Sermons on Obedience
Faith-Shaped Finances
This message will look specifically at our finances and how our faith shapes our financial lives. We will talk about tithing, saving, honoring God with our finances, and the place of faith and wisdom. Sermon Outline “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) A Faith-Shaped Perspective on Finances God owns everything (Psalm 24:1; 50:10-12) Our finance resources are a gift from…
Barnabas: The Son of Encouragement
This message looks at Barnabas, the son of encouragement, giving particular attention to his ministry to the church in Jerusalem, his ministry to Saul who becomes the Apostle Paul, and his ministry in and from the church in Antioch. (Acts 4:36-37; 9:26-28; 11:22-30; 12:25-13:3) Sermon Outline “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” (Acts 4:36-37) Who…
Jesus, the Holy Obedient One
Significant portions of Leviticus are devoted to what it means to live holy before God. To live holy is a description of a life well-lived with a God who is totally present and totally pure. The pinnacle of this way of living is described in Jesus’ summary of God’s instruction: love God with all of who we are and love our neighbor as ourselves (which is drawn from Leviticus 19:18). The problem is that we often fall short of this…
Living Well in God’s Wisdom
There are many forms of so-called wisdom out there, but not all of them help us live well. What does it look like to find God’s true wisdom and how does it shape our everyday living? (James 3:13-18) Sermon Outline “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13) Let the Wise Step Forward (James 3:13a) Who is wise? Who thinks they’re…
Tame Your Tongue
James has already encouraged us to be quick to listen and slow to speak, but now he investigates more deeply the challenge of controlling our mouths and what we say. (James 3:1-12) Sermon Outline “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:10) Teachers should Tame their Tongues (James 3:1-2) Leaders will be judged more strictly for what they say (James 3:1-2) Do not clamor to become a teacher. More…
Faith That Works
Today we explore one of the most well-known passages within James about how faith is shown by how we live in our actual lives. We are saved by grace, but our faith should be visible in our works. (James 2:14-26) Sermon Outline “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26) Faith is… Active (James 2:14-17) Faith is… Not Just What We Claim (James 2:14-16) Not just claiming that “Jesus is Lord” Faith…
The Fruitful Life
This week explores how we are made for fruitfulness and that true fruitfulness comes from God’s life in us and from our obedience to God and love for others. (Psalm 1:3; John 15:1-8, 16-17) Sermon Outline “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear in prayer, asking God to speak to you through this study. fruit—fruit that will last.” (John 15:16) The Way of Fruitfulness In Psalm 1: meditating…
The Pruned Life
This week explores the pruning work of God necessary for fruitfulness in our lives. (John 15:2, 6; Psalm 1:4) Sermon Outline “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2) Pruning as Cleansing for Fruitfulness The word means cut “clean” and implies healing Jesus’ word is the pruning tool that cuts clean What about the branches that don’t bear…
Keep Yourselves in God’s Love as You Wait
Following on our series on 2 Peter we spend one week looking at the book of Jude, one of the most interesting and short books in the Bible. Jude is interrelated with 2 Peter, so this is a good time to explore it. Sermon Outline But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Make Every Effort
The life of faith is built on the grace and power of God. Yet we are twice invited to “make every effort” in growing with God in character and confirmation of our calling and election. (2 Peter 1:5-11) SERMON OUTLINE “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…” (2 Peter 1:4a) Background of the passage: A review A farewell discourse Feed my sheep (John 21:15-17) Stay on course Motivation for ethical behavior: For this very reason……
A Reset in Light of the Future
This week we want to talk about the importance of encouraging one another until Christ returns. This is a long haul and keeps us looking forward together as a community. We have so many examples of this in the ‘hall of faith’ of Hebrews 11. SERMON OUTLINE “Let us consider how we may spur one another on… and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) The Challenge of Time in Our Day The challenge of coming…
Messiah, Magi, and the Nations
One of the promises about the Messiah was that the nations would stream toward him. This vividly happens in the story of the magi, or wise men, who came to visit Jesus, setting of the wild fury of Herod Antipas. Matthew 2:1-12 SERMON OUTLINE “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew…