Sermons by Pastor Matt Erickson (Page 21)

When God Moves Into the Neighborhood

This week sets a foundation for our exploration of neighboring upon a theology of the incarnation, in which God Himself became our ‘neighbor’ through Jesus Christ. “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14, The Message). It will connect into the Great Commandment as our response based on God’s action. Key Texts: John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 22:36-40 SERMON OUTLINE “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” (John 1:14, The Message)…

The Good News of New Beginnings

After Jesus’ resurrection, John offer a series of encounters that Jesus has with real people. Each of these encounters sheds light on the way in which Jesus’ resurrection is good news: God’s presence in loss (Mary), God’s peace in fear (disciples in the upper room), God’s guidance in confusion (Thomas), and God’s restoration in failure (Peter). Key Passage: John 20:11-21:25 SERMON OUTLINE “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and…

Prayer as Soul-Shaping with God

This week we continue our series, “Power in Prayer,” by looking at Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-14. Prayer is essentially our link into the face-to-face relationship with the Living God, who is ultimate love. SERMON OUTLINE “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.” (Colossians 1:9) Shaped by Praying Regularly for Others (Colossians 1:9) Shaped by Praying for Knowledge of God’s Will (Colossians 1:9b) Shaped by Praying to Live Worthy of…

The Good News of the Resurrected One

The resurrection of Jesus from death brings good news into our lives. As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, we will also explore three themes of how this is good news: light overwhelming darkness, freedom overcoming prisons, and life overpowering death. Key Texts: John 20:1-10, 30-31  

The Hunger to Leave a Legacy

We all hunger for success, in one form or another. A significant part of that is leaving an impact or legacy that will live beyond us. It is wonderful to leave a meaningful legacy in our lives. At the same time, that hunger for a legacy connects with our hunger for eternity. Key Passages: John 12:12-19; Psalm 78:4; Ecclesiastes 3:11 Sermon OutlinE “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in…

The Hunger for Peace

No one wants to live feeling depleted and empty. We all want to live out of a place of abundance, satisfaction and peace. We hunger to feel like our lives are on the right track and that everything is ‘right’. The biblical word for this is peace, which Scripture tells us is ultimately found in God through Jesus Christ. Key passages: John 14:25-31; 16:33; 20:19-20; Luke 1:68-79; Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15; 12:18; Matthew 5:9; James 3:18 Sermon OutlinE “Peace I leave…

The Hunger to Know

There is an insatiable desire built within humanity to understand what’s going on in the world and in our lives. We scramble to be “in the know” or “on the inside track,” and we hate feeling “out of the loop.” This hunger for understanding is built into us by God and leads us toward an encounter with that which is beyond us. Key passage: Exodus 33:7-34:9 Sermon OutlinE “He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one…

The Hunger for Greatness

Someone once told me that what they wanted most in life was to be seen and acknowledged for who they were. Some describe that as a hunger for greatness or, at least, a desire to be necessary. We want someone to see who we are and what we can offer. That desire connects with the way that God has made us, views, and relates to us. Key Texts: Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 18:1-5; 20:25-28; 1 Peter 5:7 Sermon OutlinE “You know that…

The Hunger for Love

All of us want to feel loved, and like we belong somewhere with someone. We want this within intimate relationships and within a sense of finding community. We will explore this hunger for love as it relates to human love and divine love. Key Passage: John 4:1-43 Sermon OutlinE “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep…

Word of God

What does it mean that Jesus is the Word of God, with God in the beginning, and reigning with God at the end? Key Texts: John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:1-4; Revelation 19:13 SERMON OUTLINE “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Jesus the Word of God that Exists and Creates (John 1:1-4; Genesis 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17) Jesus the Word of God that Enlightens Humanity (John…