Sermons on Sin (Page 2)

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…

“I believe in the forgiveness of sins”

This series walks through the Apostles Creed as a basic summary of our faith but also as a way to live our faith out with God in the world. Each weekend of this series will explore the biblical and theological roots of the Apostles Creed, while also providing specific spiritual practices and approaches to living out what we know as we ‘proclaim and embody’ the Creed in our daily lives. This week focuses on the phrase, “I believe in the…

“He died, and was buried; He descended to hell”

This series walks through the Apostles Creed as a basic summary of our faith but also as a way to live our faith out with God in the world. Each weekend of this series will explore the biblical and theological roots of the Apostles Creed, while also providing specific spiritual practices and approaches to living out what we know as we ‘proclaim and embody’ the Creed in our daily lives. This week focuses on the phrase, “He died, and was…

Jesus on Sin and Forgiveness

Jesus addresses how we deal with sin and conflict in the church, pairing it with a parable on forgiveness and showing mercy to others. (Matthew 18:15-35) Sermon Outline “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” (Matthew 18:15) Sin, Confrontation, and Community Life (Matthew 18:15-17) Sin and pointing it out A pathway for pointing sin out The goal of pointing…

Real Righteousness

Hearing Jesus’ words about real righteousness for the disciple-life and what it means that He came to fulfill, but not abolish, the law. Matthew 5:17-48 Sermon Outline “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17) Jesus’ Arrival and the Time of Fulfillment (5:17-19) Jesus and fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets The continuing value of the Law and the Prophets…

Soft Hearted

Disobedience hardens us to God, so we are called to obedience, turning from sin, and keeping our hearts soft toward God. SERMON OUTLINE “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12) Hearing God’s Word Today (Hebrews 3:7a) “as the Holy Spirit says” An Example Not to be Imitated (Hebrews 3:7b-11) Background: Psalm 95; Exodus 17; Numbers 14 Hardening of the heart An aside about…

Fall and Embodied Sexuality

This message explores the ways in which all of creation has been impacted by the Fall into sin, including our bodies, love, the chance for a more-thoughtful engagement with the questions of singleness and what it means to live for God’s glory in the body as a single Christian. This message will address topics such as: do you need to be married to be fulfilled or ‘complete’?, how do you deal with singleness after divorce or the death of a…

The Hunger to Leave a Legacy

We all hunger for success, in one form or another. A significant part of that is leaving an impact or legacy that will live beyond us. It is wonderful to leave a meaningful legacy in our lives. At the same time, that hunger for a legacy connects with our hunger for eternity. Key Passages: John 12:12-19; Psalm 78:4; Ecclesiastes 3:11 Sermon OutlinE “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in…

The Hunger for Peace

No one wants to live feeling depleted and empty. We all want to live out of a place of abundance, satisfaction and peace. We hunger to feel like our lives are on the right track and that everything is ‘right’. The biblical word for this is peace, which Scripture tells us is ultimately found in God through Jesus Christ. Key passages: John 14:25-31; 16:33; 20:19-20; Luke 1:68-79; Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15; 12:18; Matthew 5:9; James 3:18 Sermon OutlinE “Peace I leave…

The Hunger to Know

There is an insatiable desire built within humanity to understand what’s going on in the world and in our lives. We scramble to be “in the know” or “on the inside track,” and we hate feeling “out of the loop.” This hunger for understanding is built into us by God and leads us toward an encounter with that which is beyond us. Key passage: Exodus 33:7-34:9 Sermon OutlinE “He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one…

The Hunger for Joy

Our culture is driven by pleasure-seeking and the pursuit of beauty. In many ways, there is nothing quite like the peaks of pleasure or the depths of awesome beauty. Yet, we often find our hunger goes unsatisfied, even when we taste pleasure and beauty. Why is that? What is it about this hunger that connects with the way God has made us and what we can find in Him? Key Texts: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 19:1; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Song of Songs…