Rev. Paul J. Miller

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – 6/11/23 “Mercy is the Business of God” – Romans 9:1-18 ____________________________________________ THE MERCY OF GOD IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 18:21-35 - The Unmerciful Servant THE MERCY OF GOD IS NOT AN INHERENT RIGHT Romans 9:6-9 Words that describe how God dispenses His mercy ADOPTION - Romans 8:15, 8:23, 9:4 GRAFTED IN – Romans 11:17-24 ELECTION – Romans 9:11, 11:28 CHOSEN – Romans 8:33 CALLED – Romans 1:6, 8:28, 8:30, 9:24 MERCY IS INITIATED BY GOD’S CHOICE, NOT BY OUR ACTIONS - Romans 9:10-13 “Election” is a more statement about God than about us. He “chose” to bless us with mercy, apart from behavior or inheritance. THE WILL OF GOD IS TO OFFER MERCY TO PEOPLE Romans 9:14-18 GOD WON’T HARDEN YOUR HEART (but you can) Hebrews 3:15 Ephesians 4:18 Mark 8:17 Proverbs 28:14 ________________________________________________________________ GOD’S WILL IS MERCY What is you willful response to His mercy? GOD’S WILL IS COMPASSION Is Godly compassion evident in your life?

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – June 4, 2023 “Nothing Can Separate of from God’s Love: Nothing!” - Romans 8:31-39 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? 4 questions If God is for us, who can be against us? SOVEREIGNTY Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? AUTHORITY Who then is the one who condemns? IDENTITY Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ANXIETY Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? trouble? hardship? persecution? famine? nakedness? danger? sword? The voices of doubt, anxiety, rejection, abandonment, and shame come from people – never from God. No one, and no thing, can do anything to you that will cause God’s love for you to end. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors… Love is not about gaining conquest over those who hurt us, oppress us, or reject us. God’s love is so much more, and so much better! For I am convinced that … …neither death nor life THE PHYSICAL …neither angels nor demons THE SPIRITUAL …neither the present nor the future TIME …nor any powers GRAVITY …neither height nor depth SPACE …nor anything else in all creation MIND GAMES will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 28, 2023 “Groaning Along with Creation” – Romans 8:18-30 Our purpose is to love, and our destiny is to find love in all things. The lack of love and the rejection of our destiny to love leads to frustration, groaning, bondage, and decay. (Romans 8:18-20) Our spirit groans because something is not right – love is this world is not fulfilled. (Romans 8:22-25) So worn out that there are no words left – just groans.(Rom 8:26-27) Romans 8:28 When our purpose is to love, can find love in “all things”. This is love - 2 John 1:6 & 1 John 4:7-8 Romans 8:29 The response of God to everyone who chooses to love God is… To invite us into ever-deepening love (“called according to his purpose”) To encourage us that we are known by Him (“those God foreknew”) To reveal to us that we have a destiny (“predestined”) To show us how to live into our true image (“conform”) To welcome us into His family (“many brothers and sisters”) Romans 8:30 Living into our true destiny …we are called (hearing and responding to the call of love) …we are justified (no matter how great or how often, we can always choose to love) …we are glorified (In this world we can get a slight taste, a mild scent, a brief glimpse, a quick touch, a still small voice of what is to come)

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 21, 2023 “Condemned No More!” – Romans 8:1-17 The voice of condemnation and shame is a liar. It lies to you through other people and from within your false self. This voice is never from God. Do you desire that which is truly good, life-giving and transforming? Follow the voice of Truth, the voice of the Father. He calls you away from condemnation and fear. He leads you into your true self, in fulfilled relationship with Him. THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN YOU… …SETS YOU FREE FROM CONDEMNATION (V1-4) John 3:17 John 8:10-11 …PROVIDES A NEW MINDSET (V5-7) Is your life at peace? …REMINDS YOU THAT YOU BELONG (V9-11) AFFIRMING, REASSURING, “IF’S” THE FACT THAT YOU EVEN CARE IS A SIGN OF HIS SPIRIT! YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD… …FOLLOW HIS LEAD (V12-14) …YOU DON’T NEED TO BE AFRAID (V15) …YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD, DEEP INSIDE YOU KNOW THIS (V16-17)

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 14, 2023 “Set Free from Human Struggle” – Romans 7:14-25 The ten Commandments: How do feel about yourself when you hear them? Which ones make you feel uneasy, uncomfortable, (dare we say it), guilty? “the greatest Command” Do you love God with all that you are? Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? do you love yourself? (Be honest with “you”!) Can you live up to your own standards, your own expectations? How consistent are you at obeying God? Are you frustrated with yourself? Why? What about? What do you need Jesus to rescue you from?

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – May 7, 2023 Law: Matters of Life and Death – Romans 7:1-13 The Law reveals what we are not, what we lack, where the problem is, how broken we are; it reveals our false self. It is not capable of making us better, much less of revealing our true self. Law is Not Life-giving (v1-3) Paul did not write this to create marriage and divorce law. He’s simply using an every day “example” that his listeners can readily understand in order to reinforce the larger point. Christ’s Death is My Death (v4) Romans & Galatians: similar themes Galatians 2:19:21 Live a Life-Giving Life (v4-6) What is the fruit of your life? Galatians 5:22-25 The Law is a Diagnostic Tool for the Spirit (v7-12) In the spiritual sense, the Law is like a doctor who can give an accurate diagnosis, but is incapable of bringing you any healing. (or the car test, the computer test, the water test, etc.) It's Worse than You Think (v13) Romans 7:13 - Phillips Translation: It can scarcely be doubted that in reality the Law itself is holy, and the commandment is holy, fair and good. Can it be that something that is intrinsically good could mean death to me? No, what happened was this. Sin, at the touch of the Law, was forced to express itself as sin, and that meant death for me. The contact of the Law showed the sinful nature of sin.