Rev. Paul J. Miller

"Jesus Christ: Both God & Man"

How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time? How can people be both sinners and saints at the same time? In Christ, both of the these seeming contradictions are brought into balance....

"The Path of Dying & Rising"

Jesus began the sermon on the mount with a foundational teaching on attitude. "poor is spirit" is not only the starting point of this teaching, it is the only place to begin our faith. Without it, the rest of the "blessings" of Matthew 5:3-10 cannot be fully realized.

Brilliant and Flawed: Solomon

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – October 15, 2017

Series Title: “Third Way Thinking – Seeing More to Life Than Good & Evil”

Today’s Title: “Brilliant & Flawed: Solomon”

Today’s Text: 1 Kings 3:7-15 & Ecclesiastes (various passages)

SOLOMON:

• FOR ALL OF HIS WISDOM, HE STILL HAD IDOLS – 1 Kings 3:3

• THE IDOL IN SOLOMON’S HEART WAS WOMEN – 1 Kings 11:1-6

SOME VALUABLE LESSONS FROM A VERY WISE, VERY RICH, VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND VERY FLAWED MAN…..

• TIME IS A BEAUTIFUL BURDEN – Ecclesiastes 3:10-11
  • “a time for everything” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

• ENJOY WHAT GOD GIVES YOU – Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
  • Food, drink, and a job well done

• A HEART THAT MOURNS, GROWS – Ecclesiastes 7:3-4
  • Don’t avoid pain, learn from it

• GOD IS NOT FAIR, DEAL WITH IT – Ecclesiastes 7:13-14, 8:14, 9:11
  • God has made (allowed for) good times and bad times -7:14
  • The trap of “fairness” – 8:14
  • Time happens, chance happens – 9:11

• WHAT MATTERS MOST IS TO FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
  • Love God, Love Others - John 15:9-12

Accepting Both My Anointed and Fallen Self

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – October 1, 2017

Series Title: “Third Way Living: Seeing More to Life than Good & Evil”

Today’s Title: “Accepting both my Anointed and Fallen Self”

Today’s Text: Psalm 51

 

“I bear the image of God and I and I sin in His sight.”

 

LESSONS YOU CAN ONLY EXPERIENCE THROUGH TRUE CONFESSION

 

• MERCY COMES FROM THE HEART OF GOD (v1-2)

 

• MY SIN IS MY FAULT (v3)

 

• MY SIN IS AGAINST GOD (v4)

 

• I AM DESTINED TO SIN, BUT CAPABLE OF FAITHFULNESS (v5-6)

 

• SIN IS DIRTY & JOYLESS, RIGHT DOWN TO THE BONE (v7-8)

 

• GOD LOOKS AWAY FROM MY SIN, SO SIN NEED NOT DEFINE ME (v9)

 

• THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS STEADFAST, PRESENT, & WILLING(v10-12)

 

• RENEWAL & RESTORATION AFFIRM HIS IMAGE IN ME (v10-12)

 

• ONLY THE REPENTANT CAN LEAD OTHERS TO REPENTANCE (v13-15)

 

• FORGIVENESS IS WORTH SINGING ABOUT! (v14-15)

 

• THE ONLY SACRIFICE THAT MATTERS IS BROKENNESS (v16-17)

 

• MY SIN IS NOT AN ISLAND (v18-19)

 

WALK WITH A LIMP

"Insiders, Outsiders, and Character"

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – September 24, 2017

Series Title: “Third Way Living – Seeing More to Life than Good & Evil”

Today’s Title: “Insiders, Outsiders, and Character”

Today’s Text:  Ruth 4:1-12

We can all relate to being both an insider and an outsider. No matter which “side” we find ourselves on, it is character that leads to inclusion.

The Character of Ruth (an outsider)

• Loyalty to Naomi (1:16-18)
• Willingness to change cultures (1:16-18)
• Willingness to change gods (1:16-18)
• Hard working (2:6-7)
• Humble (2:10, 13)
• Willing to accept kindness (2:13)
• Bold enough to take a risk (chapter 3)
• Established a good reputation in the town (3:11)

The Character of Boaz (an insider)

• Allowed for the poor to glean (2:3-7) – Lev 19:9 & Deut. 24:19
• Protected and provided for Ruth (2:8-9)
• Accepted kinsman redeemer role (3:10-13) 25:25-55
• Respected the law & the culture (3:12-13, 4:1-12) Lev. 25:25-55

Jesus as our example of how to treat “outsiders”:

• Matthew 8 – centurion & demon possessed
• Matthew 9 – tax collector & blind man
• Matthew 15 - A Canaanite woman
• Matthew 19 - Children
• Mark 2 – He spends time with “sinners”
• Luke 23 - The thief crucified next to Him
• John 4 - The Woman at the well

Outsiders in Paul’s Writings:

• Colossians 4:5
• 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
• 1 Timothy 3:1-7

1 Peter 2:10-12 – character from both sides

"Living in Between Desire & Possession"

Rev. Paul J. Miller - Sermon Outline - September 17, 2017

Series Title: Third Way Living: Seeing More to Life than Good & Evil

Today's Title: Living with both Desire and Possession

Today's Text: Joshua 1:1-9

SEEKING THE PROMISE

Seeking God's promise of land doesn't produce faithfulness 

• Abraham - Genesis 12:7 (1921 BC)
• Jacob - Genesis 28:13 (1760 BC)
• Moses - Exodus 3:8  (1450 BC)

OBTAINING THE PROMISE

Possessing the Land doesn't produce faithfulness

• Joshua - Joshua 1:2-4 (1410 BC)
• Judges (1390 to 1060 BC) 7 Cycles for 300 years
  • Sin - Slavery - Supplication - Savior - Silence

REDIRECTING THE PROMISE

Samuel - The people demand a king - 1 Samuel 8

• Disobedience & Corruption - Saul becomes king (1040 BC)
• Love & Passion - David succeeds Saul as king (1011 BC)
• Wisdom & Riches - Solomon succeeds David – (971 BC)
• Civil War & Division - Jeroboam & Rehoboam (931 BC)
• Destruction & Exile - Israel (722 BC) Judah(586 BC)

RETURNING TO THE PROMISE

Rebuild & Restore - Ezra & Nehemiah (516 BC)

REALIZING THE TRUE PROMISE, THE LIVING PROMISE

"Immanuel" - Jesus is born (4 BC) - Matthew 1:21-23

"God with us" - God has been there all along!

Abraham - Genesis 15:1

Jacob - Genesis 28:15

Moses - Exodus 3:12

Joshua - Joshua 1:5

David - Psalm 23

Isaiah - Isaiah 41:10

Jeremiah - Jeremiah 1:8

Jesus - Matthew 28:20

EXPERIENCING GOD'S LIVING PROMISE

• Be Discerning
• Be Patient
• Be Thankful

"Mastery & Slavery: Seeking Freedom for the Oppressed"

Rev. Paul J. Miller - Sermon Outline - September 10, 2017

Series Title: Third Way Living - See Life Beyond Just Good & Evil

Today's Title: "Mastery & Slavery: Seeking Freedom for the Oppressed" 

Today's Texts: Exodus 3:1-12 & Luke 4:14-30

 

Racism in America (resist the "YiBees")

 

Slavery - America's Original Sin? (Hold on to the tension)

 

God called Moses to set slaves free (Exodus 3 & 4)

Moses' first two responses to God

"Here I am" , "Who am I?"

Moses' two fears before God

God's true identity & Confronting the Power of the Oppressor

God called Moses to stand in between to set the captives free

 

God's Priorities Fulfilled in Christ (Luke 4:18-19)

Good news to the poor

Freedom for the prisoners

Sight for the blind

Set the oppressed free

What does God do about oppression, racism, and hatred?

He sent Jesus as Mediator between God and mankind to set us free

(1 Timothy 1:5)

 

Three Steps toward Third Way Living

Honesty

Humility

Forgiveness

Darkness and Light - We Need Both

Rev. Paul J. Miller - Sermon Outline - September 3, 2017

Series Title: Third Way Living - Seeing More to Life than Good & Evil

Today's Title: Walking through Darkness & Light

Today's Text: John 1:1-10

Series Key Verse: Romans 8:38-39 (Christ overcomes all that separates us) 

 

DARKNESS & LIGHT & GOD

GOD MADE THEM BOTH - Isaiah 45:5-7

THE BEGINNING OF ORDER - Genesis 1:1-4

GOD IS PRESENT IN BOTH - Psalm 139:7-12

 

DARKNESS & LIGHT & US

OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMES THE LIGHT OF LIFE - John 1:1-10

AN INVITATION INTO TRUTH - John 3:16-21

A PATH TO FELLOWSHIP - 1 John 1:5-7

THE CHANCE FOR LOVING RELATIONSHIPS - 1 John 2:7-11

 

FOR THOUGHT & REFLECTION:

Do you see darkness in world of "others"? (other nations, institutions or organizations you don't belong to or don't agree with, in individuals)

Do you see darkness in your own world? (your own nation, organizations you belong to, in your family, among your friends)

Do you see darkness in yourself?

Are you allowing the light of truth to cut through the darkness within you?

Joy in All Situations

Rev. Paul J. Miller  - Sermon Outline - August 27, 2017

Series Title: Return to Joy!

Today's Title: Joy in All Situations

Today's Text: Philippians 4:10-23

 

GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL OF OUR NEEDS

 

WE NEED TO REMAIN CONTENT (v10-12)

• The Philippians took up a collection for Paul

WE NEED TO FIND CONTENTMENT IN CHRIST (v13)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

• "do all this" or "do all things"?

WE NEED TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO HELP US (v14-18)

• A simple "thank you" goes a very long way

WE NEED SEEK THE RICHNESS OF HIS GLORY (v19-20)

• Nothing is more valuable than the presence, the power, and the promise of God

WE NEED TO EXPECT GOD TO WORK THROUGH US IN ALL SITUATIONS (v21-23)

• While in prison, God used Paul to even reach into "Caesar's household"

"The Choice to Rejoice"

This week's message from Philippians 4:4-9 was delivered in manuscripit form, so there's no outline. Anxiety is such a timely and important issue that is deeply impacting our lives and our culture. I hope this sermon helps you see how the Word of God reveals a way through all of the stress and turmoil that we find ourselves in. May His peace be upon you.

    - Pastor Paul