Resurrection Life Sunday Sermon

Resurrection Life Sunday Sermon

por Resurrection Life Church

Cristianismo Religión

Temporada 1

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: Seeds of the Kingdom

SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:26-34 Last week’s sermon, “Parable of the Hidden Lamp,” taught us that Jesus’ self-revelation was gradual, not immediate. Similarly, the two parables that follow in Mark 4:26-34 tell us that God’s kingdom — the visible expression of Christ’s rule, primarily through His church — is also gradual, but equally certain to come to fruition. Based on appearances, we may think the church is weak, a “lost cause” when it comes to investing our time, treasure, and talent. Jesus urges us to be confident in the power of His word and in the hopeful expectation of what His word will accomplish in believers' lives, individually and together.

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: Parable of the Hidden Lamp

Scripture: Mark 4:21-25 This week’s Sunday Sermon centers around a unique and short parable about the purpose of a lamp. What’s the purpose of a lamp? To shed light, of course. Simple. What’s the point of a lamp if it’s hidden under a bowl? So, in one aspect, part of this parable is as simple as singing the old children’s song, “This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to Let It Shine.” However, another aspect of this parable is more complicated. Jesus urges us to lean into what it means to truly understand the light that has come. Just as light itself behaves in a complicated way—as both waves and particles—who Jesus is in all his fullness, majesty, and power is beyond our full comprehension. Still, the challenge remains: may Scripture’s manifestation of Jesus so influence your faith that you see Jesus reign and rule in all of life.

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM

Scripture: Luke 11:1 -13 This week's Sunday Sermon focuses on one of the more fascinating parables Jesus shares with us—the Parable of the Midnight Knocker. This story challenges us to rethink our approach to prayer, inviting us to come to God with boldness, persistence, and confident expectation. Pastor Mark includes an intimate testimony of his struggles in prayer with his own health condition.

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: The Rich Man and Lazarus

SCRIPTURE: Luke 16:19-31 This Sunday's Sermon focused on a story Jesus told, comparing two men with two starkly different destinations. One man is rich. Filthy rich. The other man, named Lazarus, is destitute and disabled. This parable is the only time Jesus uses a proper name. The tables turn dramatically after these two men die. The rich man no longer basks in his wealth, but finds himself in agony. Lazarus is carried to Abraham on the other side of an unbridgeable chasm. The rich man vainly attempts to get some type of comfort back, but to no avail. This parable is among the most challenging in Scripture. The concept of an unbridgeable chasm separating heaven and hell is among the most difficult to preach. This will be a fire-and-brimstone sermon because it’s right there in the text! The trajectory of this parable’s teaching, however, is understanding the nature of faith, repentance, and resurrection. This intimidating story still declares the mercies of God toward repentant sinners and the importance of loving God above all earthly stuff.

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Our Director of Ministries, Jeff Smith, returned to the pulpit with a return to our summer series on Jesus' parables, PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM. Because of our sin, we have no standing to insist on favorable treatment from God. Nonetheless, we all tend to require payback from those who have wronged us. But God lavishes free and full forgiveness on all who trust in Jesus’ righteousness and payment for sin on their behalf. God then commands believers to put His forgiveness in Christ on display by our unlimited forgiveness of others, just as He forgives us infinitely (Romans 8:1).

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: Parable of the Prodigal Son

This Sunday, in our Portraits of the Kingdom series, we turned our attention to the Parable of the Prodigal Son. As we explore its four distinct scenes, one of the key questions we’ll confront is this: As we grow up, will God’s compassion and grace grow with us? This question contrasts the challenge Jesus gave to the religious elite: to die to their self-righteousness and self-congratulation.

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: Parable of the Ten Virgins

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:1-13. The message of Jesus' parable in Matthew 25:1-13 builds on last Sunday's sermon on the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, reminding us that the Church includes genuine and counterfeit believers. Likewise, in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus describes two types of Christians. Some may appear to have saving faith, but they do not have enduring faith. Jesus challenges us: While we wait for His second coming, we must have a sustained faith through all seasons of life. May the Lord use this passage to challenge us to grow in depth of faith for the joys and trials of life!

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: Parable of the Weeds

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:24-30, and 36-43. In the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43), Jesus teaches us how to respond to the devil's influence within and upon the church. In the parable, we learn that Satan actively places those who serve his evil purposes among and around those who make up Christ's church throughout the world. Perhaps to our surprise, Jesus commands us here to temper our desire to root out counterfeit Christians and evil influences from the church at all costs. We cannot see people’s spiritual state clearly now; accordingly, we must carry out the work of the church with discernment, patience, and confidence in Christ.

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: Parable of the Tenants

SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:1-12 This Sunday’s Sermon focused on a story Jesus told about Israel’s broken past, corrupt leadership, and future redemption rooted in himself. Jesus demonstrates tremendous courage by confronting the institutional authorities from the heart of the institution’s religious porthole—the Temple. He calls out the leaders for their smugness, ignorance, pride, and self-righteousness. Their blind desire to maintain control would ultimately drive their prophetic decision to kill Christ. In the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus pulls no punches. Yet this parable also points beyond human corruption, highlighting God’s sovereignty and His plan to bring growth through Jesus Christ, the cornerstone.

PORTRAITS OF THE KINGDOM: Lessons From A Dinner Party

SCRIPTURE: Luke 14: 1-24. This Sunday, the focus was on the lessons Jesus gave to those dining with Him in the home of a prominent religious leader. He shares a word of wisdom for the host, a word of wisdom for the guests, and a word of warning for everyone. What Jesus says creates some pretty intense social awkwardness. Yet the lessons he shares in Luke 14:1–24 are vital for us to consider as we embrace the values of Kingdom humility, generosity, and kindness.

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