Sermons on Spiritual Gifts
I am a Part of the Body of Christ
The body of Christ can be a remarkable thing when it works well together. A variety of giftings and resources coming together to see God’s Kingdom built. But just like when part of our physical body isn’t accomplishing it’s role – if we’re not contributing our part to the body, the whole thing suffers. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31) Sermon Outline “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 has four parts. Part 1: The Body and Water (vs. 12-13) The Body: Christianity…
Worship that Makes Sense
Paul spends a lot of time bringing together threads from chapter 12 and chapter 13 to explore how we worship in a way that glorifies God and also makes sense. (1 Corinthians 14:1-39) Sermon Outline “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)…
The Way of Love
The most beloved chapter in 1 Corinthians applies to more than weddings. How do we learn to love together? (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) Sermon Outline “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) Spirit-Gifts and the Greater Way of Love (13:1-3) The value of Spirit-gifts: tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, service The value of Spirit-gifts becomes valueless without love The Corinthian confusion about what it means to be ‘spiritual’ and Paul’s…
The Church as Body: Unity and Diversity
Building from his exploration of spiritual gifts and God’s role in shaping and assembling the body of Christ (the church), Paul talks about how we live into that unity within diversity together. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31) Sermon Outline “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12) The Metaphor of the Body of Christ and Spirit-Gifts (12:12-14) Paul’s purpose with this metaphor Baptism and the…
Spiritual Gifts and the Church
Paul talks about the significance of spiritual gifts and God’s role in shaping and assembling the body of Christ (the church). (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) Sermon Outline “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6) What Does It Mean to Be Spiritual? (12:1-3)…
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…
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…
Sending
Jesus’ mission was tied to calling people and sending them out equipped for the work of God. We see that in three distinct episodes in Luke 9 and 10. SERMON OUTLINE “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1-2) Sent, part 1 (Luke 9:1-6) Sent with power Sent…
Called
(Acts 1:1-11) 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) Called to Jesus: Living with the Resurrected Jesus (Acts 1:1-3) Jesus in-between events Jesus alive in the flesh Jesus at the table Called into God’s Kingdom: Facing Confusion and Time Delays (Acts 1:3-7) Jesus and the kingdom The kingdom of God…
Serving Together
Exploring what it means to be together as a community, as seen in the book of acts. (Acts 2:42-47) Sermon Outline ”Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23) Before Christ We Were Prisoners Prisoners to the sinful nature that ruled in us (Galatians 3:22) Prisoners to the law (Galatians 3:23) In Christ We Are Free (Galatians 5:1,13) Four Perspectives We Bring To Galatians 5:13 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to…