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 1176 to 1200 of 1347 results

1176. Look Up and Live

Numbers 21:4-9

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... turn whining into anything. Sometimes we might need snakes. There is a story of three men who live on a ranch out west, the father, John, and his sons, Jake and Joe. They never had any use for the church until one day Jake is bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor ... which the people brought sacrifices. Finally, the practice became so outrageous that good king Hezekiah smashed the thing to pieces (2 Kings 18:4). It is easy to lose focus. That is a good lesson for the church —keep the focus. Look and live. And ...

1177. Time’s A-Wasting

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Robert J. Elder

... urgency. Consider those fishermen responding to the call of Jesus. "Immediately they left their nets and followed" (v. 18). Jesus called out to them, and suddenly doctors stopped doctoring, traders stopped trading, taxi drivers pulled over and ... with earthquakes, Ninevah didn't argue with the five blunt prophetic words of Jonah, and when Jesus called them, Simon, Andrew, James, and John realized in a flash that those famous and overworked words, "it's now or never" applied to them and applied to them now. ...

1178. Planning Your Way Out

John 6:35, 41-51

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... 's scripture reading: "I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3 NRSV). Invitation Look around you! We live in a dying world. Dead trees, dead vegetation, and dead animals are everywhere! I ... laid up for many years; take your ease' ... But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you' " (Luke 12:18-21 cf). He was a nice fellow, perhaps. We read no hint of any immorality about him. He certainly provided for his family's long ...

1179. Eyes on the Prize

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Sermon

Gibson “Nibs” Stroupe

... a reality that is deeper and richer than human history would suggest, a reality that permeates our existence. He states in verse 18 that he focuses on the "unseen," on the spiritual realm. To borrow a term from the Civil Rights Movement and Negro spirituals ... women, despite Paul's omitting them from the list of witnesses in 1 Corinthians 15) were captured by the power of death. In John's account, Mary Magdalene cannot recognize the risen Jesus even though he is standing right in front of her, talking to her. ...

1180. Time for the Offering

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Sermon

Gibson “Nibs” Stroupe

... this passage by quoting a verse from a powerful event in Israel's collective memory: the Exodus. He quotes from Exodus 16:18 in reference to the manna that God provided for the wandering Israelites to eat in the wilderness after their escape from slavery in ... s gracious Spirit guide us in our search. Amen. 1. Dorothee Soelle and Luise Schottroff, Jesus of Nazareth (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), pp. 33-34. 2. Jacques Ellul quote from an unknown source. I first encountered it on a ...

1181. The Home Court Advantage

Romans 12:9-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... “visual aid” to accompany vice-president Joe Biden’s concurrent visit with Chinese political leaders. On August 18 the “Hoyas” played against the “Bayi Rockets” of Shanghai at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena. Unfortunately all the ... we can claim the “team spirit” advantage that the Holy Spirit brings and that a commitment to genuine “agape” love gives us. John Wesley said that the most important description of God in the whole Bible is this three word statement: “God is love.” ...

1182. Jesus Rescues Us

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... our lives, weighing us down and not allowing us to move forward. But, as Jesus released Lazarus from death saying, "Unbind him, and let him go" (John 11:44c) so he will release us. But we must believe; we must know in our hearts that Jesus can act on our behalf. Jesus puts ... , in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:18). As God rescued the Jews from exile in Babylon and Jesus rescues us from fear, sin, and ourselves, we have the obligation to do ...

1183. Enough Spirit to Go Around!

Acts 10:44-48

Sermon

Ken Lentz

... community is bringing to an end the days of human disunity. Isaiah saw the deliverer coming "to gather all nations and tongues" (66:18); Jeremiah envisioned the time when all nations will gather at Jerusalem (3:17); Micah announced that many nations will "go up to the ... , Saul, David, Solomon, Isaiah, and Jeremiah whispered to him. He saw the same wall, the same stones gazed upon by Peter, John, Mark, Paul, and yes, the great carpenter himself, reaching out to him in the soft breezes and shadows of the evening ...

