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 2626 to 2650 of 4967 results

2626. Who Am I?

Matthew 3:13-17 · Isaiah 42:1-2

Sermon

Will Willimon

... to the Who am I? doesn't usually come falling out of heaven. So we have to listen. If I were to ask you today, Who are you? How did you get here? I expect that you would explain your presence, in church, in this faith, trying to be a disciple, by reference to something, someone ordinary, commonplace, mundane. And let's be straight that we are not talking about "call," about "vocation," as if it is something that only happens to preachers, only belongs to clergy. At our baptism, each of us is called to be a ...

2627. Love And Boundaries

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

William G. Carter

... all of its biases and boundaries. Get the picture: here stood Jesus the Jew on Canaanite soil and a native woman came up and said, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood there, not saying a word, and the woman kept begging for help. The disciples said, “Jesus, can’t you get rid of her?” Yet the woman kept begging for help. Jesus said, “Excuse me, lady, but I came only to seek lost Jews.” Still the woman begged for help. Jesus said, “It’s not fair to throw my good bread to the ...

2628. Fine Tuning

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... remember when writing or making music is to never remain on the dissonant chord, to never stop on the passing tone. While they create movement in the music, they must always move toward resolution. In today’s scripture, Jesus tries to explain to his disciples the rules of resolution, the art of fine tuning if you will. He calls upon the members of the faith community to try to resolve discordant relationship issues, first singly, then in tandem with others––to bring someone who is “out of tune” or ...

2629. Protect Them

John 17:6-19

Children's Sermon

Various Authors

... protects my hand from hurt and harm. It protects my hand from the cold. This amazing glove protects from cuts, bruises, and injuries. (Presenter speaks to the glove.) “Thank you glove, for protecting my hand.” Jesus was going away. He would not be with his disciples any more. So Jesus prayed a protection prayer. He asked God to protect his disciples. “Protect them,” he says, “from the evil one. Protect them and guard them from choosing wrong paths. Protect them from sin.” How do you think Jesus ...

2630. Growing Into Our Scars

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Mary Austin

... to us about doubt, which we all have, but also about the power of not giving up. He missed the big reveal when Jesus came the first time. Instead of saying “oh well,” and moving on, Thomas asked for what the other disciples got. He wanted to see for himself. For the disciples, Jesus’ death was a kind of death for them, too. They had to finally accept that Jesus wasn’t exactly the Messiah they expected. This is a theme all through the gospels, but his death made it real. This was no conquering hero ...

2631. Flow

John 15:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... root in healthy, watered soil. The more you “abide,” the stronger and healthier you will grow, flourish, and break forth from out of your authentic identity to reach your full potential.[2] In a sense, this is what Jesus suggests when he speaks to his disciples in our scripture today about what it means to “abide” in him. Jesus describes our state of “abiding” as a branch attached to a primary vine (Jesus), planted by the vine grower (God). In order for the branch to grow, bear flowers and fruit ...

2632. Did Jesus Say What I Think He Said?

Mark 7:24-37 · James 2:1-9 · Isaiah 35:5-6 · Psalm 146

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

... one puts into one’s body is nowhere near as important as what comes out of people’s hearts. Here Mark interjected that in making this statement, Jesus declared all foods clean. Anyway, it appears that the debate had wearied Jesus, so he and the disciples left town and went into the region of Tyre. Tyre is a city on the Mediterranean, about fifty miles from Gennesaret, where Jesus had his conversation with the Pharisees. Jesus was putting some serious distance between him and the site of his most recent ...

2633. The Possibility Mindset

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... God’s gift for him is free. All he needs is faith. For God desires not our perfection but our relationship. Our attention. Our loyalty. Our reverence. Our presence. Most of all, our reliance and our trust. Why do we make it so hard? Of course, as usual, Jesus’ disciples don’t get it yet either. They are still focusing on the question of wealth. Jesus is focusing on the question of faith. Jesus goes on to say, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to ...

2634. Seeing With The Eyes Of Faith

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

We’ve been walking with Jesus on the way to Jerusalem for over a month. The stories from Mark’s gospel have showed us many sides of Jesus’ personality. Perhaps more importantly, they have shown us many sides of the disciples’ personalities. The disciples in many ways took our place in that drama. They reacted as we would, most of the time, I think. They were slow to understand that Jesus was going to suffer and die. They were more concerned about their own status and power than anything else. They ...

