Redeemer Lynnwood Sermons: Recent Episodes
Mike Kloss, Dean Hellekson
Though man lives in the valley of the shadow of death, he has hope because God’s divine favor remains with man in God’s presence and God’s promises. 1. Creation and Blessing (Genesis 5:1-2)2. Death Reigned (Genesis 5:3, 4-36; Romans 5:14)3. Hope for those who walk with God (Genesis 5:22-24, 28-29)
Sermon Texts: Genesis 3:7-8; Hosea 6:6-7; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 58:3; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 5:12; Hebrews 2:10-18
Synopsis: When we settle for lesser-lords and lesser-rewards our view of work becomes broken. The remedy for this is to recognize the supreme Lordship of Christ over everything. We explore the much richer view of work that scripture paints for our work in this life and the next.
Sermon Text: Colossians 3:22-24
Synopsis: YAHWEH has done great things with his holy arm, and his gospel will continue to do great things, until all the the ends of the earth shall see his salvation. The right response of the saints is to sing, sing, sing!
Sermon Text: Psalm 98
Synopsis: John does not want merely to instruct but to visit and rejoice with his fellow Christians. This incarnational ministry is a means of expressing our shared joy and affection in Christ.a. The Necessity of face-to-face fellowship (v. 12a)b. Full expression of Joy (v.12b)c. An affectionate Family (v.13)
Sermon Text: 2 John 12-13
Synopsis: Paul makes an impassioned appeal for the humility necessary for true unity in Christ. Unlike the Selfish ambition of his enemies (1:17), partners in the gospel must put the corporate interests over any other motivation. This properly ordered affection allows partners in the gospel of Jesus Christ to increase in humility by pursing the corporate interests over personal ambition.
Sermon Text: Philippians 2:1-4
Synopsis: Philippians are partners with Paul in the suffering and conflict of the Gospel. To live as worthy citizens of heaven, the Philippians must have unity in Christ’s Spirit, putting on the Mind of Christ - to stand firm and toil together in the suffering God has granted, as God’s sign to the world that Christ is Victorious.
Sermon Text: Philippians 1:27-30
Synopsis: Rightly ordered affections means getting first things first. Paul declares that the gospel partnership is not dependent on and is more important than his circumstances, his conflicts and his personal inclinations.
Sermon Text: Philippians 1:12-24
Synopsis: The context of Paul's prayer is the affection he has for the Philippians. Paul prays with joy, giving thanks to God for them all. Now, Paul tells us the content of his mediatorial prayer. This is one of those times we are actually given six steps to more effective prayer. Paul knows that God is at work in Philippians, that the gospel is effectually transforming them into images of Christ. So, his prayers are effective and should be our model. Paul prays that they would abound in love with wisdom, so they are able to love and approve excellence, and thereby be holy and spiritually mature on Judgement Day. And all for God’s glory and praise. So, we want to pray warmly for one another, often and for properly ordered affections: a loving attitude, wisdom, excellent taste, holiness and the fruit of the spirit, enduring until judgement, day remade into images of Christ.
Sermon Text: Philippians 1:9-11
Synopsis: The kingdom of God is a Kingdom of rightly ordered loves. Paul and the Philippian’s affections are shaped by the Lord Jesus Christ. They affections are positive, mediatorial, grateful, hopeful and unified. The Love of God shapes Paul’s affections and flows through Paul outward toward his fellow citizens. This is the Mind of Christ Paul wants to remind the Philippians about.
Sermon Text: Philippians 1:3-8
Synopsis: Paul opens his letter of joy, unity and encouragement by reminding the Philippians that they are slaves of Christ and saints in Christ who receive the grace and peace that proceed from the Father and from Christ. Though there is hierarchy in the structure of the church, all are unified together in the Lord Jesus Christ. Their unity in the Triune God through Christ is the source of God’s overflowing generous favor and wholeness.
Sermon Text: Philippians 1:1-2
Synopsis: The rich content of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians comes out of the rich context of the Lord’s kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. Philippi is where the Lord decided to first invade the continent of Europe and spread the citizenship of heaven to the gentiles in Macedonia. Paul was led to the city by Jesus and experienced profound examples of Jesus’ power as he demonstrated his authority over Caesar, claiming Philippi as part of his growing empire through Paul’s ministry.
Sermon Text: Acts 16
Synopsis: In the final verses of chapter 4, the contrasts continue between a passive, weak Jonah whose heart is yearns solely for his creaturely comforts and the active powerful Lord whose heart yearns on fallen man. The enacted parable and final question force us to choose what kind of heart are we going to have, Jonah’s or God’s?
Sermon Text: Jonah 4:5-11
Synopsis: Chapter 4 returns to the big themes of Jonah, the reluctant but successful prophet. Jonah knows he is being sent to Nineveh because of God’s promise in Deut. 32:21 and his mission is to activate Assyria against Israel as God’s judgement for the Northern Kingdom’s sins. Jonah’s loyalty to his own people, and his own word, is greater than his loyalty to God’s people and God’s word. So, Jonah becomes the accuser, aligning himself with Satan against God. Jonah’s only hope is Israel’s only hope; self-humiliation and repentance in imitation of the Ninevite’s self-humiliation and repentance.
Sermon Text: Jonah 4:1-4
Synopsis: Jonah is sent to Nineveh that they may believe and believing comes through hearing. Great cities need great, supernatural preaching that results in great acts of heartfelt repentance.
Sermon Text: Jonah 3:3b-5
Synopsis: Jonah is sent to Nineveh that they may believe and believing comes through hearing. Great cities need great, supernatural preaching that results in great acts of heartfelt repentance.
Sermon Text: Jonah 3:3b-5
Synopsis: The word of the Lord came to Jonah again, “declare the message I give you,” and so Jonah arose to obey the word of the Lord. What Jonah experienced is now the backdrop for Nineveh, showing forth the Triune God’s left-handed power in pursuit, forgiveness, and restoration of sinners.
Sermon Text: Jonah 3:1-3a
Synopsis: The Lord pursues us to outrageous depths of rebellion, to lend his ear to our prayers with outrageous displays of grace, answering our cries for mercy with outrageous acts of salvation.
Sermon Text: Jonah 1:17-2:10
Synopsis: The fear of the sailors bookends the story of Jonah 1:4-16 because the story reveals that fear is at the heart of true Christian living. Amid our various circumstances, our fear reveals our idols, but also reveals the true God of heaven and earth who is greater than both and in control of both. The greater fear that comes from knowing God leads to true covenant faithfulness, fellowship and worship.
Sermon Text: Jonah 1:4-16
Synopsis: Jonah is a type of Israel. His selfish self-righteousness led to his worshiping a local tribal god of his own making. Yahweh, the true and living God, is the Lord of every nation of the whole earth and welcomes all to his covenant loves and faithfulness.
Sermon Text: Jonah 1:3
Synopsis: The success of Jonah’s message of Israelite expansion failed to drive the nation to repentance, so God sent Jonah to preach destruction to the Assyrian capital in hopes of driving Israel to repentance. And this is a sign pointing to Jesus’ relationship with the jews and gentiles in his own day.
Sermon Text: Jonah 1:1-2
Synopsis: Before turning to the familiar story of Jonah, we must first orient ourselves to Jonah’s place in the history of Israel and the history of redemption. Just as understanding what the Deuteronomistic history was, helped us comprehend the literary themes of Samuel, so understanding what texts of the Minor Prophets are, helps us understand the themes of Jonah. So, what is a prophet, what are the minor prophets and how does Jonah fit in their company.
Sermon Text: James 5:10
Synopsis: God made woman to be the glory of man and so marriage is the process by which a man shapes a crown of glory from the rare, raw gold that is his bride.
Sermon Text: Proverbs 12:4; 1 Peter 3:7
Synopsis: Standing on God's promises, fathers must lead their wives in nurturing their Children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This means that we should have a robust theology of discipline, as well as education. Biblical Childrearing is ruling children well by setting and keeping boundaries of behavior and thought, providing the security and discipleship for children to thrive.
Sermon Text: Genesis 1:28 and Ephesians 6:4
Synopsis: Standing on God's promises, fathers must lead their wives in nurturing their Children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This means that we should have a robust theology of discipline, as well as education. Biblical Childrearing is ruling children well by setting and keeping boundaries of behavior and thought, providing the security and discipleship for children to thrive.
Sermon Text: Genesis 1:28 and Ephesians 6:4
Synopsis: Husbands and wives unite under Christ to form the basis of Christian households, and God uses these households as key war strategies to take ground for His Kingdom.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 6:10-12
Synopsis: The fall drastically effected Man’s ability to image and imitate God because Adam and Eve failed to fulfill their calling as male and female. Masculine headship and Feminine Subordination were damaged, and the harmony of man fell into discord.
Sermon Text: Genesis 3:1-21
Synopsis: The fallen world seeks unity by removing natural differentiation. God reveals in Genesis 1-2 that true unity exists through harmonizing differentiation; light and dark, day and night, land and sea, man and woman. The differentiation of man into male and female is the only way to image God and fulfill His purpose for man; dominion and fruitfulness.
Sermon Text: Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18-25
Synopsis: The Gospel is of first importance. It is what is given to us that we pass on; Christ died for us, was buried, and rose from the grave. This humiliation and exaltation of Jesus is the foundation of our faith. If we get this wrong, it doesn’t matter what we get right. If we don’t have this, it doesn’t matter what else we have. If we don’t know this, it doesn’t matter what else we know. If we don’t proclaim this, it doesn’t matter what else we have to say.
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-7
Synopsis: The Passion of the Christ supersedes the Passover as the greatest deliverance in redemptive history. The first-born Son of God, the Father, was offered up as the once for all sacrifice for our sins. Holy week is full of daily observances of Jesus’ humility and suffering for sinners. That suffering is his passion. In his suffering and death, he put death to death, defeating Satan and redeeming us from all unrighteousness and sorrow.
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 2:21
Synopsis: In a search for a more substantial and rooted Christianity, we don’t need to invent new ways to give our religion depth and meaning, we need to study the history of our people and our creeds. We are the sons and daughters of a well-established faith growing stronger and more sanctified.
Sermon Text: Galatians 4:8-11
Synopsis: A survey of Archery in the Bible and it's metaphorical use.
Sermon Text: Genesis 9:13
Synopsis: Jesus ministered to the physical and spiritual needs of Israel, and the office of deacon was created so that the ministry of the church would not be neglected, either in word or deed. A healthy church equips the saints for ministry by meeting the needs of the church. Living in the fullness of Christ necessitates a full-bodied ministry.
Sermon Text: Acts 6:1-7
Synopsis: As Paul declares that the Triune God fills his New Covenant Temple, he breaks into doxology. This is the appropriate response to prayer, the word of God, the unity of the Church and the Lord God.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 3:20-21
Synopsis: Biblical humility and wisdom lies in our knowledge of an unknowable God.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 3:18-19
Synopsis: Paul prays that we would know the size of God’s love that surpasses human knowledge.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 3:18-19
Synopsis: Paul gives a prayer report to his readers to encourage them and give them an example. The bridge between creeds and deeds is a Christian prostrate in prayer.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 3:18-19
Synopsis: Israel is a nation defined by Faith in Christ, not the flesh of one’s father. Jesus is gathering a New Israel to and in Himself from all the tribes of the World and will continue to do so until all the elect are gathered in.
Sermon Text: Romans 11
Synopsis: To understand Romans 11 and the Future of ethnic Israel, we must first understand the biblical revelation of God’s Election of Israel. Election must be handled with great care, for it is a deep mystery. The Bible reveals that election is a Trinitarian Decree, that the church is elected in Christ; being a personal grace, not fatalistic or mechanistic.
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 1:9-10; Deuteronomy 14:2
Synopsis: Jesus’ incarnation reveals the glory of God to everyone who reads the Bible.
Sermon Text: John 1:14
Synopsis: The incarnation is the humiliation of our God that gives glory to men.
Sermon Text: John 1:14
Synopsis: Man has always been a product of the divine and human, of heaven and earth. Spirit and dust, dust and spirit. Yahweh-Elohim birthed a man, Mary birthed a God. Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain. We are God’s fellow workers, we are God’s building, God’s field. The creation is a supranatural and natural project. The incarnation of Jesus Christ was the perfect cooperation of God and Man, heaven and earth, Spirit and dust.
Sermon Text: Genesis 2:4, 7
Synopsis: Anticipating the incarnation, man was made with ears so that he might receive the Word of God from heaven.
Sermon Text: Genesis 1:28
Synopsis: All you who repent of your sinand trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation, rejoice, and be glad, and give glory to the Lord, who has taken away all your sin, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Sermon Text: Isaiah 55:6-9
Synopsis: Jesus is the true Israel of God and therefore is a fruitful olive tree. By abiding in him, we will bear fruit in the Holy Spirit, keeping with repentance.
Sermon Text: Jeremiah 33:14-18
Synopsis: Jesus was the true Israel of God, but that is not all. We turn from Matthew 2:15, where Jesus is called out of Egypt to fulfill the calling of Israel, to Luke 1:31-33 where we learn that Jesus inherited David’s throne over the Household of Jacob to reign over creation forever.
Sermon Text: Luke 1:31-33
Synopsis: The fruit of rejoicing, praying and giving thanks – always, without ceasing and in everything – is the peace that surpasses understanding.
Sermon Text: 1 Thess. 5:16-19
Synopsis: The true Israel of God is Jesus Christ.
Sermon Texts: Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15
Synopsis: The local church must not lose the forest for the trees. Reformed Catholics must be missionally minded locally and globally.
Sermon Text: Titus 3:12-15
Synopsis: The Bride of Christ is a pedagogical body, called by God to promote wisdom and shun foolishness as it instructs God’s children in the faith.
Sermon Text: Titus 3:9-11
Synopsis: In a dark and broken world we need the trustworthy sayings of Paul to bring order to our lives.
Sermon Text: Titus 3:8
Synopsis: In v. 4-7 we are taught the source and ethos of our salvation, the process of our salvation and the purpose of our salvation.
Sermon Text: Titus 3:4-7
Synopsis: Remembering what we were saved from should lead to gratitude and compassion.
Sermon Text: Titus 3:3
Synopsis: Christians are citizens of heaven and so make a different kind of citizens among the nations.
Sermon Text: Titus 3:1-2
Synopsis: The authority of Jesus is the basis of our ministry, the message of our ministry and the fruit of our ministry of declaring, exhorting and rebuking.
Sermon Text: Titus 2:15
Synopsis: From where do we derive the strength to be self-controlled, that most essential government to Christ's kingdom? It is the power of grace. Of God's unmerited favor. Christ's kindness and goodness are the strength of our active faith, our obedient gratitude and the substance of our hope.
Sermon Text: Titus 2:11-14
Synopsis: Paul addresses how slaves should act within their households which challenges all kinds of modern unbiblical ethics. We must remember Paul's self designation in v. 1:1, "Paul a slave of God" and humble ourselves. It is better to be a slave in the household of God than spend 10,000 years in the households of the ungodly.
Sermon Text: Titus 2:9-10
Synopsis: God gives each of his servants the grace they are equipped for, and are all called upon to invest that grace into His kingdom.
Synopsis: Self-government is the most important and foundational government of a Christian society.
Sermon Text: Titus 2:6
Synopsis: Christ has un-made your old identity, and you have been re-made in his likeness.
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Synopsis: Outside of their own household, what is a woman’s ministry in the church?
Sermon Text: Titus 2:3-5
Synopsis: Christian men must develop gravitas: the gravity to pull others into the orbit of the Sun of Righteousness.
Sermon Text: Titus 2:2
Synopsis: Elders must be able to identify bad Creeds by judging bad deeds. Fruit reveals the quality and state of the root.
Sermon Text: Titus 1:10-17
How To Read the Bible for All It's Worth, Chapter 10, pages 181-204 (Is. 52-55; Is. 63-66; Daniel 1-4 and Esther)
God's expectations for his household should dictate the level of ethical expectations of all men in the church as well as parenting within each home. Setting good house stewards over the church is the Lord’s means for setting society in order.
Synopsis: An examination of the character of God and nature of warfare in the Old and New Testament.
Sermon Text: Exodus 15:1-3
Synopsis: The Holy Spirit interposes for us in our weakness, so that we become strong, uttering prayers pleasing and in accord with the will of God.
Sermon Text: Romans 8:26
Synopsis: Christ’s existence is a perpetual and prevailing interposition with the Father on behalf of his people, securing for them all the benefits of his redemption.
Sermon Text: Romans 8:34
Synopsis: Titus is continuing the work of his father, Paul, by putting things in order and training leaders.
Sermon Text: Titus 1:5
Synopsis: By giving his credentials, Paul is reminding Titus of what is expected of him as he ministers in Crete and since Paul's letter is meant to be read aloud, Paul's credentials also establish Titus' authority.
Sermon Text: Titus 1-4
How To Read the Bible for All its Worth Chapter 9, pages 163-180; (Joshua 1-12, Hebrews 3:7-4:13)
Synopsis: Paul's letter to Titus is a summons to join him and the letter remains in the Canon as a great summons for every believer.
Sermon Text: Titus 3:12
Synopsis: David is an instrument in Yahweh's hand to shape Israel's expectations of a Messiah, the ultimate Son of Promise.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 24
Sermon synopsis: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central event of Human history. It validates the claims of Jesus while signifying the Lord’s complete victory over death, securing the salvation of God’s people and provides the great hope that gives our lives meaning.
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 1:3
Synopsis: The hope of Israel in dire circumstances has always been the same; a King who is humble, righteous and powerful to save.
Sermon Text: Zechariah 9:9
Synopsis: David reflected the light of the Lord and David’s men reflected the light of their king. But David’s kingdom is not permanent nor without moral failure, which is also reflected in his mighty men. A greater King must come to save the world, whose men will not fail nor fall.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 21:15–22 & 23:8–39
David’s final public proclamation is a poem about the ideal King, in which he expands upon the expectation for the son Yahweh promised Adam in Genesis 3:15. The Ideal king (man) rises like the sun, watering and weeding his kingdom like a master gardener, a greater Adam and a greater David.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
2 Samuel 22 is David's responsive psalm which presents the central theme of the Torah; responding faithfully to the Lord's unmerited faithfulness to us, results in life and blessing.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 22:1-51
Sermon Synopsis: The beginning of the Epilogue of Samuel foreshadows the gospel of Jesus Christ; King Saul breaks covenant and so God curses the land until Saul’s sons are hung as an atoning sacrifice to turn away the wrath of God.
Sermon Synopsis: David despised the word of the Lord. The resulting judgement; a sword that will not depart from his house, has left his concubines and Israel's tribes widowed, without an inheritance in the son of Jesse. But there always remains a remnant, the true bride of Yahweh who is Lady Wisdom. She rises up to defend her house and the heritage of the living God by crushing the head of the snake.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 19:41-20:25
Synopsis: David's struggles continue, but through sins of omission by not considering how his actions appear to the whole nation. He wins Judah back through the rhetoric of his words, but he loses the hearts of the other tribes through the rhetoric of his actions.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 19:8-19:40
God gives us opportunities to revenge ourselves or to let the Lord fight our battles and defend our cause.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 16
Sermon Summary: A look at the biblical metaphor of God as a host to his creation.
Sermon Text: Genesis 2-3
Sermon Synopsis: The Table of the Lord is open to spiritually crippled and broken people, made welcome because of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 8:16-9:13
This talk covers Mere Christianity, Book 4, Chapters 3, 5, 7, 11, and Deeper Magic Chapter 10
Sermon Synopsis: Jesus' resurrection reveals the heart of the inner-Trinitarian life.
Sermon Text: John 10:17-18
Sermon Synopsis: There is one way to receive the king that leads to life and one to eternal destruction.
Sermon Text: Mark 10:46-11:11
Sermon Synopsis: One of the most potent witnesses to the gospel is a faithful marriage, and where marriages are not prospering it is most often due to the husband and wife covering over their own sins.
Sermon Texts: Proverbs 28:13; Galatians 6:1; 1 John 1:9
Sermon Synopsis: The covenant with David is the title-deed for an eternal house of rest in Jesus Christ.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 7
Sermon Synopsis: Michal’s lack of respect for her husband comes form a lack of respect for the Lord. Wives must first respect the Lord, their God, to properly respect the Lord, their husband.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 6:14-23
Sermon Synopsis: Amidst David’s ascent as king, he re-installs the true king of Israel in Zion; Yahweh.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 6:1-15
Sermon Synopsis: Chapter fives explains how David’s house was built, how it fell and how Jesus will restore it.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 5:1-25
Sermon Synopsis: Christ came to unite us; but our rejection of him leads to Cain’s killing field.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 3:26-4:12
Sermon Synopsis: There is a seducing, murdering, wife-stealing snake in David’s Garden. And it’s David, who pursues his quarry until he impales himself on the spear of God’s judgment, just like his nephew Asahel.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 3:1-25
Sermon Synopsis: When you are out of fellowship with your brother, you shouldn’t play tackle football.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 2:8-32
Sermon Synopsis: David demonstrates true Israelite royalty through Justice, Love, Song and Prayer. The way David loves and honors both friend and enemy demonstrates the Gospel.
Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 1:1-2:7
Sermon Synopsis: All men fall, but God’s word never does.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 31:1-13
Sermon Synopsis: The Triune God defines our reality. To set the world in order, we first have to set our house in order.
Sermon Text: 1 Cor. 6:9-11
Sermon Synopsis: Jesus isn’t just a light we observe. We must see everything in the context of His life and ministry.
Sermon Text: John 8:12; Matthew 5:14
Sermon Synopsis: The Lord had a destination in the desert with his newly freed betrothed.
Sermon Text: Exodus 20:2
Adult Sunday school course on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis.
This talk covers a discussion of the Lewis apologetic of story and his contribution to the doctrine of Natural Revelation.
Sermon Synopsis: The gospel was preached to Abram to give him hope for the fallen world.
Sermon Text: Genesis 12:1-3
Adult Sunday school course on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis.
This talk covers Lewis Agonistes, pages 80-90.
Sermon Synopsis: The first verse in our Advent survey of Redemptive history is the Proto-gospel; God’s first promise of rescue through a suffering Son Savior.
Sermon Text: Genesis 3:15
Sermon Synopsis: When we reject God from our homes, schools, churches and tables, we should not be surprised that God has rejected us. In order to turn again to God means we must eat the fat and drink sweet wine.
Sermon Text: Nehemiah 8:10
Sermon Synopsis: The account of David’s victory over the Amalekites is a treasure trove of Gospel foreshadowing.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 29:1 - 30:31
Adult Sunday school course on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis.
This talk covers Lewis Agonistes, pages 61-80.
Adult Sunday school course on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis.
This talk covers Lewis Agonistes, pages 39-60.
Sermon Synopsis: In our fear we cannot turn to wicked divination or the table of demons for comfort.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 28
Adult Sunday school course on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis.
This talk covers Lewis Agonistes, pages 29-39.
Sermon Synopsis: Lying is either warfare for the glory of God or a sin.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 27
Adult Sunday school course on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis.
This talk covers Deeper Magic, Chapter 1
Sermon Synopsis: The space between you and God is swallowed up in your unity to Christ.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 26
Adult Sunday school course on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis.
This talk covers Lewis Agonistes, Pages 17-28
Sermon Synopsis:
David falls into the fallen logic that ensnares us all: if a little is good, more is better; and, thereby, endangers his whole household.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 25:39-44
Sermon Synopsis:
The greatest test of a wife’s faith is her husband. Dealing with a husband who is un-Christlike, is different than dealing with a husband who is an anti-christ.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 25
Adult Sunday school course on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis.
This talk covers Lewis Agonistes, Pages 10-17
Sermon Overview:
We have a Lord who has supplied us with everything that we need to carry out our tasks. We have been equipped and blessed with everything we need to faithfully follow Christ.
Sermon Text: Ephesians 6:10-17
Sermon Overview: David cuts down his enemy envy by submitting to the will and timeframe of the Lord. David avoids becoming a murderer, by cutting his own heart and tearing down his own men, putting to death their murderous desires.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 24
Sermon Overview:
We, like Saul, are often so distracted by personal vendetta that the miss the real enemy ravaging the land.
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 23:15-29
Sermon Overview:
It is God that works and serves us, and this makes Him different than any other god imaginable. The contingency of His work in us is faith.
Sermon Text: Isaiah 64:1-4
Sermon Overview: Matthew 10:16-33 Are you dis-courage-d? The Bible says to be strong and let your heart take courage. Let's take some courage and start the week en-courage-d.
Sermon Overview:
Knowing and being known by leaders who are worthy of imitation, is at the heart of the biblical doctrine of Church membership.
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 3
Sermon Overview:
Tithing is not about mere compliance, tithing is about promise and blessing.
Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 9
Sermon Overview:
The church is a boat that needs more than a captain; it needs a crew.
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4
Sermon Overview:
God gives to delight. Healthy church members are grateful for what they receive and express that gratitude in giving like their Lord. Material wealth is a means to good works and to imitate God in His generosity and grace.
Scripture Reading:
Ruth 2:3-17
Sermon Overview:
Either accept the real community God graciously gives you, or become its enemy by pursuing your ideal community.
Scripture Reading:
Acts 4:23-37
Sermon Overview:
The reason the world has a pride, identity, and pronoun problem is because the church does.
Scripture Reading:
Hosea 8
Sermon Overview:
A moral and religious people ought to know the doctrines of sphere sovereignty, derived authority and interposition, so that they can protect their homes, the church, and the state from tyranny.
Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 2
Sermon Overview:
Attaining a wife is the attainment of wisdom, glory, and a crown.
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 5
Sermon Overview:
Regardless of our failures, or our father’s failures, in committing sins of omission or commission, Abba does not fail and does not leave us bereft of a loving, faithful father.
Scripture Reading:
Malachi 3:6 - 4:6
Sermon Overview:
The Lord sets a feasting table amidst our enemies, and so we always have a reason to thank Him! His provision pours forth from heaven without end.
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 34
Sermon Overview:
If covenants give us stability, peace, and comfort with men - how much more should our covenant in Christ give us an abundance of stability, peace, and comfort with God?
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 3:1 - 4:6
Sermon Overview:
God the Father has blessed us beyond measure, through the life and work of Christ. He has given us all that we need for this life and the next.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:1-17
Sermon Overview:
When the Lord is with you expect adversity, adversaries and abundant grace.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:18-39
Sermon Overview:
David's immense skill and tactical wisdom were not the reasons he prevailed against Goliath, his faith was.
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 11:1-12:2
Sermon Overview:
Before David subdued the spiritual enemies Israel could see on the battlefield; David subdued the spiritual enemies that Israel could not see. And He did so though Spirit-empowered musical chords. We are armed with music to subdue evil spirits and ambush our enemies.
Scripture Reading:
2 Chronicles 20:1–23
Sermon Overview:
David is not only a type and shadow of Jesus, but through Jesus, the type and shadow of every New Testament believer. We are called to a greater glory and anointed with a greater power - to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation.
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 61:1-11
Sermon Overview:
Jesus has disarmed the conspirators of death: the principalities and powers of the air who enslave us. Therefore, let us rise up fearless and follow the Lord.
Scripture Reading:
1 Cor 15:47-58
Sermon Overview:
The world is clamoring for reconciliation, and so we must consider what our ministry to the world has to offer: reconciliation between God and man, and man and man, in the cross of Christ.
Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Sermon Overview:
In order to be a better minister of reconciliation, we need to learn the Liturgy of Weeping.
Scripture Reading:
Lamentations 1
Sermon Overview:
The Lord Jesus was the first fruits of the harvest, food enough to sustain the work of the Church until the end of the harvest and the restoration of all things.
Scripture Reading:
Revelation 21:1-14, 22-27
Sermon Overview:
The Lord Jesus ascended so the Holy Spirit could descend.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:1-17
Sermon Overview:
God has granted to us everything necessary for life and Godliness. The faith to receive such a gift is also a gift. So do not waste the gift of God, but supplement your faith so that it grows up stable and fruitful.
Scripture Reading:
1 Cor 3:5-23
Sermon Overview:
The divine power of God makes divine beings.
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 2
Sermon Overview:
Make no provision for the sins of your flesh. In the warfare of the Christian life, you are always either putting on Christ or making provision for your sin.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 6:1-14
Sermon Overview:
What is the criteria for recognizing God at work around us?
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 22
Sermon Overview:
To understand the details of Christ’s life, we have to understand the history of God’s redemptive story going all the way back to Genesis.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:16-30
Sermon Overview:
Why is a two-bit regional Roman ruler listed in the foundational Creed of the Christian Church?
Scripture Reading:
Mark 15:1-15
Sermon Overview:
Mark records three simultaneous trials to show his readers how to endure and pass the trials in their own lives.
Scripture Reading:
Mark 14:53-72
Sermon Overview:
When the world needed one most, Christ was the only valiant man. How, and how can I be valiant, too?
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 55
Sermon Overview:
Man fell from grace in a garden through one man’s disobedience. Man was restored to grace in a garden through one Man’s obedience.
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 3
Sermon Overview:
Getting the gospel right means we do not contradict the word of God, but obey it. We don’t die on behalf of Jesus as if He needs us; Jesus dies on our behalf. He says to the world, “My life for yours.” And to this we say yes and amen.
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 53
Sermon Overview:
The Lord’s Supper is a mystery made clearer by comprehending Jesus’ many OT references when instituting the sacred meal. Once we comprehend them, we can draw closer to Him, and therefore the meal is revealed to be a crucial means of grace and life.
Scripture Reading:
John 6:47-71
Sermon Overview:
The conspiracy against Jesus is heating up, but it only brings God’s conspiracy against His enemies into its final stages.
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 2 and 41
Sermon Overview:
There are different kinds of responses to Jesus. Some plot against Him. Some use Him for gain. Some pour out their hearts, their wealth, and their self-respect before Him in worship. Which are you?
Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 5:11 - 6:13
Sermon Overview:
The Lord Jesus was vindicated from the Pentecost of the New Israel and the holocaust of Old Israel. Jesus visits His people with revival and with discipline, and we need to stay awake and watch for both!
Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:14-37
Sermon Overview:
The destruction of the temple was a “type” of destruction that we should expect at the end of all things, when Christ judges the world. We are to see the signs and know how to respond in this age, so that we are prepared for the next.
Scripture Reading:
Daniel 9:20 - 27
Sermon Overview:
Jesus has been building up to a prophetic word for His followers. The Church, the body of Christ, is the new ark. In Him, you will not be lost. You will not be overcome. You will not be lost.
Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 7: 1-29
Sermon Overview:
Jesus’ critics have fallen silent. The Lord now asks hard questions. May we have the humility and strength not only to hear them, but to answer them, too.
Scripture Reading:
Colossians 2:8-23
Sermon Overview:
The Word of God is the highest law in the universe. Christ is the Word of God; The Bible is the Word of God. Understanding how these two separate words are unified is crucial to living a Christian life.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 5:12-21
Sermon Overview:
Everything we need for faith and practice is recorded for us in Scripture and is either expressly set down or found through good and necessary consequence, because the Triune God is the God of the living; living people feasting on the living Word.
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 38:11-30
Sermon Overview:
The leaders of Israel were consistently unable to discern the heavenly agent from the false prophet, putting them on the wrong side of history again and again.
Scripture Reading:
1 Kings 22:5-28
Sermon Overview:
Israel is a fruitless fig tree that cannot satisfy the hunger of Christ, and so Christ curses it and casts it into the sea. The way of Christ is a level path because Christ has torn down all the mountains.
Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 7:1-20
Sermon Overview:
The church is a priesthood which makes all of creation holy with thanksgiving; claiming and setting apart the gifts of creation for use in serving the Triune God.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 14
Sermon Overview:
The Lord Jesus is living out the typology and promises and history of Israel. He does this to teach us who the true Israel is. May we see Him and worship Him and dwell in Him, as HIs faithful body, before it is too late.
Scripture Reading:
Mark 10:46-11:11
Sermon Overview:
Biblical authority is Servant Lordship, as modeled by Jesus Christ in His humiliation and exaltation.
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 1:15 - 2:10
Sermon Overview:
Is our prayer life a dialogue or a monologue? What does it mean to participate in Christ’s baptism and cup? Who gets the glorious position of being at Christ’s right hand and left, in His glory?
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 53
Sermon Overview:
Jesus calls us to deliver ourselves to Him, and promises that by doing so, we will gain one hundredfold blessings and persecutions. We can trust Him to deliver on these promises because He was delivered over to the wrath of God on our behalf. We know, because He has received the name above all names.
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 2:5-18
Sermon Overview:
This Psalm displays the consuming despair of unconfessed sin, the overwhelming grace of God, and the resulting joy of the forgiven Christian. Sin must be covered. Either, we will try to cover it ourselves, which is self-destructive, or, we will hand it over to God, the only One who can truly cover it, by confessing it.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 4:1-8
Sermon Overview:
True refuge from the wicked is found in God alone. When wicked men are running rampant, there is a temptation to seek worldly refuge. But in these times, we need to remember that the Lord is on His heavenly throne, and that He punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. And in the end, we find that Jesus is our true refuge and foundation.
Scripture Reading:
1 Samuel 19:8-18
Sermon Overview:
To enter His kingdom, why would Jesus say we had to be like little children, but couldn’t actually be little children?
Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 29:10-29
Sermon Overview:
The only person who understands God’s high calling of marriage is the perfect Bridegroom. Jesus, Himself, is the standard for marriage
Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 3:6-18
Sermon Overview:
Devotion to Christ means a united body: a whole burnt offering, covered in the preserving salt of peace. This is a savory offering, pleasing to the Lord.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 12
Sermon Overview:
Peter encourages his audience to cling to their salvation through the resurrection of Christ as their only hope. The Apologetic Mandate is given to the whole church as a response to the suffering and persecution they will face due to their devotion to Christ and His Church.
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 15:1-23
Sermon Overview:
True greatness is not measured by our status in the world, but by our wrestling with God. Our relation to Christ determines why we live and how we live.
Scripture Reading:
Luke 1:39-56
Sermon Overview:
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Scripture Reading:
James 4
Sermon Overview:
The transfiguration is not the resurrection: It’s a taste of glory, not the wedding feast of the lamb. It’s meant to whet our appetites for more, not satisfy our spiritual hunger.
