Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 251 to 275 of 4943 results

251. Don't Just Stand There! - Get Involved!

Luke 3:1-20, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Dr. John Thompson Peters

... who came to him. To the wealthy whom John advised to give of their excess, Christ exhorted to give away not only what you can afford, but far more than this. In Matthew 16:24 He says, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." In other words, be prepared to respond to the ultimate. (Matthew 16:24-26) To the delegation of business men whom John had exhorted, "Exact no more than is due," Jesus says, "Be better than your word. Go beyond the limit. If anyone ...

252. The Glory and the Cross

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

Richard A. Jensen

... death. "Join me in my struggle for human life." That is Jesus’ call to us. "Join me in making this a better world for people to live in. Join me in giving your life for your neighbors. Join me in offering abundant life to all the peoples of the world. Take up your cross and follow me." But how shall we follow such a call to suffering discipleship? What can give us the courage to risk our lives for others? What can motivate us to lay down our lives for the sake of others? The answer is clear. We have had a ...

253. With a Little Help from My Friends

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’t find any other way to get to Jesus, they made a hole in the roof and lowered the man into Jesus’ presence. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” Later Jesus would tell the paralyzed man to take up his mat and walk, which he did. The power of faith. Not simply the power of faith on us, but the power of our faith on others. Such faith can change the world. 1. “The Jumper Who Lived” by Thomas Fields-Meyer and Andrea Orr, People, September ...

254. You Can't Win them All

Matthew 10:2-14

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... I notice, on sale in the bookstores picture Jesus as dispensing advice on how to make it big in this world. Which is quite a trick, since if there was one thing that was consistent in Jesus' teaching it was to give away everything that you have to the poor, take up a cross, and follow me. That is not the kind of advice that you frame and put on the wall. Jesus did not promise success in this world. He promised that we would triumph over this world. He told his disciples, "You should be in the world, but you ...

255. Jesus the Bread of Life

John 6:25-59

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... necessity, not merely to accept the reality of Jesus’ death for the life of the world, but to follow him in the way of the cross. In the Synoptics, when Jesus began to predict his Passion he added, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34–35). Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus will speak simultaneously of his own death and of ...

256. Prisoners of Hope

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

... and to me — through faith in Jesus. Therefore, because we know the heart of the Father we can accept Jesus’ gracious invitation. What a relief to finally give in and surrender to the love of God and lay all the weariness and burdens down and then take up Jesus’ yoke of discipleship. That’s what Paul discovered; that’s what Luther and all the great reformers of the church through history discovered. All who come to Jesus find what they really need the rest of service to God and others. Yes, I said ...

257. The Art of Living Until

Matthew 24:36-51

Sermon

Leonard Mann

... he goes on to say that the master of that delinquent servant will come on a day when he is not expected and will punish him "and put him with the hypocrites" (Matthew 24:50-51). Well, maybe that’s where he belongs - with the hypocrites. For he was taking up space in an interim that he really didn’t occupy, standing in shoes he really didn’t fill. In the second Epistle of Peter, there is a discussion of life in this interim, and there is the assertion that, after a long time has gone by, some people ...

258. The Holy Trinity

Psalm 150:1-6, Psalm 33:1-22, Psalm 29:1-11, Matthew 28:16-20, John 3:1-21, 2 Corinthians 13:1-10, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Genesis 1:1-2:3, Exodus 34:1-28

Sermon Aid

... God in response to his gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 (R) - "The Return to Mt. Sinai." 1. An obedient man. Moses must have become quite proficient in working with stone! For the second time, he had to fashion stone tablets to take up the mountain for another meeting with God. He smashed the first set after he came down from Mt. Sinai and discovered that the people were worshiping a golden calf. If he had been like us, he might have attempted to get by with a single tablet this time ...

259. Proper 17 & Pentecost 15

Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:1-8, Exodus 19:1-25, Jeremiah 14:1--15:21, Jeremiah 20:7-18, Psalm 114:1-8, Psalm 63:1-11

Sermon Aid

... raised up to new life at the right hand of God and, thereby, complete the mystery. He also had to put down Peter - rebuke him severely - if he were to do God's will. 3. Living with death. That's the fate of each disciple, who, Jesus said, is "to take up his (her) cross and follow me." The cross makes its mark upon the manner in which we live in the world as we attempt to follow Jesus; it calls for total surrender of one's life to Christ and ready sacrifice - even literally - of one's life for the Lord ...

