Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 276 to 300 of 341 results

276. The Genealogy of David

Ruth 4:13-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , Obed will receive a renowned reputation. As mother of Obed and wife of Boaz, Ruth (already famous for her acts of kindness) will receive greater renown as an ancestor of David. Thus for the first time in the book the author discards Ruth’s Moabite designation. It is no longer necessary because her marriage to Boaz formalizes her assimilation into Israel. Although once empty, Naomi has now received fullness from the Lord’s sovereign and merciful hand in her old age. Thus the “naturalization ...

277. Warning against Falling Away

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , solid food is urgently required to invigorate their flagging faith. Each of the elementary teachings (6:1–2) mentioned had a place in Judaism but had been invested with new significance in Christian preaching. These basics are not to be discarded, but neither are they sufficient. This sentence amounts to a ringing affirmation both of the obligation laid on believers to cultivate their spiritual lives and of the importance of doctrine to sanctification. Knowledge feeds faith. “Acts that lead to death ...

278. Being a True Disciple

John 8:31-36

Sermon

David G. Rogne

... were losing their freedom to become what God intended. When we are immature, we need some external restraints to guard us and rules to guide us. As we grow to maturity, some of those external restraints may be less necessary and less relevant and may be discarded by us. Even so, as old restraints are taken away new resources must be found, lest we yield to license and lose our freedom to be what we were intended to be. We need something that will give us balance. Boundaries can actually enhance our freedom ...

279. The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1-27

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... out for special comment its great street. Why? Perhaps the seer wants the reader to recall an earlier vision of yet another main street in yet another “great city” where the bodies of the “two witnesses,” who represent the community of overcomers, were discarded by the beast for public inspection and ridicule (cf. 11:8–10). Yet, like the Lamb’s before them, their defeat is as transitory as the beast’s momentary triumph. By repeating the image of the main street in a great city, John rehearses ...

280. Adultery

Matthew 5:27-30

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... right hand is mentioned because it corresponds to the place of honor (cf. 1 Kings 2:19; Ps. 110:1). For the same reason, it is the right eye that should be torn out and thrown away rather than being allowed to cause the whole body to be discarded in hell. The Greek verb translated causes (you) to sin is skandalizō, cognate with a noun that stands for the bait-stick in a trap that, when sprung, closes the trap and secures the animal. It is ironic that the eye, which is supposed to prevent stumbling, becomes ...

281. Be Holy

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... the third pas differently as every kind.) It is a pretty comprehensive list of the ills to which the human heart is host. Believers are commanded, Rid yourselves of them all. The Greek, brought out in most other translations, is literally put off, discard, like so much old, soiled and unwanted clothing. To obey this order requires the active will of the individual concerned, for growth in the new life is a cooperative work between divine grace and the believer’s determination. Neither will prove effective ...

282. The Day of the Lord

Isaiah 2:6-22

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... holiness, Isaiah’s key motif. In being put in touch with Yahweh, Judah is in contact with power that has the capacity to electrocute if mishandled. The dread is a reason to hide or flee, and also a reason that images in their triviality are destined to be discarded (vv. 18, 20). The majesty and the exaltedness are a reason that what is humanly lofty and exalted must be put down. By its nature humanity has a tendency to be arrogant and proud (v. 17), though the words Isaiah uses need not imply that this is ...

283. Are You a Victim of Identity Theft?

1 John 3:1-3

Sermon

King Duncan

... location as you punch in your telephone calling card number or credit card number--or listen in on your conversation if you give your credit-card number over the telephone. If you receive applications for “pre-approved” credit cards in the mail, but discard them without tearing up the enclosed materials, criminals may retrieve them and try to activate the cards for their own use without your knowledge. Also, if your mail is delivered to a place where others have ready access to it, criminals may simply ...

