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 276 to 300 of 715 results

276. Old Favorite

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... but they were extremely wise in the ways of trade and commerce. They were competitive and totally cosmopolitan. They were like us in the fact that they were “knowledge workers.” They were not laborers or small-town innkeepers and tax collectors. Paul’s letter to Corinth is an important one for us to consider. Direct production workers — bricklayers, farmers, and machinists — are a steadily declining segment of the workforce in our developed economy. They certainly are a declining segment in most ...

277. I Can Make It By Myself . . .

1 Corinthians 12:12-31, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... where his feet went, to the lost and poor and hurting of the world. To teach as Christ's mouth taught, about love for God and love for our fellow human. To see as Jesus' eyes saw, finding beauty and redemption and grace in a prostitute, a leper, a tax collector. To touch as Jesus touched, with gentleness and love and healing power. God didn't call on a smattering of Lone Rangers to save the world. Don't look for Superman to come to save the day. Instead, God called together a whole bunch of Clark Kents and ...

278. Maundy Thursday: Two Memorials

Luke 22:7-38

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... his own life. They all had plenty of power and wealth. They made a living, but not a life. 2,000 years ago, an itinerant Jewish Rabbi gathered 12 fighting, arguing disciples into an upper room for a Passover meal. This group contained tax collectors, fishermen, and other common people. This group had some initial thoughts of greatness but they adopted their Master''s program of servanthood. People are still meeting today, because of that meeting. They had plenty of purpose. They died, but not in despair ...

279. Come As You Are

John 21:1-14

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... into communion? Perfect people who never make mistakes? Self-righteous and sanctimonious "saints" who are above all moral reproach? Let's look at the Biblical evidence: Jesus invited Matthew while Matthew was still collecting taxes (Matthew 9:9, RSV). In those days, tax collectors were notoriously greedy and dishonest. Jesus offered the living water of eternal life to the Samaritan woman at the well: a woman Jesus knew to have had a checkered past and who was currently "living in sin" (John 4:7-30, RSV ...

280. Lent 4

Luke 15:11-32, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Isaiah 12:1-6, Joshua 5:1-12, Luke 15:1-7

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... good morals." In Jesus' day the religious leaders refused to do it and criticized Jesus for doing so. Maybe there is a right and a wrong way to associate with "sinners." a. Sinners are bad company.Jesus mingled with the dreges of society: tax-collectors who made themselves rich by demanding exorbitant taxes, women who sold their bodies to satisfy the sexual lust of their customers. These were people who told dirty stories and used profane language. In our day they are the Charles Mansons, the Gary Gilmores ...

281. It's Your Funeral

Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

... drank up the money. She would pay their bill and she made me swear never to tell. But, I figure now that she is dead, people ought to know -- especially those who benefited from her charity who have been most critical of her." "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you." If you look hard enough, you can find good in just about anyone. I say "just about" because I'll leave open the possibility that someone's life may be completely devoid of good ...

282. A Hands-on Religion

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... as human beings, never as stereotypes. Stereotypes were as powerful then as they are now. Once a label is placed on a person the human being vanishes. Many labels were given to people in the New Testament -- such labels as tax collector, Samaritan, Roman soldier, prostitute, rich young man, Pharisee, sinner or publican. They all appear in the gospel narrative, and every time Jesus completely ignores the label and deals with the person. This is certainly true of his encounters with Matthew, Zacchaeus ...

283. The Disciples' Tenebrae

Mark 12:13-17

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

... of Nazareth. But Jesus saw him to be without guile and added him to his number. First Person: Matthew (7) was sitting in his tax booth on the main highway when Jesus passed by. Perhaps having met him at one of the many meals Jesus had with tax-collectors and sinners, Jesus looked in and called him to come with him. Matthew did just that and became a disciple. Second Person: A Zealot, one who worked for the revolutionary overthrow of the Roman government, was the next to hear Jesus' call. His name was also ...

