Sermon Extra

Outlines
A BIBLE READING PUBLICATION
 Extra SERMON OUTLINES

Using Discovery with Your Congregation

SU’s Discovery Bible Reading guide follows a carefully prepared reading schedule that will take people in your
congregation through representative portions of every Bible book in four years, reading 10-20 verses per day.
That means that if your congregation uses Discovery over any four year period, they’ll cover the entire Bible in
depth.

Of course, using Discovery for a four year cycle has distinct advantages for your congregation, but the reading
schedule (and sermon outlines) are set up so that both congregations and individual readers can start (or stop)
at any time and use it at any and all times of the year. Readings always take note of major days on the Chris-
tian calendar such as Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.

Studies have shown that reading and studying the Bible in a community setting such as a church or small group
greatly aids and motivates people in establishing a pattern of reading and living by God’s Word. The Discovery
Extra Sermon Outlines which follow are part of an integrated package which also includes the Discovery daily
readings and commentary and the weekend Discovery Extra group discussion questions. This package offers
a church-wide program in which your people can read the same Bible passages, discuss and share about them
in small groups and hear sermons based on these passages, too. It’s a great way to get your entire church en-
gaged together and growing in God’s Word.
 Extra SERMON OUTLINES

Using the Discovery Extra Sermon Outlines

The Discovery Extra Sermon Outlines are just that…outlines. They give you a basic structure on which to build
your sermon. They’re developed from carefully chosen passages taken from the prior week’s readings in
Discovery.

The outlines are intentionally brief. Why? Because the most important component is what you add, that is, your
own insights, stories and applications. That’s what will make your sermon come alive for your people. Each of
The Discovery Extra Sermon Outlines uses the following structure:

Title: The sermon title is meant to indicate the theme of the outline and grab your people’s
attention, too. Of course, you should feel free to establish your own title if you wish.

Text: This is a passage or passages from the prior weeks’ reading in Discovery chosen as
the basis for the sermon.

Key Thought: This is a statement for you, the pastor. It summarizes the main idea on which the
outline is built.

Sermon Outline: This is a brief set of key points you can use to create your sermon.
Again, the most important part of the outline is what you will add. Feel free to
customize the outlines by cutting and pasting them into your sermon document.
You can do this by using the “text” tool in Adobe® Acrobat® Reader.

Challenge: This is a statement intended for your congregation. It attempts to summarize a

key application point in a memorable way.
 Extra SERMON OUTLINE #1

The Devil Made Me…?

Text: Genesis 3:1-13
Key Thought: Sin has dire consequences. Jesus has overcome them.
Sermon Outline: 1. The temptation:
a. Satan challenged God’s honesty and integrity (1).
b. Satan challenged God’s goodness (depriving us of “good fruit”) (2,3).
c. Satan challenged God’s knowledge and sovereignty (“You won’t die”) (4).
2. The first and primal sin.
a. Eve thought she knew better than God (6).
b. “If it feels good it must be right” (examples?).
c. Calling something that is wrong and harmful good and beneficial (examples?).
3. The bad news: consequences of sin.
a. Loss of innocence and self respect (7).
b. Guilt and estrangement from God (8-10; Isa. 59:2; Rom. 3:23).
c. Fractured human relationships (12,13).
4. The Good News: there is a Savior.
a. Jesus Christ reconciles us to God (1 John 2:1,2; 2 Cor. 5:17-21).
b. Jesus Christ reconciles us to each other (Eph. 2:12-14).
c. Jesus Christ repairs our self inflicted wounds (1 John 3:1).
5. Dealing with temptation today.
a. What are some common, serious temptations we all face?
b. How can Christ help us overcome them (Heb. 4:15; Luke 4:1-13)?
c. How can our church help us overcome them?

Challenge: The Bible has both bad news and good news. It’s smart to believe them both.
 Extra Sermon Outline #2

God Starts Over

Text: Genesis 7:1-24
Key Thought: All life suffered God’s judgment on sin once; Jesus took ours once and for all.
Sermon Outline: 1. The background:
a. “Earth is corrupt and full of violence” (6:11,12).
b. God decides to start over (6:13).
c. Noah is commanded to build the ark and gather the animals (6:14-21).
d. Noah did all that God commanded (6:22).
2. The story.
a. A great flood will wipe out all life on earth (4).
b. The rain falls for 40 days and nights (parallel with Jesus’ temptation in
wilderness?) (12; Luke 4:1,2).
c. God preserved Noah and the animals (16,23).
d. The earth had a new start.
3. Implications for today.
a. Is it possible to be “blameless among the people of (our) time” as Noah
was in his? If so, how?
b. Should we expect God to bring about another catastrophic judgment on our
earth today (in light of all the evil and violence?)?
c. Other lessons or questions the story raises?
4. The happy ending.
a. God promised to never again destroy the earth (8:21,22).
b. Our judgment for sin has been taken by Jesus (1 John 2:1,2; 2 Cor. 5:17-21;
Col. 1:20-22).
c. We can have a “new start” in Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17).

Challenge: God gave the earth a new start and he offers us one, too.
 Extra Sermon Outline #3

It’s God Calling!

Text: Genesis 12:1-9
Key Thought: God’s call to us, like God’s call to Abram, may involve both sacrifice and blessing.
Sermon Outline: 1. God’s Call to Abram.
a. Leave (your country, family and friends) (1).
b. Go (to an as yet unknown destination) (1).
c. Trust (obedience would require a lot of faith and trust).
2. God’s promise to Abram.
a. Abram would be blessed (2,3).
b. Abram would be a blessing to others (2,3).
c. The blessings were contingent on Abram’s obedience.
3. Abram’s obedience to God.
a. He gathered his family, etc., and traveled to Canaan (4,5).
b. God made another great promise to Abram (7).
c. Abram worshiped God (8).
4. God’s call to you/us.
a. What does it mean to be “called by God” today?
b. How does God “call” people today?
c. Has God “called” you to “leave,” “go” and “trust”?
d. How have you responded?
5. Our obedience to God.
a. Our obedience may require sacrifice and trust.
b. Our obedience will bring blessing—to us and others.
c. Personal or other examples?

Challenge: Obey God’s call—easy or not—and you can be sure that blessing will follow!
 Extra Sermon Outline #4

Let’s Go Fishing!
Text: Mark 1:14-20
Key Thought: Jesus called the first disciples to follow and “fish.” He calls us to do the same.
Sermon Outline: 1. The background:
a. John was “preparing the way” for Jesus (1-8).
b. Jesus was publicly baptized, then tempted in the wilderness (9-12).
c. John was imprisoned (John 11:1-19, 14:1-12).
2. Jesus calls Simon and Andrew.
a. “Come, follow me” (17).
b. “I will make you fishers of men” (17).
c. They left their nets “at once” to follow (18).
3. Jesus calls James and John (19).
a. “Without delay,” they left their father and followed (20).
4. Have you heard Jesus’ call?
a. We are all called to “come, follow” and share the “Good News” (2 Cor. 5:18-21).
b. What does it mean to you and me today to be “fishers of men”?
c. What are the most effective ways to “fish”?
d. How can the church help/equip us to “fish”?
e. Is there anything you might need to “leave at once” to obey Jesus’ call?

Challenge: Take your fishing lessons, get your gear and go fishing. That’s Jesus’ call to all his
followers.
 Extra Sermon Outline #5

What About Sunday?

Text: Mark 2:23—3:6

Key Thought: The Sabbath was meant to serve us, not burden us. Jesus shows that in these examples.
Sermon Outline: 1. The background:
a. The “Law” forbade work on the Sabbath (Exod. 20:8).
b. Jesus and his disciples, being hungry, picked some corn in a field (23).
c. The Pharisees said this was “work” and therefore unlawful (24).
2. Jesus’ response.
a. Jesus cites the example of David and his companions (25; 1 Sam. 2:1-6).
b. They broke an even more serious law but were not condemned (26).
c. Jesus says the Sabbath is a gift to us, not a master or burden (27).
3. Jesus’ response in the synagogue.
a. Jesus intends to heal a crippled man (3:1).
b. The Pharisees again say this is “work” and unlawful (3:2).
c. Jesus says it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, especially helping others (4).
4. Jesus gives us two principles for observing the Sabbath.
a. Let it serve you as God intends.
b. Don’t hesitate to do good on the Sabbath.
5. What does this mean for us today?
a. Do/should Christians observe the Sabbath? If so, when?
b. How might Jesus’ principles apply to us (shopping, TV and internet, sports, etc.)?
c. Other questions or issues?

Challenge: The Sabbath is God’s gift to you. Take it and enjoy it as God intended.
 Extra Sermon Outline #6

Is It Ever Right To Lie?