284. Fake News? No! Fake Religion

Matthew 23:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... that the play was completely sold out for the night. They were disappointed. They were also embarrassed to have to go back home and tell their friends they missed the highlight of their trip. So they decided to do the next best thing. They picked up discarded tickets, purchased a program, and bought the musical tapes. They went home singing, “I Could Have Danced all Night.” And they told everybody that they had gone to see My Fair Lady. Well, at least they had made an effort to see the play. Some people ...

285. In Awe of Christ

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... Troy! Do you remember?” She looked up at him in astonishment. “Helen!” he shouted. Then the fog seemed to clear, and a sense of recognition came to her face. Helen discovered her lost self, and she put her arms around her old friend and wept. Then Helen discarded the tattered clothes and once more became the queen she was born to be.” (4) My friend, that can be your story and mine. We were not created for sin but for salvation. When we see ourselves as God created us to be, then the possibility of ...

286. Eyes Set on Jerusalem

Luke 13:31-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... and broke his leg. He lay at the bottom of the well. No one dared to help because no one had the strength to make the climb carrying another man. The chief was summoned. When he saw the plight of the injured man, he doffed his massive headdress and discarded his ceremonial robe. Then the chief climbed down into the well, took the weight of the injured man on himself, and brought the man to safety. The chief did what no one else could do.” (2) The chief had to be strong. The welfare of the tribe depended ...

287. The Journey of Salvation

Luke 22:39-46, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... a kiss becomes the instrument of betrayal, when darkness masquerades as light, that is when we see how twisted the human spirit can become. The soldiers take Jesus and scourge him. They weave a crown of thorns and place it upon his head. Someone finds a discarded purple robe and they place it around his shoulders. In an attempt to humiliate and debase him further they salute him and kneel down in mock homage before him crying, “Hail, King of the Jews.” And they strike his head with a reed and spit upon ...

288. Most Precious Possession

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... . The only clue to the driver's identity was a twenty-dollar gold piece inscribed: "Given to Otis Sampson at his retirement by Portland Cement Company." After extensive correspondence, Otis Sampson was located and contacted. He wrote a letter telling them to discard the suitcase and all its contents, and send only the gold piece. Mr. Sampson used the phrase "my most precious possession," several times to describe the gold piece. Pastor Rittenhouse sent the gold piece, and wrote a cover letter telling Otis ...

289. Persons of the Robe

Illustration

Stan Cosby

... it was Goho, their own beloved emperor. By his death, Goho was able to do what his law could never do; change the hearts and minds of his people forever. Never again were human sacrifices offered. And on Formosa, the red robe became a symbol of a changed life. Men discarded their dingy robes and put on red ones as if to say, “I am Goho’s person.” They became known as persons of the robe. That’s who we are friends. Persons of the robe.

290. Chasing Childhood Dreams

Illustration

Denis Waitley

... reevaluations took place every seven years until each reached the age of thirty-five. Incredibly, nearly all of the subjects eventually ended up engaged in a professional pursuit related to their interests during the age span of seven through fourteen. Although most of them had discarded or strayed from those interests from ages fifteen to twenty-one and beyond, virtually all found their way back to recapture their early childhood dreams by the age of thirty-five, even if only as a hobby or an avocation.

291. Sitting Shiva Behind Closed Doors

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... kick in. Once it does, there is no going back. The same goes for Simon Peter and the other disciple with him. In fact, they don’t even see Jesus face to face in their first encounter with the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. But they see merely the discarded cloths. Whereas Mary assumes someone has taken the body, the two men seem to already “know.” For them, the cloth tells the story. A cloth like this. [Hold up the strip of cloth]. Let me tell you story of a woman on a journey who took refuge from ...

292. Parabola

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... in the blanks). [You can elaborate as much as you or they wish.] So, the man was riding on his bike, and suddenly from out of the shadows, figures emerged, and before you know it, he was surrounded. The others attacked, robbed, knifed, and beat the man, then discarded him roughly by the side of the road. The next morning early, before the event could be on the morning news, a pastor was driving through that way on his way to a conference meeting. He was already late. He saw a rumpled, unruly man lying by ...

293. Do(n't) Rock the Boat

Mt 14:22-36, Mk 4:35-41, Lk 8:22-25, Jn 6:16-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... to be in relationship with Jesus! You can’t be the Church of Christ, if Christ is missing. The good news is….Jesus is never missing! Sometimes we miss him! Sometimes, we fail to see him, or don’t recognize him. Sometimes, we ignore him, or deny him, or discard him! But look behind you…look around you….Jesus is right there….holding on ….to YOU. The Coast Guard has an unofficial motto: “We have to go out. We don’t have to come back.” Why is that not the unofficial motto of every church in ...

294. Syrophoenician Lives Matter!

Mark 7:24-30, Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the same as God’s law 2) He claims that the Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem follow laws of their own making….not the laws of the heart that God desires and 2) He claims too that they follow only the ones that are convenient. Others, they discard altogether when it doesn’t suit them (honoring father and mother for example). Jesus goes on to instruct first the crowd, and then his own disciples that God is interested in what comes from the heart! This is a theme we see throughout the gospels over ...

295. God Gives the Pharisees the Finger!

John 7:25-44, John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.” (Exodus 22:16-17) All of this was quite risky at times. When Jesus has a conversation with the Pharisees about divorce, he is criticizing the ease in which men can discard women with virtually no proof at all, or almost at whim. The law sides with the men. But the women have the most to lose, as they become essentially homeless. The same goes for widows. This is why the Jewish custom of brother taking his dead brother ...

296. Slow Burn

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

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... caught in a rainstorm or heated numerous times as oven “charcoal,” sooner or later, the salt would lose its “saltiness,” its mineral qualities and its ability to serve as a catalyst for the oven. At that time, the slab of salt would be removed and discarded (to be trampled underfoot). It was no longer useful. It no longer had any of the properties of its former self. It had lost its fidelity to create heat and light. Ever wonder why Jesus mentions salt and light in the same paragraph? Salt was used ...

297. The Plank

Matthew 5:38-48; 7:1-6

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... to see it clearly, so that you can take it out carefully, so as not to harm your pet. This is what Jesus is saying to us today. Jesus wants us to see our brother or sister clearly, meaning not as something disposable, or as an object to discard. Not as something rotted to the core and not worthy to save. Not as someone irrelevant whose life doesn’t matter. For Jesus, everybody matters. And Jesus wants everybody to matter to you too. Because you know –that splinter in your puppy’s foot is just like the ...

298. Liminal Space

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... doesn’t mean that you never have doubts. It doesn’t mean that you don’t fear the future, or wonder what will happen next. It doesn’t mean that you are perfect, and you never fall down. It doesn’t mean when you doubt that you are discarding God, or God’s journey for you and your life. Having faith is a journey with rocks, and stones, and potholes, and mountains, and especially swamps. But a journey in which you keep on going, because that journey is changing you, and you know that the God of ...

299. Peter the Petulant

Mark 14:1-11, Mark 14:12-26, Mark 14:27-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of that linen cloth and Jesus’ predictions when Jesus walks to the site of the crucifixion, draped only with a linen cloth wrapped around his already bloody waist? Is he reminded of that linen cloth……when Peter comes to the tomb, goes in, and sees the discarded blood-stained cloth left there in the empty tomb? Is he reminded of that linen cloth, when he stares up at the sails of his fishing boat, as he attempts to return to his former life, leaving Jesus behind? Is he reminded of that linen cloth ...

300. The Bramble King

John 15:1-17, John 15:18--16:4, John 16:5-16

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... by silver, but by wanting to be part of the Temple crowd. His attention is on a physical and not a spiritual Temple (that is Jesus). Judas’s fate: Matthew 26:15 and 27:5-10. Like the chaff burned, or the dry branches discarded, he himself voluntarily in a sense perhaps of repentance, gave back the silver and retreated to the Potter’s Field, where thistles abound, and where he kept himself unworthy of Jesus’ forgiving grace. The question, will Jesus’ taking upon himself the crown of thorns, redeem ...

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