Mid Cities Orthodox Presbyterian Church

On Sunday, May 18, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "To Know Jesus is to Know the Way" from John 14:1-7."By his death and resurrection Jesus prepares room for you in his Father's house, and proves he is the only way to his Father."1. Preparing a place (vs. 1-3)2. How Can We Know the Way? (vs. 4, 5)3. Knowing the Father by the Son (vs. 6, 7)

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Feed My Lambs" from John 21:7, 12-19."Christ loved his church enough to die for her, and also enough to ensure the she would be cared for until he returns."1. It is the Lord (vs. 1-14)2. The Three Loves (vs. 14-17)3. Follow Me (vs. 18, 19)

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Gathering for Battle" from Revelation 16:8-16."God gives people the opportunity to repent even though he knows they will choose darkness over his kingdom of light."1. Fire and Cursing (vs. 8, 9)2. Darkness and Anguish (vs. 10, 11)3. Synagogue of Satan (vs. 12-16)

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Elder John West lead a discussion on "Honoring Elders and Dealing with Sin" from 1 Timothy 5:17-25.Honoring and Supporting Elders (vs. 17, 18)Protecting Elders from False Accusations (v. 19)Disciplining Sinning Elders (v. 20)Impartiality and Care in Appointing Elders (vs. 21, 22)Personal Care and the Visibility of Deeds (vs. 23-25)

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "A Voice from the Temple" from Revelation 16:1-7."When Christians suffer for following Jesus, we can be assured he is bring other people to salvation."1. Earth ( vs. 1, 2)2. Seas, Rivers and Springs (vs. 3, 4)3. The Angel and the Altar (vs. 5-7)

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, Elder John West lead a discussion based on 1 Timothy 5:1-16. Treating Church Members as Family (vs. 1, 2)Honoring True Widows (vs. 3-8)Guidelines for Enrolling Widows (vs. 9-16)

On Sunday, April 20, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "He is Risen; He is Risen Indeed!" from John 20:1-10."Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and if you believe in him you have already been resurrected from sin and death, and you will live forever."1. On the First Day (vs. 1, 2)2. Seeing the Signs (vs. 3-8)3. That He Must Rise (vs. 9, 10)

On Sunday, April 20, 2025, Elder John West lead a discussion about "The Church's Identity and the Threat of False Teaching" based on 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5.1. The Purpose of Paul's Instructions (3:14, 15)2. The Confession of the Mystery of Godliness (3:16)3. The Prediction of Apostasy (vs. 4:1, 2)4. The Nature of False Teaching (4:3-5)

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Out of the Sanctuary" from Revelation 15:5-8."God's judgment against the enemies of his people will bring about our deliverance, just as his judgment against our sin brought our salvation."1. Tabernacle of Testimony (vs. 5, 6)2. Until Wrath is Finished (vs. 7, 8)

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, Elder John West lead a discussion on "Leadership in the Church: Elders and Deacons" based on 1 Timothy 3:1-13.1. The Noble Task of Oversight (v. 1)2. Qualifications of Overseers (vs. 2-7)3. The Role and Character of Deacons (vs. 8-10, 12, 13)4. The Supportive Role of Deacons' Wives (v. 11)

On Sunday, April 6, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Song of the Lamb" from Revelation 15:1-4."We have been delivered by the victory of Jesus from our slavery to sin in order to worship God forever."1. Seven Plagues (v. 1)2. Sea of Glass (v. 2)3. Saints in Song (vs. 3,4)

On Sunday, April 6, 2025, Elder John West lead a discussion on "Prayer and Worship in the Church" from 1 Timothy 2:1-15. The Priority and Scope of Prayer (vs. 1,2)God's Desire for All to be Saved (vs. 3,4)Christ as Mediator and Ransom (vs. 5,6)Paul's Role as Preacher to the Gentiles (v. 7)Men's Role in Prayer (v. 8)Women's Adornment and Good Works (vs. 9,10)What is "Quietly"? and Restrictions on Teaching (vs. 11,12)Theological Basis in Creation and the Fall (vs. 13,14)Salvation through What? (vs. 15)