Text: Joshua 2:1-16
Key Thought: Rahab told a lie and it was honored. What does that tell us about lying and truthfulness?
Sermon Outline: 1. The background:
a. Joshua and the people are preparing to enter the Promised Land.
b. Joshua sends spies to “scout out the land” (1).
c. The spies lodge with Rahab (who may have been an innkeeper) (2).
2. The spies endangered.
a. The King of Jericho is aware of the spies (2).
b. He orders Rahab to turn them in (3).
c. Rahab is faced with a choice; an “ethical dilemma”: lie or tell the truth.
3. The spies protected.
a. Rahab hid the spies from the King’s men (6).
b. Rahab lied about them having left the area (5).
c. Rahab was convinced she did the right thing.
4. Rahab’s “bargain.”
a. She asks for protection in return (8-13).
b. She is granted protection for her and her family (“our lives for your lives”) (14).
5. The questions raised.
a. What is a “lie”?
b. Was this really a “lie”?
c. Is this just a “white lie”?
d. Is a “white lie” or any lie ever justified (knowing that God values truth)?
e. What risks should a Christian be willing to take to tell the truth?
f. What responsibility do we have for allowing others to lie on our behalf?

Challenge: Being truthful isn’t always without cost, but think carefully before telling a lie!
 Extra Sermon Outline #7

Mission Impossible (??)

Text: Joshua 6:1-19

Key Thought: The story of Joshua and Jericho gives us help to face the impossible situations of life.
Sermon Outline: 1. The background:
a. The Commander of the Lord’s Army appears to Joshua (5:13-15).
b. Jericho is “shut up tight,” its walls highly fortified against Israelite attack (6:1).
2. The Lord’s promise and command to Joshua.
a. The Lord promised to “deliver the city” to the Israelite army (6:2).
b. The Lord commanded how they were to “attack” (3,4).
c. The Lord promised that, if they obeyed, the city walls would collapse (5).
d. It must have seemed to some a “mission impossible.”
3. The people’s response and obedience.
a. Joshua trusted God and ordered his army to do as God commanded (6,7).
b. The people trusted and obeyed Joshua (and the Lord) (8-20).
c. The city walls collapsed as God had promised (20).
d. The “impossible” had happened.
4. The Lord’s promise and command to us.
a. The Lord is always with us (Matt. 28:20).
b. He may call us to “impossible” missions today (examples?).
c. The “secret to success” is still trust and obedience. (How can we “muster” it?)
d. Contemporary or congregational examples?

Challenge: The secret to achieving those “missions impossible” is trusting and obeying the Lord.
 Extra Sermon Outline #8

Did You Really Hear from God?

Text: Hebrews 1:1-4

Key Thought: God spoke in the past and still does today, primarily through his Son and his Word.
Sermon Outline: 1. God spoke in the past.
a. Through the prophets (give examples) (1).
b. In various other ways.
i. Dreams and visions (Joseph and Daniel).
ii. Audible voice (boy Samuel).
iii. Other ways?
c. Through creation (Rom. 1:19,20).
2. Now speaks through his Son (2).
a. He is the Word (John 1:1).
b. He is the Truth (John 14:6).
3. The Son reveals God.
a. He is the radiance of God’s glory (3).
b. He is the “exact representation” of God’s being (3).
c. He is the “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15).
d. The fullness of God dwells in him (Col. 1:19).
4. Other ways God speaks today.
a. Through his written Word (importance of regular reading).
b. Through his Spirit.
c. Through the fellowship of his church (local and universal).
d. Other ways?
e. How do you hear from God?

Challenge: God still speaks to us today. Are you listening?

 Extra Sermon Outline #9

Sympathy from Jesus

Text: Hebrews 4:14-16 and also Luke 4:1-13
Key Thought: We aren’t left to face temptation alone. Jesus understands it and can help us overcome it.
Sermon Outline: 1. Jesus is our Great High Priest (14).
a. What role did High Priest play in OT?
b. What role does our Great High Priest play today?
2. What kind of Great High Priest is Jesus?
a. He’s able to sympathize with our weaknesses (15).
b. He was tempted in every way that we are (review temptations in Luke 4) (15).
c. He overcame temptation and was sinless.
d. He’s the source of mercy and grace (16).
3. How can Jesus help us overcome temptation?
a. Providing confidence, mercy and grace (16).
b. His example of knowing and using Scripture to resist Satan (Luke 4:1-13).
4. How can the church help us overcome temptation?
a. Prayer partners.
b. Small groups/accountability groups.
c. Other ways?

Challenge: Jesus knows temptation inside out. When you face it, face toward Jesus. He can help.
 Extra Sermon Outline #10

No God, No Hope!

