Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 226 to 250 of 4959 results

226. Driven to Their Knees

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... Transfiguration that they were to keep silence about what they had seen until after he was resurrected from the grave. Then, they were to tell everyone. And that is where we are today. In our time together this morning we’ve been with Jesus and those three disciples on the mountain top. In our minds and hearts, hopefully we’ve been driven to our knees. Now that we are leaving this place, it is our turn to witness with our lives as well as our speech that we have been in the presence of the transfigured ...

227. Easter Jogging

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... and from that tomb! Mary is in a hurry to get there the first thing in the morning. It is still dark when she sets out to complete the embalmment procedures for Jesus. She sees the stone rolled away from the door, so she runs back to see the disciples. She tells Peter and John, who immediately run to the tomb. Old Peter, who probably could not have run across the street to catch a good sale, runs all the way. And young John gets there first. More Running Mary must have run back again, too, because when the ...

228. Easter Power

John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... Christ, is that power is now available to us that enables us to be assured that as certainly as Jesus rose from the death of the crucifixion for sins, we, too, shall rise again. In the meantime we have been placed on special status. Jesus said to the disciples, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." As God's reconciliation of the world was achieved through our Lord Jesus Christ, so now God sends us into the world as the practitioners of this reconciliation. Begin where we will, we will have no end of ...

229. The Blind Guiding The Blind

Psalm 92:1-15, Luke 6:46-49, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, Isaiah 55:1-13, Luke 6:37-42

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... choose to wear blue or brown on any given day. Those are not earthshaking decisions. Yet some people probably spend more thought and time on those kinds of decisions day by day than on the life-forming choices that may confront them daily. Jesus calls his disciples to choose continually to bring their life and conduct into unity if they are to follow him. They also need to make such decisions if they are to be responsible as leaders and teachers. Point to Ponder When is it hypocrisy to speak far better than ...

230. Details

Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Marc Kolden

... with one little verse. But it can be clarified by the final two verses of our passage (10:7-8), in which Jesus begins to tell the twelve what they are to say and do. "Proclaim the good news," which is, "The kingdom of heaven has come near." The disciples are to realize that God's kingdom comes right in their words. It's not a message here of repentance and coming doom but one of joy and excitement. It's good news! Jesus is for you. Now. Then the deeds: again, the verb forms speak of continuing actions ...

231. Easter 3

Revelation 5:1-14, Acts 9:1-19a, John 21:1-14

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... that it was good while it lasted. They went back to their former way of life catchers of fish rather than catchers of men. b. The Stranger on the beach vv. 4-8.1. The Stranger gives directions on where to fish.2. The Stranger is recognized by the disciple who loved the most. 3. The guilt of Peter puts on his clothes to swim to shore. c. Breakfast with the risen Lord vv. 9-14.It was Jesus' party: He provided the food, prepared it, and distributed it. It was another "Last Supper." They had breakfast together ...

232. He Set His Face

Luke 9:37-45, Luke 9:18-27

Illustration

Richard A. Jensen

... he asked them the question (Luke 9:10-17). In this context of feeding people (cf. Luke 24:28-35) Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" (Luke 9:18). We stand here at a turning point in Luke's story of ... God," Peter answered. And then Jesus did a surprising thing. He acknowledged that Peter had the right answer to his question. But he told the disciples not to tell anyone the truth of his identity. The coming of the Messiah would move Israel from one degree of glory to another. But ...

233. Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday

John 13:1-17, Exodus 12:1-30, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, John 13:31-38

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... most personal of God's gifts. Gospel: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Lasting love (v. 1). The RSV translation has it that Jesus loved his disciples "to the end." This communicates the extent of his love better than the NRSV's "he now showed them the full extent of his love." The ... the Father. Parting is never easy but it can indeed be sweet when we love people completely and fully. Jesus left his disciples in the knowledge that he had loved them to the end, to the fullest extent possible. None of us can ever say that ...

234. The Majesty Of God's Love

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... oneness includes a human component, God can not be God unless he is all wrapped up in the lives of human beings (for the Son with whom he is one is such a human). Here we see what is really at stake for God in the great commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Reunited with the man Jesus in his ascension, it is God's very nature to seek union with human beings. In the work of evangelism (in bringing others to faith in him), God is truly "doing his thing." He is becoming more of what ...

235. One More Thing

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Robert Allen

... all gone. Jesus Christ used another kind of power -- the power of love -- and his kingdom has grown from a small group of disciples to literally millions and millions of men and women who have freely chosen to follow him. The reality of his power in this ... I felt the presence of God was there with us." The promise of Jesus is a promise that we will never be alone. He said to his disciples and he said to each of us, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Can you sense God's presence with ...

236. Easter 3

Acts 9:1-19a, Revelation 5:1-14, John 21:1-14

Sermon Aid

... was good while it lasted. They go back to their former way of life - catchers of fish rather than catchers of men. b. The Stranger on the beach - vv. 4-8 1. The Stranger gives directions on where to fish. 2. The Stranger is recognized by the disciple who loved the most. 3. The guilt of Peter - puts on his clothes to swim to shore. c. Breakfast with the risen Lord - vv. 9-14. It was Jesus' party: He provided the food, prepared it, and distributed it. It was another "Last Supper." They had breakfast together ...

237. Hope in the Shadows

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Darrick Acre

... four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens” (vv. 26-27). The reality of Jesus’ coming is greater than the reality of shadows. Jesus’ coming dispels the shadows with the glory of God. Here is what we must catch. Jesus shares this with His disciples because that is not only a truth for the end of time, but it is a truth for the end times in which we live. Yes, there are shadows; but there is also one coming to us who is greater than the shadows. Listen brother and sister, there is ...

