Elder Bryce Lowrance preaches about the new birth, beginning by recounting Jesus’s conversation with a Pharisee named Nicodemus as recorded in John chapter 3, specifically how Jesus tells Nicodemus to marvel not at the truth that is the new birth or to think that Nicodemus has any part in accomplishing the new birth. He then turns to 1st Corinthians chapter 2, going through the chapter to explain how and what the Apostle Paul preached. He notes that the wisdom and power that Paul preached was the Lord’s wisdom and the Lord’s power, adding that we are born of the spirit “that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
Elder Bryce Lowrance preaches concerning the importance of singing in church worship. He begins in Psalm 22 before noticing how the Apostle Paul actually quotes Psalm 22 in Hebrews 2:12. In comparing the two texts, Brother Bryce explains how you can establish that singing praises is indeed how we praise God in our local church assembly. He then turns to Colossians 3, explaining how the chapter is about spiritual warfare and unity of a thankful church body. To show our thankfulness, the Apostle Paul instructs us in verse 16 to teach and admonish one another by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with grace in our hearts to the Lord.
Elder Bryce Lowrance begins preaching in first Corinthians chapter 15 concerning the gospel, namely the importance to the gospel of the resurrection, that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and that the dead will be raised on the last day. He then turns to the gospel according to Luke chapter 24, focusing on the account given in verses 13-36. Brother Bryce looks at what Old Testament scriptures Jesus might have preached to the two disciples when it was written in verse 27 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Finally, he also considers how it was recorded that their hearts burned at the gospel message, encouraging us to rejoice and share with others when our hearts burn within us at the preaching of the gospel, including the assurance in knowing He is risen and alive today.
Elder Bryce Lowrance continues preaching from the book of Joshua and considers what it means to follow the Lord. He begins in chapter three recounting how unified the Israelites were as they moved and followed after the ark of the covenant. He notes in verse four that the space was there “that ye may know the way by which ye must go.” Brother Bryce exhorts the church that we should stay in the word of God to know the way we must go today. He goes on to add that we should glorify God, and he looks to passages in Psalm 119 and Ephesian 1 to explain how we are in Christ and that His word should inform our Christian walk here in this world.
Beginning in Hebrews chapter 11, Brother Bryce considers Rahab’s act of faith in “receiving the spies in peace” as recorded in the book of Joshua. He notes how God is the author of Rahab’s faith, that Rahab is therefore just, and that she also lived by faith and did so when she asks that her loved ones be spared. Looking to the events in the book of Joshua, he establishes how God showed Rahab that he loves her, even as she doesn’t have it all right. Ultimately, Brother Bryce considers how encouraged we should be here today that the Lord changed the heart of the harlot Rahab and that we’re never too far away from the Lord that He can’t change our hearts, as well.
Elder Bryce Lowrance begins by considering God’s love as mentioned in Ephesians chapter three, as well as the promises of God to the Israelites as found in the book of Joshua. Much like the Israelites were commanded to go in and possess the land, we can pray and encourage one another to fight the right battles with the knowledge that God already won the war and loves us with a perfect love. Brother Bryce then exhorts the congregation to fight one another’s battles always, especially when we may be doing well and our brothers and sisters in Christ are struggling in their battles or burdens. Finally, in considering that the “good courage” mentioned in Joshua means having the right way of thinking, we can gain further understanding of the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the minds of the saints in Ephesians chapter three to comprehend “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” of God’s love.
Joshua Series: A good courage – March 24, 2019 – Elder Bryce Lowrance begins a series of sermons concerning the book of Joshua, giving particular attention to how the accounts of the physical battles of that time can help us understand how to fight the spiritual battles of today and press into His kingdom, the church. He charges us to make the Lord’s will the priority of our lives, how to heed Hebrews 12:1’s command to run the “race that is set before us,” and how to understand the “good courage” spoken of three times in the first chapter of Joshua.
