Sermons from 2020 (Page 2)
Faith-Full Public Engagement
What does our faith mean in relation to the wide variety of publicly debated concerns in our society, like abortion, marriage, healthcare, economic models, and more? We will begin to construct a biblical framework for thoughtful Christian engagement with these various concerns. We also plan to consider what it means to live together and converse with one another as God’s people, even when we may not see everything from the same perspective as we engage in the public sphere. SERMON OUTLINE…
The Political Disciple: A Theology of Public Life
This gathering with Dr. Vince Bacote is intended to equip, inspire, and inform our church leaders. About Dr. Bacote Dr. Vincent Bacote is an Associate Professor of Theology and the Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. He is the author of the The Political Disciple: A Theology of Public Life (2015), The Spirit in Public Theology: Appropriating the Legacy of Abraham Kuyper (2005), and has contributed to books including On Kuyper (2013), Aliens…
The Kingdom of God and the Kingdoms of this World
When Jesus proclaimed that “the kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15), He declared the radical in-breaking of God’s rule and reign. Based on exploration of the nature of the kingdom of God, we now explore how God’s kingdom relates to the kingdoms of this world? We will explore some basic approaches to “Christ and Culture” over the history of the church. We will also consider what it means that Jesus is King in relation to our earthly citizenship.…
The Holy Spirit in Us: Living in the Kingdom of God
The basic declaration of faith for the Christian is “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9). This flies in the face of the declaration that “Caesar is Lord” at the heart of the Roman Empire during the time of the New Testament. What did it mean to live in God’s kingdom then and what does it mean now? We will look at Philippians as a kingdom citizenship guide and also explore guidance from Colossians on seeing the Church as a replacement of…
Jesus is Lord: Tracing the Kingdom of God in the New Testament
Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God/heaven. We will explore Jesus’ description of the kingdom, the nature of the gospel, kingdom parables, kingdom ethics, as well as conflict between Jesus and other kingdoms. We will touch on living in the “now” and “not yet” of the kingdom, with attention to the fullness of the kingdom in the New Testament as described in Hebrews and Revelation. Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:23; 9:35; 5-7; John 18:33-36; Hebrews 11:10, 13, 14; Revelation 7:9-10;…
God is King: Tracing the Kingdom of God through the Old Testament
The fundamental reality of Scripture is that God is king of the world. We will trace the theme of the kingdom of God throughout the Old Testament, with examples from Adam and Eve, Samuel and the judges, King Saul and King David, the prophets and exile, Daniel’s apocalyptic, and Messianic expectations. Genesis 1-2; 1 Samuel 8:1-9; Psalm 24; Daniel 2:29-49; 7:1-28 SERMON OUTLINE “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty.” (Psalm 24:8) God is King over…
Worship and the Final Word
A series of final exhortations – or words – mark the conclusion of the letter that began with attention to the Final Word that is Jesus. Hebrews 13:1-22 SERMON OUTLINE “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Worship that Responds to God (Hebrews 12:28-29) gratitude awe Worship and Right Love (Hebrews 13:1-6) love of others love in marriage love of money Worship and Right Doctrine (Hebrews 13:7-9) the foundational leaders and doctrine not deviating into…
Make Every Effort
The calling of God is to unshakable realities and so we make every effort to live in God’s ways. Hebrews 12:12-29 SERMON OUTLINE “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14-29) Make Every Effort and See To It (Hebrews 12:14-17) to live at peace to cultivate holiness that no one falls short of God’s grace that no one falls into sexual immorality or godlessness The…
Run
The life of faith is like a foot race of endurance that, although we wear down sometimes, brings the greatest joy of living with God. Hebrews 12:1-11 SERMON OUTLINE “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2) Run with the crowd (Hebrews 12:1a) Hebrews 11 Surrounded Run without hindrances (Hebrews 12:1b) throw off everything that hinders get rid of the sin that entangles or distracts Run after the One (Hebrews…
Consider Jesus
Jesus is not only the High Priest that brings us to God, but is also our example for faith-filled discipleship. Hebrews 12:1-3 SERMON OUTLINE “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3) Fix our eyes on Jesus to fix our eyes Peter and the water The pioneer and perfecter of faith pioneer – originator – initiator perfecter – best expression – one who brings to completeness The Suffering…
Living Faith
Examples of faith scattered through the Scriptures and through our experience encourage us to continue in our own life of faith. Hebrews 11:4-40 SERMON OUTLINE “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) True Christian faith is taking God at His word and building your life on it. Four aspects of the life of Faith that are exemplified by these stories: The life of faith serves as encouragement for…
Faith
The nature of faith shapes the life of faith. Hebrews 11:1-3 SERMON OUTLINE “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Faith and the future – “what we hope for” (Hebrews 11:1a) Faith and the present – “what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1b) The ancients’ faith (Hebrews 11:2) Faith and the past – creation (Hebrews 11:3) Key things to remember about increasing our faith Some faith is better…