Mid Cities OPC

On Sunday, May 14, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Knowing the Mystery" from Colossians 2:1-5.

"God makes us mature by knitting us together in love and giving us understanding of who Christ is and what he has done."

1. Struggle to Encourage (vs. 1-2a)

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love,

2. Assurance of Understanding (vs. 2b-4)

to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 

3. Decently and in Good Order (v. 5)

5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

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On Sunday, May 7, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "Confessing Christ" from Matthew 10:26-33.

"Have no fear when you confess your faith in Christ to others, because your Father who has power over life and death loves you."

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.

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On Sunday, April 30, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "Christ in You, the Hope of Glory" from Colossians 1:24-29.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

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On Sunday, April 23, 2023, Rev. Robert Mossotti preached "The Parable of the Sower" from Luke 8:1-15.

1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

On Sunday, April 16, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "From Hostile to Holy" from Colossians 1:21-23.

"The wrath of God upon the Son of God has reconciled sinful men and women to the holy God."

1. Alienated and Evil (v. 21)

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 

2. Restored Above Reproach (v. 22)

22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 

3. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (v. 23)

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

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On Sunday, April 9, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Part 2: The Firstborn from the Dead" from (Colossians 1:18-20).

"When Jesus Christ conquered death, he showed the world that he is the everlasting Son of God, and he carried us with him from death to life."

1. In the Beginning

2. Darkness Over the Deep

3. Let There Be Light

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

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On Sunday, April 2, 2023 Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Part 1: By the Blood of His Cross" from Colossians 1:18-20.

"Jesus Christ made peace between us and God by uniting himself to us as a head is united to a body, shedding his blood for us and rising again."

1. For Our Sake God Bled

2. The God Who Died is the Head of the Church

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. mcopc.org/podcast

On Sunday, March 26, 2023 Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Imaging the Invisible" from Colossians 1:15-17.

"Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, infallibly makes God known to us so that we might worship and have joy in the triune God forever."

1. Invisible, Yet Visible (v. 15)

2. Uncreated, Yet Born of a Creature (vs. 16-17).

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

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On Sunday, March 19, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "From God's Wisdom to Our Walk" from Colossians 1:9-14. "God gives wisdom to his people in order for us to be built up into his spiritual temple." 1. Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding (v. 9) 2. A Worthy Manner (vs. 10-12) 3. Out of Darkness (vs. 13-14) 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks[a] to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

On Sunday, March 12, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Power of the Gospel" from Colossians 1:5b-8.

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is foolishness to those who refuse to believe, but for those who trust in Jesus it is the very power of God himself.

1. The Word of the Truth (v. 5b)

2. God-Given Growth (v. 6)

3. A Minister of Christ (vs. 7-8) 

5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

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On Sunday, March 5, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "Faith, Hope and Love" from Colossians 1:3-5a.

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ gives us the sure hope of everlasting life which causes us to love all saints."

1. Always Thankful (v. 3)

2. Reports of Faith (v. 4)

3. An Imperishable H ope (v. 5a)

4. The Fruit of Love 

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

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On Sunday, February 26, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman introduced his exposition of the book of Colossians by preaching "Apostolic Greetings and Salutations" from Colossians 1:1-2.

"The sovereign grace that called Paul to be an apostle is the same sovereign grace that called you to repent and believe in Jesus Christ."

1. By the Will of God (v. 1)

2. To the Saints (v. 2a)

3. Grace and Peace (v. 2b)

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On Sunday, February 19, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "David: A Life Remembered for Our Instruction" from 1 Samuel 13:11-15.

In the history of David's life we are shown how awful David's sins were, and how great God's salvation is.

1. A Man in Full

2. A Type of Christ

3. A Man After God's Own Heart 

11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.

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On Sunday, February 12, 2023, Rev. Robert Mossotti preached "Something New Under the Sun" from Luke 24:13-27.

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

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On Sunday, February 5, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "The Burdens of Others" from Galatians 6:1-5.

"Jesus Christ bore the burden of our sin and guilt on the cross, and we must bear the burden of our brothers and sisteres in Christ."

1. Bearing Each Others' Burdens (vs. 1-2)

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

2. Bearing Your Own Load (v. 3-5) 

3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

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On Sunday, January 29, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "The Power of the Sword" from 1 Kings 2:13-46.

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On Sunday, January 15, 2023, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "The Son Who Did Learn Obedience" from 1 Kings 2:1-12.

"Jesus Christ, the Son of God, co-equal in power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, learned obedience to his Father in order to save sinners."

1. Commands He Couldn't Keep (vs. 1-4)

1 When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

2. Unfinished Business (vs. 5-9)

5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”

3. David at Rest (vs. 10-12)

10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.

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