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 2751 to 2775 of 3315 results

2751. Growing In Grace

1 Cor. 15:9, Eph. 3:8, 1 Tim 1:15, Ps. 34:1

Illustration

James Packer

I am the least of the apostles. 1 Cor 15:9 I am the very least of all the saints. Eph 3:8 I am the foremost of sinners. 1 Tim 1:15 Humility and a passion for praise are a pair of characteristics which together indicate growth in grace. The Bible is full of self-humbling ( ...

2752. Monster Rehab

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is “saintliness.” November 1 is the Church’s celebration of All Saints Day. Who is a Saint? Even in the Protestant church we immediately think of those who stood up and walked tall before persecution and perversion. The apostles, who preached Christ before hostile crowds, were leaders in forming the faith communities that would become the “church.” Early church theologians, mystics, martyrs, and miracle workers — they are all crowned with “saintliness.” Yet headliners are almost certainly ...

2753. Fully Loaded

Philippians 1:20

Illustration

... was later found in a stream, it was evident that he had chosen the latter. Nearby lay his rifle--all 10 chambers still loaded. He had made the supreme sacrifice, motivated by his burden for lost souls and his unswerving devotion to his Savior. With the apostle Paul, he wanted Christ to be magnified in his body, "whether by life or by death." Writing on Philippians 1:20 in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Robert P. Lightner said, "Paul's concern was not what would happen to him but what testimony would be ...

2754. The Martyr's Prayer

Illustration

Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John and an early church leader whose life ended when he refused to betray his Lord. Asked one last time to disavow his Christ, the old man replied, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my ...

2755. One Step Forward

James 1:22

Illustration

... a worship service, he stood while the Word of God was read. He took notes during this time and later studied them with great care. Through the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. That's the kind of serious-minded response to truth the apostle James calls for in today's Scripture reading. A single revealed fact cherished in the heart and acted upon is more vital to our growth than a head filled with lofty ideas about God. One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.

2756. Bless That Weak Message

Psalm 127:1, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Illustration

... for all who serve the Lord. First, we need the blessing of God on our efforts. Solomon said in Psalm 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." And second, our weakness is an occasion for the working of God's power. The apostle Paul said, "I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:10).

2757. Predictions in the Past

2 Pet 3:11

Illustration

Brett Blair

... judgement, the conclusion of the Ages, is yet to come. Already but not yet. The outpouring of His anger against those who continually resist Him is so sure that it has been written about in the past tense. This should cause us to reflect with the apostle Peter, who wrote so appropriately, "Seeing, then, that all these things shall be destroyed in this way, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness?" As Christians, we already know what's ahead for this world, and that knowledge ...

2758. Satan Is No Myth

Illustration

J. O. Sanders

... and often anonymously. He sends out false prophets. "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many" (Matthew 24:11). He introduces false brethren into the church, who "had sneaked in to spy out our liberty...in order to bring us into bondage" (Galatians 2:4). He sponsors false apostles who imitate the true (2 Corinthians 11:13).

2759. Spiritual Teaching Gifts

Illustration

Dr. Earl Radmacher

... course of action with wisdom. Faith: Seeing through any problem to the Ultimate Resource. What about the so-called sign gifts, such as healing and speaking in tongues, referred to in today's text? To us, Hebrews 2:4 suggests that they were intended to be confirming signs for the Apostles, and ceased with them. Others feel they are still for today, but if so, one thing is clear: they are given sovereignly by the Spirit for specific purposes and are the exception, not the rule.

2760. A Vacant Pulpit

Humor Illustration

... do you think? Shall we call him?'' The good church folks were appalled! Consider a sickly, trouble making, absent-minded ex-jailbird? Was the board member crazy? Who signed the application? Who had such colossal nerve? The board member eyed them all keenly before he replied, "It's signed, The Apostle Paul."

2761. From the Mouths of Babes

Humor Illustration

From the "Out of the mouths of babes" department: Adultery: The sin of saying you're older than you really are. Conversion: The point after a touchdown. Fast days: The days you have to eat in a hurry. Absolution: Making sure you're right. Epistle: The wife of an apostle.

2762. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... believe they have knowledge of gnosis that is not available to all the other member of their community. That gnosis puts them in some sort of a superior position. Paul pounces on that “puffed up” spirit. Instead of congratulating them on their insights, the apostle pulls the plug on their inflated egos. In its place he offers that which is available equally to all — love. It is love, not unique knowledge, that “builds up.” It is in loving God that disciples know and are known by God. Knowledge of ...

2763. A Table Like No Others

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

King Duncan

The earliest recounting of the event we commemorate this evening comes from the Apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 11, he writes, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; ...

2764. Seeking Christ

Mark 1:29-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... to Christ and humanity, God’s love for us and acceptance of us never ceases. It’s like a story that Tony Campolo tells. The story is set in Heaven. St. Peter handles admissions at the pearly gates according to the story and the Apostle Paul acts as the administrator of the celestial kingdom, taking a monthly census of Heaven’s inhabitants. But something doesn’t add up. Each time Paul counts the number of people in Heaven, his number far exceeds the number of admittances that Peter has registered ...

