Life-relevant Bible-based teachings from Rev. Paul Miller, Pastor of Bushkill Community Church and St. John’s E.C. Church.
Episodes
Monday Jan 13, 2020
Monday Jan 13, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline - January 12, 2020
Series Title: “Find Your Life in the Life of Jesus”
Today’s Title: “The Beginning of the Good News”
Today’s Text: Mark 1:1-13
Gospel Parallels: Matthew 3:1-17, 4:1-11 Luke 3:2-16, 21-22, 4:1-13
Historical/Cultural Contrasts
- The Gospel of Caesar & The Gospel of Jesus
- The High Priest & John the Baptist
- The Temple & the Wilderness
- Israel & Jesus
- both went to Egypt, were “baptized” and were tested
BEGIN BY FOLLOWING THE WAY THAT JESUS BEGAN
Begin with what life has handed you and see God in it….. ALL of it….
- Jesus birth and Growth - Matthew 2 & Luke 2 (Luke 2:52)
Begin by setting yourself apart for God’s purpose
- Jesus is baptized – Mark 1:2-9
Begin by accepting that you are accepted.
- God loves you and likes you!
- Jesus hears his Father’s approval - Mark 1:10-11
Begin by stepping into the wild
- Jesus is in the wilderness among the wild animals - Mark 1:12-13
Begin by refining your focus
- Jesus is tempted - Mark 1:12-13
Begin…and begin again….and again…..
Monday Jan 06, 2020
Monday Jan 06, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – January 5, 2020
Series Title: “Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus”
Today’s Title: “Remarkable Mark”
Today’s Text: Acts 15:36-41
Mark’s Story
- Witness to Jesus arrest? 30 AD - Mark 14:51-52
- Peter’s miraculous escape: 42 AD – Acts 12:12
- Journeyed with Barnabas & Paul: 42-48 AD – Acts 12:25 & 13:5
- Left Barnabas & Paul at Pamphylia: 48 AD – Acts 13:13
Mark’s Recovery & Connections
- With Paul when he wrote Colossians & Philemon: 62 AD
Colossians 4:10 & Philemon 1:23-24
- Paul instructs Timothy to bring Mark w/him: 63 AD – 2 Tim 4:11
- With Peter in Rome – “my son Mark”: 64 AD – 1 Peter 5:13
We All Need Good Leaders
To Mark…
- Paul provided: ACCOUNTABILITY
- Barnabas provided: RENEWED OPPORTUNITY
- Peter provided: FATHERLY GUIDANCE
Who do you look to?
- FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
- FOR RENEWED OPPORTUNITY
- FOR FATHERLY GUIDANCE
Who’s looking to you?
Thursday Jan 02, 2020
Thursday Jan 02, 2020
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – December 29, 2019
Series Title: Views of the Birth of Christ
Today’s Title: Herod; Even a Baby Can Topple a Kingdom
Today’s Text: Matthew 2:13-20
Warning about the power of kings from Samuel: 1 Samuel 8:10-18
Warnings from Solomon about corrupt rulers:
Proverbs 17:7, 28:3, 28:15, 28:16, 29:12
AUTHORITY IS GOD’S IDEA
Colossians 2:9-10
AUTHORITY IN MARRIAGE
Ephesians 5:21-25
AUTHORITY IN FAMILY
Ephesians 6:1-4
AUTHORITY AT WORK
Ephesians 6:5-9
AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH
Hebrews 13:17
AUTHORITY IN COMMUNITY
Romans 13:1-2 & 1 Peter 2:13-14
How will you handle authority in 2020?
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Notes – December 22, 2019
Series Title: Views of the Birth of Christ
Today’s Title: Why Tell Shepherds?
Today’s Text: Luke 2:8-20
Shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night
Why Did the Angel Come to Shepherds?
- Because God sent the King of Kings to reach the lowest of the low
- Shepherds were looked down upon
- GOD’S PRIORITY FOR THE POOR
- The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:3-12
- The Sheep and the Goats – Matthew 25:31-46
- Because Jesus would become the Lamb of God
- Called the “Lamb of God” by John the Baptist - John 1:29, 36
- 31 times in Revelation, Jesus referred to as the “Lamb”
- Because Jesus is the Good Shepherd
- Isaiah 53:6 – we’ve all gone astray
- John 10:11-17
- The Good Shepherd is self-less
- The Good Shepherd is inclusive
- Because the church needs shepherds
- John 21:15-17 – Jesus to Peter; “do you love me?”
- 1 Peter 5:1-5 – Peter instructs leaders
- Acts 20:28-29 – Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders
Monday Dec 16, 2019
Monday Dec 16, 2019
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – December 15, 2019
Series Title: “Views of the Birth of the Christ”
Today’s Title: “The Father’s View - The Best I Can Give”
Today’s Text: Ephesians 2:1-10
“The Invitation” – a story by Pastor Paul
THE GIFT OF GOD…..
- NONE OF US DESERVE IT
- Ephesians 2:1-3
- “…we were by nature deserving of wrath.” (3)
- COMES WHEN WE NEED IT THE MOST
- Ephesians 2:4-5
- “…even when we were dead in transgressions—"(5)
- IS KINDLY GIVEN
- Ephesians 2:6-7
- “…his grace, expressed in his kindness…” (7)
- CAN’T BE BOUGHT OR EARNED
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- “…not from yourselves…..not by works,…” (8-9)
- SETS US FREE TO DO GOOD WORKS FOR GOOD REASONS
- Ephesians 2:10
- “…created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” (10)
Monday Dec 09, 2019
Monday Dec 09, 2019
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – December 8, 2019
Series Title: Views of the Birth of the Christ
Today’s Title: Joseph’s view; Believing, and Living with, the Impossible
Today’s Text: Matthew 1:18-25
JOSEPH AND THE CULTURE OF HIS DAY
THREE PATHS THAT JOSEPH COULD HAVE TAKEN
1) TO DIVORCE MARY PUBLICLY WOULD
- BRING FINANCIAL COMPENSATION
- INVOLVE A PUBLIC HEARING
- INCREASE PUBLIC SHAME TO MARY
- MAKE HER GUILTY OF A CAPITAL OFFENSE
- SET HIM FREE TO MARRY ANOTHER WOMAN
2) TO DIVORCE MARY PRIVATELY WOULD
- STILL BE HARD FOR MARY
- LESS BRING SHAME ON MARY
- SET HIM FREE TO MARRY ANOTHER WOMAN
3) TO GO ON WITH THE MARRIAGE WOULD
- BRING PERSONAL SHAME
- BRING A SHARED SHAME WITH MARY
LEARNING FROM HOW JOSEPH HANDLED AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION
HE RESPONDS TO SIN WITH COMPASSION
HE INTERVENES WITH GRACE
HE TAKES ON MARY’S SHAME AND BEARS IT HIMSELF
HOW JESUS HANDLED OUR IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION
Romans 5:1-5 & Hebrews 12:1-2
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – November 24, 2019
Series Title: “Being Thankful in a Thankless World”
Today’s Title: “Thank God for Food”
Today’s Text: Mark 8:1-10
God is great and God is good,
And we thank him for our food;
By his hand we must be fed,
Give us Lord, our daily bread. Amen.
JESUS FEEDS THOUSANDS
- 5000 – Mark 6:39-44
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. (v41)
- 4000 – Mark 8:1-10
- When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks(v6) - They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them (v7)
THE LAST SUPPER – Mark 14:22-25
- “…Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and
gave it to his disciples,” (v22)
- “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to
them, and they all drank from it.” (v23)
FOOD AND TEMPATATION
THE TEMPTATION OF ADAM & EVE - Genesis 3:1-7
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food…(v6)
THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST - Matthew 4:1-11
tell these stones to become bread. (v3)
FOOD, FORGIVENESS, AND TEMPATATION
THE LORD’S PRAYER – Matthew 6:9-13
That’s why we call it “grace”!
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – November 17, 2019
Series Title: “Living Thankfully in a Thankless World”
Today’s Title: “Thank God by Giving”
Today’s Text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Thanksgiving without giving is words without actions.
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
“eager” (v2)
“enthusiastic” (v2)
“heart-felt” (v7)
“cheerful” (v7)
“thanksgiving” (v11)
“heartitude”
What is your “heartitude” about giving?
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Matthew 6:21
“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
- James 2:15-16
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:7
Thursday Nov 14, 2019
Thursday Nov 14, 2019
Rev. Paul J. Miller - Sermon Outline – November 10, 2019
Series Title: “Being Thankful People in a Thankless World”
Today’s Title: “Thank God for Friends”
Today’s Texts: Acts 18 & Romans 16
Where does friendship begin?
- rooted in a common identity
- fellow Jewish converts
- fellow Christians,“dear friends” (35 in Rom. 16)
Why does friendship grow?
- working toward a common purpose (Romans 16)
- friends acknowledged for their “hard work”
- “outstanding” (Andronicus, Junia)
- “stood the test” (Apelles)
- “chosen in the Lord” (Rufus)
- “like a mother to me” (mother of Rufus)
- hosting the church (Gaius)
When does friendship deepen?
- strengthened through a common struggle
- Jason (v21 & Acts 17:1-9)
How does friendship become a life-long bond?
- willing to give an uncommon sacrifice
Priscilla & Aquila
- lived in Rome, but had to leave their home & business
because Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome
- like Paul, tentmakers (leather workers)
- hosted a church in their home (1 Cor. 16:19)
- went to Ephesus with Paul
- trained Apollos about the faith
- risked their life for Paul during a riot
(Acts 19:23-41, 2 Cor. 1:8-9)
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Friday, November 8, 2019 – Scriptural Mediation
1 Corinthians 10:14-33 & 11:17-34
“Thank God for the Body of Christ!”
COMMUNITY IN COMMUNION
“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” – 1 Corinthians 10:16
Is there anything in your life that you are giving yourself over to, or participating in, that dishonors or denies Christ?
Are you careful, sensitive, and considerate, of others in how you live your life? (both among believers and non-believers?)
Are you welcoming to others? (both believers and non-believers?)
Do you openly share with those in need?
Can you set aside whatever social barriers might exist for the sake of your brothers and sisters in Christ?
When you consider the gift of salvation from Christ, what are you most thankful for?
As you look around this room this morning, who are you thankful for?