284. The Rich Young Ruler

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Brett Blair

... want to put words in the mouth of Jesus but if he were to define winning I think he would define it as a despised Samaritan who stops and helps a beaten victim on the Jericho Road, a widow who drops her small coin in a collection box, a despised tax collector' who cries out: God, be merciful to me a sinner. In short, a winner in God's eyes is one who feeds the hungry, tends the sick, and visits the imprisoned. And who are the losers? A religious leader who cries out: I thank you Lord that I am not ...

285. The Outsider

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... it," he said. "You've got to do the best you can under bad circumstances." Matthew was a Jew. He sold out to Rome. He said, "I'll collect taxes from my fellow Jews for the Romans and I'll line my pockets." When you worked as a tax collector for the Romans, you could keep whatever you got over what you had to pay the Romans. He lined his pockets, and he became very wealthy, and the people, the Jews, said, "Matthew, you are an outsider." And Matthew said, "Yes." Until Jesus came and said, "Follow me." Until ...

286. It Dawned on Me

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... Thursday. "If a good man like Jesus has to go through all this, what kind of a just God is there? Maybe the unbelievers are right." My name is Matthew. I have come back to tell you about the week you have come to call holy. I was a tax collector before I became an apostle. Everything was going so well until that Thursday of the longest weekend in the world. When it dawned that Thursday in holy week, we had no idea what we were in for. Thursday Jesus celebrated Passover with us, instituting a new covenant by ...

287. Believing is Seeing

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Alton F. Wedel

... . The land should bloom again, poverty should be exchanged for prosperity, and swords should be beaten into plowshares. So there were fishermen who dropped their nets and followed him. There were zealots who became excited at the prospect of the kingdom, a tax collector closed his booth and invested his stock in this new opportunity. People brought their sick to him, the pained, the paralytic, and the infirm, for as he preached the gospel of the kingdom, he healed them of their diseases, and cast out ...

288. Lent 4

Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 · 1 Cor 1:18-31 · 2 Cor 5:17-21 · Isa 12:1-6 · Jos 5:9-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... good morals." In Jesus' day the religious leaders refused to do it and criticized Jesus for doing so. Maybe there is a right and a wrong way to associate with "sinners." A. Sinners are Bad company. Jesus mingled with the dregs of society: tax-collectors who made themselves rich by demanding exorbitant taxes, women who sold their bodies to satisfy the sexual lust of their customers. These were people who told dirty stories and used profane language. In our day they are the Charles Mansons, the Gary Gilmores ...

289. The Called Ones

Matthew 4:18-22

Sermon

Joe Pennel

... John did. It is okay for them to be radical in their response. But, it is not okay for us. On the other hand, one cannot read the New Testament without seeing that some followed in a radical way. Jesus said, "Follow me," to a tax collector named Matthew; and Matthew got up and followed him. Philip, who was from Andrew and Peter's hometown, followed his calling by helping Jesus to feed the five thousand. John reports that Jesus said, "Follow me," and Nathaniel, also known as Bartholomew, followed. According ...

290. A SUNDAY OF THE PASSION [PALM SUNDAY] SERMON-DRAMA

Drama

Tom Eberle

... question about whether Jesus’ avoidance of healings at times is really the mark of a Messiah. However, I believe a much more serious problem with your claim is the kind of associates he attracts. I am referring specifically to one of your number, Matthew, the tax collector, who has obviously had underworld connections in the past, and may even continue to do so. Judas: I will admit that we lost some support when Matthew joined our staff. I have kept a close watch an him since he has been with us and ...

291. The Passover and the Passion

Drama

Denny C. Wise

... was a member of the Jewish resistance forces. They called us zealots. Our motto was "Death to all Roman dogs and peace by the sword." (Draw sword.) This is my friend Matthew. It’s strange that I should call him friend when he was once a no-good tax collector who used to rob our people blind and get rich at their expense collecting taxes for that tyrant Caesar. But then we both met Jesus, and he transformed our lives. He taught me to overcome evil with good, and he taught Matthew here that you cannot serve ...

292. The Testing Law Man

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

... - and when put with other actions and words, spelled his just doom! Item number two: The Nazarene surrounds himself with most questionable associates. They often dress differently, and look differently. It is nothing for him to be with the Roman tax collectors, with the common people of the trades ... even while teaching about God. His intimates include fishermen, revolutionaries, tax merchants, and a group of poverty-stricken men from the area around Galilee. How could such a common group have anything to ...

