Mid Cities OPC

On Sunday, November 14, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The One Who is to Come" from Matthew 11:1-6.

"In the face of John's doubt, Jesus reminds him of who he is and what he has done, and he gives that same assurance to everyone who believes in him."

1. Doubt (vs. 1-3)

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

2. Proof (vs. 4-6)

4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

On Sunday, November 7, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Cross Divides and Reconciles" from Matthew 10:34-42.

"Jesus took up his cross which set his Father against him, so that sinful people could find life in him and be reconciled to his Father."

1. Divided by the Cross (vs. 34-37)

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

2. Take Up Your Cross (vs. 38-39)

38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

3. Unified by the Cross (vs. 40-42)

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

On Sunday, October 31, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Have No Fear" from Matthew 10:26-33.

"Have no fear when you confess your faith in Christ, because God, who has power over life and death, has become your heavenly Father."

1. Proclaim (vs. 26-27)

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

2. Proper Fear (vs. 28-31)

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

3. Confession or Denial (vs. 32-33)

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

On Sunday, October 24, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Sheep in the Midst of Wolves" from Matthew 10:16-25.

Jesus desires for wolves to become sheep, and so he sends out his disciples to bear witness to the salvation that comes through him alone.

1. Sent to Bear Witness (vs. 16-20)

2. For Jesus’s Name Sake (vs. 21-23)

3. Discipleship (vs. 24-25)

On Sunday, October 17, 2010, Rev. Clarence Mays preached "Jesus and the Gates of Hell" from Matthew 16:13-21.

On Sunday, October 10, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Sending Out Laborers" from Matthew 9:35-10:15.

Out of compassion for the lost, Jesus sends us to proclaim the precious gospel of the kingdom to those who are harassed and helpless.

1. Compassion (9:35-38)

2. Authority (10:1-4)

3. The Word (10:5-15)

On Sunday, October 3, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Bursting the Bonds" from Matthew 9:18-34.

Jesus breaks the power of sickness, death and Satan’s kingdom, because he came to set free sinners like you and me.

1. A Dead Girl Rises (vs. 18-19, 23-26)

2. Always Unclean (vs. 20-22)

3. Two Blind Men (vs. 27-31)

4. A Muted Man (vs. 32-34)

On Sunday, September 26, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Feasting and Fasting" from Matthew 9:14-17.

Jesus is your Bridegroom, and he lavishes upon you, as his Bride, precious gifts.

1. To Fast or Feast? (vs. 14-15)

2. Clothing and Wineskins (vs. 16-17)

On Sunday, September 19, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Follow Me" from Matthew 9:9-13.

Jesus calls sinners--undeserving of his favor--into his service, and he loves us in spite of our continued sin, and he conforms us to his image. 

1. The Call (v. 9)

2. Sitting with Sinners (vs. 10-11)

3. Mercy (vs. 12-13)

On Sunday, September 12, 2010, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Forgiveness of Sins" from Matthew 9:1-8.

The Great Physician is the healer of souls, and to all who believe in him, he promises the forgiveness of sins. 

1. Triage (vs. 1-2)

2. Who Blasphemes? (vs. 3-5)

3. The Authority of the Son of Man (vs. 6-8)