Sermons by Pastor Matt Erickson (Page 23)
Prayer of Surrender: Mary
Mary’s prayer stands out as one of the strongest expressions of faith in the entire Bible. She is humble yet bold, meek yet strong. Her words become a model for all of us on how to live a life surrendered to God. Main passage: Luke 1:26-38; 46-55 Sermon OutlinE “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38) Surrendering to God’s Word (Luke 1:26-38) Mary receives the angel Gabriel (1:26-28) Mary receives God’s…
Prayer of Dedication: Nehemiah
After the exile of God’s people from the Promised Land to Canaan, God raises up Nehemiah as a great leader to establish the people back in their land. What we often forget is that Nehemiah’s great leadership began in prayer. All of us may not feel we are leaders, but all of us can be used by God wherever we are. The key to that work of God in and through us comes by dedicating ourselves to Him in prayer.…
Prayer of Dependence: Habakkuk
The prophet Habakkuk concludes his bleak book with a powerful and rich declaration of faith in the face of pending suffering in Habakkuk 3:1-21. Regardless of our circumstances, how might we learn to be people of faith through prayer like Habakkuk? Sermon OutlinE “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:18) Seeking God’s Renewal in Fearful Times (Habakkuk 3:1-2) Promise of Punishment for the People of God (chs. 1-2) What has…
Prayer for Deliverance: Hezekiah
King Hezekiah faces tremendous threats at the hands of the Assyrian armies. In this dire situation, Hezekiah turns to God with a prayer for deliverance in 2 Kings 19:14-20; 20:1-7. When we face pressures, how might Hezekiah’s example help us, whether individually or corporately, turn to God for deliverance? Sermon OutlinE “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord,…
Prayer that Listens: Elijah
Elijah’s wonderful victory over the prophets of Baal turns into a fearful flight for his life. Running to the mountain of God, Elijah has a powerful encounter with God that transforms him. He speaks and listens, and is sent out by God renewed in 1 Kings 19:1-18. Sermon OutlinE “The word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:9) The Exhaustion of Success (1 Kings 18-19) The thrill of success (1 Kings 18:20-46)…
Prayer that Intercedes for God’s People: Moses
In one of the most vivid passages of the Old Testament we see God speaking with Abraham about the wicked towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lives there with his family, but Abraham focuses on calling God to act justly. It almost seems like Abraham is bargaining with God. What is going on here and what might we learn about pleading with God in prayer on behalf of the lost? Sermon OutlinE “In accordance with your great love,…
Prayer that Pleads for the Lost: Abraham
In one of the most vivid passages of the Old Testament we see God speaking with Abraham about the wicked towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lives there with his family, but Abraham focuses on calling God to act justly. It almost seems like Abraham is bargaining with God. What is going on here and what might we learn about pleading with God in prayer on behalf of the lost? Sermon OutlinE “Abraham remained standing before the Lord.…
I Am Filled with God’s Power.
If we move forward with God the Father by faith in Jesus the Messiah, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. If this great power and presence of God is in us, then our identity with God is transformed tremendously. But how specifically does the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives shape our identity? Join us this week as we explore that reality. Key Passages: John 14:15-18; Acts 2:1-41; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 5:22-26 SERMON OUTLINE “Do you not know…
I Am Loved Beyond Measure.
Because of Jesus Messiah, God’s love is made clear and powerful in our lives. Our sense of belonging in God can shape our sense of personal identity. We are found in Christ and held in the love of God. When we know how deeply loved we are with God, it gives a foundation to our lives that shapes the way we live with others. Key passages: Lamentations 3:22-24; John 3:16-17; Ephesians 3:14-19; 1 John 3:1-2 SERMON OUTLINE “I pray that you,…
I Am Made Uniquely.
Every person has a unique fingerprint that identifies us distinctly from other people. The Scripture tells us that each one of us was made uniquely by the hand of God. Some of us love how we are made, while others hate how we are made. The majority of us find ourselves somewhere in-between: liking some aspects and disliking other aspects of ourselves. How do we understand the unique shaping of our lives by the hand of God, before our birth…
I Am More Than My Image.
An old advertisement claimed, “Image is everything.” That claim seems to have only become stronger in the social media age. However, the concept of image is not the same as identity. Image is all about what we display to people and who we wish that we were. Identity travels much deeper than that. This week aims to directly address the false call to live by image, instead inviting us to live out our identity in Christ. Key Passages: Exodus 20:3-5; Psalm…
I Am Known by Faith.
If we want to begin to live and have a sense of our identity, we must reach out to God by faith in Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can truly make us human again and gives us a sense of identity. This week we explore what it means to believe in God and how that transforms our sense of identity. Key Passages: Genesis 15:1-6; Mark 1:15; John 1:12; 3:16-18; Romans 10:9 SERMON OUTLINE “Yet to all who did…