Sermon Series: Giving It Up

Theme: Giving Up Control

“Entering the Wilderness” Matthew 4:1-11

Scripture Lesson Matthew 4:1-11 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil.  2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and...

“The Hunger Strike” Isaiah 58:1-14

Scripture Lesson Isaiah 58:1-14 1Shout out; do not hold back!    Lift up your voice like a trumpet!Announce to my people their rebellion,    to the house of Jacob their...

“Identifying Sin” Exodus 20:1-17

Scripture Lesson Exodus 20:1-17 1Then God spoke all these words, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you...

“Satisfied Hunger” John 6:22-58

Scripture Lesson John 6:22-58 22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that...

“Fasting Survival Tips” Romans 8:18-25

Scripture Lesson Romans 8:18-25 18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the...

Theme: Giving Up Expectations

“Promises, Promises” Hebrews 11:1-3

Scripture Lesson Hebrews 11:1-3 1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received...

“Destination Unknown” Psalm 46:10

Scripture Lesson Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God!    I am exalted among the nations;    I am exalted in the earth.”

“Promised Ground: Knowing Your New Land” Genesis 12:1-10

Scripture Lesson Genesis 12:1-10 1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will...

“Promises Delayed: Hurry Up and Wait” Genesis 16:1-4

Scripture Lesson Genesis 16:1-4 1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave whose name was Hagar, 2 and Sarai said to Abram, “You see that...

“Promised Postures: Reactions Matter” Genesis 17:15-19

Scripture Lesson Genesis 17:15-19 15 God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her and...

Theme: Giving Up Superiority

“Indifference” Nehemiah 6:1-4

Scripture Lesson Nehemiah 6:1-4 1Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and...

“Hollow Worship” Matthew 5:3

Scripture Lesson Matthew 5:3 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Hypocrisy” Matthew 23:27-33

Scripture Lesson Matthew 23:27-33 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful but inside...

“Spiritual Pride” James 4:6

Scripture Lesson James 4:6 6 But God gives all the more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud    but gives grace to the humble.”

“When Life Seems Impossible” Matthew 18:3

Scripture Lesson Matthew 18:3 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

“Why Please God?” Romans 12:1

Scripture Lesson Romans 12:1 1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and...

“When Having No Filter is Good” Romans 1:16

Scripture Lesson Romans 1:16 1 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

“I’m Sorry” Psalms 32:3-5

Scripture Lesson Psalms 32:3-5 3 While I kept silent, my body wasted away    through my groaning all day long.4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;    my...

“Taste the Goodness of God” Matthew 18: 3-4

Scripture Lesson Matthew 18:3-4 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes...

“What Would Jesus Undo… in ME?” Luke 5:29-32

Scripture Lesson Luke 5:29-32 29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others reclining at the table...

Theme: Giving Up Enemies

“Spiritual Love for Our Enemies: Pray for Them” Matthew 5:43-48

Scripture Lesson Matthew 5:43-48 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and...

“Practical Love for Our Enemies: Bless Them” Matthew 7:12

Scripture Lesson Matthew 7:12 12 “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

“Redemptive Love for Our Enemies: Forgive Them” Colossians 3:12-13

Scripture Lesson Colossians 3:12-13 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and...

“Expectations for Our Enemies: Absolutely Nothing” I Peter 5:5-7

Scripture Lesson I Peter 5:5-7 5 In the same way, you who are younger must be subject to the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your...

“Turning Enemies into Friends: Trust God to Handle It” Romans 12:19-21

Scripture Lesson Romans 12:19-21 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the...

Theme: The Wedding Gift

“The Business Woman” Acts 16:11-15

Scripture Lesson Acts 16:11-15 11 We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which...

“The Slave Girl” Acts 16:16-18

Scripture Lesson Acts 16:16-18 16 One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great...

“The Blue Collar Joe” Acts 17:19-34

Scripture Lesson Acts 17:19-34 19 So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, ‘May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 It...

“Living is Christ” Philippians 1:18-21

Scripture Lesson Philippians 1:18-21 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I...

“Gospel Courage” Philippians 1:27-28

Scripture Lesson Philippians 1:27-28 27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about...

Theme: Giving Up Popularity

“Surrender…Who, Me?” Psalm 55:22

Scripture Lesson Psalm 55:22 22 Cast your burden on the Lord,    and he will sustain you;he will never permit    the righteous to be moved.

“Who Do I Surrender To?” Psalm 13

Scripture Lesson Psalm 13 1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever?    How long will you hide your face from me?2 How long must I bear pain in my soul,    and...

“How Do I Surrender?” I Peter 5:5-7

Scripture Lesson I Peter 5:5-7 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in...

“How Does Surrender Impact My Relationships with Others?” Matthew 20:26-28

Scripture Lesson Matthew 20:26-28 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among...

“How Does Surrender Help Me Worship God?” Romans 12:1

Scripture Lesson Romans 12:1 12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and...

Theme: Giving Up Death

“How does the Resurrection Change my Life?” Matthew 28:1-7

Scripture Lesson Matthew 28:1-7 1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly...

“Kept by the Power of God” John 10:28-29

Scripture Lesson John 10:28-29 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, in regard to what he has...

“Seeking the Things Above” Colossians 3:1

Scripture Lesson Colossians 3:1 1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

“What Makes You Come to Life?” Romans 6:1-4

Scripture Lesson Romans 6:1-4 1 What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may increase? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on...

“Putting to Death” Colossians 3:5-10

Scripture Lesson Colossians 3:5-10 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is...