2635. The Tale of the Widow and the Wolves

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... among today’s most religious! “He sat down opposite the treasure and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, 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 she had, all ...

2636. All in God’s Time

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... change, when some things will end and others begin, Jesus said pointedly that even he did not know. Only the “Father” had that knowledge. All they could do is trust and wait –and look for the signs. But note that this is not their only job! The disciples aren’t called to simply sit around waiting for the world to end, searching for signs, lamenting and praying. They are called to go out, to continue to proclaim God’s kingdom, to create a community in which all are loved and accepted, to heal the ...

2637. You Can Talk the Game, but Can You Play the Game?

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Sermon

Will Willimon

... get with some master of tennis who can guide you, form you, critique you, help you to get the moves and the grooves, the habits and the heart to win at tennis. It's quite closely analogous to what you need to do to survive as a disciple of Jesus on this campus. It's a game worth winning. Richard Hays tells us (in his First Corinthians: Interpretation, 1997, pp. 155-166)-that at the Isthmian games in Cornish, the winners received wreaths of withered celery. Why I know not. Perhaps this was the “perishable ...

2638. The Accent Of Heaven

John 13:31-35

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... of time as the word and light bringing restoration and life. The story of Jesus was and is the story of re-creation. The life of Jesus was and is a documentary about getting back to being human in the way that God intended for us. And the disciples of Jesus were the beginning of a new civilization where femurs could be healed, because these children of the light stood watch against the darkness, and cared for those who have been crippled by the attacks of sin’s beasts. That is why Jesus’ little team of ...

2639. As a Fire Exists by Burning

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... Jesus Christ to people different from themselves. Rules for Guests Luke was the only gospel writer who told this story. It had some things in common with the stories in Mark and Matthew where Jesus sent out the twelve disciples. But in Luke’s mission story, the number of disciples was greater. He chose the highly symbolic and significant number: seventy. (The number is mentioned 61 times in the Bible. Sixty times in the Hebrew scriptures and once in the New Testament.) The number of Christian refugees who ...

2640. Learning to Lean

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... to let God know of our needs and the needs of others. Most of all, Jesus bids us to ask for the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit! “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Jesus tells his disciples. Praying for the movement, the power, the wisdom, the infusion of the Holy Spirit is the most powerful prayer we can pray. For in trusting the Holy Spirit, we put ourselves fully into the hands of God, willing to follow God’s will, no matter what God decides ...

2641. Calculated Christianity

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

... I think so. It’s when you try and try until you know you can’t do it.” Clearly, we had work to do on nurturing his grit. Is that what Jesus was doing there ― encouraging godly grit? Was Jesus admonishing the crowd to be determined disciples? Was Jesus calling the crowds to mental toughness, knowing all Jerusalem loomed in the distance? Was calculated Christianity all about our gut-it-out, stick-to- it, never-give-up, grit? Or could it be Jesus wanted us to make intentional choices, to be informed ...

2642. Transforming Love

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... purpose in life. He began his journey to Damascus with the expressed intent of identifying Christians there that he could persecute. The shift in Saul's focus is clearly seen in the verses that end this passage: "For several days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus, saying, 'He is the Son of God' " (Acts 9:19-20). Saul's purpose in life had been completely transformed. He headed off for Damascus intent on destroying Jesus' followers. But he ended up ...

2643. Take Up Your Cross

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... and sinful generation." If this is the nitty-gritty of our faith, where are we going to find people to make that kind of commitment? Jesus would reply that we had better do so, if we do not want to lose everything. The Hard Facts The reason that the disciples had a difficult time accepting the prediction of our Lord's passion is that they were basically selfish. That is the universal problem in the world. It should not be difficult in our day and age to point that out. Wars are waged in the world as the ...

2644. Look How You Listen

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

... seen and have testified that this is the Son of God' " (John 1:32-34). Later, when John saw Jesus walking by, he said to his disciples, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" (John 1:35). Can we not conclude that John had said all these things to Herod as well? ... in Rome buried his body. And they continued as faithful followers even though he did not rise from the dead. When John's disciples heard about their teacher's death, "they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb." And they believed John and ...

2645. It's OK To Stir Up God

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Richard Patt

... So now that we realize the promise of prayer, it is time to move on to the reality of prayer. It's easy for most of us to have someone encourage us about praying. But then we ask, "What do I do now? How do I go about praying?" The disciples in this story must have felt similarly lacking. In the opening verse here it says that one of them came to Jesus, who had just finished praying, and asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray...." Like us, they too wanted to know about the reality of prayer. When Jesus responded ...

2646. Peace And The Peacemakers

Luke 12:49-53

Sermon

Richard Patt

... of the total commitment that was soon to be demanded of him! He realizes that his own nonviolent efforts to announce and proclaim the kingdom of God will soon result in violence that others will inflict upon him at the cross. These realities stir him deeply within. The disciples do not see all of this. They couldn't see it, and Jesus doesn't blame them for that. But the emotion of it sweeps over him and he spills forth: I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have ...

2647. The Crux Of Being A Christian

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Richard Patt

... shocked and puzzled by what Jesus says here. How about you? How do these words strike you? If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. -- Luke 14:26 These words bring us forthrightly to what we might call the crux of being a Christian. You have heard of the word "crux." In English we commonly use it in the little phrase, "the crux of the matter." By that phrase we usually are referring ...

2648. God's Passionate Concern

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Richard Patt

... shocked and puzzled by what Jesus says here. How about you? How do these words strike you? If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. These words bring us forthrightly to what we might call the crux of being a Christian. You have heard of the word "crux." In English we commonly use it in the little phrase, "the crux of the matter." By that phrase we usually are referring to the heart ...

2649. People With Power To Forgive

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... of Jesus' healing of the paralytic. It has drama to it, a deep sense of faith and friendship and a touch of humor. Think of it, a crowded house with people hanging out the windows and doors, so anxious were they to hear Jesus. (We latter-day disciples have always been amazed at Jesus' power to gather a crowd!) And then there is the beautiful picture of the four men carrying their paralytic friend on a stretcher, attempting to get close to Jesus for healing. But the only way they possibly could get through ...

2650. Echoes

Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

... afraid that there might be repercussions to the fact that they were among those who hung out with Jesus, who was now dead and two days in a tomb. I see them gathered in fear and trembling, hoping against hope of not being discovered. I picture some of the disciples going back to doing what they were doing when he found them, namely fishing. Then I think of those women who had the courage to venture out on the third day with things they used to pay homage to a dead person. And then I picture a moment when ...

Showing results

Showing 2626 to 2650 of 4967 results

2626. Who Am I?

Matthew 3:13-17 · Isaiah 42:1-2

Sermon

Will Willimon

2627. Love And Boundaries

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

William G. Carter

2628. Fine Tuning

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2629. Protect Them

John 17:6-19

Children's Sermon

Various Authors

2630. Growing Into Our Scars

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Mary Austin

2631. Flow

John 15:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2632. Did Jesus Say What I Think He Said?

Mark 7:24-37 · James 2:1-9 · Isaiah 35:5-6 · Psalm 146

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

2633. The Possibility Mindset

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2634. Seeing With The Eyes Of Faith

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

2635. The Tale of the Widow and the Wolves

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2636. All in God’s Time

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2637. You Can Talk the Game, but Can You Play the Game?

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Sermon

Will Willimon

2638. The Accent Of Heaven

John 13:31-35

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

2639. As a Fire Exists by Burning

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

2640. Learning to Lean

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2641. Calculated Christianity

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

2642. Transforming Love

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

2643. Take Up Your Cross

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

2644. Look How You Listen

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

2645. It's OK To Stir Up God

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Richard Patt

2646. Peace And The Peacemakers

Luke 12:49-53

Sermon

Richard Patt

2647. The Crux Of Being A Christian

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Richard Patt

2648. God's Passionate Concern

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Richard Patt

... shocked and puzzled by what Jesus says here. How about you? How do these words strike you? If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. These words bring us forthrightly to what we might call the crux of being a Christian. You have heard of the word "crux." In English we commonly use it in the little phrase, "the crux of the matter." By that phrase we usually are referring to the heart ...

2649. People With Power To Forgive

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

2650. Echoes

Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

Showing results