Renew EPC: Sermons

Will you faith stagnate or strengthen in 2026? Outline: Three competing priorities that can halt us from following Jesus. 1.We will not follow Jesus far if our top priority is: personal freedom (v. 18) 2. We will not follow Jesus far if our top priority is: a comfortable life (vv. 19-20) 3. We will not follow Jesus far if our top priority is: family (vv. 21-23) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1...

The strength of the sheep is its nearness to the Shepherd. Outline: Three facets of our sheep-ness: 1. We are prone to wander (1 Peter 2:25a) 2. We are rescued by the Good Shepherd (1 Peter 2:22 -25) 3. We are kept safe in His flock (1 Peter 5:1-4) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. The number of people who call themselves Christian is much higher than the number who attend church. Why do you t...

The coming of Christ is a call to be ready. Have we prepared Him room? Outline: Three guests that will crowd Christ out of Christmas and our life.  I. Watch out for the Guest "Now! Now! Now!" (vv. 8-9a) II. Watch out for the Guest "One More Thing" (vv. 10-13) III. Watch out for the Guest "Blend In" (vv. 14-15) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Icebreaker: What part of getting ready for Christm...

Christmas proclaims that the one who gives everlasting life has come! Outline: Three treasures of everlasting life with Christ 1. Forever and ever we will flourish (22:1-2a) 2. Forever and ever we will be blessed (22:2b-3, 5) 3. Forever and ever we will enjoy God (22:4) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Share a favorite Christmas memory. 2. How have you experienced disappointment and/or disill...

The remedy to being full of self at Christmas is to dwell in the fullness of God. Outline: Four experiences of awe we will have in the New Heavens and New Earth 1. We will awe in the fullness of God's love 2. We will awe in the fullness of God's faithfulness 3. We will awe in the fullness of God's holiness 4. We will awe in the fullness of God's glory Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Share a...

Christmas proclaims that the one who makes all things new, has come! Outline: Five glimpses of the New Heavens and the New Earth to grow our thirst for Christ's coming 1. Everything will be completely new 2. Everyone with shine withe the beauty of holiness 3. Everyone will enjoy the presence of God 4. Everyone will be perfectly whole and eternally comforted 5. Christians will be finally home. Ques...

Christmas proclaims that the one who defeats evil for good, has come! Outline: How does Jesus finally defeat evil? 1. He defeats evil as the Victorious Warrior 2. He defeats evil as the Righteous Judge 3. He defeats evil as the Glorious Redeemer

Idols demand everything and give nothing in return. Our only hope from their lures is to replace them with faith in the true God. Outline: 1. Idols lead us astray 2. Idols lead us to despair 3. Idols lead us to miss out Questions for Personal Reflection 1. What "Golden Calf" temptations are most common in our culture today, and how do they subtly draw our hearts away from trusting God? 2. God call...

Christ with us is our strength and our reward as we pursue the Great Commission. Outline: What Christ’s presence supplies for us to make disciples 1. Encouragement from the past 2. Strength for the present 3. Hope in the future Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Do you have a story of a great big project that you only got done through the help of someone else? 2. What is most encouraging to you...

The Great Commission intends for us to become creatures of His Word. Outline: What makes us creatures of the Word? (3 steps) I. We receive Christ’s Word as God’s Word II. We obey Christ’s Word without exception III. We teach Christ’s Word to every person, place, and time Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Share a skill/ability you have (it might be something like playing an instrument or someth...

The Great Commission is not just a great commandment, it is a great revelation of the Three-in-One God. Outline: I. The name of God reveals God to be Triune II. The name of God reveals our salvation to be a Triune work          A. God, the Father, authors salvation for His people          B. God, the Son, accomplishes salvation for His people          C. God, the Spirit, applies salvation to His p...

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS MUST WAKE UP FROM SPIRITUAL DISTRACTION, PUT ON CHRIST, AND STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS ETERNALLY IMPORTANT. Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What does “spiritual sleep” look like in our modern world? What causes people to drift into it? 2. Paul says, “You know the time.” What’s the difference between chronos (clock time) and kairos (God’s moment)? How does that truth change ho...

