Life-relevant Bible-based teachings from Rev. Paul Miller, Pastor of Bushkill Community Church and St. John’s E.C. Church.
Episodes
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – August2, 2020
Series Title: Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus
Today’s Title: With God, All Things are Possible!
Today’s Text: Mark 10:17-31 –
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 18:18-30
Mark 9 & 10 from the disciples point of view:
The Transfiguration – WOW!
Death Prediction (2nd time) – WHAT?
Who is the Greatest? – POSITION
Child-like Faith – IS HE SERIOUS?
Divorce Loopholes – THAT’S HARD
Let Children Come – HE IS SERIOUS
THE RICH YOUNG MAN – Mark 10:17-31
Mark 9 & 10 from Christ’s Point of View
The Transfiguration – CHRIST OVER LAW & PROPHETS
Death Prediction (2nd time) – I WILL DIE, I MUST DIE
Who is the Greatest? – THE LEAST, THE LOST, THE LAST
Child-like Faith – SIMPLE BELIEF
Divorce & Law Loopholes – NO ONE WINS
Let Children Come – SEE GOD THROUGH THEIR EYES
Rich Young Man – WHAT DO YOU TREASURE MOST?
Monday Jul 27, 2020
Monday Jul 27, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – July 26, 2020
Series Title: Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus
Today’s Title: “And He Took the Children in His Arms”
Today’s Text: Mark 10:1-16
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 19:1-15, Luke 18:15-17
Jesus turns a trap question into a challenge against using rules as a means of oppression.
RULES ARE NECESSARY, BUT THEY CANNOT SAVE YOU
- Matthew 5:21-48
“RULE GUARDIANS” ARE HIDING SOMETHING
- Matthew 23:27-28
ARE YOU MORE INTERESTED IN THE RULES OR IN THE GOD BEHIND THE RULES?
- Romans 3:19-24
THE ONLY LAW WE NEED TO OBEY
- Matthew 22:34-40
“And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” – Mark 10:16
- unconditional acceptance
- unconditional value
- unconditional love
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Power hungry faith is not really faith at all. Jesus expressed in this passage what truly great faith is. It has nothing to do with personal advancement, power, or position. In fact, it's quite the opposite....
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – July 12, 2020
Series Title: Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus
Today’s Title: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Today’s Text: Mark 9:14-29
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 17:14-19. Luke 9:37-45
A desperate father struggles to believe.
“Everything is possible for one who believes.”– Mark 9:23
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24
“This kind can come out only by prayer.”– Mark 9:29
WHEN YOU PRAY…….BELIEVE
Posture of Prayer – HUMBLING – Ecclesiastes 5:2
Private Prayer - REWARDING– Matthew 6:5-8
Public Prayer - POWERFUL & EFFECTIVE– James 5:13-16
Pattern for Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13
GOD’S HOLINESS
GOD’S PURPOSE
GOD’S PROVISION
GOD’S FORGIVENESS
GOD’S HELP
Priority in Prayer – RELATIONAL FORGIVENESS– Matthew 6:14-15
Promised from Prayer - PEACE– Philippians 4:6-7
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – June 21, 2020
Series Title: Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus
Today’s Title: This is My Son, Whom I Love, Listen to Him
Today’s Main Text: Mark 9:2-13
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 17:1-13, Luke 9:28-36
ON THE MOUNTAIN WITH GOD
- MOSES
- the burning bush - Exodus 3 & 4
- the plagues & the Red Sea - Exodus 7-14
- given the Law, Moses “shines” – Exodus 34:1-7, 29-35
- Moses dies, God buries him - Deuteronomy 34:5-7
- ELIJAH
- 3 ½ year drought due to Ahab & Jezebel – 1 Kings 17
- The “contest” at Mt. Carmel, the rain returns – 1 Kings 18
- threatened by Jezebel, to a mountain, God comes in a gentle whisper – 1 Kings 19:1-18
- taken to heaven in chariot of fire, among a company of prophets - 2 Kings 2:7-12
MOSES & ELIJAH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
- Moses 85 times, Elijah 29 times
- John the Baptist & Elijah – Mark 8:28
- “The Law & the Prophets” - Matthew 7:12, 22:40, Luke 16:16, Acts 13:15, Romans 3:21
- Michael “disputes” the body of Moses with the devil – Jude 1:8-9
- The “Two Witnesses” – Revelation 11:1-6
TRANSFIGURATION/TRANSFORMATION
- 1 Corinthians 3:7-18
- Romans 12:1-2
IMPACT UPON PETER & JAMES, & JOHN
- Was Jesus really going to suffer & die? – Mark 8:31
- 2 Peter 1:16-18
- “This is my Son, whom I love, listen to him.”
