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 2815 results
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... raise up other groups. Christ will sustain his church and all the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But he can lop off branches that bear no fruit; he can cut down our vine if it fails to produce.” [5] That’s one way of looking at the parable—seeing it as a call to judgment as it relates to the nation—and a call to judgment as it relates to the church. II. But there’s another way of looking at it, a more personal way. That perspective also provides challenge. From that focus—the person ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... with us.” [1] Do we need evidence to confirm the adage: Two wrongs do not make a right? Certainly the tragic chapter of the Civil War and the period of slavery in the experience of our country is ample evidence. But I tell the story to make the parable clear. It’s not easy to discern what is evil and what is good. Evil and goodness are often a strange mixture. Attacking evil sometimes does more harm to good than it does to evil. That is, the weapons we use in our fight against evil, the attitudes that ...
Understanding Series
Craig A. Evans
... 2:21). On the contrary, Luke has not only understood it, but in revising it, the evangelist has brought home its point more clearly (see Fitzmyer, pp. 600–601). 5:36 parable: The word parable(s) occurs several times in Luke (6:39; 8:4, 9, 10, 11; 12:16, 41; 13:6; 14:7; 15:3; 18:1, 9; 19:11; 20:9, 19; 21:29). The Greek NT word “parable” (as well as its Hebrew equivalent) has a variety of meanings and usages. It may refer to a simple illustration, a proverbial saying, or an enigmatic saying. The idea of ...
Sermon
Richard Hasler
... the lost coin the woman also did not “give up” until she found it. Then when she found it she was filled with joy. She must tell others. She had a party. Her joy must not be kept to herself, but she must share it with someone else. The first parable is about a lost sheep. Jesus said: “Which one of you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (15:4). What follows was a celebration. ”When ...
230. Proper 22
Luke 17:1-10, 2 Timothy 1:1-2:13, Lamentations 1:1-22, Psalm 137:1-9
Sermon Aid
William E. Keeney
... seed: Matthew 17:20 -- Faith the size of a mustard seed. Mark 11:22-23 -- Faith to move mountains. CONTENT Precis of the Parable After a request from the disciples that Jesus increase their faith, he first uses the metaphor of the mustard seed to tell them ... ? They think that they ought to get credit and recognition for every good work they do. If they don't, they are offended. The parable suggests that we should not seek or expect thanks for the good that we do. We should take for granted that that is what ...
231. Proper 19
Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 14:1--15:13, Exodus 13:17--14:31, Psalm 114:1-8
Sermon Aid
William E. Keeney
... people. Still, we may use language that demeans or insults others when we are unaware that it does so. What obligation does the person who is offended or insulted have to raise our consciousness and enable us to be forgiven? 5. The Privilege of Forgiving · The parable infers that we have the privilege to be agents of forgiveness. If God has forgiven us so much of our past guilt, in gratitude we should become agents of God's mercy and compassion. It is a great privilege and opportunity to show the nature of ...
232. Proper 12
Mt 13:31-33, 44-52 · Rom 8:26-39 · 1 Ki 3:5-12 · Ps 105
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
... all that he possessed give it to the poor, and then come and follow him. Christ also warned: "He who would come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." The treasure of the kingdom doesn't come cheaply. Outline: The man in the parable sold everything to buy the field of treasure If a person values something highly, she will sacrifice for it The kingdom of God is our treasure Are you willing to give all to possess it? Illustration: Mel Fisher is a man who has not only sought but found ...
233. Lent 4
Luke 15:1-7, Joshua 5:1-12, Isaiah 12:1-6, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Luke 15:11-32
Sermon Aid
George Bass
... God is really like that "Waiting Father;" he really loves us, despite our sins and waywardness, and he is always ready to welcome us home with open arms. Jesus' cross tells us that about God. 2. We see ourselves in one or the other of these two brothers, when the parable begins to come into focus. But when we really hear it, we become aware that all of us are like the younger brother ("for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God") and that too many of us are like the older, stay-at-home brother ...
Sermon
... reserved as our domain, no interference tolerated. But there is nothing more disastrous to be heard from human lips than this, that "I intend to take control of my own life." In the end, at Christ’s return, there will be no need as in the parable to summon those who had refused his rule to be destroyed. Self-destruction has already been a fact. Contemporary forms of bondage are in evidence aplenty, and the living hell to which they lead us is the deadly, sad experience for throngs. Decliners far outnumber ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
... Lazarus and another man who is not given a name. He is simply the rich man. It is interesting to note that this is the only parable in which Jesus gave a name to one of the characters. This little piece if information is already a clue to the interpretation. In this life ... not control who we are and how we love those around us I hope this story can help you. As I read this parable there are three things we can learn. I First, we can learn that the rich man was a distracted person. Jesus so firmly understood ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... to control that which was the sole right of the owner to control. And doesn't that give us a clear picture of sin? Sin consists in our failure to give God his proper place in our life. We usurp the power which belongs to God. Then, the parable tells us of human responsibility. "For a long time, the tenants were left to their own devices; but the day of reckoning came. Recently, I came across a story about an absent-minded professor who, every morning at the same time, would go out to water his flowers ...
Sermon
Mark Trotter
... they were living, the priorities in their life. Luke put them in his gospel for us, so that we would take account, too, think about your life, about all that you have, about what you are doing with your life. He wants you to think as you hear this parable, maybe that could be me. He wants you to ask, what have I sacrificed in order to gain wealth? What values have I devalued because I value possessions most? What immorality have I condoned in order to get wealthy? What have I not given to my family in order ...
