Sermons on Holiness
Jesus, the Holy Obedient One
Significant portions of Leviticus are devoted to what it means to live holy before God. To live holy is a description of a life well-lived with a God who is totally present and totally pure. The pinnacle of this way of living is described in Jesus’ summary of God’s instruction: love God with all of who we are and love our neighbor as ourselves (which is drawn from Leviticus 19:18). The problem is that we often fall short of this…
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…
A New Day
The conclusion of our series on 2 Peter brings us to the final words of this letter, urging us in light of all that has been said, to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). (2 Peter 3:14-18) SERMON OUTLINE “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18) Being and Becoming the Beloved…
Make Every Effort
The life of faith is built on the grace and power of God. Yet we are twice invited to “make every effort” in growing with God in character and confirmation of our calling and election. (2 Peter 1:5-11) SERMON OUTLINE “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…” (2 Peter 1:4a) Background of the passage: A review A farewell discourse Feed my sheep (John 21:15-17) Stay on course Motivation for ethical behavior: For this very reason……
“My Soul Glorifies the Lord” (Magnificat)
Mary praises God for His plans and her part within it. This beautiful prayer expounds the way in which God is doing a new thing in Jesus, but also speaks prophetically about the upside-down kingdom coming with this new humble king. (Luke 1:46-55) SERMON OUTLINE “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.’” (Luke 1:46-48) Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45)…
“May It Be Unto Me As You Have Said” (Fiat Mihi)
Mary’s simple statement of surrender opens wide to us the wonders of the incarnation. Mary is a reassured and revered figure in the story of salvation, but also serves as an example of humble responsiveness and receptivity to God in our lives. (Luke 1:38) SERMON OUTLINE “’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” (Luke 1:38) The Miracle of God’s Plan for the World (Luke 1:26-33) The gift of a greeting from God’s messenger…
Holy Hope
Hope may seem abstract, but it lives in our daily words and actions. Paul urges the believers to let their hope shape the way they live now and we can learn how that is true for us as well. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12) SERMON OUTLINE “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3a) Living with Holy Hope – Aiming to Please God (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2) Paul’s overriding concern is that the Thessalonians live to please God (4:1a)…
Jesus, King of Angels
Exploring the wonder that Jesus became a little lower than the angels to bring many to glory, while also now having greater glory than both the angels and humanity. Hebrews 1:5-14 SERMON OUTLINE “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’?” (Hebrews 1:5a) The Son, Greater than the Angels in Relationship to the Father (Hebrews 1:5-6) Psalm 2:7 – enthroned as Son 2 Samuel 7:14 – the promised…
A Crash Course in Christlike Living
In this longest section of the series, Paul walks through a depiction of Christlike living – “a life worthy of the calling you have received” (4:1) – framed as putting off the old self and putting on the new self (4:20-24). The old self was marked by darkened understanding and impure living. The new self is marked by renewal of the mind and holiness. Paul applies this to our internal desires, the words we speak toward others, our sexuality, and…
The One and Only
(Exodus 20:1-6) SERMON OUTLINE “’Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5-6) “I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” (Leviticus 26:12) The Covenant between God and…