Bible Teaching

The Characters of Easter—Peter

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear and will trust in the Lord.”

Text: Matthew 14:28-29

One of the great characteristics of the Apostle Peter was his desire to be where Jesus was.

  • Matthew 14:28-20
  • Matthew 26:58
  • John 21:7

Peter was a successful businessman in the fishing industry.

  • Mark 1:16-20

Peter was hungry for God.

  • John 1:41-42

According to Luke 4:38-39

  • He had a wife.
  • He had a house.
  • He had a mother-in-law.

Peter was a convinced man—

  • Matthew 16:13-19
  • John 6:66-69

Peter was a bold man.

  • Matthew 16:21-22
  • Luke 22:31-33

Peter was a submitted man.

  • Luke 5:1-8

Best of all, Peter was a restored man.

  • John 21:15-17

The Apostle Peter discovered, as you and I can, that when we come to Jesus, no matter what our past, no matter how big a mess of things we have made, Jesus will always welcome us with open arms. He will restore us! And He will use us to build His Kingdom. God does not allow us to stay in a messed-up state of being!

Jesus, the Lamb of God

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:18-21 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was [manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

On the banks for the Jordan River

Texts: John 1:29-31; 35-36

The Lamb of God

          The Passover Lamb—Exodus 12:1-13

          The Morning & Evening Sacrificial Lamb—Exodus 29:38-42

          Two Old Testament Prophets

                    Isaiah 53:7

                    Jeremiah 11:19

The Ultimate Sacrificial Lamb

          1 Peter 1:18-21

          Hebrews 7:27

          Hebrews 9:11-12

          Hebrews 10:8-10

The Lamb brings victory!

          Revelation 5:1-6

          “Seven horns & seven eyes”

God has given us the victory over sin, over disease, and over death through the Lamb!

Jesus, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

February 21, 2021

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 54-57 “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Texts: Revelation 5:1-5; Genesis 49:8-12

  • The Scroll
  • Root of Jesse
    • Isaiah 11:1, 10; Romans 15:12
    • Messiah from the lineage of David—Psalm 110:1

Genesis 49:8-12

  • Jacob’s prophetic message about the Messiah
  • Verse 9—a lion’s whelp
  • Verse 10—the scepter
  • Verse 10—Shiloh
  • Verse 11—donkey & donkey’s colt tethered to a vine
  • Verse 11-robe dipped in wine
  • Verse 12—eyes darker than wine & teeth whiter than milk
  • Revelation 5:3-5—A Message of hope

Revelation 19:11-16—A message of victory

  • No situation is hopeless
  • No disease is hopeless
  • Nothing from our past is hopeless
  • Nothing from our future is hopeless
  • No circumstance is hopeless

Our Heart, A Throne Like no Other

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your [reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Text: Proverbs 4:23

Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about Jesus being a Prophet like no other, a priest like no other, and a king like no other. This led us into talking about the Kingdom of God/Heaven being a kingdom like no other.

The Kingdom of God/Heaven is in our heart, which makes our heart a throne like no other.

The Bible uses the word “heart” primarily to refer to the ruling center of the whole person, the spring of all desires. The heart is seen as the seat of the will, intellect, and feelings. … According to the Bible, the heart is the center not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life.

1–Solomon gives additional warnings to his son about his heart.

          Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25

2—Jeremiah warns us not to trust our own heart.

          Jeremiah 17:9

3—David asked God to search his heart.

          Psalm 139:23-24

4—Jesus taught about our hearts.

          Mark 7:20-23

5—We are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

          1 Corinthians 6:19-20

6—Paul challenges us to “put off” the “old man” and “put on” the “new man.”

          Ephesians 4:22-24

Conclusion: When God is on the throne of our lives, our heart.

          Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17

A Kingdom Like No Other

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28b, 29, 31

Text: Luke 17:20-21

What’s the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven?

  • They are one and the same.

The Kingdom is a major topic in the New Testament.

          Mark 1:15; Mark 10:15; Mark 15:43; Luke 17:20-21; Acts 28:31;

Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 15:50

Jesus & Pilate—a discussion of the Kingdom

  • John 18:33-36

A Kingdom like no other, how?

  • Not a Kingdom with boundaries
  • Not a Kingdom of ethnicity
  • Not a Kingdom of military might or political prowess

A Kingdom of hearts

  • The heart represents our intellect, our emotions, our ability to reason, to show compassion, understanding and love.

The Kingdom goes hand-in-hand with the New Covenant.

  • Jeremiah 31:31-33

A King Like No Other

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Text: Hebrews 1:1-3

Christ came in fulfillment of Prophets, Priests & Kings

Prophet—Guided God’s people in the way of righteousness by speaking the Word of God.

Priest—Represented the people before God.

King—Ruled justly over God’s people, according to God’s law. They also fought for the people, to protect them from their enemies and to bring peace.

  • God did not intend for His people to be ruled by a king but He knew this would be the choice of His people once they entered the Promised Land:

                    Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 8:7

  • As our King, Jesus has won victory for us over sin.

James 4:7-8a; 1 John 4:4; Ephesians 2:4-6

  • As our King, Jesus defeated death.

1 Corinthians 15:54b-57

  • As our King, Jesus has brought us peace.

John 14:27

  • As our King, Jesus has promised to give us rest.

