Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – July 24, 2022

Esther – Risking All to Save Others

The Story of Esther

Esther’s Faith and Courage

• Esther 4:12-17

• One young woman, standing up before empire on behalf of her people – at the risk of her own life.

Why this book was disputed as part of the Bible:

• Esther never mentioned elsewhere in the Bible
• “God” is never named
• The word “prayer” is never used
• The Law of Moses never mentioned

Why this book is in the Bible

• Sackcloth & ashes, and fasting – are forms of prayer.
  • Esther 4:1-3
  • Esther 4:15-16

• The law of Moses is implied
  • Esther 3:8

• Faith needs action
  • James 1:22-25
  • James 2:14-17

• True faith is an act of love
  • Galatians 5:6

• Esther is like Jesus
  • John 15:13
  • Philippians 2:5-11

Rev. Paul J. Miller - Sermon Outline – July 17, 2022

Women of Great Faith - Ruth

Ruth’s Story

Genealogy to Jesus – Matthew 1

Tamar

Rahab

Ruth

Inclusion

Rev. Paul J. Miller – June 12, 2022

“Dealing with Family”

Jacob’s VERY troubled family

Rachel                Bilhah                Leah                   Zilpah

Genesis 37 to Genesis 45 - _____ years

The Extraordinary Forgiveness of Joseph

Joseph maintained a God-centered attitude

Joseph held the power

Joseph had options

Joseph chose to see God in his pain

Joseph chose to forgive

Dealing with Family

Put God in the center

Use authority with humility

Avoid knee-jerk, impulsive responses

Look for God in your pain

CHOOSE FORGIVENESS - Colossians 3:12-14

Dealing with Other People’s Stuff

Your Identity is Formed in Relation to Others

June 5, 2022 - Rev. Paul J. Miller

Matthew 5:17-48

What is your SHAPE?

S piritual Gifts

H eart

A bilities

P ersonality

E xperiences

            (Rick Warren – “The Purpose Driven Life”)

Jesus & The Law - Matthew 5:17, 20, & 48

WHO HAS SHAPED YOU?

How have hate & anger shaped you? Matthew 5:21-26

How has sexual sin shaped you? - Matthew 5:27-30

How has divorce shaped you? - Matthew 5:31-32

How have broken promises shaped you? - Matthew 5:33-37

How has revenge shaped you? - Matthew 5:38-42

How have your enemies shaped you? - Matthew 5:43-47

Who has shaped you & how are you shaping those around you?

– Colossians 3:12-14

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 29, 2022

“Dealing with Pain & Suffering”

The way you deal with your pain either reveals your relationship with God or exposes what your true god is.

When troubles come, God feels far away - Psalm 10

It’s not enough to just seek God when we struggle. We need to find God in and through the struggle.

Genesis 32:28 – “he struggles with God”

Ephesians 3:6

Isaiah knew the kind of Messiah the world needed. One who would enter into our suffering.

Isaiah 53

• V3

• V4

• V5

• V7

• V12

The way you deal with your pain either reveals your relationship with God or exposes what your true god is.

Great suffering and pain requires and even greater love.

God is Love

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 22, 2022

“Dealing with Grief” - John 11:17-37

Jesus in this story is a friend, a teacher, and the Son of God.

GRIEF SHOULD BE A COMMUNITY EVENT (v17-20)

TEMPER EMOTION WITH FAITH (v21-24)

BELIEVE IN RESURRECTION BECAUSE JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD (v25-27)

ANGRY AT GOD? IT’S OKAY, HE CAN HANDLE IT. (v28-32)

HOW DOES JESUS RESPOND TO OUR GRIEF? WITH TEARS (v33-36)

THERE ARE DOUBTERS IN LIFE, AND DOUBTERS IN DEATH (v37)

TAKE AWAY THE STONE (v38-44)

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 15, 2022

“Dealing with Fear” – 1 John 4:7-21

1 John issues:

• Written to refute Gnosticism – secret knowledge, the humanity of Christ
• Written to give believers confidence: “this is how we know…” (2:5, 2:18, 3:10, 3:16, 3:19, 3:24, 4;13, 5:2)
• Written to give believers assurance of eternal life – 5:13
• Written to remind us the God is Love

GOD IS LOVE!

The source of love is God – 4:7

The evidence of knowing God is the presence of love – 4:8

If you don’t love, you don’t know God – 4:8

God’s love was shown to us in Jesus – 4:9

God initiated our loving relationship with Him by removing our sin problem – 4:10

Our response to God love is a call to love people – 4:11

The presence of my love for people is evidence that God exists – 4:12

My acknowledgement that Jesus is the Son of God gives me the assurance to rely on His love – 4:15-16

My connection with God is based entirely upon love – 4:16

My confidence before God is based upon how much I am like Jesus – 4:17

There is no fear is love – 4:18

Perfect (mature, complete, grown-up) love drives fear away – 4:18

If I am afraid, love is still incomplete in me – 4:18

Love was initiated by God, it’s already there! – 4:19

If I hate people I am lying about loving God – 4:20

The only command that matters is the command to love people – 4:21

• Matthew 22:37-40

• Galatians 5:4-6

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 8, 2022

Dealing with Your Broken Image of You – Psalm 139:1-14

THE APOSTLE PAUL’S REFINING “THORN” – 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

• God said: “my power is made perfect in weakness.”
• Paul said: “I delight in weaknesses”

PASTOR PAUL’S REFINING THORN – 2013-2016

• Weaknesses, Insults, Hardships, Persecutions, Difficulties

YOUR BROKEN CONDITION Weaknesses, Insults, Hardships, Persecutions, Difficulties

• YOU CAN DENY IT
  • Attempting to deceive yourself & others indefinitely

• YOU CAN BE DEFINED BY IT
  • A BADGE FOR THE EGO- Seeking attention & pity
  • LIVE IN SHAME - Feeling that you are “less than”, “not enough”
  • FIND SOMEONE TO BLAME – using anger, find a scapegoat

• OR YOU CAN BE REFINED BY IT
  • 1 PETER 1:3-9 (note v7)

• INVITE YOUR LOVING FATHER GOD TO SEARCH YOU PSALM 139
  • Lord, I know that you know me (v1-12)
  • I am filled with fear balanced with wonder (v13-18)
  • I still get frustrated, angry, and even want to hate (v19-22)
  • Search me again and show why I am anxious, and what is offensive about me (v23-24)

Rev. Paul J. Miller - Sermon Outline – May 1, 2022

Series Title: “Dealing with Your Stuff”

Today’s Title: “Dealing with Your False or Incomplete Images of God”

Today’s Main Text: John 5:16-30

Hearing & Seeing God - Matthew 13:16-17

WHAT WAS GOD LIKE TO…

Adam – God Creates & Curses

Noah – God Punishes & Protects

Abraham – God Promises

Jacob – God Blesses

Moses – God Liberates & Establishes Law

Joshua & The Judges – God is a Commanding Officer

David –God is to be Praised & God Forgives

The Kings – God is a Power Broker

The Prophets – God Warns & Follows up

PEOPLE NEED A MORE COMPLETE, MORE FULFILLED IMAGE OF GOD

Jesus – God is my Father and I am just like Him. If you want to know what God is like, look at me. – John 5:19-20

JESUS CHRIST IS THE COMPLETELY FULFILLED IMAGE OF GOD IN HUMAN FORM – Colossians 1:15-20

HOW CAN WE KNOW GOD? - John 14:6-9

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? - John 14:15-17

THE FULFILLED IMAGE OF GOD IN JESUS - God is our loving Father

If your primary image of God is anything less than a loving Father, you will filter His love through your incomplete lens.

1 John 3:1 & Romans 8:15

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – April 24, 2022

“Dealing with Sin, Guilt, and Shame” – Genesis 3:1-13

SIN - Knowing the right choice, path, principle, direction, and willingly choosing the wrong one.

GUILT - The realization and acceptance that what I did was wrong. What I did, that was bad.

SHAME - The natural impulse to attach your guilt to your identity. Shame tells me that “I” am bad.

Sin, Guilt, & Shame In the Garden

Temptation Involves

• Doubt what God said – v1-3
• Denial of consequence – v4
• Desire for Knowledge – v5
• Desire to Appease Appetites – v6

Guilt moves quickly into shame

• Vulnerability v7                   - Fear v10
• Cover-up v7 - Blame v11-12
• Isolation v8 - Denial v13

Why did Adam & Eve hide from God? What did God ever do to them that they should be afraid of Him?

The Impact of Shame

Fear of Exposure - When the story of shame has taken hold in your heart and mind it will protect its position through isolation and retaliation.

False Identity - Shame can become the author and publisher of your story. It defines you by failure, insufficiency, regret mistakes, and sin. You don’t just believe shame’s story, you become that story.

TWO WAYS DEAL WITH GUILT – Matthew 7:13-14

                  The wide, easy way toward destruction or the narrow, difficult way toward life

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR GUILT - What is your first instinct when you fail? Don’t let shame tell your story.

Philippians 4:8