Sermons on Solitude
Praying Upward
This week will seek to provide a definition of prayer as conversation with God. Then we will explore the first movement of prayer: praying upward. We will explore praying “up” as praying praise, praying God’s character, and praying God’s promises. Silence before the greatness of God may also factor in. (Matthew 16:13-19) Sermon Outline “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Conversation with God: Prayer is talking and listening to God about the…
The New Moses
Jesus feeds a crowd of over 5,000 people with near to nothing. What does that tell us about Jesus? Matthew 14:13-21 Sermon Outline “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:13) Jesus’ Unsuccessful Withdrawal (Matthew 14:13) Withdrawing from Herod Antipas and the crowds Jesus pursued by the crowds into the wilderness Jesus’ Heart (Matthew 14:13-14) “He had compassion on them…” (NIV) “His heart went out to them…” Jesus Feeds…
Wilderness
Entering into the story of Israel, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness in Luke 4:1-13, where He is tested by the devil. His testing shows us what His way is really all about. His testing shows us how to endure the tests of the wilderness. SERMON OUTLINE “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4:1-2) From…
Making Space for Prayer
Jesus is the Master of prayer, and He makes space for prayer. We see this throughout the Gospel of Luke, and it comes clearest in Luke 5:16: “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” What does Jesus’ pattern of making space for prayer teach us about our own life of prayer? Pastor Matt kicks off the first part of a long-term exploration on the Gospel of Luke with a look at Luke 5:16, 6:12a, and 9:18a. Sermon Outline “Jesus often…
Still God
Life is noisy—metaphorically, in our busyness, if not literally. It can be hard to stop; it can feel impossible to stop, tough to deal with silence. Like Elijah, we keep running, motivated by fear and anxiety. But God says to stop and listen; God will show up not in the noise, but in the quiet. His quiet leads us into a response of faithful mission and apprenticing others. We will look at God’s questions, hearing God, having appropriate community, moving…
Be Still
How do we simplify and focus our lives to become the best people in God with the best use of time in our busy world? Elijah runs himself ragged after a successful ministry, struggling to rest and hear from God. We will examine things like solitude, silence, simplicity, and appropriate view of limits for self and others. Key passages: 1 Kings 19; Psalm 46:10 Sermon Outline “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’” (Psalm 46:10) “Come away…