- an affirmation that Jesus is the Son of God
- God is relational, motivated by love
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO LEARN FROM THIS VERY “BIG PICTURE” STORY?
- “listen” – don’t just watch and be amazed by the miracles what He says matters even more
- “listen” – the teaching of Jesus surpasses “The Law and the Prophets” - Romans 3:21-24
- “listen” - about how loving God and loving people fulfills what the Law intended – Matthew 22:40
- “listen” – to what He taught us about the kingdom of God in the parables
- “listen” – to how He challenged conventional thinking and teaching about what God expects of us
- “listen” - to how He spoke to Samaritans, Gentiles, and “sinners” (the outsiders)
- “listen” - listen to how He challenges corrupt religious authority
- “listen” – to the sermon on the mount – Matthew 5-7
Monday Jun 15, 2020
Monday Jun 15, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – June 14, 2020
Series Title: “Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus”
Today’s Title: “Whoever Wants to be My Disciple Must Deny Themselves”
Today’s Text: Mark 8:34-9:1
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 16:24-28, Luke 9:22-27
INTRO: sneakers & water bottles on 9/11
CONTEXT:
After informing the disciples that He is indeed the Messiah, and then that the Messiah will suffer and die is when Jesus gives them these words. NOTE THAT THIS WAS SAID TO THE “CROWD” NOT JUST TO THE 12
1) deny yourself (v34)
- Colossians 3:1-11
2) take up your cross (v34)
- a journey of suffering, humiliation, shame, pain, and death
- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
3) follow the Christ
- Philippians 2:5-8
4) lose your life to save it
- Jesus uses this term frequently, written in all 4 gospels, but in 4 different contexts
- Matthew 10:39 - (instructions before sending out the 12 two by two)
- Luke 17:33 - (Jesus speaks of the coming kingdom of God)
- John 12:25 - (on Palm Sunday, just after the crowd hailed Him as “king”)
5) lose the world, gain the soul (V36-37)
- don’t jump too quickly to heaven/hell when applying this
- the context is not about eternal destiny, but about how you live NOW
- BUT it also applies to eternity
- “soul” here is the SAME Greek word for “life” in v35
6) “ashamed of me and my words” (v38)
- Romans 1:16
7) Jesus didn’t just use metaphors, He showed them who He really is (9:1)
- What happens next in Mark 9 will be a fulfillment of this verse
Monday Jun 08, 2020
Monday Jun 08, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – June 7, 2020
Series Title: The Gospel of Mark – Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus
Today’s Title: “Who Do You Say That I Am?”
Today’s Text: Mark 8:22-9:1
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 16:13-16, 21-28 & Luke 9:18-27
CONTEXT:
- They have now returned to the region of Galilee (Bethsaida) and then north…
ARE YOU STILL BLIND TO WHO HE REALLY IS? - Mark 8:21-26
21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
IS HE BIGGER THAN YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN? - Mark 8:27
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi.
IS HE MORE THAN WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE THINKS? - Mark 8:27-28
IS HE THE SUM OF YOUR GREATEST EXPECTATIONS & ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT GOD? - Mark 8:29-30
ARE YOU READY TO SEE THAT YOUR EXPECTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT CHRIST NEED TO DIE? - Mark 8:31-33
- Mark 1:9-12
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 31, 2020
Series Title: “Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus”
Today’s Title: “Why are you talking about having no bread?”
