Sermons on Life with God (Page 14)
Becoming Children
Paul calls the Galatians to a new life of freedom in God. He uses an allegory about Hagar and Sarah in order to illustrate the radical new beginning and life we have as children of grace and not children of law. (Galatians 4:7) Sermon Outline “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:7) Adoption (Galatians 4:1-7) Identity of the adopted (4:1-3) Adoption made…
Receiving the Promise
Paul explores the relationship between the law and faith, righteousness and grace. Drawing upon the life of Abraham and the revelation of the Law to Moses after the Exodus, Paul makes a case that there is a justification before God that comes from faith apart from the law, and he begins to move into what life looks like under the grace of God. (Galatians 3:28) Sermon Outline “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there…
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…
The Only Message
The real message of the Gospel is at stake in Paul’s writing to the churches in Galatia. He is wrestling with his listeners on their approach to life with God. Here is strong statement about how we approach life and what we think about the good news is important. He begins to reflect on his calling and the radical nature of the gospel to the Gentiles. (Galatians 1:10) Sermon Outline Am I now trying to win the approval of human…
We Have a Shepherd for the Years Ahead! Jesus Christ, God’s Son
To date there is no working theory of human history that can predict the future. What we have, though, is much better. We have the written and incarnate promises of God. God hasn’t given us “when” but he has given us “soon!” Soon, evil will cease with the ending of this age. Soon the living will be gathered to God’s bosom and the rebellious to their second death. Soon the redeemed will look and live like their Redeemer. (Psalm 23;…
The Legacy of Faith
This series concludes with the death of Abraham. We will explore the legacy of Abraham’s faith through the lenses of Genesis and Hebrews 11:8-19, with some slight reflections on the multi-generational aspect of God’s promises and the beginnings of Isaac’s life story in Genesis 24. (Genesis 25:7-11; Hebrews 11:8-19) Sermon Outline “Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.” (Genesis 25:8) Faith…
The Faith of Sarah
Genesis 23:1-20 recounts the death of Sarah and Abraham’s honoring of her by acquiring a special burial place and grieving. Oftentimes, Sarah is remembered for her mistreatment of Hagar & Ishmael and for laughing at God’s promise of a child. But what truly is Sarah’s legacy of faith, and how might we all learn from her about developing a stronger faith life? (Genesis 23:1-20) Sermon Outline Sarah lived 127 years. She was married for over 100 years The Lord is…
God Calling
Abram and his family step away from their homeland and in the midst of their everyday nomadic existence, God appears and calls Abram to a particular role in God’s grand story. This message will provide an overview of the story of God, exploration of God’s calling, and the response of faith. (Genesis 11:27-12:9) Sermon Outline “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and you father’s house- hold to the land I will show you.’” (Genesis…
Resurrection Victory
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Sermon Outline “Then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” (1 Corinthians 15:54) Looking for a Serious Change (1 Corinthians 15:50-53) The nature of human bodies intersecting with the kingdom of God Those alive…those sleeping Monumental moments that flash suddenly alive The nature of our promised change in Jesus Christ Enjoying the Ultimate Victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-57) Clothed imperishable and immortal Death’s day is done and its sting through…
Resurrection Bodies
1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Sermon Outline “But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?’” (1 Corinthians 15:35) Resurrection Bodies: Look at Seed Plants (1 Corinthians 15:36-38) Seed sown produces a different plant Our earthy bodies are like seeds Resurrection Bodies: Look at the Glory of Diverse Materials (1 Corinthians 15:39-41) There is a diverse, glorious splendor in the diverse materials of creation Our earthy bodies are one type of material Resurrection Bodies:…
Resurrection Grace
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Sermon Outline “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) The Inescapable Condition of Humanity Traces of the divine presence in creation and beauty (Psalm 19:1) Traces of eternity in the human heart and our longings (Ecclesiastes 3:11) The Resurrection Story (1 Corinthians…
The Neighbor
(Exodus 20:16-17; Mark 12:31) SERMON OUTLINE “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet…anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16-17) Lying and our Neighbor (Exodus 20:16; Ephesians 4:15) What is ‘false testimony’? (Exodus 20:16) The triangle of truth assessment: what we take in, what we think, what we speak out What lying does to us and our neighbor The remedy: “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) Envy and our Neighbor (Exodus 20:17; 1…