First Presbyterian Church
--PERKASIE, PENNSYLVANIA--
Fifth and Race Streets
--Services at 9:30 AM--
Parking available in the lot across the street

2018 Sermon and Worship Videos
Attention! Please listen to our videos with your earphones on to properly enjoy them!
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December 30, 2018
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Worship Service: "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress." Join us as we worship the glorious and eternal God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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Sermon: "The 'Nominal' Christian," John 8:39-47. A "nominal" Christian is a Christian in name only. He is one who professes to be a believer, but his faith and life are actually contrary to the Christ of Scripture. You might be surprised to learn how many "nominal" Christians there are in churches today. In fact, there are many "churches" that in truth are no longer churches of Jesus Christ, but "synagogues of Satan." Pastor MacLaren continues his series of messages from the gospel of John, looking at a conversation between Jesus and the Jews about their relationship to Abraham....
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Special Music: "O Holy Night," Sing to the Lord Hymnal #183. Pastor MacLaren sings this beautiful hymn of the incarnation with accompaniment by Heidi Wolfskill on the piano and Mike Taraborrelli on the guitar. Background vocals are added by Pastor MacLaren.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Necessity of Two Natures in Christ," Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 19b.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "Creation," Pastor MacLaren continues his commentary on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, chapter 19.
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December 23, 2018
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Worship Service: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.”
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Sermon: "Freedom and Truth," John 8:21-36. The apostle Paul described the people living in the last days as "deceiving and being deceived." Since they do not have a love for the truth, God has given them over to "a powerful delusion." Many would scoff at the notion that they are fundamentally disconnected with reality, that they are living in a delusional world, and in a general sense that is true. However, with regard to their relationship with God, Paul says they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie.... Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows from the life of Jesus how sin has blinded the eyes of many, and salvation is only through the truth of the gospel.
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Special Music: "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly," Sing to the Lord Hymnal #186.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "One Person in Two Natures," Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 19a. At the heart of the Christian faith is a commitment to the nature of Christ's person. The Scriptures reveal Jesus to be both divine and human, but how are we to understand that? The Belgic Confession of Faith gives the answer of the historic Christian church in this article.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Goodness and Justice of God," Pastor MacLaren continues his commentary on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, chapters 17-18.
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December 16, 2018
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Worship Service: “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” That light is revealed to us in Jesus, who is the Light of the World. Join us as we worship the One who brings light out of darkness and hope out of despair.
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Sermon: "The Light of the World," John 7:40-52; 8:12-20. You hear it all the time: if you want enlightenment, if you are searching for wisdom and guidance, then trust yourself. Follow your own inner light. Find your inner divinity. The gospel message however is just the opposiite. Your inner self is filled with darkness. Your only hope is in Jesus, who alone is the Light of the World. Watch as Pastor MacLaren opens the Scriptures and speaks of the glory of Jesus Christ.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Incarnation," Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 18b.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Goodness of God," Pastor MacLaren continues his commentary on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, chapter 17.
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December 09, 2018
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Worship Service: “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.”
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Sermon: "True Life and Satisfaction," John 7:25-39. There are moments in history when rather brief statements at pivotal points in time have a tremendous impact on the course of human events. Lincoln had his Gettysburg address, Reagan challenged Gorbachov to "tear down this wall," and Bush declared "I hear you, ...and soon those who did this will hear from us!" None of these had the impact however of what Jesus said on the last and greatest day of a major festival in Jerusalem. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows the nature of this world transforming message!
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Holiness of God," Pastor MacLaren continues his commentary on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, chapter 16.
https://youtu.be/c6jnWysIwXw
Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Incarnation," Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 18a.
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December 02, 2018
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Worship Service: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
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Sermon: "The 'Apologia' of Jesus," John 7:14-24. Not only are we called to positively advance the Chrsitian faith by boldly proclaiming its message, we are also to defend that faith against its critics. Easier said than done? Well, a defense of the faith must be true to the faith it defends, so we take our stand squarely on God's revelation of himself in Christ as opposed to some purported neutral ground with human reason or feelings. This provides us with a position of complete authority and careful reasoning. It also does what is absolutely necessary: challenge the unbelieving heart with God's call for repentance and faith.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Omniscience of God," Pastor MacLaren continues his commentary on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, chapter 15.
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November 25, 2018
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Worship Service: "Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name!" It is a great joy for the believer to praise the Lord and tell of his mighty works. Join the congregation of First Church as we worship the Lord by his word and spirit.
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Sermon: "The Quiet Kingdom," John 7:1-13. For many it seems like success in this world depends on your ability to get out in front of people, and the louder your voice the more successful you will be. But in the kingdom of God, success often comes in quiet, obscure ways.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Great Restoration," Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 17.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Omnipresence of God," Pastor MacLaren leads a discussion of Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
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November 18, 2018
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Worship Service: No video available.​
Sermon: "To Whom Shall We Go?" John 6:60-71. No Video Available.
Men's Reformed Fellowship: Cancelled for Thanksgiving.
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November 11, 2018
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Worship Service: Our opening hymn exhorts us to "Exalt the Lord, his praise proclaim; All ye his servants, praise his name...." The heart of Christian worship is set on glorifying God in his being, name, and attributes. All of eternity will not be enough for us to sing his praises.
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Sermon: "Irresistible Grace and Hard Truths," John 6:41-59. A man-centered gospel will flatter the heart and speak softly, sweetly to the soul. Many today seek preaching that soothes their consciences and tells them that all is well. A God-centered gospel however will not be afraid to tell people some very hard truths. In this sermon, Pastor MacLaren shows how Jesus speaks some very difficult things without compromise to his audience, knowing that God is sovereign and will accomplish his will in our lives.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: Cancelled for inclement weather.
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November 4, 2018
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Worship Service: Join the congregation of First Presbyterian Church as we worship the Lord who saves us from sin, death, and destruction, and brings us securely into the kingdom of God for eternity!
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Sermon: "Bread from Heaven," John 6:28-40. So who was greater, Moses or Jesus? The crowds surrounding Jesus had seen his miracles, but were unimpressed. They wanted more! Jesus shows them that they have improperly elevated Moses and sinfully diminished the nature of the miracles performed both by Moses and Jesus. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows how Jesus offers us something more than "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage!"
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Omnipotence of God." "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" That simple question reminds us to look in faith to our covenant keeping Lord who works powerfully and faithfully to bring us salvation. In this video, Pastor MacLaren continues his study based on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
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October 28, 2018
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Worship Service:
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Sermon: "Lord of Land and Sea," John 6:16-29. We are so often slow to learn the lessons that God has for us. We focus on what most appeals to us, and fail to appreciate the greater lessons to be learned. Thankfully God continues to work with his elect and impresses the same truths on them in new and different ways. However, to those who are simply "Christians" in name only, Jesus has but one message: they must believe that Jesus is Lord of both land and sea, Lord of heaven and earth, indeed, Lord of all. All who believe in him will arrive safely at their final harbor.
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The Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Free Will of Man." "But doesn't man have a free will?" That is a question often raised when we affirm the sovereignty of God over all things. Are we then just puppets in the hands of God? By no means! Our will is free to act within the confines of our nature, and we do what we please accordingly. The key however is in understanding the relationship of our free will to our fallen human nature. Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains the comments of the Belgic Confession of Faith in Article 14 on this matter in this video recorded on October 28, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org).
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Self-Existence of God." Where did God come from? Who created God? Sometimes children might ask such questions, and indeed, we are naturally disposed to seeing everything from the perspective of cause and effect relationships. But the Bible tells us that God is different from us. He does not have his origin in some pre-existing source. He ever lives as the eternal trinitarian God. The self-existence of God is a vital teaching of the Bible, as Pastor MacLaren will show from this meditation based on Dr R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. The Men's Reformed Fellowship is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org).
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October 21, 2018
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Worship Service: "Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent...." "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." Join the congregation of First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org) as we worship the Lord who ever dwells in glory!
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Sermon: "Bread for the World," John 6:1-15. The amazing thing about the miracle that fed over 5,000 people with just five loaves and two small fish that it happened so matter of factly. Jesus directed the crowds to sit down in groups of 50, and then just began distributing bread!! It didn't stop until everyone was full. But what did this miracle mean? Watch as Pastor MacLaren takes us back to the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and there we will see the drama unfold....
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The Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Fall of Man." Did "Adam" really exist as an historic figure, or was he merely a mythological figure devised to explain human sin? The Belgic Confession reflects on the message of the Scriptures regarding the origins of our sin in Adam. Watch as Pastor MacLaren develops this in his homily given at First Presbyterian Church in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org) on October 21, 2018.
https://youtu.be/zdc1H-_9qQU
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Triunity of God." Christianity is distinguished from all other religions by its commitment to the Trinity, the doctrine that there is only one God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each fully and equally God. Do you know God as three in one, where unity and plurality are equally ultimate? Do you have fellowship with this God and worship him appropriately? Watch as Pastor MacLaren leads this study based on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH on October 25, 2018. The Men's Reformed Fellowship is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org).
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Congregational Hymn: "Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies," Trinity Hymnal #330. The glory of Christ fills the heart of the believer with constant joy and a settled peace. Christ Jesus is the King appointed by God over all of humanity (Psalm 2), and before his throne every knee will bow. Is the glory of Christ a great joy for you, or a threat? "Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." This hymn was sung from the original Trinity Hymnal of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church on October 14, 2018. Join us next Sunday at First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA, as we continue in worship before the Lord.
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Congregational Hymn: "Like the Stars of the Morning," Trinity Hymnal #651. This beautiful children's hymn is our hymn of the month for October. It sings of the love of the Lord Jesus for the children of his elect, and how he sets them apart to be the jewels of his crown in glory. What a wonderful day it will be to see the redeemed of the Lord, including the infant children of believers, gathered before the throne of our King.
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October 14, 2018
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Worship Service: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Join us as we worship our Heavenly Father, through His eternal Son and by His blessed Spirit. This video was recorded at First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org) on October 14, 2018.
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Sermon: "A Transcendent Witness to Truth," John 5:30-47. What evidence could be presented to adequately show that Jesus is the Son of God? Ultimately, the final witness to the Son is the Father himself, speaking through human witnesses, through redemptive works, and through His written word. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows from John 5:30-47 how Jesus supported his claim to deity with incontrovertible witnesses, even a transcendent Witness!
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The Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Providence of God." The Belgic Confession of Faith gives a splendid, personal description of what the Bible has to say about God's providence. We don't appreciate the concept of providence anymore, as so many people believe in either luck or fate. But the Christian belief in divine providence far surpasses any of these descriptions of life, providing a wise, powerful, and good God who personally governs all things to his own glory. Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains the nature of divine providence in this homily recorded at First Presbyterian Church of Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org) on October 14, 2018.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Incomprehensibility of God." Do you 'know' God? How so? Modern theologians say that 'God' is unknowable, that is, he can't be reduced to human catagories of logic and definition. He can only be 'experienced' in a moment of crisis or 'revelation.' Years ago, the evangelical scholar J. I. Packer wrote a best seller called, KNOWING GOD, which made the contrary case that God could be known, and is known.... Dr. R. C. Sproul begins his discussion of the nature and attributes of God with a discussion of his "incomprehensibility.' Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains what that means in this video recorded on October 18, 2018.
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Congregational Hymn: "My Heart Doth Overflow..." Trinity Hymnal #125.
1 "My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
let your right hand achieve awesome deeds." Psalm 45:1-4.
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Congregational Hymn: "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say..." Trinity Hymnal #219. Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Though spoken two millenia ago, Jesus continues to call us to come to him for rest. Truly, only in him is rest, true, perfect rest, for those who are weary of sin, weary of corruption and conflict. Rest in him, and find peace.
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Congregational Hymn: "Blessing and Honor and Glory..." Trinity Hymnal #219. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing," Revelation 5:12. We have no conception in this mortal world of how true these words are. Our hearts are hardened by sin, our minds dulled by doubt and unbelief. But the Lamb, Jesus Christ, was exalted in his resurrection and bodily ascension into heaven, to receive the worship and glory he so marvelously deserves.
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October 7, 2018
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Worship Service: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.” Join the congregation of First Presbyterian Church in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org) as we worship the Lord who has crushed the head of the serpent at the cross and has won the victory for his elect.
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Sermon: "The Father and His Son," John 5:19-29. In a courtroom like setting, Jesus gives his defense of his deity and faithfulness to the covenant in the most solemn terms. "Truly, truly, I say to you!" Rather than backing down, obfuscating, or blame-shifting, Jesus affirms that he is the unique Son of the Father who lives in perfect harmony with the Father's will.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "Private Interpretation." The Roman Church warned the early Protestants against allowing the laity to read the Scriptures for themselves, because they feared it would open a pandora's box of personal opinions and beliefs. They would only allow the Scriptures to be read in the Latin language, even if Germans or French didn't understand Latin. Martin Luther however upended this monopoly on "truth" by arguing for the right, and responsibility of private interpretation. He translated the Bible into the common German language so that everyone could hear the gospel in their own tongue. Watch as Pastor MacLaren comments on this segment of Dr. R C Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
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September 30, 2018
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Worship Service: "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness." Join the congregation of First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA (USA) as we worship the Lord together on the Lord's Day.
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Sermon: "Healing on the Lord's Day," John 5:1-18. The United States has been through a traumatic week of gripping testimony, charges, and counter claims. A US judge of impeccable credentials has his career and future threatened by claims made against him 38 years ago. In the midst of an exceedingly troubled and chaotic world, Jesus says, "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest." Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows how Jesus brings healilng and rest uniquely on the Lord's Day.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Interpretation of Scripture." Are we left with your opinion versus my opinion when it comes to the Bible, or does Scripture speak objectively with a clear voice that even the very young can understand? Pastor MacLaren discusses this and other related matters in this commentary based on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
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Congregational Hymn: "I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art," Trinity Hymnal #135. What a glorious thing it is to greet our Creator and Redeemer on the Lord's Day. Rather than "going within" as advocated by eastern mysticism, we go without ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone brings truth, wisdom, life, and peace to all who worship him. Forsake the idols of our present age, and worship the true God who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, through his Son the Lord Jesus. This hymn was sung from the Trinity Hymnal of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church at First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org) on September 30, 2018. The Rev. Richard S. MacLaren is the Pastor.
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Congregational Hymn: "O Day of Rest and Gladness," Trinity Hymnal #321. Does one day seem to run into the next, leaving you feeling harried and harassed with little sense of relief? Are you frustrated as one meaningless activity, one mindless conversation, runs into the next in a mind-numbing blur? Your life was not meant to be this way! God has placed a day of rest for you on the Lord's Day, a day for your refreshment and renewal. Join us as we sing of that glorious day from the Trinity Hymnal of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
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September 23, 2018
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Worship Service: "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness." Join the congregation of First Presbyterian Church OPC in Perkasie, PA (USA) as we worship the Lord together on the Lord's Day.
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Sermon: "Faith Confirmed by Fact," John 4:43-54. "Facts are facts" they say, but perhaps one should ask, "Is that a fact?" One wouldn't think that we need a concept of "fact" before we can discuss the events of history, and indeed of faith, but "facts are facts," and we need a biblical definition of "fact" before we can intelligently discuss the world around us. What we will learn from a certain official in the days of Jesus is that facts can be useful when understood in their God ordained role.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Canon of Scripture." A topic that you will hear rarely discussed at church in the formation of the Christian "canon" of Scripture. How did we come up with the 66 books of the Bible as sacred Scripture? Did that come about by a church decree, or were the documents "canonical" as soon as they were written? Pastor MacLaren discusses this and other related matters in this commentary based on Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
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"The Magic Bible," When you sit down in your pew and hear the pastor say as he begins his reading from the Scriptures, "Listen for the word of God," do your ears perk up? I don't mean, do you then listen more attentively to what is about to be said, but do you question the pastor for introducing the Bible reading in this way? Many don't catch what is happening here, but this is a most deceitful and evil thing to say! Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains why.
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"The KJV Only and the Canon of Scripture," Does the KJV Only believer, who asserts that the KJV is an inspired, inerrant translation of Scripture, violate the close of the canon of Scripture by the addition of new revelation to the church in the form of the English language translation? Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains in this online video ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org).
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September 16, 2018
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Worship Service: "Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.”
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Sermon: "A Harvest Greater Than Ever," John 4:27-42. One of the great truths of life is that "you reap what you sow." As the apostle Paul puts it, "the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." What have you invested your life in? Your family? Your comfort, security, pleasure? Will these things have any value if you miss God's purpose for your life? Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows how the great work of the kingdom should always be the mission of our lives.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Prophets of God." Did the prophets merely predict the future, or also preach to the present? Has their ministry ceased with the writing of Scripture, or are there inspired prophets today? Join the Men's Reformed Fellowship as we make our way through Dr. R C Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. This video was recorded on September 20, 2018, with Pastor Richard S. MacLaren.
September 9, 2018
Worship Service: "God himself is with us: Let us now adore him, And with awe appear before him. God is in his temple—All within keep silence, Prostrate lie with deepest rev'rence. Him alone God we own, Him, our God and Saviour; Praise his Name for ever."
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Sermon: "The New Age of the Spirit and Christian Worship," John 4:15-26. A "chance" conversation with an outcast, "complicated" woman gave Jesus the opportunity to express some of the most profound truths of the Christian faith on the subject of worship and the new age of the Spirit. Truly, Jesus was right when he prayed, "You have hidden these things from the wise... and revealed them to little children." Let us, like little children, long for the pure milk of the word of God!