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 12:18-29
Sermon Overview:
Jesus teaches His disciples the economics of salvation.
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Sermon Overview:
We all see Jesus but indistinctly, like the man who saw men as walking trees. The question for everyone isn’t, “who do they say Jesus is,” but “who do I say Jesus is.” Who is Jesus? Amidst our false idols and temples of self, we have to address this central question, “who do I say Jesus is.”
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 35
Sermon Overview:
Jesus warns His disciples to watch our for the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. If they fail to do so, they will begin to think and act like the Pharisees, replacing the Word of God for their own traditions and expectations of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God.
Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon Overview:
Disciples of Jesus are forgetful and hardly expect miracles, even though Jesus is always exceeding our expectations and providing for us in our spiritual and emotional wilderness. The consistency of Christ is in sharp contrast to the inconsistency of His followers, and for this we give thanks!
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 35
Sermon Overview:
Love is a codified standard. In order to teach our children that there is a standard and to love that standard, parents must model obedience and love for that same standard.
Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 2
Sermon Overview:
Motherhood is a mission in a hostile territory. It is the strength of women to bear children, and they must be militant in their faith. This battlefield is central to God spreading His Kingdom generation by generation.
Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 31:10-31
Sermon Overview:
In a world largely void of good fathers, we need to reestablish the truth and goodness of Godlike Fatherhood. Faithful Fatherhood is what the world yearns for, so let us imitate our Father in Heaven with our children and in our Christian discipleship.
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 5:1-21
Sermon Overview:
Your marriage, just like your house, gets cluttered with moral and ethical junk. Keeping a clean house is hard work that requires daily attention for the sake of the whole community.
Scripture Reading:
Galatians 5:26-6:1
Sermon Overview:
God made Eve to complete Adam and this is a profound mystery about Jesus and His bride, the Church.
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 2:18-24
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is the greater Master, come to make man His slave, giving us ears to hear, a voice of our own, and graciously awakening a new creation.
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 35
Sermon Overview:
There is a joy that is experienced only by the humble person who has complete faith and trust in Jesus.
Scripture Reading:
1 Kings 17:8-24; Mark 7:24-30
Sermon Overview:
Jesus came to give us the most important thing we need: a heart transplant.
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 10:1-17; Mark 7:14-23
Sermon Overview:
The Pharisees were play-acting at their piety and didn’t know it. Their tradition had departed from its source, to the extent that their tradition was opposed to the very word of God. Is ours?
Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 4:1-14; Mark 7:1-13
Sermon Overview:
Jesus will defeat death, His last enemy. Then we will all become what we were becoming all along: vessels for mercy or wrath. Jesus’ resurrection is the first fruits of a great harvest of every person - some for eternal fellowship and some for eternal estrangement.
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 3:7-21; Matthew 5:28-29
Sermon Overview:
The King is either received with reverence and devotion, bringing fruitful peace to your life, or He is received with disrespect and shame, bringing war and fruitlessness to your life.
Scripture Reading:
2 Samuel 6:12-23; Matthew 21:1-10; Luke 19:38-44
Sermon Overview:
When God leads us into tormenting circumstances, terrorizes us, and then astounds us - He does so as the Lord, the healer of mankind. He will save us at whatever cost to Himself, at whatever cost to you.
Scripture Reading:
Exodus 14:21-31 and 25:22-27; Mark 6:45-56
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is the great shepherd who sits us down in green pastures, by still waters, feeding our souls and bodies.
Scripture Reading:
Ezekiel 34:1-16; Mark 6:30-44
Sermon Overview:
Weaponizing and monetizing sexuality isn’t a feast of pleasure, it is a banquet of death.
Scripture Reading:
1 Kings 19:1-3, 21:1-16; Mark 6:14-30
Sermon Overview:
The kingdom of God is antithetical to the kingdom of this world, and so building it necessarily looks different.
Scripture Reading:
Mark 6:7-30
Sermon Overview:
When we give of ourselves and empty ourselves in self denial, we make room for God to pour Himself into us. It allows us to receive greater blessings from Him. This is what Jesus meant when He said that “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Sermon Outline:
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Self-denial within the Trinity
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Jesus' self-denial and submission to His cross
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Our self-denial and submission to our cross
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 26:36-46; Matthew 16:21-26
Sermon Overview:
The Jewish rejection of Jesus is part of His grand design to build a new Israel. The one man wrecking crew is going to work on Israel, for Israel.
Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 2:1-12; Mark 6:1-6
Sermon Overview:
Why would Jesus make the disciples risk their lives rowing through a storm at night, to come to a dark land for one day, destroying the economic welfare of pig famers and terrifying the populace, just to save one guy?
Scripture Reading:
Mark 5:1-20
Sermon Overview:
Sometimes the word that Christ speaks is more frightening than the forces of evil His word silences.
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 107:23-43; Mark 4:35-41
Sermon Overview:
Jesus’ kingdom doesn’t come suddenly all at once; neither does sanctification or maturity. Jesus doesn’t despise the day of small beginnings, so neither should we. Faith and hope are established on promises: promises long in their fulfilling, by God’s Providence. In good soil, the Seed of God will bear fruit - it’s a glorious, gracious certainty. Good hearers are good doers. Christians bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Scripture Reading:
1 Cor 15:35-58; Mark 4:26-34
Sermon Overview:
The light of the world is Christ, and whoever accepts Him gains the Father also. Whoever receives the seed of Christ will bear fruit. The measure with which we receive the light and seed of Christ is the measure Christ will fill. The kind of hearer we are determines how much we will hear.
Scripture Reading:
John 8:12-30; Mark 4:21-25
Sermon Overview:
Jesus teaches in parables, both as judgment against those “outside” and as a means of instruction for those “inside” His newly formed messianic community of faith.
Scripture Reading:
Luke 8:1-21; Mark 4:1-34
Sermon Overview:
Many Christians worry about committing the unforgivable sin. It requires careful study of the text to determine what the unforgivable sin even is, and who is in danger of committing it. Jesus and the Spirit are witnesses to God’s will for the whole world. Rejecting Jesus is evil, but there is still hope, there is still time, there is still another helper. Rejecting the second witness of the Holy Spirit, however, leaves one open to the condemnation and vengeance of the Lord in eternal hellfire.
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 10:19-39; Mark 3:20-30
Sermon Overview:
We have been filled with the new wine of Christ’s blood, and that blood is thicker than any other connection. This is what Christmas is all about. Christ came to establish a new family from every tribe and tongue of the world. It was the Father’s will, and that will guides our steps and defines our fellowship.
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:1-17; Mark 3:20-21, 31-35
Sermon Overview:
Jesus doesn’t just save individuals: Jesus binds Satan and plunders His kingdom, restoring angels to their proper place, and restoring the cosmos to its proper order. And this is good news for you, your marriage, your children, and your vocation.
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 1:5-2:18; Mark 3:22-27
Sermon Overview:
Jesus rejects the ancient forms of Israelite government and worship that have rejected Him. The nation of God rejects God, so God rejects the nation. Jesus is the King of a new kingdom that He raises out of the old. A new shoot rises from the stump of Jesse and all the world gathers under its boughs.
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 3:7-19
Sermon Overview:
All authority in Heaven and on earth is Jesus’, and He uses that authority to serve others, to save, to give life and rest and restoration. True piety is imitating Him.
Scripture Reading:
Colossians 2:6-23; Mark 2:23-3:6
Sermon Overview:
The word of God is our rule for faith and practice. The Word: Jesus. The Bible is not our final authority; Jesus is. His word governs us and gives us wisdom, while teaching us the purpose of everything: serving Jesus Christ. He governs us by His word, but His word serves Him, not us.
Scripture Reading:
John 5:30-47, Mark 2:23-26
Sermon Overview:
Christians should outdo the world in our Thanksgiving Day celebrations because thanksgiving is the liturgy of Christian living. It shouldn’t take commands to be grateful, it should simply take listing the many providences and graces of our loving God
Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 14:26
Sermon Overview:
The Church is the prophetic voice of God to a lost and broken world. We are not Christians for our own comfort, but to go and declare the Gospel, in word and deed, to the whole world. Take the prophets as your example.
Scripture Reading:
James 5:7-20
Sermon Overview:
Mark is declaring a new beginning for Redemptive History. John the baptizer is declaring a new beginning for Israel. Before Jesus opens the doors of His temple to the world, He cleanses it from within. A new beginning is what the people of God need before God shows up in power to change the world.
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 40:1-5; Malachi 3:1-5; Mark 1:1-3
Sermon Overview:
Mark was well-placed to record all that Peter said about what he witnessed Jesus do. And by studying the thread of this gospel account, we learn a great deal about the inspiration of Scripture and the role of the Bible in the Church as Jesus intends it. This is meant to strengthen our faith and thus, our assurance of salvation.
Scripture Reading:
Acts 10:34-44
Sermon Overview:
To understand what the gospel is, we need to understand who the first preacher of the gospel was and what His message entailed. The first gospel preacher was Jesus, and His message was that He is King.
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 2:1-11
Sermon Overview:
Jesus ministered to the physical and spiritual burdens of people, and the office of deacon was created so that the ministry of the church would not be neglected, either in word or deed. A healthy church is a church which doesn’t just hear the word or preach the word, but loves practically by meeting the needs of the church and community at large. Living in the fullness of Christ necessitates a full-bodied ministry.
Scripture Reading:
Acts 6:1-7
Sermon Overview:
The person who wishes to receive favor and forgiveness from Jesus cannot approach Him in pride, but rather humility and full acknowledgement that he is a sinner, with faith that God is able to forgive him. Faith in Jesus, faith in who He is and what He has done, is what saves us; as opposed to faith in ourselves. When you realize the sheer magnitude of the debt we owe to God, and that Jesus had to absorb that massive debt Himself in order to forgive us, the only response is great thankfulness and love for Him.
Sermon Outline:
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The repentant sinner’s approach to Jesus
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The Pharisaical approach to Jesus
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Jesus’ response to each
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 51:1-17, Luke 7:36-50
Sermon Overview:
There is no other word that expresses the manifestation of all that God is, but glory. Glory is what emanates from God because of who He is. And that glory is so intense that it has to be shrouded, or it would consume the things He created. It is also our glory, when we glorify God and manifest to the world what we were created to be.
Sermon Outline:
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God’s glory is His manifested greatness
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God’s glory is intense
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God’s glory is what we should live for
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 104:1-9
Sermon Overview:
Grace is one of those overused words nowadays, but when we understand what we are saying, it has a transformative impact on our relationship with God.
Sermon Outline:
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Grace has nothing to do with law- keeping
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Grace has to do with gift-giving
Scripture Reading:
Romans 5:15-21
Sermon Overview:
God’s power is unlimited, which makes it impossible to fathom what He is capable of. The result of knowing His power should create a fear because of its awesomeness, and an unwavering trust because He is with us.
Sermon Outline:
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The power of God creates from nothing
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The power of God overrides the created order
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The power of God plays with the mightiest nations
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The power of God is manifested to those who trust Him
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 40:10-23
Sermon Overview:
We often misconstrue God’s long-suffering nature as unjust, uncaring, or slack in keeping His promises. We often don’t understand the degree to which God suffers, and the length to which He is willing to endure.
Sermon Outline:
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God demonstrates His long-suffering when He tolerates evil
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God’s long-suffering should never be counted as slowness
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God’s long-suffering exceeds human long- suffering by an infinitude
Scripture Reading:
2 Peter 3:1-9
Sermon Overview:
God pouring out His Spirit upon His people is one of the greatest blessings of the gospel. Yet, it isn’t always fully appreciated, nor understood.
Sermon Outline:
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The Spirit dwells in us
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The Spirit’s power is with us
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The Spirit compels and convicts us
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The Spirit teaches and illumines us
Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:1-17
Sermon Overview:
The wrath of God is a doctrine which is gravely misunderstood, both in its nature and its extent. As a result, we tend to not live in its reality, nor do we fear it like we should.
Sermon Outline:
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The passive wrath of God
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The active wrath of God
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 25:31-46
Sermon Overview:
God calls all Christians to renew their minds with the paideia of the Lord. Fathers, especially, are commanded to raise their children in the paideia of the Lord. The point is learning how to engage culture faithfully and obediently to the Word of God.
Sermon Outline:
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The paideia of the Lord
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There is no neutrality
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Obeying God while engaging culture
Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Ephesians 6:4
Sermon Overview:
The baptism of our children is built upon the way God has, and always does, make covenant with His people, and the signs and seals He gives with the covenant.
Sermon Outline:
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God makes covenant with us and with our children
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God still makes covenant with us and with our children in the N.C.
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God always gives a sign and seal to the covenant
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 17:1-14
Sermon Overview:
God’s Word is supreme, because not only does it create all things and uphold all things, but the written Word has its own internal witness and its own power to transform people's lives.
Sermon Outline:
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The Word of God came through man, but is not of man
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The Word of God proves itself to be from God
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The Word of God has transforming power
Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 18:9-22
Sermon Overview:
The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is the most significant historical event in all the world. Because of this, the greatest enemy who has ever plagued humanity has finally been conquered, and now we have life.
Sermon Outline:
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Our great enemy has been death
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Our great savior is Jesus
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Our great reward is life
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 27:62 - 28:10
Sermon Overview:
Jesus rode into Jerusalem Palm Sunday and was honored as the King. This happened to fulfill the prophesy concerning Him, and yet there was an ironic twist in it. His victory and spoils were going to come through a cross, not a crown. In like manner, we too gain victory through the cross, not the crown.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus is the promised King
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Jesus reigns over heaven and earth
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Jesus accomplishes all this through a cross
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 21: 1-11
Sermon Overview:
When God promises and enters into covenant, his word always comes to pass. There is no turning with him, and there is no way he could ever break his word. He will swear to his own hurt because his is loyal and trustworthy... always!
Sermon Outline:
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Faithfulness is remaining true until the end
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Faithfulness is doing the right thing, no matter what
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Faithfulness is trustworthiness
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 89:1-18
Sermon Overview:
The love of God is such that He can’t do anything other than love. Love is who He is and therefore, He can love even when the object of love is unlovely. It is this love that transforms us and liberates us to love.
Sermon Outline:
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God loves because He is love
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God’s love isn’t conditioned upon loveliness
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God’s love frees us to love
Scripture Reading:
1 John 4:7-21 ; Romans 5:6-19
Sermon Overview:
The wisdom of God is past finding out, because by it He created all things, ordered all things, and governs all things. God’s wisdom can never be attained by a finite mind. However, we can attain wisdom and grow in wisdom as we seek it from God, because God loves to give wisdom to those who seek it.
Sermon Outline:
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God’s wisdom is past finding out
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God’s wisdom is past finding out, so stop trying
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God gives wisdom to all who seek it diligently
Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 8:12-31
Sermon Overview:
God’s supreme sovereignty governs heaven and earth, and He decrees all things that come to pass. But yet, we are still free moral agents who choose and make decisions. God simply ordains and governs all things; we do what we do freely, and the two of these things work perfectly together.
Sermon Outline:
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God’s sovereignty over all things ensures our salvation
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God’s sovereignty does not take away man’s responsibility
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God’s sovereignty trumps man’s will all the time
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 1:1-12
Sermon Overview:
God is the supreme sovereign of heaven and earth. All things are subject to His covenant and decree, and all things are being worked according to His purposed will — even while all creatures are free moral agents.
Sermon Outline:
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God sovereignly controls by decree, not by micro-managing
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God sovereignly must deal with evil at every turn
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 148:1-14
Sermon Overview:
God is everywhere present, but He is not seen or understood by many. And even though He is everywhere present, He is not everywhere in the same way; nor is He so intricately involved that He needs to micromanage everything. He can even allow evil to enter the creation and still ensure all things work together for their purposed end.
Sermon Outline:
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God is everywhere, but often not perceived
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He is not everywhere in the same way
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 139:1-18
Sermon Overview:
The sabbath was made so, once a week, man could rest from His work. To properly understand Sabbath Day observance, its crucial we understand what “rest” is biblically. To do that, we have to look at sabbath rest in the life of Jesus.
Sermon Outline:
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The Sabbath was made for Man
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The Sabbath in the life of Jesus
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 2:2-3; Mark 1:21-34
Sermon Overview:
Gene Veith says “the doctrine of vocation helps Christians see the ordinary labors of life to be charged with meaning. It also helps put their work into perspective, seeing that their work is not serving them, but that they are resting in the grace of God, who in turn works through their labors to love and serve their neighbors.”
Sermon Outline:
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Our vocation fulfills the Creation Mandate and the Great Commission
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Our vocation are specific to our circumstances
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Our vocations are about serving others
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 2:15
Sermon Overview:
The world is fallen under a curse because of man. In Christ, the children of God liberate the earth from its bondage. The king, with a crown of thorns, frees our work from the curse of thorns.
Sermon Outline:
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Fruitless and futile
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Fallen world, fallen workplace
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Jesus, the greater Noah
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:19-21
Sermon Overview:
Man was made to work because we are made in the image of God who works. To understand how to work, we must understand how and why God works.
