Read the Bible passage Sermon outline Prayer and the restless search for perfection Perfection in prayer: The Father loves to hear his children The Son makes every prayer pleasing to God The Spirit helps us as we pray God’s precious gift: Praying to the Father, in the Son, by the Holy Spirit
Read the Bible passage Sermon outline Why not pray? The journey into cynicism: “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3) The progress of cynicism: Worthless idols, broken cisterns (Jeremiah 2) An age of cynicism: Praying in the 21st century Learning to trust again
Read the Bible passage Sermon outline A touchy subject? Our approach: Prayer in the big picture Beloved dust: Created to live with God (Genesis 1:26-2:7) All things new: Redeemed to live with God (Revelation 21:1-22:5) Prayer in the push and pull: Glorifying God, enjoying him forever
Read the Bible passage Sermon outline The key to the Psalms: “what God is like, not what we should do” • so we avoid moralism (we’re not OT Jews; only God is exemplary – He’s the main character in the Bible) • so we see how Jesus is the fullest revelation of what God is…
Read the Bible passage Sermon outline The God-enabled response that brings all of someone to respond to Him. What is Worship? • A rebellious people ransomed • Rebellion despite ransom • A faithful God Our Lives as Worship • Now • Romans 12:1-3 • Because of Eternity • Revelation 22:1-5 Our Golden Calves
Read the Bible passage Sermon outline Signs and wonders today? 1. An Amazing Miracle A sign 2. What does the sign point to? The significance of the Ark of the Lord A Sign for us? Miracles today? Matthew 12:38ff Preaching the sign today? Experiencing God today?
Read the Bible passage Sermon outline Not what you would expect… After chapter 1 Spies from Shittim Numbers 13 and 25 1. An Unusual hero (v2-7) 2. What do we learn from Rahab? Unexpected grace God can use anyone Matthew 1:5 1 Corinthians 1:26 The God who judges The nature of faith James 2:24-25
Read the Bible passage Sermon outline Not exactly earth shattering news The crisis Deuteronomy 34:10 Written for people like us – who face an uncertain future 1. How to Face the future with confidence – A positive attitude? – Joshua 1:2-5 – What has God promised us? 2. Taking hold of the Promises of God…
Joy of the Redeemed The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of…
Read the Bible passage Sermon outline Making preparations Glory is coming… but Jesus is going (13:31-33) Life after Jesus = a life of witnessing love (13:34-35) = not self belief … (13:36-38) = … but hope-filled belief in God (14:1-4) = life with Jesus! (15:4-7) Life after Jesus in the Year of our Lord