Woodbury Community Church Sermons

The shepherds were amongst the most despised people in all of Israel. Unable to worship with the rest of the country, relegated to the outskirts of town, and untrusted, God chose to send the angelic announcement of the birth of Christ to this group. There is much we can learn from the shepherds about who God is and who God came to save. (Luke 2:8-20; Isaiah 53:3)

Joseph was an extraordinary man. By the time Jesus reaches adulthood, there is no more mention of him, but his radical obedience to the Father, made him the right choice to be the stepfather of God. No man before, or since had ever had to face such a difficult task. He had the perfect child, and he had a difficult test to his faith. Big Idea: Faith, and a life characterized by holiness are gifts that Christ would love to receive from you. Give him that gift. (Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:43-46; Philippians 2:8)

The sad story of King Herod is indicative of the way that many of us go through the Christmas season. We miss just what it is that this season is all about. And, in missing it, we lose out on the wonder and majesty of Jesus. Big Idea: Christmas is about Jesus! Let Him be at the center of your celebration. (Matthew 2:1-23)

Sermon preached at Woodbury Community Church, Woodbury, MN on Sunday, November 23, 2008 by Rev. Dr. John Kimball, Director of Conference Care & Church Redevelopment, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.

About a year has passed from the time we leave John chapter five and the time we begin John chapter six. The is the third Passover that we see take place during the ministry of Jesus. Jesus begins to teach, and a large crowd gathers to hear Him. After awhile, Jesus feeds this huge crowd (5,000 men + women and children) with two small fish and five small loaves of bread. The next day, Jesus tells His disciples that He is the Bread of Life (vs. 33). There are some in the crowd who do not believe that Mary and Joseph’s son could possibly be the Son of God. Jesus compares Himself to the manna from heaven in the Old Testament, and shows that unlike those who ate the manna, those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will live forever. Not quite understanding, many in the crowd find Jesus’ teaching too hard. Now, some disciples begin to abandon Jesus. (John 6:1-71)

This chapter is a turning point in the book of John. John chapter five includes perhaps the strongest statement to the deity of Christ in the entire Bible. There can be no doubt, based upon this chapter, that Jesus equated himself with God. He identified with God the Father in his nature, power and authority. The chapter opens with him healing a man at the pool at Bethesda. The healing took place on the Sabbath day, causing the Jews to seek to kill Jesus. He then tells them that He is the Son of God, and that this has been shown through four witnesses – John the Baptist, Jesus’ works, God the Father, and the Scriptures. Ultimately he shows them that Moses, who they followed will judge them for rejecting Christ. Jesus wants to heal lives, but we must let him. (John 5:1-47)

It’s in his interaction with the woman at the well that you see Jesus’ ministering heart in all of His glory. He offers the woman the gift of satisfaction for which her heart truly longed. He offered her complete satisfaction, which was only available through the ingredient of Jesus Christ, made possible by His character. (John 4:1-42; Acts 1:8; Jeremiah 2:13; Psalm 36:9; Isaiah 55:1; Psalm 112:1; John 3:7; John 3:14)

He was Israel's Teacher. His name was Nicodemus. A Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, and a leader of the Jews, this man's meeting with Jesus, the God-man produced a conversation that would change the world. Nicodemus needed desperately what only Jesus could offer. His leagalistic religion had left him empty, and his sincere questioning of Jesus would give hope to teh world. It's in this chapter that we find the most loved Bible verse, John 3:16. This sermon focuses on the reason that Jesus came into the world. ( John 3:1-21; John 2:12-25; Numbers 21:4-9; Romans 3:10; Romnas 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; James 2:19; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9)

John's second chapter opens with the story of Jesus' first miracle. Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Everything about Jesus' first miracle is significant. What we learn from the story reveals much about Jesus and much about us! (John 2:1-11)

While the first eighteen verses of John 1 introduce the divine nature of Jesus, verse 19-51 introduce the human nature of Jesus. John uses the final half of his first chapter to introduce Jesus. He does so by recording the events of one week in the life of Christ. In this week we see Jesus introduced and baptized by John the Baptist. We see Jesus call his first disciples and, at the beginning of chapter two, perform his first miracle. John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God, in a beautiful foretelling of Christ’s purpose on earth. Jesus uses a term for himself that is unique in that only Jesus and Stephen, the Martyr used it: Son of Man. It is a picture of Jesus willful obedience to the Father. He was literally the will of God. (John 1:19-51; Luke 1:13-17, 42-44, 76; Malachai 4:5-6; Matthew 11:11; Genesis 22; 28:12; John 1:14)