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 2:2, 5, 15; John 4:31-38
Sermon Overview:
Learning to live in the love of God is what will continually compel you to live your life on mission for God. Without the continual abiding in Christ, there will only be a sense of mission to appease him.
Sermon Outline:
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God’s love is only fully experienced in Jesus
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God’s love is only refreshed as we abide in Jesus
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-19; John 15:1-11
Sermon Overview:
The church not only needs to be ministering to the individuals and families God has placed around them, they need to be praying daily for those people, themselves, and for eyes to see where God is at work.
Sermon Outline:
The kind of praying we need to do
The kind of observing we need to do
Scripture Reading: Luke 10:1-11
Sermon Overview:
If we are to be on mission, then we must take initiative and begin reaching out in love to our neighbor. Because until we have love for our neighbor, and begin to reach out them in love, we will not become a church on mission.
Sermon Outline:
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Loving your neighbor begins by demonstrating warmth and interest
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Loving your neighbor entails taking steps toward them
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Loving your neighbor progresses to doing thoughtful things for them
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:38-48
Sermon Overview:
As the church we are a priesthood of believers, and this has all kinds of ramifications in relationship to our mindset and responsibilities in regard to our mission.
Sermon Outline:
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The priesthood in Israel
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The priesthood in the church
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The priesthood in your neighborhood
Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 2:1-12
Sermon Overview:
God's heart for the lost is one of love and compassion. Yet, we often lose sight of that because we realize that his looming wrath and judgment is going to be executed on all unrepentant sinners. However, when we regain the true heart of God, we can regain a heart for the lost.
Sermon Outline:
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God's love and God's wrath in context
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God does not delight in the death of the wicked
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God throws a party when a sinner repents
Sermon Overview:
The church off mission is a church that has made central that which is not central.
Sermon Outline:
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God’s love for us in Jesus is no longer central
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Our love for God and others is no longer central
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:10-24
Sermon Overview:
Those who are in Christ Jesus are no longer identified with their sin, are free from condemnation, and live in the liberating power of the Spirit.
Sermon Outline:
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The Christian life is...a life no longer identified with sin
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The Christian life is...a life lived free from condemnation
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The Christian life is...a life lived in the Spirit
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:1-11
Sermon Overview:
The church on mission, which is effectively impacting the world around it, is distinctly marked by its devotion, attractiveness and zeal.
Sermon Outline:
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The church on mission is devoted
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The church on mission is attractive
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The church on mission is zealous
Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:42-47
Sermon Overview:
“We are far worse than we ever imagined, and far more loved than we could ever dream.” -Tim Keller. This is the message we carry in our mission.
Sermon Outline:
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Death reigned through the sin of Adam
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Life reigns through the grace of Jesus
Scripture Reading:
Romans 5:1-11
Sermon Overview:
Modeling a life lived by faith is necessary for all discipleship, but so is teaching about who God is, who we are, and how this world works. These are the four main components to all good discipleship.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus taught his disciples the truth about themselves.
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Jesus taught his disciples the truth about their world.
Sermon Overview:
Jesus didn't just seek and save the lost, he discipled them. And he didn't just disciple them, he discipled and trained them so they were then able to go and do likewise. This created an explosive, disciple-making movement.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus modeled for his disciples the way to live
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Jesus taught his disciples the truth about God
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to going on mission, not only do we need to see the importance of ministering to the needs of those around us, but we also need to see the importance of people hearing the Gospel as well. Because if there is no proclamation of the Gospel, there can be no salvation for the lost.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus in personal conversations
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Jesus in public proclamations
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Jesus, in all cases, made observations
Sermon overview:
Most of us don't life a life on mission, because we don't even know what it means to be on mission. As a result, we don't know what the first step would be, let alone the second or third. Jesus reveals for us what a life looks like when it is on mission.
Sermon outline:
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Identify and minister to needs
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The impact of ministering to needs
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to going on mission, there is no way it is going to happen unless we have power from above. We need the power of God if we are ever going to do the things of God. Therefore, we have to understand how it is we are built up in the Lord and walk in the power of his might.
Sermon Outline:
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Fillling of the Spirit
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Feasting on the truth
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Praying without ceasing
Scripture Reading:
Acts 1:4-5, 2:1-4
Sermon Overview:
There is one thing that drives the mission, and it is love. Without love there is no mission. And without love we will not be zealous for the mission.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus’ mission was given out of love
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Jesus’ mission was commissioned in love
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Jesus’ mission was based upon a love for his Father
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Jesus’ mission was motivated by a love for the lost
Scripture Reading:
1 John 4:7-21
Sermon Overview:
Once we get off mission, and get caught up in the idolatry of the age, it isn’t as easy as simply getting back on mission. We must first deal with the idols, and then turn to the Lord our God with our whole heart.
Sermon Outline:
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The way we get off mission
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The way we get back on mission
Scripture Reading:
Joel 2:12-21
Sermon Overview:
From the very beginning God made us to be on mission. So when we have been on mission, and stayed focused on it, all went well, but when we disobeyed God and strayed from the mission, all went wrong.
Sermon Outline:
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God made us to be on mission
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God’s people, Israel, on mission
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God’s people failed to remain on mission
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 2:1-12
Sermon Overview:
When we see and taste the goodness of God, we will never be the same, because we will know that there is nothing better in this universe than God himself. His gifts are merely a token and expression of him. It is his very person that is the supreme good. Life is merely expressing the myriad of ways that the supreme goodness of God is revealed to us.
Sermon Outline:
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Creation declares the goodness of God
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Israel's history reveals the goodness of God
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Jesus' ministry manifests the goodness of God
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Our blessings in Christ demonstrates the goodness of God
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 65:1-13
Sermon Overview:
God is above all, governs all and holds all things in subjection to him by his great power. Therefore, the believing heart trusts him and fears him gladly. The unbelieving heart doubts and fears circumstances instead.
Sermon Outline:
1) His very Word made heaven and earth
2) He messes with mighty nations
3) He personally makes and observes every person
4) He gives salvation to those who fear and trust him
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 46:1-11
INTRODUCTION
Historical significance of Romans
What Life is All About
BY THE MERCIES OF GOD
Brotherly Tone
The Romans Road
The Gospel as Mercy
Judging Neighbors
Hutus and Tutsis
Rescue
Adoption
WORSHIP
Definition
English
Greek
Humans as Worshipers
You Are What You Worship
Idol Making
BODILY SERVICE
Old Testament Worship
Spirit and Truth
Means of Mercy
CONCLUSION
Sermon Overview:
We sometimes wonder why God couldn’t have simply forgiven us and spared his Son. Why spill his blood and have him die? The reason we don’t understand this is because we don’t understand the supreme value of our God, the nature of our sin, and the payment necessary to atone for it.
Sermon Outline:
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Value
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Sin
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Death
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 104:1-24
The ministry of the church is unfinished disciples fulfilling what’s lacking in one another.
Jesus provides everything we need to have the fullness of the Triune God; the fullness of life. Jesus equips to go and bear fruit that abides. Sit at His feet and you will find everything you need to do so.
We are creatures of habit who are easily susceptible to liturgies of sin, habits of distraction and taking direction from sins - past, present and future. Jesus slays our isolation to free us from our bad habits and liturgies so that we can get out of our ghettos and love others.
Ghettos are communities defined by isolation, lacking in resources and ill-treatment who protect themselves by creating counter cultures within exclusionist societies within a larger society. This ghetto attitude overtakes many Christians in many ages. But Christ has called and equipped us to GO - breaking out of the ghetto of self, family and church to build, bear fruit and love others in an ever expanding Kingdom that covers the whole earth. We cannot get on mission until we deal with the self-imposed walls that imprison us.
Sermon Overview:
Jesus wants us to know and have the true treasures. He doesn’t want us making the fools choice by investing in that which perishes. When we understand this, we see that It is much more wise to invest in the eternal, rather than the temporal. And if we want to see where our heart truly is, just look at where our treasure is.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus and the Father delight to give you the Kingdom
2) Jesus knows that if you want the kingdom, you will invest everything in it
Scripture Reading:
Luke 19:1-10
Sermon Overview:
If your thoughts are on the cares and concerns of this world, you will be filled with anxiety and stress, and this is a decision you make. However, if your thoughts are on the power, goodness and sovereignty of your God, you will be filled will joy and peace.
Sermon Outline:
1) Don’t worry about the cares and concerns of this world, God is taking care of you
2) Concern yourself with the kingdom of God, that is where joy and peace are found
Scripture Reading:
Job 38:1-18, 39-41
Sermon Overview:
Jesus often speaks to our hearts about the things we often try to hide in them. Like when are hearts want more than what we have, thinking life is found there. But Jesus reveals that fullness of life doesn’t come from what we possess on the outside, but from what we possess on the inside.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus didn’t come to make sure we get what we think we deserve
2) Jesus teaches that life never come through what we possess
3) Jesus reveals that life only comes through a life lived in the truth
Scripture Reading:
John 15:9-17
Sermon Overview:
How we respond to Jesus, his work and persecution in his name reveals our standing with him. So if you have ever wondered how you stand with Jesus, you only have to look at how you respond to him.
Sermon Outline:
1) Responding correctly to persecution
2) Responding correctly to the work of the Holy Spirit
3) Responding correctly when brought before authorities
Scripture Reading:
Acts 5:12-33
Sermon Overview:
The Fear of God is where true freedom and wisdom are found, because when we fear him, we don’t fear man, and we set our souls aright. When we fear man or circumstances, we find ourselves frustrated and lost in a sea of doubt, insecurity and stress.
Sermon Outline:
1) The fear of man, or of circumstances, seizes us in a sea of self-doubt and insecurity
2) The fear of God is where life, security and freedom are found
3) The constant task of all those who will fear God
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 4:4-13
Sermon Overview:
Every one of us needs to beware of hypocrisy for several reasons. First of all, the temptation toward it increases as our positions in life increase. Second, it is THE ugly mark of what it means to be a Pharisee. And most importantly, we have to realize that it will be exposed in the end in the most unpleasant way.
Sermon Outline:
1) Hypocrisy will be a temptation as position increases
2) Hypocrisy is at the heart of every Pharisee
3) Hypocrisy will be exposed in the end
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Sermon Overview:
There is a cross before us on which we all need to die. There are many false comforts to distract, coping mechanisms and ways to avoid that necessary death. Christ shows us, in the garden of prayer, the way to victory over that cross. Follow Him.
Sermon Outline:
1) The Cross before us
2) False comforts and true comforts
3) Victory and defeat
Text: Luke 9:23
Sermon Overview:
The religiosity we might see in some is not far from what we can easily become. There is a part of us that tends to put high standards on others that we know we can't bear ourselves, to exalt truth while hating being confronted by it, and to withhold truth for own gain. We aren't immune from being affected by this deadly disease.
Sermon Outline:
1) You put high standards on others that you yourself don't uphold
2) You act like you honor the truth, but you hate being confronted by it
3) You withhold knowledge in order remain in control
Scripture Reading:
James 1:19-27
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is the son of man, who was foretold of from the beginning. He was to come and deliver the world from its oppressing enemies. Yet, the way he did this caught everyone by surprise, because he did it through suffering on a cross and then rising again from the dead.
Sermon Outline:
1) The prophesies concerning this promises Son of Man
2) The prophesies fulfilled about the Son of Man being crucified, dead and buried
3) The prophesies fulfilled about the Son of Man rising from the dead
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 28:1-15
Sermon Overview:
Self-righteousness manifests its ugly self in several different ways. For instance, it is always intense about outward appearance, delights to obey culturally esteemed laws, and is especially given to places of honor.
Sermon Outline:
1) The self-righteous are overly concerned about outward appearances
2) The self-righteous are zealous about culturally esteemed laws
3) The self-righteous love places of honor
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 23:1-13
Sermon Overview:
The way you can know if you have light or not in your soul is through the eye. This is because the lamp which manifests the light of the soul is the eye. This also teaches us to be careful that we don’t deceive ourselves by what we think is light in the mind.
Sermon Outline:
1) The analogy of lighting a lamp
2) The eyes are the lamp for the light
3) The deceived think they have light
4) The ones full of light are beacons of light
Scripture Reading:
John 1:1-13
Sermon Overview:
We respond to Jesus inappropriately when we praise him for the wrong things, and when we seek for him to do more than he has already done. The only appropriate response is to trust him because of who he is, what he has done and what he has promised.
Sermon Outline:
1) Praising Jesus for less important things, while missing the more important things.
2) Looking for Jesus to do more than he has already done.
Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9
Sermon Overview:
The house may be swept clean, but unless the title is changed, the original owners are always allowed to come back. We need to be careful that we don’t mistake reformation for transformation.
Sermon Outline:
1) The demons are removed
2) The house remains empty
3) The demons return with seven worse
Scripture Reading:
Mark 5:1-14
Sermon Overview:
This world is under the power and sway of the evil one, but Jesus has come, and by his name the kingdom of darkness is being destroyed and the kingdom of God is being established. The promised seed of the woman is now crushing the head of the serpent.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus is manifesting his power over the darkness
2) Jesus is illogically accused by unbelief
3) Jesus is manifesting our hope of his kingdom
Scripture Reading:
Luke 10:17-24
Sermon Overview:
Unless we have the right people in the right places of ministry, we won’t be healthy and effective as a church, and thus won’t fulfill our mission as a church.
Sermon Outline:
1) We need Ministers
2) We need the appropriate ministers
3) We need gifted, full-time ministers
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4:7-16
Sermon Overview:
Our earthly fathers are kind enough that they usually enjoy giving us the things we ask for, as long as it isn’t bad for us. And if we to receive from them when we ask for something, how much more should we go to our Heavenly Father, who makes their goodness look like wickedness.
Sermon Outline:
1) The kindness of the average father
2) The kindness of the Heavenly Father
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 139:1-14
Sermon Overview:
Prayer should not be stopped because at first we are met with silence. We must persist. Even become obnoxious if we have to, knowing that if we continue, and don't give up, God will eventually answer us.
Sermon Outline:
1) Be annoying with your prayers
2) Learn to ask, seek and bang in your prayers
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 13:1-6
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to prayer Jesus lays out for us some guiding principles in regard to what we should pray. We should pray for God’s name, our provision, forgiveness and deliverance. These should be the foundational pieces to our daily prayers.
Sermon Outline:
1) Pray for God’s name and kingdom
2) Pray for daily bread
3) Pray for forgiveness
4) Pray for deliverance
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 6:5-14
Sermon Overview:
The greatest priority in life is not service or work, nor is it the things causing us to be anxious or troubled, but it is to listen to the teaching of Jesus.
Sermon Outline:
1) Serving and work are great, but they aren’t our greatest priority
2) The things that cause us to be anxious and troubled aren’t our greatest priority
3) Listening to the teaching of Jesus is our greatest priority
Scripture Reading:
John 11:1-6, 17-27
Sermon Overview:
We all have a natural propensity to feel self-righteous because we desperately want to be good people, and think that we can inherit eternal life. However, when our righteousness is compared to the true standard of righteousness, we find ourselves exposed and unrighteous.
Sermon Outline:
1) The standard of righteousness is the law of God (v.25-28)
2) The self-righteous redefined terms to justify themselves (v.29-33)
3) The self-righteous are exposed by the truth (v.30-37)
Scripture Reading:
Luke 10:25-37
Sermon Overview:
Jesus has a way of changing our life because he gives us a perspective that affects us at the core. In our text he reveals how we should understand our success, understand ourselves, and understand the blessing it is to see Jesus.
Sermon Outline:
1) Success... it isn't the thing to rejoice over
2) Self... it only receives when it becomes like a little child
3) Sight... we can only see because God opens your eyes
Scripture Reading:
Luke 10:17-24
Sermon Overview:
Jesus came to this earth to destroy sin, death and the Devil, and the way he is going to do it is through his church reaching out and proclaiming what Jesus came to do. However, we need to pray for leaders to expand the ministry, and we need to go forward with the right strategy. And in the end, all those who do not respond to the offer of Jesus will receive the judgment of Jesus.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus expands his ministry
2) Jesus exposes the need
3) Jesus gives the strategy for victory
4) Jesus foretells of his judgment
Scripture Reading:
Luke 10:1-16
Sermon Overview:
Jesus exposes the true motives of those who say they want to follow him, but don’t. And Jesus also exposes our motives when we say we want to obey him, but don’t. We usually don’t obey when the cost seems too high, or when our excuses convince us, or when we are half-hearted in our commitment.
Sermon Outline:
1) Some clearly don’t understand the commitment
2) Some make excuses
3) Some have a divided heart
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 10:16-28
Sermon Overview:
Last week we covered the first 8 words of this verse; “the word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
A startling revelation in itself, but the Apostle John then extends the wonder; “and,” he says. As if God becoming a man wasn’t enough - John states that ““we” have seen his glory.”
Glory? Why glory? Why not power? Why not miracles? Or His ministry or Jesus’ life; affirming that God really had become a man?
Why does John make seeing Jesus’ glory his primary focus as a witness of the validity that Jesus really is God?
What role did glory play in first century Jewish theology and culture?
And who is this “we?” Certainly John means the disciples and the 500 witnesses. He couldn’t be talking about himself and you and me? We weren’t there.
Indeed. John is filling the page with wonderful and mysterious assertions. John’s Christmas story is full of gifts. Rare and wondrous gifts.