On Sunday, March 30, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Intensive Trials" from Job 2:1-10."Jesus, at every point in his earthly life, blessed God, and yet still died so that all who have cursed God yet believed in his Son would never die."1. Skin for Skin (vs. 1-6)2. Six Little Words (vs. 7-9)3. The Good for the Bad (v. 10)

On Sunday, March 30, 2025, Elder John West began a nine-week study of Paul's first letter to Timothy.Greeting and Authority (vs. 1,2)Confronting False Teaching (vs. 3-7)The Law's Rightful Use (vs. 8-11)Testimony of Grace (vs. 12-17)Charge to Persevere (vs. 18-20)

On Sunday, March 23, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Reason for Hope" from 1 Peter 3:13-17."Jesus Christ is object of your hope, but he's also the one who gives you hope through his death and resurrection."1. Harm? (vs. 13,14)2. Hope (v. 15)3. Humility (vs. 16,17)

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "To Him Who is Able" from Jude 24 and 25."God is able to make you stand in the face of opposition and to present you blameless in his sight all to his glory and praise."1. Blameless (v. 24)2. The Only God Our Savior (v. 25)

On Sunday, March 2, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "An Eternal Gospel" from Revelation 14:6-13."God judges sinners and those who tempt people to sin, and he causes his people to persevere in the face of persecution."1. Judgment is Coming (vs. 6,7)2. Babylon is Falling (vs. 8-11)3. Endurance is a Blessing (vs. 12,13)

On Sunday, February 23, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "A New Song" from Revelation 14:1-5."While the doctrine of universalism is false, the Bible does teach that the full number of those who are saved will far outnumber our expectations."1. One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand (v.1)2. The Voice (vs. 2,3)3. Redeemed from Mankind (vs. 4-5)

On Sunday, February 23, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman surveyed Luke 8 in Sunday School.

On Sunday, February 9, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Counterfeit Lamb" from Revelation 13:9-18."Christ calls us to endure because even if we are taken captive or die by the sword, we will rest in him for eternity."1. Ears to Hear (vs. 9,10)2. A Lamb with Dragons Voice (vs. 11-15)3. The Mark (vs. 16-18)

On Sunday, February 9, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman lead a discussion on evangelism in the adult Sunday school.

On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "One Through the Word" from John 17:11-19."Jesus Christ unifies his people through his word, by securing us, by sanctifying us, and by sending us."1. The Word Secures (vs. 11,12)2. The Word Sanctifies (vs. 13-17)3. The Word Sends (vs. 18,19)

On Sunday, January 26, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "False gods and False Worship" from Revelation 12:17-13:8. "Though Satan can delude believers, we can't be deceived into worshiping the false Messiah because our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." 1. Unholy Authority (vs. 12:17-13:3) 2. Unholy Worship (vs. 13:3-4) 3. Unholy War (13:5-8)

On Sunday, January 26, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman lead a discussion on the Means of Grace in adult Sunday school.

On Sunday, January 19, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Remember Who Your Real Enemy Is" from Revelation 12:13-17. "As powerful as Satan is in his pursuit of the woman's children, God thwarts him at every turn and renders him powerless." 1. Wings of Eagles 2. Targeted Because of Testimony

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Devil Was Thrown Down" from Revelation 12:7-12. "The mighty dragon being thrown down from heaven means no one can bring a charge against God's elect." 1. War in Heaven (vs. 7-9) 2. Song of Salvation (vs. 10-12)

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman lead a discussion on Limited Atonement.

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "So That All May Know" from Joshua 4:11-24. "God's works of salvation are made known to the world so that sinners may love and fear the Lord forever." 1. Call of Duty (vs. 11-14) 2. Tenth Day of the First Month (vs. 15-19) 3. The Fear of the Lord (vs. 20-24)

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, Pastor Joe Troutman lead a discussion on Ecumenicity and Doctrine as it pertains to the Marks of the True Church.

