Sermons on Wisdom
Faith-Shaped Pursuits and Priorities
This message sets up the series by making a case for the fact that our faith in God should connect with our ordinary lives, then gives focus to it by drawing attention to our pursuits and priorities as we start the year. (Matthew 6:33 and Various Others) Sermon Outline “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) Introduction 2026 and new year’s resolutions This series on everyday…
Living Well in God’s Wisdom
There are many forms of so-called wisdom out there, but not all of them help us live well. What does it look like to find God’s true wisdom and how does it shape our everyday living? (James 3:13-18) Sermon Outline “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13) Let the Wise Step Forward (James 3:13a) Who is wise? Who thinks they’re…
Fools for Christ
The Apostle Paul unpacks what it means to be an apostle for Jesus and why servant leadership is what is most needed in the church and beyond. (1 Corinthians 4:1-21) Sermon Outline “We are fools for Christ.” (1 Corinthians 4:10) Living with God and Entrusting Ourselves to God (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) The calling and identity of Paul and the apostles Not being controlled by others’ opinions But not thinking too highly of oneself The opinion, and judgment, of God Living…
The Holy Spirit and the Deep Things of God
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God who also reveals the wisdom and deep things of God. Who is the Holy Spirit and what does it mean to live with the Holy Spirit? (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) Sermon Outline “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11) God’s Powerful Wisdom and the Waning Wisdom of this Age…
What is the Most Important Thing in Life?
Many scholars believe that Ecclesiastes is edited by a narrator, who takes the questions assembled by the Teacher (Qoholet) and reframes them with some qualification. Chapter 12 is often seen as the ultimate reframing of the entire book of Ecclesiastes around the question: what is the most important thing in life? Sermon Outline “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1) Stages of Life and Stages of Faith (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7) Engaging…
Where is Real Wisdom Found?
Ecclesiastes falls within the wisdom writings, grouped along with other books in the Hebrew Bible in the Ketuvim. More specifically, Ecclesiastes is one of the five Megillot, connected with the festival of Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths. Throughout the book, the writer wrestles with how to find real wisdom. In a world where truth is up for grabs, where is real wisdom found? Sermon Outline “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to…
Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
We all at one time wrestle with the question, “why do bad things happen to good people?” The writer of Ecclesiastes is no different: “There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 8:14). Is there meaning in all this, or is life just random? Sermon Outline “There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the…
Are We Stuck in Endless Cycles or Is there Something More?
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). The litany of different seasons the Teacher explores can make it seem like life merely undulates along a path over which we have little control over and in which we may struggle to find meaning. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (1:9). Are we stuck in an endless cycle or…
The Gift of Doubt
The first few chapters of Ecclesiastes explore various pursuits in life, showing how any of them might become meaningless for us. Whether it’s the pursuit of pleasure, hard work, knowledge, or riches, any of these things apart from God can become sources of dissatisfaction. So, what can truly satisfy us? (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11) Sermon Outline The Path of Ecclesiastes What is life about? Chapter 2 – seeking the meaning of life Existential wrestling, crisis, or angst – a unique form of…
Is Life Meaningful or Meaningless?
One of the most pervasive themes in Ecclesiastes is what can seem like the apparent meaninglessness of life. The very beginning of the book centers on this theme: “Meaningless! Meaningless!’, says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). We can all feel like this sometimes. So, is life meaningless or meaningful? Sermon Outline “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14) Background…
Beware of Leaving the Way
Following false guides leads us away from the power and presence of God. Such wandering is not without consequence and may leave us wondering, with our author, if it would be better to have not known the way of righteousness in the first place. 2 Peter 2:10b-22 SERMON OUTLINE “They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness” (2 Peter 2:15) False Guides Pursuing a…
Beware of False Guides
There are dire warnings here about false prophets and false teachers, who seek to exploit others. Their ways deserve condemnation and will be punished with destruction. (2 Peter 2:1-10a) SERMON OUTLINE “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.” (2 Peter 2:1a) The Rebuke of False Guides (2 Peter 2:1-3) False guides deny the authority of Jesus as Lord (2:1, 10a) False guides indulge in sexual desire at odds with…
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