SERMON

STARTERS

Outlines for Every

Holiday & Occasion
CH U CK L AWLE S S , G EN ER AL EDITO R
 TA BL E OF CON T EN TS

INTRODUCTION

HOLIDAY SERMON OUTLINES

New Year’s Day
Palm Sunday
Good Friday
Easter
Easter
Easter
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day
Memorial Day
Father’s Day
Father’s Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas
Christmas
Christmas

SPECIAL DAY AND EVENT SERMON OUTLINES

Sanctity of Life
Racial Reconciliation
Graduation
Stewardship
Lord’s Supper
Deacon Ordination
Local or National Crisis
Wedding
Wedding
Funeral
Funeral

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 I N T RODUC T ION

We at Church Answers love pastors, and we want to walk alongside you, pray for
you, support you, and help you. Because several of us have been pastors, we also know
that sermon preparation is often one of the difficult tasks of this role. It’s sometimes
especially hard to develop fresh ideas on holidays that occur year after year after year—
and we want to help.

To be honest, though, I have edited this resource with some trepidation. First, I don’t
want to do anything that gives pastors permission to do anything less than hit their
knees before God, dig into the Word deeply, and discover with the Spirit’s leadership
the message for a particular congregation. We want you to see these outlines (detailed
though they are) as just that: outlines that help you get started. It might be, in fact,
that an outline only gets you thinking in the right direction, and you develop something
completely different. If you preach a message simply by using one of these outlines,
though, you will have missed the point.

Second, I don’t want you to avoid contextualizing a message for your congregation. For
that reason, we’ve often suggested ways to illustrate or apply a text, without giving you
a particular illustration or response. In some cases, we’ve suggested ways to introduce
or conclude a sermon, but you must determine what that looks like in your church. You
know your style. You know your giftedness. You know your congregation. Adjust every-
thing as needed for your context—make these sermons your own.

On the other hand, we do think we can help each other and learn from each other. If
this resource helps you proclaim the Word of God to your neighbors and the nations,
we will be pleased. Our prayer is that these outlines will drive you to the Bible, make
you love the Scriptures even more, and then challenge you to lead your congregation to
do the Great Commission.

Contributors:
Thom Rainer
Sam Rainer
Jess Rainer
Chuck Lawless
Chuck Carter
Matthew McCraw
Justin Gatlin

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 HOL IDAY SER MON OU T L I NES

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Title: “Be It Resolved: I Will Long for God”
Text: Psalms 42-43
Sermon Overview: It is best to start the year with a deep longing for God.

Introduction: What do you really long for? Success? Dollars? Popularity? To be married? To have
children? To get a better job? To retire?
All of us have longings that drive our lives, but we often don’t long for God like we should. In
today’s text, we see the psalmist longing for God—in particular, longing to worship with the
people of God in the temple again. Let’s learn from these texts today.

1. EVEN FOLLOWERS OF GOD FACE TOUGH TIMES

• We don’t fully know the situation for the psalmist, but he longs to return to worship
again. It’s quite possible he was in exile or fleeing from an enemy.
• He feels much anguish. He pants for God. He wonders when he’ll see the face of God
again. He’s consumed with tears. His soul is cast down. His pain is in his bones.
• These times are especially tough when he remembers previous days when he could go
to worship.
• Others who’ve followed God faithfully have also faced tough times:
1. Moses was burdened with God’s people (Num 11:11)
2. Elijah was pursued by the queen (1 Kgs 19:4)
3. Paul despaired even to death (2 Cor 1:8)

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about tough times you’ve seen believers face throughout your
ministry. Show the congregation that we believers aren’t immune from trouble.

• Sometimes we face these times because of our foolish decisions. We also live in a fallen
world. But, there is another reason these times happen: God wants us to thirst for Him.

2. TOUGH TIMES SHOULD LEAD US TO THIRST FOR GOD

• Listen to the psalmist’s words. He pants for God. He thirsts for Him. He feels forgotten
and rejected, but still he cries out to God.
• Sometimes we face these times, too, when we wonder if God’s even listening to our pray-
ing. We have two options then:

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 1. Give up on God.
2. Long for Him even more. Turn to Him in desperation, admitting the hole in our
heart and understanding that God sometimes turns off the waters of blessing
to make us want Him more.

ILLUSTRATION: Describe a walk in the desert, a long hike, or another time when some-
one might be gripped by thirst. Paint the picture well of a parched throat. Ask the con-
gregation, “Do you ever long for God like that?”

• That’s one of the things God wants to accomplish in our tough times.

3. THIRST IS QUENCHED BY FAITH

• Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). It’s
trusting God even in the difficult times.
• Watch how the psalmist deals with his emotions and struggles. He admits his feelings to
God with abandon. He’s not falsely spiritual; he just speaks his heart.
• Then, he challenges his feelings with faith. He has an ongoing conversation with himself
to be reminded to trust God (in fact, see the refrain that echoes throughout these two
psalms). He reminds himself to hope in God, who will bring him to worship again and lead
him to sing in the night.
• The psalmist sees God’s care in the past and looks to His promises in the future—and
those directions give him hope even as he struggles.

ILLUSTRATION: Show the congregation how to apply the Word to difficult times. If you’re
dealing with sin, trust 1 John 1:9. If you need wisdom, seek it (James 1:5). If you’re afraid,
cling to the words of Heb 13:5-6. If you’re worried, read Jesus’ words in Matt 6:31-33.

4. GOD IS STILL THE ANSWER

• Note how the psalmist describes God in these psalms. He is God. The living God. My God.
The God of my life. My rock. The God in whom I take refuge. My exceeding joy.
• He knows that even in his longing, his God is still the answer for him. He wants to get
back to the temple to worship, but deeper than that desire is his longing for God.
• That same God is still the answer for us today.

Conclusion: As we start a new year, may it be that we long for God more than anything. If that’s
not where your heart is today, ask God to make you long for Him more—and be prepared for
both (1) difficulties that make you long for Him and, even more, (2) the joy that comes when we
learn again He’s still the answer.

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 PALM SUNDAY
Title: A King for Me
Text: Matthew 21:1-17
Sermon Overview: King Jesus has come for you, and it’s right to love Him and follow Him in
return.

Introduction: I’ve never been into royal weddings, coronations, or royal births. But in large part,
the world is fascinated by the royalty around the world – in the United Kingdom in particu-
lar. Palm Sunday, some 2000 years ago, was a royal declaration unlike any decree, any royal
announcement. This royal declaration would change the course of humanity because this coro-
nation was about the King coming for you. He came to be your king.
Today is Palm Sunday, the week before Easter, when we look at Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem
as He begins His final week of ministry on earth. This was a time when people celebrated His
arrival by placing robes and branches – most likely palm branches – in the road as a symbol
of His kingship. It’s called the “Triumphant Entry” because Jesus is coming as King, although
how He will triumph is different than the people thought it would be. He would be the victor
through His coming death and resurrection.

1. JESUS IS A KING UNLIKE ANY OTHER

• The first twenty chapters in Matthew show us Jesus’ 3-year earthly ministry. In the last
eight chapters of Matthew, we see the final eight days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Clearly,
Matthew wants us to focus in on this final week.
• Jesus sends out two disciples. Don’t miss the importance of this. Jesus sets the events
of the week in motion. He was in complete control of these sequence of events. Nothing
caught Him by surprise, and nothing overtook Him. Why? He’s a King unlike any other.
• Jesus is intentionally fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. Most kings would choose to ride a warhorse
as a victor and conqueror, but that’s not Jesus’ mission – this time. He came to save us by
dying on a cross. He really is a king like no other.
• Our King – the King of all creation – came humbly, meek, lowly. That’s a King unlike any
other King!

2. JESUS IS A KING WHO’S FOR ALL

• What happens next appears to be a contrast from the previous eleven verses. Jesus dis-
rupts the buying and selling happening in the temple complex.
• As Jesus demonstrates His disapproval of what’s happening, He quotes Isaiah 56. Three
things are happening here:
1. Jesus is identifying with the prophesied King
2. Jesus is declaring He is doing away with the entire religious sacrificial system.

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 3. Jesus is declaring His Kingship is for everyone—for all nations.

ILLUSTRATION: Using demographic studies, talk about the peoples of the world who
live within driving distance of your church. Help your church to see others around them.
Point out God’s love for all of them—and challenge the church to reach them.

4. JESUS IS A KING WHO REIGNS OVER ALL

• Matthew records the only instance of Jesus healing in Jerusalem in verse 14. Healing was
the appropriate use of God’s house as compared to commercial use.
• It illustrates another way Jesus established His Kingship and another way Jesus is a King
for you.
• In His healings, Jesus was showing His authority. In the Gospels, he is the authority over
nature, over demons, over sickness, and over death.
• Jesus’ actions stressed out the religious leaders of His day, but He had authority over
them, too.

ILLUSTRATION: Speak of a believer who faced the reality of tragedy (e.g., natural disas-
ter, terminal illness), but who did so with complete faith that God was in charge. If you
learned the same through an experience in your life, tell your own story.

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about the chaos of the world today, pointing out the seemingly out
of control things we face every day. Show that Jesus is still the King over all.

5. JESUS IS A KING WHO’S WORTHY OF PRAISE

• If the priests and scribes weren’t upset enough, Jesus makes one more declaration.
• The children are declaring that the King has arrived! The priests were already upset (think
triumphant entry, think challenging the sacrificial system, think healing), and now the
children are calling Him King.
• Jesus quotes Psalm 8:1-2, a psalm of praise for Yahweh. Jesus receives this praise, declar-
ing He is God and King.
• Jesus is my King. He’s the king for you, too.

Conclusion: The greatest coronation of the King is yet to come when Jesus comes again. Until
then, we serve as King in preparation for that day.
Application: How do you declare Jesus as King? First, give your entire heart to Him. Second,
worship Him and obey Him. Let Him be the ruler of your life.

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 GOOD FRIDAY
Title: “A Crucified and Resurrected Savior for You”
Text: Matthew 26-28
Sermon Overview: The Savior has died for you, and He is alive!

Introduction: Do you know what Easter is all about? Many people think of the Easter Bunny,
Easter baskets, chocolate candy, jellybeans, and Easter egg hunts. They might have a great time
with this celebration, but they miss the real meaning of the celebration. In fact, the celebration
of Easter begins with the agony of the cross—the event we emphasize on Good Friday.
Today, we’re going to look at four key moments in the final days of Jesus’ life, and we’re going
to see that Jesus came as a Savior for us. I want you to see today that:
• Easter is about a Savior coming to save you—but the resurrection is preceded by death.
• Easter is about letting go of all the shame, guilt, and burdens in your life and giving them
to Jesus—but that’s because Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins.
• Easter is about hope, about a future that we have because of Jesus—but it is a hope that
cost Him his life.
• Easter is about new life—a life purchased by the blood of Christ.

1. JESUS WAS BETRAYED FOR YOU

• Look at the scene of the woman with the perfume in Matthew 26:6-16. This perfume
would have been worth a lot of money – something that would have been passed down
in a family. Some scholars think this perfume would be worth over $10k in today’s dollars.
Think great-grandma’s china set with gold accents.

ILLUSTRATION: Point out some things/items that are very important to you.

• What did this woman do with the perfume? She poured it on Jesus’ head.
• Some scholars point out that she must have believed Jesus was going to die, and her
response was to make the most sacrificial gift to Him. She understood that Jesus Christ
was worth far more than any earthly treasure.
• Judas, on the other hand, betrayed Jesus. He sold Jesus out. Judas sold Jesus for 30
pieces of silver – probably $7,500 in today’s dollars – for less than the perfume!
• Here’s why I want you to know that: Judas represents all of us. All of us either have or had
a price to sell out Jesus. There is or was something we valued far more than God, than
Jesus, than the gospel. It may be or may have been a girlfriend or a boyfriend. It may be
a career. It may be your kids, your money, your spouse, your comfort.
• The point is this: Our hearts are naturally predisposed to sell out Jesus – to give Him away
for some earthly price – to betray Him.

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 • But, don’t miss this: that’s why He came to earth – to save our hearts and souls from this
condition. Jesus was willing to pay for us a far greater price than our price to betray Him.
• Jesus was betrayed for you so you could have the opportunity to move from Judas’ place
to the place of the woman with the perfume.
• So, what’s your price today? This Good Friday, ask yourself, what earthy treasure (or
earthly addiction or pain) am I unwilling to give up for Jesus?

2. JESUS WAS FORSAKEN FOR YOU

• In Matthew 26:36-46, Jesus goes to Gethsemane to pray.
• Verse 37 shows us that Jesus was taken over by this intense emotion. This wasn’t hyper-
bole from Jesus. The amount of grief and pain Jesus was feeling brought his physical
body to the point of death.
• Later, on the cross, Jesus would cry out to the Father, “Why have you abandoned me?”
(Matt 27:46)—and surely Jesus was feeling some of that now. Before even the first crack
of His enemy’s whip, Jesus was feeling the weight of being separated from the Father as
He would bear the sins of the world.
• “Gethsemane” means “oil press,” and the reality of God’s wrath was literally pressing in
on Jesus to a point right before death.

ILLUSTRATION: In the ancient world, an oil press was typically large stones or beams that
crushed olives to extract the oil. The goal was to put so much weight and pressure on the
olives that the oil would flow into another container. That’s what Jesus must have felt.

• Jesus knows exactly what it means to be betrayed, abandoned, and punished for you.
• Jesus saw what was coming on the cross. He agonized over that reality—even asking if
there was another way—but He willingly went. He accepted being forsaken by God for
you and me.

3. JESUS WAS PUNISHED FOR YOU

• Matthew 27:45-54 records the death of Jesus. Why did Jesus have to die? There are
many reasons, but let me give you two:

1. To bear God’s wrath against sin. God is the most loving, righteous, just, and
holy God imaginable, but He is completely incompatible with sin. We, on the
other hand, are sinners. And as unpopular as this truth is today, God hates sin
and is wrathful towards sin. That’s a good thing, by the way; God hates what
destroys us. And, the only person who could take on God’s wrath on behalf of
all humanity was Jesus, the perfect Son of God.
2. To bear your punishment. God loves you. We know how much He loves us.