John has experienced the rarest and most prized wonder – seeing the glory of God with eyes of flesh and he is telling us that “we” all have; anyone who has read John’s Gospel or any of the Gospels.
The word became flesh – those who sit in the shadow of death have seen a great light – the light of the world – a stunning glory – the glory of God, the glory of the suffering servant, the glory of the promised Son of Genesis – that all believers of God have longed to see since Adam.
You have and can see it too.
It’s too wonderful – it’s a revelation full of grace and truth – the sun of righteousness has dawned for all to see.
Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 3:7-18
Ascent Psalm: Psalm 8:5-8
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is actively at work in this world, and our reactions to what he is doing reveals a lot about our hearts. For as we know, it isn’t uncommon to have reactions of anger, hatred or love in any given week.
Sermon Outline:
1) We can act with anger to what is going on
2) We can act with hatred to what is going on
3) We can act with love to what is going on
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 9:29-38
Sermon Overview:
We are often tempted by the evil one and our fleshly desires to make priorities that are completely contrary to what Jesus has for us and for the world. Therefore we must battle against this and repent of our petty agendas, so that we might live according to Jesus’ agenda.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus has a mission, but we don’t get it
2) Jesus requires humility, we seek exaltation
3) Jesus is expanding his kingdom, we want to expand ours
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 96:1-4
Scripture Reading:
Mark 9:30-41
Sermon Overview:
We don’t wrestle in this world against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and the spiritual forces of darkness in heavenly places. And unless we understand the world to work this way, we won’t understand the importance and power of prayer and the Word.
Sermon Outline:
1) The spiritual world around us
2) The necessity of prayer
3) The power of Jesus’ Word
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 95:6-7
Scripture Reading:
Mark 9:14-29
Sermon Overview:
What God wants for us, because of what everything means for us, is to always be rejoicing, always be praying and always be giving thanks.
Sermon Outline:
1) Rejoice always
2) Pray always
3) Give thanks always
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 96:1-4
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 96:1-13
Sermon Overview:
We are more blessed if we know Jesus, than we are if we see Jesus in his glory, because that is the true gift of God. So don’t seek signs and experiences, seek Jesus. Because knowing him is the central point.
Sermon Outline:
1) The veil of Jesus is lifted
2) Our response is usually to venerate the experience
3) God’s response is to validate his Son
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 95:1-2
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 17:1-13
Sermon Overview:
If you want life, you must lose yours. Your dreams, your will, your plans, your glory, your reputation, your everything must die, and then you will find the life hidden in Christ.
Sermon Outline:
1) The cost of following Jesus
2) The benefit of following Jesus
3) The cost of NOT following Jesus
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 92:1-4
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 16:21-27
Sermon Overview:
The most important question we could ever ask or answer is: who is Jesus? Because knowing who he is and believing it is a matter of life and death. Yet, if you answer and know it correctly, it has nothing to do with you or your intelligence, it is the gift of God, by the Spirit.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus probes to make manifest those who are his
2) Jesus gives to those who already have
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 90:1-2
Scripture Reading:
John 10:1-16
Sermon Overview:
No matter what impossible situation you find yourself in life Jesus will, in one way or another, always provide.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus leads into tough circumstances
2) We panic in the face of tough circumstances
3) Jesus always provides in ways we don’t expect
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 84:1-2
Scripture Reading:
Luke 9:10-17
Sermon Overview:
Jesus tends to get the attention of power because of the impact he is making in the world. But when he does, it is often met with an unpleasant persecution because the powerful always feel threatened.
Sermon Outline:
1) Power takes notice of power
2) Power pursues power
3) Power persecutes power
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 92:1-4
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 2:1-16
Sermon Overview:
A church committed to the mission of Jesus has to be committed to multiplying the ministry. This is because our mission is to make disciple who make disciples. So learning from Jesus how to train and equip disciples to GO, is essential.
Sermon Outline:
1) Empowering and Commissioning
2) Explaining the needs
3) Equipping with a methodology
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 91:1-2
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 10:1-16
Sermon Overview:
Jesus has revealed how he is going to use us to bring the nations into his kingdom. We now have to obey and become a people who are committed to his process and not the ways of the world.
Sermon Outline:
1) We have a Great Commission
2) We are to GO into all the world
3) We must encounter the Gospel
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 89:1
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 2:1-12
Sermon Overview:
Discipleship is the process by which the Triune God remakes man in His own image.
Sermon Text: 2 Cor 3:18
Sermon Outline:
1) We image God
2) God re-images us
Ascent: Nehemiah 12:43
Sermon Overview:
Jesus commands us to go through this process every day - deny yourself, bear your cross and follow me. He is addressing the biggest roadblock to following Him, the most pernicious idol that steals His glory and keeps us enslaved to sin - our self.
Sermon Text: Matthew 16:24
Points:
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Deny Self
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Bear your cross
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Follow Jesus
Scripture Reading: Col 2:6-15
Overview:
By worshiping God we become like the God we worship. But what is worship? What is a God? How does worship transform us?
Sermon Outline:
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What is worship?
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What is a God?
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What does worship do?
Ascent Psalm: 95:6-7
Reading: Psalm 91:1-12
Bloom! John 10:7-11
Introduction
The gospel is THE three-act story. The biblical authors did not present the story of the Bible in three acts so we could understand it better. Instead, we understand stories better because they reflect the storyline of the gospel. We were created for stories that echo the gospel. Every Christian has the gospel storyline in their life. We all have a creation, fall, redemption, and God will resolve our story as well. If you were looking in at the story of your life right now, what would you see? Are you at a peak or are you in a valley? Are you flourishing? Flourishing should bring to mind a vigorous state of thriving and prospering; of luxuriant growth. Are you languishing? Languishing is spiritual apathy.
Overview:
We are blind to our own spiritual weakness and Christ's all sufficient provision. Jesus leads us into situations that reveal both so that we will love Him and follow Him.
Sermon Text: John 13:38-39
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus has a plan
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To address Peter's Blindness
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And alter His affections
Ascent Psalm: 99:1-3
Reading: John 21:4-19
Overview:
Jesus' call to follow Him costs us something. We can't have Him and our Idols. We can't have Him and our selves. Being a disciple of Jesus requires us to put to death the sin that persists in our lives while also enlivening our holiness. We put off the old man and put on the new and thereby become like Him.
Sermon Text:
Luke 9:62
Sermon Outline:
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The mortification of sin
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The vivification of holiness
Ascent Psalm: 34:1-3
Reading: Colossians 3:5-17
Overview:
The command to follow Jesus is universal to all believers and is not a spiritual truth but a living reality. We follow Jesus as He providentially shepherds us through life. We follow Him by studying Him and imitating Him just as the original disciples did. Whereever he leads us, we follow Him, all the way to the glorious destination of eternity future.
Sermon Text:
John 10:27
Outline:
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Disciples Follow Jesus
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Disciples Imitate Jesus
Ascent Psalm: 89:5-7
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-12
Sermon Overview:
The Triune God made men image bearers of Himself. When we believed the lie of Satan we tarnished that image beyond recognition. So God came in the image of man to remake men into the image of God. A disciple is a person in the midst of becoming - a person in the process of being made into something new. Believing His promise to do so is how we are transformed.
Sermon Text:
Matthew 10:25 and 2nd Cor. 3:18
Sermon Outline:
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The lie of Satan
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The fruit of the Spirit
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The hope of Heaven
Ascent Psalm: 89:15-18
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-13
Sermon Overview:
The most important virtue you can ever commit your life to is love. It is the chief virtue, and should be the goal of life. Love kicks back like nothing else in this world. It is powerful because it brings power to the person giving and receiving it. And it is also life giving because it gives life to the person giving and receiving it.
Sermon Outline:
1) Love is your goal
2) Love is your power
3) Love is your life
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 100:4-5
Scripture Reading:
John 15:1-17
Sermon Overview:
The tongue can build our body into health, or it can breed a destructive cancer. This is why we must learn to restrain our tongues from the ways we can destroy each other, and train them to speak only what is good for building others up.
Sermon Outline:
1) We can speak evil of one another
2) We can grumble against one another
3) We can lie to one another
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 100:1-3
Scripture Reading:
James 3:2-12
Sermon Overview:
One of the ways we love one another is by joyfully singing the Word of God to and with one another. Because by doing so, we are having the truth of Christ dwell in us richly, and the joy of the Lord fill our souls.
Sermon Outline:
1) What to sing
2) How to sing
3) When to sin
Ascent Psalm:
98:4-6
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 63:1-11
Sermon Overview:
We are commanded to be hospitable to one another without grumbling. And the reason for this is because we have been loved when we were unlovely, and this is one of the best ways to show the same kind of love.
Sermon Outline:
1) What it means
2) What it looks like today
3) How to get started
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 97:10-12
Scripture Reading:
Luke 10:25-37
Sermon Overview:
This life is filled with trials, sorrows and struggles that are far too much for us to bear. That is is why part of loving and serving one another is bearing one another’s burdens. We can’t make it through this life without the love and support of one another.
Sermon Outline:
1) Make other’s burdens our burdens
2) Let People into our problems
3) Don’t watch others struggle
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 96:1-3
Scripture Reading:
Romans 15:1-13
Sermon Overview:
Part of loving one another is being able to admonish each other and speak the truth each other in helpful ways. However, unless we are wise and well equipped, we usually don’t do so well with this. We either do it horribly, or we don’t do it at all.
Sermon Outline:
1) What does it mean to admonish?
2) How do you admonish?
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 99:1-3
Scripture Reading:
1 Thessalonians 5:4-24
Sermon Overview:
The goal in our relationships should be to say and do things that make the other person feel accepted, appreciated, valued and secure, thus encouraging them to do likewise to others. This is what it means to build one another up in love.
Sermon Outline:
1) Build other up
2) Encourage others
3) Spur one another on to love and good deeds
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 98:4-6
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4:15-32
Sermon Overview:
In order for us to love one another, we must, in humility, consider others our equals and esteem them as better than ourselves. Because only then are we able to look upon our brothers and sisters rightly and desire to serve them. Otherwise, we become haughty, look down upon them and pull back from loving them.
Sermon Outline:
1) Think of others as better than ourselves
2) Strength should never disdain weakness
3) Don’t judge your brothers and sisters
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 96:1-3
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 2:1-11
Sermon Overview:
We are called to reflect God in our love for one another, and that means joining in the experience one another is going through. Never let your brothers and sisters feel alone or unaccompanied in their joy or in their sorrow. To be alone and left without brothers and sisters to share it with is not natural.
Sermon Outline:
1) Share your joy with one another
2) Share your sorrow with one another
3) Share the love with one another
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 93:1
Scripture Reading:
Luke 15:11-32
Sermon Overview:
Greeting one another is a basic component to loving one another. It is how we should begin, and it sets the tone for everything else we do. If we want to show love, we need to pay attention to our greetings. The greeting is a most basic of affections.
Sermon Outline:
Greeting one another is basic to love Greeting one another affectionately Greeting one another joyfully
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 95:1-3
Scripture Reading:
Romans 16:3-16
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to loving one another, one thing that is absolutely necessary for us to realize is our need and dependency on one another. We don’t just love to give, we have mutual needs that we all need to have met. God has made us needy for a reason, because in a loving community, those needs are met.
Sermon Outline:
1) The Interdependence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
2) The interdependence in the beginning
3) The interdependence of the church
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 92:1-2
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Overview:
Jesus appears, saves and transforms sinners. His costly grace graciously teaches us how to live in this world as workers of grace.
Outline:
1) Costly Grace
2) Training Grace
3) Transforming Grace
Title: The Triumph of Grace
Text: Titus 2:11-14
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 30:10-12
Scripture Reading:
2 Cor. 6:1-13
Sermon Overview:
If the love of God does not fill your heart, there is no love to give to others. And if love is lacking, then it means believing is lacking. Because we receive in this world according to what we believe. And when we believe the truth we are set free, but when we believe in lies, we go into bondage.
Sermon Outline:
1) Love comes from believing
2) Love continues knowing we are in a fallen world
3) Love gets confusing because of experience
4) Love continues because of what we think about
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 95:1-3
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Sermon Overview:
The Church is the body of Jesus and the family of God, and because of this, we have to grow in our love for one another so that we become more and more like the triune community we have been united to. But this won’t happen unless we understand how we are to treat one another and how it is that we change over time in this treatment of one another.
Sermon Outline:
1) The Church’s Nature
2) The Church’s Mandate
3) The Church’s problem applying love
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 92:1-4
Scripture Reading:
Romans 15:1-7
Sermon Overview:
The overwhelming evidence proves that Jesus has been raised from the dead. Therefore, he is our hope, he is our Lord and he is our Savior.
Sermon Outline:
1) The empty tomb
2) The encounters with risen Jesus
3) The foundation of the Christian faith
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 98:1-2
Scripture Reading:
John 20:1-18
Sermon Overview:
One of the major reasons we don't experience God in the marketplace is because we go to the marketplace with wrong motives. We often go wanting to get something done, get something for ourselves, or get in and out as quickly as possible, but to experience God we have to go to love.
Sermon Outline:
1) God works in the world through his people and his Spirit
2) Express love in the marketplace, experience God in the marketplace
Psalm of Ascent:
Psalm 98:1-2
Scripture Reading:
Romans 12:9-18
Sermon Overview:
Experiencing God in the church requires that we believe God is primarily at work throughout his church, look for God’s activity around us, begin to bring it to the surface, and step up to serve when we see him at work.
Sermon Outline:
1) Seeing the work of God
2) Bringing to light the work of God
3) Stepping into the work of God to minister
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 96:1-4
Scripture Reading:
Sermon Overview:
Our children need to experience God for themselves first hand, they can’t simply get to know God in their heads. Therefore, we need to learn how to walk with our children and invite them into the experience we have with God, so they too will come to experience God themselves.
Sermon Outline:
1) Pray for your children
2) Talk with your children about God’s activity
3) Minister with your children
4) Discipline your children
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 95:1-3
Scripture Reading:
1 Samuel 2:12-21
Sermon Overview:
In marriage the husband and wife become one, then set out to serve and follow God as one. This means they are to have the same purpose, mission, and Lord that they follow. And as they do this together, they experience God together.
Sermon Outline:
1) One Flesh
2) One Mission
3) One Lord
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 150:1-6
Scripture Reading:
Acts 20:17-31
Sermon Overview:
The greatest roadblock to our experiencing God is our faking it. Because we will either live according to the truth and be freely able to follow after God, or we will be trapped by lies that cause us to fake it—knowing that something is wrong with our relationship to God.
Sermon Outline:
1) A fake relationship
2) A real relationship
3) A renewed relationship
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 149:1-4a
Scripture Reading:
1 John 1:1-9
Sermon Overview:
Having looked at the seven realities to experiencing God, we need to understand that there are roadblocks we run into along the way, which often confuse us. Unless we understand how to get past them we can respond in the wrong way.
Sermon Outline:
1) What "seems" like a closed door
2) God is silent
3) Not faithful with the little things
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 148:1-5
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 44:13-26
Sermon Overview:
Whenever God calls you to do something, it is going to mean making adjustments in your life. And those adjustments always cost you something, but the final rewards are always well worth it.
Sermon Outline:
1) You can’t stay where you are
2) Surrender and Dependence are essential
3) You might have to wait
Ascent Reading:
Psalm 149:1-4
Scripture Reading:
Luke 18:18-30
Sermon Overview:
Anytime God reveals to you his will and calls you to do something, it will have God-sized dimensions to it. Which means it will require you to believe (with a certain level of confidence) that God is going to show up and handle it.
Sermon Outline:
1) God reveals God-sized assignments
2) God requires faith
3) Responding reveals faith
Ascent Psalm:
Psalm 147:1
Scripture Reading:
Numbers 13&14
Sermon Overview:
God doesn’t always speak to you through his Word, prayer or circumstances, often God speaks to you through the church. So if you don’t speak to others in the church about you, God might be silent with you.
Sermon Outline:
1) Why does God use your body
2) How does it work
3) What to do more often
Ascent Text:
Psalm 107:1-3
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4:4-16
Sermon Overview:
Experiencing God is something that happens as we learn to walk with him throughout our days and follow his will in our lives.
Sermon Outline:
1) God is always at Work
2) God requires a relationship of love
3) God reveals where he is at work
4) God reveals his work through the Word, prayer, circumstances and the church
5) God brings us to a crisis of belief
6) God requires we make adjustments
Ascension Text:
Psalm 105:1-3
Scripture Reading:
John 5:19-20, 30-36
Sermon Overview:
The promise of a "God with us," was also a promise of "God for us." God fights for His people.Understanding who Jesus came to fight helps our understanding of who Jesus is. Just like first century Israel, we expect God to defeat our enemies, but just like first century Israel, we don’t understand who are real enemies are, so, just like first century Israel we reject Jesus’ Lordship over us.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus came to save us from our enemies
2) God's people don't know who the true enemies are
3) Jesus came to defeat our true enemies; Satan, sin and death
Ascent Text:
Psalm 123:1-2
Scripture Reading:
Luke 1:68-79
Sermon Overview:
By breaking our relationship with God in the garden, mankind reverted to his pre-creation condition: dark, empty and chaotic.
