Sermons on Anxiety
Seeing Jesus as Peace
Jesus’ word of peace to His disciples after His crucifixion and resurrection speaks about more than a peaceful easy feeling. What is it that Jesus means by peace and why must we see this to live the full life? (Luke 24:36-43) Sermon Outline “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36) Jesus, the Peace Bringer (Luke 24:36-43, John 20:19) Jesus appears to silence the disciples’ doubt.…
Living with Joy
Disciples of Jesus are exhorted, even commanded, in Scripture to be joyful. Why is that important? How do we do that? Sermon Outline “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) What is Joy? A definition of joy The difference between happiness and joy Living with Joy in Prayer (Philippians 1:3-8) Cultivating joy through prayer Cultivating joy through gratitude for others Living with Joy Because of the Gospel (Philippians 1:12-18; 2:19-30) Experiencing joy in the…
Jesus, the Joy Bringer
Jesus brings joy and there is great joy in His birth and ministry. What is joy? How does Jesus really bring joy? How is this different from manufactured joy? How can we experience joy in Jesus? Sermon Outline “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for…
Walking on Water
Jesus walks on water. What does this tell us about Jesus? (Matthew 14:22-36) Sermon Outline “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14:33) We cannot know God unless He reveals Himself to us. Who is Jesus in this Passage? Jesus is the Son of Man (Matthew 14:23). He is a human being like us. He depended completely on God. Because He is human, He understand and sympathizes with our…
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…
Peace
Oftentimes, lies that people tell us hang over our head for years. They cause distress and unrest in our souls, leaving us without any sense of God’s peace. We need to do the soul-work necessary to receive the truth that matters most is in our lives: God and His word. This message from Senior Pastor Matt Erickson kicks off a new sermon series on the Psalms of Ascent, Ascend, beginning with Psalm 120. SERMON OUTLINE I call on the Lord…
Worry and Faith
What?! Me, worry?! Sure we do. Jesus gives us a picture of the kingdom life in relation to worry. The resurrection changes the meaning of this earlier teaching of Jesus. Pastor Matt Erickson delivers a message from Luke 12:22-34. SERMON OUTLINE “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:31) Don’t Worry (Luke 12:22-31) Food & clothes The ravens The flowers Pagans versus disciples The Father and His Kingdom Don’t Fear (Luke 12:32-34) The…
Hearing God in the Darkness: Job’s Encounter with the Living God
Many times in the midst of suffering we ask God to reveal Himself or His truth into our lives. When God does speak to Job in Job 38:1-42:6, He reminds Job of how small he is in comparison to the greatness of God. How do we learn from Job about appropriate listening to God in the times of suffering? (Job 38-42:6) Sermon Outline “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5) Job’s longing to…
Still God
Life is noisy—metaphorically, in our busyness, if not literally. It can be hard to stop; it can feel impossible to stop, tough to deal with silence. Like Elijah, we keep running, motivated by fear and anxiety. But God says to stop and listen; God will show up not in the noise, but in the quiet. His quiet leads us into a response of faithful mission and apprenticing others. We will look at God’s questions, hearing God, having appropriate community, moving…