Sermons on Conflict
Faith-Shaped Relationships
This week will explore how our relationships should be shaped by our faith generally, exploring aspects of family relationships, friendships, and relationships in different spheres of life. Sermon Outline “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’” (Revelation 21:3) God is the God of Relationships God made…
We Need Each Other
Paul concludes this letter with a wonderful look at the interrelationships that exist between him, various people, and the Corinthians believers. (1 Corinthians 16:1-24) Sermon Outline We give to tangible support each other Paul’s description of the relief offering for Jerusalem believers Trust is part of the foundation of community, and stewardship We all have a part to play While we think Paul was a solitary letter writer, in reality his letters were a team effort, as was his ministry…
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…
A House Divided
The Corinthians have such great divisions that they cannot solve them apart from going to court. Paul says they have already been overcome by their own divided ways. (1 Corinthians 6:1-11) Sermon Outline …but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Since the Church has been set apart from the world through its union with Christ, we must live…
A Unified Church in Divided Days
This sermon gives background on 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul, the Corinthian community, and why this letter might be what we need to look at right now. We also explore what happens when the church is only unified by being divided against itself, and what it means to truly stand in unity. (1 Corinthians 1:1-17) Sermon Outline “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all…
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…
Facing Opposition in a Good Work
There are opponents from the very beginning and all throughout Nehemiah’s efforts. It shouldn’t be surprising when troubles arise as we pursue the work of repair and rebuilding. (Nehemiah 2:10, 19-20; 4:1-23; 5:1-19; 6:1-14) SERMON OUTLINE “But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked. ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’” (Nehemiah 2:19) The Reality of Opposition There will be…
Faltering at the Finish Line: After the Flood
This message explores Noah’s inglorious end and the expanding table of nations in Genesis 10. What does this tell us about who we are? (Genesis 9:18-10:32) Sermon Outline “Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.” (Genesis 9:20) A New Beginning and the Table of Nations (9:18-19; 10:1-32) A new beginning in light of God’s covenant blessing (9:18-19) God works with the generations and all peoples Noah’s Vineyard (9:20-21) Noah is the new man of the soil,…
The Expansion of Evil: Before the Flood
This passage is one we might be apt to skip over because we’re not sure what to say about these stories of people. But there’s a reminder here that over time humanity expands, grows, and spreads to different places. This message will bring focus to the curious text about the Nephilim and the continual expansion of evil over this time which troubles God’s heart (6:6). (Genesis 4:17-6:8) Sermon Outline “The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race…
The Power of Anger: Cain & Abel
This message will explore the human tendency toward jealousy and anger. Working in Jesus’ teaching on the Sermon on the Mount about anger and murder will help us from seeing Cain and Abel as an episode of terror removed from us. (Genesis 4:1-17; Matthew 5:21-26) Sermon Outline “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 4:8) The Turn Toward the…
The Fall, Part 2
This week will explore the series of “curses” placed upon humanity and creation as a result of the Fall into sin. The nature of sin, separation from God, judgment, and death are vital here. This message should also explore the Christological implications of the curse and the future looking nature of this portion of Genesis. (Genesis 3:14-24) Sermon Outline “So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.”…
The Fall, Part 1
This week will turn the corner into chapter 3 with attention to the story of the Fall, original innocence and the entrance of sin, the nature of evil and where it came from, shame and guilt, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Connect with the discussion of the two trees of Genesis 2 and verse 25 about shame and vulnerability before God. (Genesis 3:1-13) Sermon Outline “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the…