So, God the Father gave us His Son, who gives us the Father and together they give us the Spirit - to fill us with the light, power and purpose of the Triune God. We are the temple of the Lord, His dwelling place - where he is loved and worshiped ever day forever.
Sermon Outline:
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The Father give us the Son
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Who gives us the Father
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and together they give us the Spirit
Ascent Text:
Psalm 126:1-3
Scripture Reading:
John 1:1-5, 9-18
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is the savior, but only to those who are completely not worth saving. He didn’t come for the righteous, or the mighty, or the rich, he came to save the unrighteous, the weak, and the poor—he came to turn everything we think to be true in this world upside down.
Sermon Outline:
1) Lord and Savior
2) Dumping the World on its Head
3) Keeping Covenant Forever
Ascension Text:
Psalm 100:1-3
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:19-31
Sermon Overview:
One of the few certainties in our lives is moral and spiritual failure, but we resist this out of a false sense of our own strength and righteousness. Most Christians don't know how much failure they are capable of. Jesus is working patiently with broken tools to build His kingdom. A true knowledge of ourselves and Him protects us from self-aggrandizement, as well as, despair. Jesus knows us and is making Himself known, showing us a way through failure to victory.
Sermon Outline:
1) Peter does't understand himself
2) Peter doesn't understand Jesus
3) But Jesus understands Peter and is leading Peter to maturity
Reading: John 21:4-19
Sermon Overview:
God speaks to us through our circumstances, but we often misunderstand what he saying in our circumstances because he often works contrary to them.
Sermon Outline:
1) God could be saying that we need to repent of our sins.
2) God could be saying that we need wait on him because he is going to do something great.
3) God could be saying that we need to go in a different direction.
4) God could be saying that we need to depart from the situation.
Ascent Text:
Psalm 98:4-9
Scripture Reading:
Exodus 14:10-18
Sermon Overview:
Jesus commands us to do what is impossible for us to do by ourselves in order to draw us into deeper dependence and fellowship with Him.
Sermon Outline:
1) Seek first the will of the Lord
2) God commands us to do the impossible
3) We can do the impossible as long as we keep our attention on Jesus
Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
Sermon Text: Matthew 14:28-33
Sermon Overview:
During our time of prayer, the Spirit of truth will often guide us into truth, and bring to mind the truth as we need it. But there are also times in our prayer when the Spirit will remain quiet for various reasons.
Sermon Outline:
1) As we pray the Spirit guides us into truth
2) As we pray the Spirit brings to mind the truth
3) As we pray the Spirit might be silent at times
Ascension Text:
Psalm 96:1-4
Scripture Reading:
John 14:16-26
Sermon Overview:
God is present with us, by the Holy Spirit, and speaks to our spirit, through the Word.
Sermon Outline:
1) Before we can hear God we have to have a relationship with God
2) God almost never speaks directly, but indirectly, through means
3) When God speaks, it might come in through your ears and eyes, but he always speaks to your spirit
Ascent Text:
Psalm 92:1-4
Scripture Reading:
John 15: 26-27, 16:4-15
Sermon Overview:
God reveals his work to us in various ways that are both plain and clear. However, if we want to see his work on a more daily basis, we need to prayerfully go through life recognizing his work, and we have to be careful we are not following our flesh and then saying it was him.
Sermon Outline:
1) God reveals his work through things people ask and say
2) God reveals his work through open and closed doors
3) God might be silent with you because God is working on you
Ascent text:
Psalm 95:1-3
Scripture Reading:
Acts 16:6-15
Sermon Overview:
When we seek the Lord and wait on him to reveal his will for us in ministry, God will reveal where He is at work and call us to participate in that work, when he knows we are ready.
Sermon Outline:
1) God’s plans, not ours
2) What God has revealed and what he has not
3) God reveals his work in ways that are plain and clear
Ascent Text:
Psalm 105:1-4
Scripture Reading:
2 Chronicles 15:1-15
Sermon Overview:
The degree to which we understand the love of God toward us, will be the degree to which we love God and love others. It will also be the degree to which God reveals his activity around us and uses us in ministry. So if our love for God and our being used by God is lacking, it is because our understanding of God’s love for us is lacking.
Sermon Outline:
1) God is love
2) God loves the unlovely
Ascent Scripture:
Psalm 100:1-5
Scripture Reading:
1 John 4:7-21
Sermon Overview:
The first reality that we have to become aware of in knowing and doing the will of God is that God is at work around us, and will reveal it to us, so we can join him. And once we begin to recognize his activity around us, we will begin to see him work through us in wonderful ways.
Sermon Outline:
1) The Father was at work, and Jesus followed
2) Jesus is at work, and we are to follow
3) Recognize where God is at work
4) The Spirit will be at work to equip us for the task
Scripture Reading:
John 14:19-27
Sermon Overview:
When God works in our lives and we walk with him, these seven basic realities are worked out continually in our lives.
Sermon Outline:
1) God is always at work around you
2) God pursues a relationship with you
3) God reveals his work to you
4) God speaks to you
5) God will lead you to a crisis of faith
6) God will require you make adjustments
7) God will be experienced as you obey him see him work
Scripture Reading:
Judges 6:11-24
Sermon Overview:
As God’s servant we do whatever the Lord wants. We no longer have a will but to do the Lord’s will. Our life is given to our Lord for him to do with us as he wills. Because only then will we experience him as he works through our life.
Sermon Outline:
1) A servant is who God is
2) A servant of God is different than a servant of man
3) A servant of God is the one God uses
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 2:1-11
Sermon Overview:
We won’t grow in our knowledge of God until we experience him through the perils of life, but we won’t know him in those moments until we first have a revelation of him.
Sermon Outline:
1) Abraham knew God by revelation and experience
2) Moses knew God by revelation and experience
3) We come to know God by revelation and experience
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 15:1-16
Sermon Overview:
If we are going to walk with God and experience him in our lives, then we need to understand how it is we have a vibrant relationship with him and also how we know and do his will.
Sermon Outline:
1) Why this series is needed
2) What we hope to accomplish
3) What the journey looks like
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 40:1-11
Sermon Overview:
Jesus does not work where there is not faith. Therefore, in order to know the power of Jesus, you have to have confidence in Jesus.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jairus believed in Jesus, and Jesus raised his daughter
2) A woman believed in Jesus, and Jesus healed her
3) We believe in Jesus, and Jesus gives us grace
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 11:8-19
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is the perfect Son of God, and he came to set the captives free. And as such, he is not ashamed to approach the worst of sinners, speak to them, free them and commission them in his service.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus approaches the demon slave
2) Jesus speaks to the demon slave
3) Jesus frees the demon slave
4) Jesus commissions his delivered son
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:1-11
Sermon Overview:
When we see Jesus for who he is, and we understand how powerful he is and how much his love controls his actions, we don’t have much left to do but to trust him, and give him our whole lives. And then we discover that when we trust Jesus with everything… everything is just the way it ought to be.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus’ power is limitless
2) Jesus’ love is boundless
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 46:1-10
Sermon Overview:
Those who belong to Jesus are those who hear the Word of God and do it. Yet, it seems like we don’t have a problem hearing God. What we seem to have a problem with is doing it. This is why Jesus has another plan.
Sermon Outline:
1) Is Jesus saying, those who obey they law are his family?
2) Why is Jesus using these particular words?
3) What role does faith play in becoming a part of the family of Jesus?
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 2:14-22
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is the light that overcomes our darkness. Therefore, we need to listen carefully to know Jesus and what he has done. Otherwise, we can be walking in darkness thinking we know the light.
Sermon Outline:
1) Disciples are given light in order to bring light into the darkness
2) What is cloudy and obscure will be made plain and obvious
3) We need to be careful how we listen… so we see Jesus
Scripture Reading:
John 1:1-13
Sermon Outline:
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Rejoice in the Lord Always
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Joy drives out Anxiety
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35
Sermon Overview:
Our union with Jesus cultivates self-forgetfulness as we become compassionate servants of one another.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:11-17
Sermon Overview:
Living in the knowledge of the Gospel creates communities that live in….
Sermon Outline:
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Unity (Partakers of Grace)
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Fellowship
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Defense and confirmation of the gospel
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22
Sermon Overview:
Everybody knows that the Gospel is the ‘good news’ about Jesus, but what is the content of the news? The content of the Gospel, the Good news is that….
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus is our Savior
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Jesus is our LORD
Sermon Overview:
Not everyone responds to the gospel the same way. Some hear it and don’t respond at all, some hear it and respond with joy, but don’t last. Others hear it and believe, but then find the cares and pleasures of this world seem to take over. And then there are those who hear it, believe it, and it springs forth into a glorious transformed life.
Sermon Outline:
1) Hard soil, hard heart
2) Stony soil, stony heart
3) Thorny soil, stony heart
4) Good soil, good heart
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23
Sermon Overview:
Jesus begins to speak in parables to fulfill the Scriptures, and to reveal truth about the nature of his kingdom and the nature of the human condition. For this reason we need to understand what a parable is, the purpose of Jesus using them, and the problems we can run into with them. Only then can we fully appreciate and understand the application of the differing soils.
Sermon Outline:
1) The parable in Jesus’ day
2) The parable’s purpose
3) The parable’s details
4) The parable’s differences
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 6:8-13
Sermon Overview:
Our ministry as a church needs to have priorities, and those priorities ought to follow the priorities of Jesus’ ministry. And when we look at Jesus ministry, we see that he was led by the Father, the gospel was all he was about, leadership development was a commitment, and women were always highly involved.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus’ ministry was led by the Father
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Jesus’ ministry was all about the gospel
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Jesus’ ministry was committed to leadership development
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Jesus’ ministry had women highly involved
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 9:27-38
Sermon Overview:
Those who are forgiven much love much. It is not how much you do for God that makes you loving, it is knowing how much God has done for you that makes you loving. You have to accept and embrace God’s love before you can love. If you are struggling with love, you are struggling to know how much you have been loved.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus delights in joyful tears
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Jesus is spurned by hypocrites
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Jesus gladly forgives, and the forgiven gladly love
Scripture Reading:
Romans 5:1-11
Sermon Overview:
John was the great prophet who prepared God’s people for Jesus, yet he was misunderstood and rejected by all the religious elite and those who led Israel spiritually. In like manner, when Jesus finally did show up, he was also rejected by the religious elite. It is no different today, both Jesus and his prophets are misunderstood and rejected by the religious elites of our day. And it is no wonder when they are being told they are sinful and wicked.
Sermon Outline:
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John’s whole ministry prepared people’s hearts
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John was great, but not the greatest
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John’s ministry was rejected by the religious elite
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 3:1-12
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is proved to be the Messiah by what he was saying and doing, even though it wasn’t the complete picture of what Israel had in mind. We too struggle with Jesus’ methods being sufficient, because we want him to do more to impact the power structures of our society.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus’ kingdom does seem quite different than the promise
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Jesus does what was foretold of the Messiah
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Jesus’ kingdom is what we need
Scripture Reading:
Ezekiel 34:23-31
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is moved with compassion by our brokenness and bondage, and uses his power to set us free. In fact, Jesus didn’t just demonstrate power 2000 plus years ago, his power is at work in us today, raising people from the dead and giving strength, life and righteousness to those who look to him.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus sees brokenness
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Jesus has compassion
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Jesus responds with power
Scripture Reading:
John 16:4-15
Sermon Overview:
There is nothing that pleases Jesus more than our believing and trusting in him for everything we need. This requires a true understanding of our need and weakness, and God’s provision and strength.
Sermon Outline:
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The Spirit produced love
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The Spirit produced humility
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The Spirit produced generosity
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The Spirit produced faith
Scripture Reading:
Luke 7:1-10
Thesis:
To pray in line with God’s will we have to come to prayer embracing our weakness and our lack of understanding so the Holy Spirit will fill our mouths with utterances pleasing to the Father.
Synopsis:
Prayer can often feel cold and futile. We wonder why God doesn't answer us. We struggle with approaching the throne of Grace. James said there is a right way to pray and all it consists of is weakness, a lack of understanding and communion with the Holy Spirit.
Outline
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Embrace your Weakness
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Admit you don't understand
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The Holy Spirit will fill your mouth with utterances
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:15-16, 20-28.
Sermon Overview:
What we say and how we respond to Jesus will tell us a lot about our hearts, and will inform us in the way of repentance.
Sermon Outline:
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Good tree, good fruit. Bad tree, bad fruit.
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A wise and foolish builder.
Scripture Reading:
Luke 6:43-49
Sermon Overview:
When we approach God in worship, we must do so with passion, preparation and prayer. Because if we merely worship him with our lips, and our hearts are far from him, then God will despise our “so-called” worship, and will discipline us rather than bless us.
Sermon Outline:
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We are called to approach with passion
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We must approach with preparation
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We must approach with prayer
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 29:10-19
Sermon Overview:
If you look to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and there you see and believe that it was for you, and for your salvation, then you are born again to a living hope. A hope which rejoices in that which awaits you.
Sermon Outline:
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By a man came death, and by a man came life
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The first Adam came the dirt, the last Adam came from Heaven
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Those born in Christ live with Resurrection Hope
Scripture Reading:
1 Peter 1:3-12
Sermon Overview:
We are not fit to confront anyone until we have faced the reality of our issues. Only then are we able to go in humility and seek to restore our brother or sister.
Sermon Outline:
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It’s easy to notice the speck in others
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It’s easy to NOT not the Log in our eye
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It’s easy to address an issue when we go in humility
Scripture Reading:
2 Samuel 12:1-10
Sermon Overview:
Those who are taught by Jesus are not judgmental, unforgiving and tight fisted; they have been humbled by their own sin, changed by Jesus, filled with his Spirit and begun to reflect Jesus by forgiving, giving, and not condemning those around them.
Sermon Outline:
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Judge not, and you will not be judged
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Forgive, and you will be forgiven
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Give, and you will be given to
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 4:1-13
Sermon Overview:
Jesus is calling us to love in a way that completely shatters any love of self. It is the kind of love that strikes our sinful heart and exposes us—it is the kind of love that a sinner cannot perform. However, Jesus does something in the gospel that conquers our sin and captures our hearts.
Sermon Outline:
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To the one who strikes you, give him your other cheek (v.29a)
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To the one who takes from you, give him more (v.29b)
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To the one who begs from you, give to him, expecting nothing in return (v.30)
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If you don’t love in this way, you are not different than sinners (v.32-36)
Scripture Reading:
Exodus 22:21-23:5
Sermon Overview:
Jesus helps us to understand the demands of the law in practical details, in order to bring us to the cross, die to ourselves and then find new life in the Spirit. Then we rise up and love like Jesus.
Sermon Outline:
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As humans born in sin, this should expose us.
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As those who know Christ, this should amaze us.
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As those who have the Spirit, this love should come out of us.
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:38-48
Sermon Overview:
Jesus brings his Word like a hammer to break the rock of our hearts, and subdue us beneath his grace. So the hard words are a means of grace, by which the Spirit uses to bring us low, and put us in a posture to receive. We have no idea how much of our self will continue to exist, and how much we need to be broken, in order to completely empty ourselves of us, and be filled by God.
Sermon Outline:
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Woe to those who are rich
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Woe to those who are full
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Woe to those who laugh
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Woe to those who are well liked
Scripture Reading:
Luke 18:18-30
Sermon Overview:
It isn’t always easy for us to understand the ways of Jesus and his kingdom. In fact, we can’t understand them unless the Spirit gives us eyes to see, because they are contrary to the ways of this world. And the ways of this world are the only things our flesh understands. So if we are made like those who Jesus considers blessed, we are undone in our flesh, but we are made alive in the Spirit.
Sermon Outline:
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Blessed are the poor
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Blessed are the hungry
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Blessed are those who weep
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Blessed are the hated
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:1-12
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to observing Jesus, his great popularity and his amazing power, it isn’t hard to think about how amazing it would have been to be there at the time and experience the greatness of it all. However, as we remember that he is still living and active today, and retell the stories of what he is currently doing in our lives, we begin to seek him as the Jesus who lives today, and stop thinking about him as the powerful man who lived long ago.
Sermon Outline:
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Great multitudes sought Jesus because he was delivering them (v.17-18)
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Great power went out from Jesus by simply touching him (v.19)
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 9:1-7
Sermon Overview:
The time we spend seeking God’s counsel should correspond to the size of the challenge at hand. Jesus himself sought the Father with every big decision, and sometimes that meant spending all night in prayer.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus had a huge decision to make
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Jesus needed the Father’s wisdom
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Jesus acted upon the wisdom
Scripture Reading:
John 17:1-18
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to religious pride, you have to be careful because it always produces a false religion that feels good about catching others. It also takes pride in its so-called obedience, and never takes pains to love others.
Sermon Outline:
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Religious pride practice false religion (v.1)
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Religious pride loves the particulars of the law (v.2)
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Religious pride never takes pains to love others (v.3-11)
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 12:1-14
Sermon Overview:
If God’s presence is not with us, then it doesn't matter what we do, we are nothing more than a social club that talks about, sings to, prays to and remembers A God. And the world around us will continue to yawn at the church, because other than proclaiming ideas, she can tell that God is not among us.
Sermon Outline:
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God has always planned to dwell among his people
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We are the actual temple that God has wanted to dwell in all along
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God’s presence and power with his people depends on the humility and holiness of his people
Scripture Reading:
Exodus 33:1-16
Sermon Overview:
When we taste and see that the Lord is good, we begin to have a hunger for God. And when we have a hunger for God, we must always remember that confession and repentance is a one time event, but lifestyle to be lived. This weekend is not a one time event, and now everything is great. It is the beginning of a practice and a way of living together. And when that becomes a constant reality, God’s presence and power among will become a constant reality.
Sermon Outline:
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If we taste and see that the Lord is God, we won’t be satisfied until we are in his presence
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If we hunger for God, we have to walk in humility
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If we hunger for God, we will delight in Jesus
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 84:1-12
Sermon Overview:
Confession has too long been misunderstood for what it really is, and it is time the church bring it back to the center of its life. And the reason for this is that it brings about in us a condition that God can’t help but run to. So once we see the connection between authentic confession, and its effect on our hearts, we will see why it needs to be a centerpiece of the church.
Sermon Outline:
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What is it that God can’t resist and is eager to flood with his presence and power?
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What is more humbling, confessing to God or to others?
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What is at the forefront of all the great revivals of Church history?
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 51:1-19
Sermon Overview:
We fight the kingdom of darkness with the light of Christ. We need to see the truth of the Gospel and see by the truth of the Gospel to fight the lies of Satan that are trying to darken our minds.
Sermon Outline:
Ephesians 5:4-15
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The Epiphany of Jesus is a dawn of training grace.
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That teaches us to see the same truths constantly.
Sermon Overview:
Confession of our sin before others is something we almost never do anymore. Yet, it is through his body, the Church, that Jesus ministers to us. So without confession to others, we often end up leaving our sin in a safe, dark corner, and thus fail to experience the healing, cleansing and filling promised by Jesus.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus ministers through his body, the Church
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Confession is assumed in the early Church
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Confessions relationship to repentance
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 3:1-11
Sermon Overview:
Repentance is often confused with remorse, or change of behavior, or confession of sin. What Scripture shows us is that until we have a change of mind, there is no repentance. If we simply attempt to change our behavior, we won’t change—we won’t be dealing with the heart of the issue. Our minds and our hearts are one, so until the mind is changed in regard to the lie and the truth, our behavior wont be changed either.
Sermon Outline:
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Repentance in the Old and New Testaments
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Throughout the N.T. the call is always to repent and believe
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Repentance is not simply confessing your sin
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Repentance is not about trying to change your behavior
Scripture Reading:
Luke 13:1-9
Sermon Overview:
It is easy for us Christians to become confused about the impact of sin in our lives because of what we know about Jesus and what he came to do. As a result, we can think we are either immune to sin’s consequences, or are uncertain of where exactly we stand with sin. We know things have changed since the fall, but we aren’t always certain as to how much.
Sermon Outline:
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Sin, Death and the Devil have been dealt with by Jesus
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Sin still brings with it a kind of death within God’s house
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Sin has consequences, even for Christians
Scripture Reading:
1Cor.10:1-13
Sermon Overview:
The Triune God is a community whose driving vision, culture and character is love. Love is selflessness. Love is faithfulness. Love is compassionate. Love is Holy.
Each person of the Godhead reveals what love is, so we can be redeemed from our easy safe selfishness to love God and love one another so that our lives might be full of joy.
The Father gives and gives and gives. The Son gives and gives and gives. The Spirit gives and gives and gives.
And what they give is love.
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 1:3-14
Sermon Overview:
So many Christians live a fake and phony life because they have issues of sin, which creates guilt, shame, fear, insecurity and blame, and they can’t seem to get rid of the impact it is having on their life. They wonder where the abundant life is that is in Christ, and they don’t know where to turn, because they think that if others knew the truth they would reject them. As people, we are experts at giving others the impression we think is needed for their acceptance, while inside we feel the shame, guilt, fear and insecurity that is killing us. We don’t understand the true nature of sin and death, and how we are to apply the gospel.
Sermon Outline:
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Abundant life is what we have when we are in fellowship with God
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Abundant life is always at risk the moment we are presented with a tempting lie
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Abundant life is gone the moment we believe the lie and sin
Scripture Reading:
Leviticus 5:5-13
Sermon Overview:
As parents, we need to see our primary task to be equipping our children with the gospel, so they are transformed and are able to transform the world around them. We are not interested in behavior modification for behavior modification, we are interested in life transformation of ourselves and the world around us. And this only happens as the gospel is believed and applied to our life, and applied to our children’s life.
Sermon Outline:
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Equip for ministry
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The fullness of Christ
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Speak the truth in love
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4:11-24
Questions for further discussion:
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As parents, what should we be seeking to accomplish with our children?
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What does it mean to equip our children for ministry? What kind of ministry are they to have?
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What happens when this ministry is effectively applied within the context of our family?
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What do we commonly understand when we say, “Speaking the truth in love?” What is being spoken of in context of the chapter?
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How do you plan to start equipping your children for this gospel ministry?
Sermon Overview:
God has clearly promised blessing to us if we train our children, and blessing to our children if they obey our command. So if we are going to be obedient to God and loving toward our children, the we must train them in the way of obedience. However, we can’t expect them to obey if we don’t know how to train. Thankfully God has given us the wisdom of his Word and the guidance from the sages.
Sermon Outline:
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We have to have a plan
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Explain what is expected
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Show them how it is done
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Have them try it
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Give immediate feedback
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 12:5-11
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to parenting, we have to realize that we have to be tough on sin, yet tender with the child. Toughness requires that we discipline our children and don’t let them get away with sin. Whereas tenderness requires that we do it in a way that is for their good and growth, not our own means of venting our frustration. If you are parenting out of frustration, you are failing to be tender and tough.
Sermon Outline:
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Being tender
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Being tough
Scripture Reading:
1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-24
Questions for further discussion:
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Why is it so easy to get frustrated as parent?
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What does it mean to be tender? How do we cultivate that in our hearts?
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What does it mean to be tough? In what ways do you need to be tougher?
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What would tender and tough look like practically in your home?
Sermon Overview:
From the heart flow the issues of life, so if you don’t get at the heart, you are not truly going to disciple your children. Our children will grow to give you what you want and behave in ways that keep them out of trouble, and allow them to receive the most blessings, but if we don’t address the heart, we really are missing the whole point.
Sermon Outline:
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The Bible’s Focus on the Heart
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The Shaping Influences
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The Need to Aim at the Heart
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The Way to Address the Heart
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 15:1-18
Questions for further discussion:
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Why is it so tempting to focus purely on behavior?
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What priority do the Scriptures place on the heart? Why?
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What impact do shaping influences have on us? Are they absolute, and perfect in their impact, or are there other factors involved in shaping our hearts?
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How do we best address the issues of the heart? How do we need to lead the way with our children?
Sermon Overview:
If we are to parent in a way that is effective, powerful and life transforming, we must parent according to the gospel. Because the gospel is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone who believes.
Sermon Outline:
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You have to be straight up about sin
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You have to demonstrate that acceptance is based on grace
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You have to lead them to where the true power is found
Scripture Reading:
Romans 3:9-25
Questions for further discussion:
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Have you ever thought that if you could just keep your kids away from the wrong people, and temptation they should turn out just fine? Why are we tempted to think that?
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What is the biggest problem us and our children have to face? Is it without or within?
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How do you normally deal with sin? Do you cover it or confess it? Why?
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What is so amazing about God’s grace in Jesus? Does it ever seem hard to believe?
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Why are we tempted to operate in our strength and power instead of God’s?
Sermon Overview:
As a Christian we have a war within ourselves, and depending on which side is fed will determine which side wins. Our flesh desires to be served, fulfilled, comforted and satisfied, whereas the Spirit longs to give, serve, help and bless. So if we want to see the fruit of the Spirit in our marriages, then we must be filled with the Spirit, and give no opportunity for the flesh. Otherwise, our marriage will experience the pain, destruction and corrosion of our selfish flesh.
Sermon Outline:
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Cut off the supply of Junk food
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Fill your cupboards with goodness
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The results will be impressive
Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:5-15
Questions for further discussion:
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Do you find it easier to eat well when you don’t have bad stuff available, but you have good stuff available? How does that relate to our spiritual lives?
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How do you cut off the supply of junk food in your life spiritually?
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How do you fill your cupboards with goodness spiritually?
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What would you have to do in your life to cut off the junk food and fill your cupboard with goodness? Have you ever done this before, and if so, what were the results?
Sermon Overview:
The only way we make it through the tough times in our marriage, and not look to receive more than what is appropriate from our marriage is by walking by faith. Because in marriage God will bring you to the end of yourself, and you will quickly realize that you have nothing, that you are weak, and you cannot look to your wisdom, your strength, or your resources—you have to look to God, and in him find the grace. For when we walk by faith, we put our trust and confidence in God’s sovereign rule and his gracious promises, not in the circumstances or the rewards of marriage.
Sermon Outline:
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What faith is and what it is not (Heb.11:1)
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Why faith is essential to a healthy marriage (Heb.12:5-8)
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Why not walking by faith is a bad idea
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How faith is cultivates and strengthened (Rom.10:17)
Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 4:17-5:7
Questions for further discussion:
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What does a person’s life look like when they walk by faith? Have you seen good examples of this before?
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What does the Bible say faith is? Why is faith impossible apart from God granting it to you?
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Why do you need faith to have a healthy marriage?
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What do you plan on doing to strengthen your faith?
Sermon Overview:
A husband and a wife, who are made one in marriage, need to cultivate a union which can only be realized through communication. And not just monologues, but communication where there is mutual giving and receiving and blessing. And this is something we can all participate in, but you have to understand what it takes to have this kind of communication if you hope to achieve it.
Sermon Outline:
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The potency of healthy communication
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Some wisdom for healthy communication
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The need for scheduled routine to have healthy communication
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4:17-32
Questions for further discussion
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What have you noticed about the relationships of those who communicate well? What have you noticed about relationships that don’t communicate well?
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What does healthy communication consist of?
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Why is scheduled routine important for healthy communication?
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What is your plan to start developing healthier communication?
Sermon Overview:
Matthew 7:1-5
A beautiful marriage isn't one without problems and sin, it is one without pride, self-righteousness and blame-shifting. It is one where each spouse takes responsibility for the problems they are facing, and seeks to bring the goodness of Jesus to the situation. And can only be this way when we understand how Jesus dealt with us.
Sermon Outline:
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What does it mean to not judge lest we be judged?
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We need to look to Jesus
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Taking responsibility is the only way your marriage will grow
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 53:1-9
Questions for further discussion:
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Why are we so quick to place blame on others and so unwilling to take it ourselves?
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What does the log and the speck, which Jesus takes about in Matthew 7, teach us about ourselves and how we look at others?
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How does Jesus take responsibility for all our sins, weaknesses and failings?
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How can you take responsibility for the problems in your marriage?
Sermon Overview:
Ephesians 1:3-7
Until you find your life in Christ, you can never give your life in marriage. We are creatures that need to be fulfilled if we are to give without receiving. We don’t have the resources, we don’t have the strength, we don’t have the wisdom, we don’t have the love marriage requires, but God does!
Sermon Outline:
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You are holy and blameless in Christ
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You are a child of God in Christ
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You are redeemed in Christ
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 2:1-10
Questions for further discussion:
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What are some of the major obstacles within ourselves to having wonderful marriage?
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How does the gospel address these major obstacles?
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What are some of the blessings we receive in Christ? And why are they so important for marriage?
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What are some of the things you struggle with in applying the gospel to your life?
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How do think believing the gospel will change your marriage?
Sermon Overview:
Most of us, at one time or another, wonder what we are supposed to be doing. We want to make a difference in the world, we want to be useful, fruitful and actually be necessary. Because if we don’t believe we are useful, necessary or needed in any way, we can despair of even life itself. So for us to understand why we are made and for what purpose, is an important aspect to our meaning and fulfillment.
Sermon Outline:
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We all have the same fundamental purpose
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We all have different callings
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We all should be fulfilled and fruitful
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 8:1-9
Sermon Overview:
Luke 5:33-39
In the Old Covenant the law with its ceremonies and rituals governed the people of God, but when Jesus came and established the New Covenant in his blood, and filled us with his Spirit, the Old was fulfilled and was put away. This is why Jesus’ disciples are eating and drinking and having a good Ol time, and they don’t fully know why yet.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus brings a party
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Jesus brings a new garment
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Jesus brings new wine and new wineskin
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Jesus knows that those who have drunk the old wine won’t like the new wine
Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:1-13
Sermon Overview:
Luke 5:27-32
When we watch Jesus throughout his ministry it was the sick, the lost, and the sinners that his heart went out to and sought to heal. You don’t find Jesus feasting with the upper class much, but you do find him having a jolly time with the tax collectors and sinners because these are the people he came for.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus calls Levi to discipleship (v.27-28)
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Levi calls Jesus and his friends to a party (v.29)
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Scribes and Pharisees call Jesus to give an account (v.30)
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Jesus clarifies for everyone to what he is called (v.31-32)
Scripture Reading:
Luke 15:1-10
Sermon Overview:
Luke 5:17-26
It is so easy to become a Pharisee. All you need to do is become an authority in the Bible, get some pride over your skills, begin to judge others for their ignorance, criticize the church and Christians for what they are doing wrong, separate yourself from those things that defile, and you are well on your way. The Scribes and Pharisees of our day are in the pews and pulpits of our church. In fact, you should look in the mirror, because you just might be becoming one.
Sermon Outline:
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Scribes and Pharisees were scrupulous, authoritative judges (v.17&21)
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Scribes and Pharisees were filled with biblical pride (v.22-24)
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Scribes and Pharisees were blind to the works of God (v.26)
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 23:1-13
Sermon Overview:
Luke 5:17-20
As we grow in our knowledge of the power and goodness of Jesus, we will grow in our desperation to draw near to him and bring others to him. And as we draw near to him and bring others to him, he starts to do amazing things in and through us.
Sermon Outline:
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Knowledge leads to desperation
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Desperation lead to bold creativity
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Bold, creative faith leads to reward
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 11:20-39
Sermon Overview:
Ruth 4
Though Ruth ends like a fairy tale, there are several unresolved problems. How and when are they to be resolved? Orpah and the rest of Maob are still pagans. Elimilech is still dead. There is still no King. The Gospel according to Ruth is that there is a greater Kinsman redeemer, a humbler servant, a greater son who fills Israel's emptiness.
Sermon Outline:
1) Jesus is the greater Kinsman-redeemer
2) Jesus is the greater Servant; the greater Son of promise.
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 2
Sermon Overview:
Ruth 2:23-3:18
Naomi takes the initiative; a bold stroke to fulfill her own prayer because she believes the Lord is with her. Ruth puts herself at risk; is vulnerable because she trusts the Lord will protect and continue to lead her. Boaz knows what he wants but postpones gratification and his desire and obeys the law because he believes if the Lord wishes him to have Ruth as a wife, he'll have Ruth as is wife.
Sermon Outline:
1) Faith is bold
2) Faith trusts
3) Faith obeys
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 116
Sermon Overview:
Ruth 2:1-23
The story of Ruth is about the transforming power of grace. Grace is revealed as a result of God's direction, blessing the meek and exceeding the needs of His children.
Sermon Outline:
1) God is directing the story
2) Blessed are the meek
3) Grace exceeds need
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 16
Sermon Overview:
Ruth 1:1-22
The story of Ruth isn't just about God moving history toward the promised messiah but also presents the gospel in miniature.
The Gospel according to Ruth is that God draws people to Himself through trials of fire and the witness of His children to fill the empty with transforming love.
In Ruth, a Jew and a gentile are united by love into a community of sacrifice and service foreshadowing God's plan for the church. Naomi enters this community through trials of fire that purify her while Ruth enters through the grace and goodness of a believer's character.
Ruth and Naomi are united in bonds deeper than daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. And this bond of transforming love sets the community of God ablaze.
Sermon Overview:
Luke 5:12-16
We all have been infected with a leprosy that makes us unclean and puts us outside the presence of God, and the only one who can heal us and restore us to God’s presence is Jesus. All of us have been infected, and all of us can become infected, and the only one who can cleanse us is Jesus. And once he cleanses us, we then go and minister to others as our Lord has ministered to us. And as lepors are cleansed, and tell other lepors where to get the cleansing, the salvation of Jesus goes to the ends of the earth.
Sermon Outline:
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The Lepros man seeks Jesus v.12
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Jesus is more than willing to cleanse the lepor v.13
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Jesus doesn’t always want zealous testimony as much as he wants obedience v.14-15
Jesus needs input if he is to continue with the output v.16
Scripture Reading:
Mark 1:35-45
Sermon Overview:
Luke 5:1-11
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, for in him the fullness of God dwells fully. So when we see what Jesus did with the fish, and what he does for the people, we see God acting, living, breathing, and ministering among us, and calling us to join him in that ministry. He is calling his church to go after people like he did.
Sermon Outline:
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The Story
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The Metaphor
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The Call
Questions for further discussion:
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What do you think it would have been like to have been Simon or one of the fisherman in the boat when Jesus asks you to lower the nets after you have fished all night?
