Sermons on Community (Page 2)
“I believe in the holy Christian church, the communion of saints.”
This series walks through the Apostles Creed as a basic summary of our faith but also as a way to live our faith out with God in the world. Each weekend of this series will explore the biblical and theological roots of the Apostles Creed, while also providing specific spiritual practices and approaches to living out what we know as we ‘proclaim and embody’ the Creed in our daily lives. This week focuses on the phrase, “I believe in the…
To Live as One for the Sake of the World
The church is called to live as one for the sake of the world. As Archbishop William Temple once said, “The church is the only organization that exists for the benefit of its non-members.” (Hebrews 10:19-25) Sermon Outline “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest…
To Live as Family
The church is called to live as a family. We are not merely an organization but brothers and sisters called to live together under the fatherhood of God. (Mark 3:31-35; 10:28-31) Sermon Outline The Church: A people called by God to live as family… Jesus radically redefines family (Mark 3:31-35) Jesus defines family as those who: are ____________________________ to Him do the ________________ of ________________ the ________________ Jesus says that those who leave behind all these things have done so.…
The Church: A People Called by God
The church is essentially a people who are called by God. We are called out of darkness and into His marvelous light. We are called from death into life. We are called by God, given a new identity in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:3-14) Sermon Outline “We, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:12) What is the Church? 3 Characteristics of the Church…
The Messiah’s Family
We often talk about Jesus making us part of the family of God. What does that mean and how radical is it really? Matthew 12:46-50 SERMON OUTLINE “Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” (Matthew 12:49-50) Jesus and His Earthly Family (12:46-47) Beginnings and parents: Matthew 1-2 Siblings: Matthew 13:55 Eventual disciples: James (Galatians 1:19; James 1:1),…
A Unified Church in Divided Days
A standalone sermon from Pastor Matt Erickson of Eastbrook Church on the divisions in our world, culture, and church today and an exhortation from Ephesians on how to regain and remain in unity. Ephesians 4:1-6 SERMON OUTLINE “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) A Prisoner for the Lord (Ephesians 4:1) The situation and calling of Paul the Apostle The calling of every Christian It’s all about Jesus Learning to…
Truly Community
This week, we continue in the series “Roots” by exploring what it means to be God’s Community, the Church. Pastor Matt uses Acts 2:42, 46, and 4:32 as an example of how we should format our lives within the body of the church. The early believers, it says, were “one in heart and mind” (Acts 4:32). There was an essential unity within this group of believers, which we refer to with the word ‘community’ today. This theme recurs throughout the…
A Crash Course in Unity in Christ
The “mystery” of God’s work in Christ (3:6) is that Jews and Gentiles both partake together of God’s grace and are built into “one new humanity” (2:15) through the reconciling work of Jesus at the Cross. Hostility is replaced by peace, as God builds this community of Jew and Gentile into a new “dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (2:22). Ephesians 2:11-22 SERMON OUTLINE Everyone wants to belong. What happened? (vss. 11-12) Humanity’s Attempted Solution God’s Solution (vss.…
A Multi-Ethnic, Kingdom-Oriented Community
The church as a multi-ethnic, Kingdom-oriented community is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ. What does it mean to move beyond the frameworks of divisive thinking, and rather to call us into a deeper grasp of Jesus’ prayer for unity and call to love? Key Passages: Ephesians 2:11-22; Revelation 7:9-10; Philippians 1:27, 3:20; Jeremiah 29:4-7 SERMON OUTLINE “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith… There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor…
An Intergenerational Family
The church is an intergenerational family, where we are all equally children of God by simple faith, yet also embracing the entire church, young and old, as having a place of belonging and value. What does it mean to move beyond the frameworks of generational thinking, and rather to call us into a deeper grasp of Jesus’ prayer for unity and call to love? SERMON OUTLINE “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be…
Joy that Gives
This week focuses on God’s people as the community of joy under Christ, the ultimate bringer of joy as Messiah. Key text: Philippians 1:27-2:11 Sermon Outline “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) Our New Citizenship: The Joyful City (1:27-30) Citizens of a new kingdom Living that citizenship Our New Mindset: Joyful Service (2:1-4) True joy in the God who gives True joy in serving one another Our New Example: Jesus the…
Community
In Psalm 122, we see the need to be joyful in gathering with God’s people, because this is God’s calling to us in community. We shouldn’t look to the church to see what it can offer us, but rather we should rejoice in simply drawing near to the house of the Lord. We must resist individualism and cynicism; instead, our concern should be to worship the Lord in the place we belong. SERMON OUTLINE Joyful Arrival in Jerusalem (vss 1-2)…