Sermons on Life with God (Page 3)
I am a Citizen in God’s Kingdom
As a citizen of any country, there are things we come to expect. Regardless of where you live or grow up, if you belong to God, you are not just a citizen of your country, you are also a citizen of the kingdom of God. There are privileges and expectations that come with this: We live under the Lordship of Christ – His commands and direction as given in the Bible. (1 Peter 2:9-12; Ephesians 2:19-20) Sermon Outline Jesus began…
I am a Child of God
Different families often pass along reputations and traits that identify their members. Some families are marked by red hair. Having God as our Father brings with it many identifying markers as well – both privileges and obligations. Our identity as a child of God means that we rely fully on God and trust in His plan for our lives. (Romans 8:15-17; Ephesians 1:3-10) Sermon Outline “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”…
Resurrection Matters, Part 2
Chapter 15 explores the resurrection of Jesus. This second part of that chapter focuses on the reality of resurrection bodies through faith in Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:35-58) Sermon Outline For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 52b-53) How Could Our Bodies Possibly Be Resurrected? (1 Corinthians 15:35-44) God can manipulate matter. Learn from the analogy…
Resurrection Matters, Part 1
Chapter 15 explores the resurrection of Jesus. This first part of that chapter focuses on the Jesus’ resurrection and the possibility of resurrection from death. (1 Corinthians 15:1-34) Sermon Outline “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins accord- ing 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 Gospel of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians…
Worship that Makes Sense
Paul spends a lot of time bringing together threads from chapter 12 and chapter 13 to explore how we worship in a way that glorifies God and also makes sense. (1 Corinthians 14:1-39) Sermon Outline “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)…
Worship That Centers in the Lord
Paul explores the nature of true worship, giving attention to the celebration of communion as well. (1 Corinthians 11:1-34) Sermon Outline “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you…” (1 Corinthians 11:23) Basics of Interpreting the Bible Exegesis — what did the biblical text mean ‘then and there’? Three areas to explore: history, literary genre, and biblical context/canon Hermeneutics — what does the biblical text mean ‘here and now’? Paul, Creation, Culture, the Gospel, and…
Living Free, Living Bound
Paul has utter freedom as a disciple of Christ, but he uses that freedom in ways that helps others encounter Jesus and grow with Jesus. (1 Corinthians 9:1-23) Sermon Outline “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:22b-23) Paul and the Rights of the Apostles What it means to be…
Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness (Part 2)
Continuing his exploration of relationships, Paul turns toward an exploration of singleness. (1 Corinthians 7:17-40) Sermon Outline “I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:35) When we remember that God is a partner with us in our singleness it changes everything. Celibacy (1 Corinthians 7:1-2) The God-given boundary for sexual intimacy Invited into the mystery and holiness…
Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness (Part 1)
Paul explores how our relationships are part of our discipleship by exploring marriage and divorce. (1 Corinthians 7:1-16) Sermon Outline “Each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.” (1 Corinthians 7:17) When we have our eyes on Jesus’ self-giving love, it shapes our discipleship in our interpersonal relationships, right down into marriage. The Gospel and…
Honoring God with our Bodies
Freedom in Christ is not permission to do whatever we want. Instead, we are called to flee sexual immorality and honor God with our bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) Sermon Outline “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) God cares about the relationship you have…
Living Alive and Free in Christ
Using the startling example of sexual incest occurring within the Corinthian church, Paul calls the believing community into discernment about what holiness means in our sexuality, as well as how to live holy as God’s chosen people in every area of our lives. Sermon Outline “Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8) Living as a Community of Christ’s Life…
Leaders in the Church
Leaders have a place in the church but what is that place? What happens when we get too attached to a leader or teacher? (1 Corinthians 3:1-23) Sermon Outline “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11) The mark of the “worldly” Church (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) Not living by the Spirit of God. Worldly. Mere infants. Not growing in faith. Not accepting the spiritual food/milk given to them.…