Sermons on Faith (Page 5)
Confusion to Understanding
Two disciples encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus and their lives are turned upside down. That is what the kingdom does to us, after all. Pastor Matt brings a message from Luke 24:13-35. SERMON OUTLINE “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” (Luke 24:31) Jesus’ Questions (Luke 24:13-24) Jesus’ Explanation (Luke 24:25-27) Recognition (Luke 24:28-35) Living with Burning Hearts DISCUSSION QUESTIONS When did you have a spiritual breakthrough in your life of…
A King and His Kingdom
Resurrection is here! On Easter Sunday, Pastor Matt kicks off our new series, “The Kingdom Life,” with a message from Luke 24:1-12. SERMON OUTLINE “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6) Four Views of the Empty Tomb The women The angels The disciples Peter Three Stage of Faith From grief to belief: “it has happened!” [the women] From no hope to nonsense: “it can’t happen.” [the disciples] From doubt…
Miracles
This week we look at a series of miraculous stories, other than healings, that display Jesus’ mission from Luke 8 and 9. SERMON OUTLINE In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:25b) The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”…
Prophet
In Luke 1:57-80, John is born to Elizabeth and Zechariah. His name is prophetic and his role is prophetic. Zechariah’s tongue is loosed and he sings a prophetic song of what is to come with John. SERMON OUTLINE “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.” (Luke 1:68) The Miraculous Name of the Prophet (Luke 1:57-63) The Infectious Joy Surrounding the Prophet (Luke 1:64-66) Fulfilled Promises and the Prophet…
Jesus, God’s Secret Revealed
Continuing with deep exploration of Christ as the revelation of God’s mystery and the gospel in Colossians 1:24-2:5, Paul talks about his defense of the gospel. This hints that there may be something within the Colossian setting threatening their faith in the pure gospel. For Paul it is all about Christ and the gospel. Sermon Outline “God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”…
Humility in the Darkness: Job Rebuked Regarding God’s Greatness
In Job 29-37, Job argues with his friends and verges on self-justification or pride at times. Elihu rebukes Job in order to bring him back to see his own heart-attitude before God. Sometimes our suffering actually leads us into a strong self-protective attitude with God and others, and we too must return to the place of humility in our suffering. (Job 29-37) Sermon Outline How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. (Job…
Wisdom in the Darkness: Clinging to God in the Face of Confusion and Adversity
In the midst of the dialogue of Job and his friends, an interlude in Job 28 on the way of wisdom catches the reader by surprise at the center of the book. Wisdom is not easily found, but is readily available. God is the beginning of wisdom and the advocate of wisdom. (Job 28) Sermon Outline “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?…God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells” (Job 28:12,…
Wrestling in the Darkness: Job and His Friends’ Quest for Meaning in Suffering
In Job 3-27, Job enters into a deep dialogue with his friends about the nature and meaning of suffering. They offer counsel that is, in one way, true, but is divorced from the context of Job’s life and God’s permission. We will talk about when to speak and when to be silent, how we comfort one another in suffering and also how we search out meaning together before God in suffering. (Job 3-27) Sermon Outline “I know that my redeemer lives,…
Reverence in the Darkness: Job’s Response to God in Suffering
What does it look like to turn to God in the midst of suffering? How do we recognize the reality of suffering, understand the nature of suffering, evaluate the cause of suffering, and grow through suffering? (Job 1:1-2:13) Sermon Outline “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21) Setting the Stage for Job Overview of the Book of Job Prelude (Job 1:1-5) Acts 1 (Job 1:6-22) Cosmic face-off, part…
Still God
Life is noisy—metaphorically, in our busyness, if not literally. It can be hard to stop; it can feel impossible to stop, tough to deal with silence. Like Elijah, we keep running, motivated by fear and anxiety. But God says to stop and listen; God will show up not in the noise, but in the quiet. His quiet leads us into a response of faithful mission and apprenticing others. We will look at God’s questions, hearing God, having appropriate community, moving…
Be Still
How do we simplify and focus our lives to become the best people in God with the best use of time in our busy world? Elijah runs himself ragged after a successful ministry, struggling to rest and hear from God. We will examine things like solitude, silence, simplicity, and appropriate view of limits for self and others. Key passages: 1 Kings 19; Psalm 46:10 Sermon Outline “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’” (Psalm 46:10) “Come away…
Faithfulness in a Confusing World
God’s second response to Habakkuk includes a vision that gives him perspective on what’s happening and five woes about the sort of person who will experience the judgment of God. It is a sobering reality, but also an encouragement to those of us trying to gain God’s perspective. The end of the chapter is appropriate humility and worship before God. (Habakkuk 2:2-20) SERMON OUTLINE “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright – but the righteous person…