Sermons by Pastor Matt Erickson (Page 24)
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…
I Am Not Stuck.
Why do we experience a lack of personal identity? What is it in our selves or our world that makes us feel disconnected or fractured? Without taking a look at Scripture’s understanding of human personality and identity in light of creation and fall, we will never be able to begin the journey toward finding ourselves in God. Key Scripture: Genesis 3:1-24; 2 Samuel 11-12; Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 7:1; Philippians 2:12 SERMON OUTLINE “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the…
He Is.
As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, we must ask ourselves what Jesus’ life, death and resurrection really means for us. Does it mean anything or was it merely a historical event? To get at this, we will return to the creation account of the first Adam in Genesis in order to then explore the meaning of the arrival of the second Adam in Jesus Messiah.
Reconciliation
After a series tensions, Joseph is overcome by emotion and reveals himself to his brothers. Joseph and his brothers experience a reconciliation of relationship with one another and their father. How might our suffering lead into life, healing and reconciliation? Text: Genesis 45:1-46:34 Sermon Outline He said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!” (Genesis 45:4) The Story in Summary Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers (45:1-15) The brothers return to Jacob with good news…
Open Wounds
The climax of Joseph’s story in Genesis 42-44 is his encounter with his brothers in their hour of need. Walking into their lost brother’s world, the brothers do not recognize Joseph. It is only after a series of challenges that they realize what is happening. How do we deal with our wounds, particularly when past hurts are opened by those who inflicted them? Sermon Outline “As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be…