Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2826 to 2850 of 5000 results

2826. Caring for the Needy and Commissioning Apostles

Mark 3:7-12, Mark 3:13-19

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... in ministry, so we can rejoice in our weakness (2 Cor. 11:30; 12:5, 9–10) because then all the glory will go to God. Part of this is authority over Satan and his evil spirits (see “Teaching the Text” on 3:20–35). Illustrating the Text Ministering to the whole person Church Missions: The church must follow the example of Jesus and be willing to minister to the whole person and not limit ministry to spiritual needs. Many missionaries and relief organizations have learned this valuable lesson. Dr. Wess ...

2827. Parables of the Kingdom

Mark 4:1-20

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Grant R. Osborne

... -infested ground, those whose life is wrapped up in making money and having the best things in life.”8The good soil is defined only as being “careful how we hear.” This means openness to truth and a desire to live it in our lives. Illustrating the Text Fruitfulness is the work of God. True Story: A visiting professor at Fuller Theological Seminary told a story about preaching a sermon in a developing country in which hundreds of people came forward as an expression of their desire to walk with Jesus ...

2828. More Parables of the Kingdom

Mark 4:30-34, Mark 4:26-29, Mark 4:21-25

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Grant R. Osborne

... on God, for he superintends our work and makes of us more than we can be in ourselves. We are part of God’s kingdom work, and the progress and greatness of his kingdom and of our ministry are under his sovereign control. Illustrating the Text An exponential return on investment Economics: Financial advisors often tout the importance of investing regularly and starting at a young age. There is great wisdom in their counsel. Investors should be disciplined, and so too should disciples. Consistent reading of ...

2829. The Authority of Jesus over Sickness and Death

Mark 5:21-43

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Grant R. Osborne

... of earthly suffering as well as the immediate transportation of each of us into the very presence of God (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21–23). It does denote the end of our earthly existence, but far more, it is the beginning of our eternal joy. Illustrating the Text Faith and healing Story: The thirteen-year-old, angry with her mother, said, “You obviously don’t love me!” The mom had told her daughter that she could not attend the middle-school party. The child had begged to attend; everyone was going to be ...

2830. The Rejection of Jesus in His Own Hometown

Mark 6:1-6

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Grant R. Osborne

... cannot be brought to repentance (Heb. 6:4–6) and has only a “fury of fire” (Heb. 10:27) in the future. No one should dare assume to be able to reject Christ repeatedly with impunity. There are consequences, and they are eternal. Illustrating the Text The reality of persecution Current Events: Jesus warns his followers that just as he is persecuted, they too will be persecuted (John 15:19–21). This reality continues today and will continue until Jesus returns. According to the World Evangelical ...

2831. Mission and Rejection in Galilee

Mark 6:14-29, Mark 6:7-13

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Grant R. Osborne

... has been labeled “the epistle of suffering” and addresses discouraged Christians who were “surprised” by the hard times (4:12) but needed to realize that such trials are used by God to strengthen one’s faith (1:6–7; cf. James 1:2–4). Illustrating the Text Discipleship: carrying on the ministry of Jesus Hymn: “Living for Jesus,” by Thomas O. Chisholm. In this great twentieth-century hymn of commitment we read in the second verse that in light of what Jesus has done, Such love constrains me ...

2832. God’s Miraculous Provision: Caring for the Needy

Mark 6:30-44

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Grant R. Osborne

... in us (John 14:16–17, 20) is the Spirit of Christ, so we serve him under his authority and with his power behind us. Therefore, we do not need to worry about how gifted we are (or are not), for we are his agents with his authority. Illustrating the Text The provision of daily miracles Biography: Seeing through the Fog, by Ed Dobson. In the fall of 2000 Pastor Ed Dobson was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). This is a degenerative disease with no known cause or cure. In his book ...

2833. Spiritual Hypocrisy—Living by the Rules, Not by the Heart

Mark 7:1-23

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Grant R. Osborne

... If instead we meditate on God’s Word and on the thoughts of the great men and women of the faith, we will pursue actions that please God. The principle is simple: what we think is who we are, and that will determine what we do. Illustrating the Text Lip service rather than heart worship Literature/Film: The Stepford Wives, by Ira Levin. This novel was twice made into a movie (1975, 2004). In the town of Stepford the wives are submissive and attentive to their husbands’ every need. A young mother, Joanna ...

2834. Gentiles Exemplify True Discipleship

Mark 7:31-37, Mark 7:24-30

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Grant R. Osborne

... her to have, and the deaf mute wanted Jesus merely to lay his hand on him. There was a complete denial of self and a total reliance on Jesus, and this alone can enable a person to become a true disciple of Jesus. Illustrating the Text Extending ministry to the “outsider” Spiritual Biography: Dark Journey, Deep Grace: Jeffrey Dahmer’s Story of Faith, by Roy Ratcliff. Pastor Ratcliff writes about his ministry to Jeffrey Dahmer, a man who was convicted for the heinous crimes of murder, dismemberment ...

2835. The Gentiles Are Included in God’s Provision

Mark 8:1-13

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Grant R. Osborne

... how they wish to live their lives. Wisdom (in both Testaments) is living life in God’s world on the basis of God’s rules. Jesus refused to acquiesce to their stipulations, and God will refuse anyone who takes such an arrogant approach to him. Illustrating the Text God’s amazing care for us Human Experience: When children are disciplined by their parents, they sometimes respond with hurt and anger, concluding that the parent must not love them. But in most cases this simply is not true. The parent is ...

2836. Spiritual Blindness and the Way to Overcome It

Mark 8:22-26, Mark 8:14-21

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Grant R. Osborne

... made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:7–9). The promise that “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28) includes Christ’s “no” as well as his “yes.” Jesus still heals, but he sovereignly controls the process for our good. Illustrating the Text The folly of living for this world Applying the Text: Glorious Ruin, by Tullian Tchividjian. Tchividjian invites readers to assume that God has given them a very clear picture of their future.3They can have for free, despite all their rebellion ...

2837. Realizing the True Nature of Jesus the Christ

Mark 8:27-30

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Grant R. Osborne

... ” in 8:34. We become Christians not to gain more of this world but rather to find eternal life in the heavenly realm. Vindication comes rarely and temporarily in this life; it comes fully and forever in the “better” world (Heb. 11:39–40). Illustrating the Text “Who do people say I am?” Philosophy: As noted in the passage, at the time of Jesus there were many opinions about him. In that regard, nothing has changed in two thousand years. According to Christianity Today, the Christian faith is the ...

2838. The Path of Discipleship

Mark 8:31--9:1

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Grant R. Osborne

... of the church. The kingdom’s arrival will be finalized at the eschaton, and when Christ returns, all persons will answer to God for their lives and their choices (for Christians giving account, see 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 2:15; Rev. 22:12). Illustrating the Text Discipleship: the path of the cross Testimony: Jim Caviezel played the role of Jesus in the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. Before accepting the role, Mel Gibson (the producer and director) warned the actor that the role might cost him his ...

2839. Jesus’s Glory and Majesty Disclosed

Mark 9:2-13

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Grant R. Osborne

... suffering. Still, this episode centers on the glory and majesty yet to come, so it moves from the resurrection/ascension (first coming) to the final victory at the parousia (second coming). The salvation-historical stages are transfiguration ? resurrection ? parousia. Illustrating the Text Jesus is God’s Son. History: In 1992 astrophysicist Michael Hart wrote a book titled The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, Revised and Updated for the Nineties. The book contains biographies of ...

2840. The Exorcism of a Child Develops a Humble Model for Faith

Mark 9:14-32

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Grant R. Osborne

... Discourse in John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks frequently of this new prayer power (14:13–14, 16; 15:7, 16; 16:23, 24, 26), and the source lies in the intercessory prayer of the Spirit in the midst of our struggles (Rom. 8:26–28). Illustrating the Text The patience of Jesus Testimony: Many people who are unfamiliar with the Bible are surprised to discover the failure and unbelief of the disciples. And if they only knew, many laypeople in our churches would be surprised by the failure and unbelief of ...

2841. The Model of Jesus for Discipleship Service, Not Self-Seeking

Mark 9:33-37, Mark 9:38-41, Mark 9:42-50

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Grant R. Osborne

... boils off our sinful tendencies and makes us become “pure gold.” We are “the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13) and as such need the purifying fire of Christ (Mark 9:49) that “refines” the people of God (Mal. 3:20) so we can serve him. Illustrating the Text Casting off human impurities Science: In places with long and snowy winters, roads are often salted to melt ice. One result is that cars have a tendency to rust from the salt. Some try to deal with this problem by painting over the rust. This ...

2842. Possessions and Choice in the New Kingdom Community

Mark 10:17-31

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Grant R. Osborne

... we can enrich those around us by sharing our gift (whether it be teaching or music or service [= riches]). In one sense, every time we use our money to help others, we are banking it in heaven, and God will repay us for all we have done. Illustrating the Text When is “good” good enough? Quote: “The Reason for God Study Guide,” by Timothy Keller. If you put three swimmers on the coast of California and ask them to swim to Hawaii, the Olympic swimmer might swim 500 miles before she dies. The second ...

2843. Jesus’s Entry as the Messiah Who Triumphs through Suffering

Mark 11:1-11

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Grant R. Osborne

... the true reason for joy is demonstrated, for the cross will be his throne, and in his death he will indeed become king of the Jews. The people will be delivered in a far more significant way, for out of this will come not political victory but eternal life. Illustrating the Text Jesus in control History: Some people view Jesus as a victim of the events leading to his death on a cross in the same way they see Abraham Lincoln as a victim of John Wilkes Booth. But was Jesus really a helpless victim? No. It is ...

2844. Prophetic Actions—The Temple Condemned and the Fig Tree Cursed

Mark 11:12-19

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Grant R. Osborne

... . 16:27; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:12). We must be responsible in our walk with him and live out our salvation; we are declared right before him (justification), made right by him (sanctification), and then must live rightly before him (the Christian life). Illustrating the Text The importance of fruitfulness Nature: In John 15 Jesus calls his followers to be fruitful, warning them that he will cut off every branch in him that bears no fruit and prune the fruitful branches so that they will be even more fruitful ...

2845. Praying in Faith

Mark 11:20-25 (26)

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Grant R. Osborne

... must naturally be willing to extend a similar mercy to others. Thus Christ demands that we who have been forgiven so much express a similar love to those around us, and it will make a difference in the effectiveness of our prayers. Illustrating the Text Prayer that can move mountains Testimony: Remarkable stories of God’s provision through prayer can meaningfully communicate the power of prayer. Through testimony, tell the stories of people who have seen God do powerful things in their lives through ...

2846. Jesus Claims God-Given Authority to Condemn the Leaders

Mark 12:1-12, Mark 11:27-33

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Grant R. Osborne

... 14; 28:16 to show how the stone became a “stone of stumbling” that “makes them fall” in order to emphasize both the judgment that came upon rebellious Israel for its disbelief and the church as the “elect” and “precious/honored” cornerstone. Illustrating the Text God removes the authority of the Jewish leaders. Parable: You own ten convenience stores, each run by a different manager. Nine of the stores are doing well, but one is doing very poorly. You find that the manager of this particular ...

2847. Government and Marriage

Mark 12:18-27, Mark 12:13-17

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Grant R. Osborne

... that can do no more than approximate a far greater future than can be expressed. There is no way to describe the infinite, perfect reality that God has waiting for us. There will be a glory, a joy, a peace beyond all human understanding. Illustrating the Text When and how to oppose government Quotes: Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer stood boldly against Adolf Hitler and the teachings of the Nazis until he was put to death as a spy by hanging in a Nazi concentration camp in April of 1945. Bonhoeffer ...

2848. Jesus Defines Himself as Lord in Contrast to the Leaders of Israel

Mark 12:41-44, Mark 12:35-40

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Grant R. Osborne

... of the Spirit and need another “work of grace” whereby we get the rest. He meant that God wants us to open all the rooms of our house, our basic self, so that the Spirit can fill every corner of our lives. Illustrating the Text A full surrender History: On August 10, 1945, Japan acquiesced to the Potsdam Conference terms of unconditional surrender. The Potsdam Declaration stipulated the disarming of the Japanese military forces, punishment of Japanese war criminals, reduction of Japanese territory, and ...

2849. The Necessity of Vigilance in Light of the Parousia

Mark 13:32-37

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Grant R. Osborne

... ), and when the master returns he expects to see the results of their faithful service for him. The parables in Matthew 24–25 show the judgment that awaits those who fail to maintain faithful walks (24:51; 25:10–12, 28–30). Illustrating the Text Be alert! News Event: On Friday, October 3, 2008, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a press release that read, in part, “With millions of passengers passing through the checkpoints every year, the job of a TSA officer requires constant ...

2850. The Passover as Eucharist: Jesus’s Body and Blood Given for Us

Mark 14:27-31

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Grant R. Osborne

... :7, 8) and the power of the Spirit (Rom. 8:1–17). As in 1 Corinthians 10:13, God does provide a “way to escape” through the presence of Jesus in our lives, and we can be “more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). Illustrating the Text The price of salvation Popular Culture: In October of 2009 The Most Expensive Journal revealed the world’s top ten most expensive foods. Topping the list, at $160,787, was the Italian White Alba truffle. Also on the list was a kilo of Almas caviar ...

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