Sermon Overview:

Jesus brings his Word like a hammer to break the rock of our hearts, and subdue us beneath his grace. So the hard words are a means of grace, by which the Spirit uses to bring us low, and put us in a posture to receive. We have no idea how much of our self will continue to exist, and how much we need to be broken, in order to completely empty ourselves of us, and be filled by God.

Sermon Outline:

1. Woe to those who are rich

2. Woe to those who are full

3. Woe to those who laugh

4. Woe to those who are well liked

Scripture Reading:

Luke 18:18-30

Sermon Overview:

It isn’t always easy for us to understand the ways of Jesus and his kingdom. In fact, we can’t understand them unless the Spirit gives us eyes to see, because they are contrary to the ways of this world. And the ways of this world are the only things our flesh understands. So if we are made like those who Jesus considers blessed, we are undone in our flesh, but we are made alive in the Spirit.

Sermon Outline:

1. Blessed are the poor

2. Blessed are the hungry

3. Blessed are those who weep

4. Blessed are the hated

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon Overview:

When it comes to observing Jesus, his great popularity and his amazing power, it isn’t hard to think about how amazing it would have been to be there at the time and experience the greatness of it all. However, as we remember that he is still living and active today, and retell the stories of what he is currently doing in our lives, we begin to seek him as the Jesus who lives today, and stop thinking about him as the powerful man who lived long ago.

Sermon Outline:

1. Great multitudes sought Jesus because he was delivering them (v.17-18)

2. Great power went out from Jesus by simply touching him (v.19)

Scripture Reading:

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon Overview:

The time we spend seeking God’s counsel should correspond to the size of the challenge at hand. Jesus himself sought the Father with every big decision, and sometimes that meant spending all night in prayer.

Sermon Outline:

1. Jesus had a huge decision to make

2. Jesus needed the Father’s wisdom

3. Jesus acted upon the wisdom

Scripture Reading:

John 17:1-18

Sermon Overview:

When it comes to religious pride, you have to be careful because it always produces a false religion that feels good about catching others. It also takes pride in its so-called obedience, and never takes pains to love others.

Sermon Outline:

1. Religious pride practice false religion (v.1)

2. Religious pride loves the particulars of the law (v.2)

3. Religious pride never takes pains to love others (v.3-11)

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 12:1-14

Sermon Overview:

If God’s presence is not with us, then it doesn't matter what we do, we are nothing more than a social club that talks about, sings to, prays to and remembers A God. And the world around us will continue to yawn at the church, because other than proclaiming ideas, she can tell that God is not among us.

Sermon Outline:

1. God has always planned to dwell among his people

2. We are the actual temple that God has wanted to dwell in all along

3. God’s presence and power with his people depends on the humility and holiness of his people

Scripture Reading:

Exodus 33:1-16

Sermon Overview:

When we taste and see that the Lord is good, we begin to have a hunger for God. And when we have a hunger for God, we must always remember that confession and repentance is a one time event, but lifestyle to be lived. This weekend is not a one time event, and now everything is great. It is the beginning of a practice and a way of living together. And when that becomes a constant reality, God’s presence and power among will become a constant reality.

Sermon Outline:

1. If we taste and see that the Lord is God, we won’t be satisfied until we are in his presence

2. If we hunger for God, we have to walk in humility

3. If we hunger for God, we will delight in Jesus

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 84:1-12

Sermon Overview:

Confession has too long been misunderstood for what it really is, and it is time the church bring it back to the center of its life. And the reason for this is that it brings about in us a condition that God can’t help but run to. So once we see the connection between authentic confession, and its effect on our hearts, we will see why it needs to be a centerpiece of the church.

Sermon Outline:

1. What is it that God can’t resist and is eager to flood with his presence and power?

2. What is more humbling, confessing to God or to others?

3. What is at the forefront of all the great revivals of Church history?

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon Overview:

We fight the kingdom of darkness with the light of Christ. We need to see the truth of the Gospel and see by the truth of the Gospel to fight the lies of Satan that are trying to darken our minds.

Sermon Outline:

Ephesians 5:4-15

1. The Epiphany of Jesus is a dawn of training grace.

2. That teaches us to see the same truths constantly.

Sermon Overview:

Confession of our sin before others is something we almost never do anymore. Yet, it is through his body, the Church, that Jesus ministers to us. So without confession to others, we often end up leaving our sin in a safe, dark corner, and thus fail to experience the healing, cleansing and filling promised by Jesus.

Sermon Outline:

1. Jesus ministers through his body, the Church

2. Confession is assumed in the early Church

3. Confessions relationship to repentance

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 3:1-11