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 John 3:16 tells us that. He loved us – you – me – enough to send His Son to die
for us. We all deserve what Jesus received, but Jesus took our place so we can
receive what we don’t deserve.
• This would be a tragic story if it ended here, but it doesn’t. The good news is yet to come.

4. JESUS IS ALIVE FOR YOU

• Look at Matthew 28:1-10. Isn’t verse 6 the best verse? Jesus is not in the tomb.
• The grave couldn’t hold Him! Sin couldn’t hold Him! Death couldn’t hold Him!
• He is risen, just as He said would happen. Why does that matter today?

ILLUSTRATION: List some ways the resurrection makes a difference in our lives (for
example, so we can know there is more to life than our Monday-Fridays; that no matter
how hopeless life seems, there is hope; that even when your marriage is hard, there is
hope; that when we die, we get to spend eternity in a place that is far better than we
can imagine).

• Don’t miss what Jesus also said at the end of Matthew: “I am with you always, to the end
of the age.” Jesus is alive for you, and He is always with you! That’s what Easter is about.

Conclusion: I asked the question at the beginning, “Do you know what Easter is about?”
• You know the answer now.
• There’s one final question: Will you follow Jesus by turning from your sin and trusting
Him?
Application:
3. If you are not a follower of Christ, the resurrected Lord is calling you to Him today. Follow
Him.
4. If you’ve lost hope for some reason—and might even feel abandoned—cry out to God.
5. Thank God for both the death of Christ and the promise of resurrection.
6. This Easter, make sure your celebration is about Jesus.

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 EASTER
Title: “Celebrating the Resurrected Jesus”
Text: Mark 16:1-8
Sermon Overview: Jesus’ triumph over death proves His supremacy in every area of life.

Introduction: We celebrate Easter today. In some ways, we do this today because of the date on
the calendar, but Christians ought to celebrate the resurrection of Christ every day. Using Mark’s
story of the resurrection in chapter 16, let’s look at how we might celebrate.

1. LET GOD ROLL THE ROCK AWAY

• The women made their way to the tomb to anoint the body, most likely to keep it from
stinking. Most assuredly, they weren’t expecting resurrection.
• They even wondered who would roll the rock away for them. Tombs were sealed with
large rocks placed in a hewn out trough, and the women surely could not move this one.
• They got there, and something had happened. Mark doesn’t tell us the details, but Mat-
thew tells us a great earthquake occurred when an angel descended and rolled back the
stone.
• For the women the task was overwhelming; for God it was nothing. God did it.

APPLICATION: Lead your congregation to think about things they’re facing that only
God can fix (e.g., worry that consumes, sickness that doesn’t go away, family struggles
that continue, addictions that control, etc.). Remind them that God is the one who rolls
the rocks away.

2. DO NOT BE ALARMED
• The women came to the tomb to anoint the body. Tragedy had overtaken them. It was
early in the morning, and the stone had been rolled back.
• They entered the tomb, where they saw a young man there, an angel robed in white.
• The women were rightly alarmed by what they saw, distressed and probably filled with
some dread.
• “Don’t be alarmed,” the angel told them. It’s always been that way with God. From the
Garden of Eden when the eventual destruction of the serpent was announced, God was
saying, “Don’t be alarmed. I have a plan.” He called out His people, raised up kings and
sent prophets, and then sent His Son—“Don’t be alarmed.”
• Now, it might have seemed the story was over, but the angel announced otherwise.

APPLICATION: Like the first point, challenge your church to consider things that most

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 frighten them today. Help them hear God say, “Don’t be alarmed.” If you have a partic-
ular personal concern you’re willing to share with your church, be vulnerable enough to
share your story.

3. SEE THE PLACE WHERE THEY LAID HIM

• Jesus had told His followers He would rise again, but they still didn’t expect it. The angel
could have said to the women, “Didn’t you listen to Him?” Instead, he invited them to see
that the resurrection was real. “Come and see,” he said. Jesus was not there.
• Listen to the love in those words: When our faith struggles, come and see. When we’re
wrestling with faith, come and see. When our prayer is, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief,”
come and see.
• It’s one thing to stand on the outside of the tomb; it’s another thing to go in, believe it’s
real, and live in its truth. It’s life-changing.
• Come and see – and take note: He is not there!

ILLUSTRATION: If you have traveled to Jerusalem and have visited the Garden Tomb,
talk about that experience. If you haven’t but know someone who has, use that story
for your illustration.

4. GO TELL OTHERS
• The women were to tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus was not there.
• The fact that Peter is named is significant. He had denied knowing Jesus, but the angel
wanted him to know he was still part of Jesus’ band. Jesus did not deny knowing Peter.
• Even though the women were speechless, they would eventually speak about Him.
• Jesus has given us the command to tell the nations about Him (Matt 28:18-20), but we’re
often quite silent in our witness. The resurrection story is hardly one we should keep to
ourselves. We, too, must tell others about it.

APPLICATION: Challenge your listeners to think about names of family members,

co-workers, friends, neighbors, and classmates who need to hear about the resurrec-
tion. Lead them to write down the names, pray for each person next week, and seek
opportunities to talk to them.

Conclusion: The resurrection is the center of Christian hope. In a crazy, messed-up world where
death seems to reign, we need this truth today. Celebrate the resurrected Jesus!

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 EASTER
Title: “A Death Shaken Off”
Text: Acts 2:14-40
Sermon Overview: Death could not hold Jesus in the grave.

Introduction: Pastor Adrian Rogers once told a captivating story1. A spider walked into a cave
one day and found a lion asleep. Like all of the creatures of the savannah, the spider feared the
lion. She decided that with the lion asleep, she could finally capture him. All night long, she spun
her web around him. Sunrise came, and the lion stirred. He yawned with a roar, stepped up, and
walked out of the cave. All the spider’s skill and strength were nothing compared to the might of
the lion. Those webs that could easily trap a fly could never hurt the king of the jungle.
On this Easter Sunday, we are here to worship a Man who could not be held by the thing we
could never escape—death. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah shook off the pains of death like a
spiderweb, and with His roar breaks their grip on us.

1. THE DEATH OF JESUS WAS PART OF GOD’S PLAN.

• The crucifixion was no accident, where God’s plan had gone out of control and His cho-
sen Redeemer was defeated by His enemies. This was “according to the definite plan
and foreknowledge of God.” It was God’s plan that Jesus would be killed by the hands of
lawless men.
• It would be bad news if this were simply everything going off the rails. But it is a Good
Friday because this was God’s promise and His plan. Jesus was the Lamb of God, the
final sacrifice, come to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). So, Good Friday really
was good.
• The same God who planned His death also planned His resurrection, and neither one
would fail.
• At the same time that Peter talked about God’s sovereign plan, though, he still held the
people accountable for their actions. They were responsible for killing Him.

APPLICATION: Use this opportunity to talk about Jesus dying for the sins of the people
attending your service. All of us are sinners in need of redemption. Explain the gospel
clearly here. We can be saved from the penalty of our sin because it has been com-
pletely dealt with.

1 Adrian Rogers, “If There Had Been No Easter,” Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers
Family Trust, 2017).

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2. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR DEATH TO HOLD JESUS BECAUSE
DEATH COULD NOT RESTRAIN WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED
TO FREE.
• Peter quoted Psalm 16:8-11 as he explained the promise of resurrection. David wrote there
that “my flesh will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your
Holy One see corruption.”
• David did, though, die, and we can even go to a place marked as his tomb today. So,
Peter reasoned, he must have been talking about one of his descendants.
• God had made a covenant with David that, although he would not build God a house in
the form of a Temple, God would build David a house in the sense of a family. His descen-
dants would rule on the throne. But here, tantalizingly, God apparently revealed to David
that one of his descendants would rule forever. We know this is Jesus Himself since He’s
the only descendant of David who overcame death.
• So, centuries before Jesus died and was resurrected, David was a prophet speaking of
the coming Messiah. He foresaw the resurrection of Christ—and God was faithful to His
promises on resurrection Sunday. When the penalty was paid, the pangs of death could
not hold Jesus anymore.
• God kept His Word when He gave Jesus as a sacrifice. He kept it when He rescued Him
from the grave, and He could not have done otherwise. It was not possible for Jesus to
stay held by death when God had promised that He would be freed.

ILLUSTRATION: List 4-5 promises of God from His Word (e.g., John 6:37, Heb 13:5, etc.),
and remind your congregation that God always keeps His promises. Even the coming of
the Holy Spirit in this chapter was a fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s words. Guide your
church to trust Him even more—let them see how the resurrection is one more evidence
of His faithfulness.

3. THE ONE WHO DIED FOR US AND WAS RESURRECTED IS

THE LORD.
• Peter had already said, “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”
(Acts 2:21).
• Quoting Psalm 110, Peter reminded the crowd that this Jesus, David’s Son who David
called “Lord,” is exalted at the right hand of God. He is the One who died, was resur-
rected, and ascended into the heavens.
• Now, He had under the authority of the Father sent the Holy Spirit to His people.
• Jesus is indeed the resurrection and the life, and all who believe in Him will never die
(John 11:25-26).
• That is as simple as it could possibly be. Jesus is Life Himself. Death could not conquer

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 life. The message Peter preached was not about an abstract idea. His good news was not
“Death could not hold it.” It was “Death could not hold Him.” Death is but a spiderweb
that could not hold the Lion.
Conclusion: The crowd listening to Peter wanted to know what they must do, and he told
them. They needed to turn from their sins, receive God’s forgiveness and the Holy Spirit, and
then be baptized. If you’re trying to run your life on the fuel of good intentions, education, ma-
terial wealth, popularity, church attendance, or some other secular or religious rite, know that
it won’t work. The only way to respond is to turn from your sin (which is defeated and has no
power anyway), and come to Christ today.

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 EASTER
Title: “Hope Conquers”
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Sermon Overview: The hinge of hope is the resurrection of Jesus.

Introduction: Easter is the celebration of new life. Resurrection is more than just a re-living,
though; it’s eternal life with God Himself. When Jesus saves you, your resurrection isn’t an indef-
inite extension of your physical existence. Your salvation in Christ transforms you into a com-
pletely new person.
In the resurrection, hope conquers:
• Defeatism. Your victory is to come.
• Anxiety. Your worries have an answer.
• Fear. You can be calm in the storm.
• Doubt. You have assurance even when you’re not sure.
• Death. Your victory is assured because Jesus is alive.
A resurrection hope is God’s pursuit of us – His willingness to die for us followed by His coming
to life again.

1. JESUS DIED FOR US

• Paul speaks in this chapter about the gospel, and he focuses first on the fact that Christ
died according to the Scriptures.
• Imagine the scene. The King between two thieves, surrounded by mocking sinners. Sin-
ners at their worst… and God acting out in love. The merciful Savior took all the merciless
insults on our behalf.
• Isaiah 53 helps us to think about the death of Jesus, too.
1. Jesus was rejected so we can be accepted.
2. He suffered so we would be relieved.
3. He was despised so we could be glorified.
4. He carried our pain so we would find comfort.
5. He was struck down so we could be lifted up.
6. He was wounded so we could be healed.
7. He was oppressed so we would be free.
8. He was cut off so we could come near.
9. He was assigned to the grave, crushed, counted among rebels… so our rebel-
lion could be exchanged for eternal life.
• The death of Jesus is a reminder that Jesus relentlessly pursues us when we are at our
worst. Jesus could have poured out the wrath of God on everyone. But, He instead
absorbed God’s wrath.

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 • We killed God with our sin, and He chases us down with His grace.

2. JESUS WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY

• Everyone needs this miracle because no one escapes death. Death exists for everyone,
universally; it haunts us, a shadow that threatens all. Death is that stalker, always just
behind us, creeping towards us.
• Death is unsettling because we can’t control it, though we try.
• But through Jesus, death opens into eternal life. Jesus Himself said, “I am the resurrec-
tion and the life” (John 11:25). Death does not have to lead to darkness; Jesus’ resurrec-
tion can bring you into the light.
• Many in the world today have no help, but God has an answer: the promise of resurrection.
• Some in the Corinthian church, though, were arguing there is no resurrection, but Paul
clearly affirmed it. As many as 500 people at once saw Christ alive again.
• Is the resurrection really that important? Can we still salvage faith without the resurrec-
tion? What if Jesus rose again only metaphorically, figuratively? What if Jesus rose again
only in the hearts of the disciples? You surely cannot imagine saying something like . . .

1. To your wife: “I’ll install the ceiling fan metaphorically.”

2. To your landlord: “I’ll pay the rent figuratively.”
3. To your children: “I’ll love you allegorically.”
4. To your boss: “I’ll work symbolically.”

• Of course, none of that would ever work. Jesus literally rose again because God quite
literally loves us! In fact, without the resurrection, our faith is worthless. We are still dead
in our sins.

3. THROUGH THE MIRACLE OF THE RESURRECTION, LOVE

DEFEATS FAILURE
• When the women brought spices to anoint Jesus’ body, they knew the tomb was covered
by a large stone.
• When they got there, though, they didn’t face an immovable stone. Rather, they saw the
glory of an angel. The horrors of the cross became the surprise of an empty tomb.
• Jesus died. For three days human destiny hung in the balance. Then God raised Him from
the dead. Death was murdered in the tomb. The entire path of the universe reversed
course. The world was given the greatest miracle of all. And, love defeated failure.

Conclusion: Do you feel defeated today? a failure? The hope God gives conquers all because
that hope is based on the resurrected Lord.
Application: If you feel this way today, turn to Christ. If you are a believer, thank God for the
victory we have in the resurrected Christ.

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 MOTHER’S DAY
Title: “A Christ-Centered Woman”
Text: Acts 9:36-43
Sermon Overview: Living a life centered on Christ is living life to the fullest.

Introduction: Mother’s Day is an exciting day. I speak today, though, not only to mothers . . . not
only to ladies . . . but to all of us.
Today’s text focuses on a woman named Dorcas in the personal ministry of Simon Peter. In this
brief description of her life, death, and resurrection, we see a woman living for Christ.
Here’s the scenario. Up to this point in Acts, Luke’s focus has been on Peter’s public ministry to
crowds of people in various cities. Peter was always on the move (Acts 9:32), but now we get
a picture of his personal ministry. Dorcas (her name in the Greek) was a respected woman, a
follower of Jesus, who passed away. Rather than bury her immediately as was the custom, the
believers placed her in an upstairs room, apparently hoping for a miracle. Because Peter was
near and they knew he had the power of God in him, they sent for him.
From this short text, there are many clues as to what Dorcas was about. What can we learn from
her?

1. A CHRIST-CENTERED WOMAN FINDS HER PURPOSE IN HIM

• Most people desire a full life. We know life is supposed to mean something. Dorcas found
her purpose in following Christ.
• Dorcas was a “disciple” of Jesus, a follower and student of Christ. Her name means
“gazelle,” which fits her personality—bouncing around, doing God’s work, leaping ahead
to whatever God has called her to do.
• She was completely devoted to, fully involved in, doing “acts of charity.” She lived to give
to others, especially the poor.
• Many of us, though, are guilty of adding things to our lives to feel fuller (getting a degree,
finding another job, getting married, etc.). Sometimes, though, the more we add, the
emptier we feel.
• Here’s the secret: You don’t add Jesus to your life; He must become your life. Dorcas
understood this truth: the fullest life is the one most centered on Christ.

2. A CHRIST-CENTERED WOMAN IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO DO

GOD’S WORK
• Dorcas was always doing… not thinking, waiting, or planning, but doing! We know from
the text that she made robes and clothes for others who now grieved her passing. Each
of them had a visible reminder of Dorcas’ work in their lives.

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 • Now that she was gone, people felt the void. They missed her presence. Her absence
created a hole in the church. The widows who depended on her missed her.

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about varied roles that women of God play in your church. Honor
those who are always available to do whatever God asks, who have a serving heart.

3. A CHRIST-CENTERED WOMAN WILL BE A WITNESS FOR

CHRIST
• Crowds gathered to mourn Dorcas’ passing. They summoned Peter with urgency. Every-
one was pulled in her direction. The gravity pulling them in was this woman’s life and
testimony in Christ.
• They surely remembered her witness and so longed for it again that they sent for Peter to
do something. Her resurrection then resulted in many believing in the Lord. Even today,
in fact, we turn to Dorcas as a witness of faith.

ILLUSTRATION: Give examples of older women in your life when you were a younger
believer whose faith you remember as a model. I think, for example, of Mrs. R, who
trusted God deeply even when she buried an adult child and later her husband. She
never lost her joy, and I pray my faith will be as strong throughout my life.

ILLUSTRATION: Give examples of strongly evangelistic women who’ve led others to

follow Christ in your church. Talk about the power of the testimony of a Christ-centered
woman.

4. A CHRIST-CENTERED WOMAN FINDS HER HOPE IN JESUS’

RESURRECTION
• Peter said to Dorcas (her Greek name), “Tabitha, get up”—using her Aramaic name
instead. That wording is remarkably similar to what Jesus said to the 12-year old daughter
of Jairus He raised from the dead: “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you,
get up!” The people would have picked up on the similarities as Jesus essentially said,
“Women, young and old, arise.”
• Peter raised her up and showed the power of God in her life. He called in everyone, and
there she stood. Resurrected. Christ-centered. Alive. She was a follower of the God of
resurrection.
• That’s where all of us find our hope today, too. The only one who can save us is Christ
himself.
• The resurrection of Jesus makes eternal life with God possible.

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 ILLUSTRATION: Again, tell the story of a Christian whose faith was evident all the way
to death.

Conclusion: This is a message not only for women. Dorcas may be the person we’ve focused on,
but the story is really about Christ who gives us life. Men and women. Young and old. Rich and
poor. All of us find our purpose in Him.
Application:
1. Decide where you find your purpose. If it’s not in Christ, turn to Him.
2. Talk to your church leaders about how you might use your gifts, talents, and passions to
serve others.
3. Tell somebody this week the story of how you came to know Christ. Be a witness for Him.
4. Rejoice in the victory of resurrection.

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 MOTHER’S DAY
Title: “The Voice of a Desperate Intercessor”
Text: Mark 7:24-30
Sermon Overview: Crying out before God on behalf of others—especially our children—is a
privilege.

Introduction: Mothers are some of best prayer warriors I know. They are intercessors, pouring
out their hearts to God on behalf of their family. There’s nothing quite like it when a mother hurts
for a child more than he hurts for himself, pleads with God for someone else, and stays on her
knees until God answers.

ILLUSTRATION: Tell stories of mothers you have known who have been great interces-
sors. If your mother was one, be sure to start there.

We are focusing on mothers today, but fathers pray this way, too. Our goal today is to look at a
desperate mother in Mark 7 and learn from her how to intercede for others.

1. BOW BEFORE JESUS

• The woman in the story was a Gentile, a mother whose daughter was demon-possessed.
She may have been so possessed that even travel was difficult.
• The mother’s first response was to come to Jesus and fall at His feet. She came to Jesus,
who in Mark’s Gospel is the One prophesied by the prophets, the beloved Son of the
Father, the teacher whose words make demons flee, the healer, and the master over
nature, sickness and death. This woman came to the right One.
• She fell at His feet, honoring Him and humbly but passionately seeking His help.
• Our situations may be different (that is, we may not be dealing with demon possession),
but we do intercede for non-believing loved ones, those suffering from illness, our way-
ward children, and couples in trouble. We can’t fix them, nor can we change them. We
can, though, come to Jesus and just fall at His feet. When we do that, we:

1. Show respect and reverence.

2. Express our awe over Him.
3. Admit our helplessness and grief.
4. Stop trying to fix things on our own.
5. Worship Him.

2. CRY OUT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER

• This mother’s request was not flowery. She was desperate, and she was continually plead-
ing with Jesus to free her daughter from this demon. She kept on asking with humble

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 aggressiveness. That’s what intercessors do. When you’re desperate for someone else,
you don’t worry about the words you use or how many times you say them.
• Ego goes out the window when you cry out for others.
• What matters is that you run to Jesus and cry out to Him.

ILLUSTRATION: My pastor friend and his wife spent a year many years ago fasting and
praying every Friday for a wandering child. When God answered their prayers for him,
they determined to continue the same pattern on behalf of all their children—including
those who were walking with the Lord. To this day, that’s their Friday routine. They cry
out to God, and God is responding to their praying. Is that a step you need to take on
somebody’s behalf?

3. CLING TO THE HOPE GOD GIVES

• At first glance, Jesus’ response to the mother seems strange. But:

1. Some scholars point out the word Jesus uses for “dog” is a small dog that
might be a pet—not a wild dog deemed unclean in His world.
2. In some ways, Jesus is speaking of His timing. He came to the Jews first, and
out of that people would all the nations be blessed (Gen 12:1-3).

• More specifically, Jesus may have been testing this mother’s faith. In turn, she doesn’t
take offense at Jesus’ words. She accepts his order (feed the children of Israel first), but
she also welcomes just the crumbs from the table. She believed even a crumb from Jesus
was enough to break a demon’s hold on her daughter.
• This mother was clinging to whatever hope Christ would give her.
• As you pray for others today, plead with God for just the crumb. Just a moment of hope.
Just a simple indication of His grace. Just enough to say, “I’m going to continue to pour
my heart out to You. I trust you and cling to You.”

4. TRUST A PRAYER-ANSWERING, MIRACLE-WORKING GOD

• Jesus didn’t speak to this demon. In fact, He was nowhere near the daughter. He simply
declared her freed.
• I can just see this mother, hurrying home, excited as can be, taking Jesus at His word, and
finding her daughter well.
• Like the father of the prodigal son who ran in haste to meet his returning son in Luke 15,
surely the mother ran in haste, too.
• The God to whom this mother turned is the same God we turn to today. He still changes
lives. He still works miracles. He still hears the desperate cries of interceding mothers and
fathers.

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Conclusion: For what person(s) do you need to pray today? Are you burdened enough about
them to run to Christ like this hurting mother did?
Application:
1. Thank God for those who have interceded for you over the years.
2. Make a commitment to pray regularly for someone else. You might consider praying and
fasting one day a week on their behalf.
3. Keep praying and believing, even if God seems to be taking His time in responding to
your prayer.

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 MEMORIAL DAY
Title: “No Greater Love”
Text: John 15:12-13
Sermon Overview: The sacrifice of Christ is greater than the sacrifice of any other.

Sermon Note: This sermon could be revised appropriately to be a Veteran’s Day sermon as well.
You would need to change the introduction and continually point out that you are honoring not
only those who have died in service, but also those still living who have sacrificially served their
country.

Introduction: Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was celebrated in some form
following the civil war. It became an official federal holiday in 1971. Memorial Day is dedicated
specifically to the memory and honoring of those who gave their lives in service to the United
States Armed Forces (not simply those who have served). Memorial Day is intended to remem-
ber the ultimate sacrifice of a member of the armed forces. When people sacrifice their lives for
the benefit of others, they are, in part, like Jesus.

1. SACRIFICE IS REMEMBERED BY OTHERS

• The holiday of Memorial Day is intended to remember the sacrifice of those who gave
• their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is good and right to remember
and honor this sacrifice.
• There is no greater sacrifice worth remembering than the sacrifice of Jesus.
• Good Friday points us to remember the sacrifice of Jesus.
• Even crosses as decoration/art point us to remember the sacrifice of Jesus.

ILLUSTRATION: Remind your congregation about the purpose of the Lord’s Supper/
Communion/the Eucharist that points us to the death of Christ until He comes again.
God so wanted us to remember the cross that He gave us this ordinance to keep us from
forgetting.

2. SACRIFICE RESULTS FROM LOVE

• Jesus commands His followers to love others as He loves them.
• Jesus follows His command to love with a proclamation that the greatest demonstration
of love is laying down one’s life for others.
• The root of sacrifice is love.

ILLUSTRATION: Tell stories of people who have sacrificed for others or causes. You

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 might use statistical data of the number of people who have died in world wars, for
example. Or, you might know a local story of someone whose sacrifice was gripping.
Talk about the essence of love (of country, of others, etc.) that leads to sacrifice, but
point the congregation to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. SACRIFICE RESEMBLES JESUS

• Of course, after Jesus spoke the words of John 15:12-13, He would later lay down His life
for others. He demonstrated the very truth He spoke.
• When one sacrifices a life for someone else, he or she is modeling the same type of love
and behavior that Jesus modeled.
• This type of love and sacrifice is one of God’s good gifts to all those created in His image
• (as opposed to Christians exclusively; it is a result of God’s common grace). This love
should be affirmed, celebrated, and remembered.
• Ultimately, sacrifice points to Jesus. We should be reminded of Jesus’ great sacrifice and
long for it above all other sacrifice. It is the only sacrifice that is perfectly loving.
• Many have sacrificed their lives in the United States Armed Forces so that others could be
free. No greater freedom is found than that which is found in the greatest sacrifice: the
freedom from sin found in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

ILLUSTRATION: Use specific examples to show the freedom Christ gives (e.g., freedom
from controlling sin, addictions, bitterness, discouragement).

Conclusion : Simply remembering sacrifice is not enough; remembering ought to lead us to

action. Here are some ways we might respond to this sermon this week:
1. Thank someone for his or her sacrifice on your behalf.
2. Live lives of loving sacrifice by (describe service opportunities in your church and
community).
3. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice by serving Him fully.

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 FATHER’S DAY
Title: “Walking in the Shoes of the Father”
Text: Ephesians 5:1-2, 5:25, 6:4
Sermon Overview: When we imitate God, we are the fathers we need to be.

Introduction: I have a picture of myself standing in my dad’s boots when I was about three or
four years old. They were way too big for me, and I couldn’t even take a step in them. That didn’t
matter to me, though, because they were my dad’s boots. I just wanted to be like him.
As we celebrate Father’s Day today, I want us to think about our responsibility as men to walk
in the shoes and the footsteps of our heavenly Father.

1. WE ARE TO BE IMITATORS OF GOD

• Remember when your children wanted to be just like you? When they trusted you with-
out question? When they believed you could do anything? That’s the way we’re to follow
God. We’re to model our lives off Him.
• We’re to be becoming like Him, always in the process – more and more like Him, closer
to Him, more conformed to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29), ever maturing in Christ so
that others who walk in our shoes imitate God, too.
• We are made new in Christ. We’re filled with God’s Holy Spirit. We have His Word to
guide us. He has given us all we need to imitate Him.

ILLUSTRATION: If you’re comfortable doing so, talk about both the positive and some
of the negative you learned from your dad. Point out that somebody’s always watching
us. Ask, “If I were to watch you and walk in your shoes exactly today, would I be imitat-
ing God?”

• In a world where sin abounds, we need godly fathers today who imitate God.

2. WE MEN ARE TO IMITATE GOD BY LOVING OUR WIVES

SACRIFICIALLY
• How do we imitate God? By loving others with the love with which He first loved us. Paul
makes that clear in Ephesians 5:25.
• Where does that love begin? For those of us who are married, with our spouses. We’re to
love our wives as Christ loves the church.
• We know God loves us because of what He did for us through Christ. Likewise, we not
only feel love for our spouses, but we must show that love by what we do for them.

1. We put their well-being over ours.

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 2. We care for them as we would our own body, as the two have become one.
3. We serve them willingly.
4. We are prepared to die for them if necessary.
• In this kind of love, children see the love of God. They learn about God, see sacrifice and
adoration, and find security in their parents’ relationship.

ILLUSTRATION: Tell the story of a man who for you has modeled what it means to be a
Christian husband.

• Again I ask, “If I were to walk in your shoes as a husband, would the way I love my wife
model the love of Christ?”

