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 276 to 300 of 4968 results
276. Pentecost
John 20:19-23, Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3-13, Psalm 104
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
... : 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 1. Except (v. 3b). No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. On our own desire and strength we cannot come to or believe in Jesus as Lord. We do not choose Jesus, but through the Spirit he chooses us as disciples. The Spirit calls us to believe and follow Jesus. We are made Christians by the work of the Spirit. To say that Jesus is our Lord is too difficult for human achievement. 2. Same (vv. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11). Six times in this pericope Paul uses the word ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... and sisters, yes, and even life itself" (verse 26). Of all the hard sayings of Jesus (and there are shelves of books on these hard sayings), some call this the hardest of the hard. How could such horrible-sounding advice create strong, faithful disciples? Even when we understand that Jesus isn't talking about an emotional response but is describing behaviors and actions, this rejection of the family as our primary connection, our safe harbor in a heartless world, and the rightful recipient of our greatest ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... to do regular anything. Type in "extreme" into a search engine, and you'll get anywhere from a half million to a million links that will take you to extreme networks, extreme weather, extremecoffee.com. Jesus didn't call the disciples to be regular either. Regular disciples would have stayed in Jerusalem, founded a school, studied the words and works of their master, carefully screened and admitted only the most promising students that came to their center and requested admission. But Jesus commanded his ...
279. Luke 24:36b-48
Luke 24:36b-48
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... an everyday visitor a bit of broiled fish to eat. Caught up in performing familiar hospitality rituals, they forget their fears and learn to treat this risen Christ as they might their old master. The focus of this resurrection appearance now shifts from the disciples to the message Christ has brought to them. Verse 44 points back to the primary witness that Luke's gospel presents that Jesus is the fulfillment of "the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms." Readers should note, however, that the time ...
280. Mark 6:1-13
Mark 6:1-13
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... own experience in Nazareth now serves as both an example of the kind of rejection they will face and of the kind of response it should elicit. If a household or a village refuses to hear these missionaries' words or recognize the power they wield, the disciples are to move on quickly, shaking the dust off their feet as they go from that place "as a testimony against them" (v.11). In an age and region where community, connection and kinship were the ties that made it possible for people to survive physically ...
281. Mark 10:35-45
Mark 10:35-45
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... , is also a symbol of his dying to this life so that he will be raised into eternal life. Obviously neither James nor John has a clue about the nature of this "cup" and this "baptism" in which they are being asked to participate. Jesus welcomes his ignorant disciples' communion in his sacrifice but then reveals to James and John that what they seek is not his to give. In verse 40, Jesus makes it clear that it is not his will that determines the scenario that will be established at the coming of the eschaton ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... . In John 5:17 Jesus relayed the divine work ethic: “My Father is still working and I also am working.” Working with God, following Jesus, being dusted by the dirt of his sandals in the shadow of the cross that is the job-offer given to all prospective disciples. So what would it mean for us to put God to work in our lives? What would it mean to end the divine unemployment crisis? I’m going to give you this morning some simplicity on the other side of complexity. It may sound a mite corny, a bit ...
283. Mark 10: 35-45
Mark 10:35-45
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... on his immediate left and right. James and John have completely bought into the messianic expectations popular in first century Judaism, where a new hierarchy would be imposed, and new ranks and new status declared to the world by a triumphant Messiah. Jesus redirects the disciple’s attention from the goal they hope to attain to the path that first must be traveled to reach that goal. The “cup” Jesus refers to has Old Testament roots as the cup of suffering (see Jeremiah 25:15-29; Psalm 75:8; Isaiah ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... last came the scene where Mary Magdalene comes upon the empty tomb and sees Jesus’ body not there. An unknown man, in reality the risen Christ, asks Mary why she is looking for the living among the dead. Mary runs as fast as she can back to the disciples and tells Peter and the rest with breathless excitement, “He’s alive! I saw Him, I tell you! He’s alive.” The doubt in their eyes causes Mary to pull back. “You don’t believe me . . . You don’t believe me!” From somewhere in the crowd of ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... Fool.” Jesus never flinched from playing “the fool” in order to fulfill God’s will. He directed and rode in a pilgrimage parade to the tune of “Hosanna” into Jerusalem. Then he left it all to plod a dusty path back to Bethany. His disciples were not scholars or star students. They were fishermen and tax collectors, nobodies and ne’er-do-wells. His “foolish” path took him into Jerusalem to the chants of “Blessed be” and had him driven out of Jerusalem with a cross beam strapped to his ...
