Renew EPC: Sermons

Spiritual Gifts are an essential component for the church to glorify God and display the gospel.  Outline: 3 Truths to Anchor our understanding of Spiritual Gifts 1. Spiritual Gifts Center on the Lordship of Christ “no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit” 2. Spiritual Gifts are given to all believers for the benefit of others. “To each is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the...

God has uniquely designed and prepared each of us to serve His Kingdom. Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Re-read Psalm 139:13-15. What is your initial reaction to these verses? 2. Where are you most tempted to “wear Saul’s armor” - leaning on your own (or someone else’s) ideas about how God designed you? 3. Before we get into the details of SHAPE during this series, what are some abilities, p...

We share the gospel with divine power. 1. We share the gospel with the power of divine authority 2. We share the gospel with the power of divine assurance 3. We share the gospel with the power of divine assistance Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What was something encouraging to you from the sermon? 2. How have you experienced intimidation for being a Christian? 3. Read Matthew 28:18 . Where...

Courage doesn’t come from education, training, position, power, or experience. It comes from being with Jesus. Outline: How do we find courage in the gospel? 1. Reliance upon the Holy Spirit (vv. 8-11) Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them 2. Resolve in the necessity of the Gospel (v. 12) There is salvation in no one else 3. Relationship with Jesus (vv. 13-14) they recognized they had b...

Repentance is not defeat; it's what prevents it. Outline: Why we must turn to Jesus 1. To realize the wrongness of our way ( 3:11 -17) 2. To receive perfect forgiveness ( 3:18 -21) 3. To recognize Jesus is Lord ( 3:22 -26) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Why do you think so many have a negative picture of repentance? 2. Think back to conversations from your previous week. Describe one where...

When we use what we have in the gospel we can face any problem. What do we have in the gospel? We have the eyes of Jesus (3:1-5) We have the abundance of Jesus (v. 6) We have the life of Jesus (v. 7-10) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What was something encouraging you received from the sermon? 2. Read Matthew 6:26 , what are times where you struggle to believe God sees you as very valuable?...

Are you Spirit-filled or Self-filled? Three traits of the Spirit-filled church: 1. Love of the Lord (Acts 2:42 ) 2. Love for one another ( 2:44 -46) 3. Love for the lost ( 2:43 , 47) Questions for Personal Reflection 1. What was something encouraging you received from the sermon? 2. What are some ways you have seen a self-filled spirit in the church today? What have been some of its fruit? 3. The...

What happens when we believe in Christ for salvation? Seven realities that mark conversion to Christ: 1. You have been convicted of sin 2. You have repented of your rebellion 3. You have committed to Christ 4. You have forgiveness of your sins 5. You have the Holy Spirit 6. You have been called by God 7. You are saved from judgment Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What was something encouragi...

In our world, is there anything we can be certain about? What about faith? Can we know for certain Jesus is Lord?  Three convincing evidences that Jesus is Lord: 1. The evidence of historical verification (vv. 2:22 -24, 32) 2. The evidence of prophetic fulfillment (vv. 23-31) 3. The evidence of the Holy Spirit (vv. 33-36) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Where are you encountering uncertainty...

The giving of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God's promise to make us unconditionally His. Sermon Outline: 3 Truths the Holy Spirit declares to us.  1. The Holy Spirit declares God's faithfulness 2. The Holy Spirit declares God's generosity 3. The Holy Spirit declares God's mercy

Is this darkness in this world overwhelming you? Look to the sunrise of Pentecost. Outline: Pentecost makes four announcements that it is sunrise for Christ’s Kingdom 1. A new beginning (2:1-2) 2. A close to the chasm (2:3) 3. A flood of redemptive power (2:4) 4. A gathering of those far and away (2:5-11) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. How do seeing “Scripture Wormholes” (bridges between Ol...

Do you wait passively and act without preparation? Acts 1:12 -26 shows a better way. Outline: Preparing for the Spirit’s Power 1. United in prayer 2. Committed to Scripture 3. Grounded in the Resurrection 4. Supported by leaders Personal Reflection Questions: 1. Imagine you’re one of the 120. Almost all (notable exception: Jesus’s brothers) of you had been following Jesus before he died. You saw h...