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What would you have thought and felt when you couldn’t pull the nets up because of the amount of fish and your boat started sinking?
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What implications does Jesus’ call have for the church?
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If you were to go after the people God has placed around you, what might that look like?
Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:22-41
Sermon Overview:
Luke 4:38-44
Jesus is the Lord over sickness, as much as he is the Lord over demons. Every aspect of the curse Jesus demonstrates that he is the one who has come to set the captives free. As is our common experience, we all suffer the effects of sickness, disease and death, and we all long to be free from it, yet, Jesus demonstrates that he is the only one who can free us. However, sickness, disease and death that riddle our bodies is still a constant reality until the resurrection, but in the meantime... Jesus will use it for our good.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus has power over sickness (v.38-39)
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Jesus has power over the curse (v.40-41a, 42)
Questions for further discussion:
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What are some of the worst ways you have suffered from sickness of disease? Did you ever wonder why God didn’t deliver you from it?
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What do Jesus’ actions say about him, and what does that mean for us?
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How have your sufferings in the past been used to grow you and change you? Are you thankful for them now that they have passed for what they did for you?
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What do you think life without sin, death, demons, disease, sickness, weeds and thistles would be like? Is that your hope on a daily basis? Why or why not?
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 8:1-17
Sermon Overview:
Luke:4:31-37
Jesus is the true Lord who has come to set the captives free by delivering them from the power and grip of demons. And we see that his very presence commands respect and fear, while his very words cause demons to tremble and release their captives.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus’ presence commands demons' respect and fear (v.33-34)
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Jesus’ word causes demons to flee and release their captives (v.32, 35-36)
Questions for further discussion:
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Have you ever experienced the power of a person’s presence before? If so, describe its affect.
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What do you think it would have been like to be a demon and recognize Jesus?
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What would it be like to speak and bring anything you wanted into existence, or speak and have anything in existence obey you? Are you glad you don’t have that power? What is it like to know that Jesus has that kind of power?
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Knowing that Jesus sets people free simply by crying out to him and trusting in him, how does that effect the way you look at all the people in bondage in Lynnwood?
Scripture Reading:
Mark 3:7-27
Sermon Overview:
Luke 4:22-30
Jesus is rejected by the people of his own town because they know his connections, they remember his past, and therefore they don’t believe him to be who people are saying, and they don’t like his words. From this passage we can see why unbelief reacts the way it does to Jesus, and why Jesus makes such a good high priest.
Sermon Outline:
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Connections v.22
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Not passing the test v.23
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Unbelief v.24
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Speaking the truth v.25-30
Questions for further discussion:
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Have you ever felt rejected before? What was it like?
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What would it be like to be rejected because of the family you were connected to?
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Why did Jesus not prove to them that he was the Son of God and do a miracle?
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How does Jesus’ being rejected like this help in him being our high priest?
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 2:10-18
Sermon Overview:
Jesus came to this world to accomplish something that impacts all of us, but is only efficacious for the worst of us. We all NEED to be saved, but only those who truly understand that receive it. Our being brought low is the greatest God can grant, because only then will Jesus lift you up.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus was sent to proclaim good news to the humble
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Jesus was sent to set the prisoners free
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Jesus was sent to heal the blind
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Jesus was sent to set at liberty the oppressed
Questions for further reflection:
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why does one need to be poor in spirit before they can hear good news?
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What is it like to be imprisoned by sin? Why do we try so hard to free ourselves?
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Why does blindness convey so well the state of those who are outside of Christ?
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Who were the oppressed in the Bible, and why is the year of Jubilee such a great picture of salvation for the oppressed?
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 61:1-7
Sermon Overview:
Malachi 3:10
Tithing isn't about duty, its about relationship. Obeying all of God's commands is good for us in very real and practical ways. We honor his authority and generosity by tithing. God blesses good stewardship, for those faithful in little will be given much. And we draw closer to God through faith in his ability to provide and care for our everyday needs. All of this is represented in our tithe.
How God Blesses the tithe
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God uses our tithe to bless the needy.
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God uses our tithe to increase our increase.
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God uses our tithe to grow our faith.
Scripture Reading:
2 Cor. 9:6-15
Sermon Overview:
Luke 4:2-12
Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. This is what makes him our savior, and faithful mediator before God. We don’t look to Jesus as an example until we first look to him as savior. This is because we can’t get free until we fall before Jesus in true humility, brought from the weight and oppression of our own sin, and look to him alone to save us. Then, once free, we can look to him as our example in dealing with the enemy.
Sermon Outline:
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The Devil hits at the weakest point of our flesh (v.2-4)
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The Devil stirs up ambition (v.5-8)
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The Devil plants seeds of doubt (v.9-12)
Questions for further discussion:
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How would you define temptation? Is that what Jesus experienced?
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Why does the Devil look for weaknesses in our? How do we stand strong and resist the Devil?
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Does the Devil have free reign with us? Can we be tempted to any degree?
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How do we keep our desires, ambitions and doubts in check?
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 2:10-18
Sermon Overview:
Luke 4:1-13
Jesus, as the new Adam, the new Israel, the new Son of God submitted himself to the father, and to the Spirit, and walked into the hardship and trial of the wilderness. And there he took on agonizing temptation within his body... and there he overcame. But he didn’t do it for his sake, he did it for our sake.
Sermon Outline:
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The context of Jesus' temptation (v.1-2)
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The content of the Devil's tempting (v.3-12)
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The reasons for Jesus' temptation
Questions for further discussion:
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What are the root problems that cause all the pain and destruction in the world?
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What is the significance of Jesus crossing the Jordan, going into the wilderness for 40 days, fasting and being tempted by the Devil?
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What makes the Devil's offers so tempting to Jesus?
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 3:1-13
Sermon Overview:
Luke 3:23-38
Through the genealogy we see that Jesus is proven to be the promised Son of Man and Son of God. For through it we can prove that he is the Seed of Adam, the Seed of Abraham, The Seed of David, the Son of Man. God is meticulous and very particular about his promise, and the genealogy proves this. However, in keeping his promise, his timing clearly isn’t our timing, but his promise never fails.
Sermon Outline:
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The line of Mary
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The promises
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The amazing faithfulness of God
Questions for further discussion:
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Why are genealogies important? Why is the genealogy of Jesus of the utmost importance?
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What were some reasons given for why Luke's genealogy is through the line of Mary?
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How does it affect your faith to know that Jesus is proved to be the promised seed of the woman, seed of Abraham and son of David?
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Do you find it hard to wait on God's promises? What helps you to hold fast?
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 11:1-16
Sermon Overview:
Romans 6:1-19
Because Jesus has been raised, and we are united to Jesus, we have been raised to newness of life as well. This means that we are free from sin and death in our inward man, but our bodies are still awaiting the resurrection and feel the bondage of sin and death.
Sermon Outline:
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Jesus' death and resurrection made us free from sin and death (v.6-7)
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We don't let sin rule in our mortal bodies (v.12)
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Why not sin if we are not under law but under grace? (v.15-19)
Questions for further discussion:
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Why do people sin? Is it because they are tempted, or is it because they are sinful?
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Why did Jesus' death and resurrection need to be our death and resurrection?
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What does Jesus' death pay for? And what does the resurrection accomplish?
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As Christians, who have died and been raised with Christ, are we still, by nature, sinners? why or why not? And what kind of implications does this have in regard to our obeying God?
Scripture Reading:
Romans 6:1-14
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to the resurrection, we don't always understand its meaning, nor its implications. However, when we do take the time to meditate upon it, ask good questions about it, and wrestle with its implications, it is truly life changing. The resurrection changes everything, and in this sermon we will see why.
Sermon Outline:
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What does the resurrection tell us about Jesus?
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What does the resurrection mean for us?
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How should we live in light of the resurrection?
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 28:1-10
Sermon Outline:
Matthew 3:21-22
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Being anointed for ministry
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Identification with man under the law
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Consecrated our New Covenant baptism
Sermon Overview:
In the baptism of Jesus there are three particular aspect of the baptism that effect the nature of our very own baptism. And once we understand Jesus' baptism we can better understand our own baptism. And once we understand our own baptism, it should serve as a great encouragement to our faith, and a great comfort to our souls.
Questions for further reflection:
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Why were the Jews being baptized by John?
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Why was Jesus baptized by John?
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How is Christian baptism different than John's baptism?
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How does your baptism strengthen and encourage your faith?
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 3:4-17
Sermon Outline:
Luke 3:10-14
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Sees oneself as a sinner before God
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Feels conviction over what has been done
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Confesses to God and appropriate other parties
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Makes things right and changes conduct
Sermon Overview:
Repentance is central to our lives, and yet, it is often misunderstood. We are all called to repentance, we all will probably encounter people who have repented, and we sometimes will be asked to call others to repentance, however, it is something we can get completely wrong. It can be forged, and it can be feigned, but when we know the marks of sincere repentance we can be equipped to better deal with that which is fake.
Scripture Reading:
Ezekiel 33:10-16
Sermon Outline:
Luke 3:1-14
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The Context (v.1-2)
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The Message (v.3-9)
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The Response (v.10-14)
Sermon Overview:
The Lord only comes to bring salvation when people are confronted with their sin, turning from their sin, and are turning to the Lord for forgiveness. We are often tempted to just tell people to believe in Jesus, and yet, forget that there is no Jesus without repentance. And there will be no repentance unless people are confronted with their sin.
Questions for further discussion:
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How does the context, in which John arrives, have some similarities to ours? What are some differences?
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What made the context, in which John began preaching, necessary for him to preach as he did before the coming of Jesus?
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Why is John's message necessary for sinners to hear?
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What does it mean to repent? Why is repentance necessary to receiving the grace of God? And if appropriate to share, what are some ways you need to repent?
Scripture Reading:
Luke 3:1-14
Sermon Outline:
Luke 2: 39-52
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Jesus… a growing boy, and yet, manifesting the wisdom of God v.39-40
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Jesus… an inquisitive boy, and yet, having the understanding of God v.46-47
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Jesus… loved his heavenly Father above all, and yet, loved his earthly parents perfectly v.49-52
Sermon Overview:
Jesus, before he is anointed in his office as Messiah, is already revealing himself to be the Son of Man and the Son of God. And he has done this by his growth as a person and manifestation of God’s wisdom, his learning as a child, yet his understanding of the Scriptures, and his submission to his parents, along with his love for The Father.
Scripture Reading:
Luke 2: 39-52
Sermon Overview:
Luke 2:22-40
Jesus is the center of all history. The world must deal with him. What he did, what was said, and what happened to him make him the person you must deal with on a daily basis. Jesus fulfilled the law--and that's good! He brought salvation--and that changes your heart. But it comes at a cost, because you must decide about him, and that will cause a division.
Sermon Outline:
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Fulfilling the law v.22-24 & 39
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Complete Salvation v.25-32
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Bringing division v.34-35
Questions for further discussion:
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Why is Jesus fulfilling the law so important?
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When you think of salvation, do you think primarily of salvation from God's wrath? Why?
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Why must salvation include being saved from the things in this life that so easily ensnare our hearts?
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Why does Jesus bring division to families, churches, countries and nations?
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What do you need to do to make sure you apply these truths to your life?
Scripture Reading:
Luke 2:22-40
Sermon Overview:
Titus 2:11-12, 14
God trains us by the same grace that saved us, to say no to ungodliness and yes to godliness, so that we can love our neighbors in the present age.
Sermon Outline:
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We are trained by Grace
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to say no to Ungodliness and yes to Godliness
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to do good works
Reading: Titus 2:1-15
Sermon Overview:
Luke 2:1-21
Jesus’ birth reveal more about our God than we have time to comprehend. The details are not superfluous, but rather powerful statements about who our God is. AS flesh we would not be willing to stoop so low, yet, because, the world is saved from complete and utter destruction.
Sermon Outline:
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Employing the wicked
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Entering an animal stall
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Unlikely witnesses
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Good News
Scripture Reading:
Luke 2:1-21
Sermon Overview:
Luke 1:57-80
We live in a world with everyday actions and occurrences, and sometimes things that seem out of control, chaotic and wrong. And because of this we can often wonder where God is at in all of it. We can also wish that God would simply speak to us to assure us, guide us and help us when we need it most. Yet, as we see from this account of the arrival of John the baptizer, God is at work in all the detail of life, and his Word is spoken to us clearly, we simply have to learn to recognize him, and understand his ways in our lives. Because once we do, it is a great comfort and an encouragement to our faith.
Sermon Outline:
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The Acts of God in our world
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The Word God speaks to us
Questions for further discussion:
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Do you ever which you could see God or hear from him?
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What do you think it would do for your faith if God showed up so you could see him, or if he spoke to you directly?
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How is God involved in your everyday life?
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How does God speak to you today, and how well would you say you listen?
Scripture Reading:
Luke 1:57-80
Sermon Overview:
Luke 1:38-55
Sometimes the circumstances in our life are strange, but the promises for our life are staggering. And when we believe the promises of God… joy fills the heart, which leads to a powerful presence, and guarantees soulful songs.
Sermon Outline:
1) Mary's faith v.38-39
2) Mary's Joy v.39
3) Mary's Presence v.40-44
4) Mary's Song v.46-55
Scripture Reading:
Luke 1:39-55
Sermon Overview:
Luke 1:26-38
Jesus was announced by the angel Gabriel, and what is said about him is nothing short of astounding. This child to be born was going to be given a name that describes his calling. He is given a description that makes him none other than the Son, not of man, but of God. And he is revealed to be the Messiah because he is going to sit on the throne of David and reign forever. All of these aspect of the news received is world changing, life changing and community changing, and we will see why.
Sermon Outline:
1) His name… Jesus
2) Son of the Most High
3) Seated on David's Throne
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 9:2-7
Sermon Overview:
Luke 1:8-25
The events leading up to the birth of Jesus reveal that God was leaving no rock unturned when it came to fulfilling his promise to save the world. But in how this unfolds we also see that sometimes even the best of men doubt God's promises because they seem so contrary to how the world works. Yet, this all makes better sense when we understand how creation really works.
Sermon Outline:
1) God is faithful to his Word in the details v.8-17
2) The most godly men can be doubting at times v.18-20
3) Creation only does what it is told v. 21-25
Scripture Reading:
Malachi 3:1-12
Sermon Overview:
When it comes to the story of Jesus, we see God's purposes, providence and ways from the very beginning. It is nothing short of miraculous and faith building to see God at work in the very beginnings of the life of Jesus. We aren't always good at seeing the hand of God because the events of life can seem independent of him. Yet, when we look at the beginning of the life of Jesus, we can see how even the minutest particulars about people, places and events are providentially governed by his all knowing purposes.
Sermon Outline:
1) The purposes of God
2) The providence of God
3) The way of God
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 2:1-18
Sermon Overview:
John 1:4-10 God has brought us great light. He has given us his Son of light, and he has made us children of light. And as children of light we have been given an outstanding opportunity to shine that light into the city of Lynnwood. Our new facility positions us as a city on a hill, now we must take full advantage of our opportunity and ensure that our light shines far and wide as Christ is glorified through how we treat our city. Let us take what we have been given and shine so brightly that the kingdom of God spreads throughout all of Lynnwood and the greater Seattle area.
Sermon Outline:
1) The need for light
2) The blessing of light
3) The paradox of light
Scripture Reading:
Luke 4:31-43
Sermon Overview:
Making progress as a Christian is not a fixed system of steps that works like a transmission that shifts from one gear to the next. It is a process by which we continually learn to put off our flesh, and strengthen the inward man. And as a result, we find ourselves going backward a lot in order to learn needed lessons. So throughout life God will continually allow failure in our lives to cut us off from our flesh, and train us to strengthen the inward man.
Scripture reading:
John 15:1-11
Sermon Overview:
As we enter this new year, we cannot forget that we are engaged in an epic battle. And what is unique about this battle is that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in the Lord for tearing down strongholds. However, this often causes much confusion on our part, and often a wrong focus in the fight. But with the right focus, preparation, and commitment, we will see the advancement of God's kingdom upon the earth.
Sermon Outline:
1) Reaching out
2) Building up
3) Training leaders
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 12:18-29
Sermon Outline:
Psalm 126:4-6
1) God fills us like a river
2) To irrigate the world
3) To reap a harvest of Joy
Scripture Reading:
Luke 1:68-79
Sermon Overview:
Psalm 126:1-3
God overwhelms us with glorious blessing to fill us with laughter and song to get the world's attention.
Sermon Outline:
1) God overwhelms us with glorious blessing
2) God fills us with laughter and song
2) That gets the attention of the world.
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 126
Sermon Overview: Sometimes we aren’t aware of the blessing and impact our actions have on the world. Yet, when we are those who are marked by the beatitudes in the midst of this world, we are those who are savor and light to the world. The work of grace by God, is the blessing of grace to the world.
Sermon Outline:
1) You are the salt of the earth
2) You are the light of the world
3) Let that light shine
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:1-16
Questions for further discussion:
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Why are salt and light such good metaphors in the ancient world for the effects of the church on the world?
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When and why do we lose our saltiness?
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What kind of things do we do that diminish our salt and light, and what kind of things increase them?
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What kind of things could your community group do together that would allow you to be savory and delightful to your surrounding community?