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "True Theonomy!" Imagine what would happen if we lived in a culture that had no written laws to follow! Chaos would ensue in short order. Law is essential for the good order of society. God's Law not only governs societies, it governs history, the cosmos, and the Christian life. Watch as Pastor MacLaren comments on Dr. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, "The Law of God."
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September 2, 2018
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Worship Service: "Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” --John 4:13-14 ESV.
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Sermon: "Racism, Sexism, and the New Life," John 4:1-15. The woman who met Jesus at the well in Samaria was one "complicated" woman. A simple request for a drink of water becomes a minefield of objections that Jesus would have to work through in order to achieve his purpose. Issues of racisim, sexism, and bigotry are not unique to the modern age. Jesus had to confront them as well, and we learn here something of how we may best deal with them as well. This sermon was recorded live at First Presbyterian Church in Perkasie, PA on September 2, 2018.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "Special Revelation and the Bible." How did we get our Bibles? Did God dictate a message to the prophets, or was there a more organic process involved? Is the Bible inspired, and what does that mean? Are the copies of the original manuscripts or the translations today also inerrant? Is the King James Version of the Bible the inerrant word of God? Watch as Pastor MacLaren addresses these and many other issues during this video based on Dr. R C Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
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Outreach: "Is the King James Version an Inerrant Translation?" The King James Version of the Bible is a beloved translation that has served the church for centuries. Some, Impressed by that history, have concluded that it is remarkably set apart by God for the English speaking people, and even go further by saying that it is an inspired and inerrant translation, and that modern translations are works of the devil designed to decieve the unsuspecting. Pastor MacLaren explains something of the background of the translation history of the Bible in this video recorded on September 6, 2018.
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August 26, 2018
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Worship Service: The apostle John writes, "He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true." God indeed is true, and we join to confess that truth is found in Jesus and the salvation he brings. Truth matters, and in Jesus we have One who speaks a trustworthy word. Join the congregation of First Church as we worship the Lord by his Word and Spirit.
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Sermon: "He Must Increase," John 3:22-36. Sometimes we grumble over our place in life. There is so much more we want to do and experience, but we are limited by many different barriers: opportunity, health, finances, family, and many others. See how an understanding of our place in God's sovereign plan can bring a sense of peace and contentment in that which God provides, and have a deeper insight into God's purpose for your life.
https://youtu.be/2OxpKzHo9as
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "Immediate and Mediate General Revelation." So you find yourself walking through the jungles of Vietnam in late '69, and though you may be impressed by the jungle, you need to see through and beyond the jungle to the Viet Cong soldier with his gun trained on you in a rice patty. Fastforward to today, do you see the wonder and glory of God in the forests, lakes, and stars above, or do you merely look at the surface of things? Watch as Pastor MacLaren takes us through R C Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH in this video recorded on August 30, 2018.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "Jesus: True and Eternal God," Article 10 a. The most important question we must face in life is, "What do you think about Jesus Christ?" Your answer to this question will determine your your eternal destiny and personal assurance of salvation. Pastor MacLaren introduces a discussion of the deity of Jesus Christ from the Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 10, which asserts, "Jesus Is True God and Eternal God."
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August 19, 2018
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Worship Service: We sing, "the King of Love my Shepherd is, / Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am his / And he is mine forever." Do you know God as "the King of Love"? Has he become so to you? In this worship service, we confess the God who "so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This Son is Jesus Christ, our only hope for eternal life.
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Sermon: "For God So Loved the World!" John 3:9-21. It's the most famous verse in the Bible, and deservedly so. It speaks of a most unimaginable, stupendous truth: God loves us, infinitely, eternally, and unchangeably loves us, and has demonstrated that love in the most profound and wonderful way in the gift of his very own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Does this verse teach a universal salvation? Did Jesus have to die? Are you offended by the thought that God would send his own Son to die in place of his people? Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains the most popular, but perhaps most misunderstood verse in the Bible, John 3:16.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Witness of Scripture," Article 9. Within the Scottish Reformed tradition, we are perhaps more accustomed to a precise, analytical, semi-detached description of doctrine, including the doctrine of God. The Dutch Reformed tradition however seems to have a more personal/dynamic influence in its theological statements. Here in the Belgic Confession, Article 10, we find embedded in a statement on the witness of Scripture a reflection on the more personal effects of the Trinity within the soul of the believer. Watch as Pastor MacLaren continues his exposition of the Belgic Confession at First Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Perkasie, PA (www.firstchurchopc.org). This video was recorded on August 19, 2018.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: Some people think they are pretty smart because they can point to "contradictions" in the Bible and so "prove" that you are foolish for believing in Jesus. However, these so-called "contradictions," on further analysis, merely turn out to be paradoxes or mysteries, but not true, real contradictions. Watch as Pastor MacLaren continues his study based on R C Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH in this video.
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August 12, 2018
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Worship Service: “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy.”
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Sermon: "You Must Be Born Again!" John 3:1-15. Is the "new birth" a sign of religious fanaticism or a necessity for entrance into the kingdom of God? Many today "humanize" the concept of the new birth and understand it as a metaphor for a new beginning in life, as though one is inspired to do something new. But for Jesus and his disciples, the new birth is a profound spirituality produced by the Spirit of God. It brings a new life, a new power for living, and continues within us into eternity. Are you truly "born again"?
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The Belgic Confession: "Negative" theology is sometimes necessary! It is necessary to distinguish between what something IS, and what it is NOT. When it comes to the Trinity, we enter an area of mystery and wonder, and descriptions of God are sometimes necessry in a negative form to preserve us from idolatry. The persons of the Trinity then are described, not only positively, but also negatively, so that we might have a clear conception of the nature of God in his three persons. Pastor MacLaren continues his exposition of the Belgic Confession in this video recorded live on August 12, 2018.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "Divine Revelation," What does God think of the atheist? Does he have good reason for doubting the existence of God? What about those who never hear the gospel of Jesus--will they go to hell? Can an infant be saved? These are some of the questions Pastor MacLaren considers in the course of this video on the first chapter of ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH by R. C. Sproul.