293. Real Gratitude

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

James W. Moore

... in Luke 19. Remember the story with me. Jesus and His disciples are heading toward the show-down in Jerusalem. As they pass through Jericho, a great crowd gathered to see Jesus. Zaccheus was in the crowd. The scriptures tell us that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and rich… and that he was disliked and despised by his fellow townspeople. They resented paying taxes to Rome and they felt that Zacchaeus, a fellow Jew, had betrayed them, has sold out to Rome, and had gotten rich at their expense. So, they ...

294. John the Baptist

Matthew 3:1-12, Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... and generosity toward all. And, praise God, people have repented... and shown it. "They have asked what to do with this new-found righteousness and I have given them practical advice. I say, if you have two coats, give one to someone who has none. To the tax collectors, I have said do not take more than is just. To soldiers, do not do violence to anyone...do not accuse falsely... be content with your wages. Then as an outward sign of their repentance, they have asked me to baptize them in the Jordan, a ...

295. Money Matters

Amos 5:18-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... improved much by the time he began his ministry. The government was different, of course. And there was the benign influence of Roman justice, but still one could see how easily the corrupt person could rise in the world. For example, the tax collectors. Jews who had sold themselves to the Ro- mans, betraying their countrymen by collecting taxes on behalf of Rome, and adding a disproportionate percentage for themselves. Wealth has always had a way of corrupting people, and business, and government, and even ...

296. MONEY MATTERS

Amos 5:18-27

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

... much by the time he began his ministry. The government was different, of course. And there was the benign influence of Roman justice, but still, one could see how easily the corrupt person could rise in the world. For example, the tax collectors. Usually they were Jews who had sold themselves to the Romans, betraying their countrymen by collecting taxes on behalf of Rome, and adding a disproportionate percentage for themselves. Wealth has always had a way of corrupting people, and business, and government ...

297. Slippery Rock

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... toward infinity. Just as there is no limit to God’s forgiveness, there should be no limit to our own. III. ANOTHER ASPECT OF PETER I’VE NOTICED: HE WASN’T THE SORT OF MAN WHO LOOKED BEFORE HE LEAPED. One day when in Capernaum, the tax-collectors came to Peter and asked him if his Master paid the half-shekel Temple tax. When asked if his Master would contribute, Peter unhesitatingly volunteered, without even looking into the treasury. If he had, he would have found it empty. And Jesus had to perform a ...

298. The Dangers of Being Religious

Mark 7:1-23

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... start to believe we're special and God's opinions are the same as ours. 8. Do you have a "That's him!" attitude or a "That's me!" attitude? Luke 18:10 and following is a parable about two men who went to pray in the temple. A sinful tax collector stood in a corner and, confessing his sins, asked for mercy. He had one eye on God and one eye on himself. The Pharisee, however, stood up front and center, looked to heaven, and bragged to himself, "I thank you, God, that I'm not like other men. I tithe ...

299. Maundy Thursday: Seeing Ourselves in the Disciples

Matthew 26:17-30

Sermon

Brett Blair

... we can see ourselves. For me they represent all that is good and bad about our humanity. Maybe we can see ourselves in Matthew. Here was a man who had a brilliant, analytical mind, but who initially used it for self rather than God. He became a tax collector, a man who was in bed with the Romans. It was his responsibility to extract the tax money from his brothers--money that went to support the very institution that was enslaving the Jews. Matthew’s mind was like an adding machine. His god was the dollar ...

300. A Sovereign God With A Shepherd's Heart

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... stable could be born in his own heart. Perhaps it was not Joshua who had humiliated him, but he who had humbled himself in that instance. The Christians listened to Joshua, told him Jesus' life story -- how he made himself at homes in houses of tax collectors, Pharisees, and harlots, and tried to make others feel at home. The believer's made it plain -- Jesus had come as one unknown, wanting no favors. Had Joshua known him and shown him favoritism, he would have considered it un-Godlike, the Christian said ...

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