Sermons on Adversity (Page 8)
Hidden Power
Visiting Pastor Stuart Briscoe brings a message on the Kingdom of God from Luke 13:18-21. After Jesus healed a woman who was “bound by Satan” a debate erupted that left the people deeply divided. Jesus took the opportunity to raise the question, “What is the kingdom of God like” and answered it himself by way of analogy. The kingdom of God is “like a mustard seed” and can be compared to “yeast…worked through dough”. Clearly some interpretation is needed! SERMON…
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…
Lord of the Cast-Off
Jesus is Lord and King; He is Messiah and Savior…but His kingdom is unexpectedly filled with the least likely people: the cast offs. Until we realize who we are and who we are not we will never enter into the Lord’s kingdom. SERMON OUTLINE “Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:42) Measuring the Insignificant (Luke 21:1-4) Giving much out of…
Lord of the Sabbath
Why is it significant that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and what does that tell us about His crossroads journey? Pastor Matt brings the message from the Gospel of Luke as we start a new series, “Crossroads.” Together, we look at two significant episodes on this: Luke 6:1-11 (Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath) and Luke 13:10-17 (Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath). SERMON OUTLINE Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Luke…
Jesus: Healer and Releaser
This week, Pastor Ruth Carver kicks off a new series, “Jesus on the Move,” with a look at a series of healing stories from Luke 5 and 7. SERMON OUTLINE Story #1 – Luke 5:12-14 Jesus’ activity: He heals a man of leprosy Jesus’ heart: to release the man from shame and isolation Story #2 – Luke 5:17-26 Jesus’ activity: He heals a paralyzed man Jesus’ heart: to release the man from sin Story #3 – Luke 7:1-10 Jesus’ activity:…
Wilderness
Entering into the story of Israel, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness in Luke 4:1-13, where He is tested by the devil. His testing shows us what His way is really all about. His testing shows us how to endure the tests of the wilderness. SERMON OUTLINE “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4:1-2) From…
Praying With the Master
When Jesus faced arrest and crucifixion, He draws away with His disciples to pour out His anguish before the Father. In that place of anguished prayer in Luke 22:39-46, Jesus yields to the Father’s will. What does it look like for us to pray with the Master in the midst of anguish? Sermon Outline “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) The Noticeable Pattern of…
Lead with the Left: Ehud
The story of Ehud in Judges 3:12-30, “a left-handed man,” captures our imagination, but is striking culturally because left-handedness was a sign of weakness, possibly even physical defect. He does what is unexpected to win the day for God’s people under their oppression by Eglon, king of Moab. What does it look like to lead out of what is seen as weakness for unexpected victory? SERMON OUTLINE “Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a…
Incomplete
Judges begins in Judges 1:1-2:5 with Joshua’s death and the sense of incomplete conquest of the Promised Land. It is a picture of incomplete obedience and response to God, but also the sense of incompleteness we all have in life in terms of our accomplishment, abilities, and more. How do we recognize our incompleteness—sin, brokenness, disobedience—and what do we do about it? SERMON OUTLINE “The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, ‘I brought you…
Redemption in the Darkness: Job’s Return to Joy through Suffering
When Job walks with God, even obeys God, in the midst of his suffering, redeeming grace breaks in ( Job 42:7-17). How can we also experience greater blessing in our lives through and beyond the seasons of suffering we face? (Job 42:7-17) Sermon Outline “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former.” (Job 42:12) God’s Grace in Loss (Job 42:7-17) God’s grace in restored friendships (42:7-9) God’s grace in relationships (42:10-11) God’s grace with possessions (42:12)…
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…
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…