Us vs. Them

4 Weeks

Big Idea of the Series

This four-week sermon series on relationships will explore the relational dynamic between members of the church and those outside of it. We can allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us to those outside the church, but our actions will be more effective than our words as we seek to foster kingdom-building relationships.

When we realize that God created humanity to live in partnership with him and with each other, we can begin to see our need for one another—including building relationships outside the church. This should remind believers about the importance of sharing the gospel with nonbelievers, and inspire us to connect in conversations.

This sermon series on “Us vs. Them” comes with a researched study guide with elements to for four messages on relationships. Big idea angles include God’s expectation for the church to be salt and light to the world by exercising humility in understanding God’s design, living generously in our approach to one another, pursuing patience in the midst of diversity, and embracing the common nature we all share.

What is the Series Guide?

Included in each guide is:

A sermon series outline that breaks up the teaching set into a specific number of weeks.
A "big idea" of the series.
A passage, "big idea" of the sermon, topic list, and a number of illustrations and talking point ideas are included in each weekly section. The "Sermon Ideas and Talking Points" area is filled with observations about the text, relevant applications, creative ideas, and illustrations.
A small group discussion (located in a separate document in this bundle).

What is the Series Guide Not?

This guide isn't a set of sermon manuscripts. While sermon manuscripts can be both useful and a powerful training tool, our sermon series guides are different. Rather than tell you what to say, our aim is for this material to spark your imagination, assist you in planning your sermon, and offer a boost to your study time.
This guide isn't ironclad. While we hope you use our material, the pieces of this document are designed to be moved, tweaked, and altered. As you study the suggested passages, and pray through your message, this guide will hopefully be a launching pad, rather than a landing net.

How Do I Use this Series Guide?

Plan ahead. Our guides are best utilized in advance versus the day or night before. Read over the ideas and illustrations provided, thinking through how you can possibly utilize them in your message. We've purposely kept our guides simple so as to give you the best opportunity to create your own, unique message.
While we give you a passage and "big idea" of the message, take time to study the text.
Utilize the media contained in this bundle to promote and communicate your series message.