Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: disciple, evangelist, the 12, the twelve, son of Zebedee, fisherman, incarnation, word became flesh, I Am sayings, apostle, sons of thunder, eternal life, darkness and light, eyewitness

Showing 301 to 325 of 1652 results

301. Family Matters

Romans 8:12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... of God and joint heirs with Christ, if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Verse 16 says: "The Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are the children of God." That's Good News because children belong to a ... :28) "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (John 14:18) "I will not leave you orphaned." (John 3:36) "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life." B. There are hundreds of other promises as well. Promises ...

302. God’s Two Hands

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the disciples had been anxiously awaiting. Biding their time in Jerusalem, they expectantly anticipated that which Jesus had promised he would send. That promise is articulated three times during the so‑called “Final Discourse” of Jesus in John’s gospel (14:16‑17, 26; 15:26‑27). It speaks to John’s high Christology, not any confusion over the origins of this paraclete, that the source of this Holy Spirit sometimes is “from the Father” (15:26) and sometimes comes in the name of the Son (14 ...

303. The Story Worth Living

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... week’s gospel text is about kicking those snakes to the curb, and embracing a whole new world of possibility. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). That is the text everyone knows, even when we do not know what it means. What does the text mean? It means there are no more snakes. God has sent us so much love that there is nothing scary left for people who love. Jesus lived the life ...

304. The Excellent Meal Ticket

Genesis 37:1-11, Genesis 37:12-36, John 21:15-25, Mark 8:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. Jesus Asks Peter to “Feed My Sheep” When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him ...

305. Driven to Complete

Mark 9:30-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... achieve great things, but they also steal away the joy of achievement, and drive us further away from God and from others. Remember Jesus’ words in John 10:10 where he said that he has come to give us a more abundant life? When Jesus confronted his disciples in this passage, he ... of Oz: A TV Success Story” by Aljean Harmetz, Special To The New York Times, March 16, 1983, https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/16/movies/wizard-of-oz-a-tv-success-story.html. 5. #731 #1101[for documentation of illustrations, ...

306. The Pointer

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... sin and salvation through Jesus Christ alone. That double emphasis is called the law and the gospel. In Philippians 2:14-16, Paul writes: Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without ... of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Holding fast to the word, like John, Peter, and Paul, we point to Jesus, not ourselves. We are called to point to Jesus, but we are also called to point to the sins of ...

307. A Man Who Lost His Head

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

R. Blaine Detrick

... And we must remember to take that kind of a long look. Just a few months later, when news of the preaching of Jesus came to Herod, he cried out in anguish and remorse, "It must be John the Baptizer come back to life." Herod and his guilty conscience never did get rid of John (Mark 6:14-16). The Lamb of God But as this chapter draws to a close, let us turn from John - as I think he would desire - and speak of the One whom he presented to the people: the Master ... the Lord ... the Messiah ... the Savior. If ...

308. Turning Potholes into Mud Puddles on the Bethlehem Road

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... act as a servant to this one who is coming, “not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals” (v.16). “Methinks thou dost protest too much” comes to mind in the wake of John’s repeated emphases that his role is merely to proclaim the need for preparedness in the face of imminent judgment. John’s image of the winnowing fork separating the grain for storage from the chaff for burning belies John’s own crucial role. The time for decision-making; the time for responding to the call to repentance; the ...

309. All My Children

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Frank Lyman

On September 16, 1998, a funeral service was held at the First United Methodist Church of Montgomery, Alabama. It was the funeral service for George ... a great leap, for it's one thing to change human laws, but quite another to change human hearts. When it comes to changing hearts, you won't find a better example than John the Baptist. He prepared the way for Jesus, but his techniques and his appearance were peculiar. His home was in the Judean desert. His diet of locusts and honey was not featured in " ...

310. The Light That Dwells Among Us

Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 16:21-28, Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... and power in this world and the next. Amen Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Transfiguration (16:13--17:13) Minor Text Genesis: Let There Be Light (1) Exodus: Moses and the Burning Bush on God’s Mountain (2); ... to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He ...

311. Learning Our Role

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sermon

John B. Jamison

... all that much more powerful when he looks at the people asking him to be the person they wanted him to be, and he said, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I will come” (v. 16). John remembered his role. He remembered who he was, and who he was meant to be. And if John could do that, there is hope for us too. No matter how certain we might be in our faith, there are times when opportunities appear that offer us things of which we have only dreamed. Things that offer us answers ...

312. Look How You Listen

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

... all this once again from that perspective. And before we begin, let me alert you to the conclusion I would suggest that we should reach. John lost his head but gained the kingdom. Unless we use our heads, we may lose the kingdom. Unless we put our minds to our hearing, ... utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life" (1 Timothy 1:15-16). This is what those Ephesians became of whom the Second Lesson speaks, "When you heard the words of truth, the gospel of ...

313. The Divine Opportunity

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

J. Ellsworth Kalas

... with him glory and power such as my ministry cannot even suggest. "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (v. 16). John was a man of powerful ego or he would never have cared to challenge the established power brokers of the day, and to speak with such directness. Yet, when he spoke of his relationship to Jesus, he was quick to bow in the most dramatic humility. "I can't ...

