Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Summer in the Minors, Part VIII

Habakkuk 1:2-4; 2:4

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7:9 “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” (NLT)

#1–The Babylonians were the new Assyrians.

          Habakkuk 1:6—

          Habakkuk 2:8-20—God’s plans for the Babylonians

#2—Habakkuk’s purpose in writing

          Habakkuk 2:4—

Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for the “just shall live by faith.”

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

“Faith does not always stop afflictions, trials, or suffering. But faith will always bring us through afflictions, trials, and suffering.”

“Putting our trust in Jesus resolves the issue of where we will spend eternity. It does not resolve the issue of afflictions, trials, and suffering.”

#3—Habakkuk 2:20—

#4—Habakkuk 3:19—

Psalm 18:32, 33, 29 & 46 “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer and sets me on my high places.” “For you have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued under me those who rose up against me.” “The Lord lives! Blessed by my Rock! Leet the God of my salvation be exalted.”

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Summer in the Minors, Part VII

Nahum 1:3

Bible Reading: Isaiah 26:4 “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” (NLT)

#1. Jonah & Nineveh

Jonah 4:1-3–Jonah was “furious” that God would forgive the Assyrians.

#2. After Jonah

          Idols & Demons—Deuteronomy 32:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:20-22

          Assyrians worse than ever—

                    Nahum 3:19—

Psalm 37:35 “I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;”

Psalm 73:3 “For I was envious of the boastful, [wicked] when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

Psalm 94:3 “Lord, how long will the wicked triumph?”

          Do the wicked really prosper?

#3. Nahum 1:3—The Lord is “slow to anger” but this does not mean He won’t punish sin.

          2 Peter 3:9—

          But there is a place of no mercy…….

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Summer in the Minors, Par VI

Micah 5:2; 6:8; 7:18

Bible Reading: Hebrews 4:16 “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (NLT)

The Prophet Micah—

#1—Micah 1-3: Prediction of Judgment.

Two kingdoms: Israel and Judah.

Corrupt government. Corrupt business leaders. Corrupt prophets & priests.

#2—Micah 4-5: Prediction of Restoration.

Micah 5:2—Messianic prophecy.

#3—Micah 6-7: Plea for Repentance

          Micah 6:8–God’s solution to sin.

          Do justly—

          Love mercy—

          Walk humbly—

#4—The Four Way Test:

          Is it the truth?

          Is it fair to all concerned?

          Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

          Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

#5—When you feel like giving up.

          Micah 7:2—

          Micah 7:7—

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Summer in the Minors, Part V

Jonah 4:1-3

Bible Reading: Isaiah 30:18 “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” (NLT)

A supernatural God doing supernatural things.

#1–Jonah 4:1-3–Jonah is angry. Why is Jonah angry?

#2–Jonah 1:1-2—Why did being told to preach repentance in Nineveh make Jonah angry?

#3—Jonah 1:3—A run-a-way prophet.

#4—Jonah 1:15—Man overboard!

#5—Jonah 1:17–God prepared a “great fish.”

#6—Jonah 2:10—A burp and away we go.

#7—Jonah 3:4—Jonah preaches in Nineveh.

#8—Jonah 3:5-10—Nineveh repents and God relents.

#9—Jonah 4:1-9—Jonah’s anger and God’s mercy.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. {17} For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Summer in the Minors, Part IV

Text: Obadiah 1:4, 12, & 15

Bible Reading: Psalm 145:1-3a “I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!” (NLT)

Two major themes in the book of Obadiah:

The man, Obadiah

A prophecy of doom for the nation of Edom (vv1-18)

A prophecy of restoration for the nation of Judah (vv19-21)

#1–Pride—verses 3-4

#2–Hatred/Jealousy—verses 11-12

#3–God’s Revenge—verses 2, 15

#4–The story of Edom (Esau) and Israel (Jacob)

#5–The Golden Rule—Matthew 7:12

          The Golden Rule versus the Silver Rule

Four Take-a-ways from the book of Obadiah

#1—God’s justice will overcome evil thoughts and subsequent actions of all people.

#2—God always delivers his faithful people in the long run. Even when we are suffering troublesome and difficult times, and it appears that our evil neighbors are prospering, we can be encouraged by remembering the message of Obadiah.

#3—God will not tolerate pride, hatred/jealousy, or any acts of revenge on our part. Pride is sin. We have nothing to be proud of except what Jesus Christ has done for us.

#4—God will overcome in our behalf if we stay true to Him. Unlike Edom, we must be willing to help others in times of need, no matter what they have done.

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Exodus 19:3-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10

Bible Reading: Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” (NLT)

Exodus 19:3-6—

#1—What I did to the Egyptians.

          Exodus 20:

          Psalm 34:19

          John 16:33

#2—A kingdom of priests.

Question: How would those we rub shoulders with daily describe God based on what they see or hear from your life?

1 Peter 2:9-10

#3—A holy nation.

#4—A chosen generation.

Ephesians 1:5

1 John 4:19

#5—His own special people.

          1 Peter 2:9

          Exodus 19:5— “my treasured possession.”

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”

“As a kingdom of priests, a chosen generation, God’s treasured people, it’s our job to make God known, and to make Him near so others may find Him.” Ray Vander Laan

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Amos, the Poor Man’s Prophet

Text: Amos 4:12

Bible Reading: Psalm 10:17-18 “Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them.” (NLT)

Introduction: Amos, Israel, and Judah

#1—Chapters 1& 2: The Bad News: Eight Visions

#2—Chapters 3-6: The Bad News—Three Sermons

Amos 3:1-2—

Amos 5:24—

#3—Chapters 7-9:10: The Bad News—Five Visions

          Amos 7:7-9—The plumb line

          Amos 8:1-3—The summer fruit

Amos 8:11—Amos prophesied there would be a famine of God’s Word. This was the result of Israel forsaking God’s Word. In many ways, it was as if Israel had planted seeds of neglect and now were going to reap a harvest of what they had planted. The Word of the Lord would be scarce, at best.

#4—Chapter 9:11-15: The Good News

          Amos 9:13—

          1 Corinthians 10:20, 21-

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Summer in the Minors, Part II

Joel 1:1; 1:15; 2:1-3; 2:12-13; 3:18-21

Bible Reading: Psalm 31:23-24 “Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” (NLT)

#1—Joel; Pethuel; and the book

          Joel 1:1—

#2—The Day of the Lord—both judgment and blessings

          Joel 1:15; 2:1-3

          13 of the 16 books of Prophecy refer to the “Day of the Lord”

#3—The Day of the Lord in Joel’s own words

          Joel 1:4; 1:9

#4—God’s desires repentance and not judgment

          Joel 2:12-13

          Rending garments; Rending hearts

#5—Repentance brings delay or even a cessation of God’s judgment

          2 Peter 3:9

          Joel 2:25-27

          Joel 2:28-29

          Joel 2:30-32

#6—Joel 3—

          Day of the Lord—1-17—Judgment

          Day of the Lord—18-21—Blessings and restoration upon the land and God’s people

Joel 3:18-21 “And it will come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip with new wine, the hills shall flow with milk, and the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; a fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Acacias. {19} Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a desolate wilderness, because of the violence against the people of Judah, for they have shed innocent blood in their land. {20} But Judah shall abide forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. {21} For I will acquit them of the guilt of bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted; for the Lord dwells in Zion.”