Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 26 to 50 of 173 results

James 5:7-12, Isaiah 35:1-10, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10 A message of promise and hope comes to the captive children of Israel. Yahweh is going to free them from their oppression and open a road through the parched desert to the holy city of Jerusalem. The writer (not Isaiah) poetically pictures the entire creation participating in the redemption of God's people as the desert springs to luxuriant life, free of r...

27. Advent 3

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Purple/Blue Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 Theme: Wonder - Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another? How can we recapture our wonder? Declaration of our Joyful Expectation One congregation used this: Pastor: Listen! (pause) Listen! (pause) Listen! Do you hear God? Ministers: We do hear God. Pastor: (pause) How do you hear God? Ministers: In the plaintive crys, in the j...

28. Third Sunday in Advent

Matthew 11:1-19

Bulletin Aid

Theme: An Advent of healing Exegetical note Though John has already strongly implied (3:14) that Jesus is indeed "he who is to come," i.e., the Messiah, what he had heard in prison of "the deeds of the Christ" (v. 2) may have given him second thoughts by not fitting his own expectations of messianic might and judgment. In any case, Jesus' answer to the Baptizer's question is indirect: he points t...

29. Advent 3

Matthew 11:1-19

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes Though John has already strongly implied (3:14) that Jesus is indeed "he who is to come," i.e., the Messiah, what he had heard in prison of "the deeds of the Christ" (v. 2) may have given him second thoughts by not fitting his own expectations of messianic might and judgment. In any case, Jesus' answer to the Baptist's question is indirect: he points to his miracles, phrasing them not...

30. The Bearable Lightness of Grace

Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 11:1-19

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes The specific meaning of verse 28, which is often used out of context as a word of comfort at funerals, is revealed by the following verses, which refer to a "yoke." In Jesus' day, the law was referred to as a yoke, because it was demanding and burdensome. (The Hindu tradition also called its basic spiritual discipline yoga, Sanskrit for "yoke"!) By contrast, says Jesus, his message is...

31. Proper 9

Genesis 24:1-67, Romans 8:1-17, Romans 7:7-25, Zechariah 9:9-13, Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Freedom from oppression. In the First Lesson (Zechariah 9:9-12), it is freedom from political oppression. In the Second Lesson, it is freedom from our sinful human nature and in the Gospel, we are offered freedom from the oppression of the law and of man-made religious regulations. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 (C) In his old age, Abraham sends his trusted servant ba...

32. Advent 3

Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:1-10, James 5:7-12, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The liturgical/homiletical purpose of this Sunday is to deal with a question that is fundamental to the incarnation, Jesus' identity as the Messiah, who has come to God's people and who will come again. The focus of the gospel shows how Jesus' word and works identified him as the Messiah, the incarnate Word, giving a better understanding of the incarnation as it was revealed in h...

33. Advent 3

Romans 14:1--15:13, Matthew 11:1-19, James 5:7-12, Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10 Isaiah describes the character and work of the promised Messiah, the son of David. Here Judah is given the promise of a Davidic king-messiah who is the basis for hope for the future. The king-messiah possesses the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit. Accordingly, he has a government characterized by justice and righteousness. His only weapon is word of mouth. As...

34. Willibald Krautman's Trip To Heaven

Matthew 11:2-11

Drama

Matthew Powell

Cast Storyteller Willibald Krautman Saint Peter Wife (Storyteller sits or stands off to one side. Willibald stands at center. Wife sits facing away from the audience until she "enters." Saint Peter sits until his "entrance," when he stands on his chair) Storyteller: Willibald Krautman and Christmas - these two things belonged together like a door and its hinges, like a clock and its face, like a...

35. Living Advertisements

Matthew 11:10

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Very colorful and large advertisements, newspapers, magazines, catalogues Good morning, boys and girls. Have you had lots of fun since I saw you last? Isn’t it wonderful the way God helps us to have fun? He gives us mothers to take care of us and fathers to work for us and friends to play with and schools where we can learn and churches where we can learn about him. The other night I pic...

36. Jesus' Job Description

Matthew 11:4-5

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A blackboard, some chalk, and some ideas on the job description of a mother. Lesson: And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." Good morning, boys and girls. Have you all been busy since I saw you last we...

37. Who Is Jesus?

Matthew 11:1-19

Children's Sermon

Object: A three- or five-way plug and some objects to work off it, such as a razor, a lamp, a can opener, etc. Good morning, boys and girls. Is anyone here excited about what is going to take place in a few weeks? I can remember how excited I used to be at this time of the year when I was your age. I think God likes some of the excitement he causes at this time of the year. We know what Jesus is...

