SERMON SERIES - SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES: THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST

 

 

Title:  Signs, Wonders, and Miracles - Introduction

Text:  Various

Summary:  Miracles are a less common type of God's activity in the world to arouse awe and wonder and to bear witness to himself in order to arouse faith for the willing.  The miracles of Christ are now a matter of record, therefore the ball is in our court as to whether we reject him in skepticism, or accept him in faith.

 

 

Title:  The Perfect Storm

Text:  Mark 6:45-56

Summary:  When Jesus walked on the water, he demonstrated his divinity in the act of and the location of the miracle along with his words.  He demonstrated that God comes near to his people and remains with them even when we don't fully understand him.  We should keep ourselves aware of his ongoing presence, which will give perspective and encouragement

 

 

Title:  Where should we Go with the Gospel?

Text:  Mk 7:24-30

Summary:  During his earthly ministry, Jesus occasionally ventured to nearby gentile areas, such as Pheonicia, and even ministered there.  Even though Jesus was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, Israel was a means to an end, which is to reach the whole world with the Gospel.  In his ministry to the Canaanite Syropheonician woman, Jesus taught his disciples that he would not refuse anyone that came to him in faith, and that his plan for the church is to reach any kind of people with the Gospel.

 

 

Title:  Food for True Life

Text:  Jn 6:1-71

Summary:  Through miraculously feeding 5,000 people, Jesus teaches that true life and substances is found in Him alone.  Therefore, we need to turn to Christ for life, which means working for eternal food, Christ, by faith in Him who is the Word, and following his will, which is our life.

 

 

Title:  What Jesus Responds To

Text:  Mark 5:21-6:6

Summary:  In these healing miracles, Jesus demonstrates that he responds to faith, which is characterized as one that looks beyond Jesus the man to see Jesus the Lord so that our faith will not be overcome by fear, but look to Jesus to be saved and made whole.  If our faith is not like this, it is useless.

 

 

Title:  The Law of Christ

Text:  Mark 2:23 - 3:6

Summary:  With divine authority, Christ demonstrates that human need and compassion are God's top values, even if it means making exceptions to certain religious practices.  This makes God's number one "religious practice" to show love and compassion, which fulfills the law of Christ.

 

 

Title:  Paying your Debt

Text:  Mt 17:24-27; 22:15-22

Summary:  Jesus demonstrated that there are times when it is better to not insist on being "right" in peripheral things, even if it means choosing to set aside a freedom in Christ to avoid causing unnecessary stumbling blocks to faith in the Gospel and to build up our brethren for the sake of love, which is of infinitely greater value.

 

 

Title:  Will You Raise Your Hand?

Text:  John 9:1-41

Summary:  Jesus has demonstrated through his miracles and his resurrection that he is the Son of God and the only means of forgiveness and redemption to God.  However, other forces in our lives will try and intimidate us and keep us from acknowledging Jesus for who he is, or completely blind us to who he is.  We need to consider him and courageously acknowledge him, and he will come to us as he did to the man born blind, and give us deeper faith and insight.

 

 

Title:  When the Wine Runs Out

Text:  John 2:1-11

Summary:  God has promised an everlasting era of abundant life in his presence now and into the life to come with all of its joy and peace, which comes through redemption in Christ who died and rose to bring this blessing to those who believe in Jesus.

 

 

Sermon:  The Purpose of Scripture

Text:  Jn 5

Summary:  Jesus demonstrates that he has authority to grant healing, to give life and to judge.  His miraculous activity, the message of John the Baptist, and the testimony of scripture, all indicate that he is the divine savior.  The way we come to know him and receive the abundant and enduring life is offers is through the guidance of scripture which points not to itself, but to Christ, the fulfillment of scriptures.

 

 

Title:  The Last Enemy

Text:  John 11:1-54

Summary:  Jesus' ultimate concern for people was faith in him as the resurrection and life, because it is only through faith in him that people can escape the last enemy, which is death.  Jesus demonstrated that he has the authority to raise the dead and grant life to those who believe in him.

 

 

Sermon:  The Lord’s Breakfast

Text:  John 21

Summary:  One of the last signs Jesus performed reminds us that he has a mission for us and that if we continue to be faithful, we are not failures even if we have had a lapse at some point in our lives.

 

 

Title:  Signs, Wonders, and Miracles – Conclusion

Text:  Various

Summary:  Jesus' identity, message, and ministry has divine authority as demonstrated by his signs, wonders, and miracles.  He conferred authority onto his Apostles to spread his message, which was confirmed by signs, wonders and miracles, which means that their message in scripture is God's word, and any other message is false and not from God.  Therefore, we need to read and live by that message.