"faith" Tagged Sermons
Faith That Works
Today we explore one of the most well-known passages within James about how faith is shown by how we live in our actual lives. We are saved by grace, but our faith should be visible in our works. (James 2:14-26) Sermon Outline “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26) Faith is… Active (James 2:14-17) Faith is… Not Just What We Claim (James 2:14-16) Not just claiming that “Jesus is Lord” Faith…
A Little Reminder
Peter points out he was an eyewitness of Jesus’ incarnation and transfiguration, while also highlighting the importance of the prophetic message about Christ he and others bear. This gives us an opportunity to talk about the message of Christ, the significance of the apostles, the power of Scripture, and contemporary prophecy. (2 Peter 1:12-21) SERMON OUTLINE “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the…
Make Every Effort
The life of faith is built on the grace and power of God. Yet we are twice invited to “make every effort” in growing with God in character and confirmation of our calling and election. (2 Peter 1:5-11) SERMON OUTLINE “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…” (2 Peter 1:4a) Background of the passage: A review A farewell discourse Feed my sheep (John 21:15-17) Stay on course Motivation for ethical behavior: For this very reason……
“My Soul Glorifies the Lord” (Magnificat)
Mary praises God for His plans and her part within it. This beautiful prayer expounds the way in which God is doing a new thing in Jesus, but also speaks prophetically about the upside-down kingdom coming with this new humble king. (Luke 1:46-55) SERMON OUTLINE “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.’” (Luke 1:46-48) Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45)…
His Healing by Faith
Jesus’ turn toward Jerusalem is framed by two stories of healing. This brings into focus the healing that comes through Jesus to a world turned upside-down with pain. (Matthew 17:14-20; 20:29-34) Sermon Outline “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) The Faith Problem (Matthew 17:14-20) The father and son: I want to believe The disciples: I thought I believed The teachers of the law: I won’t believe The…
Jesus and the Canaanite Woman
Jesus heals an outsider, a Canaanite woman, and it shows us some very interesting things about the nature of Jesus’ mission. Matthew 15:21-28 Sermon Outline Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matthew 15:28) The Request A Canaanite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus is off duty, needing rest. Woman is a representative of Israel’s enemy; she is “other.” The Delay Jesus is…
The Mustard Seed and the Yeast
This Sunday, Pastor Matt continues our sermon series on Jesus’ parables from Matthew with a message on the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Yeast from Matthew 13. SERMON OUTLINE “He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.’” (Matthew 13:31) The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) The small size of the mustard seed – the smallest seed that Jews…
The Messiah’s Sign
Jesus is asked for a sign and only references the sign of Jonah. This is a cryptic reference to what would come in His death and resurrection. Matthew 12:38-45 SERMON OUTLINE Their Sign and Response The Ninevites: Heard but didn’t see – Repented The Queen of the South: Heard and came to see – Believed The scribes and Pharisees: Heard and saw – Criticised What it Means The Ninevites: Condemnation because no repentance The Queen of the South: Condemnation because…
Real Prayer
Pastor Ruth Carver shares what real prayer looks like in our lives and how to make requests of our good God, sharing from Matthew 7:7-11 Sermon Outline “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you…” (Matthew 7:7) Jesus tells His disciples (and the crowd) that real prayer is simply making requests of God: asking Him for things. (Matthew 7:7-8) Jesus tells a parable to show what…
Real Faith
Jesus’ words about worry, anxiety, and trust can sometimes seem out of reach. How do we live with real faith like this? Matthew 6:25-34 Sermon Outline “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) Why Worry? (6:25, 27, 28, 31, 34) What is worry? Why do we worry? What does worry accomplish? The difference between worry and work What Preoccupies Us? (6:25) Preoccupation with food and clothes…
Real Treasure
What does it mean to treasure something and how does that impact our life? How does this relate to the power of money in our life? Matthew 6:19-24 Sermon Outline “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:19-20) Real Treasure (6:19-21) The reality and limits of earthly storing up The promise and possibility of heavenly storing up…
Make Every Effort
The calling of God is to unshakable realities and so we make every effort to live in God’s ways. Hebrews 12:12-29 SERMON OUTLINE “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14-29) Make Every Effort and See To It (Hebrews 12:14-17) to live at peace to cultivate holiness that no one falls short of God’s grace that no one falls into sexual immorality or godlessness The…