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 2551 to 2575 of 4967 results

2551. Jesus Questioned About Fasting

Luke 5:33-39

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... concerned with the question about fasting. Fasting was required of all only on the Day of Atonement (see Lev. 16:29) and in commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem (see Zech. 7:3, 5; 8:19). Fasting was done frequently by John’s disciples (see Luke 7:33) and the disciples of the Pharisees (Mondays and Thursdays; see Luke 18:12). Although Jesus had fasted during his time of testing in the desert (see Luke 4:2), he apparently did not himself fast frequently (or at least so that it could be noticed; see ...

2552. Blessings and Woes

Luke 6:17-26

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... hunger now, they really are rich because the kingdom of God belongs to them; though they weep and men hate and insult them, the day will come when they will laugh and receive a great reward in heaven. The last part of v. 23 summarizes why the disciples should respond to such insult and abuse in this way: For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. Luke advises that the followers of Christ should rejoice and leap for joy when they experience such treatment, for it puts them into the company of some ...

2553. Love for Enemies

Luke 6:27-36

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... The Lucan form of the sermon reflects and contributes to Luke’s overall concern with poverty and wealth. Jesus’ disciples may experience deprivation and persecution, but they are truly blessed. In vv. 27–36 Jesus gives the proper response to those who ... ; they are to bless those who curse them, to pray for those who mistreat them, and to turn the other cheek. The disciples are to be generous and giving with their resources and to be merciful, just as their heavenly Father is merciful. Additional Note 6 ...

2554. The Wise and Foolish Builders

Luke 6:46-49

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... , because they have obeyed the words of Jesus, others will not be prepared, and so will experience destruction, for they disregarded Jesus’ warning. Since the whole sermon seems directed to Jesus’ disciples, it is likely that this parable refers to his disciples as well. Thus understood, it is an exhortation to all disciples to hear and obey Jesus’ teachings and so remain firmly founded in the faith. Additional Notes 6:46–49 Lachs (p. 151) cites this interesting rabbinic parable that parallels Jesus ...

2555. The Parable of the Sower

Luke 8:1-15

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... of Isa. 6:9. (In omitting the last part of the paraphrase Luke leaves out Isa. 6:10.) Moreover, the Marcan question “concerning the parables” (4:10) has become in Luke a question concerning what this parable meant (v. 9). As it stands in Luke the disciples want to know what the Parable of Sower (or “Sowed Seed” in light of Luke’s emphasis on Word) means and not “why Jesus speaks in parables,” as Matt. 13:10 puts it. However, the Marcan answer that Luke retains does not answer the question as ...

2556. The Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... . 386; Tiede, 189–90). 9:35 The heavenly voice interrupts Peter (v. 34) and may be partially intended as a rebuke (listen to Jesus, not to Moses or Elijah). The time of Moses and Elijah is over. It is time to heed the words of Jesus. 9:36 The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one: What they had experienced was to be kept secret until Easter. This idea comes from Mark and is part of Mark’s secrecy theme (see note on 4:41 above), but for Luke it probably meant that because the transfiguration ...

2557. Jesus Arrested

Luke 22:47-53

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... ). Jesus’ question in v. 48 (found only in Luke and possibly inspired by Mark 14:44, which Luke otherwise does not have) underscores the treachery of Judas’ act. With a kiss, a sign of great affection and loyalty, Judas betrays his Master, the Son of Man. The disciples who possess the “two swords” (22:38) react, thinking that this is the time to use force. (Verse 49 also has no counterpart in Matthew or Mark and is inserted here by Luke to link vv. 35–38 to the act of striking the slave.) One of ...

2558. The Claims of Jesus About Himself

John 8:48-59, John 8:31-41, John 8:42-47

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... . Their faith is not genuine (cf. 2:23–25). Jesus has directed their attention toward the future, but they will have none of it. The present is good enough for these “believers,” and they are satisfied with their current relationship to God. To become real disciples, they need time. Only by continued obedience to Jesus’ message can they know the truth and know what it is to be free (vv. 31–32). The mention of freedom offends them with its implication that they are not already free. As Abraham’s ...

2559. Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified

John 19:1-16, John 18:28-40

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... 137–44. To avoid ceremonial uncleanness … to be able to eat the Passover: The statement indicates that the Passover meal has not yet been eaten (cf. 19:14, “the day of Preparation of Passover Week”) and that therefore Jesus’ last meal with his disciples in chapter 13 is not to be understood as the Passover. It also underscores a terrible irony: These men who were so scrupulous about the slightest contact with a Gentile or the residence of a Gentile nevertheless had no hesitation about maneuvering ...

2560. John Mellencamp and the Danger of Procrastination

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... to Jesus’ call? “At once they left their nets and followed him.” Without delay he called James and John, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. It always has amazed me that the first four disciples of Jesus’ responded to his call without any seeming hesitation. He was asking them to leave their livelihood, leave their families, leave the community they grew up in for an adventure the result of which they could not see--and immediately they heeded his ...

2561. What a Friend

John 15:9-17

Sermon

John Jamison

... their faith entirely. Let’s take a look, and with a little help from our friend in our mind, see if we can clear up some of the problem. Jesus was talking about his relationship with the men sitting around the table. Up to this point, the disciples had been in the role of learners, followers, perhaps even servants, following the teaching and direction that Jesus had given them. He began by explaining that everything he had been doing and talking about came down to love. Just as God has loved him, he has ...

2562. The Mighty Wind of God

Acts 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... Chicken plucking is of doubtful value as an index of tornado wind velocity.” Plus, we could add, you get a host of traumatized chickens. Ah, your hard-earned tax dollars at work. (2) When the day of Pentecost came, says the writer of Acts, all the disciples of Jesus were together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind [strong enough to pluck feathers off a chicken] came from heaven. [Actually the book of Acts doesn’t mention chickens.] But it does say that this wind filled the ...

2563. Why Bother?

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... minutes -- but that was all she had. And she did a very risky thing with those two coins, some people might say it was a very foolish thing. She put both coins into the temple contribution box. When Jesus saw what the widow had done, he gathered his disciples for a real-life object lesson. "Truly I tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything ...

2564. Could the Pharisees Have Been Irish?

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... Let’s talk for a few moments about the power of tradition. Mark tells us that the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem were gathered around Jesus when they spotted something that offended them. Some of Jesus’ disciples were eating without first going through a ritual of ceremonial hand washing. Now this was not a matter of hygiene. The people of that time knew nothing about germs or viruses. But it is interesting that some of their dietary restrictions and practices ...

2565. Characteristics of Christ That You and I Need

Mark 8:27-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’ Christmas Story who cares only about himself? Where is the motivation to be a generous, caring person if life does not reward you for it? There obviously is only one motivation, and that is because you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus and his disciples were on their way to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. In the midst of their journey he asked them this important question: “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the ...

2566. A New Kind of Faith

John 20:19-31

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... named Thomas said that he would only believe Jesus if he could see the scars on Jesus' hands and side. When Jesus appeared to him and showed him his hands and side, Thomas fell at his feet and said that Jesus really was his Lord. Never again were Jesus' disciples afraid to serve him. After all, he showed them that even if the enemies put them to death for serving him, God would give them new life with Him. Somebody had to go first, though, to show them that they need not fear death. That first one was Jesus ...

2567. The Way Up Is Down!

Mark 9:30-37

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... others' shoes too low an office for him to fill. Moody thought rightly of himself. He was a servant of Christ and therefore of Christ's servants. Vanquishing a prideful heart does not mean that we are to consider ourselves of no use. To the contrary! As Christ's disciples, we are endowed with extraordinary gifts from on high. We do not say, "I am no good. There is nothing I can do." Rather, we say, "God has made me better than I once was and has equipped me with this gift. Therefore, I must use it for the ...

2568. Trusting the Other Side

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... in order to bring healing to others. And don’t be scared of death, for it is only when a seed dies that healthy grain can grow. Not only does Jesus turn fishing wisdom on its ear, he turns living wisdom on its ear. If we want to be disciples of this bold barista of rich, hot, caffeinated faith, then we need to turn the wisdom of our contemporary world on its ear too. At every transition point in every congregation, it is time to renew our own call to discipleship. No matter how long we have been a ...

2569. Speaking from the Heart

Luke 6:43-45

Sermon

King Duncan

... brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6: 43-45). What was he trying to teach his disciples in these colorful verses? First, he was saying every life bears fruit. There is no such thing as a barren life. Your life influences the lives of everyone around you. Another way of saying this is, your character is contagious. You cannot hide what’s inside. A bad ...

2570. In the Wilderness with the Devil

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (v. 44). He knew what it was to battle temptation. His humanity was engaged in a great contest with his divinely appointed task. It is interesting, though, when he returns to his disciples and finds them sleeping he wakes them and instructs them once more: “Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Once more he links prayer and temptation (v. 46). We can learn from that linkage. The best way to deal with temptation is ...

2571. Slow Burn

Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... shine God’s light with an uncanny brightness into the world and into other peoples’ lives. The light is the sign that your life is burning bright with a covenant catalyzed with “salt.” This is so important, because of what this means for us as disciples of Jesus. Being a disciple is not only about YOU. It’s about other people too. It’s about how YOUR life impacts the world, and not just the good parts of the world, but the Samaria parts of the world as well. Jesus tells us in Matthew’s gospel ...

2572. Translucent Grace

Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36, Revelation 1:9-20, Revelation 2:12-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the New Jerusalem is Jesus, all new stones are God’s engraving upon the heart, but transfiguration of the soul into the New Temple. The New Jerusalem is not place but the communion of saints. While Jesus is the “cornerstone” of the spiritual Temple of God, each disciple, says Paul, makes up a piece of the growing Temple of God, which grows larger (as the city of God) with every follower who becomes part of that community of light and truth.^^ *See for exp. Gen 30:32-40; Daniel 7:9; Exod 16:31; Levit ...

2573. Oh That Cookie Jar Goodness!

Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When ...

2574. The Tragedy of Caiaphas

John 18:1-27 · John 11:45-47 · Matthew 26:36-75

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Once more he went away and ...

2575. Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ezekiel 37:15-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... in you and you will come to life.” The creative power of God, the restorative power of God, all of these we celebrate at Pentecost, as we welcome the life-giving breath of God upon and within us, just as that same Holy Spirit power came upon Jesus’ disciples and others in the upper room those many years ago. Pentecost is the fulfillment of a promise….Jesus came and healed, created a new covenant and a new people in God’s name. But the Holy Spirit would need to come upon them, upon this new church in ...

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