South Union Sermons

Bottom line: Great faith is not trusting God to do what you want; it’s trusting God to do what is right. 

Bottom line: By sharing the gospel message we can still see Jesus turn the world upside down. 

In Acts 17, Paul and Silas (second missionary journey – fulfilling the commission that Jesus gave in Mk 16) enter the city of Thessalonica and begin preaching the gospel of Christ, i.e. fulfilling the mission that the Mission Giver gave. In just three weeks, something incredible happens: lives are changed, hearts are stirred, false gods are abandoned, religious people find true freedom, sinners are saved, an entire city impacted.

 The unbelieving Jews make this accusation: “These that have turned the world upside down are come here also.” What a statement. But let's be clear. While the Thessalonians were giving the credit for turning the city of Thessalonica upside down, the reality is it was Jesus – the World Changer – who was turning their world right side up. 

Bottomline: You can't have a win without a fight.

Bottom line: The One who completed His mission of crucifixion and resurrection has assigned us the mission of His crucifixion and resurrection’s proclamation. 

Are we still standing at the tomb…amazed but silent? Or have we stepped into the mission…faithful and going? - Because the same Jesus who walked out of that grave…is the same Jesus who says to you today: “Go.”

There are moments where it feels like a stone has been rolled into place…and everything you hoped for is now sealed behind it. That is exactly what it felt like when Jesus body was laid in the tomb and the stone was rolled into place. All hope was lost. But what nobody realized…is that God was about to roll that stone away and reveal that a dead man had come alive. God is a stone roller, and dead things come alive in the name of Jesus!

Bottom line: The Crucified One took our place so we could take His.

We are guilty of sin. Our sin calls for death. God loves us, but justice cannot be set aside. Therefore, God took the punishment for us. Jesus, the innocent, died for the guilty (us). He took our place on the cross as surely as He took Barabbas’ place on the cross. 

Bottom line: Our greatest temptation to sin is not to choose to do wrong but to choose not to do right, to surrender, and to trust God when obedience is hard.  

If we're going to follow the example of Jesus in the Garden then we have to surrender to our Heavenly Father.

1) Surrender begins in prayer.

2) Surrender requires trust.

3) Surrender is a daily choice.

Bottom line: We come to the table to receive grace, but we push away from the table to give grace.

Jesus is the great servant. He has given us an example to follow. Because the Christian life is not just about finding a seat at the table. It is about picking up the towel and serving the needs of others. 

Bottom line: The majestic King humbly serves our greatest need. 

Bottom line: Mercy comes running to the one who cries for mercy and relies on grace.