On Sunday, December 29, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "We Have Seen His Glory" from John 1:14-18. "God's only Son, the eternal Word, became flesh so that we might behold his glory and worship him." 1. Of Human Flesh and Divine Glory (vs. 14-15) 2. Seeing Jesus is Seeing God (v. 16-18)

On Sunday, December 22, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The True King Has Come!" from Matthew 2:1-12. "The Kingship of Jesus threatened Herod, and it threatens us, too; but the response of faith is to bow down and worship him." 1. In Search of the King (vs. 1,2) 2. Disbelief of God's People (vs. 3-8) 3. Gentiles Worship Jesus (vs. 9-12)

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Round Yon Virgin Mother and Child" from Revelation 12:1-6. "Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead and ascension to God's right hand ensures Satan will not prevail on the Last Day." 1. The Woman (vs. 1,2) "And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth." 2. The Dragon (vs. 3,4) "And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it." 3. The Child (vs. 5,6) "She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days."

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman lead a discussion on the Marks of the True Church, Part 2.

On Sunday, December 8, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "Seventh Trumpet, Third Woe" from Revelation 11:14-19. "As certainly as Jesus came before, so he will come again; and when he does, he will come openly as King, and he will reign forever." 1. The Raging Nations 2. The Enthronement 3. The Destruction of the Destroyers

On Sunday, December 8, 2024, Pastor Troutman lead a discussion on the Marks of the Church from the book Confessing Christ by Calvin Knox Cummings.

On Sunday, December 1, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Two Witnesses" from Revelation 11:1-13. "Those who bear witness to Jesus may suffer like Jesus, but you will also live forever like Jesus." 1. The Temple and the Trees (vs. 1,2) 2. Forty-Two Months, 1,260 Days (vs. 3-10) 3. Come Up Here (vs. 11-14)

On Sunday, December 1, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman lead a discussion on the doctrine of the church from Confessing Christ by Calvin Knox Cummings.

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Bitter Truth" from Revelation 10:1-11. "The ultimate consequence of mankind's fall into sin is the Day of Judgment, but God mercifully warns us, and shows us the way of salvation." 1. The Mighty Angel (vs. 1-4) 2. The Mystery of God (vs. 5-7) 3. The Bittersweet Scroll (vs. 8-11)

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, Elder Wayne Wylie lead a discussion of the latter part of section 6 of the first chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith. 6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached "The Sixth Trumpet" from Revelation 9:13-21. "The sixth trumpet shows that only the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ has the power to save sinners." Fallen Angels Released (vs. 13-16) Killed and Wounded (vs. 17-19) Warnings Ignored (vs. 20-21)

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, Elder Wayne Wylie lead a discussion on the completion, clarity and Spirit-illumination of the Holy Scriptures. 6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

On Sunday, November 10, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "Count it as Rubbish, Counted as Righteous" from Philippians 3:4-11.

On Sunday, November 10, 2024, Elder Wayne Wylie lead a discussion on sections 4 and 5 of chapter 1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith. 4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God. 5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, Rev. Todd Dole preached "True Hope" from Ecclesiastes 9.

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, Elder Wayne Wylie lead a discussion on the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 1, "Of the Holy Scriptures," Section 3 about the Apocrypha. 3. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.

On Sunday, October 27, 2024, Pastor Joe Troutman preached, "The Word Became Flesh" from John 1:3-18. "The word became flesh so that all who believe in his name would become children of God." 1. In the Beginning (vs. 3-5) 2. The Messenger and the Light (vs. 6-13) 3. Th Offense of the Nativity (vs. 14-18)

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, Dr. Alan Strange preached "The Genius of the Reformation" from Psalm 15. The doctrine of justification is key in all of our gospel witness and must clearly be grasped in our proclamation.

