Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 276 to 300 of 5000 results

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... and can’t take care of the children or the house, and we have a hard time. But I do remember the two things [you said]: the boat will not sink, and the storm will not last forever!” So Pastor Steadman prayed with Mark again. Sometime later Steadman received a note from Mark. Mark and his wife had gone back to their home country. There they found the answer to his wife’s difficulties. A doctor discovered a minor deficiency in his wife’s diet which needed to be remedied. When that was done, the asthma ...

277. Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison

Acts 12:1-19a

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... his missionary work. In short, this chapter is transitional, standing in a similar relation to the two halves of this book as chapter 1 does to the Gospel and the first half of Acts. There is much in this chapter that brings to mind the vivid style of Mark’s Gospel and adds strength to the supposition that the same authority (Peter) stands behind both. On the general similarity of this story to the stories of imprisonment and escape in the earlier part of the book, see the discussion on 3:1–11. 12:1 The ...

278. Jesus Inaugurates the Disciple Band and Conquers the Unclean Spirits

Mark 1:14-20, Mark 1:21-28

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... this unholy, “impure spirit.” God’s holy ones are those sent by the Holy God, like Aaron (Ps. 106:16) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:9); Jesus is the special Holy One as the Son of God (Luke 4:34; John 6:69). Thus begins the binding of Satan (Mark 3:27). 1:25 Be quiet! . . . Come out of him! Exorcisms in the ancient world were long, drawn-out affairs, as the exorcist would chant formula after formula to expel the demon. Here it is the opposite; the impure spirit prattles on, but Jesus just utters only a few ...

279. Jesus’s Ministry and Popularity Continue to Grow

Mark 1:40-45, Mark 1:35-39, Mark 1:29-34

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... people who do not pray consistently is that they are too busy. Martin Luther is credited with saying, “I have so much to do that if I didn’t spend at least three hours a day in prayer, I would never get it all done.” It appears from Mark that Jesus embodies similar priorities. After what must have been an exhausting day of ministry, Jesus arises early the next morning to pray. If prayer was a priority for Jesus, it should be for us as well. Through prayer we center on God’s will and purpose for our ...

280. Spiritual Blindness and the Way to Overcome It

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

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... their “teaching.” Here it is a more general reference to their ministries and influence as a whole. But why is “Herod” here (only in Mark)? This is again Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great and tetrarch of Galilee (see on 6:14). The pairing of the Herodians with ... healing in Jesus’s body was utilized. 8:24 they look like trees walking around. This two-stage healing is unusual, but Mark will have it again in the healing of the demon-possessed child in 9:26–27. After the first stage the man has ...

281. Thank You, Siri...Oops!

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... , “Treatment.” He found himself in a fourth room. It was empty except for a desk and two chairs. Toward the back of the room there were two doors--one was marked “Major” and the other marked “Minor.” He thought to himself, “This isn’t a major illness, it’s just my thumb that is hurt.” He walked through the door marked “Minor.” He found himself outside the clinic on the street. He walked on back to his work area. The foreman saw him and said, “Were they able to help you?” The ...

282. A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

Luke 18:35-43

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... all doubt.) In v. 36 Luke tells us that the blind man heard the crowd going by and so asked what was happening. (Mark 10:47 says only that Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was present.) It is then that the crowd informs him that Jesus of Nazareth ... saved you.” It is a common expression (see 5:20; 7:50; 8:48; 17:19). 18:43 and followed Jesus: Luke has left out Mark’s “along the road” (10:52). The expression would have lent itself well to Luke’s travel theme that has run throughout the Central Section ( ...

283. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Matthew 14:13-21

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... s reluctance to carry out the execution is pictured by Matthew as well (v. 9). There is no question that both Herod and Herodias wanted to be rid of the prophet, although Herod is the one who is a bit reluctant. Green’s opinion that Mark’s version (adapted by Matthew) “rests on popular tradition, not to say bazaar gossip” and is therefore “no more reliable in its details than such sources generally are” (p. 139) is unnecessarily harsh. 14:13–17 When Jesus heard everything that had taken place ...

