Rev. Paul J. Miller

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline December 22, 2024 “The Incarnation: Viewed from Heaven”– Rev. 12 CONTEXT OF THE REVELATION - Revelation 4:1-2 John’s vision of heaven & earth from the throne of heaven. HEAVEN IS TIMELESS IMMEDIATE CONTEXT - Revelation 11:15 & 19 THE MESSIAH’S REIGN, THE NEW TEMPLE, THE NEW COVENANT - When and how did all that happen? A GREAT SIGN IN HEAVEN (Rev. 12:1-9...

The eternal God is Father, Son, and Spirit. They have forever been in loving relationship with each other and have welcomed us into that union through Jesus Christ. Through love, He became one of us so we can be forever connected to the triune God. This is deep stuff. This is good stuff. This is the best stuff ever!

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – 12/8/24 “The Incarnation: The View from the Earth”  – Luke 1:46-55 Mary, Zechariah, the shepherds, & Simeon WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?                 THEY STRUGGLE                 THEY WAIT                 THEY HOPE WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR? MARY - Waiting to know that God sees her struggle.                           - Luke 1:46-55   ZECHARIAH - Waiti...

James 5:7-12

We spend time. We try to save both time and money. Some say that time is money. The tie-ins and crossovers between these two most valuable of all commodities are endless. In the end of James chapter 4 into the first part of chapter 5, we are given advice, cautions, and warnings about how best to manage time and money. We can't stop time, and if we don't don't control money it can take over our hea...

Rev. Paul J. Miller- Sermon Outline – November 10, 2024 “Building Unity with Wisdom and Humility” James 3:13-18 & 4:1-12 ____________________________________________________________________ HOW CAN “I” HELP THE CHURCH HEAL FROM DIVISION?   SEE THE DANGERS OF SELFISH AMBITION – 3:13-16   LOVE PEACE – 3:17-18   DEAL WITH YOUR INNER BATTLES – 4:1-3   DON’T USE THE WORLD’S TOOLS FOR GOD’S WORK – 4...

Words Burn - James 3:1-12

Faith is more than an intellectual position or a heart-felt emotion. In James 2:20-24, Abraham is identified as a person of active faith. Look with me at the highs and lows of Abraham's life. He faced numerous challenges, but his faith was a constant. It produced what God promised: a blessing that still lingers today in Christ.

In your relationships with your neighbor, do you extend mercy or cast judgment?

Listening to "the word" (James 1:22) is more than a matter of reading the scriptures. It's about who we listen to; that is, Jesus the Christ. In other words, the writings in the Bible reveal the Word of God, who is Jesus, the Son of God. (John 1:1) When we learn from Him we need then to act upon what we have learned.

Trusting God is a learned behavior. The teacher is faith in Christ and the text book is the trials of life. What has your pain taught you? (James 1:12-18)

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – 9/22/24 “Consider How to Face Trials” – James 1:1-11 “consider” “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,…” – James 1:2 CONSIDER YOUR FAITH – James 1:3   CONSIDER HOW MUCH HANGING-IN-THERE CAN HELP YOU – James 1:4 Hebrews 12:1-3   CONSIDER THAT THE PATH TO WISDOM IS ONLY A PRAYER AWAY – James 1:5 Matthew 7:7-8   C...

Though James, the "Lord's brother", is never mentioned as following Jesus before the crucifixion, he became a very important leader of the early church and wrote the epistle that bore his name. What changed after the resurrection?

Running away from God was not Jonah's biggest problem. Even after surviving the belly of the beast and a very long journey, God still had to work on his heart. If we know that God is loving, merciful, and forgiving, why should we be surprised (let alone angry) when He extends it to people?

When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter spoke up to the crowd to explain what was happening. He quoted the prophet Joel's words that the Spirit of God was now poured out upon ALL people. That game changing moment is still in play to this day. We don't need to go to a temple, or go through a priest, or obey a list of rules to know God. In Christ, He is with us, for us, and in us right now! Ju...

"What does God require of us?" How we respond to this question is most important during difficult days. The prophet Micah lived during very troubling times for Judah and Israel. What did God reveal to him that drove him to ask this question? It's easy to be attracted to the words of Micah 6:8 and frame it on poster. But if acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly does not result in actions...

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – 8/4/24 “Habakkuk: Complaints & Compliance” Habakkuk 1:12-2:1   Habakkuk’s COMPLAINT (1:2)   God’s Answer: BABYLON? (1:6)   Habakkuk’s CONFUSION (1:13)   God’s Reminder: FAITHFULNESS (2:4)         The Gospel is Accessed by FAITH         Romans 1:17   God’s Presence: KNOW His GLORY (2:14)           Isaiah 11:9           Romans 1:20           Colossians 1:23...

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – July 28, 2024 “Elijah: Getting Quiet So You Can Hear God” – 1 Kings 19:1-9 Elijah’s Story – 1 Kings 16:29-18:40 Elijah’s Gets Blindsided – 1 Kings 19:1-2 Elijah’s Reaction – 1 Kings 19:3-5 RUN! (v3) ISOLATE (v3) COMPLAIN (v4) SELF-PITY (v4) SLEEP (v5) God’s Response to Elijah’s Trauma – 1 Kings 19:5-18 HE DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING (not at first) HE SENDS A HELPER...

Our connection with the Creator has to be more than just head knowledge. It begins with the cross of Christ, a starting point that is neither wise nor intelligent according to human reasoning.

Many people have difficulty understanding why Jesus has to die such a brutal death. Humanity gave Christ the worst of ourselves and not even that could stop His love. He became one of us in life so that He could set us free in death. 

The Word of Truth is Christ. He has enabled us to overcome evil where it matters most, within. There's only so much we can do to effect the overwhelming presence of evil on the global scale. But if we look within first, we can listen for the voice of truth to direct us toward a better path, one person at a time.

Psalm 77 is an honest and powerful expression of the pain of suffering in the form of a prayer. Every human being knows what it is to suffer. How do we approach God when nothing makes sense and there seems to be no hope in sight? Asaph felt that too. The prayer he wrote gives us permission to speak directly to God what we are really feeling deep within.

Doubt works against faith, but questions can deepen it. There's infinitely more that we don't know about God than what we do. It's a quest that every human being needs embark on. Questions will keep you on that quest!

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 19, 2024 Trinity & Relationality The impossible “ity’s” Nativity Deity Eternity Trinity Who is God and what is Trinity? “Relationality”? Trinity in the Scriptures Genesis 1:1-3 & 26a John 1:1-5 1 John 1:1-4 & 5-7 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 & 13:14 Relationality & The Impossible “ity’s” Nativity – Mother & Child Deity – Father & Son...

The Holy Spirit is not that mysterious or complicated. The goal of the Spirit is for our lives to produce what is joyful, peaceful, patient, and kind. If God is love, then so is the Spirit...