Sermons on Paul
Reminders | 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Pastor Ron finishes our series going through 1 Thessalonians and remembering what it means to have a “Better Life Now”. Discussion Questions 1. How and why do we hold leaders in the highest regard? 2. Notice the instructions in verses 14-18. They allow for no exceptions. In light of that why are Paul’s counsel in verses 19-22 and his prayer in verses 23,24 important? 3. What is the difference between “quenching”or putting out the fire of the Holy Spirit (5:19)…
Hope Fulfilled | 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11
Mark Pender encourages us with this message about hope from 1 Thessalonians. Discussion Questions Paul uses a literary technique of contrasts in this section. Some examples – Light contrast Dark, Sober contrast Drunk, Asleep contrast Awake. Is Salvation the contrast of wrath (v9)? Martin L King Jr said “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” How did Paul model this? In what ways have you seen others model this? We’re not the church in Thessalonica, but how…
Self-Giving | 2 Thessalonians 2:1-16
Pastor Ron helps us to see the qualities of good leaders as presented in Thessalonians. Discussion Questions 1. According to this passage, what qualities of Paul make him a good pastor? 2. Should we make more of imitation in the church? (note vs 8 and 14, also 1Cor. 11:1) 3. Look at vs.13, ch.1:5 then 2Timothy 3:14-17. In light of these scripture verses what role does the Word of God play in our relationships with one another? 4. How must…
For Example | 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
We take a closer look at the church in Thessalonica and the example they set as Pastor Ron continues our series “A Better Life Now”. Discussion Questions 1. Share an example that encouraged your spiritual life. 2. How can Cornerstone be an example to another church or churches in the area as the church in Thessalonica was? 3. True or False? Life without problems and suffering is a fantasy and not worth pursuing. Can we have a meaningful life of…
Troubling Truth | Acts 17:1-9
Pastor Ron introduces us to Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica as he begins a new sermon series entitled “A Better Life Now”. Discussion Questions 1. Suffering and Death were great hurdles or obstacles for the Jews to believe Jesus was Messiah. What are some of the common hurdles or obstacles for people today to believe Jesus is who He says He is? 2. How does the gospel trouble you? 3. Jealousy was a problem here. (Note: Prov.14:30; James 3:16: Mark 7:22)…
Saved By Grace | Galatians 1:1-9
Bernie Michaud shared a message reminding us that we are all saved by God’s grace. Discussion Questions Ice breaker: What religion did you grow up with? How far from shore were you when God saved you? What pull do you still have from religion? What do you think about this statement? When you question your salvation you are not asking if you are good enough, you are actually asking if God is good enough. What drops of poison do you add to the…
Space and Grace | Romans 14:1-6 (Women in Ministry Sermon Series)
When I finished my sermon on a hybrid view of women in ministry, I asked a couple of questions: How might we walk by faith and extend grace to each other in this issue? How can we make room for each other? How can we follow our consciences and enable others to do the same? Here’s how I want to phrase it today: How can we give each other grace? We return to this question today because it’s how I…
A Hybrid View of Women in Ministry | 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Peter 3:1-7 (Complementarian in the Home; Egalitarian in the Church)
Today, we’re finishing our three viewpoint sermons by looking at a hybrid understanding of women in ministry: complementarian in the home, egalitarian in the church. For most of you, this might be a rather new and unfamiliar viewpoint. I’m still learning about it myself, but it helps to go back to our three views. But why look at this position? For some of us, we see God created distinct genders, and some roles do go with those genders. Paul seems…
Egalitarianism | Galatians 3:28; 1 Timothy 2:8-15
Today, we’re jumping back into our three sermons looking at complementarianism, egalitarianism, and a hybrid view of women in ministry (complementarian in the home, egalitarian in the church). Last week, we looked at complementarianism, which generally believes God only calls men to preach and serve as elders, starting with 1 Timothy 2:8-3:7. Today, we’re looking at egalitarianism, which believes that God calls both men and women to preach, serve as elders, and serve in ordained pastoral ministry. Next week we’re…
Complementarianism | 1 Timothy 2:8-3:7
Today in our Women in the Kingdom series we’re diving into the text so many go to when deciding the role of women in the church. 1 Timothy 2:12 says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man…” We look at that verse, we equate teaching with preaching and holding authority with being an elder. That is one way to interpret the text, and it’s called complementarianism. For the next three weeks, including…
Lessons Learned in Acts | Acts 28:11-31 (End of Acts)
We started our series in Acts on January 5th, 2020. Acts is the first big book that we’ve covered in its entirety. Today is our 56th sermon in this series, Outward Church. How do you feel? Has anything changed in your life, in our church’s life? The question, as we come to a close, is twofold. 1) What did we learn? 2) And what are we doing about it? The heartbeat of Acts is missions. Jesus outlined the book in…
Trust the Pilot | Acts 27:1-44
Flight 5220 took off “from Magadan Airport, just north of the Sea of Okhotsk in far eastern Russia” this last December.[1] Shortly after takeoff, the airplane threw its almost 200 passengers down, then up, and the plane dove, then recovered. One aviation website reports, “Picture one of those terrible C-grade Hollywood movies that show an airliner out of control, with baggage bins coming open, carry-ons floating through the cabin and oxygen masks dropping. It was that kind of awful. And…