The book of John has been called the simplest of all of the Gospels to read, and also the deepest of all of the Gospels. Written by one of the inner core of Jesus' disciples, John emphasizes the Godship of Jesus. He also emphasizes an absolute commitment to personal salvation. This sermon will provide a brief overview of the book of John and then dive into the mystery of God Incarnate. Big Idea: God has revealed Himself to mankind. Jesus is God. Believe and Live. (John 20:31; Mark 5:29-43; Mark 9:2; Mark 13:3; Mark 14:32-34; John 1:1-18; Colossians 1:16-17; Psalm 33:6; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 139:14)

Jesus is passionate about his church making more disciples. And, he wants that to happen all over the world. This sermon focuses on our passion to see God multiply the impact of Woodbury Community Church through sending missionaries and planting churches. Big Idea: God has called us to go into all the world to tell others about Him. There has never been a time in the history of the world where the Gospel is as accessible as it is today. We must be the church that can't stop sending. (Acts 1:6-11; Psalm 3; Revelation 22:20; Matthew 24:36-44; Acts 6:1-7; Acts 8:26-40)

The church has been called to glorify God in everything we do. How we live our lives says everything about our view of worship, and God. Big Idea: Worship isn't just singing songs, praying and Bible study. It's a lifestyle. Living every day for the glory of God. (Matthew 6:5-9; Revelation 5:11-14; Psalm 95:6; 1 Samuel 15:22; Genesis 22: 1-12; Exodus 20:3; Matthew 6:24; Psalm 84:10; Joshua 24:15; Matthew 22:34-40; Psalm 26:8; Psalm 27:4; Psalm 84:4)

The church that understands how to serve like Jesus will make an impact on their community like no other. Jesus was the ultimate servant. He created us in His image and has definite plans for how we are to live our lives. Every believer has been given spiritual gifts, abilities, passions, experiences and a personality with which to serve Christ. Use them for His glory! Big Idea: Use your God ordained gifts to serve this world for the purpose of advancing His kingdom. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Mark 10:42-45; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:14-31; Revelation 17:17; Psalm 37:4; 1 Corinthians 12:6; 1 Corinthians 2:11; Romans 8:28; Matthew 5:16)

A Church that honors God seeks to know Him more. The Church at Berea was such a church. They didn't just listen to the Apostle Paul's teachings, they studies the Scriptures themselves to see if what Paul said was true. Big Idea: Spiritual Growth begins and ends with God, and is produced in the context of the Body of Christ. ( Acts 17:10-15; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42-47; 1 John 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2-3; Romans 12:1-2)

God created us for community. Just as the Father, Son and Spirit are one and live in union and commuion with one another, so Christ desires His church to be one. A church that honors Christ is a church that is living in fellowship with one another. When the church leaves the building, they keep meeting, in homes, neighborhoods, businesses, schools, we need each other. Big Idea: God created us for community. (Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 10:25)

God is passionate about His church making more disciples. The early church lived with the resolve to share the love of Christ, daily. And, God added daily to the numbers of those who were being saved. Evangelism is something that God calls all of us to. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 22:34-40)

Want to live a life that displays self-control? Then you have to live a life that is yielded to the Sprit. The secret to self-control in any area is to yield the control of your life to the Holy Spirit. That begins with a conscious decision and yields awesome results. Big Idea: True self-control is when we yield control of our lives to God. (Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Proverbs 25:28; 29:11; 6:23-26; 21:20; 23:29-35; 23:4; 23:20-21; Galatians 5:17-21; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 2:1-6; Galatians 5:16; Ecclesiastes 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Job 31:1)

In order to be fruit bearing believers in Christ, we must abide in Him. This begins as we learn to forgive as Jesus forgives. (Colossians 3:1-12, John 15:5, Matthew 6:9-15, Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 18:15-17, Matthew 5:23-24)

Jesus loved the Lake. When he walked the earth, there were many times that He gathered with large crowds of people, who listened to Him teach, experienced miracles, and saw that He was God. Big Idea: Jesus, is who He said He was! Trust Him with your life. (Mark 6:30-52; John 6:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; James 1:2-4; Matthew 14:28-31)