Sermon Notes Gaining a Heart of Wisdom Psalm 90 Pastor Brent Whitefield Introduction: The only Psalm of Moses found in the Psalter is often recited at funerals. However, the wisdom it contains is better directed to the living than to the dead. For the believer, the life well lived is only possible with the eternal… Continue Reading
Sermon Notes The Coming Hope 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Pastor Scott Williams Introduction: Although this newly founded church at Thessalonica had a growing faith and demonstrated compelling love for one another, they were a group of struggling believers. They were struggling with loss. A number of people in their church family had died, and they were… Continue Reading
Sermon Notes Can Our Church Please God? 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Taylor Mendoza, Student Ministry Director Introduction: Can a believer please God? Or can a church bring delight to God? Many people don’t think so. A. W. Tozer once said, “From a failure to properly understand God comes a world of unhappiness among good Christians even… Continue Reading
Sermon Notes Encouragement in Distressing Times 1 Thessalonians 3 Pastor Scott Williams Introduction: A piece of Paul’s heart was left with the church in Thessalonica. You can see this in how much he longs to see them again and to be an encouragement to them as they face harsh persecution. Since he can’t be there,… Continue Reading
Sermon Notes Our Glory and Joy 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 Pastor Brent Whitefield Introduction: The apostle Paul demonstrates his great affection for the Thessalonian church, praising their reception of the Word of God, and their endurance under persecution and suffering. In their example, we see the power of God’s Word at work in the heart of… Continue Reading
Sermon Notes Models Worth Imitating 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Pastor Scott Williams Introduction: In chapter one, Paul remarks that the church in Thessalonica became “imitators of us and of the Lord” as they took their first steps in their Christian journey. Here in this chapter, Paul expands upon how he and his cohorts displayed all the… Continue Reading
Sermon Notes An Exemplary Faith 1 Thessalonians 1 Pastor Brent Whitefield Introduction: In his first epistle to the Thessalonian church, the Apostle Paul commends the faith, love, and hope of the believers in this newly founded body. Despite the fact that the church was born in the midst of great affliction, it has become an… Continue Reading
Sermon Notes The Empty Tomb and the Burning Heart Luke 24:13-32 Pastor Brent Whitefield Introduction: The direction of the men on the Emmaus Road is revealing: they were moving away from Jerusalem. The death of Christ seemed a decisive defeat for his followers who had invested in him all of their Messianic hopes and dreams.… Continue Reading
Sermon Notes Weapons of Violence Brandished with a Kiss Matthew 26:47-56 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: The guy who would hand over Jesus to be arrested and killed was not some distant stranger or political zealot, but a friend who walked with Jesus, heard his teaching, enjoyed countless meals with him, someone who was clearly in… Continue Reading
The Sorrowful Soul of Jesus Matthew 26:36-46 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: In first century Israel, there was a grove of thick, round trees on the western slope of the Mount of Olives. It was called Gethsemane. It was a place that Jesus regularly visited with his disciples. Though enclosed by walls, and separated from the city… Continue Reading