Sermons by Pastor Matt Erickson (Page 32)

Talking with God When Pain Looms Large

Habakkuk lifts his voice to God in lament again but this time calls God’s attention to the unending pain that His people are suffering at the hand of their oppressors. How do we respond to God when it seems that our suffering is larger than we ever thought possible? What do we do? (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1) SERMON OUTLINE “I will stand at my watch…I will look to see what He will say to me.” (Habakkuk 2:1) Eyes on God (Habakkuk 1:12-13)…

Suffering and the Surprising Plans of God

God’s first response to Habakkuk is surprising at numerous levels. God will respond to Habakkuk’s call for punishment of wicked but it will come in a surprising way. The punishment of wickedness will come at the hands of an even-more wicked people. The oft-quoted phrase here, “I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told” (Habakkuk 1:5), is actually a message of surprising judgment on the nations. (Habakkuk 1:5-11) SERMON…

Crying Out when God Seems Absent

The first of Habakkuk’s two laments begins with the prophet’s agonizing question about how long God will let violence and wickedness continue unpunished. What do we do when wrong seems to carry forward in the face of a righteous God? What does it look like to cry out to God in these times? (Habakkuk 1:1-4) SERMON OUTLINE “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2) Habakkuk’s Burden (Habakkuk 1:1) The context of Habakkuk…

Empowered

(Acts 2:1-13) SERMON OUTLINE “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4) The Meaning of Pentecost God’s Promise Fulfilled (Joel 2:28; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 7-8; 2:4) Signs of God’s Presence in Wind and Fire (Exodus 19:16-19; Acts 2:2-3) Echoes of Jesus’ Commissioning (Luke 3:21-22; Acts 1:14; 2:1) A Picture of God Gathering in the Nations (Leviticus 23:15-16; Acts 2:1, 5-12) The Holy Spirit and…

Called

(Acts 1:1-11) SERMON OUTLINE “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Called to Jesus: Living with the Resurrected Jesus (Acts 1:1-3) Jesus in-between events Jesus alive in the flesh Jesus at the table Called into God’s Kingdom: Facing Confusion and Time Delays (Acts 1:3-7) Jesus and the kingdom The kingdom of God…

Does Jesus Really Give Us Life?

Jesus says that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one gets to the Father except through Him. What does that mean? Is that true? does Jesus really give us life? (John 14:6) SERMON OUTLINE Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) Jesus the Life The interrelationship of way – truth – life The tension between ideas and persons What is Our Definition of Life? Jesus and life Quality…

Is Jesus Really the Source of Truth?

Jesus says that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one gets to the Father except through Him. What does that mean? Is that true? Is Jesus really the source of truth? (John 14:6) SERMON OUTLINE Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) Jesus the Truth ‘Truth’ in John’s Gospel Remembering the interrelationship of way – truth – life Jesus as the Revealer of God’s Truth “The Word became…

Is Jesus Really the Only Way?

Jesus says that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one gets to the Father except through Him. What does that mean? Is that true? Is Jesus really the only way? (John 16:4; Acts 4:12) SERMON OUTLINE Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 16:4) Jesus the Way The setting of John 14 The interrelationship of way – truth – life…

Empty

Easter Sunday 2015 (John 20:1-31) SERMON OUTLINE “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” (John 20:1) Empty: Death Defied  “They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” (John 20:9) Empty: Ache’s Absence “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” (John 20:15) Empty: The Past Surpassed…

Overcome

Jesus’ trials threaten to overcome Him, but they actually become a way of life and victory as Jesus overcomes death and sin. Jesus tells His followers that they will suffer like He suffered, but that He will turn their grief to joy and fill their trials with peace. What does it all mean? What are we to do with these particularly unpleasant – even painful – portions of Scripture? (John 15:18-25; 16:16-33) SERMON OUTLINE “In this world you will have…

Abide

Perhaps the most-quoted words from Jesus’ final teaching are found in John 15:1-17, this passage about abiding in the vine as branches that bear fruit. But what does that really mean? What was Jesus trying to tell us about our life hidden in God? SERMON OUTLINE “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Jesus as the…