The Kingdom Life

…and then the resurrection of Jesus. What is happening? What sort of King is this? What sort of Kingdom did He bring? Where are we and what is happening in this Kingdom Life?

This is part 5 of a 6-part series on the Gospel of Luke.

Holy Spirit

On Pentecost Sunday, we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit that enables us to enter into the life of Christ on earth with a look at Luke 24:36-53. SERMON OUTLINE “I am going to send you what my Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) Jesus Appears to Disciples (Luke 24:36-38) Jesus Never Leaves People Empty-Handed (Luke 24:39-49) Jesus Ascends (Luke 24:50-53) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Have you ever had…

Reading the Signs

In Luke 11:29-32, Jesus gives us the sign of Jonah as a key signifier of who He is and what He’s about in His kingdom. What does this tell us about kingdom living? Pastor Jim Caler unpacks this passage on a Family Worship Weekend. SERMON OUTLINE The Context The Text The Point DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Open Up What is your favorite “sign”? Why? What would you “go to the ends of the earth” to experience? Dig In Why do you think Jesus…

Stay Awake

What does it mean to stay attentive until the end? What is Jesus looking for with our lives and how do we wait until the end for Him? Bishop Walter Harvey brings a message from Luke 12:35-48. SERMON OUTLINE Stay Awake His second coming is sure. His second coming is sudden. His second coming is secret. His second coming is surprising. He is coming, so what type of persons should we be? Wait eagerly. Watch expectantly. Work enthusiastically. He is coming,…

Kingdom of God

What is the kingdom of God, anyway? In a western setting where kingdom doesn’t mean much to us in our everyday living, it’s time to get a grip on the kingdom. Nancy Erickson delivers a message from Luke 17:20-37; 18:15-30, 35-43; 19:1-10. SERMON OUTLINE The Kingdom of God is Among Us (Luke 17:20-37) “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” How can you become a part of the Kingdom? (Luke 18:15-30)…

Worry and Faith

What?! Me, worry?! Sure we do. Jesus gives us a picture of the kingdom life in relation to worry. The resurrection changes the meaning of this earlier teaching of Jesus. Pastor Matt Erickson delivers a message from Luke 12:22-34. SERMON OUTLINE “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:31) Don’t Worry (Luke 12:22-31) Food & clothes The ravens The flowers Pagans versus disciples The Father and His Kingdom Don’t Fear (Luke 12:32-34) The…

The Cost of Discipleship

In light of the resurrection, there is greater meaning to the pathway of discipleship and its cost for us. We look at two passages from earlier in Luke’s Gospel to get a sense of the life of discipleship: 13:22-30 (teaching on the narrow door) and 14:25-35 (teaching on the cost of being a disciple). SERMON OUTLINE “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:33) The Costly Doorway…

Confusion to Understanding

Two disciples encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus and their lives are turned upside down. That is what the kingdom does to us, after all. Pastor Matt brings a message from Luke 24:13-35. SERMON OUTLINE “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” (Luke 24:31) Jesus’ Questions (Luke 24:13-24) Jesus’ Explanation (Luke 24:25-27) Recognition (Luke 24:28-35) Living with Burning Hearts DISCUSSION QUESTIONS When did you have a spiritual breakthrough in your life of…

A King and His Kingdom

Resurrection is here! On Easter Sunday, Pastor Matt kicks off our new series, “The Kingdom Life,” with a message from Luke 24:1-12. SERMON OUTLINE “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6) Four Views of the Empty Tomb The women The angels The disciples Peter Three Stage of Faith From grief to belief: “it has happened!” [the women] From no hope to nonsense: “it can’t happen.” [the disciples] From doubt…