Sermons on Kingdom of God (Page 10)
Occupied with Suffering
(1 Peter 4:12-19) Sermon Outline “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1 Peter 4:19) The Christ-centered Perspective on our Suffering (1 Peter 4:12-13) Unsurprised by suffering The joy of participation in Christ’s sufferings The glory to be revealed The Christ-centered Reason for our Suffering (1 Peter 4:14-16) The Holy Spirit in our suffering The wrong reasons for suffering The right reasons for suffering The Final…
Occupied to the End
(1 Peter 4:1-11) Sermon Outline “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude” (I Peter 4:1) Since Christ suffered in His body; join in His suffering and serve Him the rest of your earthly days. Suffering with Christ (1 Peter 4:1-6) Arm yourselves—A call to arms and ready for battle Prepare yourself Breaking from sin—Not sinless perfection or second work of grace Choosing Christ and the obedient way Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane…
New Hope
(1 Peter 1:13-2:3) Sermon Outline “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” (1 Peter 1:13) Hope and grace (1 Peter 1:13) Grace now Grace to come Hope and holiness (1 Peter 1:14-21) Holiness that reflects God’s character Holiness that reflects God’s gift Hope and love (1 Peter 1:22-25) Love overflowing from holiness Love going deep with others Hope and…
Singing the Songs of God’s Salvation
The third chapter of Habakkuk is one of the most beautiful and heart-felt declarations of worship before a mighty God in a confusing world. Some see this final prayer as a psalm amended to the end of the prophet’s words to bring us deeper into worship in light of the painful realities recorded before. (Habakkuk 3:1-19) SERMON OUTLINE “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:18) Sometimes it Causes Me to…
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…
Talking with God When Pain Looms Large
Habakkuk lifts his voice to God in lament again but this time calls God’s attention to the unending pain that His people are suffering at the hand of their oppressors. How do we respond to God when it seems that our suffering is larger than we ever thought possible? What do we do? (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1) SERMON OUTLINE “I will stand at my watch…I will look to see what He will say to me.” (Habakkuk 2:1) Eyes on God (Habakkuk 1:12-13)…
Suffering and the Surprising Plans of God
God’s first response to Habakkuk is surprising at numerous levels. God will respond to Habakkuk’s call for punishment of wicked but it will come in a surprising way. The punishment of wickedness will come at the hands of an even-more wicked people. The oft-quoted phrase here, “I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told” (Habakkuk 1:5), is actually a message of surprising judgment on the nations. (Habakkuk 1:5-11) SERMON…
Crying Out when God Seems Absent
The first of Habakkuk’s two laments begins with the prophet’s agonizing question about how long God will let violence and wickedness continue unpunished. What do we do when wrong seems to carry forward in the face of a righteous God? What does it look like to cry out to God in these times? (Habakkuk 1:1-4) SERMON OUTLINE “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2) Habakkuk’s Burden (Habakkuk 1:1) The context of Habakkuk…
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…
Abide
Perhaps the most-quoted words from Jesus’ final teaching are found in John 15:1-17, this passage about abiding in the vine as branches that bear fruit. But what does that really mean? What was Jesus trying to tell us about our life hidden in God? SERMON OUTLINE “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Jesus as the…
The Real Gospel
Paul continues to reflect on his own story and how the unique revelation of the Gospel came to him and what it meant within the early church and his authority. This is a key historical piece that gives us understanding of the ministry of Paul and why we should take him seriously as the ‘Apostle to the Gentiles’. He presents the basic issue at stake in Galatians: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could…
Tangible Signs
Here we encounter a third and more specific outline of both God’s covenant promises and the demands laid upon Abram. The reality of the promise will be physically signified in the arrival of the much-anticipated child (‘seed’) of promise. The acceptance of the covenant is tangibly signified through the human activity of circumcision. In the midst of this, God gives new names to this couple: Abraham and Sarah. Woah. What’s up with this? What is God doing here and what…