Sermons on Lent
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 Atoning One and Scapegoat
Since sin’s entry into human experience in the Garden of Eden, a great separation has existed between God and humanity. Such a gulf could not be crossed by human effort, but only through the gracious gift of the Creator God. The day of atonement reflected that only the offering of an animal’s life could communicate the gravity of human evil. When Jesus offered His life and His death in our place on the Cross, He became what we are—destined for…
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, the Perfect Offering
The first seven chapters of Leviticus describe five ritual offerings for God’s people: burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering. Each of these represent ways in which relationship with God is restored. However, these sacrifices must be repeated day after day. Jesus, however, is the perfect offering made once for all. As the writer of Hebrews says: “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).…
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…
Palm Sunday
This week we look what is known as Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. We will explore the meaning of this event in light of the week to follow, and gain insights into both John 15 and Psalm 1 as we conclude our series “The Tree and the Vine.” (John 11, 12, 15 & Psalm 1) Sermon Outline They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” (John 12:13a) Jesus Orchestrates a Miracle (John 11) Jesus…
The Fruitful Life
This week explores how we are made for fruitfulness and that true fruitfulness comes from God’s life in us and from our obedience to God and love for others. (Psalm 1:3; John 15:1-8, 16-17) Sermon Outline “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear in prayer, asking God to speak to you through this study. fruit—fruit that will last.” (John 15:16) The Way of Fruitfulness In Psalm 1: meditating…
The Pruned Life
This week explores the pruning work of God necessary for fruitfulness in our lives. (John 15:2, 6; Psalm 1:4) Sermon Outline “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2) Pruning as Cleansing for Fruitfulness The word means cut “clean” and implies healing Jesus’ word is the pruning tool that cuts clean What about the branches that don’t bear…
The Nourished Life
This week explores the nourishment we receive through meditating on God’s word and letting the words of Jesus abide in us. (Psalm 1:2; John 15:3-7) Sermon Outline “. . . but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” (Psalm 1:2) Nourishment In Nature In Humans Nutrients Law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2) Words of Jesus (John 15:7) The Malnourished Life Convenience Disconnectedness The Nourished Life Delights Remains DISCUSSION QUESTIONS…
The Connected Life
This week introduces John 15, building upon Psalm 1, and talks about abiding life as connected to God. Specifically, this explores the love of God in which we are deeply connected. Sermon Outline The Role Jesus – The True Vine God – The Intimate Gardner Us – The connected Branches The Goal What is God really after? What does it mean to remain? What does God command? The Fruit Love Answers Lasting Impact DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Verse 2 tells us that…
The Planted Life
This week introduces the series and explores the imagery of Psalm 1 of being planted. We can plant in one way of living or another, but there is a choice before us. (Psalm 1:1-3) Sermon Outline “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water…” (Psalm 1:3a) Introducing this Series The journey of Lent The two passages: Psalm 1 and John 15 Seeing these passages through the lens of Jesus Christ The Happy Person is Not Like This…