260. Advent 2: Let Us Go Over To Bethlehem And Find The Promise of Christmas

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

James W. Moore

... all the world are ‘I’ve got a job for you!’” This is one of God’s greatest promises and greatest gifts to us. He says, “I’ve got a job for you. You are valuable to me. There is something special I want you to do. Take up the torch. Take up this ministry.” God came and gave Joseph a special job… to be the earthly father of Jesus, and listen… He must have done that job very well because when Jesus grew up and went out to do his ministry… he called God “Father.” When Jesus wanted to ...

261. Time Out!

Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’ ministry. You and I need to learn to take “time out” as well. Our lives become so frantic. So chaotic. With all there is to do, we can lose our soul if we are not careful. Taking time out is as much a part of Christian living as taking up the cross of Christian service. And for the same reasons, Jesus needed time out. Jesus needed time alone to pray. That’s remarkable when you consider what we know about Jesus. Son of God. Only begotten of the Father. Yet he needed time for prayer. Jesus knew from ...

262. The Resurrection Body

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... and dramatizes the point. 15:56 Paul’s commentary on the citation(s) in vv. 54–55 is not completely pertinent to the context of the discussion of the resurrection of the dead in which he offers the current comments. The material of Rom. 5–7 takes up the themes that are mentioned here briefly, but the context of the discussion in Rom. is different from that of 1 Cor. 15. Nevertheless, Paul offers these explanatory words in anticipation of the joyful outburst that will follow in v. 57. 15:57 This verse ...

263. The Last Coca Cola in the Desert

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... self-righteousness. I’m good enough. I’m comfortable with my current priorities and agenda and good deeds. Nothing in me is broken. Nothing in me needs to die. If that is true, then why did Jesus say, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matt. 16: 24-25)? The tax collector stood in the presence of the holy God and didn’t try to hide his sin ...

264. Advice For Soldiers At The Front

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... fails to wear his protective gear when fighting a fire, sooner or later he will be hurt. And the same is true in life. (1) St. Paul says it's time for Christians to suit up. It's time to put on our protective gear. Paul advised the Ephesians, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day." And Paul describes our armor. First of all, there is the "belt of truth." Remember what Jesus said: "The truth shall set you free." In fact, it is the core of Christian ...

265. Second Chances

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... that it takes a fig tree to become an established, fruit-bearing tree. That it was not bearing at this point seemed highly unlikely that it would ever bear fruit. So the owner of the vineyard was making a practical business-like decision. The tree’s taking up room. It’s using fertile soil in which another tree might prosper. “Cut it down!” he says to the man who cared for his vineyard. But the man who cared for the vineyard tries to intervene. “Sir,” the man replies, “leave it alone for one ...

266. A Love Feast

John 13:1-17, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... if Christ is alive in our lives and we live again the marvelous night in the upper room. Ahead of us lies the cross. Indeed, some here this evening may be carrying their cross even now. But for all of us awaits also the glory of the resurrection. Take up a towel, and take up your cross. Earlier in his life Jesus had told his mother, Mary, that his hour had not yet come. Now his hour has arrived to depart from this world and go to the Father. And while we wait for his return Jesus clearly commanded us to do ...

267. Ash Wednesday

Sermon

William Luoma

... and indifference have allowed? (You may answer "Yes.")Do you desire to return to the Lord with your whole heart, and to seek his forgiveness and strength? (You may answer "I do.")Do you believe that, to be a follower of Jesus, you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily? (You may answer "I believe.")Do you believe it is foolish to work for great achievements or success if you destroy your soul in the process? (You may answer "Yes.")Do you believe in the mercy of God, which is constant and more vast ...

268. Suffering for Christ

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

... . The challenge which our Lord Jesus places before us is to be totally committed and dedicated, to be commissioned and consecrated to him and the high purposes involved in extending his kingdom through our witnessing and service. He has said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Mark 8:34 KJV) Amen.