238. Son of Thunder, Son of God

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... ! He said, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” (Mark 9:38) The strange thing is that this event follows close upon the heels of an unsuccessful exorcism on the part of the disciples themselves. They seem to have been embarrassed at their own conspicuous lack of success, and the only thing they could think to do is to point their finger of criticism at someone else who was not only doing their job, but who seemed to be having more ...

239. Matthew 10:24-39

Matthew 10:1-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... honoring God must always take precedence. Followers of Jesus must love God’s call, and the summons of the kingdom, more than any call and summons of human ties. Finally, Jesus foreshadows his own fate, and predicts the fate of many of his disciples, by introducing the grisly specter of the cross. After two millennia of “cross” images and metaphors, it is hard for us to hear the hideousness of Jesus’ suggestion. Crucifixion was the favorite means of public execution by the Romans—the pagan power ...

240. Matthew 10:40-42

Matthew 10:1-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of the third directive differs from the previous two, but the behavior being extolled remains the same. The formulaic “in the name of” causes some translation difficulties in v.42. The NRSV creates confusion by seeming to identify “in the name of a disciple” as a separate directive. But the phrase “in the name of” refers back to “the little ones,” not to the receiver, the one who offers the drink. There is greater clarity of purpose in the NIV translation, “if anyone gives just one cup ...

241. Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:22-36

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... : “It is I.” Nothing special. No divine designs need to be imported onto this proclamation. It is simply a comforting announcement by Jesus to his frightened followers. At this point Matthew’s story shifts gears again, as the focus turns to that of the disciples, specifically Peter, instead of on Jesus’ miraculous water walking. Peter’s first exclamation is in the form of a challenge: “Lord if it is you command me to come to you on the water” (v.28). When Jesus summons the demanding Peter, the ...

242. Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2:1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... community of believers, which is now the Church, has experienced the fulfillment of prophecy - both Joel's and Jesus' words have come to pass. The final verse from this week's text offers both an invitation and a challenge to the Jews surrounding the disciples: "Everyone who calls upon the Lord shall be saved." The invitation has been made, even in their native languages; the response is now up to them. Relating the Texts The gospel text from John relays Jesus' promises about the Holy Spirit - the "Advocate ...

243. Matthew 10:24-39

Matthew 10:24-39

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Jesus the teacher, the master, is now the anointed one who sits at God's right hand on that final day of judgment. Our final section again moves away from the eschatological vision and focuses on what may be the most personally painful persecution these disciples may face being rejected and reviled by their own family members. Matthew sharpens the edge to these verses by replacing Luke's abstract language of "division" (Luke 12:49-53) with the slicing image of a sword (v.34), an image that demonstrates how ...

244. John 13:31-35

John 13:31-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... guiding principle to keep them in line and on track as Jesus leaves them. At first glance, the command to "love one another" (especially as Jesus elaborates that this love should be "as I have loved you") seems to offer a comforting thought to the disciples. Even though Jesus is about to leave them physically, they are left with a firm assurance of his abiding love and a hope that they may retain the sense of closeness of community that they celebrated together on that very night by continuing to "love one ...

245. Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2:1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

246. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Jesus' words, he "took him aside" as if he could quietly convince Jesus that he had better stop spreading such weird rumors both for his own sake and for the sake of his followers. Peter's protective action both challenges Jesus' authority over his own disciples and denies the hard truth that Jesus proclaims to them. It is with stern, decisive words then that Jesus puts Peter firmly in his place. He turns his back to Peter, to Peter's traditional view of messianic leadership, and squarely faces his confused ...

247. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is only the tiniest hint of respect and interest in those who witness in his name. Giving a "cup of water" is hardly a measure of exuberant hospitality. Yet Jesus insists it is enough to guarantee a "reward" at the time of final judgment. The disciples, who have already been told they must be "servants of all," are to gain recognition and acceptance in the world not by themselves but by their confessed identity as ones who "belong to Christ" (v.41). As Jesus continues to stress the humility and servanthood ...

248. and Forgiveness Come Easy When You’re Filled with The Spirit

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... . And when he comes, he comes in a warm friendly manner. That's what the offer of peace is all about. Luther goes on to add that with this example Christ presents his heart, who he is and what kind of heart he bears to us. Christ treats his disciples and us so tenderly, not reproaching anyone for unbelief and sin. Instead he comforts, strengthens, and lifts them, and us, up. This was done for our good and comfort.5 Isn't this a comforting word? You and I can be confident, certain of a loving God, because he ...

249. Acts 2:1-13

Acts 2:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... those who hear their multi-lingual expressions of “God’s deeds of power” (Acts 2:11). The Holy Spirit did not bring them a life of safe solitude and prayerful tranquility. The gift of the Spirit was immediately a public event, thrusting Jesus’ disciples into the eyes of all the world. There is much scholarly discussion about the specific “list” of places and languages Luke describes in vv.8-11. Whatever else Luke’s choices may reflect, the presence of so many witnesses to this first expression ...

250. Mark 10:35-45

Mark 10:35-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... week’s gospel text reveals that the desire to be the cream of the crop has been with humanity for far longer than there has been adolescent slam books. In today’s gospel text we read about the “sons of Zebedee” and yet these disciples of Jesus come across as nothing less than “Mean Girls.” Biblical historians suggest that the origin of this week’s exchange between James, John and Jesus finds its source in Peter. James, John, and Peter were the unofficial “inner circle” within the Twelve ...

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