38. Are You the One?

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

David E. Leininger

A few years ago in Reader's Digest a lady reported searching for the perfect birthday card for her husband. She came across a promising one. On the outside it read: "Sweetheart, you're the answer to my prayers." Then she turned to the inside, which was inscribed like this: "You're not what I prayed for exactly, but apparently you are the answer."(1) OK. In a strange way, I will bet that something...

39. Timing Is Everything

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

Mark Trotter

There was a joke that came out of the Soviet Union many years ago about a Russian who stood on the street corner in Moscow, and shouted, "Down with Khrushchev!" He was arrested and sent to prison camp for ten years. While he was in prison he had a change of heart, and came to see that Khrushchev was a great leader after all. The only problem was, while he was in prison the times changed, and Khrus...

40. The Incomparable Christ

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Life was difficult. It always was for prisoners. Meager rations. Hard labor. Sometimes restrained and tortured by the stocks or collar. Left with festering wounds in damp, abandoned cisterns converted to maximum security dungeons. Why was he here? His only crime was criticizing the king for stealing his own brother's wife, Herodias. Herodias wanted John killed, but Herod Antipas was reluctant - he...

41. A Man Who Lost His Head

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

R. Blaine Detrick

In the last chapter, we considered Daniel, a prophet who lived in captivity in the land of Babylon. After the inhabitants of Judah had been carried away as slaves into Babylonia and remained there for a period of approximately seventy years, some of them were permitted to return to the city of Jerusalem. The city had been destroyed and left in ashes. Under extremely difficult circumstances, they ...

42. Disappointed in Jesus

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

It was a painful experience for both of us. Jane was a young mother about my age. She had been on the pastor nominating committee that called us to New Jersey. And we had shared much laughter and friendship through the years. She also was on the session - and that cold November night she seemed edgy and distant. I soon found out why. Following the meeting, she waited for me out in the parking lot....

43. The 4 LAWS of a Whole Personality

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Is there anyone who at some time hasn't had to suffer through the dozen, lengthy, tongue-twisting, memory-testing verses of one of this season's most annoying carols, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? I confess. From one Christmas to another I keep forgetting what there were eleven of, or what those six geese were doing. But our consumer culture has forgotten that those twelve days don't start tod...

44. Time to Unpack

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Advent is an intentional season of “preparedness.” We think of Advent as a “journey,” to use Oprah Winfrey’s favorite word. We think of Advent as a progressive path we take in order to arrive at a destination — the sleepy village of Bethlehem. Preparing. Making plans. Charting a way. Scouting and scoping the landscape. Assessing and overcoming obstacles to avoid or override. Sounds like life as ...

45. Looking at Jesus from Behind Prison Bars

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

How different things must have looked for John behind prison walls. If ever the word "free spirit" applied to anyone, it applied to John. He said what he wanted to say, without holding back. If the scholars are correct that he was an Essene, then he had gone into the wilderness specifically to get away from everyone. The Essenes wanted to worship their way, with no interference from anyone. Now, t...

46. Looking for Shoots or Roots?

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The more we move into the Advent season, the more our scripture texts bring the Christ-child’s birth closer and closer to us. Yet here in Matthew 11:2-11 we are back to the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist. Yet even though this is not part of our text for this week, the mere mention of John’s name should remind us of their cousinly kinship, even of an in utero jump for joy that mark...

47. Room For Questions

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

It's interesting how we fix in our minds certain images of people and block other images of the same people. We do that to biblical characters. We remember Peter's denial of Jesus, but forget his powerful preaching recorded in the book of Acts. Or, we remember how women came to Jesus for help from time to time, but forget how Jesus depended on the women for financial support and to announce the ne...

48. Responding to What We Hear and See

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Joe Pennel

In the semantics of the church, doubt has been a negative word. It is rarely used in a favorable way. Faith, not doubt, is the great word of the church. As I stand here every Sunday morning and look into your up-lifted faces, you look so proper, so content, so believing. You seem to be so certain, so full of faith, and so free of doubt. But, I have a suspicion that the way you look is not the wa...

49. A Desperate Question

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

George Bass

John the Baptizer was in trouble, and not knowing exactly what his fate would be, he suspected the worst. He was in for a long and uncomfortable imprisonment, at best, and he could expect to be executed, at worst. John was soon to lose his head, as you and I know very well, so Herod could save face. He knew he was in trouble. For some unexplained reason, he rather suddenly and unexpectantedly, aft...

50. The Christian’s Style - 1960

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Kent Moorehead

What do you consider the most important and revealing fact to know about a person? Is it his antecedents, heritage, background? Certainly that is not to be overlooked. Or would you be most interested in his possessions, the position he occupies, the nature of his reputation? Unquestionably this factor would seem to be of no little practical consequence. Or would it mean most to know his possibilit...

Showing 26 to 50 of 173 results