269. The Strength of Poverty

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Hubert Beck

... source of heat, however, is the thermostat, has become much more helpless in the face of cold. If the electricity or the gas fails, he is neither prepared with a stove nor is his body accustomed to minimal heat nor are his hand and eye and arm ready to take up the task that may now become necessary. To take away the thermostat is to put this person at a considerable disadvantage over against the man with the ax. The point? Let us say now that the country in which these two people live is to be "punished" or ...

270. An Invitation to Christian Discipleship

Matthew 4:18-22

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... in over my head almost all my life, but the loving One, the kind and gentle Savior, has always picked me up and helped me go. Jesus of Nazareth requests the honor of your discipleship today. Jesus said, “If anyone would be my disciple, let them deny themselves, take up a cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Jesus calls. To some Jesus says, GO AND TELL OTHERS. Go fishing. I will make you fishers of persons, says the ...

271. The Life You've Always Wanted

Acts 5:27-32

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... do we fool ourselves into believing that when we became Christians life would become easier? Where is that idea found in the Gospels? Nowhere! Instead, we read about a Savior who says, “Sell all that you have and follow me. Drop your nets and follow me. Deny self, take up a cross, and follow me.” One of the risks we have to take in order to follow Christ is to do what Simon, Andrew, James, and John did: Change priorities! We have to come to the moment of truth where we confront those sins which keep us ...

272. Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... misread the NIV to reveal a cold-hearted Paul and a capricious and indifferent God, but that understanding does not fit in the context of this epistle. 7:18 Moving from the general idea that social change is unnecessary, perhaps even undesirable, Paul takes up the issue of being circumcised. He applies or illustrates the idea of the Christians’ remaining in the state in which God called them by telling the Corinthian men neither to get uncircumcised nor to be circumcised. Such change was ill-advised, and ...

273. The Easy Peasy Guide to Success by S. De Vil

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... For the road of discipleship, Jesus’ discipleship road, is paved with difficulty, challenge, and sometimes pain. To get to the promised land, the people of God had to go through desert, drought, and disaster. To get to everlasting life, Jesus needed to take up a cross and walk a lonely and snare-filled route filled with betrayal and pain. Real discipleship takes both authenticity and investment, love, and commitment, exactly because it isn’t easy. Like the story of Isaac as he lay upon the sacrificial ...

274. Political Pardon

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... help, looking after the animals and the fields, and beginning a family of their own. In time they became indispensable to the older couple. When senior years caught up with them and they decided to move to a small house in town, Dad and Mom were asked to take up residence in the "big house," and manage the farm as if it was their own. For many years, our family grew up on an agricultural expanse known as "The Evergreen Lane Farm" because of the trees that lined its drive and the sign posted over its entry ...

275. Getting to a Teachable Moment

Mark 15:1-15

Sermon

Craig MacCreary

... that causes them to ignore what is right in front of them. The saving moment comes from one who has the tongue of a teacher, the mind of one who puts himself in the place of others rather than puts them in their place, and who, in the selfless taking up of the cross of justice touches the hearts of others. The lessons for Passion Sunday affirm that this is what it takes if there will be a teachable moment. Isaiah 50:4-9a The prophet begins with the experience of being given the tongue of a teacher. Do you ...

Showing results

Showing 251 to 275 of 4943 results

251. Don't Just Stand There! - Get Involved!

Luke 3:1-20, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Dr. John Thompson Peters

252. The Glory and the Cross

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

Richard A. Jensen

253. With a Little Help from My Friends

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

254. You Can't Win them All

Matthew 10:2-14

Sermon

Mark Trotter

255. Jesus the Bread of Life

John 6:25-59

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

256. Prisoners of Hope

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

257. The Art of Living Until

Matthew 24:36-51

Sermon

Leonard Mann

258. The Holy Trinity

Psalm 150:1-6, Psalm 33:1-22, Psalm 29:1-11, Matthew 28:16-20, John 3:1-21, 2 Corinthians 13:1-10, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Genesis 1:1-2:3, Exodus 34:1-28

Sermon Aid

259. Proper 17 & Pentecost 15

Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:1-8, Exodus 19:1-25, Jeremiah 14:1--15:21, Jeremiah 20:7-18, Psalm 114:1-8, Psalm 63:1-11

Sermon Aid

260. Advent 2: Let Us Go Over To Bethlehem And Find The Promise of Christmas

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

James W. Moore

261. Time Out!

Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

King Duncan