1184. No Time for a Sermon

Hebrews 1:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... through Christ, actually echoes affirmations found in wisdom literature, where Wisdom is the active force in creation (Proverbs 8:22-31). In John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16 and here in Hebrews, it is the Son whose presence is that through which God’s ... :12). There is also the historic privilege of the House of David to “sit” before the Lord, as found in 2 Samuel 7:18. Having so clearly and completely differentiated the Son from any of God’s previous prophetic voices, the Hebrews author feels the need to ...

1185. Looking for Rainbows

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... two slivers of an olive tree, said to have come from the cross on which Jesus was crucified, were sold for more than $18,000 in an auction in Paris. Accompanying the two slivers of wood were two certificates from the Vatican issued way back in 1855 ... humanity for its sin, but in saving humanity from that sin. You and I need to hold on to that promise. It’s spelled out in John 3:17: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” That has been ...

1186. Sandbox First, Soapbox Second

Mark 1:29-34, Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... very simple, but very difficult, message: Faith is a social practice, but one that requires solitude. Genesis 2:18 reads: “It is not good for man to be alone.” Daniel 10:8 reads: “I was left ... mountains and water in order to find one anotherness with the Father. One of our worst mistakes is to confuse solitude with solitariness, especially since, as John Wesley put it, “There is no such thing as a solitary Christian.” Jesus’ spirit did not swim on a solitary sea. Solitude is NOT solitariness. ...

1187. Whistling Jesus

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... “friends” for which Jesus will offer his sacrifice. In the Old Testament only Abraham (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 4:18) and Moses (Exodus 33:11) are called “friends” of God. Now Jesus “re-names” his disciples and declares “I have ... love he extends to his disciples and the sacrifice he offers for their salvation elevates them from “servant” to “friend.” As John’s gospel frequently makes clear, there is no personal greatness on the part of these disciples that in some way “earns” them ...

1188. How Can I Know God's Will?

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... s input in the matter? One of the spiritual giants of the Christian faith had this battle once upon a time. His name was John Wesley. It was under his leadership that the Methodists, the Nazarenes and so many other Christian groups sprang. Wesley, early in his ministry ... who’s judgment you trust. Remember how Jesus said, “Whenever two or three of you agree, then it will be done” (Matthew 18:19). Sometimes we have too much invested in a decision personally to see clearly what God’s will may be. We need ...

1189. Zombie Zone or Beulah Land?

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... begin “Sweet Beulah Land” now, in heaven’s borderlands, even in the world of “zombie-land” and “zombie-zones.” John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) was the first to use “Beulah Land” as a metaphor for the borderlands between ... or preference the “nearness” of God’s presence because of this relationship. Many scholars, noting the tight unity of vss. 14-18, conclude that here Paul may be citing an early church hymn fragment. The focus of this hymn is the reconciling work ...

1190. Christmas Grass and Easter Tinsel

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Terri smiled with pride as she placed her nephew's birth announcement on her refrigerator. Dressed in a blue sleeper with puppies on it, lay Maksim John upon a warm flannel blanket adorned with paw prints. The picture card announced the birth of a son to Nick and Sara. Birth date: November 18, 2009. Place of birth: their town, USA. The first line said, "Mommy can't wait to share the joys; Daddy can't wait to share the toys!" Cute. Everyone who received this card ...

1191. Sit Up and Speak!

Luke 7:11-17

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... 2 Today's typical church has developed a culture that drives men and especially young men away. God made men for adventure, achievement, and challenge. John Eldredge writes in Wild at Heart that three desires are deeply written in most men's hearts. They are a "Battle to Fight," "An Adventure ... of America, invented to explore the identity and spirituality of younger men, interviewed 88 young males ages 18 to 35 and found eleven themes that impact their spirituality. Among the themes were relationships, male ...

