drifting is deceitful because it happens gradually
B. Drifting has a domino effect
C. It matters who we are close to
D. Where there is repentance, mercy trumps sin and discipline

Benediction: To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen

#Solomon #drifting #discipline

12/10/2023 Celebration Sunday Sermon: The Full Extent of His Love - John 13:1-2

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12/10/2023 Worship Service & Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: John Sletta
Speaker: Steve Estes, Senior Pastor
Scripture: John 13:1-2 (NIV 1984)
Title: Celebration Sunday Sermon: The Full Extent of His Love

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served , and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

Notes:

1. Jesus washes His disciples' feet
A. Jesus had already loved them 1,000 ways
B. Now He shows them the full extent of His love

2. Jesus enables us to love Him and other people without exhaustion

3. Brick Lane goals for 2024
A. Ministries
i. Public worship
ii. Internal ministries
iii. Expand local outreach
iv. International outreach

B. What these ministries need
i. A building
ii. Staff
iii. Finances
iv. Prayer

11/12/2023 Worship Service & Sermon: Moses’ Faith Rescues Others - Hebrews 11:28-29

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11/12/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Matt Griffith
Speaker: Steve Estes, Senior Pastor
Scripture: Hebrews 11:28-29
Title: Moses' Faith Rescues Others

By faith [Moses] kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

Notes:

1. The Israelites believed the warning that judgement was coming
A. Punishing plagues

2. The Israelites believed Moses' directions to escape the tenth plague
A. Only one method of salvation was given
B. The people obeyed
C. That dreadful night

3. Crossing the Red Sea
A. 600,000 freed men and their families march out of Egypt
B. God leads them south
C. Pharaoh goes after them
D. The miraculous parting of the Red Sea

4. Lessons
A. True faith benefits not just yourself, but others
B. True faith believes not just the Bible's good news, but also the bad news
C. True faith always focuses on God as Savior, not on imitating the actions of true believers

#faith #Moses #Hebrews