Planted by the Lord

The sermon centers on the identity and mission of Jesus Christ as the Anointed One, revealed through Isaiah 61, who brings good news to the poor, binds up the brokenhearted, and restores what is lost. It shows how Christ's redemptive work is both a present reality and a future hope, empowering believers to persevere through disappointment and hardship. Rev. Butterworth emphasizes that the church, though often marked by ruin and mourning, is not sustained by human effort but by Christ's promise to build His church, making believers into "oaks of righteousness" for God's glory. Drawing from the life of Timothy Dwight and his hymn 'I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord,' the message underscores the cost of loving the church and the necessity of trusting Christ's faithfulness amid tears and toil. Ultimately, the call is to humility, perseverance, and faithful service, recognizing that God is at work through His people to rebuild what has been devastated, not by strength, but by grace.