Trinity Reformed Baptist Church, Meru, Kenya.

1.Jacob’s failure to protect his daughter (vv. 1–4)2.Jacob’s failure to lead His sons (vv. 5–24)3.Jacob’s failure to restrain sin (vv. 25–29)4.Jacob’s failure to guard His testimony (vv. 30–31)

Mark 15:16-2116 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.

1.Jesus Christ comes from God (v.31)2.Jesus Christ speaks the Words of God (vv.32–34)3.Jesus Christ possesses all the resources of God (v.35)4.Jesus Christ demands an eternal response (v.36)

1.Learning to Be Content in Every Condition2.How to Find True Contentment

Paragraph 2The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall,4 and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man.54 Rom. 2:14–155 Deut. 10:4

1.The Meeting of the brothers (vv. 1–4)2.The Conversation of the brothers (vv. 5–15)3.The Parting of the brothers (vv. 16–20)

1. The Setting: Two Ministries, One Purpose (vv. 22-24) 2. The Diagnosis of Envy, (vv. 25-26) 3. The Profound Principle That Cures Envy, (v. 27) 4. The Role of the Friend, (vv. 28-29) 5. The Great Decrease (v. 30)

1. The Promise of Christ Himself 2. The Witness of The Angels 3. The Expectation of The Apostles

1. The Solitude (vv. 22-24a)2. The Wrestler (v. 24b-25a)3. The Crippling (v. 25)4. The Clinging (v. 26)5. The New Name (vv. 27-32)

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1. God is good2. The Nature and Reality of Spiritual Fruit 3. The Source of True Goodness 4. The Expression of Goodness

1. The Two Pillars of Discipline (Formative & Corrective) 2. The Kenyan Context With Regard to Church Discipline 3. The Purpose of Church Discipline: Restoration (Matthew 18:15-20)

Paragraph 1God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil;1 by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience;2 promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.31 Gen. 1:27; Eccles. 7:292 Rom. 10:53 Gal. 3:10,12

1. The Security We Forget.2. The Calculations We Trust.3. The Theology We Confess.4. The Schemes We Employ.

1.The Love of God is the foundation of salvation (v.16a)2.The Gift of the Son is the means of salvation (vv.16b–17)3.Faith in the Son is the distinction for salvation (v.18)4.The Response to the Light reveals the heart (vv.19–21)

Church Leadership 2

Paragraph 4True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it,13 by falling into some special sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit;14 by some sudden or vehement temptation,15 by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light,16 yet are they never destitute of the seed of God17 and life of faith,18 that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived,19 and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.2013 Cant. 5:2–3,614 Ps. 51:8,12,1415 Ps. 116:11; 77:7–8, 31:2216 Ps. 30:717 1 John 3:918 Luke 22:3219 Ps. 42:5,1120 Lam. 3:26–31

1.God restrains Laban in his pursuit of Jacob (vv.22-30)2.God upholds Jacob’s integrity before Laban (vv.31–42)3.God establishes covenantal peace between Jacob and Laban (vv.43–55)

Hebrews 2:10For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

1. The Display of Earthly Ignorance (vv. 9-10)2. The Authority of the Heavenly Witness (vv. 11-13)3. The Simplicity of the Look (vv. 14-15)

1.Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body2.Forms of Church Government

Paragraph 3This infallible assurance does not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and struggle with many difficulties before he be partaker of it;9 yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto:10 and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance;11—so far is it from inclining men to looseness.129 Isa. 50:10; Ps. 88; Ps. 77:1–1210 1 John 4:13; Heb. 6:11–1211 Rom. 5:1–2,5, 14:17; Ps. 119:3212 Rom. 6:1–2; Titus 2:11–12,14

1. The Death, (v.3)2. ⁠The Burial, (v.4)3. ⁠The Resurrection, (v.4)4. ⁠The Appearances, (vv.5-8)

Matthew 27:45-61

1.THE BIBLICAL BASIS FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP2.WHY YOU MUST BELONG TO A CHURCH TODAY3.WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHURCH MEMBER? 4.THE PRIVILEGES OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

1.Jacob’s Reasons for Departure (vv.1-3) i) The growing hostility of Laban and his sons (vv.1–2) ii) Guided by God’s clear command (v.3)2.Jacob’s Justification for the Departure (vv.4–16) i)His explanation of God’s providential care (vv.4–13) ii) Wives affirm God’s plan (vv.14–16)3.Jacob’s Execution of Departure (vv.17–21)