286. John 20:19 31
John 20:19-23
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... to those gathered, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Whether or not John was aware of the Pentecost event Luke records in Acts 2, it is clear that this gospel writer intends his readers to understand that it is by receiving the Holy Spirit that Jesus’ disciples are empowered for their mission as the body of Christ in the world. It is only because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that this new Christbody community can participate in Christ’s authority to forgive sins or to point out the presence of ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... speaks with the imminence of the cross in plain sight — “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (v.13). The sacrifice Jesus is about to make, laying down his own life for their sake, is to be the template for the love all Jesus’ disciples are to show. Lest we think that this command to offer sacrificial love for “one’s friends” is a watered down version of directives given elsewhere (Matthew 5:43-47) to show love for one’s enemy, it would be good to recall that in this context Jesus ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... him beheaded (Acts 12:1-3). Philip was martyred by stoning at Heliopolis (Asia Minor) 8 years after the death of James. Stephen, of course, was stoned to death as the apostle Paul, then known as Saul, looked on. There is no reliable record of how the disciple Nathanael died; one report said he was tied in a sack and thrown in the sea; another says he was crucified. There is no doubt he was martyred. Early traditions say Matthew was burned at the stake. Nothing is known about the fate of James the Less or ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... estate is being disposed of. The job of a trustee is to oversee an institution or estate and to make decision that fulfill the intent of the One who set up the trust. Sound legalese and boring? It’s not. Because YOU are a trustee. As a disciple of Jesus Christ you are a trustee for the kingdom of God. That is the “institution” or “estate” with which you have been entrusted. You own nothing. I own nothing. Most of us, what we think we “own,” we really “owe” anyways. Our primary fiduciary ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... called to ventriloquize. The voice of Jesus is a layered voice. It is our original voice layered into the Jesus voice that’s the voice we speak as purely as possibly to the world. It’s not always a comforting voice. Jesus appeared and spoke to his disciples in the upper room not so they could be comforted, but so that they could continue that “Jesus-voice” outside of that safe haven. We are now Jesus’ voice, we are now Jesus-speak in this world. And the best voices, the best prophets are not boom ...
291. Jesus Talks with a Samaritan Woman
John 4:1-26, John 4:27-38, John 4:39-42
Understanding Series
J. Ramsey Michaels
... v. 14) is about to begin. For sower and reaper alike, it is a moment of joy (v. 36). (2) One sows and another reaps. Jesus transforms a traditional saying on the inequity and futility of human life (cf. Eccles. 2:18–21) into a word of promise to the disciples: They are to benefit from the labor of others for they are sent to reap a harvest they have not planted (v. 38). But in Jesus’ application of these proverbs who is the sower and who is the reaper? And who are the others mentioned in verse 38? Verse ...
292. The Arrest of Jesus
John 18:1-11, John 18:12-14
Understanding Series
J. Ramsey Michaels
... cutting off of the high priest’s servant’s ear is told in all the Gospels, but only in John are the participants named. Mark 14:47 attributes the act to “one of those standing near.” Matt. 26:52 is the same, but with an added warning to the disciples that “all who draw the sword will die by the sword” and that what is to happen must happen in order to fulfill Scripture (26:52–54; here v. 11 serves a similar function). In Luke 22:50–51, Jesus says, “No more of this!” and immediately heals ...
