Fear Not

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Isaiah 41:10

Scripture Reading: Psalm 145:1-3, 8-9, 18, 20 “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! No one can measure his greatness. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.” (NLT)

#1—”Fear not, for I AM with you”

          Exodus 3:14—I AM that I AM, the eternally self-existent God.

#2— “Be not dismayed, for I AM your God.”

Dismayed—stressed, alarmed, fearful, worried, or sad due to circumstances.

#3— “I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you”

Strengthen—support, encourage, provide whatever we need to do what needs to be done.

          Help—to come alongside, assist, give support.

#4— “I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”

          Uphold—to make secure.

God’s right hand—a symbol of His power, His protection, His love, and His grace and mercy. Being at God’s right hand is a place of honor.

Benefits of the Crucifixion

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, April 27, 2025

1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Scripture Reading: Psalm 103:1-5a “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things.” (NLT)

Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-2—Jesus Christ and Him crucified

*Our focus should always be on the cross*

#1–Evidence for the resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15:13-14—If there was no resurrection

Acts 13:29-31—

1 Corinthians 15:3-7—

Matthew 28:11-15—If Jesus wasn’t resurrected, why did they bribe the Roman soldiers?

#2–Psalm 103:2-6–Benefits of the Crucifixion & Resurrection:

  • Forgiveness of sin

          Leviticus 1:11—

          Ephesians 1:7—

          Colossians 1:13-14–

  • Heals our diseases

          Isaiah 53:5—

          1 Peter 2:24–

Checkmate!

Troy Mills Christian Church

Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

Matthew 28:1-6a; 1 Peter 1:3

Scripture Reading: Psalm 62:5-6 “My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. My hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken.” (NLV)

The Story of Checkmate:

          Artist: Moritz Retzsch, 1831

          Chess Master: Paul Morphy

Jesus and Checkmate:

          Satan thought he had defeated Jesus.

          Jewish Leaders

          Judas

          The crowd

          Pilate

          Burial

          The Tomb

          But…….

Acts 2:22-24—But God released Him from the horrors of death….

Romans 8:11—The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead….

The Seven Last Sayings of Jesus from the cross.

1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

(Luke 23:34) – Jesus prays for forgiveness for those who crucified him, demonstrating compassion and love even in his suffering. 

2. “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

(Luke 23:43) – Jesus promises a thief who repented of his sins that he will be with him in Paradise. 

3. “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold, your mother!”

(John 19:26-27) – Jesus entrusts his mother Mary to the care of the disciple John and John to the care of Mary, demonstrating his concern for his family. 

4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

(Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) – Jesus cries out, echoing Psalm 22, expressing his feelings of abandonment and the weight of the world’s sin. 

5. “I thirst.”

(John 19:28) – Jesus expresses his physical suffering and thirst, fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy. 

6. “It is finished.”

(John 19:30) – Jesus declares his mission complete, acknowledging the completion of his sacrifice. 

7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

(Luke 23:46) – Jesus entrusts his spirit to God, signifying his willingness to surrender his life and his faith in God. 

Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Matthew 21:1-11

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23:1-4 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; (NIV)

The Triumphant Entry—Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19

The Colt—Zechariah 9:9

The Crowd—John 11; Matthew 9:27-31; Luke 19; Luke 24

The Garments—2 Kings 9:13

The Palm Branches—Signs of victory and rejoicing

The “Hosanna’s”—Psalm 118:25-26

The King—Matthew 21:9 “Son of David”

Revelation 19:11-16

On the Road to Emmaus, Part II

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Luke 24:13-27; Psalm 22

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” (NLT)

On the Road to Emmaus—sadness, hopelessness, discouragement, confusion, but then Jesus comes along.

Maybe #1—Psalm 22:1 & Matthew 27:46

Maybe #2—Psalm 22:6-8 & Matthew 27:39-43

Maybe #3—Psalm 22:16 & John 20:24-27

Maybe #4—Psalm 22:18 & Matthew 27:35

Maybe #5—Zechariah 9:9 & Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:27-36

Maybe #6—Zechariah 11:12-13 & Matthew 26:13-14

Maybe #7—Zechariah 12:10 & John 19:34

On the Road to Emmaus

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Luke 24:13-27

Scripture Reading: Psalm 145:1-3 “I praise your greatness, my God the King; I will praise you forever and ever. I will praise you every day; I will praise you forever and ever. The Lord is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is.” (NCV)

The Road to Emmaus—Who, What, When, Where, and Why?

Verse 27—What did Jesus tell them?

  • Maybe #1—Genesis 3:14-15
  • Maybe #2—Isaiah 52:12—53:12
  • Maybe #3—Dueteronomy 18:15

Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [entangles] us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Christ has come to set us free! Let’s make sure we stay free.

What to Give Up for Lent

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, March 23, 2025

2 Corinthians 5:17

Scripture Reading: Psalm 33:20-22 “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.” (NLT)

Lent—a forty-day season prior to Easter with a focus on prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and personal reflection with the intent of drawing closer to God.

What to give up for Lent and why—

          Hebrews 12:1—

#1—Complaining (Grumbling)

          Philippians 2:14-15 a; 1 Corinthians 10:10

#2—Grudges/Unforgiveness

Matthew 18:21-22; Matthew 6:14

#3—Poor Self-image

          Psalm 139:13-14; 1 John 3:1a

#4—Fear/Anxiety

          1 Peter 5:7; John 14:27

#5—Our Past

          Psalm 103:12; 1 John 1:9; Jeremiah 29:11

A High View of God

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Romans 8:31-39; Daniel 1:3-8

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91:1-2 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” (NLT)

A High View of God—

How did Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah get into the mess they were in?

  • God told Israel in Leviticus 25:1-7 to give the land they used for their crops a
  • sabbatical every seven years.
  • Israel ignored this command from God for 490 years.
  • God put the Jews in exile for 70 years (one year for every time they ignored God’s command for a sabbatical for the land every seven years.

Daniel 1:3-8—

The Fiery Furnace—Daniel 3:17-18

          Deuteronomy 6:13-15

The Lion’s Den—Daniel 6:22-23

          Psalm 91:11

The Key—Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…”

Scriptures to Read During Tough Times

There will always be times when we don’t quite feel as if we can continue to move forward in the things of God. God knew we would have these times. He is prepared for these times in our lives. If we continue to turn to Him in these times, He will provide the antidote. For example:

When you don’t feel strong enough to go on, read Psalms 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

When you don’t feel brave enough to go on, read Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

When you feel as if you’ve messed up too much to have any hope of going on, read 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!”

When you can’t figure things out, read Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; {6} In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

When you feel as if you are too tired to go on, read Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When you think it’s impossible, read Luke 18:27: “Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

When you think nobody loves you, read John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

When you can’t forgive yourself, read Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”

When you feel as if it’s not worth it, read Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

When you don’t feel as if you are smart enough, read 1 Corinthians 1:30: “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

When you don’t feel able, read 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

When you just can’t go on, read 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

When you feel as if you can’t go on, read Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

When you just can’t manage any longer, read Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

When you are afraid, read 2 Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

When feel all alone, read Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”