Sermons on Promise
The ‘No’ of God and the ‘Yes’ of God
In chapter 7 of 2 Samuel, David wants to build a house for God but, after the prophet Nathan’s initial excitement, God says “no” to David’s plans. What do we do when God says “no”? Note that God does say “yes” to building David’s house, which is a “yes” David didn’t expect. (2 Samuel 7) Sermon Outline The LORD said to David through Nathan the prophet: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be…
God’s Great and Precious Promises
The author reminds his readers of the power of God available to them. Through faith in Jesus Christ we have access to God’s “very great and precious promises” so that we have “everything we need for a godly life.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 SERMON OUTLINE “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3) God’s Power (2 Peter 1:3a) Divine…
Inspecting the Realities of Necessary Rebuilding
Hearing about it from a distance, Nehemiah now sees firsthand what is going on. From that point he urges action: rebuilding. (Nehemiah 2:11-18) SERMON OUTLINE Called to Be Builders Mark 16:15 Nehemiah’s Process Nehemiah Prayed and Prepared (v. 11) Did not rush in, but waited Solidified his motivation: “what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem” Nehemiah Investigated the Situation Personally and Privately (v. 12-16) Inspected – medical term — probing the wound to see the…
I am the Bread of Life
Exploring the seven “I am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John, this Easter season we want to encounter Jesus again for the first time. Drawing upon the Gospel context and Old Testament history, we want to step more deeply into what Jesus was saying then and what it means for our life with God today. (John 6:26-36) Sermon Outline Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever…
Healing for the Earth: The Flood, Part 2
This message will pick up with the second half of the flood story all the way through God’s covenant with Noah marked by the rainbow. Some attention here to the Noahic Covenant and Christological connections with it. (Genesis 8:1-9:17; 1 Peter 3:19-22) Sermon Outline “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” (Genesis 8:1) “He remembers His…
Future Hope
At the heart of this epistle is Paul’s unpacking of the return of Christ. More than almost any other letter of Paul, 1 Thessalonians reveals what our future hope is all about. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11) SERMON OUTLINE “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) Grieving, but with Future Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)…
Baptized with Water and Spirit
Jesus’ baptism is the fulfillment of all righteousness and a revelation of His Sonship. It also echoes the Exodus journey of Israel through the Red Sea. Matthew 3:13-17 SERMON OUTLINE “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.” (Matthew 3:13) Facts of Jesus’ Baptism timing setting Theological Truths of Jesus’ Baptism Representative Messiah: John’s hesitation and Jesus’ purpose The Descent of the Dove: the coming of the Holy Spirit Jesus the Unique Son of God:…
The Voice of One Calling Out
This week explores John the Baptist as a prophetic voice calling out for repentance and change in a challenging time for Israel. Radical elements call for revolutionary overthrow of Rome. John calls for a radical revolution of the human heart. SERMON OUTLINE “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Matthew 3:1-2) John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-4) Repentance The kingdom of heaven The voice…
New Promise
Jesus’ high priesthood supersedes any other high priesthood, making His new promises greater than any other covenant before. Hebrews 7:26-8:13 SERMON OUTLINE “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6) Who Is Jesus? (Hebrews 7:26-28) Jesus is the High Priest who meets our needs (7:26a) He is holy, blameless, and…
Promised Lamb of God
This weekend we will explore what it means that Jesus fulfills the promises of God in the Old Testament, ultimately as the Lamb of God who reveals the full meaning of the Passover and salvation. This significance of the Lamb of God. Texts: John 1:29-36; Genesis 22:8; Exodus 12:1-3; John 19:14; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Leviticus 1:4; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 10:10-14; Isaiah 53:7; Revelation 5:6-8, 7:17, 17:14 SERMON OUTLINE “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look,…
Visitation
In Luke 1:26-56, Mary is visited by an angel and invited into God’s plans and favor. She is “highly favored” and responds to God’s invitation with ideal yielding of any disciple to their master: “may your word to me be fulfilled.” Mary and Elizabeth meet and their children leap in anticipation. Mary rejoices with the famous Magnificat, praising God for remembering and visiting His people. SERMON OUTLINE “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to…
Promise
This week, Pastor Matt kicks off a 10-month exploration on the Gospel of Luke by looking at the promise of miracle children in Luke 1:1-25 who portend the promise of God. SERMON OUTLINE “But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.’” (Luke 1:13) Hungering for the Promise (Amos 8:11-12) Preparing for the Promise (Luke 1:5-17) Shocked by the Promise (Luke…
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