Sermon
James W. Moore
... a Christian,’ I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name. When I say, ‘I am a Christian,’ I do not wish to judge. I have no authority – I only know I’m loved.” Now, if Jesus based this parable on a true story, we can only hope that eventually the Elder Brother came to his senses… and left the far country of resentment and envy and self-righteous judgment… and came home… and if he did, we can be sure of one thing. The Father ran to meet him ...
239. Abimelech
Judges 9:1-57
Understanding Series
Cheryl A. Brown
... tops of the mountains (v. 36a). But Zebul taunted him, suggesting that it was merely morning shadows (Hb. sing.). The conversation is about whether Abimelech and his men are or are not a shadow. The word “shadow” is the same word used by Jotham in his parable: “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shadow (NIV: shade); if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon’ ” (9:15; 19–20). With ...
240. God and Mammon
Luke 16:16-18, Luke 16:1-15
Teach the Text
R.T. France
... theme in Luke that has already been given sustained attention in chapter 12 (summed up in the call to store up treasure in heaven in 12:33–34) and, more indirectly, in chapter 14. The same theme will recur especially in 18:18–30. Between the two parables is a collection of sayings, with a change of audience (from the disciples to the listening Pharisees) in 16:14. Most of these sayings (16:8b–15) continue to relate to the theme of the responsible use of possessions, but the three sayings in 6:16–18 ...
241. The Mystery of the Kingdom
Matthew 13:31-35, Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:47-52
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
... seed and the yeast both indicate that, though the kingdom is seemingly insignificant or hidden at present, there will come a time when it will be unmistakable and all-encompassing. By these parables, Matthew’s Jesus communicates the already (present in Jesus) and the not yet of God’s reign. This same idea is expanded in the parables of the wheat and weeds and the fish and net, which indicate that judgment issuing in the separation of the righteous from the wicked will happen at “the end of the age ...
Understanding Series
Larry W. Hurtado
... century, especially, there is a widely supported effort among Jewish scholars to present Jesus in a more favorable light. I can adduce here such examples as Martin Buber, Joseph Klausner, G. Vermes, and Samuel Sandmel, to name a few. 3:23 Parables: The word is derived from a Greek word (parabolē) that means a “comparison” or “analogy.” Such teaching devices were widely used by ancient Jewish teachers especially, and they are thoroughly characteristic of Jesus’ style of teaching. Mark 4:1–34 is ...
243. The Great Dinner
Luke 14:1-14, Luke 14:15-24
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” And they had nothing to say. When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you ...
244. Tale of the Tares
Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 9:35-38
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... us, our own hearts will take as much energy as we can muster, for to love the weeds of the world as our neighbors and our fellows will be our greatest challenge –and Jesus’ greatest joy. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Parable of Wheat and Tares (13:24-30) Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Instruction on the Coming Harvest (9:35-38) Minor Text The Story of God’s Gift of the Torah on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19 and 34) The Lord’s Command to Celebrate the Feast of Weeks ...
Sermon
Richard Patt
... our life as a gift that is given to us from the hand of providence. We owe our lives to God! This is partly what the parable before us says. On the surface that's exactly what it seems to mean. Jesus portrays for us here a typical rural laborer of his day ... of serving you! I think you would agree that the sermon topic succinctly expresses what Jesus wanted to say on the surface of this parable: nobody owes you anything. The world we live in is God's creation. In God's wisdom God has allowed us as God's ...
Sermon
Thomas A. Pilgrim
... by which our world must live if it would escape the abyss."5 His words still draw us to him. His teaching contained a call. That is a second striking thing about the teaching of Jesus. Mark states, "Then he taught them many things by parables." The first parable Mark relates is what we call the parable of the soil. It is a simple story about a farmer sowing seed. Jesus pictures him walking through a field, and as he sows the seed some of it falls by the way and the birds eat it. Some of it falls among the ...
Sermon
Mark Trotter
... the world, and we are going to start right here." It sounds naive. It is naive, when you compare it with the problems that exist, even the problems in his own state. But you are confronted with a choice in this life. That's the point of these parables. You are confronted with a choice. You can do nothing, and play it safe. Or, you can take a risk. I read about a group of Christians who decided they would start changing the world by investing their money in things that they believed in. They realized that ...
Sermon
Mark Ellingsen
... seed. Of course, that is absurd. It is nature (God) that grows the seed, along with the sower (who is represented as God in the parable). In other words, the parable is all about what God does, not what we do or must do. It's not about you and me; it's about God! It ... the credit for using the knowledge, the technology, and the friends who help you. It really is all about God. Back to our parable. The soil may help the seeds to grow. But it is just a channel (like the rain). God makes the growth happen. The ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... and mood-driven. The Unjust Judge’s judicial rulings are not out of respect for the law but a reflex of his mercurial temper. We live in a world that preys upon weakness, that jury-rigs justice. The persistence of the wronged widow in Jesus’ parable was exceptional. But it was not her attitude, but rather the Unjust Judge’s own concern for his reputation and not getting a public “black eye,” that finally moved him to deal with her favorably. The Unjust Judge’s mercy, the Unjust Judge’s justice ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... the letter of the Law. He prays. He fasts. He tithes. He is a Pharisee — that is, an individual who has devoted his life to the study and practice of Torah law as it impacts everyday living for an observant Jew. The Pharisee in this week’s parable should have been thankful that he lived a life devoted to the incarnation of Torah principles. But the Pharisee’s “prayer” was not a prayer at all. He did not come to God with a spirit that stood humbly before God in acknowledgment of an unmerited gift ...
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