314. The Hinge of History

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

J. Ellsworth Kalas

... devised myths"; rather, first-century Christians were "eyewitnesses" of Jesus Christ and his ministry (2 Peter 1:16). That first generation of Christians were very conscious of the historical integrity of their faith. They were surrounded ... I fear it's also my ego. It's pleasant to be recognized for what we have done, and it's hard not to seek such recognition. John the Baptizer had a goal higher than himself. By nature he must have been a man of strong ego -- he could hardly have preached such a demanding ...

315. John the Baptist, Sanctified Indifference, & the King of Pop

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Herodias back to Herod Philip. He had flagrantly flaunted the Torah-directive that no man may marry his living brother’s wife (Leviticus 18:16). John the Baptist understood Herod’s actions as an offense not against Roman power or the snares of Palestinian politics or even the rules of good leadership. John the Baptist saw Herod’s actions as an offense against God. John’s moral integrity is what ultimately cost him his head. Who wants your head on a platter? What truth is worth your head? What truth ...

316. Would You Please Listen To Me?

John 1:19-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... , NIV) Can you imagine a message more important than that? "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." Before he was even born, John was chosen for this most important job. An angel came to John's future parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, and told them that they would have a son. And this son would be an instrument of God. In Luke 1, verses 16 and 17, the angel says, "Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the ...

317. Tears At The Tomb

John 11:17-37

Sermon

William G. Carter

... means something to you. Memorize the verse. Next week, come back and recite it for the rest of the group." Attendance the next week was spotty, but the few who were present were also prepared. They went around the circle, starting with Diane. "My verse is John 3:16," Diane said. "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." Betsy asked why she picked the verse. Diane said, "My grandmother said it was important." Mark was ...

318. Ready Or Not, Here He Comes!

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... offered hope. His suggestions were not beyond the reach of anyone. Perhaps that is why he made such a profound impression on the crowds. Could John be the Messiah, the anointed one? The one who would lead the chosen people back to the greatness of King David's day? No. John says, "One more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie" (Luke 3:16). Ready or not, here he comes. You better watch out You better not cry You better not pout I'm tellin' you why ... No, not Santa ...

319. The Resurrection Is Freedom

John 11:38-44

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... be removed. (We have another reminder of Jesus' own resurrection, of the stone that the angels rolled away on that first Easter [John 20:1; Luke 24:2; Mark 16:4; Matthew 28:2].) Lazarus' sister Martha noted how after four days the body would smell if they removed the stone (John 11:39). But after the stone was rolled away (Jesus had promised that they would see the glory of God if they believed [John 11:40]), then Jesus proceeded to thank the Father, explained to him his aims, and then he called out with a ...

320. Pet Peeves and Pet Pleasures

Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... gospel, John’s baptism is more obviously about people pointedly and publically turning their lives and actions towards God in preparation for what is to come. In all four renditions, Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry and his new proclamation of the coming of the Kingdom of God. The time of preparation is over. The time for action is at hand. Clearly, Jesus’ baptism is unlike that of any other. Instead of emphasizing the physicality of Jesus’ actual dunking (as in Matthew 3:16 ...

321. Soul Food

Luke 9:10-17, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, John 6:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the Story Lectionary Major Text Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Feeding of 5000 People Mark’s Witness to Jesus’ Feeding of 5000 People Luke’s Witness to Jesus’ Feeding of 5000 People John’s Witness to Jesus’ Feeding of 5000 People Minor Text God’s Feeding of Manna and Quail in the Wilderness through Moses (Exodus 16) God’s Promise of Abundance and the Call for Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 8) Elisha’s Feeding of the Multitude of People with Bread from First Fruits (2 Kings 2:42-44) The Story ...

322. The Revelation Code I: DaVinci, A to Z

Revelation 1:1-20

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... like flaming fire, his feet of burnished bronze, his voice like the sound of many waters, his face like the sun, shining in full strength, and in his mouth a sharp, two-edged sword. In his hand he holds the seven stars, representing the seven churches. (Rev. 1:12-16) And the voice John hears sums it up: "I am the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Rev. 1:8) Let's be clear about the purpose of this book. The Book of Revelation is not meant to be a timeline for the future or ...

323. Believing Thomas

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. — John 20:30-31 I find these some of the most frustrating words of scripture. I'm just getting started. I want to know more. After all, I can buy a 1,000-page or larger paperback novel ... loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16). Amen.

324. The Messed Up

John 4:1-26

Sermon

James Merritt

... call your husband, and come here.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.’” (John 4:16-18, ESV) Now, we’ve got the full picture. Now we know why she came alone in the heat of the day. Not only was she a woman, not only was she a Samaritan woman, but she was a five-time married Samaritan woman who was now living with a ...

325. Want to Be Happy?

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ” requires his baptism. Matthew’s description of the events that unfold as Jesus “came up from the water” (v. 16) also differs somewhat from what is found in the other gospels. The events exhibit three features: first the opening ... Servant, so too it is unexpected to have the gentle, lowly, defenseless image of the dove (really, a white pigeon) represent that Spirit which John had likened to an all-consuming fire (3:11). One final element in this vision is the heavenly voice that speaks. In Matthew’s ...

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