First Baptist Church of Phillipsburg Sermons

Exodus 20:1-3

And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Matthew 4:12-25

  Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people dwelling in darkness    have seen a great light,and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,    on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,    lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God    and him only shall you serve.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord;    make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Psalm 63:1-11

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;    my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,    beholding your power and glory.3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,    my lips will praise you.4 So I will bless you as long as I live;    in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,6 when I remember you upon my bed,    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;7 for you have been my help,    and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.8 My soul clings to you;    your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life    shall go down into the depths of the earth;10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;    they shall be a portion for jackals.11 But the king shall rejoice in God;    all who swear by him shall exult,    for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Psalm 39:1-13

I said, “I will guard my ways,    that I may not sin with my tongue;I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”2 I was mute and silent;    I held my peace to no avail,and my distress grew worse.3     My heart became hot within me.As I mused, the fire burned;    then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “O Lord, make me know my end    and what is the measure of my days;    let me know how fleeting I am!5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,    and my lifetime is as nothing before you.Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah6     Surely a man goes about as a shadow!Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;    man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?    My hope is in you.8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.    Do not make me the scorn of the fool!9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth,    for it is you who have done it.10 Remove your stroke from me;    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.11 When you discipline a man    with rebukes for sin,you consume like a moth what is dear to him;    surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,    and give ear to my cry;    hold not your peace at my tears!For I am a sojourner with you,    a guest, like all my fathers.13 Look away from me, that I may smile again,    before I depart and am no more!”

Psalm 36

Transgression speaks to the wicked    deep in his heart;there is no fear of God    before his eyes.2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;    he has ceased to act wisely and do good.4 He plots trouble while on his bed;    he sets himself in a way that is not good;    he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,    your faithfulness to the clouds.6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;    your judgments are like the great deep;    man and beast you save, O Lord.

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.8 They feast on the abundance of your house,    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.9 For with you is the fountain of life;    in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,    and your righteousness to the upright of heart!11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.12 There the evildoers lie fallen;    they are thrust down, unable to rise.

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God,    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.2 Day to day pours out speech,    and night to night reveals knowledge.3 There is no speech, nor are there words,    whose voice is not heard.4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,    and their words to the end of the world.In them he has set a tent for the sun,5     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,    and its circuit to the end of them,    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,    reviving the soul;the testimony of the Lord is sure,    making wise the simple;8 the precepts of the Lord are right,    rejoicing the heart;the commandment of the Lord is pure,    enlightening the eyes;9 the fear of the Lord is clean,    enduring forever;the rules of the Lord are true,    and righteous altogether.10 More to be desired are they than gold,    even much fine gold;sweeter also than honey    and drippings of the honeycomb.11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;    in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?    Declare me innocent from hidden faults.13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;    let them not have dominion over me!Then I shall be blameless,    and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart    be acceptable in your sight,    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.