284. A Man with Leprosy

Mark 1:40-45

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... doing this, Jesus could be seen as actually violating the laws about ritual purity for the sake of healing the man. No doubt Mark wanted his readers to see the similarity of this action to Jesus’ welcome of other “outcasts,” such as tax collectors. The uncertainty expressed ... publicizing of his powers, on the one hand, and a proper “witness,” on the other. As a testimony to them resembles Mark’s use of the term “testimony” in 6:11 and 13:9 (see notes on this verse). In this passage, then, the ...

285. The Burial of Jesus

Mark 15:42-47

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... council (see notes). Matthew 27:57 says he was rich and a disciple of Jesus, though John 19:38 describes him as a secret disciple on account of his fear of the Jewish authorities. Luke 23:50–51 calls him “a good and upright man,” and supports Mark’s description of him as waiting for the kingdom of God, which is simply to say that he (with many pious Jews of the time) held to the hope for the salvation of Israel and the appearance of the messianic age. Whatever his exact attitude toward Jesus, it ...

286. The Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... this time the people are to dwell in booths (tents or tabernacles) (Lev. 23:42), the purpose of which is to remind the people of the exodus long ago (Lev. 23:43). (6) Finally, Luke has slightly modified the wording of the heavenly voice in v. 35. Instead of Mark’s “My beloved Son” (9:7), Luke has “My chosen Son.” This modification is likely meant to recall the chosen servant of Isa. 42:1 (see notes and commentary on 3:22 and 4:18 above). What are we to make of all of this? I would suggest that ...

287. A Divided Family

Mark 3:20-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... , although the writer of the Gospel of John confesses, “For even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:5). Saying they didn’t believe in him sounds a whole lot better than saying, “They thought he was out of his mind.” Why would Mark include this story? It was bad enough, as Jesus became more popular with the common folk, that the religious establishment was growing in its opposition to him. In fact, in this story some teachers of the law have come down from Jerusalem to accuse him of ...

288. Chaos and Solitude

Mark 6:30-44, 53-56

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... and night, were constantly amazed by his commanding actions over people, situations, and nature. During a storm on the Sea of Galilee "... they were filled with great awe and said to one another, 'Who then is this that even the wind and waves obey him?' " (Mark 4:31). No one was like him, before or since. There was a powerful aura around him. People sensed it and saw it. When Jesus spoke, people heard truth spoken with authority. People were attracted to Jesus' message of love, hope, and compassion. He not ...

289. Of Mice and Men

Hebrews 10:11-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... telling the truth, but was afraid. Finally one day he impulsively blurted it out. “Dad, there’s something I need to tell you.” “Yes?” his dad asked. “You know that pickup door?” said Mark. “I was the one who did it.” Mark says his dad looked at him. Mark looked back at him. For the first time in weeks Mark was able to look his father in the eyes as the topic was broached. To his utter disbelief, his dad calmly replied, “I know.” Silent seconds, which seemed like hours, passed. Then his ...

290. Can Christians Dance?

Sermon

William G. Carter

... . I didn't know what to do. Should I stick to my guns, and unplug the music? Or should I join in a dance which broke all the rules? It was not a new dilemma. In fact, this issue lies at the heart of these two stories from Mark. Some people in the time of Jesus struggled with the same problem. They probably did not dress in black. They did not carry spotlights. They certainly did not consider themselves Presbyterians. But they were gravely concerned about keeping the rules. One day, they saw Jesus and his ...

291. The Kingdom of God Is At Hand

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Richard A. Jensen

... man. Jesus had a word for all victims of demonic oppression. "Be silent, and come out of him!" Jesus said to the unclean spirit. And the unclean spirit came out. A victim was set free. That is a sign that the kingdom of God is at hand. (See Mark 1:21-29.) Mark’s story of Jesus continues. Jesus left the synagogue. He entered the house of Simon and Andrew. As they came into the house, it was discovered that Simon Peter’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever. Here is another victim. This time it is a woman ...

