Sermons from 2024 (Page 3)
Spiritual Gifts and the Church
Paul talks about the significance of spiritual gifts and God’s role in shaping and assembling the body of Christ (the church). (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) Sermon Outline “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6) What Does It Mean to Be Spiritual? (12:1-3)…
Fleeing From Idols
Paul looks back at the history of God’s people to grapple with the temptation to turn toward idols. How do we live in relation to the created world for God’s glory above all else? (1 Corinthians 10:1-11:1) Sermon Outline Part One: Fleeing from Idols 1 Corinthians 10:1-14 A temptation universal to man What is at the heart of chasing idols? Pulling back from our trust in God Part Two: Freedom to Love Others 1 Corinthians 10:15–11:1 An inserted heading The…
Worship That Centers in the Lord
Paul explores the nature of true worship, giving attention to the celebration of communion as well. (1 Corinthians 11:1-34) Sermon Outline “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you…” (1 Corinthians 11:23) Basics of Interpreting the Bible Exegesis — what did the biblical text mean ‘then and there’? Three areas to explore: history, literary genre, and biblical context/canon Hermeneutics — what does the biblical text mean ‘here and now’? Paul, Creation, Culture, the Gospel, and…
Run Like You Want to Win
Paul explores the way that discipline factors into life with God. A great chance to focus on spiritual formation and discipleship. (1 Corinthians 11:1-34) Sermon Outline Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24) I. The Race to Run (v. 24) One Race One Winner One Way II. The Way to Run (v. 26 – 27) Don’t Run Aimless Don’t Fight the Air…
Living Free, Living Bound
Paul has utter freedom as a disciple of Christ, but he uses that freedom in ways that helps others encounter Jesus and grow with Jesus. (1 Corinthians 9:1-23) Sermon Outline “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:22b-23) Paul and the Rights of the Apostles What it means to be…
Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness (Part 2)
Continuing his exploration of relationships, Paul turns toward an exploration of singleness. (1 Corinthians 7:17-40) Sermon Outline “I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:35) When we remember that God is a partner with us in our singleness it changes everything. Celibacy (1 Corinthians 7:1-2) The God-given boundary for sexual intimacy Invited into the mystery and holiness…
Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness (Part 1)
Paul explores how our relationships are part of our discipleship by exploring marriage and divorce. (1 Corinthians 7:1-16) Sermon Outline “Each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.” (1 Corinthians 7:17) When we have our eyes on Jesus’ self-giving love, it shapes our discipleship in our interpersonal relationships, right down into marriage. The Gospel and…
Honoring God with our Bodies
Freedom in Christ is not permission to do whatever we want. Instead, we are called to flee sexual immorality and honor God with our bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) Sermon Outline “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) God cares about the relationship you have…
A House Divided
The Corinthians have such great divisions that they cannot solve them apart from going to court. Paul says they have already been overcome by their own divided ways. (1 Corinthians 6:1-11) Sermon Outline …but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Since the Church has been set apart from the world through its union with Christ, we must live…
Living Alive and Free in Christ
Using the startling example of sexual incest occurring within the Corinthian church, Paul calls the believing community into discernment about what holiness means in our sexuality, as well as how to live holy as God’s chosen people in every area of our lives. Sermon Outline “Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8) Living as a Community of Christ’s Life…
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…
Leaders in the Church
Leaders have a place in the church but what is that place? What happens when we get too attached to a leader or teacher? (1 Corinthians 3:1-23) Sermon Outline “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11) The mark of the “worldly” Church (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) Not living by the Spirit of God. Worldly. Mere infants. Not growing in faith. Not accepting the spiritual food/milk given to them.…