3. WE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE TO RAISE CHILDREN WHO

IMITATE GOD
• In Ephesians 6:4, Paul reminds fathers of their responsibility, too.
• We are to raise children with training in righteousness, providing and caring for them,
verbally teaching them the things of God, disciplining them when necessary without
causing them to be continually angry.
• We do all of these things as children of God who ourselves are seeking to imitate Him.

ILLUSTRATION: Without putting them on the spot, ask the parents in your congrega-
tion how many of them have told their kids how they came to know the Lord. My expe-
rience is that many Christian parents seldom speak with their children or their teens
about their own spiritual lives. They miss an opportunity to train their family when they
keep their stories to themselves.

• So, I ask a third time, “If I were to walk in your shoes as I raise my children, would I be
leading them to imitate God?”

Conclusion: How we walk with God really does matter . . . for us, for our spouses, for our chil-
dren, for our church, for the nations who need to know God. Would you make a commitment
today to walk in the shoes of the Father?
Application: Determine one action step you will take today to walk more in the steps of our
Heavenly Father.

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 FATHER’S DAY
Title: “The Celebration of a Father”
Text: Luke 15
Sermon Overview: Godly fathers long for their children to follow God.

Introduction: I am by nature not big on parties and celebrations. I’m an introvert, and a cele-
bration for me would include a few friends who don’t stay long. Anything more, and I’d need a
vacation. On the other hand, there are times when we really must celebrate. In Luke 15, Jesus
tells three parables that lead to celebration, including the celebration of a father waiting for the
return of a prodigal son. They are just stories, but they illustrate much. Let’s look at these stories
together.

1. REDEMPTION IS WORTH CELEBRATING

• Jesus tells three stories (a lost and found sheep; a lost and found coin; and a lost and
found son). He uses the first two stories comparatively to say that just as the shep-
herd and the woman celebrated when they found their possessions, there is great joy in
heaven over one sinner who repents. Heaven rejoices when sinners come home to God.
• The third story of the prodigal son magnifies that truth. The son had taken his inheri-
tance, left home, and wasted his money on foolish living. When he had nothing left and
faced famine, all he could do was feed pigs for a citizen of that country.
• When he realized his foolishness, he decided to return to his father, confess his wrong,
and ask only to be treated like one of his father’s servants. At least that way, he would
have food.
• Apparently, the father had been watching and waiting for his son’s return, and he quickly
forgave him and welcomed him back. The party held was a big one for the sinner come
home. Repentance and redemption are always worth celebrating.

ILLUSTRATION: Describe the many things that people celebrate (e.g., birthdays,
anniversaries, promotions, graduation, new homes, etc.) – and then ask your church,
“How much do we really celebrate when lost sinners get saved?” We usually celebrate
redemption much less than we do other events.

2. THE TEMPORARY OFTEN LOOKS MORE EXCITING THAN THE

ETERNAL
• We can only imagine the heartache of the father when his son requested his inheritance
(as if to say, “You are dead to me now”).
• I can almost hear the younger son’s thinking: “I’m missing so much. Others are getting
to do it. Why wait if I don’t have to? My parents just don’t get it. It’s my life, and I’m not

28
 hurting anybody.” The enemy dangled the bait of temporary pleasure in front of the son,
and he swallowed it.
• In that moment, the son didn’t see a father who loved him more than he could imagine;
he saw only what he was missing. And, he surely enjoyed the first part of his journey
as he wasted his money on what he had been missing. He went to parties, though they
could offer no lasting joy. They provided no real celebration.
• A problem we face is that the world makes the temporary look so inviting. We see what
we think we’ll get in the immediate, and we assume that choice won’t hurt us in the long
run. We ignore the forever to gain whatever we can get now.

ILLUSTRATION: Describe some well-known commercials designed to convince some-

body to buy something. Show the goal of, within thirty seconds, convincing somebody
(1) he needs something, and (2) he’ll regret it if he doesn’t get it. That’s the excitement
of the temporary – and it’s fleeting.

3. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WAIT AWHILE FOR THE

CELEBRATION OF REDEMPTION
• The story of the prodigal son offers no information about how long the son was away
from home. It does appear, though, that the father always had his eyes toward the road,
waiting for his son to return.
• When his son finally came home, it was time to celebrate—and the father threw a party.
A big one.
• Sometimes we wait a long time for a struggling adult child to return to faith. Though the
point of the parable of the prodigal son is much bigger, we certainly see the picture of a
father who longs for his child to return. The implication of the story is that he waited for
a considerable amount of time—but the son eventually made it home.
• Some of you have been waiting for a long time, too. Your child or grandchild has strayed
from the faith. They seem to have no interest in the things of God. They may be geo-
graphically distant from you, wasting life far from accountability. You grieve, and you
wait.
• For others, the story is the other way around. I became a believer at age 13, and I prayed
for my father for 36 years to follow Christ. When he finally chose to do so, there was
rejoicing in the heavens and in our home. It just took a lot longer than I thought it would
for the celebration to begin.

APPLICATION: Pause to encourage church members—particularly, fathers—to keep

praying, keep waiting, and keep watching for their loved ones to come home. God’s in
charge of the timing.

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4. NOT EVERYBODY WILL LIKE THE CELEBRATION
• The end of the parable of the prodigal son is important. The attitude of the older son
who was angry because he didn’t get a celebration reflects the attitude of the religious
leaders to whom Jesus was speaking. They didn’t like the fact that Jesus was sharing
meals and fellowship with sinners. Good religious leaders didn’t do that—but Jesus was
showing them through the older son just how wrong their attitudes were.
• If you dare celebrate the new birth of people in your community, somebody may not like
the party. Maybe they’re jealous. Perhaps they don’t like the skin color or the accent of
the new believer. Maybe they learned prejudice from their own family—their own father,
in fact—so they refuse to celebrate. May God use us as Christian fathers to break down
these kinds of walls in our families and in our churches.

Conclusion: Fathers with wayward children patiently and faithfully wait for their return. They
deeply hope each day is the day when they’ll see a child walking down the path. They don’t give
up. And, they don’t stop celebrating just because somebody else doesn’t like it.
Application:
1. If your child is not following God, step up your praying on his or her behalf.
2. Ask the Lord to give you faith your child will come home eventually—and then ask Him
for patience!
3. When the child does return in response to your prayers, celebrate!

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 LABOR DAY
Title: “The Gospel in Work”
Text: Various passages
Sermon Overview: What you learn on Sunday should apply to Monday, and the work you do
every day is important to how the Holy Spirit helps you grow.

Introduction: I’ve always enjoyed working. I started mowing our yard in fourth grade. In my first
jobs, I was on a grounds crew during the day and cooked at night. I was terrible at both. I drive a
tractor as well as I cook a burger. To this day, work hasn’t ended for me—or for most of us.
What we don’t think about, though, is the fact that our workplace is our mission field. Frankly,
we pastors are guilty of equipping members for Sunday only. But, that one day is only a sliver
of your life. We need more Monday through Saturday application. We need to understand God’s
perspective on work.

1. GOD CREATED WORK FOR WORSHIP, NOT FOR YOUR

SELF-FULFILLMENT
• God created work. Genesis 1 shows God working for six days, creating everything from
nothing. God was the first to do work. It begins with Him.
• Whether we’re a boss/employee, parent/child, teacher/student, paid/unpaid, home/
office/field, we’re all connected in our work.
• Work is not the result of sin. God made Adam and Eve to work… before they sinned (Gen
1:26-28). Our stewardship of God’s resources (our work) is for His glory! It’s been this way
since the beginning of time.
• Our work includes our fruitful activities in this world outside of leisure. Work is relational,
almost always involving others.
• Work is first for God, not us; it is about worship, not self-fulfillment.
• Work = worship, but we’ve made it into something else. We’ve made work about us, our
self-fulfillment. We’ve distorted work, twisted work, marred what God intends for work.
So, we don’t celebrate the work God has given us to do.

2. WHERE YOU WORK IS A PLACE OF MINISTRY

• Matthew 28:16-20 reminds us we are to be making disciples as we go; that is, we share
the gospel where God takes us.
• Are you a stay-at-home mom? It’s a place of ministry. Student in the classroom? It’s a
place of ministry. Do you have a cubicle in an office? It’s a place of ministry. Work in
a mechanic shop? It’s a place of ministry. Serve tables at a restaurant? It’s a place of
ministry.

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 • Jesus is the one who has authority to tell us what to do, but He also promises us His pres-
ence. He is with us wherever we work. We are His missionaries wherever He places us.

ILLUSTRATION: Pick several secular work roles, and show your congregation how each
might be a witness in the workplace. Show them what steps they might take to do
ministry.

3. GOOD WORK LEADS TO GOOD REST

• In Exodus 20:8-11, God set up a pattern of work and rest that goes back to the creation
account He modeled for us.
• The pattern is six days of work, one day of rest. How do we know we’re following this
command? If all seven days look the same, then something is wrong.
• In Psalm 127:2, the psalmist rebukes our tendency to be busy when God wants us to rest.
• Our ultimate rest—our true Sabbath—is Christ Himself. We find our rest in Him. Work that
honors God always leads to rest in Jesus, and rest in Jesus leads us to work better for
God.

Conclusion: We must avoid the extremes that say work means everything or work means noth-
ing. In the former, we try to build our own towers like the people at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11).
In the latter, work becomes drudgery . . . meaningless . . . with no redeeming value. Instead, we
work today for God’s glory, trusting Him to use us and our witness to lead others to Him.
Application:
1. Pray daily this week that you’ll be a witness where you work.
2. If work gets tough this week, thank God for putting you in that mission field anyway.
3. Listen to your co-workers. Hear their burdens. Offer to pray for them.
4. Thank God for your work, and give your best efforts for Him.

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 THANKSGIVING
Title: “Thanksgiving without Giving is Only a Word”
Text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Sermon Overview: We give cheerfully to honor God and bless others in gratitude for God’s
greatest gift to us.

Introduction: You might be surprised that this Thanksgiving message begins with money. But,
it’s also tied to thanksgiving, in that we give out of gratitude.
In our text today, the Christians in Jerusalem and Judea were suffering in poverty. Maybe they
had been ostracized from society when they became believers and thus could not find employ-
ment. Heavy taxation and food shortages only made it worse. The Judean church needed help
– and Paul called on sister churches to help them. In this case, it was the Corinthian church.
Listen to how Paul motivated the church in Corinth to give – and watch where he wraps up his
discussion. Let’s show our gratitude to God by giving to others.

1. GIVING PRODUCES BLESSINGS

• In verses 6-10, Paul began with encouragement with a proverb, a simple saying that
would have made sense to his hearers: what you reap will depend on what you sow. If you
sow only a little, you can’t expect much in return. Sow a lot, and you’ll get more. But, as
we will see, God blesses us so we might help others.
• Paul said we are to give with gladness. We don’t give because we have to or because
someone makes us give – and we give because we want to, and we give with gladness.
The cheerful giver gladly says, “This is God’s money anyway, so I happily give it back to
Him.”
• God makes all grace abound – a phrase that means God will provide for us. Cheerful
givers know God is going to take care of them.

ILLUSTRATION: Tell a story of a time when you gave to God even when it seemed
unwise, but God took care of you. For me, it was that first $5.00 out of my first pay-
check of $45.00 many years ago. It seemed crazy to give away $5.00, but it helped me
learn that God would provide for me.

2. GIVING HELPS MEET NEEDS OF OTHER BELIEVERS

• Look even more closely at what Paul said in verses 8-12. God gives to us so that we might
do good works, and those works include giving to meet the needs of others. Paul goes
so far as to say that this is what a righteous man does: “he scatters his wealth; he gives
to others; he knows that God blesses him so that he will bless others.”

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 • God is generous to us so that we will be generous to others.
• By implication, people who hoard the blessings, who hold tightly to their wealth, are not
marked by righteousness.

ILLUSTRATION: Describe ministries in your church, your local community, or the mis-
sion field where the giving of your congregation makes a difference in somebody else’s
life. Help them to see the product of their generosity.

3. GIVING PRODUCES THANKSGIVING AND HONOR TO GOD

• In verses 11-13, Paul shifted in his letter from the Corinthians who were the givers to the
people who would be the receivers of this offering. In essence, Paul said, “Look at what
will happen when you give”: you give, needs are met, and the believers who receive the
gifts will overflow with thanksgiving and honor to God.
• Your generosity, Paul said, is an expression of the good news of Jesus. Your giving will
result in praise to the God who makes it possible for you to give in the first place.

ILLUSTRATION: Some years ago, my wife and I were in a village that had been destroyed
by a tsunami, and then rebuilt largely by believers – missionaries – who invested their
energies in loving the people through service and sharing the gospel. I met a national
there who threw his arms around us and said in very broken English, “Thank you, thank
you, thank God for coming and helping us.” That’s what giving does.

4. GIVING MODELS GOD’S UNBELIEVABLE GIFT TO US—AND

REMINDS US TO BE THANKFUL FOR IT
• Note how Paul ended this call for the Corinthians to give. He has told them, Give and you
will be blessed; Give to help meet needs; give, and others will praise Him; pray, and others
will pray for you – and he then concludes with a cry of praise: “Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift!” (v. 15).
• I’m challenging you to give, Paul said, but all that you give pales in comparison to what
God has given for you.
• His indescribable gift . . . . His gift that is so great that we really cannot put it into words.
We cannot fully communicate it. We can only say “thank you” for it.
• Here’s what Paul says: you can’t put this gift into words, but you can put it into action.
How? By giving. By giving back to God out of what God gave you in the first place . . .
what God gave you in the first place so that you would be generous to others.

If we are really grateful for the gift that God has given us, we will give to others in thanksgiving.

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Conclusion: Think about the last time you thankfully, happily, joyfully, willingly gave to God’s
work—with a smile on your face as you gave. That’s the way we’re supposed to give. May God
make us thankful and cheerful givers!

Application:
1. Make a list of blessings God has given you. Thank Him.
2. If you’re not giving at all to God’s work, begin somewhere today. Even a small amount
given cheerfully is better than none at all.
3. If you have grown stagnant in your giving – giving the same amount, with no increased
sacrifice – pray about increasing your giving for the sake of others.

