Life-relevant Bible-based teachings from Rev. Paul Miller, Pastor of Bushkill Community Church and St. John’s E.C. Church.
Episodes
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
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
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – April 17, 2022
“Yes, this really happened!”
The sequence of events in Jesus’ resurrection story:
- The moment of the resurrection (Matthew 28:2-4).(the only eye witnesses were the guards)
- Mary Magdalene & another Mary arrive at the tomb (John 20:1-2; Matthew 28:1).(they both leave the tomb to find the disciples before any one else arrives)
- Another group of women were coming to meet the two Marys’ at the tomb. (Mark 16:2-8; Luke 24:1-8, Matthew 28:5-8).(they leave the tomb to look for the disciples, & Mary M.)
- Peter & John arrive at the tomb(Luke 24:12, John 20:3-10).(Peter & John leave, Mary M. lingers, the other women are not far away)
- Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-17, Mark 16:9).(Mary hurries away to tell the disciples that she saw Jesus)
- Jesus then appears to the other women (Matthew 28:9-10).(the women resume their search for the disciples)
- The women, including Mary Magdalene, report their meeting with Jesus to the disciples, (Mark 16:10-11, Luke 24:9-11, John 20:18).(at this point, it was only the women had actually seen Jesus)
- The Roman guards report what they had witnessed to the chief priests. (Matthew 28:11-15).(the chiefs priests knew what really happened, but denied it and tried to cover it up)
Are you focused on the surface facts of the story or on the truthful meaning the story holds for you?
The words of an eye witness to the risen Jesus – 1 Peter 1:3-9
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Notes – April 10, 2022
“Palms of Joy & Sorrow”
Luke 19:28-44
THE PREPARATION – Luke 19:28-34
- “After Jesus said this…” – Luke 19:11 & 27
- MOUNT OF OLIVES – Luke 21:37
- Two Disciples – Luke 10:1
- Colt – Matthew 21:4-5, Zechariah 9:9
- A king riding a beast of burden
THE JOY!
- THE CLOAKS
- Valuable – Luke 23:34
- Palms? - Matthew 21:8, Mark 11:8, John 12:13
- THE CROWD (v37)
- “disciples”
- Eye witnesses to Jesus’ miracles
- THE KING – Psalm 118:26
- “GLORY IN THE HIGHEST!”– Luke 2:14
- THE STONES WILL SING!
THE SORROW
- HE WEPT – John 11:35
- WHAT WOULD BRING YOU PEACE
- Luke 19:11 & 27
- “YOU DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE TIME OF GOD’S COMING TO YOU”
- The siege of Jerusalem by Rome in AD 70
The people were looking for the wrong kind of savior
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – April 3, 2022
“Endure Hardship as Discipline”
Hebrews 12:4-13
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – March 20, 2022
“Seek Peace & Pursue It” – John 6:25-29
“The Work of God is this…”
TO BELIEVE IN THE ONE HE HAS SENT
Just the day before, Jesus fed 5000 people with a little bit of fish and bread. He and the 12 disciples then crossed the Sea of Galilee. While at sea, Jesus rescued them from a storm. When arrived safely near Capernaum, many of the people who were fed realized that was Jesus there and went looking for Him.
They went looking for Jesus, but did they truly believe?
THE WORK OF GOD IS TO BELIEVE IN JESUS - John 6:29
BELIEF THAT REQUIRES EVIDENCE IS NOT BELIEF - John 6:30
BELIEVE THAT JESUS WILL PROVIDE WHAT WE NEED- Jn. 6:35
BELIEF IS MORE THAN SEEING - John 6:36
BELIEVE THAT ETERNAL LIFE STARTS NOW - John 6:40 & 47
NOT EVERYONE WHO FOLLOWS TRULY BELIEVES - John 6:64
BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS IN THE HOLY ONE OF GOD - John 6:69
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – March 20, 2022
“Seek Peace & Pursue It” - 1 Peter 3:8-17
Have you found peace?
Jesus came to give us peace
Luke 1:79
John 14:27
John 16:33
The Resurrected Jesus
“Peace be with you”- Luke 24:36, John 20:19, 21, 26
Have you found peace through Jesus?
The Gospel of Peace
Ephesians 6:14-15 -“feet”
Have your steps (choices) led you toward peace?
Peace between us and God has already been accomplished
Romans 5:1-2
Are experiencing peace with God through Christ?
Peace with others depends on our words.
1 Peter 3 & Psalm 34
Ephesians 4:29-32
Joyful, thankful prayer gives you peace & guard your heart
Philippians 4:4-7
Are your prayers filled with joy and thanksgiving?
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – March 13, 2022
“fear is big – LOVE IS BIGGER”
THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE - Mark 12:28-31
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
THE ENEMY OF LOVE - 1 John 4:13-21
THE VASTNESS OF LOVE - Romans 8:35-39
Romans 8:35 – Afraid of what people do?
-Trouble, Hardship, Persecution, Famine,
Nakedness, Danger, Sword
Romans 8:38-39 – Afraid of what is bigger than all of us?
-death nor life
-angels nor demons
-the present nor the future
- nor any powers
- height nor depth
-anything else in all creation
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – March 6, 2022
“Are your fears larger than your love?”
THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE - Mark 12:28-31
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
THE ENEMY OF LOVE - 1 John 4:13-21
THE VASTNESS OF LOVE - Romans 8:35-39
“IS THE LOVE OF GOD LARGER MY FEAR OF…”
Romans 8:35 – “Who” am I afraid of?
-Trouble
-Hardship
-Persecution
-Famine
-Nakedness
-Danger
-Sword
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
The troubles of our world today are very distressing, but the pandemic, the political strife, and even the war in Europe are nothing new. In fact on each of those fronts the world has endured far worse than what is before us now. Too much attention is payed to the book of Revelation and trying to make it fit the world stage today. When will it all end? Jesus clearly stated: "It is not for you to know..."
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Living on high alert for months or years will take a toll on anyone. When we are finally able to let go and say "it's over" is a great release, but it can also be a very vulnerable position. Elijah found that out as more stress-filled news sent him into deep fear and depression. How did God help him?