1. The Nature of the New Birth2. The Necessity of the New Birth3. The Sovereignty of the Spirit in the New Birth

1. The Ground of Our Assurance2. The Reality of Remaining Sin3. The Gospel Cure

Paragraph 2This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith,4 founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel;5 and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made,6 and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God;7 and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.84 Heb. 6:11,195 Heb. 6:17–186 2 Pet. 1:4–5,10–117 Rom. 8:15–168 1 John 3:1–3

1.Jacob’s request to return to the promised land (vv. 25–26)2.Laban’s self-serving plea to keep Jacob (vv. 27–28)3.Jacob’s refusal and counteroffer (vv. 29–34)4.God’s providence through devious scheming (vv. 35–42)5.God’s sovereign blessing on Jacob (v. 43)

Mark 8:3131 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Hebrews 11: 8-198 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

1. The Biblical Foundation for Mutual Confession2. The Practical Wisdom for How to Confess3. The Role of Elders and The Church4. The Healing Fruit That Follows

Paragraph 1Although temporary believers and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God and in a state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish;1 yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,2 which hope shall never make them ashamed.31 Job 8:13–14; Matt. 7:22–232 1 John 2:3, 3:14,18–19,21,24, 5:133 Rom. 5:2,5

1.God Sees the Affliction of the Unloved Leah (Gen. 29:31–35)2.Idolatrous Desires Lead to Rivalry Between the Sisters (Gen. 30:1–21)3.God Remembers Rachel and Shows Her Mercy (Gen. 30:22–24)

1. The Nature of Superficial Faith (v. 23)2. The Discernment of the Divine King (vv. 24–25a)3. The Portrait of the Human Heart (v. 25b)

1. God as Light2. Biblical Patterns of Confession3. The Dynamics of Bringing Secrets to God4. The Assurance That Follows Confession5. Practical Guidance for Bringing Secrets to God

Paragraph 3And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein,9 whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit,10 come to have their graces and comforts impaired,11 have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded,12 hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves,13 yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.149 Matt. 26:70,72,7410 Isa. 64:5,9; Eph. 4:3011 Ps. 51:10,1212 Ps. 32:3–413 2 Sam. 12:1414 Luke 22:32,61–62

1.God’s Providential Leading to Haran (vv.1–6)2.Jacob’s Labour of Love for Rachel (vv.7–20)3.God’s Painful Providence in Laban’s Deception (vv.21–30)

Mathew 26:36-4636 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

1. The Corruption of Worship, (vv. 12-14)2. The Authority of the King, (vv. 15-17)3. The Revelation of the New Temple, (vv. 18-22)

1. The Deceitful Heart2. Why We Hide3. The Cure for the Deceitful Heart4. Practical Helps for the Heart’s Deceit

1.The Beginning of the Journey (vv.10-11)2.Jacob has a dream (vvv.12-15)3.Jacob’s Response (vv.16-22)

1. The Setting (vv. 1-2)2. The Crisis (vv. 3-5)3. The Sign (vv. 6-8)4. The Revelation (vv. 9-10)5. The Conclusion (vv. 11-12)

1. The Theological Foundation2. ⁠Categories of Secret Sins3. ⁠The Danger of Secret Sins

Paragraph 2This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election,4 flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,5 the oath of God,6 the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them,7 and the nature of the covenant of grace;8 from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.4 Rom. 8:30, 9:11,165 Rom. 5:9, 10; John 14:196 Heb. 6:17–187 1 John 3:98 Jer. 32:40

Genesis 28:1-9The Charge Given to Jacob, (vv.1-2).The Covenant Handed Down to Jacob, (vv.3-5).The Religious Hypocrisy of Esau, (vv.6-9).

Philippians 2:88 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1.Jesus Christ is the Seeker of our souls (v.43)2.Jesus Christ is Revealed as the Fulfillment of Scripture (vv.44-45)3.Jesus Christ knows our hearts (vv.46-49)4.Jesus Christ Promises Greater Revelation of His Glory (v.50)5.Jesus Christ is the Mediator between heaven and earth (v.51)

1.The Definition of God's Holiness. 2.Characteristics of God's Holiness. 3.Manifestations of His Holiness.