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 CHRISTMAS EVE
Title: “The Monumental Eves”
Text: Various passages
Sermon Overview: The “eves” of the Bible story speak to God’s truth and point hearers to the
gospel story.

Introduction: We’re celebrating Christmas Eve today, but the Bible is filled with different “eves”
that are important in the story. Let’s walk through this story together.

1. THE EVE OF CREATION

• Let’s read Genesis 1:1.
• God existed and was at work before creation.
• God has a grand plan for the universe and our lives.
• God created mankind unique and special in His image.
• The eve of creation was a time that looked forward to something supernatural and
beautiful.

ILLUSTRATION: Describe places where you’ve been that display the glory of God in
creation. Help hearers see God’s creative power.

2. THE EVE IN THE GARDEN

• Let’s remember the creation of human beings in Genesis 1 and 2, followed by the story
of their fall.
• The first people whom God created (Adam and Eve) were the first partakers of the
beauty and magnificence God created.
• Something changed when sin entered. That which was beautiful was now scarred. That
which was perfect was now flawed. Sin messed everything up.
• The truth of the matter is, we’ve messed up everything as well.
• The Eve (and Adam) in the garden brought sin. So have we.

3. THE EVE OF DEATH

• Let’s read Romans 6:23a; Romans 3:23.
• Death is what we deserve for our sins.
• As we sit in our sin, we are on the eve of death. Death is what awaits us.

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 ILLUSTRATION: Describe cemeteries in your community, pointing out that every grave
is a reminder of the penalty of sin.

4. THE EVE OF THE MESSIAH

• Now, let’s read Isaiah 9:6.
• God saw our sin problem. He still loved us and wanted to fix our sin problem.
• God sent a Rescuer, a Redeemer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ.
• From the very beginning of sin’s entrance into the world, God told the serpent He would
send a descendant of Eve who would strike the head of the serpent.
• When all hope seemed lost, God had a plan: the Messiah.
• The eve of the Messiah looked forward to the one who would come and bring joy to the
world.

5. THE EVE OF FORGIVENESS

• Let’s read John 3:16; 1 John 1:9.
• God had a plan to bring forgiveness.
• The eve of forgiveness had the world looking forward to the hope that came through
Jesus Christ!
• Some people are still on the eve of forgiveness. They have not yet experienced that
forgiveness.
• We invite you to experience the hope of Jesus!

6. THE EVE OF ETERNITY

• Finally, let’s read Revelation 22:12.
• We who are in Jesus are now waiting for our King to return to take us to eternity.
• He came as a lowly child first. He will come again as a mighty King.
• We are on the eve of eternity. Put your hope in Jesus.
• As we look forward to the coming of Christmas, remember the coming of Jesus.

Conclusion: How might we respond to this message today?

1. As a family/couple/individual before Christmas Eve is over, reflect upon and discuss the
significance of Christmas Eve. Why is Christmas Day a day worth looking towards?
2. As a family/couple/individual, discuss the monumental eves. Why is each so important?
3. As a family/couple/individual, reflect upon the fact that we are in the eve of eternity.
Does that give you hope, concern, or something altogether different?

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 CHRISTMAS
Title: “The Angels’ Chorus”
Text: Luke 2:8-20
Sermon Overview: If God can use the birth of a baby to save humanity, He’s got you.

Introduction: How many of you struggle with wanting to be in control? Many of us do. We don’t
like it when things seem to spin out of control, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Recent
years—especially 2020—have shown us again how little control we have.
As we look at the Christmas story today, we’re going to zoom in on our control and God’s con-
trol. Here’s the truth I want you to walk away with today: If God can use the birth of a baby to
save humanity, He’s got you.
We’re looking at a portion of the Gospel of Luke, where there are four songs/praises/prophe-
cies in the birth narrative of Jesus. When you really think about it, the birth of Jesus is a pretty
incredible moment in history – and that’s putting it lightly. Our response should be the same
response we see in Scripture from Mary, from Zechariah, from the angels, and from Simeon—it
should be a response of worship, even in chaotic times. We worship the God who remains in
control.
We are going to look at control as it relates to three aspects of our lives: our surroundings, our
fears and doubts, and our expectations.

1. WHEN YOU CAN’T CONTROL YOUR SURROUNDINGS, GOD

CAN STILL USE YOU
• Shepherds occupied the lowest class in Jewish society. The nature of their role prohibited
them from being a part of the religious ceremonies, so they were looked down upon.
• And typically, shepherds were quite unreliable, which meant their testimony was not
even received in court.
• But what happened to these shepherds? The angels appeared to them!
• If you were planning the redemption of the world, do you think you would give the
important message of the birth of the Savior to the most despised class in the culture?
• What does this say about God then? God can use anyone, and our God is a God to all
people, no matter what circumstances are going on in life.
• God doesn’t want you to change your surroundings so He can use you. God wants to use
you in your current surroundings.
• We have to avoid the false dilemma that our surroundings determine our value and our
use in God’s work. How do we do that?

1. Remember God holds the world in His hands. We don’t.

2. Trust the hands of the One who holds the world.

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 3. Hold on to the hands of the One who holds the world.
4. Be available to God, wherever you are.

2. WHEN YOU CAN’T CONTROL YOUR FEARS AND DOUBTS,

GOD CAN
• We pick up in verse 10 with the angel helping the shepherds overcome their fear.
• The shepherds were rightly afraid when the glory of God shone around them. This angel
immediately said, “Guys, I get my presence is overwhelming. But it’s all good, and I have
some great news. That Messiah that everyone has been waiting on, He was born today.”
• So, God goes after their fears. He shows them He’s in complete control of the story, and
He’s working out His plan.

ILLUSTRATION: Point out different fears people have—often fears that show we don’t
trust God completely. For example, we might have a fear of death if we don’t truly trust
God’s promise of eternal life (John 3:16). We might fear aloneness if we don’t trust that
God will never leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5). Show that God has given us His Word
to alleviate our fears.

• At the same time, the angels and vast host of others praised God and sang. Where did
the angels place their highest praise? On God. What did they do? They worshiped Him.
• You and I need to learn to worship our way out of our fears and doubts. When we turn
our eyes on God, our fears lose their power.

3. WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER

EXPECTATIONS, GOD MIGHT HAVE OTHER PLANS
• The praise from the angels happened, and the shepherds looked at each other and said,
“Let’s go check this out!”
• They found the Messiah of the world, and they then went to everyone.
• But there was something else quite astonishing about this scene. The message of the
shepherds was accepted. Remember that the shepherds couldn’t testify in court because
they were unreliable? Here, though, God used the lowly to announce the birth of His Son.
They would have been unexpected messengers.
• Here’s the point: God often uses unexpected messengers. One most unusual example of
this truth is that God spoke through a donkey in the OT (Num 22). Sometimes God uses
unexpected people in our lives, too, to get our attention.

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about times in your life when God sent someone unexpectedly to
speak into your life. Be wisely vulnerable to make your point.

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 • Here, then, is the other side of expectations. We all have expectations of what we want
our life to look like. The shepherds probably had some expectation of what their life
would be like, and I doubt it included an encounter with an angel and the Son of God.
Sometimes, life goes much better than we expected, and we praise God. But sometimes,
life goes completely in the opposite direction than we expected. Still, we must trust Him
because His plans are always wiser and better than our expectations.

Conclusion: So, what do we do? I leave you with this today:

• This Christmas, give God control. If you’re a believer, give Him control of the areas where
you most struggle with control. What are those areas today?
• If you’re not a believer, let God take control of your life as you turn to Him in repentance
and trust.
• Remember this truth: If God can use the birth of a baby to save humanity, He’s got you.

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 CHRISTMAS
Title: “In the Fullness of Time”
Text: Galatians 4:1-7
Sermon Overview: At just the right time, God came to us to redeem us.

Introduction: Think about the best gifts you ever received for Christmas. I remember my first
10-speed bike, my football jersey of my favorite team, my car phone (as big as a suitcase in
those days), and my study Bible. What do you most remember today as we share the Christmas
season?
Whatever your favorite gifts have been, the greatest gift ever given is God’s gift of His Son as
our Redeemer. In Galatians 4, the apostle Paul reminds us of this gift.

1. THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME

• Paul wrote some of his strongest words to this church, a church that had been deceived
by false teachers.
• He reminded them they were saved only through faith in Christ, and he wanted them to
hear again the gift of God to them.
• In the ancient world, a child was under the care of a guardian until his father in essence
set him free. He was an heir, but in some ways no different than a slave until his father’s
intervention.
• That’s who the Galatians were—slaves to their own religion, under the control of the evil
one, until God stepped in.
• At just the right time, God came:

1. Politically, the world was largely at peace. Travel was safer. A common lan-
guage was in place. Jewish synagogues where monotheism was taught existed
throughout the empire. The early church had an opportunity to spread the
message of the gospel.
2. Theologically, the world was asking questions about sin, guilt, death, and evil
powers. The gospel was the answer to all their questions.

• God’s not early, and God’s not late. His calendar and clock may not be ours, but He’s
always right on time. For that reason, we can wait on Him in faith.

2. GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON

• God took the initiative to come to us. He sent His Son, born of a woman (experiencing
everything we experience, but without sin), born under the Law (a law that condemns
all others, for we are all sinners—but Jesus who was sinless would pay the penalty in our
place).
• We were sinners condemned under the Law, but God stepped directly into our story.

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 ILLUSTRATION: Guide the church to see the power of the words, “but God” that appear
in several Bible versions in verse 4. For example, they might feel unloved, but God loves
them. They might be weak, but God gives them strength. They might feel lonely, but
God does not leave us.

• God came Himself to do for us what no animal sacrifice, national king, or obedient prophet
could do. He came to save us.

3. HE CAME TO REDEEM THOSE UNDER THE LAW

ILLUSTRATION: Maybe you remember S&H Green Stamps. For every purchase you
made in the grocery story, you received “green stamps” to redeem toward other items.
I remember thinking as a kid how cool it was that we were getting free stuff—not real-
izing we got the stamps only because we’d already spent the money. Redemption was
hardly free; it came at a cost.

• That’s the same with the redemption Jesus purchased for us. It came at a cost as Jesus
died for us while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8).
• Through His death, Jesus gives forgiveness to sinners, restoration to those separated
from their Creator, cleansing to the guilty, reconciliation to the rebellious, and life to the
dying.
• In the end, Christmas makes little sense without the cross.

4. HE ADOPTS US AS HIS CHILDREN

• Redemption removes the negative of our sin, and adoption grants us the joy of being
made the family of God.
• We can call on Him as Father with the intimacy of a child crawling into Daddy’s lap.
• He chooses us not because we are worthy . . . not because we are lovable . . . but because
He is love. We were wicked and wandering, but God pursued us – and that’s the greatest
gift of all.

Conclusion: This year, we’ll spend a lot of time and money on gifts that really won’t last. It brings
us joy to give to others, though, and it’s right to share our love by our giving. My fear is we will
give a lot of temporary stuff while neglecting the gift that really matters: the Son of God.
Application:
1. Think about your own testimony, and think about how God made Himself known to you
just in time. Write your story down so your family will always have a copy.
2. Thank God for the gift of life through His Son.
3. In a Christmas card or letter this year, include a brief word about how grateful you are
for Jesus.

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 CHRISTMAS
Title: “What Will You Do with the Baby?”
Text: Luke 2
Sermon Overview: How we respond to the coming of Christ matters

Introduction: It’s amazing what babies do to our lives. We don’t sleep. We start talking baby talk
ourselves. We can’t wait to get home to hold them. Our schedules are never the same again. It
seems a baby changes everything!

ILLUSTRATION: Make the introduction personal. If your family allows you, talk about
how babies changed your life.

In this message, we want to see how people responded to Christ when He was born in Bethle-
hem. What did they do when God became a baby?

1. THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY HAD NO ROOM FOR HIM

• Joseph took his family back to Bethlehem to be counted in a census. There Jesus was
born, just as the prophet Micah (Mic 5:2) had announced centuries before.
• There, though, they found no guest room available for the birth. Even the crude public
shelters they might have called an “inn” were full, probably because of the census. Seem-
ingly, nobody provided room for this couple,
• Even if someone had said, “The Son of God is about to be born,” they surely would not
have listened. God would not come this way—it’s just too ordinary . . . too unspectacular
. . . too much like everybody else’s birth.
• That’s just why He came, though. He became poor so we might be rich, a nobody so we
might be somebody, born so we might be born again. Still, no one gave Him room.
• The people in Bethlehem might be excused since they likely did not understand all the
events, but what excuses do we have when we give Christ little room in our lives? What
will we do with the baby?

2. THE ANGELS ANNOUNCED HIM

• In the still of the night, shepherds in a nearby field heard an announcement from an
angel. In the city of David was born the Savior (who would save us from sin), Christ (the
anointed one) the Lord (who rules over all).
• The baby was God! No wonder the multitude joined in the singing!
• That’s our responsibility, too: to announce that God offers peace to sinful, hurting people.
Apart from having that kind of peace, we cannot possibly experience Christmas for all it’s
intended to be.

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 ILLUSTRATION: Before I became a believer, I could not sleep at night because I won-
dered about my spiritual condition. I had heard the gospel but rejected it—and I was
afraid of the potential consequences. When God saved me, though, I slept that night
like a baby for the first time in months. I had peace God alone had given me. Now many
years later, it’s still my responsibility to announce this good news of Jesus.

3. THE SHEPHERDS PRAISED GOD IN RESPONSE TO HIS

COMING
• The shepherds determined to go to Bethlehem, where they found the baby and His
parents.
• Shepherds, who were often thought to be low class outcasts, were the ones to whom the
good news came first. God loves even the lowliest of people.
• We can only wonder if these shepherds had also seen some of their own sheep taken for
sacrifice over the years. Year after year, sheep were sacrificed for the sins of the people—
yet perhaps the shepherds’ guilt never went away. Maybe they just knew something else
had to happen.
• When they met the baby, they glorified God for everything they had seen and heard.