Text: Ephesians 2:11-22

Key Thought: Christ breaks down the barriers that separate people and invites them all into his body.
Sermon Outline: 1. Gentile’s (our) status before Christ’s coming.
a. Separated from Christ; excluded from covenant people (12).
b. Foreigners and aliens to God and his people (12,19).
c. Considered as “dogs” by observant Jews (Matt. 15:26,27).
d. Without God and without hope (12).
2. Christ’s purpose in coming.
a. To create “one” out of the “two” (15).
b. To reconcile them both/all to God (16).
c. To give both access to God by the Holy Spirit (18).
3. Christ’s accomplishments: Gentile’s change in status.
a. Those formerly excluded are “brought near” to God (13).
b. Christ destroys the “barrier” of hostility between them (16).
c. The Gentiles (us) are no longer separated/excluded but are “fellow citizens” of
God’s household (19).
d. The two can become one body in Christ, the chief cornerstone (20,22; Gal. 3:28).
4. How is this unity shown in your/our church?
a. Who are the “Gentiles” around us who might be or feel excluded from God?
b. How can we help them be “brought near” to God?
c. What “barriers” or “walls of hostility” must Christ still break down?
d. Other questions/challenges?
Challenge: We were all “outsiders” once. Let’s be “barrier breakers” and welcome other “outsiders” in.
 Extra Sermon Outline #11

Winning the Everyday Battles

Text: Ephesians 6:10-24

Key Thought: Paul gives us a list of spiritual weapons needed to stand firm in our spiritual battles.
Sermon Outline: 1. Our struggle.
a. A spiritual battle (12).
i. Against “the rulers of this dark world” (12).
ii. Against “the spiritual forces of evil” (12).
iii. Give possible examples of each.
2. Our weapons.
a. Spiritual weapons for a spiritual battle.
b. The full armor of God (11).
i. Belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness (14).
ii Feet shod with the Gospel of peace (15; Isa. 52:7).
iii. The shield of faith (16).
iv. The helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit (the Word) (17; Heb. 4:12).
v. Prayer (18).
vi. Examples/illustrations/explanations of each.
3. Our goal.
a. To be “strong in the Lord” and his power (not ours) (10).
b. To stand firm against Satan and his deceitful schemes (11,13,14).
4. Our confidence.
a. In Christ, our Great High Priest (Heb. 4:4-16).

Challenge: Spiritual battles must be fought with spiritual weapons, and God has provided all we need.
 Extra Sermon Outline #12

Is Extravagant Worship Wrong?

Text: Mark 14:1-11

Key Thought: Extravagance in the worship of Jesus can be a beautiful and appropriate thing.
Sermon Outline: 1. Setting the scene.
a. The Passover celebration is approaching (1).
b. The religious leaders who oppose Jesus are looking or a way to kill him (1)
(give some background on the conflict).
c. This provides the framework for Judas’ betrayal of Jesus (10,11).
2. The conflict.
a. A woman breaks an expensive jar of perfume over Jesus’ head in worship (3).
b. The great value of the perfume could have helped many poor people (5).
c. Onlookers called this a “waste” and rebuked the woman harshly for this great
extravagance (5).
3. The resolution.
a. Jesus rebukes the “rebukers” (6).
b. He commends her “extravagant worship” as appropriate to who he is (8,9).
4. What lessons are there here for us?
a. When is “extravagant worship” appropriate?
b. When is “extravagant worship” wasteful?
c. What does this passage say about the way we decorate our churches?
d. What does appropriately extravagant worship look like in this church?
e. What other lessons might it hold?

Challenge: Extravagance for its own sake has no value; for Jesus’ sake it is priceless.
 Extra Sermon Outline #13

Don’t Be In Denial!
Text: Mark 14:66-72
Key Thought: The pressures to deny Jesus are great, but even if we break, Jesus can restore us!
Sermon Outline: 1. Setting the scene:
a. Jesus has been arrested (45-52) and is on trial now (53-65).
b. Peter is waiting in the shadows outside the trial (66).
c. The religious leaders want to condemn Jesus to death (55,64).
2. Peter’s dilemma:
a. Peter is recognized as a companion of Jesus (66,67).
b. Both his appearance and his speech betrayed him (67,69,70).
c. To admit his relationship to Jesus is to risk the same fate as Jesus.
3. Peter’s reaction:
a. He denied three times that he even knew Jesus.
b. He underlined his denial with an oath and cursing.
c. When reminded of Jesus’ prediction, he was deeply ashamed and remorseful (72).
4. Our dilemma:
a. We, too, may face pressures to deny our relationship to Jesus.
b. Discuss the pressures and risks (job, friendships, public forums, etc.).
5. How can we resist those pressures and assume the risks?
a. A daily time with God in his Word and prayer.
b. Support of fellow believers.
c. Others?
6. And if we, like Peter, fail?
a. Just as Jesus restored a repentant Peter, he will do so for us, too (John 21:15-19).
b. Peter became stronger and a leader of the Apostles.
Challenge: Don’t let the pressure break you. Let it make you an even stronger follower of Jesus.
 ®
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