Sermons on Community
Living Family
This message will focus on the way God formed His life into the early Jerusalem church. (Acts 2:42-47) Sermon Outline “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” (Acts 2:46-47) The Rule and Reign of God in the Family of God God’s rule and reign in a renewed covenant, focused in Jesus, and…
Born by the Holy Spirit
A message about Pentecost, waiting, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and God’s beginnings of a Revelation 7 type of community. (Acts 1:1-2:41) Sermon Outline “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Introducing Acts What is Acts? Who wrote it and why? What does “Acts” mean? Why would we study it today?…
We Need Each Other
Paul concludes this letter with a wonderful look at the interrelationships that exist between him, various people, and the Corinthians believers. (1 Corinthians 16:1-24) Sermon Outline We give to tangible support each other Paul’s description of the relief offering for Jerusalem believers Trust is part of the foundation of community, and stewardship We all have a part to play While we think Paul was a solitary letter writer, in reality his letters were a team effort, as was his ministry…
Living Alive and Free in Christ
Using the startling example of sexual incest occurring within the Corinthian church, Paul calls the believing community into discernment about what holiness means in our sexuality, as well as how to live holy as God’s chosen people in every area of our lives. Sermon Outline “Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8) Living as a Community of Christ’s Life…
Praying Outward
This week we will explore the third movement of prayer: praying outward. We will investigate what it means to connect with others and God in prayer. We will develop what it means to pray “out” in terms of praying for others on our own, praying for others in person, and praying with others for others. (John 17:1-15) Sermon Outline “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”…
Revival in the Ruins
Last week we explored the centrality of God’s Word in the identity and project of rebuilding and repair. The people not only hear God’s word but respond to it. This is a powerful example of humble confession and a community turning toward God. (Nehemiah 9:1-38) SERMON OUTLINE “In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.” (Nehemiah 9:33) What is Revival? Asbury College Revival Fulton Street Revival Nehemiah 9 Revival…
The Community of Repair
The list of builders by section seems sort of odd to us but is also an important recognition of the workers who apply themselves to the task. This is really not about Nehemiah but about the people. (Nehemiah 3:1-32) SERMON OUTLINE What Reason Did They Have to Rebuild the Wall? The Voice of Reason: We need Walls Nehemiah’s Reason: We are Disgraced (Nehemiah 2:17) The Best Reason: For His Name & on His Heart (Nehemiah 1:9,11; 2:12) What Did It…
Living Hope
Along with some final greetings, Paul’s last segment of this letter gives us some basic exhortations to living our hope out in everyday life as God’s new community, the church. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-28) SERMON OUTLINE “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Living as the Good Community of God (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15) Acknowledge those who serve Warn those who are idle Encourage those who are…
A Reset in Light of the Future
This week we want to talk about the importance of encouraging one another until Christ returns. This is a long haul and keeps us looking forward together as a community. We have so many examples of this in the ‘hall of faith’ of Hebrews 11. SERMON OUTLINE “Let us consider how we may spur one another on… and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) The Challenge of Time in Our Day The challenge of coming…
A Reset on Gathering
During a time when it has been difficult to meet together, we want to encourage people to meet together in person again for weekly worship. SERMON OUTLINE Gathering Together to Worship In the Old Testament God’s idea, God’s command Festivals at temple in Jerusalem Psalm 100, the reset psalm Synagogues In the New Testament Jesus’ insistence on it “Wherever 2 or 3 of you are gathered…” (Matthew 18:20) “I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18b) Institution of the Lord’s Supper…
A Reset on Service
We are called toward love and good deeds. We are a body and a team. We want to help everyone find avenues for serving within the church and beyond the church. SERMON OUTLINE “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…” (Hebrews 10:24) A Reset on Our Concept of the Church The church as an event or a consumer activity Last week: the church as a family who loves one another This week…
A Reset on Love
We are called to “spur one another one to love.” That means we are a family, a community, and we need to learn to live in that way together. SERMON OUTLINE “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) A Reset on Our Image…