ILLUSTRATION: All around the world today are people still sacrificing animals, still
slaughtering sheep in hopes their sacrifices will be enough to remove their shame and
guilt. Nothing short of following Jesus will fix the problem, however. It’s our responsi-
bility to sing and proclaim His praises to the ends of the earth.

Conclusion: There are others in this chapter of Luke who respond to the coming of Christ.
Mary meditated on all the things that had happened. Simeon found peace to die after Jesus
came. Anna gave thanks for His coming. The point is that all of us make some kind of response
to the baby. What will yours be today?
Application:
1. Ask yourself this question: “Has the coming of Christ changed my life?” If not, talk to a
church leader this week about your spiritual condition.
2. Decide what keeps you from giving Jesus room in your life, and begin to clear out some
space. Take more time this week to be with Him.
3. Study about a people group somewhere in the world who have not heard about Jesus.
Pray that missionaries will announce the good news to them.

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 SPECI A L DAYS A ND E V EN TS

SANCTITY OF LIFE
Title: “The Value of Life”
Text: Exodus 23:1-9
Sermon Overview: We are to cherish every person as an image bearer of God.

Introduction: How do you determine the value of a life? Some people might value a life in dollars
and cents; their value is based on how much they earn, how much they own, or how much they
might bring to an employer or company. Sadly, some people value others on the basis of their
skin color or their nationality. Or, some folks don’t value life much at all. In fact, our culture seems
to say that some folks, including the unborn, don’t have much value.
In this sermon, we want to look at this issue from the perspective of justice; that is, that God
required equal justice for all. Our passage today is Exodus 23:1-9. It might seem like a strange
passage to turn to on this Sunday when we reflect on the sanctity of human life in God’s sight.
In fact, it might seem like a strange passage to preach on any Sunday! But here we find that
God values the rich and the poor, the Israelite and the stranger. All human lives are precious
because we are made in the image of God.

1. WE VALUE LIFE WHEN WE STAND FOR TRUTH.

• Look at Exodus 23:1-3. First, the people were not to make false reports or be malicious
witnesses. Nor were they to believe reports just because “everybody else believes it.”
• A false report can be damaging to an innocent person; it can be damaging to someone
created in the image of God. Let’s be honest, then: we deny that human life is precious
when we engage in gossip and cheap attacks on other people. Our actions betray our
hearts.
• The people were also to not be partial to the poor in lawsuits. It was likely that being par-
tial to the rich may have been more of a problem, so it’s possible the writer was saying,
“Don’t be partial to anyone. Be fair to all people in your judgments.” Everyone, poor or
rich, matters to God who is just and right.
• Then, the writer of Exodus pointed out they were not to follow the crowds, not to do
wrong just because the majority was doing it. We’re often people who like to be liked,
who want to be popular, who want to fit in—and sometimes it’s easy to go with the crowd
and say nothing. It’s easy to let truth slide.

ILLUSTRATION: Tell a story of a person who stood for right even if he may have stood
alone (e.g., the man who stood before tanks in Tiananmen Square in China in 1989,
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s stance against the Nazis, or someone/something closer to your
context).

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 • In a culture where life is not celebrated and the unborn are killed, we must stand up for
truth—even if we stand alone. Even if every person in the world said the life of an unborn
baby was worthless, sanctity is not democratic. It is a monarchy, and the King has spoken.

2. WE VALUE LIFE WHEN WE LOVE OUR ENEMIES.

• It’s easy to help people we love, but it’s not always so easy to help those who seem to
be against us.
• In Exodus 23:4-5, the writer uses an example of a wandering ox or a burden-laden don-
key to illustrate God’s expectation. Even if the animal belonged to an enemy, the follow-
ers of God were to help them. They were to love their enemies, including those who had
chosen to hate them.
• Jesus pictured this kind of commitment when he used a Samaritan, whom the Jews
would have considered an enemy half-breed, to illustrate what it means to be a neighbor
(Luke 10:29-37). It wasn’t the Jewish leaders who helped the wounded man by the road-
side; it was the Samaritan.
• Romans 12:14 expresses the same idea: “Bless those who persecute you; bless them and
do not curse them.” This is where the rubber meets the road in many ways. We can say
that all human beings have inherent dignity before God, but when I am called to go out
of my way to do good to my enemy, I find out if I really believe it.
• People do not lose their value before God because they are our enemies. Nor do people
lose their value before God when they make choices we may not approve. The aborted
child and the woman who has had an abortion are both precious to God.

APPLICATION: Lead your congregation to consider people in their lives who are really
difficult to love—perhaps people who have hurt us, perhaps some who’ve made sinful
decisions. Most of us can name somebody who’s tough to love. Challenge them to pray
for them, love them, and do good to them even as Jesus commanded (Luke 6:27-28).
Everybody matters to God.

3. WE VALUE LIFE WHEN WE REMEMBER GOD’S GRACE.

• Exodus 23:6-9 covers several areas. The people were not to show partiality to the poor
(v. 3), but nor were they to be partial against the poor. Everyone was to be fair and hon-
est toward everyone else.
• They were to avoid killing the innocent and the righteous, knowing that God would even-
tually find them guilty for their actions. No one “gets away with” murdering the innocent.
• They were also to take no bribes. Bribes have a way of clouding our judgment. In fact,
we often make bad decisions about life when something has clouded our thinking. For
example:
1. A teenager afraid of the consequences of pregnancy might seek an abortion.

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 2. Maybe two parents sit together and worry about the finances of raising a child,
or both the financial and emotional cost of a disabled one. It is hard to think
clearly and biblically through that level of emotional noise.
3. Someone facing a long, grueling illness might be so overwhelmed at the
thought that they want to take their own life.
4. Pain and suffering blind us to the true value of people as surely as bribes.
• The people of God were also to treat sojourners well because they, too, had been sojourn-
ers in Egypt. They knew what that status was like. They had been foreigners in a foreign
land. They might be the ones in a better position now, but they had been on the other
side of the power structure and should have the humility to remember what it had been
like.
• They must remember that it was God who rescued them. They left Egypt because of the
power and grace of God, not because of their ability, cunning, or strength.
• We, too, must remember who we’ve been and magnify the grace of God:

1. Don’t we, as strangers and exiles in the world, know what it means to be
outsiders?
2. Don’t we, as children of God by faith, know the weakness of children and their
dependence on others?
3. Don’t we, who are poor in spirit, understand the humility of the poor? Don’t
we, who are rich in Christ, understand the responsibility of wealth?
4. Don’t we, who live in a world of sin with flesh that betrays us every hour, under-
stand the plight of the sick and the old?
5. Don’t we, who have been bought with the blood of Jesus—and this is the point
of this sermon on this day—understand how sacred and precious life is?

Conclusion: Valuing life is more than just a thought. If we really see life as precious, we must act
on that belief.
Application: Briefly list some opportunities in your community and through your church to
show the value of life (e.g., supporting a pregnancy care ministry, ministering in a senior adult
complex, etc.).

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 R ACIAL RECONCILIATION
Title: “Tearing Down the Wall”
Text: Ephesians 2:11-22
Sermon Overview: Racial divisions of our day should find their death in the new life that Jesus
brings.

Introduction: Do you remember the hit show on ABC, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? It
was hosted by Ty Pennington and a crew of fantastic volunteers and good looking professional
contractors and designers who could turn a terrible house into a beautiful home. There was
normally a family involved about whom you would hear an inspiring backstory, and then the
transformation began. As great as those shows were with showing a transformation that came
from tearing down the old and building the new, they do not compare to the miraculous work
that God does through Christ to tear down walls of hostility (such as racial conflict) and build
up the beautiful body of Christ. In today’s message, we want to talk about transformation using
this same imagery.
In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul spoke of God forming out of both Jewish and Gentile peoples one new
people who are redeemed and unified as the Church of Jesus Christ. The hostility between Jews
and Gentiles should be a thing of the past and unity should encompass the newness found in
Jesus. So, racial divisions of our day should find their death in the new life that Jesus brings.

1. THE BACKSTORY
• The backstory is knowing what happened before the transformation started.
• Paul wanted to make sure that the Ephesians are reminded of what life was like for them
before Jesus changed them. They were dead in their sins and separated from God.
• Everything has changed for these Gentiles (and us) who were without God.
• Racial/ethnic tension is a reality that spans the breadth of history. However, for believers,
that should be part of their past (the backstory).
• The blood of Jesus changes everything!

ILLUSTRATION: Use contemporary news reports to show how sinfulness results in divi-
sion. Such division began in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3), when Adam blamed Eve (and
ultimately, God) for their sin. Even the next story of the Bible is a brother killing a
brother in Genesis 4.

2. THE MAKEOVER
• Paul placed an emphasis on peace. Through Jesus, we now have peace with God and
others.

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 • The two groups that were at odds with one another have now been brought together.
They are no longer two, they are one.
• The wall of division and hostility that existed between Jews and Gentiles has been torn
down by the power of the Gospel. So also, racial/ethnic walls today are obliterated by
the gospel.
• There should be no division in Jesus Christ; we are one!

ILLUSTRATION: I once traveled to Russia, where we visited a village of North Vietnam-

ese refugees. One of our church members began to weep as we met the people, and I
asked him why. He said, “There was a time when I was dropping bombs on this people.
Now, I’ve learned to love them in Jesus’ name.” Only when Jesus changes us can our
backstory be different.

3. THE REVEAL
• The reveal is the moment when you see the culmination of all of the work that was done.
• Because of the work of Jesus, we are now fellow citizens with the saints and members of
• God’s household. In Jesus, there is no longer black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Islander,
Native American, or any other distinction. We are the Church of Jesus Christ!
• Paul shifts his metaphor to speak of a building: the temple of God. In Jesus, through the
Holy Spirit, we the people, we the Church, are the dwelling place of God. Not a building,
but a people; redeemed and united by the work of Jesus.
• The beauty of all of God’s people (of all backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, and more) built
into a holy temple for God’s dwelling is nothing short of miraculous.

ILLUSTRATION: The truths of this passage can be compared to the movie, Remember
the Titans. That movie is about a football team that becomes integrated with both white
football players and black football players. Even though they are on the same team,
initially, there is a lot of division on the team because of racial differences. However,
there’s a moment in the movie where it is no longer the white players and the black
players. Instead, they all become Titans, and they are one.

Conclusion: How do we apply the truths of this text?

1. Thank Jesus for bringing us near to Him and to each other.
2. Consider how we may be going back to our backstory (the former way of sin) or “rebuild-
ing the wall” of hostility that Jesus tore down by our racial insensitivity, prejudice, or
injustice.
3. Ask someone who knows us well if they see us as prejudiced. We often don’t see our-
selves with full integrity.
4. Challenge the church to get involved in a local ministry that intentionally works to tear
down walls through the gospel.

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 GR ADUATION
Title: “Using Your Gifts Wherever You Are”
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-26
Sermon Overview: Wherever God sends us in different seasons of life, we must serve Him
through His church.

Introduction:

ILLUSTRATION: Introduce this sermon by describing one of your graduations. If you

personally moved away from home and joined a church in your university setting, tell
about that decision, too. Explain your desire to challenge graduates (and the rest of the
church) to serve Him with the gifts He’s given us.

We want to see what the apostle Paul said about serving God through His church today.

4. IT IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH THAT YOU DISCOVER

AND UTILIZE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
• Don’t miss all that Paul said here: God works in each person in the church (v. 6), each
person has a gift (v. 7), the Spirit distributes gifts to each person as He wills (v. 11), each
one of us is in Christ’s church according to His design (v. 18).
• All of this means that each of us has been given at least one spiritual gift to use through
God’s church. We are made up of many people, but God brought all of us here for a pur-
pose. What one of us does affects all of us; we rejoice together, and we weep together.
• So, when one of us is falling down on the job, the entire church is weakened. Somebody
else may pick up the slack, but that additional work then becomes burdensome.
• I don’t know where God will lead our graduates. Some of you are moving away to go
to college. Others will be staying around here. Wherever God sends you, though, serve
through a church. Use your gifts. God gave them to you for His glory.

APPLICATION: Talk with your graduates about what they will get out of church (e.g.,
accountability, teaching, friendships, family, etc.), but also talk about what they will
bring to a church (e.g., talents, skills, zeal, youthfulness, etc.).

5. IT IS IN USING OUR GIFTS THAT WE BEST UNDERSTAND

OUR ROLE IN THE CHURCH
• The believers in Corinth were arguing over who had the greatest gifts. Consequently,
some felt less significant, less needed. They didn’t matter as much to the church.

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 • But, that’s not the way God designs the church. Using the analogy of the body, Paul
explained how each member of the Body of Christ matters.

ILLUSTRATION: Let the illustration of the body speak for itself. Explain what Paul was
trying to do when he said that everyone cannot be an ear, for example.

• God expects all members of the church to serve. In fact, Paul said God gives even more
attention to the weaker to help them find their place in the church. He meets them in
their weakness and uses them for His glory.
• Sometimes our role may not be as glamourous as others, but the role still matters. We
might serve behind the scenes and not get much recognition, but we do it for God. A
servant heart reflects the heart of Christ.

APPLICATION: If your church has a process for members to determine their gifts,
describe that process here. Encourage folks to get involved.

6. IT IS IN USING OUR GIFTS WE MOST EXPERIENCE GOD’S JOY

• In a healthy church, members are interconnected and interdependent. Everybody mat-
ters, and there is no room for ego.
• In this kind of church, members are serving as they ought to be. They recognize their
gifts and use them. They work together as a team; thus, they rejoice and weep together.
• In this church, nobody just sits. The beauty of the church is apparent because it’s func-
tioning on all cylinders. It’s a lot of fun, actually, to be in this kind of church. It’s joyous.

ILLUSTRATION: I know some things I’m not gifted in (for example, public singing, teach-
ing children, or administration). I might try to do anything needed in my church, but I
probably wouldn’t do those kinds of things well for very long. When we’re not oper-
ating in our giftedness, the work of the church can be exhausting. When we’re doing
what we love to do and are using our gifts as much as possible, serving in the church
is exciting. When all of us serve in our giftedness, the church is a place of joy and unity.