293. Jesus Takes the Initiative
Luke 21:5-38, Luke 21:1-4, Luke 20:41-47
Teach the Text
R.T. France
... (Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32), and Matthew then goes on to speak at length about the parousia (using that Greek word) of the Son of Man. There is no such clear change of subject here in Luke, and these verses can be read as still warning the disciples to be ready for the destruction of Jerusalem; the continuing direct second-person address suggests this. But the idea here of a sudden event that catches people unprepared also recalls 12:39–40; 17:26–35, and it may be that the thought in Luke, as in Mark ...
294. The Catch
John 21:1-14, John 21:15-25, Acts 10:1-8, Acts 10:9-23a, Acts 10:23b-48
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... are a fisher of people!” –ALL people! Said Jesus. “Feed my sheep!” --ALL my sheep! Said Jesus. You know what you need to do Peter! Think! Remember! Says Jesus. Cause we know that Peter often just doesn’t get it! He is the most strong willed of all the disciples! And down deep he doesn’t want to get it! He likes things the way they are. He’s comfortable with the way he’s been brought up! Peter is devoutly Jewish. He has been taught not to cavort with gentiles, not to associate or in any way ...
295. Demon-Possessed Child
Matthew 15:1-20, Matthew 15:21-28
Sermon Aid
Dallas A. Brauninger
... m]y daughter is tormented by a demon" (Matthew 15:22). Jesus' Response In Matthew, Jesus' first words of response were, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). While Jesus may have addressed these words either to the disciples or to the woman, the woman answered him. In Mark, the conversation of persuasion between Jesus and the woman contains only two segments. Jesus says to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it ...
296. Proper 18
Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Luke 14:25-35
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
... or church? 2. Count (v. 28). Before entering a new field, it is always wise to see what will be expected of you, whether you are going to build a house or conduct a war. Jesus here urges us to consider the price to be paid for being a disciple so that there will be no regrets later. When you took a new job, did you know how many nights you would have to work? When you got married, did you realize what you were getting into financial burden, the responsibility of children, etc.? When you were ordained, did ...
Sermon
Larry Powell
... Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be Opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened (Luke 11:9-11)." Sweeping words spoken privately to the disciples without any reservations whatsoever. "The Holy Spirit will teach you (in times of trouble) what you are to say (Luke 12:12);" "Fear not, little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32);" "Do you think that I have come ...
298. Proper 13
Mt 14:13-21 · Rom 8:31-39 · Ex 12:1-14 · Ps 143
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
... the tragedy. So he got in a boat to go to a lonely place. Somehow the people learned of his retreat and by foot they found him. When Jesus saw the large crowd, he felt sorry for them and began to heal their sick ones. When evening came, the disciples suggested to Jesus that he dismiss the crowd to enable them to go to villages to buy food. But Jesus said, "There is no need for them to leave. You give them something to eat." They protested, "But we have only five loaves and two fish." Jesus asked them ...
Sermon
Johnny Dean
... at all? Can you get a mental image of who they were and what they might have looked like? We know from the text that they were fishermen, but we also know that, a little bit later, Jesus will call others from all walks of life to be his disciples. Personally, I’m thankful that my calling to follow Jesus didn’t require previous expertise at catching fish. I’m afraid I would have been passed over. Don’t get me wrong, I really like fishing. Just being out in the fresh air and sunshine make the activity ...
300. Proper 18
Lk 14:25-33 · Eze 33:1-11 · Phm 1-20 · Prov 9:8-12
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
... is to give up, to place it at least in secondary place of importance. Everything and everyone is inferior to Christ. He gets top priority in our affection, devotion, work, and time. Whoever said it was easy to be a Christian? If this is the criterion for being a disciple, how many real Christians are in the world today? Lesson 1: Ezekiel 33:1-11 1. Watchman (v. 7). God refers to Ezekiel as one of his watchmen. A watchman is to warn a town that an enemy is coming to destroy the people. A preacher is to warn ...
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