Rev. Paul J. Miller

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – March 8, 2026 “’Holy’, Who, Me?” – 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 What does “holy” mean? Sacred, hallowed, set apart, wholeness To be “holy” is not moral content, but positional intent. What “holy” means I am intentionally and purposefully setting myself apart from the ways, systems, and patterns of this world and following the way of Jesus. HOLY IS THE PATH TO WHOLENESS 1)WHOLENESS BEGINS BY WAKING UP (v13-16) - Ephesians 5:13-14 2) WHOLENESS RESPECTS THE BLOOD (v17-19) 1 John 1:7 3)WHOLENESS CONNECTS TO GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN (v20-21) Matthew 13:35 - Matthew 25:34 John 17:24 Romans 8:19-22 - Ephesians 1:4-5 Revelation 13:8 Revelation 17:8 4)WHOLENESS PURIFIES THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO THE RULE OF LOVE (v22) Matthew 22:37-40 5)WHOLENESS BIRTHS US INTO THE ENDURING WORD (v23-25) John 3:3

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Notes – March 1, 2026 “What a Great Salvation!” - 1 Peter 1:1-12 BY HIS GRACE, WE ARE AT PEACE (v1-2) “God’s elect”? – The “elect” is the church worldwide “foreknowledge”? – God “chose” to rescue humanity - Ephesians 1:4-6 “sprinkled with his blood” – Exodus 24:8 “Grace and peace” – Paul uses same greeting BY HIS RESURRECTION, WE INHERIT SALVATION(v3-5) “great mercy” – Psalm 25:6 “new birth” – John 3:3 “living hope” – Romans 5:5 “inheritance” – Colossians 3:23-24 “shielded by God’s power” – Psalm 7:10 BY TRIAL, WE ARE REFINED(v6-7) “grief” and “trials” - James 1:2-3 Trials are our refining fire - 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 BY FAITH, WE ARE SAVED(v8-9) “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” – do you know this joy? - John 15:11,16:24, Acts 13:52, Phil. 2:1-2 BY THE SPIRIT, THE WORD COMES TO LIFE(v10-12) The prophets had “the Spirit of Christ” - Romans 8:9 The OT prophets were serving US! “preached to you by the Holy Spirit” – Romans 10:8-10

Peter is one of the most well-known figures of the New Testament. Leader to the core, his passionate impulses led to both his best and worst moments. Jesus groomed him so he'd be ready to lead the church at Pentecost. His personality traits are not uncommon to all leaders. What's important is that we submit to Christ's rebukes and guidance so we can lead more effectively.

"Love must be sincere." If it's not, is it truly love? Renewal is a desire that we all have. We want to change where change is needed. We want to reclaim the good we have lost or wandered away from. We want to recover and discover how best to live in this world. How to spread hope and to live at peace with others. None of this can happen without "sincere love".

The Magi from the east who came with gifts for the Christ child are mysterious as to their origin and purpose. Apparently, these learned "wise men" from a distant land discerned from the stars what the religious leaders in Jerusalem had no clue about. The long-awaited Messiah has finally come, and they were so moved by this news that they invested no small amount of time and expense to worship the Son of God. The treasures that we cherish should also be laid at the feet of Jesus. Come, let us adore Him!

God could have chosen any person or persons on the planet to announce the coming of Christ into our world. He didn't choose the rich, the powerful, the advantaged, or the best educated. He chose humble shepherds. That night began as just like any another night; outside with the sheep doing what had done for countless generations. By morning, the lives of these shepherds would never be the same; and nor would the lives of all humanity.....

The mother of Jesus didn’t ask for or seek out this incredible blessing. She was chosen by God for this, and she willingly submitted to His will. This surely upended whatever plans and dreams she had for her own life. It also had to be a great burden as she tried to explain her pregnancy to her own family and friends. (even Jospeh didn’t believe her, at first) The call of God in our lives is always good, but it’s never easy. We will always get some level of rejection or trial for carrying Christ within us.

The vision of the judgement seat of God taught by Jesus in Matthew 25 reveals the need of acting upon what we claim to believe in. Faith that fails to transcend from thought to action is not faith at all. But when both are present, we can experience "life", eternal life. Eternity is both now and forever.

Our tech-obsessed world wants everything as quickly and as easily as possible. Make it more convenient and it will sell. But there are no short-cuts to what matters most. The narrow path is the way to life - true life, the best life. That path always includes risk, sacrifice, and time. Convenience itself isn't wrong, but the way to life is not convenient.

Information is more available than ever before. But what do we do with it? What is it doing to us? How do we discern what is good and what is true? Let's look to the scriptures and learn from the measureless God how best to discern our way through endless information.

Distractions surround and attack us daily. Multiple forms of media thrust in our faces and glued to our fingertips. Jesus warned us about a soil condition of the heart where thorns choke out what God is trying to grow through us. His desire is that we thrive like the tree by the water in Psalm 1.

This sermon is a chapter from my upcoming book about fear. How we interpret and explain the mysterious apocalyptic books and chapters of the Bible matters. It especially matters when fear-filled predictions about the return of Christ are thrust upon the masses. Fear and love are opposites. Jesus came to us to demonstrate the greatness and power of love over fear. Do we hear about God's love from the fear-filled "end times" prophetic industry? Let's get focused on being His witnesses, not just standing there with our eyes on the sky.

"Love must be sincere" This vital directive can be easily missed among the multitude of good, sound, practical advice found in the 12th chapter of Paul's letter to the church in Rome. But a case could be made that those 4 words are central to all else that is written in these 21 verses. Romans 12 is about transformation, gifts from the Spirit, unity in the body, how we should be engaging and responding to our world, and leaving vengeance in the hands of God. Loving with sincerity is vital every one of those teachings. Church, how are we doing with that?

Just before Jesus was arrested and went to the cross, He promised His disciples that the "Advocate" (comforter, helper, counselor) would come. A big part of what the Spirit did (and still does) is to "prove the world wrong" about sin, about righteousness, and about judgement. (see John 16:8-11)

Rev. Paul J. Miller - Sermon Notes – October 5, 2025 “Jesus: We can all find renewed life in Him” - Romans 8:1-11 “Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, through his virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death on the Cross, and glorious resurrection and ascension, graciously offers new life to all who receive him by faith.” – Evangelical Congregational Church This statement contains a story. THE story. If we believe the story, what does it mean for us? I AM WRETCHED “What a wretched man I am!” (7:24) I AM DELIVERED “Thanks be to God, who delivers through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (7:25) I AM NOT CONDEMNED “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (8:1) I AM SET FREE “set free from the law of sin and death” (8:2) I HAVE LIFE, I HAVE PEACE “the Spirit is life and peace” (8:6) I AM GOD’S CHILD “…those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (8:14) Believing the story of Jesus means to let His story become your story.

Sin separates us from God. But in what sense are we separated? Is it positional or relational? No matter how far we fall and fail, God's love follows us there, right into the depths of our brokenness. That's what a loving father does.

Walk with me through the numerous scriptures that teach the importance of "image". Creating our own does work out so well. Accepting that we bear the image of the Creator is the key to embracing your true identity.

Waiting on the Lord means trusting in Him like a lamb trusts it's shepherd. Do you trust Jesus to hold you close?