APPLICATION: Remind the graduates that getting a degree doesn’t change their
responsibility to be invested in a local church wherever they are. Help them to consider
the kind of joy they will bring to a church when they serve even as college students.

Conclusion: I’ve received a lot of cool gifts over the years, but few things are as important to
me as my spiritual gifts. I love serving the church in ways God designed me to. It’s just exciting
and rewarding to me. Graduates, as you prepare for the next season of your life, don’t forget to
be a contributing member of a local church, serving God with our gifts wherever He leads you.

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 STEWARDSHIP
Title: “Blessed to be a Blessing”
Text: Psalm 67
Sermon Overview: God blesses us so that we might bless others among the nations.

Introduction: What do we mean when we use the words “bless” or “blessing”? We say the
words a lot, but I’m not sure we think about what we mean. For example, what are we saying
when we say things like, “You’re such a blessing to me” or “I’m so blessed”? Or, what do we
mean when we say, “God bless you” when somebody sneezes?
Too often, we think of blessing as something we get, and we think too little about God’s bless-
ings we then extend to others. That’s the point of today’s text – what’s known as a missionary
psalm of God’s people.
This psalm is a prayer in three stanzas, and we’ll use that prayer as our major points.

1. “GOD, BLESS US THAT THE NATIONS MAY KNOW YOU”

• This psalm begins and end with similar phrases (vv. 1-2 and vv. 6-7) that serve as book-
ends for it.
• “God, bless us” might sound like a selfish request, but the better understanding is “God,
be gracious to us” or “God, have mercy on us.” It’s a recognition that we are fallen people
in need of God’s grace, and any blessing God gives us is undeserved.
• In fact, our prayer is for God’s favor not for us, but so the nations might know Him.
• This psalm is a prayer and a commitment that we will give away God’s blessings for
others.

ILLUSTRATION: If your church is already blessing others in your community or around

the world, remind them how their giving is helping others know and follow Jesus. The
more specific your examples are, the better.

2. “GOD, LET THE PEOPLES PRAISE YOU!”

• One purpose of the “bookend” verses is to drive the reader to the center of the psalm.
The repetition of verses 3 and 5 emphasize the praise of the peoples, and verse 4 is the
center of the prayer: that the nations will rejoice and shout over God who offers redemp-
tion to the nations and judges them with fairness.
• Our prayer should be that God will use the blessings He grants us to reach the peoples
of the world, and they will in turn praise Him. We want others to join us in our singing!
• In fact, in many parts of North America, God is bringing the nations to us so they might
hear the good news.

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 ILLUSTRATION: Do a demographic study of your community, and teach your congrega-
tion about the nations among you. Help them to see their opportunities, and challenge
them to pray others in the area will sing God’s praises.

3. “GOD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS TO COME”

• Verses 6-7, the second bookend, are similar to verses 1-2.
• This section is the only section that talks directly about material blessings.
• God blesses His people with harvest, but He does so that all the ends of the earth will
honor Him.
• He does not intend for us to consume His blessings on ourselves.
• Instead, we can with absolute confidence trust that God will take care of us with bless-
ings unearned and undeserved so His glory will spread to the ends of the earth.

Conclusion: What does this psalm mean for us as we think about stewardship?
1. We can only be humbled by His blessings.
2. We cannot assume God’s blessing for us is always blessing in the world’s eyes. The world
speaks primarily of material blessings, but God’s perspective is broader than that.
3. All of us must prayerfully consider going to the nations and living among the nations so
others will praise Him.
4. We must challenge our churches to view blessings not as stuff to keep but as gifts to
give away.
5. We have to ask a personal question: “Will our neighbors and the nations sing of Him
more tomorrow because of our church’s ministry today?” If we don’t think so, we need to
pray the prayer of this psalm again.

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 LORD’S SUPPER
Title: “Do This in Remembrance of Me”
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Sermon Overview: We follow the Lord’s command so we remember Jesus’ death until He
comes again.

Introduction: I am struck by how much we forget. How many of you have forgotten a birthday?
An anniversary? A name? An appointment? We probably all have painful stories of things we’ve
forgotten. In fact, there are people who make a living training people to increase their memory.
We’re just a forgetful people, and we need reminders to remember. God knew that about us,
so He gave us an ordinance (a “command”) to observe the Lord’s Supper “in remembrance of
Him.” That’s what we are going to do today.

1. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A REMEMBRANCE OF THE LORD’S

DEATH
• In the Old Testament, God required the death of an unblemished animal to “passover”
His people when he plagued the Egyptians with the death of their firstborn.
• On the Day of Atonement, He required the sacrifice of one goat for covering of sin and
another goat (the “scapegoat”) to symbolize the carrying away of our sin.
• All of this pointed to something much, much greater, though: the Son of God dying in our
place to grant us forgiveness and freedom.
• Yet, we need God’s plan to remember this magnificent event. Our memories fade because
we don’t think enough about Jesus’ death. Other things—usually temporary things—get
in the way of our focusing on the death of Jesus. We just take it all for granted.

ILLUSTRATION: Explain how the Supper is itself an illustration of the broken body and
the shed blood of Christ. Don’t assume everyone in the congregation understands that
picture.

2. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A CALL FOR UNITY

• The Corinthian church was marked by disunity. They all followed different leaders. They
were suing each other. They were arguing over meat offered to idols, spiritual gifts, and
the truth of the resurrection.
• Some division between those who followed God and those who did not was inevitable.
Nevertheless, they should have been one body taking the Lord’s Supper together, but
weren’t. They were even exhibiting elitism, separating the rich from the poor and dishon-
oring the Lord as they went through the motions of the Supper.

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 • When we gather to observe this meal, we’re called to confess and turn from our bit-
terness, our anger, our divisions, our pride.

3. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A CALL TO HOLY LIVING

• We are to examine ourselves under the microscope of God’s Word through His Spirit
when we consider the Lord’s death this way. If we don’t do that, we risk bringing God’s
judgment on ourselves. We ridicule the death of the Son of God when we carry out this
ordinance with disregard for being holy.
• We are wise to consider at least these questions in preparation for the meal:

1. Is my life different from the world?

2. Am I hiding anything?
3. Am I the same person in private as I am in public?
4. Is there a sin I must forsake?
5. Is there an act of obedience I must pick up?

4. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A LOOK FORWARD

• The Corinthians were to proclaim the Lord’s death through the Supper until He comes
again.
• The death of Jesus is not the end of the story. The cross leads to the burial, resurrection,
ascension, and coming return of Jesus according to God’s timing. In the meantime, we
look forward to His return every time we take the Lord’s Supper.
• The Supper reminds us to live today as if this day is the day of His coming. If indeed He
comes back this day, will He find you walking closely with Him?

Conclusion: We cannot take this ordinance lightly. We do it soberly and seriously, but we also
do it with anticipation of being with Him forever. As the people of God, let’s share the Lord’s
Supper together.

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 DEACON ORDINATION
Title: “A Charge to the Church and the Servant”
Text: Acts 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Introduction: We come together today to ordain, or to set apart, one of our church members to
be a deacon. We honor [candidate] as we do so, but we even more honor God for His faithful-
ness in [candidate’s] life. We recognize the deacon as one of the two offices of the church (the
other is the pastor), and the deacon’s role is to serve the Body of Christ. Our congregation has
determined that [candidate] has already demonstrated a servant’s heart, and we recognize that
today.

1. THE ROLE OF THE DEACON

• The noun “deacon” (diakonos) derives from a Greek verb “to serve.”
• Philippians 1 and 1 Timothy 3 show that the office of deacon existed in the early church,
but there is no explicit description of the duties of a deacon. However, we can gather
certain themes from Scripture.
• Deacons are, for example, problem solvers. There arose a complaint from neglected wid-
ows in the early church, and the church chose some men to help solve the problem. They
helped the church smooth out the conflict so the leaders could continue to preach and
pray.
• They are also preservers of unity. The major issue in the Acts 6 passage was a cultural
one within the church – Hellenistic Jews and Hebraic Jews – two different cultures that
were coming together in one church. The early deacons helped to resolve the conflict
between these groups.
• They are promoters of the faith. One result of their work in Acts 6 was that the gospel
spread and flourished. Many came to know Christ.
• In our church, we know that growth might bring friction. A changing community means
we’ll have different cultures among us. Our goal is to see many new believers through our
ministry. The deacons we ordain help us to maintain unity and focus in our work.

2. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE DEACON

• This role is important enough in the church that the Bible gives clear expectations for
them. We will summarize them this way:

1. High Character “worthy of respect, not a hypocrite or a drunk, not greedy…”

• Deacons will—by the nature of this office—know what’s going on in our
church, good and bad.
• Confidentiality and high character are a must.

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 • Like pastors, deacons are called to be above reproach. Their “yes” must be
“yes,” and they must do what they say they will do.

2. Solid Faith “holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience”
• This serves as a warning—we cannot allow into any office people who do
not demonstrate a grounded faith.
• Deacons must believe in the fundamentals of the faith. With the essentials,
there must be unity; with the non-essentials, there must be grace.
• This position is not one of power, but one of service to our common faith.
• Our church is ordaining a man we believe is “tested” and “blameless.” He,
like all leaders, must also examine himself.

3. Family-man “manage your household competently”

• How a deacon treats his family is more important than what he does in the
church. His wife and kids are more important than his position here.
• It all starts with the deacon’s family. No one will care twenty years from
now how he voted on issues brought up in our deacons’ meetings, but his
children will care if he is “bold” for Jesus and acquires “a good standing”
with his wife.
• The best advice I know to give a deacon—the best charge—is to put his
family above everything other than God, even service to the church.
• This church needs “for better or worse” husbands who are also committed
“for better or worse” deacons. They lead their families, and they support
their church and their pastors.

Conclusion: The early church selected those who were qualified for the task at hand, and they
had them stand before them as they prayed for them. We, too, have selected [candidate], and
now we pray for him and his family.

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 LOCAL OR NATIONAL CRISIS
Title: “Lord, Teach Us to Pray”
Text: Luke 22:39-46
Sermon Overview: We must pray in our tough moments.

Introduction: We are in a crisis moment today, and we must pray. Turn in your Bibles with me
to Luke 22:39-46.
There are some texts in scripture that make you want to read them in a hushed tone. It seems
like reading them is almost an intrusion, an interruption in a holy moment. Today’s text is one
of those. It’s a text about Jesus praying, and it reminds us to seek God in the toughest times of
our lives.

1. IF WE FOLLOW JESUS, PRAYER SHOULD BE IN OUR DNA

• If we strive to be like Jesus—which Christians must do—we must pray. In fact, the entire
book of Luke is filled with Jesus praying:
1. “when Jesus also was baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened”
(3:21).
2. “And when it was day, he departed and went to a desolate place” (4:42). Mark
1:35 tells us Jesus went to this place to pray.
3. “Great crowds gathered to hear him . . . but he would withdraw to desolate
places and pray” (5:15-16).
4. “he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to
God” (6:12).
5. “And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said
a blessing over them” (9:16).
6. “Now it happened that as he was praying alone. . . ” (9:18).
7. “he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to
pray” (9:28).
8. “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father”
(10:21).
9. “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place . . . And he said to them, ‘When you
pray, say . . .’” (11:1-2).
10. “Simon, Simon, Satan demanded to have you . . . but I have prayed for you”
(22:31-32).
11. “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me” (22:42).
12. “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (22:42).
13. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (23:34).
14. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (23:46).
15. “Then he led them as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them”
(24:50).

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 • Jesus was a prayer warrior, and we who belong to Him must pray. Our prayers in times
of crisis, in fact, ought to be a continuation of our praying at all times.

2. WE MUST TRUST GOD IN PRAYER EVEN IN THE TOUGHEST

TIMES OF OUR LIVES
• The Gospels give us the whole account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He took His disciples with them, and He offered up sorrowful, deeply agonizing prayers
as the shadow of the cross hung over Him.
• Meanwhile, He told His disciples to pray in this tough moment, too—but they did not. In
their weariness, they slept instead.
• More than once, Jesus went away to pray, returned to His disciples, and went away to
pray again. His prayer was, “Father, if there’s any other way, let this cup of suffering pass
from me. But if not, not my will but Yours be done.”
• An angel strengthened Him, but still the agony was so great that His blood mingled with
His sweat. He was bearing a foretaste of the cross, of what it would be like to be forsaken.
• In this most agonizing moment, He turned to the Father in prayer.
• Today, we face the crisis of [the event]. It would be easy to question God, to wonder why
God allows things to happen. It would be easy to try to determine what to do in response
without even praying. That we must not do as Christ-followers.
• We pray, trusting Him even as we grieve. We love Him as we cry out to Him. We keep
believing while we agonize. Here, we find the best place to be is on our knees.

APPLICATION: Tell your church about ways they will be gathering to pray in the days to
come. If there are no plans to do so, challenge the believers to make that commitment.

3. SURELY, WE WANT TO TALK TO HIM WHO PRAYS FOR US

TODAY
• Here’s what Jesus is doing for us today:
1. “he always lives to make intercession for us” (Heb 7:25)
2. “he is at the right hand of God interceding for us” (Rom 8:34)
• In the midst of crisis, we are not alone. The Son of God is praying for we who often don’t
pray enough to Him.
• Surely, we would want today to pray to Him as He prays for us in these difficult days.

Conclusion: To close this service, it makes sense that we will pray.

Application: Lead your congregation now to seek God’s face in the midst of crisis. Cry out to
Him, asking for His will to be done.

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 WEDDING SERMON
PRELUDE
MINISTER AND GROOM’S ENTRANCE
SEATING OF PARENTS
LIGHTING OF UNITY CANDLE
PROCESSIONAL
• Bridesmaid Processional
• Bride’s Processional

WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER

We have gathered together to celebrate a commitment of love, a commitment that
_________ and __________ believe to be the leadership of the Holy Spirit in their
lives. Let us ask our Heavenly Father to bless this special occasion.

