Lamoille Valley Grace Brethren Church
January 21, 2024

      • 1 Peter 2:9NASB95

  • Trading My Sorrows
  • Are Ye Able

      • Psalm 19:1–14NASB95

  • I. Choose a Good Example

    Who is your hero? Who do you admire? You will be like them so choose wisely.
    2 Timothy 3:10–11 NASB95
    10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
    follow - To learn at close quarters. Its one thing to follow your favorite basketball player on TV and try to be like him, but it is a whole other thing to practice with them on a real court.

    A. Teaching

    who do you listen to on the radio, social media, etc.? Who do you read?
    Timothy there when Paul reasoned in the synagogs with the rabbis.
    ​

    B. Conduct

    The way of life.

    C. Virtues

    Purpose

    Philippians 1:20–21 NASB95
    20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
    ​

    Faith

    Faith in Jesus or faithfulness to Jesus
    1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB95
    58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
    ​

    Patience

    ​

    Love

    Paul wrote the love chapter, 1 Cor. 13. It was the goal of his instruction
    1 Timothy 1:5 NASB95
    5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
    His love for the Jews
    Romans 9:3 NASB95
    3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

    Perseverance

    D. Suffering

    Persecutions

    Acts 17:13–14 NASB95
    13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.
    ​

    Sufferings

    Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra - the beginning of persecution in Timothy’s home area. (Acts 13:14…)
    2 Corinthians 11:23–29 NASB95
    23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
    Quote from Psalms
    Psalm 34:19 NASB95
    19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
    Romans 8:35 NASB95
    35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
    I know that I as a pastor I become the default pattern for our church. What a privilege! and for me what a responsibility!
    ​

    II. Desire to Live for Christ

    A. Even Though You Will Be Persecuted

    2 Timothy 3:12 NASB95
    12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
    live godly
    in Christ Jesus - mormons, Jehovah witnesses, christian scientist etc are exempt.
    John Calvin
    Commentaries on the Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon Chapter 3

    they who wish to be exempt from persecutions must necessarily renounce Christ.

    Different ways to suffer for Jesus.
    Saint Jerome coined the term “red martyrs” for those who give their lives for Christ and “white martyrs” who suffer in other ways without loosing blood.
    ​
    Encouragement
    2 Corinthians 1:5 NASB95
    5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
    ​
    ​

    B. Even Though It Will Get Worse

    2 Timothy 3:13 NASB95
    13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
    So…
    2 Timothy 1:6 NASB95
    6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
    ​
    ​

      • 2 Timothy 3:10–11NASB95

      • Philippians 1:20–21NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 15:58NASB95

      • 1 Timothy 1:5NASB95

      • Romans 9:3NASB95

      • Acts 17:13–14NASB95

      • 2 Corinthians 11:23–29NASB95

      • Psalm 34:19NASB95

      • Romans 8:35NASB95

      • 2 Timothy 3:12NASB95

      • 2 Corinthians 1:5NASB95

      • 2 Timothy 3:13NASB95

      • 2 Timothy 1:6NASB95

  • Whom Shall I Fear God Of Angel Armies
  • Is He Worthy?
Lamoille Valley Grace Brethren Church
pastorethan@lvgbc.net
8028883339
http://www.lvgbc.net
25 members