2765. Do You Know Your Place?

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... s gospel text to “know our place.” And where is our “place?” Our place is “behind Jesus.” We must “get behind” Jesus, our leader. In this community of Christ, there is only one Leader: Jesus. The rest of us are called to be followers. How did the Apostle Paul put it: “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Even after twenty-one centuries of trying, it is hard for us to “get behind Jesus” and follow him. We may be willing to “take up our cross.” But we would still like to “take the lead ...

2766. Will You Be an April Fool for Christ?

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the ultimate “April Fool” — the April Fool of Christ’s death, the April Fool that destroyed the sting of sin and offered instead complete salvation a whole new raft of fools took float. The Pharisee Saul of Taurus became Paul the Apostle. The libertine, sophisticated Augustine became a father of the faith. Throughout the two thousand one hundred years of Christianity the faithful have stepped forward form the safety of anonymity or the security of a well-heeled position to embrace . . . foolishness ...

2767. Watch Your Step

Mark 6:1-6

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , it is tempting to look at all the “stuff” parents bring along as just so much junk. But, ironically, it is those protective parents who might best embody the supplications of Jesus and the spartan traveling supplies of Jesus’ disciples. No, the twelve apostles did not bring “Dora, the Explorer” downloads. No, there were no fruit snacks and water bottles. But . . . Yes, like parents, they did set out to travel without focusing on their own needs and provisions. In today’s text we learn how the ...

2768. Adopted

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... matter,” the young woman protested, “because I’m adopted.” With a smile of embarrassment, her mother spoke the most wonderful words this young mother had ever heard. She said, “Oh, my. I always forget.” (4) It’s a special thing to be adopted. The Apostle Paul says that you and I, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, have been adopted by God. That is why we are heirs of every good thing God has. We are God’s adopted children. We were specially chosen because God wants children ...

2769. God Can Turn Your Trash Cans into Treasure Chests

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . Mary Magdalene was a woman of low-reputed. But she recycled her fallenness and became a saint. Simon was a zealot who killed Roman soldiers and Jewish collaborators, the chief of which were tax collectors. But Simon recycled his violence and became an apostle. Matthew was a tax collector. Yet he recycled his miserliness and became a disciple of Jesus. Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor, a hater of Christians, recycled his hatred and became the greatest of the missionary theologians. What about you? What is the ...

2770. Go, Johnny, Go, Go, Go!

Luke 3:1-6

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... you've been expecting ... the one I've been talking about ... the one who will take away the sin of the world" (John 1:29 cf). God had told John that he would see the Spirit come down from heaven and rest on a man. In chapter 1 of the apostle John's gospel we hear confirmation of this event. He wrote, "I have seen this happen, and I tell you the truth: This man is the Son of God" (John 1:34 NCV). And so, the end of Act One. In the first scene of Act Two, John the Baptist ...

2771. Believing Thomas

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe" (v. 25). Actually, I can't say I blame Thomas. Remember, when it came to doubting, the apostles come first, all of them. They doubted the women. They doubted Mary Magdalene. Thomas just doubted some runaways, the disciples who abandoned and denied Jesus in his hours of pain and suffering. Do you remember the first day of summer vacation? No shoes, no shirt, no getting up ...

2772. Low-Carb Christians

John 21:1-19

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... keep God in the center, there is no problem with any of these things. Nor are we to consider ourselves purely spiritual beings who would do well to transcend burgers and fries. We've just got to keep everything in the proper perspective. The apostle Paul quotes from pagan poets on several occasions. The world of literature is not closed to Christians. Jesus sends the fishers back out into the sea. There are feasts and more feasts. Paul plied his trade of tentmaker, perhaps to support himself, but also ...

2773. Advocate and Redeemer

John 14:23-29

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... lives. The same word, "know," is stated with the same certainty, but one is based on scientific knowledge. The other is based on something else instead. In both Matthew and Mark the word "afraid" is used in the stories surrounding the resurrection. Jesus tells the apostles they must not be afraid in Matthew. The women say nothing to anyone because they're afraid in Mark. But in John's account fear is not mentioned. Why would anyone be afraid in the face of this wonderful event? What were they afraid ...

2774. Sit Up and Speak!

Luke 7:11-17

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... , in some manner all their lives. They go through the motions of living, yet, are dead spiritually, or socially, or intellectually, or emotionally. Then one day by the grace of God, their lives are interrupted, and they experience a Damascus Road conversion like the apostle Paul, and they sit up and began to live and to speak. For others, the weight of deadness is lifted through clues and small insights as they grow in faith, step by step, day by day, as did Timothy under the Christian tutelage of his ...

2775. Appointed and Sent!

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... is plentiful, but the laborers are few!" The harvest is vast. In chapter 10 of Genesis, the Hebrew text enumerates all the nations of the world. How many? Seventy! The number suggests that the harvest, the mission is to the entire world. The Acts of the Apostles records Jesus' final words to his "sent ones," "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). A place to start is in "Jerusalem" or our own contemporary hometown culture. The "sent ones ...

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