Category: sermon

Sermon Podcast – “Getting Ready to Fail”

epic fail red grungy stamp isolated on white background

We’ve been in our sermon series entitled “Stories” for about a month now, and today’s story is another great lesson for us to glean from the Bible!   There are stories within these pages that tell of failures and success of God’s people.  Today, we explore the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua – and their failure to capture the city of Ai.

Listen to our teaching today entitled “Getting ready to Fail”

Joshua 7:1-9
1 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things ; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel. 2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.  3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.”  4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads.  7And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”

Sermon Notes – “Getting Ready To Fail”

For continued victory in life we must…

  1. Avoid Self-confidence! (7:1-3)
  2. Avoid Self-Assurance (7:4-9)
  1. Having failed…Return to God-dependence!
  2. We must seek God’s direction, because He alone can bring us true Victory!Questions:
    1.   What areas in your life right now have you neglected to seek God’s direction in?
    2.  Have you experienced failures?  How did they make you feel?
    3.  How can you turn your failures into victories?  Where does God play into all of this?
    4.  Can you trust God to help you today?   Will you trust Him?
0

Sermon Podcast -“He Has A Photograph of You!”

pic1

Sermon Podcast –

Scripture Reading -Luke 19:1-10
1-4 Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.  5-7 When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?”

8 Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.”

9-10 Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”

Sermon Notes: “He Has A Photograph Of You!”
Key Verses for today – Luke 19:1-10, Isaiah 49:16-18

3 Lessons From Zacchaeus:

1) It Doesn’t Matter Who We Are or Where You’ve Been/What you’ve done!

2) Jesus Sought Him Out – He Seeks Us Out Too!

3) An Encounter With Jesus Changes Everything!

Need Additional Convincing?

Read –

Isaiah 49:16
“Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you—never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.”

-Does it help to know that God has your name written on his hand?
-No matter where you are or where you’ve been, He seeks you out and STILL loves you!
-You are on God’s heart – He Keeps A Photograph of you!

0

Sermon Podcast – “Stories of Healing”

Healed

Luke 8:43-48New International Version (NIV)

43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Story Notes – “Stories of healing”

1.  Jesus understands our hurts

2.  Faith can bring clarity, healing and hope!

3.  With God ALL things are possible!

4.  What are the wounds in your life that require God’s touch today?

Further Questions
1) Have I truly laid these wounds at Jesus’ feet?

2) Do I believe God can heal me through and through?

3)  Who are those that are burdened in my life that need hope today?

4) How can I be Christ to them?

Homework:
Message me a photo or bring in a photo next week that tells a special story to you!  We need your help to share in a very special way next Sunday!!

 

 

0

Pastorspondering Sermon Helps…

I want to try something for my fellow pastors & officers out there.
Today, here is a sermon outline and help for pastors on the topic of Holiness.

sermon
Suggested Video Help:
skit1Skit Guys – God’s Chisel Available for purchase at Skit Guys Website Here 

 

Holy Living – 
Focus Passage – Romans 12:1
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Acrostic – H.O.L.Y.

1.  H. The Honing Process – refiners
The Holy Spirit desires to hone and chip off the old ways and life still remaining in us right now.
Isaiah 64:8
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Jeremiah 18:6
He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

2.  O. Others (Servants) 
Service to others 1st begins to Full Submission to God –
John 12:26 “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

selfOthers – 
1 Peter 4:10
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

Galatians 6:9
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Our service to others must be a reflection of Christ to our world.
It also helps us to live Christ out loud in full submission to Him towards His creation, His people, He died for ALL people.  How will they hear or see Christ if we do not live for Him.

livinf3.  L – Living Sacrifice
“…offer your bodies as a living sacrifice…”
What does a living sacrifice look like in our modern culture?
Can we take “me” “selfishness” out of our life’s equation?
“Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:58

Jesus had no home here, no true possessions or land – sometimes materialism drives selfishness.  A living sacrifice is willing to give up life’s comforts for a great cause than themselves.  What kinds of “Stuff” get in the way of our sacrificial living?
Make a list of our “Stuff”…

gouge wood chisel carpenter tool hammer hand

4.  Y – Yearning For The Chisel…
“…Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

Change in our hearts and lives is NOT easy!
The Holy Spirit at the moment confession comes to us and into our lives in order to reveal that which is still present and un-surrendered in our lives.  Remnants can still remain.  Old hurts that have festered into bitterness or anger still remains.  Sins we are not even aware of in our own hearts still linger.

Do we yearn for these changes in our lives?
Is there a hunger to learn more about Christ?
How often do we feast on the teachings of Jesus AND apply them to our lives?

(Other passages to study and look into for application into this topic of Holiness:

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.)

Response Time: 
Suggested Songs –
“Potter’s Hand”, “Create In Me A Clean Heart”, “All that I am”

Disclaimer: This should be used as a tool and not as a complete manuscript sermon.  Also, I am not or have been a paid spokes person (duh) for any video references I offer here.  Use with permission, ask if you’re not sure.  The primary purpose of this sermon outline to get get your creative juices working, and perhaps you can come up with a better, more tangible sermon specific to your congregation/corps.  Blessings on your ministry!   
 

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