Sermons on Patriarchs Isaac:

Thy Will Be Done Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 9, 2018

When we pray, "Thy will be done," we are committing ourselves to desire, discover, and do the will of God with grateful hearts.

Warren Wiersbe says that, from time to time, he has counseled with people who were actually afraid of the will of God. They were terrified at the thought of surrendering themselves completely to him. The idea disturbed them because they had concluded that the will of God was something painful and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

Jesus Gives Us Comfort Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 16, 2015

Jesus turns trouble into triumph.

You know how it is when you hear a song for the first time? You know, a song that really grabs you? The first time I ever heard “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” I was in seminary. I wasn’t married, so I was living in the men’s dorm. I recall that it was a spring afternoon. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Gives Us Peace Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 23, 2015

Jesus' answer to your fears is the presence of the triune God in your life -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I always like to go on record as saying, “I don’t believe in luck; I believe in providence.” And, as it turns out, by God’s providence, I have been very lucky in love! I am married to the woman of my dreams, the heart of my heart, and the love of my life. Jan is beautiful ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-27

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