Today’s Text: Mark 8:1-21
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 15:32-39 & 6:1-12
THE BATTLE FOR INCLUSION
ISN’T THIS GENTILE CROWD TODAY JUST AS HUNGRY AS THE JEWISH CROWD WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO?
“another large crowd” (v1)
“remote place” (v4)
“told the disciples to distribute them.” (v7)
“the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (v8)
EXCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP ONLY CREATES MORE EXCLUSION
- “To test him” (v11) – see Mark 1:12-13
- “a sign from heaven.” (v11) – see Matthew 4:4-6
- “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (v15)
- The Pharisees – Corrupt religion
- Herod – Corrupt politics
- “Do you still not see or understand?”(v17) – you need a change of mind
- “Are your hearts hardened?” (v17) – why is this a “heart” issue?
- “twelve” (v19) – tribes of Israel, apostles
- “seven” (v20) – number of completion, healing, perfection, fullness
DO I HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT GOD AND HIS PEOPLE?
- An exclusive gospel where I determine who’s “in” and who’s “out”? Who’s worthy and who’s unworthy?
- Who am I willing to feed? To help?
- Is there any political leaven influencing my mind and my heart?
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 24, 2020
Series Title: “Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus”
Today’s Title: He Has Done Everything Well
Today’s Text: 7:24-37
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 15:21-31
CONTEXT:
Just after declaring “all foods clean” in 7:19, Jesus has an encounter with a very desperate GREEK mother….
JESUS HAS A PLAN, A PATTERN – PREPARATION, CONFRONTATION, PROCLAMATION
A DESPERATE MOTHER IN TYRE
PREPARATION – Mark 3:8 – The stories preceded Jesus
CONFRONTATION – Matthew 15:21-28 – The disciples needed to see how Jesus treated a Gentile
woman in need
PROCLAMATION – A sign that Gospel is for all people
A DEAF MAN IN THE DECAPOLIS
PREPARATION – Mark 5:16-20 – Competing community stories in the Decapolis
CONFRONTATION – Mark 7:32-35 – Giving “ears to hear” to an entire community
PROCLAMATION – Mark 7:36-37 – The man told his story, they were amazed
For personal thought and reflection:
- Whose story prepared you to believe in God?
- What experiences have brought you into a confrontation with God?
- Do you believe that God can use YOUR story can prepare someone else to believe?
- Can you tell your story of faith in Christ in three minutes or less?
“…in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” – 1 Peter 3:15-16
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 17, 2020
Series Title: Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus
Today’s Title: You Nullify the Word of God by Your Tradition
Today’s Text: Mark 7:1-23
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 15:1-20
“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus” (v1)
- a journey of more than 100 miles . Why did they come all this way?
“Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” (v5)
- Their standard is “the tradition of the elders”, not the Law itself Using it to discredit Jesus
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites;
- He leads with the Word of God from Isaiah
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” (v7)
- Words of worship are empty without the heart
“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” (v8)
- screening the Word for the people
“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!” (v9)
- The 10 Commandments “Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 21:17)
- “Corban” – a pledge or an oath to give something of value to God
“And you do many things like that” (v13)
- this is just exhibit #1 - no wonder Jesus reacted so sternly
“Nothing outside a person can defile them” (v15)
“In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.” (v19)
- This is one of the main themes of the entire New Testament
Peter – Acts 10 & 11 , Paul - Romans 14, Colossians 2:16-23, 1 Timothy 4:3-5
“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come” (v21)
- This is the heart of the matter
NO ONE CAN OBEY THEIR WAY TO GOD
- Romans 3:19-24, Galatians 2:19-21, Ephesians 2:13-18
WHICH COURSE WILL YOU FOLLOW?
ACCUSING ACCEPTING
BLAMING BELIEVING
CRITISIZING CHANGING
DENYING DECIDING