Matthew 11:28-30

A Priest Like No Other

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Sermon Notes

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, January 24, 2021

Bible Reading: John 1:1-5

Sermon Text: Hebrews 1:1-3

  • God is more than sufficient! Don’t forget the 12 baskets leftovers (Mark 6:30-44) and then the 7 baskets (Mark 8:1-10).
  • We do not need “God and…….” God alone is our Sufficiency!
  • Prophet
  • Priest
  • King

A Priest Like No Other

Christ Our High Priest—Hebrews 4:14-16

Priests chosen from among men—Hebrews 5:1-4

  • Because Christ is our High Priest……
  • He understands us—Hebrews 4:15
  • He knows how to help us—Hebrews 4:16
  • We can approach God on our behalf—Hebrews 4:16
  • He provides salvation—Acts 4:12
  • He is always interceding on our behalf—Hebrews 7:23-25

Next Sunday: A King Like No Other

A Prophet Like No Other!

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Text: Hebrews 1:1-3

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:22-24

A Prophet Like No Other—Hebrews 1:1-3

  • Prophets—
  • Priests—
  • Kings—
  • Why God raised up prophets in the Old Testament—Exodus 20:18-20

Over 50 prophets scattered throughout the Old Testament

  • Moses’ prophecy about the coming Messiah—Deuteronomy 18:15

Jesus did not come to “do away” with prophets, priests & kings but to fulfill the purpose of prophets, priests & kings—Matthew 5:17

  • Jesus was “Immanuel”—God with us

John 1:1-2, 14

  • Hebrews 1:2—”heir of all things”
  • Hebrews 1:3— “the exact image of God”

It’s Tough to Be Humble

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

In our journey to discover how to draw close to God, we come to verse 10 of James 4. “Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.”

I believe these words were in response to what the Holy Spirit breathed to James earlier in verse 6. “But He gives us more grace. That is why Scriptures says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James is quoting from Proverbs 3:34.

Being humble does not come from a poor self-image a lack of self-esteem or even a lack of ability. It does come from the admission that I cannot do this on my own. I must have God’s help. Without Him, I can do nothing. But with Him, I can do whatever is put in my path to do.

For some of us, it’s tough to be humble. We were raised to be strong, independent, and self-sufficient. I was raised that it was a sign of weakness to ask help. you will never know how much trouble that has caused me and still does from time to time although I’m learning……sort of.)

The quicker we come to the end of ourselves, the sooner we will enjoy God at work in our lives. This is the favor that Solomon was writing about in Proverbs 3:34. Truth is, the only good thing any of us have to offer this world is God. Without God, there is no good thing in me, or you.

The temptation for me as I write this is to list other things, such as submitting to one another; serving one another; praying for one another; bearing one another’s burdens; treating each person as we desire to be treated as signs of humility. But I sincerely believe as I humble myself before God, and put Him first and foremost, all these things will begin to fall into place. (Check out Matthew 6:33)

Admitting we are weak and need God in our lives is a difficult thing for some. But what a rewarding way to live. When we come to that place, and we ask God for His presence, His help, His wisdom, and His strength, He opens the windows of heaven and pours out His grace and favor.

Being humble does not mean we go around like a 97-pound weakling with a big red “H” on our T-shirt. No, it means we walk confidently, we walk knowing God is walking with us and we walk in faith that through God we will be able to do much because we got out of the way, confessed our need to His help and are following His lead.

One final thought. The command is for “you” to humble yourself. This is not a work of the Spirit. It’s not your pastors’ job, your spouse, or your family. It’s our job. It’s our choice to rely upon God or try and do it for ourselves. I can only speak from my own experiences. Usually those who claim to be self-made show it. Why settle for inferior workmanship when you can have the master craftsman build His Kingdom in you then through you?

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Grieve, Mourn & Wail

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Grieve, Mourn & Wail is not the name of Grunge band, nor is it the name of a law firm. It is a command from James to his readers.

Who were the readers? Look in James 1:1. He was writing to the 12 tribes of Israel who had been dispersed throughout the world. They had scattered due to persecution.

In their scattering, many of them forgot the things of God and turned toward the worldly pleasures and sinful lifestyles. Word had gotten back to James about these things and now he was writing to warn them and to challenge them to draw near to God.

In his instructions, he encouraged them to Grieve, Mourn & Wail. These were words of repentance. To repent meant to turn away from something, in this case, they were to turn away from sin and return to God. Thus, the instructions to “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Grieve refers to being miserable. James wanted his readers to be miserable in their sin because their sin had separated them from God. They were drawn away from God by their sin.

Mourn refers to a passionate grief that cannot be hidden. James was not going to make it easy for them. They had been public in their rejection of God, now it was time to be public in their repentance. There are no secret agents in God’s Kingdom

Wail was to be result of passionate grief. Just as laughter and joy had been part of their sinful activities now, so should wailing be as they come to the realization of what their sinful choices had caused.

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Grieve, Mourn & Wail was not a prescription for the Christian life. Unfortunately, I’ve known folks who thought it was to be lived that way. But, once sin is dealt with, and we have repented or turned away from our sin, the love, peace, and joy of the Lord are to become what marks our lives. We are free from the bondage of sin; free to be near to God; and free to be the men and women God created us to be. And we are free to experience the abundant life God has prepared for us.

The question for us to deal with is, are there things we have allowed to creep into our life that have drawn us away from God? Are there things we need to Grieve, Mourn & Wail about as we draw near to Him?

What has robbed you of the joy of the Lord? What has robbed you of peace with God? And what has robbed you of the hope you once knew?

James would tell us to wash our hands, purify our hearts, grieve, mourn & wail and God will draw near to us.

We need to take seriously. It separates us from God. And when we discover the sin in our lives, we need to Grieve, Mourn & Wail!

Always in Pursuit!

Don