Sermons by Pastor Matt Erickson (Page 4)

Seeing Jesus as the Fulfillment

The story of the disciples encountering the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus begins with a powerful exploration by Jesus of the ways He fulfills all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:13-35) Sermon Outline “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:26) Seeing But Not Seeing: a report about these days (Luke 24:13-18) The two disciples on the road to Emmaus Their perception of “these days”…

Seeing Jesus Resurrected

Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ resurrection with reflections on whether resurrection is possible and what it means if it is. (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) The Women at the Tomb: The Closed Door of Death Is Open Dark dawn, moving toward the tomb for anointing Jesus’ body The tomb’s stone is rolled away Jesus has opened death’s door; His body is not in…

Jesus, the Jubilee

In Leviticus 25, God speaks about the sabbath year and the Jubilee. These rhythms of freedom and liberation reflect who God is and are intended to mark the life of God’s people. When Jesus began His public ministry, He spoke of the freedom that had come through Him, referencing Isaiah 61, which is a Jubilee sort of proclamation. What does it mean that Jesus has come to bring freedom? (Leviticus 25, 27; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:14-21) Sermon Outline “Consecrate the…

Jesus, the Holy Obedient One

Significant portions of Leviticus are devoted to what it means to live holy before God. To live holy is a description of a life well-lived with a God who is totally present and totally pure. The pinnacle of this way of living is described in Jesus’ summary of God’s instruction: love God with all of who we are and love our neighbor as ourselves (which is drawn from Leviticus 19:18). The problem is that we often fall short of this…

Jesus, the Perfect High Priest

Leviticus in many ways is an instruction book for the priests in how to maintain right relationship between God and God’s. There are instructions about how they should administer their priesthood and how they should be ordained. Jesus is not just a great teacher but, as the writer of Hebrews instructs, “has become a high priest forever” (Hebrews 6:20). Even now, Paul tells us, Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).…

Jesus, Holy God With Us

One of the central themes of Leviticus is the presence of God with God’s people. God is the One who delivered His people from enslavement in Egypt and now stands at the center of their identity and direction. God is with them. So, too, in Jesus, God is with us. In fact, one of Jesus’ most memorable titles is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”. (Leviticus 1:1; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; 1 Corinthians 3:16) Sermon Outline “The LORD called to…

The Hidden Power of Patience and Prayer

James’ final exhortations call the believers to deeper patience in suffering and persevering prayer amidst sickness. Why might these be the final words he wants to offer to them? (James 5:7-20) Sermon Outline “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13) Persevering with Patience (James 5:7-11) Patience with long-term perspective (5:7) Patience with the end in sight (5:8-9) Patience with good examples (5:10-11a) Patience with God’s character (5:11b)…

Living Well in God’s Wisdom

There are many forms of so-called wisdom out there, but not all of them help us live well. What does it look like to find God’s true wisdom and how does it shape our everyday living? (James 3:13-18) Sermon Outline “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13) Let the Wise Step Forward (James 3:13a) Who is wise? Who thinks they’re…

Faith That Doesn’t Play Favorites

The way we treat others, especially those who might be considered “lower” or “outcasts,” says a lot about our faith. As we mark MLK Day, it is a good time to consider whether our faith is healing our prejudices and shaping our love for others. (James 2:1-13) Sermon Outline “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” (James 2:1) Faith That is Consistent with Jesus’ Way (James 2:1) Faith “in” Jesus that looks…

When Trouble Comes

This week we will set up the book of James, offering helpful background, and plunging into James’ exploration of how to respond to trials and temptations. (James 1:1-18) Sermon Outline “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) Introducing James (James 1:1) Who is…

The One Who Restores

Jesus the Messiah is the One who can truly restore. “To restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:1-7) Sermon Outline “To restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach…