Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3201 to 3225 of 4935 results

3201. Did God Really Say...?

Romans 10:8-13

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

Today is "Temptation Sunday." Every year on the first Sunday in Lent we focus our attention on the story of the temptation of Jesus. It is a story that has captured the imagination of Christians for centuries. They have sought to portray in art what it must have been like for Jesus to have been tempted by the devil. The picture on your sermon outline this morning portraying this ugly, grotesque, devilish creature is typical of the way the evil one has been portrayed. If the devil looked like this, you ...

3202. Supernatural: Running On Empty

John 2:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

Most of you know I am a huge sports fan and one of my favorite sports is Major League Baseball. There are so many fascinating stories that come out of baseball and I just came across one that I thought was particularly interesting. Probably the greatest knuckle-ball pitcher who ever played the game was Hoyt Wilhelm. He was the first knuckleball pitcher ever elected to the Hall of Fame. What fascinates me about him is how he made his Major League debut as a hitter. On April 23, 1952 in his second game with ...

3203. Jesus Casts Out Impure Spirits

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Today we’re going to talk about casting out demons or, as Mark calls them in today’s lesson, impure spirits. It’s not a subject that we talk about very much in church anymore, even though it figures prominently in the New Testament. Maybe at the end of today’s service I will perform an exorcism and cast out a demon . . . or not. Perhaps you have someone in mind that you think could profit from such an exorcism. But enough about members of Congress . . . Some of you will remember a movie that caused quite a ...

3204. When You Reach the Rejection Hotline

Acts 4:1-22

Sermon

King Duncan

Is there anything harder on the ego than being rejected? I suspect that is one reason many married persons are happy they are no longer playing the dating game. It hurts too much when someone rejects you. “What’s wrong with me?” is the question we inevitably ask. Charles R. Boatman tells about a strange, new twist on this ancient ritual. He notes that traditionally, the male of our species makes the first approach in the dating game. Men have developed all sorts of pick-up lines to interest the women they ...

3205. Tarzan He Was Not

John 15:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

The Week magazine often contains quirky news items collected from periodicals around the world. Back in 2005 they carried a story about a Romanian man who was recovering in the hospital after trying to escape from his wife by swinging from tree to tree on a vine like Tarzan. Stefan Trisca a 66-year old man, of all things - -had wanted to join his friends for a night of drinking, but his wife locked him in his bedroom. This did not stop Stefan. He was on a mission. He climbed through the bedroom window and ...

3206. The Son Superior to Angels

Hebrews 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

God’s Definitive Revelation The magnificent opening verses of this passage provide an immediate expression of the author’s theological perspective: he moves from past revelation to definitive revelation, from God’s word to the OT “fathers” to his final word through his Son, Jesus Christ. He gives first his doctrine of Christ in order to set the tone for the entire book. The introductory christological prologue in these verses is thus similar to the prologue of the Fourth Gospel (John 1:1–18) in its ...

3207. The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

Zechariah 8:1-23

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

Five Oracles of Salvation for Jerusalem (8:1-8): 8:1–2 God had not abandoned desolate Judah (7:12–14). Verse 2 here echoes 1:14, “I am very jealous for Zion.” The Lord’s passionate attachment to Zion overcomes the wrath that the people’s sin provoked (7:12). The nations that had been brought against Jerusalem for judgment had gone too far. “I was only a little angry, but they [the nations] added to the calamity” (1:15). God’s wrath will turn against the conquerors in order to rescue Zion. “I am burning ...

3208. Timothy and Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:19-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

Timothy’s Forthcoming Visit In 2:19–30 we have a section that has been called the “apostolic parousia” or “travelogue.” Paul announces his intention of paying his readers a visit before long (v. 24) but plans to send Timothy in advance of himself. 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus, in which “in the Lord Jesus” may have the same “incorporative” force as similar phrases with “in” have elsewhere in Paul (cf. 1:14, 26). Paul and Timothy, as fellow Christians, participate in the risen life of Christ. Their hopes ...

