Life-relevant Bible-based teachings from Rev. Paul Miller, Pastor of Bushkill Community Church and St. John’s E.C. Church.
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 13, 2016
Tuesday Dec 13, 2016
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – December 11, 2016
Series Title: “The Faith-Filled Life”
Today’s Title: “Realizing Destiny” (Matured)
Today’s Text: Luke 2:25-40
The Story of Simeon & Anna
DESTINY LUKE 2
Simeon: (v26) “…he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.”
Anna: (v37) “She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.”
Jesus: (v34-35) “This child will cause the rising and falling of many in Israel, and to be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”
Mary: (v35) “And a sword will pierce your soul too.”
DESTINY IN OUR LIVES
- The only COMMON destiny is to die and face God. (Hebrews 9:27-28)
- Live with the EXPECTATION of finding God. (Simeon)
- Live FAITHFULLY, ready for God to show up. (Anna)
- Live with LOVE & JOY, still knowing that pain will come. (Mary)
Monday Dec 05, 2016
Monday Dec 05, 2016
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – December 4, 2016
Series Title: “The Faith-Filled Life”
Today’s Title: “Failure is not an Island” (Mid-Life)
Today’s Text: Job 29
“Mid-Life Crisis” - The day you realize that life has passed you by….
The “A’s” of Failure
I am Angry
James 1:19-22
I am Ashamed
Hebrews 12:1-3
I am Afraid
“do not be afraid” and “do not fear” are found 82x in scripture
1 John 4:13-18
I am Alone
Mark 15:33-34
Matthew 28:20
Jesus, the Great “I Am”
(the way, the truth, the life, the bread of life, the resurrection, the gate, the good shepherd)
When I am angry, the Great “I Am” is with me.
When I am ashamed, the Great “I Am” is with me.
When I am afraid, the Great “I Am” is with me.
When I am alone, the Great “I Am” is with me.
Monday Nov 28, 2016
Monday Nov 28, 2016
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – November 27, 2016
Series Title: “The Faith-Filled Life”
Today’s Title: “Towers & Terror” (Career)
Today’s Texts: 1 Kings 9:1-9 & Matthew 16:13-17:9
The Trouble with gain is that it gives us something to lose.
The Blessing with gain is that it gives us something to lose.
Solomon’s Wisdom & Faith outlasted Solomon’s Kingdom & Temple
“walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness” (1 Kings 9:4)
PETER’S HIGHS & LOWS - Matthew 16:13 to Matthew 17:9
- Declaration (16:13-16)
- Who do you SAY that I am?
- Commendation (16:17-20)
- Identity
- Responsibility
- Authority
- Prediction (16:21)
- loss before gain (death is the path to life)
- Admonition (16:22-23)
- You Satanic stumbling block!
- think like God, not like a human
- Instruction (16:24-28)
- what is “life” to you?
- what is your “whole world”?
- lose it, let it go, die to it, cast it away, let it fall
- Transfiguration (17:1-9)
- Who do you SEE that I Am?
Monday Nov 21, 2016
Monday Nov 21, 2016
The most important example and decisions we make in our family is how we handle suffering. Jacob turned to God just before he met his wife, and 20 yeasr later when he feared losing everything. God does not always rescue us from what we fear, but He will always meet us there.
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – November 20, 2016
Series Title: “The Faith-Filled Life”
Today’s Title: “Eyes Upon You” (Marriage and Parenting)
Today’s Texts: Genesis 28:10-22, 32:22-30 & 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
GENESIS 28:10-22
- Jacob grew up in a dysfunctional and deceptive home
- He fled from home because his Esau brother threatened to kill him
- God met Jacob in a dream and promised to BE WITH HIM
- Jacob agreed to a conditional relationship with God
GENESIS 29-31
- Jacob marries Rachel, after being deceived into marrying Leah
- Jacob fathers 13 children through 4 different women
- Jacob deceives his father-in-law, Laban and Jacob’s herds flourish
- Jacob takes his family away from Laban and must now FACE EASU
GENESIS 32
- Esau is coming to meet Jacob, along with 400 men (32:6)
- Jacob, fearing the worst, divides his family in two, hoping the at least half of them will survive
- Jacob “wrestles” with God, demanding to be “blessed”
- God gives him the name, “Israel”, which means “he struggles with God”
- compare Genesis 32:30 to Genesis 33:10
God comes to us disguised as our life: our failrues, our losses, our sufferings, and even our sins.– 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Monday Nov 14, 2016
Monday Nov 14, 2016
Rev. Paul J. Miller - Sermon Outline - November 13, 2016
Series Title: "A Faith Filler Life"
Today's Title: "Free to Choose" (Young Adulthood)
Today's Texts: Genesis 39 & Philippians 3:7-14, 4:8-13
THE SAGA OF JOSEPH - Privileged, Preyed upon, Positioned, Persecuted, Prisoned, Promoted, Patient, Pardoning
- Genesis 37-50
WHAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THE YOUNG MAN JOSEPH
1) ATTITUDE
- It's the one choice no one can ever take away
- Philippians 4:8-9
2) INTEGRITY
- Doing what's right even if it costs you everything
- Philippians 3:7-9
3) MEEKNESS
- Power under control
- Philippians 3:10-14
4) CONTENTMENT
- Seeing the hand of God in ALL situations
IMMANUEL - God with us
Tuesday Nov 08, 2016
Tuesday Nov 08, 2016
Anxious about the election? About who will lead us? About the state of our nation? The church in new testament times faced far more troubling days than we have, and yet several passages in the epistles directed them to submit to the governing authorities. No matter who we supported today or how we feel about who won tomorrow, our response as followers of Christ should be the same...
Monday Oct 31, 2016
Monday Oct 31, 2016
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – October 30, 2016
Series Title: “A Faith-Filled Life”
Today’s Title: “Tween-aged Angst”
Today’s Text: 1 Timothy 4:1-16
Key Verse: 1 Timothy 4:12
“ADOLESCENCE” & TEENS IN THE BIBLE?
- Manasseh (12) became king of Judah (an evil king) (2 Chronicles 33:1-2)
- Jesus (12) stays behind at the temple during Passover (Luke 2:41-43)
- David (15?) when Saul anointed him, but would not become king until he was 30
(1 Samuel 16:11-13 & 2 Samuel 5:4)
- Uzziah) (16) became king of Judah (a good king) (2 Kings 15:2-3 & 2 Chronicles 26:1-3)
- Josiah (16) as a young king, began to “seek God” (2 Chronicles 34:3)
- Joseph (17) when his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:2)
- Jehoiakim (18) became king of Judah (an evil king) (2 Chronicles 33:1-2)
- Mary (very likely a teen) (Luke 1:26-28)
- Timothy (age unknown, but clearly “young”) (1 Timothy 1:2 & 4:12)
JOSIAH - 2 Chronicles 34-35
- Anointed king (2 Chronicles 34:1)
- “seeks God” at age 16 (2 Chronicles 34:3)
- destroys idols & false worship in Judah (2 Chron 34:3-7)
- finances repairs to the temple (2 Chronicles 34:8-13)
- Rediscovers the Book of the Law (2 Chron. 34:14-18)
- grief & remorse for his nation (2 Chronicles 34:19-22)
- God,holds off on Judah’s destruction (2 Chronicles 34:22-28)
- The most extravagant Passover celebration in history (2 Chron 35)
TIMOTHY
- Jewish mother and a Greek father (Acts 16:1)
- accompanied Paul (mentioned by name in 7 letters)
- Given bold directives by Paul in two of his most personal letters
BE A YOUTHFUL EXAMPLE – 1 Timothy 4:12
- IN SPEECH
- IN CONDUCT
- IN LOVE
- IN FAITH
- IN PURITY
For personal study and reflection?
DID GOD START A GOOD WORK IN YOU WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG THAT HE STILL WANTS TO CONTINUE TODAY?
WHAT DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES TAKE PLACE IN YOUR YOUTH THAT HAVE LINGERED IN YOUR LIFE TO THIS DAY?
DID GOOD COME OUT OF WHAT YOU ONCE SAW A AS MISTAKE OR VIEW WITH REGRET?
CAN GOD BRING YOUTHFUL PASSION TO YOUR LIFE, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE NOW?
IS THERE REMORSE OR UNFORGIVENESS STEMMING BACK TO YOUR YOUTH THAT YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH?
Monday Oct 24, 2016
Monday Oct 24, 2016
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – October 23, 2016
Series Title: “A Faith-filled Life”
Today’s Title: “Wide-Eyed Wonder!”
Today’s Text: Matthew 17-19
JESUS REVEALS TRUE GREATNESS – Matthew 17-19
THE GREATNESS OF JESUS
- Jesus is greater than the Law and the Prophets (17:1-13)
- Jesus is greater than the forces of evil (17:14-20)
- Jesus is greater than money & taxes (17:24-27)
OUR DESIRE FOR GREATNESS (18:1)
TRUE GREATNESS
- BEGINS WITH CHANGE (18:3)
- IS REVEALED IN CHILDREN (18:3-5)
- NEVER BRINGS HARM TO CHILDREN (18:6-7)
- MAKES THE LOST THE HIGHEST PRIORITY (18:10-14)
- CONFRONTS SIN (18:15-20)
- FORGIVES (again & again & again & …..) (18:21-35)
- RESPECTS MARRIAGE (19:1-12)
- BELONGS TO THE CHILD-LIKE (19:13-15)
- LETS GO OF WORLDLY GREATNESS (19:16-30)
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Personal
study and reflection:
Read Psalm 139 13-18, Job 10:8-12, and Ecclesiastes 11:5
- Consider how God has
been with you from your beginning.
- What did you wonder about as a child?
- What was your first prayer?
Tuesday Oct 11, 2016
Tuesday Oct 11, 2016
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – October 9, 2016
Series Title: “A Faith-Filled Life”
Today’s Title: “95,000 Soulmates”
Today’s Texts: 1 Samuel 1:1-17 & Colossians 1:15-23
What is common to us all? – Colossians 1:21-23
…alienation
…corruption
…reconciliation
…proclamation
“proclaimed to every creature under heaven”
- Isaiah 65:1 – God said “here I am”
- Romans 1:18-19 – God is revealed in creation
- Romans 5:18-19 – life for all people
- Romans 10:6-13 – call on the name of the Lord
- 1 John 2:2 – Christ died for the sin of the whole world
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For your own study and reflection….
- What was unique about your own birth?
- How has the place & family your were born into impacted your life?
- When did you first hear the Gospel of Christ?
- Have you responded in faith to the Gospel? Why or why not?
Monday Sep 26, 2016
Monday Sep 26, 2016
Living our lives in the light of God's truth is not an individualistic isolated endeavor. The church is meant to be about "we" and "us", not about "me" and "my". This includes the role of confession and forgiveness. May the light of Truth shed light on your path. - Pastor Paul
Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – 9/25/16
Series Title: “Light for Our World”
Today’s Title: “Living in the Light”
Today’s Text: 1 John 1:1-10
“THE LIGHT” THAT REVEALS “THE LIFE”
…JESUS IS “THE LIFE”
- “The Word of life” proclaimed (v1)
- “the life appeared” (v2)
- “the eternal life” proclaimed (v3)
- John 14:1-6 & John 17:1-5
…WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE APOSTLES
- “we have heard” (v1)
- “we have seen” (v1)
- “we have looked at” (v1)
- “our hands have touched” (v1)
…WAS PROCLAIMED BY THE APOSTLES
- “we proclaim” (v1, 2, 3)
- “we write” (v4)
- “we declare” (v5)
…IS NEVER KNOWN IN THE DARKNESS
- “we lie” (v6)
- “we deceive”(v8)
- “we make God out to be a liar” (v10)
…IS PURIFYING
- “if we walk in the light” (v7)
- “if we confess” (v9)
…IS EXPERIENCED IN COMMUNITY
- All of 1 John 1 is “we” & “us”, not “me” and “I”
- “…so that you also may have fellowship with us” (v3)
- “Fellowship with the Father and with His Son” (v3)
- there no fellowship with God in the darkness (v6)
- walking in the light brings “fellowship with one another” (v7)