Sermons on Isaac Kappy:

Whose Story Is It?

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 9, 2018

Are the star of your own story with God playing a supporting role, or are you in a story that’s bigger than you, with God in the lead and you in the supporting role?

Bill Clem opens his book, Disciple, with two scenarios. One has to do with a couple of guys who are theater majors in college, and they grow impatient with all the hoops they have to jump through to finish their degree. They just want to be producing plays and directing and acting in them. So, one ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God's Covenant With Abraham

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 9, 2018

God's promises don’t rest on your faith. They rest on his faithfulness. But how can you not have faith in One so faithful?

TODAY I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU about faithfulness—not yours, but God’s God is a promise-making God, but he is also a promise-keeping God. He is faithful in keeping his Word. Now, admittedly, it is sometimes hard to believe that. Our faith falters when it looks like God has forgotten what he ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Postscript: Thine Is The Kingdom

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jul 7, 2018

The Lord’s Prayer is not just something you say to God. When you pray it, it says something about you.

We come at last to the postscript of the Lord’s Prayer. And while these words do not appear in the best manuscripts of the New Testament, they surely belong in the prayer. They are in any case biblical. I hope you noticed that as we read the Old Testament lesson from 1 Chronicles 29. How can you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, Romans 11:33-36, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Pharisee And The Tax Collector

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jul 29, 2018

Some people soak in their own righteousness; others seek a righteousness not their own. It is the latter who are in a right standing with God.

HOW DO YOU KNOW that you’re right with God? Can you know such a thing? When I was in the eleventh grade, one of my friends took his own life. Some of you have heard me tell that story. I don’t want to get into the details now, but I do want to talk about the effect my friend’s death had on me. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Found In Christ

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 27, 2023

Salvation is not achieved; it is received.

I hope that every person within earshot of my voice today is a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing else would please me so much as if that were the case. But I cannot risk thinking it is so if it is not. Too much is at stake. Eternity is at stake. For it only faith in Christ that will secure ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:2-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Our Hope Is In The Lord

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 27, 2023

We trust that God, who has been faithful in our past, will remain faithful in our present and our future. Why? Because we have three assurances.

I God Sustains Us at All Times (Psalm 71:17-18) 1 God Remained with Us in Our Youth (71:17) ‘O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds’ (v. 17). 2 God Remains with Us in Our Age (71:18) ‘So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:17-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Christmas Interruptions: Joseph Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 8, 2014

Christmas interrupts the unraveling of your life. Your fears, like Joseph’s, are unfounded, and for the same reason: The child in Mary’s womb!

You’ve got to see this first Christmas from Joseph’s point of view. I mean, his heart was full of anticipation over his recent engagement to Mary. His head was no doubt filled with images of what his life was going to be like, and he saw nothing but blue skies and smooth seas ahead. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Christmas News: The Angels Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 8, 2014

We need to be seized once more by heavenly realities – just as Zechariah was. We need to experience something like a shock to our smug certainties that whittle God down to a manageable size and leave us underwhelmed by the mysteries of eternity.

Angels have fallen on hard times these days. Hardly anyone thinks about them anymore…except at Christmas, of course. But even at that, people don’t much believe in them. Although…I knew a woman – a member of this church at one time: She told me that she had actually seen an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Journey Of Faith Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 8, 2014

It is through Jesus that God speaks to you and me – no matter how dark the times, no matter how difficult the way, no matter how unfaithful people around us may be. God speaks to us through Jesus, and he calls us to himself just as he did Ruth.

The book of Ruth is the story of an extended family living in a dangerous place during turbulent times. The story is told in four scenes, with a chapter devoted to each scene. Chapter 1 is about a journey, chapter 2 a day in the field, chapter 3 a night to remember, and chapter 4 a morning that ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Fields Of Grace Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 8, 2014

God takes us on – just as Boaz took on Ruth – and he makes promises to us…and gracious provision. And he “works all things together for good to those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:29).

You’ve heard the one, I ‘m sure, about the lonely frog who goes to see a fortune-teller. He’s told not to worry. She says, “You’re going to meet a beautiful young girl, and she will want to know everything about you.” “That’s great!” the ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Wings Of Mercy Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 8, 2014

God takes us, sinners one and all – spiritual waifs, to be honest – and he “marries” himself to us. He redeems us from the estrangement sin has caused in our lives. He takes us under his wings; he covers us with his cloak. And we are restored.

One of the characters in Kent Haruf’s novel Plainsong is Victoria, a seventeen-year-old girl who is four months pregnant. When her boyfriend finds out about her condition, he breaks up with her. And when her mother finds out, she kicks her out of the house and says to her, “You got ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

My Redeemer Lives! Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 8, 2014

God’s plan of redemption has been in process for centuries on end, but what it comes down to is this: Jesus is our greater Boaz. He is the faithful Redeemer, who has paid the price to deliver us and to recover us for an eternity of joy.

Over the last few weeks, we have turned our attention the book of Ruth in the Old Testament, and now, today, we come to our final study of this remarkable account. As we have said, the story of Ruth is told in four episodes with a chapter given to each one of them. The first chapter is the story ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Introduction To The Book Of Ruth Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on May 12, 2022

Mounting losses threaten to leave us bitter, but God restores life to His people.

Introduction to the Book of Ruth What is wrong?—Mounting Losses Threaten to Leave Us Bitter ‘She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”’ [Ruth 2:20] What is true?—God Restores Life to His People. 14 ‘Then the women said to Naomi, ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:20, Ruth 4:14-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Clinging To The Lord In Hope Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on May 12, 2022

Life becomes 'bitter' and we lose hope with we turn away from the Lord, but the Lord restores hope by drawing us back to Him.

CLINGING TO THE LORD IN HOPE Ruth 1:1-22 What is wrong?—Life becomes ‘bitter,’ and we lose hope when we turn away from the Lord. What is true?—The Lord restores hope by drawing us back to Him. What to do—We must cling to the Lord in hope. Why? Because… I Hope in the Lord Leads to Obedience ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Last Word

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Apr 2, 2022

Skeptics claim that death has the final word. God claims that life has the final word. Should we abandon the skeptics’ claim for God’s. Should we? John says “yes,” and he gives us three reasons that we should.

It was Sunday morning. The pastor was planning to preach on the Resurrection of the Lord. And he wanted his sermon to make an impression on the congregation. So he proceeded to shave in front of them. He lathered up, ran his razor over his face, first one side, then the other, then the chin, and ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed