Matthew 16:13-14 – When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

Matthew 16:15 – “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say that I am?”

Matthew 16:16 – Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:17-18 – Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.”

SERMON POINT #1 – JESUS IS BIGGER THAN WE THINK

Matthew 16:21 – From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elder, the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Matthew 16:22-23 – Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

SERMON POINT #2 – OUR DISCOVERY OF WHO JESUS IS MUST BE PERSONAL

Romans 10:13 – Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

1 Kings 17:1 – Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

1 Kings 18:21 – Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.

1 Kings 18:29 says – “But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.”

1 Kings 18:36-39 – At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the word, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord – he is God! The Lord – he is God!”

1 Kings 19:3-4 – Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

SERMON POINT #1 – GOD PURSUES US

1 Kings 19:9 – There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings 19:10 – He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

1 Kings 19:11-13 – The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountain apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was no in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

SERMON POINT #2 – GOD IS REVEALED AS INTIMATE PRESENCE

1 Kings 19:15 – The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus.”

Romans 11:29 NLT – For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

Exodus 3:1 – Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

SERMON POINT #1 – FULFILLING GOD’S CALLING FORCES ME TO FACE MY FEARS

Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Exodus 3:2-4 – Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

SERMON POINT # 2 – GOD CAN USE WHAT YOU HAVE

Exodus 14:16 – Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

SERMON POINT #3 – GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AVAILABLE AND WILLING

2 Peter 1:1 ESV – Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

SERMON POINT #4 – GOD CAN’T BLESS WHAT WE WON’T DO

James 2:14-17 – What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Genesis 1:31 – God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

Genesis 3:1-7 – Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die’.” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Genesis 3:9 – But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:10 – He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Genesis 3:11 – And he said, “Who told you that you were naked?”

Psalm 40:6-7 – Sacrifice and offering you did not desire. But my ears you have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings you did no require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come…”

Ephesians 1:1-13

Romans 5:1

Romans 8:1

Jeremiah 31:3

Psalm 32:7

1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLT – This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the word of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with ever the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

2 Peter 3:18a – “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

SERMON POINT #1 – NO DREAM

Joel 2:28 – And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions.

SERMON POINT #2 – Wrong Dream

Acts 20:24 NLT – But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the good news about the wonderful grace of God.

SERMON POINT #3 – STALE DREAM

2 Timothy 1:6 – For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

SERMON POINT #4 – A VAGUE DREAM

Habakkuk 2:2 – Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets

SERMON POINT #5 – A GOD DREAM

Luke 5:18-25 – Story of friends carrying the paralyzed man

Acts 1:14 – They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women and the brothers of Jesus.

Acts 2:1 NKJV – When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord.

Colossians 3:12-14 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Ephesians 4:3 – Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

John 17:20-23 – “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

SERMON POINT #1 – HUMILITY

James 4:6 NLT – God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

SERMON POINT #2 – TRUST

1 Corinthians 13:6-7 – Loves does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

SERMON POINT #3 – HONOR

Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Genesis 37:2-4 – Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought his father a bad report about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Genesis 40:12-15 – “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

SERMON POINT #1 – GOD IS WORKING WHILE I’M WAITING

Psalm 105:15-19 – He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them – Joseph, who was sold as a slave. The bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.

SERMON POINT #2 – ALLOW GOD TO WORK ON YOUR CHARACTER

Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting.

SERMON POINT #3 – FIND PURPOSE IN THE PRISON

Mark 6:45-46 – Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Mark 6:47-51 – Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on the land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed

v. 47-48 – it says that Jesus saw they were in the middle of the lake and that they were straining at the oars because the wind was against them

SERMON POINT #1 – THE REAL STORM WAS IN THEIR MINDS

v.48 says “Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost.”

SERMON POINT #2 – WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL

SERMON POINT #3 – JESUS IS PRAYING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW

Hebrews 7:25 NLT – Therefore, he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Romans 8:34 – Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Luke 23:32-34, 39-43 – Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes by casting lots…One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah?” Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?” We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus ansewered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

SERMON POINT #1 – HOW HE SAW HIMSELF

SERMON POINT #2 – HOW HE SAW JESUS

James 2:10 – NLT – For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.

Romans 3:20-24 NLT – For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who they are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight.

Romans 10:13 – Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Nehemiah 8:10 – Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the preist and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Hebrews 12:2 – For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you now that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us through off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with PERSEVERANCE the race marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

SERMON POINT #1 – THANK GOD FOR MY HARDSHIP

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 – Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

SERMON POINT #2 – LEAN ON JESUS

Psalm 50:15 – Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.

SERMON POINT #3 – PARTNER WITH GOD IN THE PROCESS

Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.