Baptism is more than just about the beginning, but an ongoing grace to disciples throughout their life. Outline: How baptism grounds us in our identity as Christians: 1.Baptism grounds us in Christ’s forgiveness. 2.Baptism grounds us in the assurance of faith alone 3.Baptism grounds us in God’s family Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What are some ways our modern world offers us alternative i...

The gospel is the power to deliver the world from darkness. Outline: 1. The gospel brings all people dignity 2. The gospel gathers all people together 3. The gospel offers all people hope Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Tom Holland’s book Dominion retells the world changing power of Christianity through the centuries. How is knowing this story good for your faith and your witness? 2. Do you...

To make disciples we must heed the command to "go." Outline: What does 'Go' require? 1. Go requires obedience 2. Go requires intentionality 3. Go requires evangelism Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What are some ways the church can be “securing the beachhead” instead of advancing the gospel? What are some ways we can be doing this in our own lives? 2. Why is it so important to see the gospel...

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Outline: Four marks of a disciple of Jesus. 1. A disciple is one who knows Jesus 2. A disciple is one who knows themselves through Jesus 3. A disciple is one who lives for Jesus 4. A disciple is one who makes disciples of Jesus Questions for Personal Reflection 1. If you could ask one question of Jesus to know him better today, what would you ask? 2. Im...

Because Christ has all authority we have all assurance that our life is secure and His mission will not fail. Outline: How Christ’s authority gives us a firm foundation in our world: 1.Christ’s authority is our allegiance. 2. Christ authority is our authorization 3.Christ’s authority is our assurance Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. How has the world felt out of control and dangerous to you?...

Your victory is in Christ and Christ’s victory is guaranteed. Outline: Three promises to make us confident in the victory of God’s Kingdom: God’s kingdom has been decreed (vv. 20-21) God’s kingdom will succeed (v. 22) God’s kingdom is guaranteed (v. 23) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. The image of a candle in the wind was used to describe the experience of being in a weak moment as followers...

Burn your boats and set your path fully toward the life God blesses. Outline: What life does God bless? 1. God blesses the life that seeks His presence (vv. 10-14) 2. God blesses the life that fears His discipline (vv. 15-17) 3. God blesses the life that serves His mission (vv. 18-19) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Imagine you were a soldier in the army whose general just burned all the boa...

How can we know our faithfulness isn’t futile? Outline: Obedience is never futile because... 1. God works through it (vv. 4-5) 2. God never fails (vv. 6-8) 3. God uses it to great ends (v. 9) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. The Pastor shared the impact of his grandma’s faithfulness through her days of small things. Who is someone whose routine obedience has impacted you significantly? 2. Whe...

Trust in Christ and do the next thing. Outline: Four encouragements God gives us in the J-curve valley of obedience 1. God recognizes our struggles (vv. 1-3) 2. God reinforces us with His steadfastness (v. 5) 3. God refocuses our gaze upon His future (v. 6-9). 4. God returns us to the work (v. 4) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Share a story of something new/a big change you attempted. How d...

Is the Giver is more important to me than the gifts? Outline: Jesus' story shows us 3 major lessons about money: 1) The things of this world - like money - do not last. 2) The things of this world - like money - cannot go with us. 3) The things of this world - like money - distract us from what really matters. Personal Reflection Questions: 1. What are somethings that you don't mind your kids, rel...

Are we clinging to comforts or to Christ? Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Share a time when a commercial/advertisement really made you want something? What was it and what did it do to make you want it? 2. Compare how the world defines success from how God defines success? Why do you think there is so much difference between the two? 3. What are some self-reflection/examination questions tha...

How can we avoid becoming big fat Bible babies? Outline: Three ways God blesses us in our obedience 1. He establishes us as His people (v 12) 2. He encourages us with His presence (v 13) 3. He empowers us with His strength (vv 14-15) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Why do you think it is so common in the church to separate hearing the Word from doing it? What are some examples you have seen?...

How do we know if our opposition is from spiritual warfare or spiritual discipline? Outline: I. Spiritual warfare opposes our faithfulness (Ezra 4:4-5, 24) “the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build” II. Spiritual discipline opposes our unfaithfulness (Hag 1:9-11) “I have called for a drought” Personal Reflection Questions: 1. Have you ever been in a rock...