Sermons on Leadership

When the Respected Fall

This message explores the failure of David and Bathsheba, evaluating what happens and what could have gone differently. This will explore the nature of sin and temptation but also grapple with the apparent failures of those we might respect. This message is paired with the following week. (2 Samuel 11) Sermon Outline “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the…

Leaders in the Church

Leaders have a place in the church but what is that place? What happens when we get too attached to a leader or teacher? (1 Corinthians 3:1-23) Sermon Outline “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11) The mark of the “worldly” Church (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) Not living by the Spirit of God. Worldly. Mere infants. Not growing in faith. Not accepting the spiritual food/milk given to them.…

Growing and Growing

This week will explore examples of believers who move from initial steps of faith to a life of growing and deepening discipleship. We will look at the believers in Jerusalem (Acts 4:32-37) and Berean (Acts 17:10-15) as examples of growing faith exemplified in learning, praying, sharing, and growing. Then we will examine the life of Barnabas (4:36-37; 9:26-28; 11:22-23; 13:1-3) as an example of someone who centers their life in Christ, faithfully serving and investing in others. Sermon Outline “So…

Approaching Authority with Need

Nehemiah has to approach King Artaxerxes about the need and his own sense of calling to help with the repair. (Nehemiah 2:1-10) SERMON OUTLINE “I said to the king, ‘May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’” (Nehemiah 2:3) Living at the Intersection of Prayer and Action (Nehemiah 2:1) Time delay between the report and Nehemiah’s action…

The Woes of the Religiously Misguided

We explore the seven woes that Jesus speaks against the religious establishment and Jerusalem itself. (Matthew 23:1-38) Sermon Outline “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:3) Three Critiques of Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees (23:1-6) They are inconsistent (23:3) They burden people (23:4) They are concerned with appearances and reputation (23:5-6) A Contrast for Jesus’ Disciples (23:8-12)…

Questioning Jesus

The religious leaders ask Jesus three forceful questions, based on their own religious perspective. Jesus answers their questions and responds with another question. (Matthew 22:15-46) Sermon Outline “One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’” (Matthew 22:35-36) Questions and Jesus The context of the questions: “the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words” (Matthew 22:15) Question 1: Pharisees – “should we…

Mixed-Up Priorities

Jesus is confronted by religious leaders, who again ask for a sign. He challenges their mixed-up priorities about God and life. Matthew 16:1-12 Sermon Outline “Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, it wasn’t about bread? Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:11-12) Jesus tested by Pharisees…

Matters of the Heart

Jesus challenges the predictable understanding of what defiles someone and redirects attention to the heart and the interior life. Matthew 15:1-20 Sermon Outline “The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” (Matthew 15:18) Conflict Between God’s Commands and Human Tradition (Matthew 15:1-9) The visit from Jerusalem “The tradition of the elders” Corban (qorban) Jesus the True Teacher (Matthew 15:10-20) Understanding the purpose of God’s commands Identifying what really defiles human life…

The New Moses

Jesus feeds a crowd of over 5,000 people with near to nothing. What does that tell us about Jesus? Matthew 14:13-21 Sermon Outline “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:13) Jesus’ Unsuccessful Withdrawal (Matthew 14:13) Withdrawing from Herod Antipas and the crowds Jesus pursued by the crowds into the wilderness Jesus’ Heart (Matthew 14:13-14) “He had compassion on them…” (NIV) “His heart went out to them…” Jesus Feeds…

Prayer of Dedication: Nehemiah

After the exile of God’s people from the Promised Land to Canaan, God raises up Nehemiah as a great leader to establish the people back in their land. What we often forget is that Nehemiah’s great leadership began in prayer. All of us may not feel we are leaders, but all of us can be used by God wherever we are. The key to that work of God in and through us comes by dedicating ourselves to Him in prayer.…