Jesus' Resurrection means Life Wins Three differences Jesus is Risen makes to our lives: Difference 1: The Proposition that directs our hearts - Death Wins or Life Wins (1:1-3) Difference 2: The Purpose that directs our lives - The Rat Race or Redemption (1:4-8) Difference 3: The Person that directs our destiny - Us or Christ (1:9-11)

Why we can't save ourselves and why that is good news. Outline: Babel is a perpetual witness that salvation belongs to the LORD alone. Babel witnesses that self-salvation comes up short (11:1-4) Babel witnesses that self-salvation ends in judgment (11:6-9) Babel witnesses that only God can save (11:5) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Babel shows the potential of human beings to do amazing thi...

God's judgment of the flood reminds us that sin reaches a point of no return. Are we close? Is there any hope? Outline: Four indicators judgment is near: 1. Judgment is near when God's creational boundaries are rejected (6:1-4) 2. Judgment is near when God's creation is ravaged with violence (6:5a) 3. Judgment is near when God's image bearers are riddled with sin (6:5b) 4. Judgment is near when Go...

Are humans basically good or basically bad? Outline: Noah’s failure offers four proofs mankind is sinful by nature. Proof 1: We sin without excuse Proof 2: We sin with ease Proof 3: We sin with enjoyment Proof 4: We sin without exception Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Where have you seen the message “I’m basically a good person” taught in the world? Why do you think this message is so perva...

What makes a grateful life? Three gifts God gives every person, everyday: 1. Everyday God extends mercy ( 8:20 -22) 2. Everyday God supports life (9:1-7) 3. Everyday God keeps His Word (9:8-17) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. How do you see entitlement shaping people in our world? How do you see it shaping you? 2. Who is someone you know who is shaped by gratitude? What affect do they have o...

Judgment is coming, but God will save the faithful Outline: Who are the faithful? What will happen to the faithful? Where are the faithful delivered? Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Share a time where you felt like the only one who believes God. How did it affect your faith? 2. Read James 4:4. Put this verse in your own words. What are some of the ways we are prone to divide our allegiance t...

In a world in the clutches of sin, spiritual warfare, and death, how can we live? God gives us three lessons through the line of Seth in Genesis Five. Outline: What does a God-centered life involve? 1. It involves belonging to God (5:1-5) 2. It involves being with God (vv. 21-24) 3. It involves believing God (vv. 28-32) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Where have you felt the longing that the...

We will survive the battleground of spiritual warfare as we learn to live by faith and not by sight. Outline: Four treacherous tactics of the Enemy to destroy God's people: 1. The enemy confounds hope (vv. 1-2, 25) 2. The enemy exploits the flesh (vv. 3-7) 3. The enemy slays the righteous (vv. 8-16) 4. The enemy establishes the godless (vv. 17-24) But the enemy fails to stop God's promise (vv. 25-...

The very day our sin separated us from God, God began the work to bring us back. Outline: How does redemption begin? 1. Redemption begins with the reality of sin 2. Redemption begins with God's grace alone 3. Redemption begins with trusting God's Word Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. With the numerous serious problems in our world that need to be fixed, should sin be treated as the greatest p...

What are the consequences of sin? Three consequences: 1. Sin corrupts us 2. Sin condemns us 3. Sin separates us Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What is one question you would ask Adam and Eve about life in the garden before the fall? 2. Genesis 3 shows how far humanity has fallen, but also how far God is willing to go to redeem, restore, and reconcile. How does that tension—our deep brokenne...

The Good Shepherd takes His flock from Found to Family to Forever. Are you in His flock? Note: This message was given via Zoom due to the inclement weather that cancelled our in-person service. Outline: Three questions to appreciate Jesus' leadership and draw closer to Him: 1. Why does He lead? 2. How does He lead? 3. Where doe He lead?

When we lay our lives down for one another, we show He lives in us. Outline: A healthy church is the responsibility of the whole flock. All have a part to fulfill: 1. Elders do their part by being shepherds (vv. 1-3) 2. Members do their part by being shepherded (v. 5a) 3. Everyone does their part by practicing humility (v. 5c) Questions for Personal Reflections 1. A recent Lifeway poll has shown “...

Can we truly believe God loves us even when bad things happen? Outline: Two proofs assuring God’s people of his love for them that lead to a secure promise. Proof 1: God gave up his greatest treasure for you (vv. 31-32) Proof 2: Jesus took your full condemnation (vv. 33-34) Promise: Nothing can separate you from the love of God. (vv. 35-39) Personal Reflection Questions: 1. What are some typical i...