3209. The Coming Judgment Calls for the Saints to Leave Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Because God will condemn Babylon for its demonic character, prideful self-indulgence, and adulterous influence, God’s people are called to separate from Babylon, lest they too suffer judgment. Understanding the Text The destruction of Babylon the Great continues (17:1–19:5). The angel’s promise to reveal the punishment of the prostitute in 17:1 is expanded in chapter 18 (cf. earlier allusions in 14:8; 16:19; 17:16), especially as it relates to her economic downfall. Babylon’s coming judgment ...

3210. Disrespect Can Be Deadly

1 Sam 2:12-36

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord opposes those who treat him with contempt and withholds his promised blessings from those who despise him. Understanding the Text Samuel’s arrival at Shiloh (1:28; 2:11) provides a contrastive backdrop for the author’s negative portrait of Eli and his sons. The narrator alternates between negative accounts of Eli’s house (2:12–17, 22–25, 27–36) and brief positive observations about Samuel’s growing relationship with the Lord (2:18–21, 26). This culminates in the account of how Samuel ...

3211. “Lord, Our Lord, How Majestic Is Your Name in All the Earth!”

Psalm 9:1-20

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: God wrote his character into the world of nature, but as awesome as that is, it is no match for the mindful care of his human creation. Understanding the Text Psalm 8 immediately follows the pledge of Psalm 7:17 to sing praise to “the name of the Lord Most High” (7:17). Now the psalmist does that in majestic words that honor the majesty of the Name. As in the creation narrative of Genesis 1, the psalmist employs an economy of words that stylistically reveals the Creator’s orderly manner and ...

3212. “Cast Your Cares on the Lord and He Will Sustain You”

Psalm 55:1-23

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: When our trusted friends have betrayed us and the moral substructure has eroded, we can cast our cares on the Lord. Understanding the Text Psalm 55 is generally considered an individual lament. The suppliant has suffered slander and threats from his enemies and, worst of all, betrayal by his trusted friend. We have observed previously that often the Psalms do not propose ultimate solutions to human problems but prescribe ways of coping with them, and this psalm is an excellent example of that ...

3213. The Greatest Commandment

Mark 12:28-34

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

12:28–34 As the final words of verse 34 indicate, this is the last of a series of questions directed to Jesus by representatives of various major groups in ancient Judaism. This question comes from a member of the “scribes,” a class of people trained to interpret the OT law for the life of the people. The question asked is discussed in ancient Jewish sources. Since it was commonly understood that the OT law included 613 commandments, it is understandable that there was a desire to try to organize this body ...

3214. The Woman on the Beast

Revelation 17:1-18

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

17:1–2 Within the framework of Revelation, the vision of Babylon’s prostitute and her punishment functions as part of an extended footnote (17:1–19:10) that describes the contents of “the cup filled with the wine of the fury” of God’s wrath (16:19b). Its complexity and even confusion have led some to question John’s sources (cf. Beasley-Murray, Revelation, pp. 249–50). However, this betrays a failure to read the story as a wonderfully crafted “mystery,” in agreement with the clue provided by the angelic ...

3215. David's Psalm of Thanks

1 Chronicles 16:7-43

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

16:8–36 These verses are the longest of only a few poetic sections in Chronicles. (Interestingly enough, another quotation from a psalm, in this case Ps. 132, can be found in the narrative in 2 Chron. 6:40–42, where Solomon’s transfer of the ark to the temple is described. The excerpt from Ps. 132 is used as part of Solomon’s prayer.) First Chronicles 16:8–22 is paralleled in Psalm 105:1–15; 1 Chronicles 16:23–33 in Psalm 96:1–13; and 1 Chronicles 16:34–36 in Psalm 106:1, 47–48. Whereas earlier ...

3216. The God Who Comforts

Isaiah 40:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

A story came across my desk recently about a man who worked for the Post Office. This man’s job was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses. One day, a letter came to his desk addressed in shaky handwriting to God. He thought he should open it to see what it was about. He opened it and read these words: Dear God, I am a 93-year-old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check. Next Sunday ...

