Sermons by Brad Mills
I Can’t Get No Satisfaction (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)
We have seen the value of community followed by the proper way a community is to approach God, namely with reverence. Now we add another essential ingredient to the fulfilled life—joy. Pray and Read Ecclesiastes 5:8-20. Periods of transition create anxious feelings. Mostly revolve around uncertainty about the future. I get worried when things are out of my control, almost everything is! We all have guilt and emotional baggage. We perpetuate the cycle of guilt by repeated failure. Since we’re so uncomfortable with those…
Christ’s Body Builders (Ephesians 4:11-12)
The gifts Christ distributed upon his ascension are the benefits of the covenant community. They relate to your redemption, sanctification, and perseverance. Pray and Read Ephesians 4:11-12. Do you remember the Power Team—popular in the 1980s—that would put on shows at megachurches demonstrating feats of strength. They would quote Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” before smashing their head through a stack of bricks, or ripping phonebooks in half, or ramming their shoulder through several sheets…
Approach God With Reverence (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)
Approach God With Reverence (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7) Transitions from value of community (4:9-16) to the proper way that community is to approach God (5:1-7). Pray & Read Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. One week after our wedding, Carrie and I left the church I had attended for twelve years. That Sunday, August 1999, the church began “The Decades Series” (50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s): Apparently, our itching ears craved laughter rather than maturing through sound teaching. Our departure was as much about what we…
Every Square Inch (Ephesians 4:9-10)
Psalm 68—Scripture Introduction Last week, I highlighted several verses of this psalm as an overview. This morning, we’ll read the entire psalm as the theme of Christ’s ascension continues in Eph. 4:9-10. Psalms 65-68 God calls from Mount Zion upon the nations to worship him. In Ephesians, Paul connects God’s march from Sinai to Zion to Christ’s march from his earthly manger to the heavenly throne. Theme: God’s triumphal procession from Sinai to Zion. There is a liturgical association with…
He Ascended on High (Ephesians 4:8)
He Ascended on High (Ephesians 4:8) Unity is the result of worshipping a Triune God (vv.4-6). It is strengthened by our diversity of gifts (v.7). Now, Paul provides the basis for those gifts by applying Psalm 68:18 to Christ’s ascension, which raises several questions. Pray and Read Ephesians 4:7-8. In The Revolt of the Public, Martin Gurri explains the global trend of networks to overthrow the established order. “Networks succeed when held together by a single powerful point of reference…
Two Are Better Than One (Ecclesiastes 4:7-16)
Introduction Read Ecclesiastes 4:7-16 The Disadvantages of Isolation (7-8) Let’s consider… The Advantages of Cooperation (9-12) Ryken: There is spiritual warmth in going through life with other believers. It is easy to grow cold in the Christian life, to become numb to the work of God, and eventually to freeze almost to spiritual death. But when we are growing cold, the heat of another Christian can warm us up. Lastly, the Preacher considers… The Disadvantages of Position (13-16) In… Conclusion…
Perfect Unity (Ephesians 4:4-6) Part 1
For the past several weeks we have been in the second half of Ephesians in which Paul focuses on the practical implications of the first half. Paul devoted much of the first three chapters to praying that the Ephesians would know God intimately and understand the grace that has brought them into union with God and each other. He continued with that same theme in chapter four calling them to personally adopt a sacrificial commitment to their calling (1) and…
Eager For Unity (Ephesians 4:2-3)
Last week we learned that we must each walk worthy of our calling personally if we are committed to maintaining unity corporately. Paul mentioned his imprisonment to exhort his readers to be prepared to sacrifice for their calling. Marius Victorinus makes the following connection, “With lowliness and meekness they learn not to be afraid to suffer. With patience they learn how to respond if they must suffer.” Pray and Read Ephesians 4:1-3. The most intense fight in MLB history was…
Better Off Dead (Ecclesiates 4:1-6)
Ecclesiastes is a book about searching for meaning in life. It’s about finding purpose. The Preacher assumes the position of King Solomon, one who had great wisdom and great wealth, yet he is unable to find rest in either. Wisdom and wealth cannot provide rest. He considered the endless cycles of nature concluding that everything is vanity, emptiness. Searching for meaning in life “under the sun” is like chasing after the wind. You won’t find your contentment in work or…
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