Istrouma Baptist Church Podcast (Dark Horse)

Categories

Sermon
The Big Picture
Unlikeliest Catch
#namesofJesus
Courageous
It's all about the Gifts
general
fit4life
The Race
Grow Up
&. It's not just you
Count the Stars
Journey: Joseph's Dream Tour
Moses
10 Commandments
Unbroken
Proc.cess
Son of God
Help
Coach
Jesus is Better
The Grove
Peace
All Things New
Conversations
Work as Worship
One Another Summer
Stand
Leverage
Wonderful-Life
Wonder Full Life
Arise
Levántate
#GO225
Dark Horse
El Elegido
Emotions
Emociones
Living Hope
Esperanza Viva
Prepare Him Room
Core
Valores
Un lugar para El
Signs
Fight
GO225
What Would You Ask?
What Woud You Ask?
Señales
Proverbs
¿Que le preguntarías a Dios?
God Is
Go Global
Generous
Celebración Misionera
Dios es
Proverbios
Generoso
The Big Story
La Gran Historia
Nochebuena
La última palabra
The Final Word
Bless Every Home
Bendice cada hogar
Songs of Summer
Canciones que confortan
Suit Up!
EQUÍPATE
Colossians
The Thrill of Hope
Carousel
Who's Your One
Easter
Culture Flip
James
One Another Sunday
Santiago
Cultura Contraria
Llamados a las misiones
Operation Christmas
Light of the World
Luz del Mundo
Solas
The Seven Churches of Revelation
Las siete iglesias de la revelación
Ester
Esther
Travel Light!
Viaje Ligero
Ezra
Esdras
Juan
John
Christmas at Istrouma
Navidaid en Istrouma
Iglesia en el Hogar
Church at Home
Exodus
Exodo
Mejor Juntos
Better Together
El Mesías y la Pascua Judía
Psalm 23
Salmos
The Revelation
Amen
Amén
Understand Overcome
Elegidos por Dios
The Characters of Christmas
Lets Give Thanks
Lasting Hope
Lord's Supper
Christmas at Home
Blessings
Jonah
Jonás
Healthy Church
Una Iglesia Saludable
Una Iglesia Salabra
Un corazón limpio
Revelation
Apocalipsis
Heaven's Hope
Nuestro Hogar Eterno
Are You In?
¿ESTAS DENTRO?
Are You In? Ascension
Drop Your Nets
Drop Your Nets: Ascension
Dejar Las Redes
Easter: Ascension
Pascua de Resurrección
Kingdom Culture
Kingdom Culture Ascension
Cultura del Reino
Mother's Day
The Lord is My Shepherd
Istrouma Ascension
Parables
Parables Ascension
Las Parábolas de Jesús
Istrouma Missions
Parables of Jesus
Parables of Jesus: Ascension
Habitos
Habits
Habits Ascension
ROMANS
Romans: Ascension
SED AGRADECIDOS
Navidad
Romans Ascension
Istrouma en Español
Acts
Acts: Ascension
Hechos

Archives

2024
March
February
January

2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
April
February
January

2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2014
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2013
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2012
December
November
October
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2011
December
November
October
September
August

March 2024
S M T W T F S
     
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31

Syndication

Dark Horse

"Epitaph"

Acts 13: 36-39

 

1. A life of service

a.  Time of his service

b. Target of his service

2.  A life of sacrifice

a.  Jesus died for sin

b.  Jesus defeated sin

3.  A life of salvation

a.  The requirement for it

b.  The results of it

Direct download: IBC_20160626.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

I remember a time in school when something that I attempted completely backfired.  A group of us students were at a park goofing off.  There were some large swings there and I jumped in one.  I swung as high as I could.  I decided I would back flip out of the swing to impress the girls. 

 

Well, I did it but I miscalculated!  Instead of flipping out and gracefully landing on my feet in triumph, I over-rotated and landed right on my rear.  Ouch!  No permanent damage—just a mud-stained bottom and wounded pride.  

 

I wanted to impress everyone but it backfired.  I just embarrassed myself. 

 

A lot of times in life things backfire.  It happened in David’s life.  He decides to count his men in a nation-wide census.  I believe it may have been an attempt on his part to show the world his might and power.  But it completely backfired.  In fact, after the census he had fewer men than when he began. 

 

What can we do when our foolish decisions backfire?  This Sunday’s message will be a caution against foolhardy schemes and an encouragement that, even when life backfires, there is hope in Jesus.

