Rev. Paul J. Miller

I Have You in My Heart

This sermon is from Philippians 1:7-11. The Apostle Paul's deep love and passion for the church in Philippi is evident right from the start of this chapter. The prayer he wrote in verses 9-11 is as beautiful as it is powerful. There are many good things a church or an individual believer can become, but they are all rooted in love. 

Be Confident - God is Present

Philippians is very positive letter, even in the opening introduction. Let's learn together how God's positive presence enables us to become our true and full self. Grace and peace.....

Mercy is the Business of God

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – 6/11/23

“Mercy is the Business of God” – Romans 9:1-18

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THE MERCY OF GOD IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD Romans 9:1-5

• Matthew 18:21-35 - The Unmerciful Servant

 

THE MERCY OF GOD IS NOT AN INHERENT RIGHT

Romans 9:6-9

Words that describe how God dispenses His mercy

• ADOPTION - Romans 8:15, 8:23, 9:4
• GRAFTED IN – Romans 11:17-24
• ELECTION – Romans 9:11, 11:28
• CHOSEN – Romans 8:33
• CALLED – Romans 1:6, 8:28, 8:30, 9:24

 

MERCY IS INITIATED BY GOD’S CHOICE, NOT BY OUR ACTIONS - Romans 9:10-13

• “Election” is a more statement about God than about us. He “chose” to bless us with mercy, apart from behavior or inheritance.

 

THE WILL OF GOD IS TO OFFER MERCY TO PEOPLE

Romans 9:14-18

• GOD WON’T HARDEN YOUR HEART (but you can)
  • Hebrews 3:15 Ephesians 4:18
  • Mark 8:17 Proverbs 28:14

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GOD’S WILL IS MERCY

What is you willful response to His mercy?

GOD’S WILL IS COMPASSION

Is Godly compassion evident in your life?

God’s Love Stops at Nothing

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – June 4, 2023

“Nothing Can Separate of from God’s Love: Nothing!” - Romans 8:31-39

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? 4 questions

1. If God is for us, who can be against us? SOVEREIGNTY
2. Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?

AUTHORITY

3. Who then is the one who condemns? IDENTITY
4. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ANXIETY

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

trouble? hardship? persecution? famine? nakedness? danger? sword?

The voices of doubt, anxiety, rejection, abandonment, and shame come from people – never from God.

No one, and no thing, can do anything to you that will cause God’s love for you to end.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors… 

Love is not about gaining conquest over those who hurt us, oppress us, or reject us. God’s love is so much more, and so much better!

For I am convinced that …

…neither death nor life THE PHYSICAL

…neither angels nor demons THE SPIRITUAL

…neither the present nor the future TIME

…nor any powers GRAVITY

…neither height nor depth SPACE

…nor anything else in all creation MIND GAMES

will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Groaning Along with Creation

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 28, 2023

“Groaning Along with Creation” – Romans 8:18-30

Our purpose is to love, and our destiny is to find love in all things.

• The lack of love and the rejection of our destiny to love leads to frustration, groaning, bondage, and decay. (Romans 8:18-20)

 

• Our spirit groans because something is not right – love is this world is not fulfilled. (Romans 8:22-25)

 

• So worn out that there are no words left – just groans.(Rom 8:26-27)

Romans 8:28

When our purpose is to love, can find love in “all things”.

This is love - 2 John 1:6 & 1 John 4:7-8

Romans 8:29

The response of God to everyone who chooses to love God is…

• To invite us into ever-deepening love (“called according to his purpose”)
• To encourage us that we are known by Him (“those God foreknew”)
• To reveal to us that we have a destiny (“predestined”)
• To show us how to live into our true image (“conform”)
• To welcome us into His family (“many brothers and sisters”)

Romans 8:30

Living into our true destiny

…we are called (hearing and responding to the call of love)

…we are justified (no matter how great or how often, we can always choose to love)

…we are glorified (In this world we can get a slight taste, a mild scent, a brief glimpse, a quick touch, a still small voice of what is to come)

Condemned No More!

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 21, 2023

“Condemned No More!” – Romans 8:1-17

The voice of condemnation and shame is a liar. It lies to you through other people and from within your false self. This voice is never from God. Do you desire that which is truly good, life-giving and transforming? Follow the voice of Truth, the voice of the Father. He calls you away from condemnation and fear. He leads you into your true self, in fulfilled relationship with Him.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN YOU…

…SETS YOU FREE FROM CONDEMNATION (V1-4)

• John 3:17
• John 8:10-11

 

…PROVIDES A NEW MINDSET (V5-7)

• Is your life at peace?

 

…REMINDS YOU THAT YOU BELONG (V9-11)

• AFFIRMING, REASSURING, “IF’S”
• THE FACT THAT YOU EVEN CARE IS A SIGN OF HIS SPIRIT!

 

YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD…

…FOLLOW HIS LEAD (V12-14)

 

…YOU DON’T NEED TO BE AFRAID (V15)

 

…YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD, DEEP INSIDE YOU KNOW THIS (V16-17)

Set free from the bondage to obedience

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 14, 2023

“Set Free from Human Struggle” – Romans 7:14-25

The ten Commandments:

How do feel about yourself when you hear them?

Which ones make you feel uneasy, uncomfortable, (dare we say it), guilty?

 

 “the greatest Command”

Do you love God with all that you are?

Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself?

do you love yourself?

(Be honest with “you”!)

 

Can you live up to your own standards, your own expectations?

How consistent are you at obeying God?

Are you frustrated with yourself?                                     Why? What about?

 

What do you need Jesus to rescue you from?

Law: Matters of Life & Death

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 7, 2023

Law: Matters of Life and Death – Romans 7:1-13

The Law reveals what we are not, what we lack, where the problem is, how broken we are; it reveals our false self. It is not capable of making us better, much less of revealing our true self.

 

Law is Not Life-giving (v1-3)

• Paul did not write this to create marriage and divorce law.
• He’s simply using an every day “example” that his listeners can readily understand in order to reinforce the larger point.

 

Christ’s Death is My Death (v4)

• Romans & Galatians: similar themes
• Galatians 2:19:21

 

Live a Life-Giving Life (v4-6)

• What is the fruit of your life?
• Galatians 5:22-25

 

The Law is a Diagnostic Tool for the Spirit (v7-12)

• In the spiritual sense, the Law is like a doctor who can give an accurate diagnosis, but is incapable of bringing you any healing. (or the car test, the computer test, the water test, etc.)

It's Worse than You Think (v13)

Romans 7:13 - Phillips Translation:

It can scarcely be doubted that in reality the Law itself is holy, and the commandment is holy, fair and good. Can it be that something that is intrinsically good could mean death to me? No, what happened was this. Sin, at the touch of the Law, was forced to express itself as sin, and that meant death for me. The contact of the Law showed the sinful nature of sin.

Only Grace Can Dismantle the Sin System

Rev. Paul J. Miller Sermon Outline – April 30, 2023

“Only Grace Can Dismantle the Sin System” – Romans 6:15-23

Romans 6:1-2 – Calling out false teaching among the Jewish believers

Romans 6:15 – Calling out false teaching among the Gentile believers

Set free from the “Sin System”

Ten Lies of the Sin System

1. The lie of control – My destiny is influenced by no one but me
2. The lie of identity - I am not enough
3. The lie of isolation – I am the only one who’s gone through this
4. The lie of shame – I am the problem
5. The lie of blame – “They” are the problem
6. The lie of entitlement – My pain matters more than anyone else’s pain
7. The lie of independence – I don’t need help from anyone
8. The lie of power – My world would be better if I were in charge
9. The lie of riches – All I need to be happy more ___________
10. The lie of addiction – I know this isn’t good for me, except for right now

These lies are all present in the temptation and fall of Adam & Eve (Genesis 3) and in the temptation of Christ (Matthew 4:1-11)

Under Law, You Remain Enslaved to the Sin System - Romans 6:15-16

• My attempts to obey from the position of fear are destined to fail and produce no lasting change.

Under Grace, You have been Set Free!  - Romans 6:17-18

• Free to obey from your heart
• Free to learn a new teaching, a new way of thinking, a new system to live by
• Free to subject your life under the Grace System, “that has now claimed your allegiance”
  • “to which you were committed”
  • “to which you were delivered”

The Sin System is a path to death. Why go back? – Romans 6:19-23

• Baptism – Don’t go back to Egypt - Romans 6:3-4
• Death is what the Sin System produces
  • Romans 6:17, 6:21, 6:23

The Grace System

• Galatians 5:22-23
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
• Philippians 4:8

The Grace System is the path to Freedom

• Galatians 5:1

Life Under the Reign of Grace

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – April 16, 2023

“Life Under the Reign of Grace” – Romans 6:1-14

BAPTISED INTO THE REIGN OF GRACE – YOUR NEW IDENTITY – Romans 6:1-4

 

YOUR OLD IDENTITY UNDER THE REIGN OF SIN & DEATH IS OVER – Romans 5:5-11

 

YOUR NEW IDENTITY UNDER THE REIGN OF GRACE        - Romans 6:12-14

 

 

YOUR IDENTITY REIGNED BY SIN VS. YOUR IDENTITY REIGNED BY GRACE – Colossians 3:1-17                                   (See also Ephesians 4:17-32 and Galatians 5:13-26)

 

EXPERIENCING THE BLESSINGS OF LIFE UNDER THE REIGN OF GRACE - Matthew 5:3-10 (NLT)