Prayer: “Dear Heavenly Father: You have promised that where two or three are gath-
ered in your name, you would be present. We believe that. May this wedding service be
highlighted with deep sense of your abiding presence, bring honor and glory to your
name, and bless this occasion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

GIVING OF THE BRIDE

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
(“Her mother and I do” or “I do” – response by bride’s father)
(_________ and __________ will join hands.)

MARRIAGE SERMON
The Bible teaches that marriage between a husband and wife is a powerful force.
Solomon said,
“I am my beloved’s, And his desire is for me. Put me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death.”
“Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will river overflow it; If a man were to
give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.” (Song of
Sol 7:10; 8:6-7 NASB)
Outside the power of the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ that brings a person from
death to life, from darkness to light, from doubt to faith, there is nothing more visibly
powerful than the genuine love of a man and woman in Christ Jesus.
The Bible teaches that a Christian marriage is a picture of Christ and His relationship to
the church. Scripture tells us:

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 “And I saw a holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev 21:2 NASB)
Our Heavenly Father, in seeking to describe that intimate, heavenly relationship
between Himself and His redeemed people, used the earthly picture of the bride
and bridegroom to give us an idea of our unique position as His beloved.
That is all the more reason that we should guard our marital ties. To mar this picture of
Christ and His church by unfaithfulness, divorce, or strife within the union would distort
the wonderful picture of Christ’s abiding and faithful love for His bride, the church.
The Bible teaches that marriage is to be a permanent relationship of one man and one
woman freely and totally committed to each other as companions for life. Our Lord de-
clared that “man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they
will become one.” (Gen 2:24 NASB)
God’s will and ideal for marriage is that it is a lifetime commitment. Jesus’ remarks in
Matthew 19:4-6 reaffirmed what God has stated early in the course of the human race.
Marriage is divinely instituted, sacred, in the purpose of God, and a lifelong union.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS
Knowing that you understand that marriage is a powerful force of love, a picture of
Christ and his church, and a permanent relationship, and you are committed to those
eternal principles, it is my privilege to ask:
“_________, will you take _________, to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold
from this day forward, in times of plenty, or in times of poverty, in great wealth or in
simplicity, in sickness and health, and promising to be faithful to her and her alone, as
long as you both shall live?” (Response: I will.)
“_________ will you take _________, to be your wedded husband, to have and to
hold from this day forward, in times of plenty, or in times of poverty, in great wealth or
in simplicity, in sickness and health, and promising to be faithful to him and him alone,
as long as you both shall live?” (Response: I will.)

EXCHANGE OF RINGS
(_________ and _________ face each other and join hands.)
The wedding ring is a symbol of marriage in at least two ways. The purity of precious
metals symbolizes the purity of your love for each other, and the unending circle sym-
bolizes the unending vows which you are taking. As a symbol of your vows, you will
give and receive the rings.
(Turn to best man) “May I please have the ring?”
Will you take this ring, _________, and place it on _________’s finger, and as you do,
repeat after me, to her, these words:
“This ring is a symbol, of my love to you. With this ring, I pledge my life, and all I
have to you, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
(Turn to maid of honor) “May I please have the ring?”

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 Will you take this ring, _________, and place it on _________’s finger, and as you do,
repeat after me, to him, these words:
“This ring is a symbol, of my love to you. With this ring, I pledge my life, and all I
have to you, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

LIGHTING OF THE UNITY CANDLE

The two outside candles have been lit to represent both your lives up until this moment.
They are two distinct lights, each capable of going their separate ways. As you join now
in marriage, there is a merging of these two lights into one light.
This is what the Lord meant when he said in Genesis 2, “man shall leave his father and
mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they will become one.”
From now on, your thoughts shall be for each other rather than your individual selves.
Your plans shall be mutual, your joys and sorrows shall be shared alike.
As you each take a candle and together light the center one, you will extinguish your
own candles, thus letting the center candle represent the union of your lives into one
flesh. As this one light cannot be divided, neither shall your lives be divided but a unit-
ed testimony in a Christian home. May the radiance of this one light be a testimony of
your unity in the Lord Jesus Christ.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE
For as much as _________ and _________ have given their hearts to one another in
holy matrimony, witnessed before God and this company, pledged their unending com-
mitments to each other, and declared the same by the giving and receiving of a ring, I
pronounce they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
_________, you may kiss your bride.
(_________ and _________ turn and face the crowd.)
Friends and family, it is my honor to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs.
_________ _________.

RECESSIONAL

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 WEDDING SERMON
WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER
We are gathered today to celebrate one of the happiest moments in the lives of ________ and
________, for on this day ________ and ________ affirm before witnesses of heaven and
earth that they should share life together in the holy bond of Christian marriage.
Today is a holy time, because we are aware of the presence of God who created us for relation-
ships. It is an awesome moment as we are reminded of how strong the cords of love are which
are being woven today. It is a joyous time, as we celebrate a friendship that God has brought
together to be much more.
________ and ________ desire for God’s blessing on their marriage. In light of that, please
join me in prayer.

PRAYER (After prayer have everyone sit down)

GIVING OF THE BRIDE
Who presents this woman to be married to this man?

MARRIAGE SERMON
Marriage is ordained by God. He created it ,and so we come to celebrate what God is doing in
your lives. You are here because of your love for each other. I want to read the best definition
of love ever written:

LOVE CHAPTER: 1 Corinthians 13 – “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not
boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record
of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends… now there three remain:
faith, hope, and love – but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13
________ and ________, as you stand here this afternoon you look forward to spending
a lifetime together, you have many dreams of what your life together will be like and many
expectations. There are going to be great times, and there are going to be some tough times.
What I want to remind you of is that a good marriage just doesn’t happen; it takes work. You
must give time and attention to your marriage and you must be intentional in building your
marriage.
Today, I want to give you four building blocks that you can build a strong marriage on. These
are not all inclusive, but these four will go a long way in building a strong happy marriage.
They all begin with the letter C to make it easier for you to remember.
The first one is Christ. This is a reminder that God created marriage and will bless your mar-
riage when you seek Christ first in your marriage. This means individually and as a couple.
(Groom) – God has called you to lead your home spiritually. This means finding a good church
home, leading in spiritual conversations in your home, praying together as a couple and even-
tually as a family.

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The second C is Communication. Communication is an area you must constantly give attention
to. We tend to communicate well when we are dating, but if we aren’t careful that communi-
cation will break down over time. Talk about the big stuff and the small stuff. You should feel
comfortable talking to your spouse about everything in your life – your dreams, your fears,
your frustrations, everything. There should be no secrets in your marriage. But, that will only
happen as you develop a safe relationship and share your heart.
Third C is Commitment. In just a few minutes, I am going to ask if you are willing to commit to
each other – in good times and in tough times, in sickness and health – until death do you part.
I mentioned earlier that every marriage goes through great times, but also through tough
times. When the tough times come, some people start to ask, “how do I get out of this?” – I
want you to ask, “how do we work through this?” It is that commitment that gives you the de-
termination to work through the tough days and if you do it right, you will come out stronger
on the other side.
Last, marriage is a Covenant. Many in our society treat marriage like a contract; “if you do your
part, I will do mine.” Christian marriage is a covenant relationship which means you are going
to give 100% while expecting nothing in return. Now I know that sounds crazy, but imagine a
marriage where each partner loves unconditionally and tries to out-serve each other. That will
build a great foundation for a thriving marriage. You can do that knowing that God is guiding
both of your lives.
So, let me recap:
Put Christ first in your lives and in your marriage.
Communicate about everything.
Know that you are making a lifelong commitment today.
This isn’t a contract, but you are entering into a covenant relationship.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS
At this time, we will exchange the vows. ________ and ________, please face each other.
Vows: (if they don’t write their own vows)
________, will you have ________ to be your wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in
the holy estate of matrimony, and will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness
and in health, and forsaking all others keep only unto her as long as you both shall live?
________, will you have ________ to be your husband, to live together after God’s ordinance
in the holy estate of matrimony, and will you love him, honor him, and keep him in sickness and
in health, and forsaking all others keep only unto him as long as you both shall live?

EXCHANGE OF RINGS
The ring is an outward expression of the inner commitment you are making to each other. The
ring says to the world that you have committed your love to another. As you look at the ring,
think about all that the ring symbolizes:
• It is made of pure refined metal – a reminder of how pure our love should be.

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 • It is made of precious metal – a reminder to cherish your spouse.
As each of you places the ring on your spouse’s finger, repeat after me:
With this ring, I thee wed, and all my worldly goods, I share with you, in the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Bible says, “For this cause shall a man leave his mother and a woman leave her home and
the two shall become one.”

UNITY CANDLE AND COMMUNION (OPTIONAL)

Now by the power vested in me by God and the state of ________, I pronounce you husband
and wife. What God has joined together, let no man tear apart.
________, you may kiss your bride
Ladies and gentlemen, may I be the first to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. ________ ________.

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 FUNER AL
Text: John 14:1-6
Sermon Note: This funeral sermon is intended to be shared at the service of someone who is a
follower of Jesus. The sermon could be adapted if the person was not a follower of Jesus to have
even more evangelistic appeal.

We come together today to recognize and honor the life of [the deceased].
In this passage, Jesus knew that He was just hours away from the cross. He knew His death
would disturb His disciples, as they were like family. And so, we see how Jesus prepared His
disciples for His death and in doing so, He gives us insight in both how to be prepared for that
day and how to respond to a loved one passing that was in Christ. In this passage, He talks
about a person, a place and a promise.

1. THE PERSON
• Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
• Jesus isn’t saying we shouldn’t mourn or feel a loss when we lose a loved one; in fact,
the only time we read of Jesus crying in the Bible was when He heard that His friend
Lazarus had died. What Jesus is saying is that it is possible to have peace in the midst of
mourning.
• How do we have that peace? First, by putting our trust in the Person of Jesus Christ.
We put our faith in a Person. Jesus is saying to His disciples, “we’ve walked together for
three years, and you’ve seen me change water into wine, heal, cast out demons, raise the
dead. I can be trusted.” To each one of us He is saying, trust Me. We can trust Him with
our lives and our future.
• Even though we mourn over the death of [the deceased], we aren’t troubled because we
know that they are more alive now than ever.
• [If known, tell the testimony of the deceased here].

2. THE PLACE
• Second, Jesus says that we have assurance of a better place – Heaven.

• Jesus is preparing for our place in Heaven. Even though the Bible doesn’t tell us
everything about Heaven, it does tell us a lot. We know we will be in the presence of
God and worship Him continually. That is reason enough to look forward to Heaven,
but the Bible also says Heaven is going to be a place of:

1. Reunion – with those loved ones who have gone ahead of us who also put their
trust in Christ. 1 Thess 4:14-18
2. Reward – we will be rewarded for the things we did for God while we were on
earth. Matt 5:11-12

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 3. Release – released from all pain, all suffering, all sadness, all sorrow, all grief, all
depression, all loneliness. Rev 21:4 – “and God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away.”

3. THE PROMISE
• Jesus is speaking to His Apostles and gives them a promise that they will join Him in
Heaven. We have God’s promise throughout scripture that Heaven awaits all those who
have put their faith in Christ: “…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –
Rom 6:23b
• Maybe some of you here today would admit you have questions about your salvation.
One of Jesus’ Apostles, Thomas, did and so he asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you
are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered him, “I am the way, and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Jesus’ response shows us that it is only through saving faith in Him that we can inherit eternal
life. Jesus said that He was:
1. The Way – He provided the way to the Father through the cross when He died
for my sins and for yours.
2. The Truth – He lived truth, spoke truth; the absolute truth for life can be found
in Jesus Christ.
3. The Life – through Him, we can have abundant life on earth and eternal life in
Heaven.
If you have not turned to the person of Christ today and trusted His promise, I encourage you
to do so. If you are a follower of Christ, thank Him for the person, the place, and the promise.

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 FUNER AL
Text: Various passages
Sermon Note: This funeral sermon is intended to be shared at the service of someone who is a
follower of Jesus. The sermon could be adapted if the person was not a follower of Jesus to have
even more evangelistic appeal.
Today, we gather to celebrate the life and homecoming of [the deceased].

1. DEATH SEEKS TO BRING AN END TO LIFE

• Let’s read Romans 5:12.
• Death and suffering seek to end all of our lives.
• Death came into our world as a result of the entrance of sin.
• The curse of sin will seek to destroy us and those we love, both physically and spiritually.
• For the follower of Jesus, death and sin do not have the final word!

2. JESUS OFFERS NEW LIFE ON THIS EARTH

• I will read John 10:10.
• Jesus offers us new life here on this earth.
• [The deceased]’s life was changed by her/his relationship with Jesus.
• So, even though sin and death would seek to destroy [the deceased], Jesus gave him/
her new life on this earth.
• Much greater, Jesus also offers new life for all eternity!

3. JESUS OFFERS NEW LIFE FOR ALL ETERNITY

• Let’s now read Romans 6:23 and Romans 8:18.
• God offers us an eternal escape from sin and death through Jesus Christ: eternal life with
Jesus!
• [The deceased] is now in the midst of his/her eternal life.
• We cannot imagine the glories that are a reality to [the deceased] now.

4. THERE IS NEW LIFE FOR ALL THOSE IN CHRIST

• Let’s read Romans 8:1.
• God offers new life for all of us who have trusted Jesus.
• [The deceased] is in eternal glory forever, and he/she is experiencing joy beyond our
imagination. The door is open for all of us to join him/her there.

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Illustration suggestions:
1. Try to incorporate stories of the deceased into the biblical message aspect of the funeral
service.
2. Speak of how everything that has life (plants, animals, batteries, lightbulbs) is slowly
dying. Nothing ever gains new life, except through the power of Jesus!
Application:
1. Challenge the attendees to take hope in the promise of life found in the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
2. Challenge the attendees to consider if the hope of new life is there for them. Challenge
them to reach out to you or a follower of Jesus to find out how they can have new life.

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