292. Son of Thunder, Son of God

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... the message. There seems to be a connection between concern for one’s own status and willingness to put down others. We seem to have the feeling that life is a teeter-totter, and that in order for us to rise, somebody else must fall. The assumption in both Mark and Luke is that we are the “chosen people.” John felt that they had a copyright on Jesus, and nobody else had any right to use His name. His kind are not all dead yet! As the Interpreter’s Bible comments, “This was not the last time that a ...

293. The Laying on of Hands

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... crowd in himself! After being told to get out of town, he went back to the other side, but there was to be no rest for Him. Jairus, had been chosen as president by the board of elders in the synagogue. His office would be of special interest to Mark’s readers because in all likelihood Christians had usually found such leaders obstinate in their refusal to accept Jesus as the Messiah, and he may be saying to his readers: “Look! Here is an important man; a ruler of the Jews, and he came to Jesus for help ...

294. Joy to the World

Mark 16:1-8

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... to love the world. That is the Easter message. That nothing can stop God now from redeeming the world. Look at the way Mark proclaims his gospel, this "good news." That is what gospel means. It simply means "good news." His gospel begins with the words: The ... that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. That is what was so astonishing. This man was the Son of God. Mark tells the story of the Son of God coming into this world in a remote corner of the world, in Galilee, in a town named ...

295. Are You Ready for the Journey?

Mark 8:27-9:1

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... in the life and ministry of Jesus and the journey of the disciples. And in some ways, it reads like an act of utter foolishness. (Read Mark 8:27-9:1) Listen...do, da, do...do you want to know a secret; Do you promise not to tell? Whoa...oh...oh...closer. ... steps to the foul line, like throwing salt over your shoulder or clutching a rabbit's foot. But more deeply, what would it mean to mark our lives with the sign of the cross? To allow our thoughts to be formed after the mind of Christ To plant the cross in ...

296. Advent 2

Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... the beginning of a new era, a new people and a new covenant. There will never be another "beginning," for this beginning has no ending. The Christ is eternal. His covenant is everlasting. What he has started will never come to an end. 2. Gospel (v. 1). Mark announces his book as a "gospel." It is not a history, not a biography, but good news for people who look for deliverance from sin. What is the gospel? It is Jesus Christ, Son of God. He is the best thing that ever happened or can happen to the human ...

297. An Announcement from the Wilderness

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... the gist of the Gospel, Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist with the Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove. And a voice coming from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Our introduction to the coming of Christ in Mark’s Gospel isn’t angels singing in the heavens or a bright star moving toward Bethlehem. Instead, it is John the Baptist out in the wilderness. John has an announcement to make. Pastor Dr. Tom Long tells about a church one Sunday morning in Charlotte, N. C ...

298. Prophecy of Scripture

2 Peter 1:12-21

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... of; hypo, by (agent). The words of the voice, as recorded here by Peter, are almost the same as those in Matt. 17:5. Peter omits Matthew’s “Listen to him!” but in v. 19 he inserts a similar notion with his “pay attention” to the word of prophecy. Mark and Luke do not read with him I am well pleased. It is likely that, had 2 Peter been the work not of the apostle but of a later pseudonymous writer, the divine words would have been reported in a version copied from one of the Gospel accounts. As it ...

299. The Beast from the Earth (The False Prophet)

Revelation 13:11-18

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... to coerce people into false worship. Outline v. The beast from the earth (13:11–18) (1) The nature of the second beast (the false prophet) (13:11) (2) Its relationship to the first beast (13:12) (3) Its ministry of religious deception (13:13–15) (4) The mark of the beast and number of its name (13:16–18) Interpretive Insights 13:11–12 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It . . . made the earth and its inhabitants worship ...

300. Jesus and Beelzebub

Mark 3:20-30

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... God’s will (3:35). It is worth noting that in 3:20 the disciples are shown working alongside Jesus and experiencing the costs of ministry with him (not even able to eat), and this is further evidence that Jesus is pointing to them as his new family in Mark 3:35. We should also remember that in 3:13–19 we have been presented with the Twelve as those who share in Jesus’ authority and ministry. The incidents in 3:20–35 are connected with the preceding passage in that those named in 3:13–19, with whom ...

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