3217. Without Conflict There Is No Story

Mark 6:1-13

Sermon

Ron Lavin

George Anderson wanted to write a book. He had the subject of his book in mind. The title would be Handling Troubles. He knew that if he could get a publisher, the book would help other people. He knew he could do it, but he didn't know how, so he joined a writers' group. A famous and successful author was addressing a group of novice writers at the writers' group meeting. The would-be writers, including George, hung on his every word. "There must always be conflict," the speaker said. "Conflict is the ...

3218. The Lazarus Experience

John 11:17-44

Sermon

April Yamasaki

One of Rembrandt's early paintings is The Raising of Lazarus, an oil painting that's just over three feet high and just under three feet wide. To the lower right, there is Lazarus -- half lying down, half sitting up, just starting to rise. Crouched around him, half bent over with grief and growing wonder, are his two sisters, Mary and Martha, and some of the people who had come to comfort them. Standing over and above them all, is Jesus -- not bent over like the others, but standing fully upright, with his ...

3219. In It for the Long Haul

John 6:60-69

Sermon

King Duncan

Youth speaker Wayne Rice tells a delightful story about the Sydney Swans of the Australian football league. Australian football, of course, is what we usually think of as Rugby. It is the most successful sport in terms of TV viewership in Australia. An exception to the success of the league for many years was the Sydney Swans. Until recently, the Swans had the worst record of any team in the league. They also had the worst attendance. Most of their home games were played in front of empty seats. But a ...

3220. Known By Our Love

John 13:31-35

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

Jesus and the apostles were celebrating that last supper together. Because Jesus was aware Judas was going to betray him, the Lord confronted him. It is an especially uncomfortable conversation that Jesus concluded by telling Judas, “Do quickly what you must do” (13:27). After the apostle of betrayal slithered out of the room, Jesus turned his attention to those who remained. After a few preliminary remarks, Jesus delivered one of his more familiar teachings. “I give you a new commandment, that you love ...

3221. The World's Most Extraordinary Club

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

Series: Seeing God More Clearly in 2020 When you were a kid, did you ever create your own exclusive club? Only you and your best friends could be in the club, and everyone else was an outsider. You got to create the rules, the club name, the secret handshake. And you got to decide who you let into the club and who you kept out. It gave you a feeling of real power. Rev. Will Nickles tells a story of when he was around seven years old, and his older brother started a secret club with a friend next door. Will ...

3222. The Law of Unintended Consequences

Matthew 5:13-20

Sermon

King Duncan

Series: Seeing God More Clearly in 2020 How many of us consider ourselves to be law-abiding individuals—let me see your hands? Most of us take it for granted that most of the laws in our society are worthwhile and reasonable, and we’re thankful for them. Laws are absolutely essential to keeping us safe and providing us with an orderly society. But ever so often we encounter a law that has unintended consequences. For example, many states enact laws to protect the general public from those who have ...

3223. Elohim

John 1:29-34, Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Then God (Elohim --plural) said (singular verb), 'Let us make (plural verb) man in our image, after our likeness'" (Genesis 1:26) Prop: A large Quilt, hanging backwards on a stand, so that the threadwork is visible I want to show you a picture this morning. Take a look. What do you see? What is it? [Give people time to answer.] Is it the sky? Clouds? The sea? A painting? Now what if I give you a different view: What is it? Tell me. A pool! It’s a pool! You couldn’t tell by the first picture I showed you. ...

3224. Born of the Spirit

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Prop: Baptismal Font Name a villain. Whatever villain you name, it’s likely that villain will be living in some way in the dark. Dracula –fears the light and lives in the darkness of his coffin and castle The Joker (of Batman lore) --hides his scar-ridden face in the darkness and behind a mask The Phantom of the Opera –hides his deformed face in the darkness beneath the opera house Voldemort (of Harry Potter fame) –lurks in the darkness and hides behind other forms he takes Gollum (of JJR Tolkien’s ...

3225. Surely, Surely

Luke 1:1-4, Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.” (Isaiah 14:24) Prop: let dove fly through church (if you dare) OR celebrate an event, such as a baptism, or an ordination, or a blessing for mission Today, as we prepare to celebrate the baptism of __________, I invite all of you children to come forward to witness this great event, as all of you too in the congregation bear witness to this momentous occasion. [You can opt to do the baptism ...

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