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, Dr. Alan Strange taught about the Spirituality of the Church Demonstrated in Philemon in Sunday School.

On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Dr. Alan Strange delivered his third lecture, "All Things to All People" from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 at the 2024 DFW Reformation Conference. Summary: We are to be all things to all people positively and not negatively, to give way to the partisan siren songs in our churches as reflected in The New Christendom, and Christian Nationalism. Outline: We are to be all things to all people, not coercive Christians making them fit our mold. I. Paul declares his freedom in 1 Cor. 9. A. Paul is, in fact, "the apostle of the heart set free." 1. He knows this, first, for himself. 2. Paul does not have "freedom without form," however. B. Rather, this flexibility involves a freedom that chooses to become servants of all for the purpose of winning some. 1. We see that to do so Paul engages in personal discipline and self-denial. 2. Recognize the servanthood to which we are all called. II. This will take for us, as with Paul, form/fitness, discipline. A. Paul develops this by the metaphor of the athlete 1. Paul's hearers know such an appeal well. 2. He argues from the greater to the lesser: if so in sports, how much more so in heavenly pursuits? B. Paul disciplines himself in this as ought we. III. Douglas Wilson, Mere Christendom, and Stephen Wolfe, The Case for Christian Nationalism advocate for a revived Christendom and Christian Nationalism. A. These proud programs are not the answer for those called to "turn the other cheek" in this time of humiliation. B. Will we live the Christian life or attempt to grab power with a "this-world" focus?

On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Dr. Alan Strange delivered the second of three lectures, "The Great Commission Refocused" featuring Matthew 28. Summary: Christ calls us to preach the gospel to all people groups with the promise of his abiding presence, even though people naturally reject him, as did the religious leaders of his time. Outline: We need to keep our spiritual focus and not become distracted by the flesh. I. A survey of the history of the doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit. A. The early Church grasped the doctrine of the person of the Holy Spirit. 1. Even as it did the doctrine of the person of Christ. 2. The work of Christ awaiting medieval development in Anselm's Cur Deus Homo. B. Similarly, the doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit awaiting development 1. It did not receive such, as did the doctrine of the work of Christ, in the Middle Ages. 2. It awaited Calvin and other Reformers who properly developed the doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit. II. Matthew 28 helps us keep our spiritual focus A. The broader context demonstrates the necessity of the work of the Spirit not only in evangelism but in apologetics. 1. Seen in the absurd counter-story: such a story was concocted not because of a lack of evidence but because of the need for a new heart to receive Christ. 2. We need such Spirit-indicted work to believe (v. 17) B. It is ours because the resurrected Christ is with us to the end of the age, always empowering us. 1. He does this by the work of his Holy Spirit. 2. The Spirit who brings us to Christ and Christ to us. 3. Who makes Christ powerfully present among us in the means of grace.

On Friday, October 18, 2024, Dr. Alan Strange opened the 2024 DFW Reformation Conference with his first of three lectures, "The Heavenly King of a Heavenly Kingdom" (John 18:36) Summary: Christ is a heavenly, not an earthly, king (though impacting all earthly kingdoms), and his church is a spiritual kingdom that must distinguish itself from the world even as it gives itself to the world. Outline: I. The nature of Christ's kingship A. Seen even in his humiliation 1. He entered that estate in the Virgin's womb. 2. He performed great miracles even in that estate. 3. His kingship was obscured in that estate. B. Its obscurity pertains to the nature of his kingship, which is spiritual. 1. This spiritual kingship baffles Pilate. 2. Jesus is clearly, as a heavenly king, a king of a different sort. II. The nature of Christ's kingdom A. It is a kingdom befitting its king--it is no of this world. 1. It is in the world, indeed. 2. Wherever Christians go, so goes this kingdom. B. The kingdom is not exhausted by but manifests itself especially in the visible church. 1. The power of the church is ministerial and declarative, moral and suasive, not magisterial and legislative, legal and coercive. 2. Here, you have a proper doctrine of the spirituality of the church.