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August 5, 2018
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Worship Service: We sing of "thanks never ceasing for infinite love!" Can you contemplate the infinite love of God Almighty for YOU!! As sinners against a holy God, how could we hope to find anything but the just judgment of God for sin? "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ!" Surely this is something to sing about, and something to proclaim to all. "Jesus saves!"
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Sermon: "The New and Greater Temple," John 2:13-25. In many circles the popular conception of Jesus is that of a gentle soul, "meek and mild." He would never say anything controversial or offensive, nor turn a disapproving eye on anyone. Sadly, this is a modern idol that bears no resemblance to the Jesus of the Gospels, who by his zeal for the Lord's house drove out the money changers and all who would pollute his worship with self-interest and greed. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows how this dramatic event in the gospel of John reveals Jesus as the new and greater Temple raised for our benefit.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Holy Trinity," Article 8. The doctrine of the Trinity is one that befuddles unbelievers but is a delight to the saints. We are called into fellowship with the one true God who exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Watch as Pastor MacLaren comments on the expression of this faith in the words of the Belgic Confession of Faith.
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Congregational Hymn: "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken," Trinity Hymnal #269.
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Congregational Hymn: "Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim," Trinity Hymnal #136.
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July 29, 2018
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Worship Service: "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!" So cried the Psalmist when he saw the kingdom in days of corruption and decline. Now, in this day of the Lord's resurrection, we may hope for a greater display of grace and power throughout the earth. Join the congregation of First Church OPC in Perkasie, PA, as we worship the Lord by his Word and Spirit.
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Sermon: "New Wine, New Creation," John 2:1-12. When the party is over and your life is running on empty, there is one who is greater than the Virgin Mary, greater even than Moses, who can turn your emptiness into the abundance of joy and life. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows from a simple country wedding how Jesus revealed himself as the Lord of Creation and of Life.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Holy Trinity," Article 8. The doctrine of the Trinity is one that befuddles unbelievers but is a delight to the saints. We are called into fellowship with the one true God who exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Watch as Pastor MacLaren comments on the expression of this faith in the words of the Belgic Confession of Faith.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: Excuses #7-8. Pastor MacLaren covers a lot of ground in this video taken from Dr. R. C. Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. This video will be very helpful to the Christian community in understanding the importance of faithful Bible study.
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Hymn of the Month: "Take My Life, and Let It Be," Trinity Hymnal #492.
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July 22, 2018
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Worship Service: "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!" So cried the Psalmist when he saw the kingdom in days of corruption and decline. Now, in this day of the Lord's resurrection, we may hope for a greater display of grace and power throughout the earth. Join the congregation of First Church OPC in Perkasie, PA, as we worship the Lord by his Word and Spirit.
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Sermon: "Follow Me!" John 1:35-51. Many today look for "mentors" to help develop their lives in powerful ways. But whom do you choose? Do you follow a successful athlete, businessman, or parent? Do you follow a religious leader, a new age guru or a wise philosopher? Jesus stands far above these in his call to his first disciples to "Follow Me!" He was not merely a mentor, but the Son of God and King of Israel! Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows how Jesus gathered his first disciples and completely transformed their lives.
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Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Sufficiency of Scripture," Pt. 2. Is the Bible, on its own, sufficient to give you all you need to enter glory, or do you need to supplement it with other religious traditions, spiritual revelations, or modern philosophies?
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: Excuses #5-6. The Men's Reformed Fellowship gathers weekly to discuss the impact of the Christian faith on all of life. In this video, Pastor MacLaren expands on the discussion held on July 27, 2018.
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July 15, 2018
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Worship Service: As dark clouds, rain, lightning and thunder swirled around the borough, the congregation of First Church lifted up their voices in worship and praise to the One who has triumphed over the chaos of sin and evil and brings us into the light of His dear presence. Join us as we worship the Lamb that was slain for us, that we might live for him.
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Sermon: "The Lamb of God," John 1:19-34. The central witness of the Christian church is to Jesus as the "Lamb of God" who took away the sin of the world by the sacrifice of himself. This Lamb was no mere example of gentleness and purity, but rather a sacrifice to atone for sin, the sin of people from all around the world, from every nation under the heavens.
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The Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Sufficiency of Scripture," Article 7a. Is the Bible sufficient, on its own terms, to lead us to heaven through faith in Jesus Christ, or do we need new revelations from the Spirit or the teachings of our church, or even our own visions and dreams, to supplement our faith and advance our spiritual life? Should we listen more to science, philosophy, and the insights of modern psychology to better understand how to live? The Belgic Confession, in harmony with all great Reformed Confessions of Faith, affirms that the Scripture is sufficient, by itself, to guide our lives.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "Excuses #3-4." The introduction to R C Sproul's book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, highlights some of the excuses people make for not studying the Scriptures in any depth. In this video, Pastor MacLaren discusses the third and fourth excuses offered, and how they have been found in a variety of different churches. Pastor MacLaren concludes with an appeal to women in particular to consider the value of a Reformed ministry in the life of their husbands and families....
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "Excuses #1-2." What excuses have you heard from those who seem hostile to an advanced understanding of the Scriptures? Dr. Sproul lists ten of them in the introduction to his book, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. Pastor MacLaren leads a study for the Men's Reformed Fellowship focusing on the first two excuses that are popular today in most Evangelical circles.
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July 8, 2018
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Worship Service: Were you in the Lord's presence on Sunday, worshipping by the power of his Spirit? If so, you might have been singing one of the great hymns of the Christian faith, "I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art." What a blessing to have fellowship with the living God through his Son the Lord Jesus Christ!
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Sermon: "Grace and Truth in Jesus," John 1:6-18. A good illustration is a window for the soul for seeing the truth. Some pastors excel in the use of illustrations, but God has "illustrated" his Word when the Word became flesh in Jesus. Jesus shows how God has provided a new Exodus for his people from their sin. Indeed, Jesus is greater than Moses, as the grace and truth of the gospel far exceeds the demands of the Law.