1192. Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45

Sermon

King Duncan

... any more than you and I were, but his birth was still significant. He would be the forerunner of the Messiah. We know him as John the Baptist. Elizabeth and Mary were quite a pair. As Dr. M. Craig Barnes has noted, “One of them is too old to be a ... prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus was not a revolutionary. He was sent to be the Savior of the world. However, his message was revolutionary. Once you ...

1193. From Self-Help to God-Trust

Hebrews 7:11-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... you with?” In a disciple of Jesus, self-help gives way to God-trust. In his book, Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning speaks of a man named John Kavanaugh who sought clarity about what to do with his life. As part of his search, he volunteered to work for three months at "The House ... ” (Hebrews 7:17). Melchizedek was a priest of the “Most High God” who welcomed and blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:18-20). This priest stood outside the traditional line of priests, and yet was offered a unique and elevated place ...

1194. Acts of God?

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Brett Blair

... meet in the pages of scripture is not this vicious, violent, judgmental, capricious Force in the world. Instead, we meet a very different God in Scripture. John tells us that God is love and that that perfect love of God casts out all fear. II Let’s now move from the acts ... events. One of the events appears to be an accidental collapse of a structure at a building site that killed 18 people and the other was a military operation against civilians ordered by Pontius Pilate.That event seems to be politically ...

1195. RSVP

Isaiah 55:1-9

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... knocked in Revelation that many folks may be in need — spiritually poor and thirsty — without fully realizing it (3:17-18). His invitation, therefore, is extended to a broader audience than we might have first suspected. What precisely does he ... and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (v. 76). We are accustomed to the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Here we hear the gospel according to Isaiah. Eight centuries before the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we already see ...

1196. When We Feel Unwanted

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

King Duncan

... supposed to kiss you, or if they chose to, they could give you, instead of a kiss, a quarter.” He said, by the time I was 18 I had accumulated enough quarters to pay my way through college. Well, a quarter’s all right, but it’s poor compensation for a girl not ... and shouted, ‘Jehu is king!’” In like manner, Luke tells us the people spread their cloaks down before Jesus. It is in John’s Gospel that we read that people came out to meet Jesus with palm branches. (2) When the procession came near the ...

1197. Prayer-Conditioning Your Life

Luke 2:29-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... by player, family members, coaches, investment brokers, and, of course, fans, all over this country. And, like the pizza-hawker “Papa John’s,” who promised a free pizza to anyone who correctly calls the “head or tails” coin toss that starts the game ... found in Isaiah 8:14-15 — the stumbling block that becomes the corner stone for a new pathway to God (Luke 10:17-18). And finally Simeon makes his words very personal. Neither worldly salvation, nor the will of God, nor the presence of the Lord’s ...

1198. The Keys to Effective Praying

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” The disciples were very much aware of what an important role prayer played in Jesus’ life. The references to ... 6:12). On the day when he asked the disciples, “Who do the people say that I am?” he had been praying alone (Luke 9:18). Afterward he went up onto a mountain to pray (Luke 9:28). And now, on this occasion, Luke tells us, “He was praying in a certain ...

1199. Go Hard or Go Home!

Luke 12:35-48

Sermon

King Duncan

... he was being fired and used his master’s money to buy friends. To his disciples’ surprise, Jesus lauded the man’s ingenuity (Luke 16:1-18). At least he didn’t sit around whining that life had been unfair to him. He took charge of his situation and Jesus praised him. ... -21,%20TimeDeliver.htm. 2. Raymond McHenry, Something to Think About (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1998). 3. John G. Hubbell in Stephen R. Covey, Everyday Greatness (Nashville: Rutledge Hill Press, 2006), p. 240. 4. http ...

1200. Be Shrewd

Luke 16:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... counters “Quote whom you wish ‑‑ bees make honey from weeds as well as orchids.” Or as the founder of Methodism John Wesley put it about Egyptian gold, “plunder the Egyptians.” In his classic devotional text Imitations of Christ (chapter 5), Thomas à Kempis ... true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice” (Philippians 1: 15-18). Augustine and Aquinas took the best thinkers of their time and used them to introduce Christ to their culture. Augustine ...

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