 

Dark Horse

“A Senseless Census”

2 Samuel 24

 

  1. The choice to sin

 

  1. A harmless deed

 

  1. A harmful desire

 

  1. The consequence of sin

 

  1. Personal conviction

 

  1. Public crisis

 

  1. The cure for sin

 

  1. Plea to be pardoned

 

  1. Price to be paid
Direct download: IBC_20160612.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Dark Horse

“Scandal”

2 Samuel 11-12

 

  1. The committing of sin

 

  1. The concealing of sin

 

  1. The conviction of sin

 

  1. The confession of sin

 

  1. The cleansing of sin

 

  1. The consequences of sin
Direct download: IBC_20160605.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Direct download: IBC_20160529.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

The NBA playoffs are in full swing.  This year’s teams include the likes of the Golden State Warriors, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

 

The Cavaliers are led by none other than the King—LeBron James.  He’s in his second stint with them.  Although he has twice won the NBA championship with Miami, he’s never brought home the championship to his home state of Ohio.   Northeast Ohio has been a depressed area.  Cleveland, located on the shores of Lake Erie, is sometimes referred to as the “Mistake by the Lake.”  Having grown up there with a single mom, LeBron knows what it would mean to his people.  He wants to “bring it home.”  I hope he and his teammates can do it.

 

There was another king who wanted to bring home something of infinitely greater value.  David, the King of Israel, wanted to bring home the ark of the covenant of the Lord.  That represented the very presence and power of God.  These were blessings that they had lived without for many years.  He knew what it would mean to his people to renew their relationship with the living God.

 

Every one of us ought to desire the same--to bring home the presence and power of God.  The best news is that the “home” of God in our time is not a burning bush, a tabernacle or temple; we can be the living temple of the Lord.  He wants to come and dwell in each and every heart. 

 

Now that’s a victory we all ought to bring home!  Bring it home!

Dark Horse

“Bring It Home”

2 Samuel 6

 

 

  1. The king’s desire

 

  1. God’s presence

 

  1. God’s power

 

  1. The king’s deed

 

  1. The right thing the wrong way

 

  1. The right thing the right way

 

  1. The king’s delight

 

  1. Celebrate in worship

 

  1. Continue in worship
Direct download: IBC_20160522.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.  That’s not a biblical verse, but it’s got some truth in it.  Just because you start well doesn’t guarantee that you’ll finish well. 

 

Let me tell you about an example that happened earlier this month.  The girls’ softball team at Wylie High School in Texas lost the district championship because they did not finish well.

 

Wylie was playing McKinney North High School, and they were up by two runs in the final inning of the game. There were two outs, but the bases were loaded with McKinney North players, so it was still a precarious situation. A McKinney North player hit the ball to short, and a Wylie player picked it up and fed it to her teammate at second.

 

Everyone on the Wylie team thought it was a forceout, and so they began throwing gloves and hats and running in to celebrate their championship victory. But what they didn't see was the umpire calling the runner safe at second, meaning they hadn't actually won. 

 

McKinney North players figured out what was up, and they kept running the bases despite the other team acting like they'd won. One Wylie player finally realized what was happening and ran from the celebration to pick up the ball and throw home, but there was no one at home plate to catch the ball.

 

Wylie players rushed to pick up the gloves they'd thrown and get back in the game, but by that point it was too late. Three runs scored and McKinney North won the game 7-6. 

 

Lesson?  Don’t quit.  Finish well.

 

God wants us to finish well.  Just because you start well doesn’t guarantee that you’ll finish well.   We are going to look at an example of this in the life of King Saul. 

 

If you were to caption the life of Saul in a single verse, what would it be?  Some have suggested that it be 1 Samuel 26:21b, “behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” How did he “play the fool”?  He started well.  He finished tragically. 

 

My prayer is that God will help us to “finish well”!

 

Dark Horse

“Finish Well”

 

Key verse: “. . . behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly” (1 Sam. 26:21b, KJV).

 

  1. Undeserved favor

 

  1. Unnecessary failures

 

  1. Unfortunate finish
Direct download: IBC_20160515.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Dark Horse

“Friends”

1 Samuel 18:1-5

 

 

  1. Spiritual friends

 

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul (1 Sam. 18:1).

 

 

 

 

  1. Supportive friends

 

And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, “Do not fear . . . . You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. . . .” (1 Sam. 23:16-17).

 

 

 

 

  1. Sacrificial friends

 

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt (1 Sam. 18:3-4).

Direct download: IBC_20160508.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Dark Horse

“How Underdogs Overcome”

1 Samuel 17

 

 

  1. Take up the fight

 

And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:32).

 

 

 

 

  1. Trust in the Lord

 

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Sam. 17:45).

 

 

 

 

  1. Tell the world

 

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand . . . that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel (1 Sam. 17:46).

 

Direct download: IBC_20150501.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Dark Horse

1 Samuel 16:1-13

 

 

  1. The height of a dark horse

 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature . . .” (1 Sam. 16:7a).

 

 

 

 

  1. The heart of a dark horse

 

. . . For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7b).

 

 

 

 

  1. The help for a dark horse

 

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward (1 Sam. 16:13a).

Direct download: IBC_20160424.mp3
Category:Dark Horse -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

1