Sermons on Grief
Tears of Frustration
This message will explore the second of two types of tears we see in Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, the tears of frustration. Through these tears we see our God’s frustration over the impact of sin and death on human experience that was made for more. John 11:1-44 Sermon Outline “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus said, ‘Your brother will rise again.’” (John 11:21-23) Frustration in John 11 Disciples (John 11:6-16) Mary…
Tears of Compassion
This message will explore the first of two types of tears we see in Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, the tears of compassion. These tears reveal our God who is moved by compassion over human loss and grief. John 11:1-44 Sermon Outline “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) Introduction The journey of Lent “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) The variety of Jesus’ tears Seeing Jesus’ Tears through a Theology of the Incarnation Jesus as the revelation of God (Colossians 1:15) Jesus as…
Broken and Broken
This message explores Nathan the prophet’s rebuke of David and David’s response to Nathan’s rebuke. At first, David’s sinful brokenness is exposed and then David lets himself become broken in repentance before God. David could have chosen other responses, such as denial of his wrong, silencing his confronter, or something else altogether. What can we learn from David here? (2 Samuel 12 & Psalm 51) Sermon Outline “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to…
Praying with a Broken Heart
Nehemiah’s response to the brokenness of Jerusalem is a deep prayer. (Nehemiah 1:5-11) SERMON OUTLINE “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night.” (Nehemiah 1:5-6) Beginning with the Greatness of God (Nehemiah 1:5-6a) The greatness of God’s being The greatness of…
Descending
Joseph’s story begins in Genesis 37:1-36 with dreams, parental favoritism, and family tensions. His father’s favorite son, Joseph, quickly finds his disagreements with his brothers boiling over into his faked murder and sale into slavery. What do you do when everyone seems to turn against you? Sermon Outline “But his brothers saw Joseph in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.” (Genesis 37:17-18) God’s Blessing Descends to Humanity (37:1-4) Abraham & Sarah → Isaac &…
Dying Again
Pastor Emeritus Marc Erickson continues our series on the parables of Luke’s Gospel account with a message on Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31. SERMON OUTLINE The universe of God is a place for persons…and you belong! the storyteller Jesus is hyper-personal (Joshua = YHWH saves) Luke 3:21-22—Father, Son, Spirit, incarnate, wading and praying Luke 20:27-38—All are alive to Him an unknown rich man a beggar named Lazarus = God helps his transporters to the gate his angelic transporters to Father Abraham’s…
Humility in the Darkness: Job Rebuked Regarding God’s Greatness
In Job 29-37, Job argues with his friends and verges on self-justification or pride at times. Elihu rebukes Job in order to bring him back to see his own heart-attitude before God. Sometimes our suffering actually leads us into a strong self-protective attitude with God and others, and we too must return to the place of humility in our suffering. (Job 29-37) Sermon Outline How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. (Job…
Wisdom in the Darkness: Clinging to God in the Face of Confusion and Adversity
In the midst of the dialogue of Job and his friends, an interlude in Job 28 on the way of wisdom catches the reader by surprise at the center of the book. Wisdom is not easily found, but is readily available. God is the beginning of wisdom and the advocate of wisdom. (Job 28) Sermon Outline “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?…God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells” (Job 28:12,…
Wrestling in the Darkness: Job and His Friends’ Quest for Meaning in Suffering
In Job 3-27, Job enters into a deep dialogue with his friends about the nature and meaning of suffering. They offer counsel that is, in one way, true, but is divorced from the context of Job’s life and God’s permission. We will talk about when to speak and when to be silent, how we comfort one another in suffering and also how we search out meaning together before God in suffering. (Job 3-27) Sermon Outline “I know that my redeemer lives,…
Reverence in the Darkness: Job’s Response to God in Suffering
What does it look like to turn to God in the midst of suffering? How do we recognize the reality of suffering, understand the nature of suffering, evaluate the cause of suffering, and grow through suffering? (Job 1:1-2:13) Sermon Outline “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21) Setting the Stage for Job Overview of the Book of Job Prelude (Job 1:1-5) Acts 1 (Job 1:6-22) Cosmic face-off, part…
Praying in the Midst of Promises and Problems
Abraham and Sarah extend hospitality to three divine visitors, where the promise is reaffirmed again. Sarah thinks it’s funny. At the same time, judgment is coming down on Sodom, where Lot lives, and Abraham bargains with God about these things. This will not include much reflection on the final chapter of Lot’s story, which ends with all the typical messiness of those whose lives are turned upside down by loss and grief. How do we live, like Abraham, as a…