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The Belgic Confession of Faith: "The Authority of Scripture," Article 5. Authority to speak is of great importance for determining what you will believe to be true, or what path of conduct you will pursue. Is your ultimate authority your own consciousness? Is it your church? How about a political party or even the pope? The Reformation began with the principle that the Scriptures are the Word of God and therefore the final authority for faith and life. Please join Pastor MacLaren as he leads a meditation on the Belgic Confession of Faith, Art. 5.
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July 1, 2018
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Worship Service: Has today's secularism and materialism left you feeling empty, with nothing to live for? Have you sought an escape through mindfulness meditation and eastern mysticism, only to discover that the "light" within you was blind to reason, morals, and reality? There is yet hope! The Bible says, "In him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men." Don't go "within," go "above!" Seek Jesus, and you will find life and light!
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Sermon: "Light and Life in Jesus," John 1:1-13. The Gospel of John introduces us to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, with a specific purpose: that by believing in Jesus, we might have life, abundant, eternal, true life. He begins his gospel with an unexpected turn. He links Jesus with the creation of all things by saying, "In the beginning was the Word!" That phrase has its roots in the Genesis account of creation, only there it reads, "In the beginning, God...." John has something wonderful to say about Jesus, and if you believe his witness, you will find a wonderful change in your life too!
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: Introducing ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. The Men's Reformed Fellowship is a discipleship group for men who are committed to bringing their lives under the lordship of Jesus Christ. We are beginning a study of Dr. R. C. Sproul's book ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH as the starting point for discussions on the teaching of the Scriptures. Pastor MacLaren in this video develops those conversations further for the benefit of those unable to attend the meetings.
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June 24, 2018
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Worship Service: Each sunrise is a call to worship our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, but with each Lord's Day we are called to enter His presence in the fellowship of the saints and praise his name together! Do you know Jesus, who makes the sun shine and one day will make the earth shake? Unless you know the Son, you cannot know the Father. Join the congregation of First Presbyterian Church as we worship God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who made us, redeemed us, and will some day glorify us!
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Sermon: "The Victor's Crown," 2 Timothy 4:1-8. Paul McCartney took part in a nostalgic look at his life as one of the British pop stars for the Beatles. His whimsical look at a life that began in a little home on Penny Lane in England and took him to stardom around the world reminds us that there is value to a life well-lived. McCartney's penchant for eastern mysticism comes through in the video at different points, and poses a stark contrast to the distinctly trinitarian faith of the apostle Paul, who similarly looked back on his life shortly before his own execution. Paul said he had fought the good fight, finished the race, and had kept the faith, which apparently McCartney did not. For the Apostle, there was now the hope of a crown of righteousness before him, of personal vindication by the risen Lord Jesus Christ at the final judgment. Paul wrote, "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." Are you ready for that day? Do you look forward to it with joy, or with dread? Watch as Pastor MacLaren concludes his series of messages on Spiritual Warfare with this sermon
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Belgic Confession: "The Canon of Scripture."
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June 17, 2018
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Worship Service: If God is your Father, do you honor him? We become the children of God through his adoption of us into his family. Jesus is our elder brother, and we are brothers and sisters in him! On this Father's Day we gathered to give thanks to God for his blessings to our families on earth and in heaven, and to worship God for his nature, glory, and infinity.
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Sermon: "Deconstructing Paganism," 2 Corinthians 10:1-6. Paganism is that system of unbelief that rejects the Word of God and raises in its place the edifice of naturalism, which consists chiefly in the worship of the creature rather than the Creator. The citadel of paganism is as impressive as it is imperious. In its arrogance it attempts to explain everything without God, the true God of the Bible. It afflicts the church from without through pagan philosophies and religions, but it also works inside the church to undermine faith in Jesus and to insinuate faith in man. What should the Christian pastor, teacher, or parent do? Ignore it and blithely speak of happy things, or confront it directly with the weapons that God provides?
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Belgic Confession: "God's Word Written."
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June 10, 2018
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Sermon: "Glory to God," . A life without purpose is aimless and disordered. After wasting its energies, it will soon drift away and be remembered no more. Some however confuse an intentional life with a good, productive life, and what counts is not the forethought and planning given to one's life, but the proper purpose. Watch as Pastor MacLaren continues his series of messages on Spiritual Warfare by talking about the new purpose that guides the Christian life.
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Belgic Confession: "How Can I Know God?" We are troubled to know whether God exists, and what kind of God is He? or She??? Modern skepticism and confusion on this are so great that many are finding "refuge" in atheism and nihilism. As the Apostle Paul observed two millenia ago, "They are without hope and without God in the world." Indeed they are. The truth is that there is no possibility of our knowing God unless he sovereignly and graciously reveals himself to us. Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains the second article of the Belgic Confession of Faith on how we know God.
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June 3, 2018
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Sermon: "Renewed By Hope," 1 John 2:26-3:3. Mainline Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches are led by theologians and pastors who seek to separate the ethics of Jesus from the eschatology of Jesus. This is one facet of their overall effort to explain away the supernatural element of Scripture and reinterpret the Bible along naturalistic catagories. So the thought of a bodily return of the living Jesus, the judgment of the nations at the end of history, hell for the wicked and heaven for the just, is mere mythology that has unnecessarily attached itself to Jesus and his message of love. Pastor MacLaren will show however that the hope of Christ's return is a significant motivation to a moral life.
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Communion Meditation: "Communion Eschatology." What do you say to the young Jehovah's Witness who knocks on your door and wants to talk about the coming age? Pastor MacLaren shares his experience with a young man named Anton who wanted to talk about eschatology. True eschatology is infused and suffused with Jesus Christ, the Christ of Scripture.
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May 27, 2018 (Trinity)
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Sermon: "The Fruit of the Spirit," Galatians 5:16-26. Though the Christian experiences a constant battle against the evils within and without, he may be encouraged to know that he is not alone in the struggle. God has given us His Spirit to powerfully, naturally, and joyfully transform our lives. Watch as Pastor MacLaren speaks about the fruit of the Spirit in the life of the Christian.
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The Belgic Confession: "The Divine Simplicity," Article 1 (Part 2). It might seem strange to say that God is "simple." Most people would confess that they have a hard time understanding God's mysterious nature, and so to say that God is "simple" seems audacious. But this does not speak of how easy it is to understand God and his ways, but of the pure nature of God. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows from the Belgic Confession of Faith what Christians believe about the "simplicity" of God.
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May 20, 2018 (Pentecost)
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Worship Service: The Lord Jesus poured out his Spirit on his church at Pentecost, and ever since the church has been strengthened to proclaim his praises among the nations of the earth. Is the Spirit of the Lord Jesus at work in your life?
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Sermon: "The Christian's Conscience," 1 Corinthians 8. Too often we are tempted to shrink our responsibilities to only that which affects "me." If I feel that a course of action is ok, I tend to follow it without giving thought to a wider perspective. But the gospel teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and even to imitate the love of Christ, who gave himself up for others. Watch as Pastor MacLaren speaks on the nature of the Christian conscience and the role that it plays in our moral life.
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The Belgic Confession: "We All Believe," Article 1. "Religious people" are often ambiguously called "people of faith," with a generic "faith" embracing all sorts of beliefs and practices. In fact, everyone has some sort of belief system that governs their lives, whether they self consciously understand that or not. What do you believe? The Christian is forthright in asserting what he believes about the great issues of life: the nature of God, the sin of man, the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains the nature and importance of confessions of faith.
https://youtu.be/hL3rXTfWheU
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May 13, 2018 (Ascension Sunday/Mother's Day)
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Sermon: "When You Are Tempted," Matthew 4:1-11. Let's face it, you are going to be tempted to do something you will regret today. If anyone says he is above being tempted, he's fooling himself. Even Jesus was tempted, but Jesus was also without sin. The place then to learn about overcoming temptation is in the experience of Jesus. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows what we may learn from the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness that will help us in our own temptations to sin.
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May 6, 2018 (Communion Service)
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Sermon: "A Heavenly Mind," Colossians 3:1-17. It is said that some are so "heavenly-minded" as to be of "no earthly good." Now, it may be true that a Christian who devotes himself to the Scriptures might not be very good with a hammer and nails, but a truly spiritual mind is in fact the most practical and desireable mind to have. After all, what good is it to be proficient with a hammer and nails if your heart is filled with anger, anxiety, lies, and greed? But a mind filled with love and peace will bring many blessings to all around it.
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April 29, 2018
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Sermon: "The Conflict Within," Romans 7:14-25. Have you come to faith in Jesus and experienced the powerful transformation of the new life within you, but find that there is a new warfare at work now within your very soul, a conflict between the "flesh" and the Spirit," between good and evil? Do not be discouraged, this is the experience of every true believer. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows through the experience of the apostle Paul how God has been willing to leave within us the remnants of our old nature.
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Homily: "Guido de Bres and the Belgic Confession of Faith," Pastor MacLaren. A Confession of Faith should not merely be a profession on our llps, but a personal confession of a living faith. This is certainly what we have in the Belgic Confession of Faith, a warm and personal confession that has a great story behind it. Watch as Pastor MacLaren tells something of the story of the Confession's origins.
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April 22, 2018
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Sermon: "The State Religion," Revelation 13:11-18. Whether we speak of the family, politics, education, business, or entertainment, all of life is ultimately a reflection of our deep religious commitments. They color our view of life, and imperceptively shape our lives. Most people are not aware of those commitments, and so naively think that they are neutral parties in any dispute. Pastor MacLaren will show that there is a "state religion" that controls many today that Christians especially need to be aware of.
April 15, 2018
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Sermon: "The Deep State," Revelation 13:1-10. Many concerned about our constitutional freedoms in the United States have warned about the development of a "deep state" in our government: an unelected bureaucracy that is self-consciously advancing an agenda to enrich themselves at the expence of the American people. Pastor MacLaren observes that the apostle John warned of an even "deeper" state within national and international governments that is hostile to the interests of the kingdom of God.
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April 8, 2018
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Sermon: "The Lord's Supper and Spiritual Warfare," Luke 22:14-38. The Communion Table would seem to be a place for unity and peace, and so it is. But that peace is set in the backdrop of a great conflict between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows how the communion meal is designed to strengthen the Christian for spiritual warfare.
April 1, 2018
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "Machen: The Witness of the Synoptic Gospels to the Deity of Jesus." Modern naturalistic scholarship thought to evade the clear proclamation of the deity of Jesus in the fourth gospel, the Gospel of John, by denying its historicity. It sought refuge in the "synoptic" gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) with the thought that they did not speak so distinctly about the deity of Jesus. Not so, says Machen. They are filled with testimony to his divine nature from the very beginning of their accounts. Pastor MacLaren continues his commentary on Machen's great work, THE PERSON OF JESUS: RADIO ADDRESSES ON THE DEITY OF THE SAVIOR. This video was originally broadcast live on Facebook on April 5, 2018.
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Sermon: "Resurrection Power and Spiritual Warfare," Philippians 3:1-16. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was not only a triumph of life over death, it was the conquest of the devil and sin, heralding the new eschatological age of the Spirit's presence in glory and power. Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows how our lives are transformed and equipped for spiritual warfare through the resurrection power of Christ.
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March 25, 2018
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Sunday Presbyterian: "A Trustworthy Saying," 1 Timothy 1:15. The message of the gospel may be concentrated and crystalized in key statements that form the beginnings of doctrinal Christianity. Statements like that repeated by the apostle Paul to Timothy form the foundation for the development in the church of catechisms, creeds, and confessional statements. Our modern age is hostile to such concise assertions of the Christian faith, preferring bland platitudes and assurances of tolerance and acceptance. Watch as Pastor MacLaren "unpacks" one of those concise statements and shows its usefulness to the Christian church. This video was recorded live on Facebook on March 28, 2018.
