Joshua Series: 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.
2. Comprehending God’s Love
Joshua series: Comprehending God’s Love – March 31, 2019 – 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.
3. Faith of a Hooker
Joshua series: Faith of a hooker – April 7, 2019 – 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.
4. What It Means to “Follow the Lord”
Joshua series: What it means to follow the Lord – April 14, 2019 – 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.
5. The Importance of Prayer
Prayer (June 2, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance preaches a message concerning the importance of prayer, beginning with how not praying affected the Israelites as recorded in Joshua chapter 9. He goes on to consider how the Lord was merciful when Joshua turned back to the Lord and prayed. He also examines the importance placed upon prayer in early America, exhorting us to pray and rely upon God’s counsel as we move forward in this world.
We are missing recordings of sermons on Chapters 9-17.
6. Eleven Hundred Pieces of Silver
Joshua series: Eleven hundred pieces of silver (June 23, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance continues preaching from the book of Joshua. He begins in Joshua 18 and the place of peace that was Shiloh, turning next to the account of the tribe of Dan and Judges 18. Brother Bryce exhorts us to not be slack concerning living a thankful life in His kingdom so that we might have peace and joy here in this world. He then looks specifically at the lessons that can be gleaned by tying together the eleven hundred pieces of silver mentioned in Judges 16, the eleven hundred shekels of silver in Judges 17, and the flashback to Joshua that is Judges 18. Brother Bryce considers how a little slothfulness, arrogance, and error affected Micah and his household, adding how the one household of Micah ultimately affected the tribe of Dan, and later Samson, when the tribe of Dan didn’t deal with Micah as the Lord commanded. Making application today, Brother Bryce reminds us to not mix in the idolatry of this world in either our homes or churches, to repent of the things we know we ought not to do, and to do small things every day for our brothers and sisters in Christ, in thankfulness and for the benefit of His kingdom, not ourselves.
7. Joshua’s Inheritance
Joshua series: Joshua’s inheritance (June 30, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance continues a series of sermons in the Book of Joshua, focusing on Joshua’s inheritance mentioned in Joshua 19:49-50. Brother Bryce notes that Joshua didn’t demand a large inheritance or the greatest city, adding that Joshua didn’t get his inheritance until the other tribes were given their inheritance first. Considering Joshua’s example of putting the Lord and his fellow Israelites before himself, Brother Bryce turns to the New Testament and Paul’s exhortation to the Philippian church to see what similar lessons can be learned from chapter two. He explains what it means to “be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” and how focusing on our own wants before others is often the stumbling block to being of one accord. Finally, he looks at what will happen when we humble ourselves and serve others, as Joshua and Christ did, and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
8. The Cities of Refuge
Joshua series: The cities of refuge (July 7, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance begins a series of messages concerning the six cities of refuge mentioned in the book of Joshua chapter 20. He explains the meaning of each city and how the cities’ meanings are also attributes of our Lord Jesus Christ and how the cities were to even act like the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Bryce then turns to Psalm 46 and goes through the chapter and the many reminders to be still and know that the Lord is a place of refuge and a present help, adding that we should go to His church for help and point those that need help to the place of refuge in Him and His church. Finally, he turns to the Hebrews chapter 6 to ask and answer the question “Is it worth it to put your full trust in God?”
9. Kedesh – Holiness
Joshua series: Kedesh and Holiness (July 14, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance continues a series of messages concerning the six cities of refuge in Joshua chapter 20, noting that the first city of Kedesh means “holy.” He asks whether we really appreciate how great and holy God is, noting that the typical view of God is far too small and common. Concerning God’s holiness, he begins in Isaiah 6 and the declaration that God is “holy, holy, holy” and set far apart and above us. He considers men’s reactions to the holiness of God as found in 1st Samuel 6 and Exodus 33 before turning back to Isaiah to affirm how seeing God’s holiness also shows us how unholy we are without Him. Brother Bryce then exhorts us to show our thankfulness for His holiness by asking ourselves to consider whether or not we are acting like it in our behavior, devotion, study, prayers, and how often we come to church. He also looks at the scriptures to establish that the same God that set himself aside sets us aside “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love,” adding that we need to be reminded we are sinners to remind us of our need for a holy Savior. Brother Bryce turns back to Isaiah 6 to look at how Isaiah seeing His God’s holiness caused Isaiah to see how unclean he was and ultimately led Isaiah to want to serve His God the much more. He concludes by turning to the New Testament to explain what we can take away from the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to “Quench not the Spirit.”
10. Shechem – Shoulder
Joshua series: Shechem and Shoulder (July 21, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance continues a series of messages concerning the six cities of refuge in Joshua chapter 20, noting that the second city of Shechem means “shoulder.” Brother Bryce then asks upon who’s shoulders is the weight of eternal salvation? He considers how verses like John 3:16 are used incorrectly to scare someone into believing the gospel. He dispels any idea that eternal salvation rests upon our shoulders, explaining that much of modern-day Christian teaching puts a weight on the children of God that they can never hope to bear. He then turns to Exodus 28 to see how the high priest then pointed to our high priest in Jesus Christ today, giving special attention to what was upon the shoulder of the high priest. Brother Bryce goes next to Isaiah 9 and considers how the government, including our eternal salvation, is upon the shoulder of a victorious, eternal Lord and Savior. He concludes by explaining that understanding the work of eternal salvation being upon His shoulders allows us to understand Matthew 11:28-30 properly, to be thankful, to come to Him for rest, and to “bear ye one another’s burdens” in the church.
