Sermons from 2025 (Page 4)
Seeing Jesus Resurrected
Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ resurrection with reflections on whether resurrection is possible and what it means if it is. (Luke 24:1-12) Sermon Outline “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6) The Women at the Tomb: The Closed Door of Death Is Open Dark dawn, moving toward the tomb for anointing Jesus’ body The tomb’s stone is rolled away Jesus has opened death’s door; His body is not in…
Jesus, the Jubilee
In Leviticus 25, God speaks about the sabbath year and the Jubilee. These rhythms of freedom and liberation reflect who God is and are intended to mark the life of God’s people. When Jesus began His public ministry, He spoke of the freedom that had come through Him, referencing Isaiah 61, which is a Jubilee sort of proclamation. What does it mean that Jesus has come to bring freedom? (Leviticus 25, 27; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:14-21) Sermon Outline “Consecrate the…
Jesus, the Atoning One and Scapegoat
Since sin’s entry into human experience in the Garden of Eden, a great separation has existed between God and humanity. Such a gulf could not be crossed by human effort, but only through the gracious gift of the Creator God. The day of atonement reflected that only the offering of an animal’s life could communicate the gravity of human evil. When Jesus offered His life and His death in our place on the Cross, He became what we are—destined for…
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…
Jesus, the Perfect High Priest
Leviticus in many ways is an instruction book for the priests in how to maintain right relationship between God and God’s. There are instructions about how they should administer their priesthood and how they should be ordained. Jesus is not just a great teacher but, as the writer of Hebrews instructs, “has become a high priest forever” (Hebrews 6:20). Even now, Paul tells us, Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).…
Jesus, the Perfect Offering
The first seven chapters of Leviticus describe five ritual offerings for God’s people: burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering. Each of these represent ways in which relationship with God is restored. However, these sacrifices must be repeated day after day. Jesus, however, is the perfect offering made once for all. As the writer of Hebrews says: “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).…
Jesus, Holy God With Us
One of the central themes of Leviticus is the presence of God with God’s people. God is the One who delivered His people from enslavement in Egypt and now stands at the center of their identity and direction. God is with them. So, too, in Jesus, God is with us. In fact, one of Jesus’ most memorable titles is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”. (Leviticus 1:1; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; 1 Corinthians 3:16) Sermon Outline “The LORD called to…
The Hidden Power of Patience and Prayer
James’ final exhortations call the believers to deeper patience in suffering and persevering prayer amidst sickness. Why might these be the final words he wants to offer to them? (James 5:7-20) Sermon Outline “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13) Persevering with Patience (James 5:7-11) Patience with long-term perspective (5:7) Patience with the end in sight (5:8-9) Patience with good examples (5:10-11a) Patience with God’s character (5:11b)…
Making the Most of the Time
How we live each day reflects our sense of what matters most and how much time we have. In the churches that James is writing to, people’s lives were reflecting misplaced priorities and a false sense of security in the future. But James steps forward to correct them with hard truths and pointing them toward life. (James 4:13-5:6) Sermon Outline James 4:13-17 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend…
Fighting the Right Enemy
The church is often known as a place where people fight with one another. But there is only one enemy worth fighting and that is the devil. And there is only one way to resist the devil successfully and that is by submitting to God. (James 4:1-12) Sermon Outline “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Dangers of being led by our desires (James 4:1-5) People of James desired a lot…
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…
Tame Your Tongue
James has already encouraged us to be quick to listen and slow to speak, but now he investigates more deeply the challenge of controlling our mouths and what we say. (James 3:1-12) Sermon Outline “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:10) Teachers should Tame their Tongues (James 3:1-2) Leaders will be judged more strictly for what they say (James 3:1-2) Do not clamor to become a teacher. More…