Sermons on Isaac Kappy:

Never Forgotten

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on May 11, 2015

As a mother never forgets her child, so our Father never forgets His children.

WHEN I WAS A KID – I mean, a really little kid – my mother had to ride a bus to work every day. But first, she had to drop me off at the sitter’s, which means that I rode on the bus part of the way with her. It was always early in the morning. Ordinarily, the sun wasn’t ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:13-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Winsome Church

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on May 28, 2015

A winsome church does God's work God's way for the sake of God's world.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL recently published a report indicating that “the U.S. now has a bigger share of people who don’t identify with any religion than those who do. In the last seven years, the number of people unaffiliated with either Roman Catholic or mainline Protestant churches ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-42

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gift

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 1, 2015

What God gives in love, we receive by faith, so that we may live in hope.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS with religion is: You can believe all the right things – that is, you can be orthodox in your faith – but it can be a dead orthodoxy. You know what I mean? It can appear lifeless, certainly not vital and contagious. Same thing with our conduct. We may behave ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Word On The Street

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 2, 2015

Our true vocation in life is to bear witness to the light, to reflect the glory of God, to mirror His majesty, to glorify Him.

Jesus is called many things in Scripture. In the Gospel of John alone, he is called the Lamb of God, the light of the world, the bread of life, the gate of the sheep. He is even called a Vine. But here in chapter 1 he is called “the Word.” And there’s a reason for that. In Jesus, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Soil Samples

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 2, 2015

There’s a condition of the heart that is necessary if the Word of God is to have a lasting effect on any of us.

This little parable of Jesus got me thinking about taking soil samples. You know, with all its talk about different kinds of soil. So, what I did is: I logged on to YouTube and did a search. And, sure enough, there was a video on how to do it, how to take a soil sample. As you might guess, as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Beyond Our Strength Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 16, 2015

When you undergo afflictions, go over your convictions.

JOSEPH BAYLY ONCE SAID, “Never doubt in the dark what you learned in the light.” But we do, don’t we? When we go through times of trial, we lose sight of what we believe. We have a tendency to see only the bad our afflictions. For example, when the heat’s on, we may assume ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Gives Us Love Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 6, 2015

How is God glorified? By the fruit we bear. And how do we bear fruit? By abiding in Jesus. He is the vine; we are the branches. Apart from him we can do nothing. No root, no fruit.

THERE IS A STORY told about a young pastor, fresh out of seminary, who was to give his first sermon to his new congregation. He had graduated with honors, and everybody who knew him was sure that he was on a fast track to notoriety as a great preacher. His congregation watched as he entered the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Gives Us Truth Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 9, 2015

The Holy Spirit tells us the truth. He tells us the truth about sin (the sin of unbelief), about righteousness (in Jesus), and about judgment.

WHAT JESUS IS DOING here is: He is consoling his disciples. This is the last night before his death, and he tells them that he is gong away. And, of course, they are sad. But he reassures them. He tells them that his departure is for their good. “It is to your advantage that I go ...read more

Scripture: John 16:4-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Gives Us Joy Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 16, 2015

Whatever you're going through, Jesus will get you through.

“HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY under water without coming up for air?” That was the challenge my boyhood friend made to me. He boasted himself a full minute-and-a-half. “No contest!” I said. “Three minutes! Watch this.” I sucked in as much air as I could, and I plunged ...read more

Scripture: John 16:16-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Gives Us His Word Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 23, 2015

Make Jesus' passion your passion, his aims your aims, and pray for these things every day.

THIS PAST TUESDAY, I took a day away from my desk, and Jan and I made a trip to Frisco, which is one of the places we like to go when we can. We ate at a favorite restaurant, relaxed and talked a bit, and then, as we almost always do, we went our separate ways – Jan to shop, and what I always ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The End In Mind Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 23, 2015

The work God does in you and me has three phases: a beginning, a middle, and an end. God began His “good work” in us, He “will carry it on,” and, in time, He will bring it to completion.

Recently, our daughter Catherine completed a refinishing project. Se took an old chest, worn and marred by the years and transformed it into an elegant piece of furniture, which she is pleased to display in her home. She took an object that was ruined and unsightly and restored it in such a way ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Advancing The Gospel Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 23, 2015

Can we look at this or that circumstance in our lives and say, “As bad as my situation is, I can see a way to press it into the service of the gospel. I can bear witness to Christ even in the midst of this”?

Patsy Bonner shared with our Friday Bible study group a spoof news story that had been sent to her recently. The dateline is ostensibly Dallas, and the brief that follows says: Dallas Cowboys football practice was delayed nearly two hours today after a player reported finding an unknown white ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Embodying The Gospel Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 23, 2015

Living in a manner that is worthy of the gospel has three conditions.

If you don’t mind, let’s go back to the beginning of this passage. We read there – in chapter 1, verse 27 – that we are to live our lives “in a manner [that is] worthy of the gospel.” This is a simple but urgent appeal to us, and if we are to respond to it, if ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Looking Out For Number One Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 23, 2015

Jesus Christ deserves to be your Number One.

Paul, you will remember, writes these words from a Roman jail. And he is not there for committing a crime; he is there for his commitment to Christ. But, even though he is in Rome, he is concerned about his friends in Philippi, some eight hundred miles away. They are concerned about him, too. In ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Greatest Gain Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 23, 2015

Whatever advantage you think you have, consider it a loss, so that you may know Christ and be found in him.

Tim Keller has said that there are three ways to live. One is the way of the rebellious. The second is the way of the religious. And the third is the way of the redeemed. You can see all three of these played out in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, a story that Jesus told about two brothers. One ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed