This sermon will focus on the many character-based leadership principles found in 1 Timothy. We'll examine several different passages from this letter, but a helpful grounding passage is 3:1-7. When reading these verses in preparation for the weekend don't get hung up on these requirements being specifically for elders or deacons. Focus instead on the picture these verses present of what a godly leader should look like--which is applicable for all people who desire to serve in the church.

This sermon will focus on 1:5-12 and 2:13-17. There was great confusion in the church at Thessalonica. Many people were getting confused about the time of Christ's return, thinking he had already come or believing that because his return was so close they should quit working and simply wait for him. To counter this confusion Paul wrote this letter and explained how to properly wait and prepare for Christ's return.

This message will focus on 2:1-20 and elaborate on Paul's heart for ministry. Though Paul only stayed in Thessalonica for a short period of time, he shared his life and heart with this church. Paul cared for them with pure motives, truthful preaching, parent-like love and hard work. This powerful passage gives us a personal, intimate look into the heart of Paul as a pastor who would pay any price for the good of the church.

This sermon will focus on the truth of who Christ is and how Christians are to clothe themselves with Christ on a daily basis. The book of Colossians has some of the highest christology in the entire bible, and this message will likely reference the deep truths about Jesus from 1:15-20 and also explain how this impacts our life and character, as described in 3:12-17.

This message focuses on Philippians 2:1-11, one of the most important passages about Jesus in the entire Bible. In this section of Scripture Paul admonishes the Christians to be united in love towards one another and accordingly instructs them to have the same mindset as Jesus. Jesus emptied himself, served others and was then exalted to the highest place. And Paul wants everyone to follow Jesus' example; empty themselves by becoming a slave/servant to all, and allow God to honor them in due time.

This sermon will be based out of 4:17-5:21 as a whole, but focused on 5:8-21 more specifically. In this section Paul shows us what it looks like to live as children of light. We are no longer in darkness, so we must not live in darkness! We are to wake up from our slumber, become imitators of God, clothe ourselves with Christ, live in wisdom, and understand the Lord's will.

This sermon will center around Ephesians 1:3-14 and focus on the manifold blessings believers have been given in Christ. As a loving Father, God has showered his grace upon his children, and Paul emphasizes seven different expressions of that grace in this passage. (He chose us in Christ, predestined us to be like Christ, lavished grace upon us, redeemed us, revealed to us the mystery of his will, made us his inheritance and sealed us with the Holy Spirit.)

This sermon will focus on Galatians 5:1-6 and 5:16-26. During this weekend we will focus on the freedom that Christians have from the Law (and all the Law represents). Instead of living under the Law, which brings slavery and death, Christians are invited to live in freedom, to keep in step with the Spirit and replicate the life of Christ through God's power at work in them.

The ministers of the new covenant are not controlled by power or pride, but rather by love. And love compels them to tell every person for whom Christ died about his saving love. Christ's saving love makes us new creations. God sent his Son into the world to reconcile the world, and he has entrusted this message of reconciliation to us. We are ambassadors. We are the stewards of this hope. We are the conduits of grace. God made his sinless Son into sin itself so that sinners could become sons and be made right with him. What a message we have been given to proclaim! (2 Cor. 5:11-21)

In the church at Corinth false teachers had ascended to positions of leadership by using underhanded, manipulative methods. Paul counters their evil tricks by talking about how genuine ministers of the new covenant live. Ministers of the new covenant never use shameful tactics as they serve God's people--they only tell the truth. And instead of presenting themselves as leaders, they present Christ as the leader and themselves merely as servants. Ministers are nothing more than jars of clay--simply regular, ordinary vessels that are somehow, someway used to hold invaluable, glorious contents. The ultimate task of ministry is to daily participate in the death of Christ, so that the life of Christ may also be made visible in us. Ministers don't serve for their own benefit, but for the benefit of those they have been called to love. And when the road seems too challenging, they set their gaze on heaven and focus on what is unseen and eternal. (2 Cor. 4:1-18)