JUNE 22nd, Sermon & Ministry Resources

"CONFRONTING CHAOS, FINDING FREEDOM" (Luke 8:26-39)

Lectionary Readings — Second Sunday after Pentecost — June 22, 2025

1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a; Psalm 42 and 43; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39

---

Call to Worship (based on Luke 8:26-39)

Leader: We come today, sometimes bound by fears and troubles that chain our spirits.

People: But we gather in the presence of Christ, who breaks every chain.

Leader: Some of us arrive feeling separated from community, dwelling in lonely places.

People: Yet God calls us from isolation into the fellowship of faith.

Leader: When chaos surrounds us and our minds are troubled,

People: The Prince of Peace speaks calm to our storms.

Leader: Where dignity has been lost and humanity diminished,

People: Christ restores us, clothing us with mercy and grace.

Leader: Today we sit at the feet of Jesus, ready to learn and be transformed.

People: We come to hear God's Word and to receive new life.

Leader: Let us worship the One who frees us to return to our homes and communities,

All: Proclaiming how much God has done for us! Let us worship together!

---

Opening Prayer (based on 1 Kings 19:1-15)

Let us pray:

Gracious and Ever-Present God,

Like Elijah in the wilderness, we come before You today—sometimes weary, sometimes afraid, sometimes feeling alone in our journeys. When the challenges of life feel overwhelming, when we have given all we have and wonder if it has been enough, we remember Your faithfulness.

Lord, You met Elijah not in the mighty wind that tore the mountains, not in the earthshaking tremors, not in the consuming fire—but in the gentle whisper of a still, small voice. Teach us to quiet our hearts before You today, to listen beyond the noise and commotion of our lives.

When we feel we cannot go any further, You provide what we need—rest for our bodies, nourishment for our souls, and the gentle reminder that we are not alone. You sustain us with Your presence even when the path ahead seems uncertain.

Like Elijah sheltered in the cave, we seek Your face. Speak to us today in ways we can understand. Strengthen us for the journey ahead, whatever that may hold. Remind us that You are working in ways we cannot always see or understand.

Guide our worship today. May we encounter You not just in mighty demonstrations of power, but in quiet moments of clarity and peace. And may we leave this place with renewed purpose, knowing that You go with us.

In Your holy name we pray, Amen.

---

Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]

Sermon Outline: "CONFRONTING CHAOS, FINDING FREEDOM"

Based on Luke 8:26-39

INTRODUCTION:

• Set the scene: Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee, arriving in Gentile territory

• Brief overview of the Gerasene demoniac's condition - a man in utter chaos

• Central theme: Jesus' power to transform even the most broken lives from chaos to community

I. BONDAGE OF BROKENNESS

• Description of the man's pitiful condition (v. 27-29)

• Connection to modern forms of bondage

II. CONFRONTATION WITH CHRIST

• The demons immediately recognize Jesus' authority (v. 28)

• The significance of Jesus asking, "What is your name?" (v. 30)

• Application: How Christ confronts the destructive forces in our lives today

III. DRAMATIC CLEANSING

• The demons request entry into the pigs (v. 31-32)

• The significance of the drowned pigs

• Reflection on what Christ's cleansing power costs in our lives

IV. RESTORATION TO COMMUNITY

• The transformation of the man (v. 35)

• The community's fear-based rejection (v. 37)

• The man's commission (v. 38-39)

CONCLUSION:

• Return to the image of the man - before and after Christ

• Our own journey from bondage to freedom

• The call to testify about "how much God has done for you" (v. 39)

• Invitation: Allow Christ to confront the chaos in your life and find true freedom

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers