It is clear from the Bible that prayer plays an important role in the fulfillment of God’s saving purpose as well as in the Great Commission which is part of that purpose. Examples from both Testaments are considered as well as biblical instruction about the content of our prayers.
Jesus’ Sheep Shall Never Perish
The promises made in this passage are comforting to the degree that we are aware of the danger that we are in apart from Christ. This sermon considers the danger of perishing, the fact that Satan is trying to snatch us out of Christ’s hand and the fact that we are weak and vulnerable before expounding the comfort of the promises that Christ makes here.
Read John 10:28-30
The Great Commission and the Means of Grace
When people think of the Great Commission they tend to think of bringing the gospel to unbelievers. And that certainly is part of what Jesus is commanding his people to do. However, main command of the Great Commission is to make disciples and that involves the nurture of believers as well as the conversion of the lost. The primary instruments that Jesus has given to the church for the fulfillment of the Great Commission are the Word of God, the Sacraments and Prayer. This sermon considers the centrality of the Word of God (especially preaching) and the Sacraments in the process of making disciples.
Two Responses to Jesus
These verses contrast the response of the Jewish leaders to Jesus with the response of Jesus’ sheep. The end result of these two responses are “perishing” and “eternal life” respectively. We are called to examine our lives in the light of the characteristics of his sheep that Jesus gives here. “My sheep listen to my voice; …and they follow me.” The gospel in this passage is in the fact that Jesus knows his sheep.
Read John 10:22-27
Our Mission as a Part of God’s Mission
The Great Commission is Christ’s “Mission Statement” for the Church. It must be understood in the light of the rest of the Bible. When we do this, we understand that it is a part of God’s mission to rid the world of sin, bless the nations and renew his creation. Seeing our mission in the light of God’s mission is encouraging and motivating.
Read Matthew 28:16-20
The Problem of Relevance
Not all of the questions apologetics must deal with are intellectual in nature. For many people, the gospel does not seem to be relevant to their lives. This sermon gives a number of biblical principles which guide us as we seek to show unbelievers the attractiveness of the gospel.
The Good Shepherd
Using metaphors from the world of ancient shepherding, Jesus sheds light on the nature of the relationship between himself and his people. The focus is on Jesus and how he loves and cares for his people as the good shepherd.
Read John 10:1-21
Out of the Depths
This Psalm shows that being troubled by sin is a part of the experience of God’s people. It also gives comfort for those who are troubled by their sins. This comfort is rooted in God’s “unfailing love” and “full redemption”.
Read Psalm 130:1-8
The Problem of Evil
The problem of evil is a common objection to the Christian faith. The bible does not answer the problem of evil exhaustively, but it does give perspectives that help us to deal with it. Six biblical perspectives are examined.
Read Revelation 4:1-4
Is Everything Meaningless?
Ecclesiastes is a book that deals realistically with the apparent meaningless of life and gives important answers. The sermon summarizes the message of the book.
Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-18; 12:9-14