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Sermon: "The Salvation Army," Ephesians 6:10-20. On Palm Sunday the Christian Church traditionally remembers the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem in triumph as his disciples cried out, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." Jesus, as a conquering king, entered the city, but little did his disciples realize the nature of the conflict that awaited him by the end of that momentous week. By Thursday evening, Peter would draw his sword in defense of his Master, only to be told to put the sword away.... Jesus had a greater mission than that of a military hero. Nonetheless, Jesus would equip his disciples with spiritual armor and strengthen them to fight the battles of the Lord among the nations of the earth. Watch as Pastor MacLaren reveals something of this great spiritual armor that we have through our unioon with Christ.
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March 18, 2018
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Sermon: "God Our Warrior/Savior," Exodus 15:1-18. Does your church hymnal have "Onward Christian Soldiers" or "The Son of God Goes Forth to War?" These great old hymns encouraged the church in her spiritual warfare in generations past, but today modern progressive churches consider them too militaristic and aggressive, and no longer include them in their worship services. That would not have satisfied Miriam the Prophetess in the days of Moses, and it shouldn't satisfy you either. Pastor MacLaren will show from the Scriptures that God is a Warrior, and as such is the object of our worship and thanksgiving!
March 11, 2018
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Sermon: "Spiritual Warfare, #2: Understanding the Times," Revelation 12. King David was blessed with men who understood the times and could properly advise him of the best course of action. Such discernment is not given to many, but to those within the church of the Lord Jesus, we are given an insight into the character of the age in which we live which will give us great comfort.
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Men's Reformed Fellowship: "The Deity of Christ." The Men's Reformed Book Club is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church that equips men for following the Lord Jesus within the context of our Western Post-modern Culture. We are currently reading through Dr. J. Gresham Machen's book, THE PERSON OF JESUS: RADIO ADDRESSES ON THE DEITY OF THE SAVIOR. This video begins the second chapter of that book with comments by Pastor MacLaren.
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Special Music: "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," Trinity Hymnal #533.
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March 4, 2018
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Sermon: "Crossing the Jordan," Joshua 3. The experience of death is often compared to passing through a river. For the Christian, that river crossing is forever changed by his Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has stood in the middle of death and made that pathway safe for us. Watch as Pastor MacLaren begins a new series of sermons on Spiritual Warfare.
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Men's Reformed Book Club: "The Deity of Christ." The Men's Reformed Book Club is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church that equips men for following the Lord Jesus within the context of our Western Post-modern Culture. We are currently reading through Dr. J. Gresham Machen's book, THE PERSON OF JESUS: RADIO ADDRESSES ON THE DEITY OF THE SAVIOR. This video begins the second chapter of that book with comments by Pastor MacLaren.
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Men's Reformed Book Club: "The Triune God." We are reading through J Gresham Machen's book, THE PERSON OF JESUS: RADIO ADDRESSES ON THE DEITY OF THE SAVIOR. This video covers chapter 1, pp. 10-14. Pastor MacLaren leads the reading and makes comments on the topics considered.
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February 25, 2018
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Sermon: "Reasons for Hope," 1 Peter 3:15. Why has the Christian faith been so persistent over time? In spite of incredible suffering and affliction, Christian people live a different life, one inspired by hope and strengthened by God's revelation. What possible reasons could they have for remaining hopeful in an increasingly secular and hostile world? Pastor MacLaren considers the exhortation from the Apostle Peter for Christians to "be prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have...."
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February 11, 2018
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Sermon: "Our Great Mission," Luke 5:1-11. What is the "mission statement" of your church? It might be hard to define, especially in our modern day when it seems that the church is all things to all people. For some it is a social agency, for others it is a place for moral reform or political action. Still others might see it as a place for religious experience and inspiration. After Jesus spoke to the crowds gathered around him by the Sea of Galilee, he gave a new vision to his most intimate disciples about the mission of the church. Watch as Pastor MacLaren reveals something of the nature of that great mission, especially as it applies to our many-sided experience in life.
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February 4, 2018
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Sermon: "The Final Judgment," Matthew 25:31-46. When your life draws towards its close, will you be ready to die? There is a lot of curiousity about what lies beyond the grave, and there's also a great measure of fear. It can be frightening simply because we may not know what to expect, but even more frightening is the prospect of appearing before God to be judged for our sins. Pastor MacLaren will show from the Scriptures that we will indeed be judged by God, and his judgment will be both just and merciful.
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January 28, 2018
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Worship Service:
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Sermon Postscript: "Resurrection Witness, Resurrection Life!" In this Sermon Postscript, Pastor MacLaren explores further the impact of the resurrection has on our view of Jesus Christ and his work of redemption, contrasting that with alternative points of view found in mainline protestant Christianity, Romanism, and Evangelicalism.
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Sermon: "Resurrection Witnesses," Acts 2:22-41. You may have heard that Jesus had performed many miracles, but did you also know that he raised the dead? And not just once or twice? What is the meaning of these various resurrections, and what do they have to say about the nature of Christ's word? Watch as Pastor MacLaren explains from Peter's great sermon at Pentecost how the powers of the age to come were revealed in Jesus.
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January 21, 2018
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Sermon: "The Word of the Cross," 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5, Many today may preach about "Jesus," but do they preach the Jesus that Paul preached, the Jesus who was "crucified." How many today truly understand the nature of the cross of Christ and what it tells us about Jesus? And if we do understand what God revealed at the cross, are we committed to telling others about it?
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January 14, 2018
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Sermon Postscript: "Textual Comments on John 5:4.
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Sermon: "The Witness of Christ's Miracles," John 5:30-47. Are miracles possible? What do they mean? The Bible tells us that Jesus performed many miracles, in fact, so many that they defy any effort to count them all. What is more, they were done publicly, in full view of both his supporters and his enemies! What could account for this supernatural power? Watch as Pastor MacLaren shows from the Scriptures how the miracles of Jesus reveal his divine nature and messianic mission.
Revised: https://youtu.be/ThBfxANHfCg