11. Hebron – Fellowship
Joshua series: Hebron and Fellowship (July 28, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance continues a series of messages concerning the six cities of refuge in Joshua chapter 20, noting that the third city of Hebron means “fellowship.” He turns to Jesus’s lesson concerning abiding in the vine found in John chapter 15 that looks at how, here in time, there are some conditions of fellowship with Jesus Christ. Do we do things God’s way? Are we going to recognize we’ve been called into fellowship with the Son and act like the Son? Or are we going to be disobedient children and not have any joy in our lives? Brother Bryce makes clear that we should not set out to prove to the world that we’re children of God, but rather that we should “bear much fruit” due to a thankful heart for what God’s done for us. He briefly turns to the Parable of the Sower as found in Matthew 13 to establish how all four types are children of God, and he asks whether we’ve prepared ourselves to hear the word of God. Brother Bryce goes through the rest of John chapter 15 to explain what Jesus is telling us, including how the word “abide” in verse 10 is likened to fellowship. He closes by looking at the fellowship mentioned in verse three of 1st John chapter 1, noting that John reminds us that we fellowship our Father and his Son Jesus Christ by fellowshipping the church.
12. Bezer in the Wilderness
Joshua series: Bezer in the wilderness (August 11, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance continues a series of messages concerning the six cities of refuge in Joshua chapter 20, noting that the fourth city of Bezer is an inaccessible spot, a fortified place, in the wilderness of the plain. Brother Bryce considers what happens when Jesus comes as a fortified place in the wilderness to His church. He then turns to Isaiah 35, explaining the multi-step prophesies contained in it while emphasizing that much of the chapter concerns the gospel church established during the time of Jesus Christ. Brother Bryce notes that Jesus’s fortified place is not pleasing to men’s eyes, nor does it show forth what men consider beauty. He then reminds us that the place of refuge, and the joy and love thereof, is found in the fortified place that is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and to always remember that the only true source of strength in this world is found in Him.
13. Ramoth in Gilead
Joshua series: Ramoth in Gilead (August 18, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance continues a series of messages concerning the six cities of refuge in Joshua chapter 20, noting that the fifth city of Ramoth in Gilead means viewed quite highly. In continuing to look at the cities being like unto the character of Jesus Christ, Brother Bryce preaches from Hebrews chapter one and the latter part of Ephesians to establish just how high and lifted up our Savior is in Jesus Christ. He exhorts us to understand the ramifications of knowing that Jesus Christ is exalted far above us, that we’re bought with a price, and that Jesus is the head of every church, even today. Knowing that, Brother Bryce asks whether Jesus is our refuge. Does he deserve our praise and our time? Do our actions and service show forth our love for Him and one another? Do we see truly see how High and lifted up he really is?
14. Golan – Revealed
Joshua Series: Golan and Revealed (September 1, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance finishes a series of messages concerning the six cities of refuge in Joshua chapter 20, noting that the sixth city of Golan means revealed. In continuing to look at the cities being like unto the character of Jesus Christ, Brother Bryce turns to Hebrews chapter two. He begins by considering the exhortation to not let the things of the Lord, the gospel, slip from our minds. Brother Bryce continues thru the chapter to establish how the Lord was revealed and manifested in this world, ultimately asking and answering the question “What’s the gospel for?”
15. The Children of Israel Heard Say
The children of Israel heard say (September 8, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance begins by considering the command of the Lord to forgive one another before turning to Joshua chapter 22 and the account of the altar. He looks at how the children of Israel were ready to go to battle and destroy the children of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh based on a rumor and assumption. He looks at what happened when the two sides talked with one another. Brother Bryce ultimately exhorts us to talk to our brothers and sisters in Christ and not act solely upon a rumor. He ends with considering the proper way to handle private offenses according to Matthew 18 and revisiting the subject of forgiveness by noting that when we forget to forgive, we tend to forget that we’re forgiven in Jesus Christ.
16. Cleaving Unto & Serving the Lord
Cleaving unto & Serving the Lord – (September 15, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance concludes a series of sermons concerning the book of Joshua, looking at the charges given in chapters 23 and 24 to cleave to the Lord and serve Him. He notes how we’re reminded early on in chapter 23 to be courageous and to have the right mindset. He then considers what it means to “cleave unto the Lord” here in time before turning to the charge given in chapter 24 to serve the Lord. He looks at the pledge of service made, the witness of it, and the significance their oath should have for us to today as we seek to serve the Lord and His church.
Mount Paran Primitive Baptist Church 