Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3201 to 3225 of 4884 results

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of obedience. Verses 8-9 make it clear that Jesus' sacrifice was both obedience to the will of the Father and a freely chosen path. Thus this action, wholly acceptable to God, inaugurates the new reality boldly proclaimed in verse 10. By perfectly fulfilling the will of God, through both freedom and obedience, Jesus has succeeded in sanctifying us before God. This "once and for all" sacrifice has changed our whole relationship to God and has made future sacrifices unnecessary. The old order is forever ...

3202. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... do exist, primarily it has been anxious to prove that today these gifts are principally manifest as "she has a gift for cooking" (and thus should organize the church suppers), or "he has a gift with numbers" (making him the perfect person to act as church accountant). Conversely, those churches traditionally scooted to the furthest folds of the faithful - the charismatic-pentecostal - have claimed for themselves the most dramatic, show-stopping gifts like speaking in tongues, prophesying and healing. Not ...

3203. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Note again that while we, and the Corinthians, naturally assume that the attributes Paul lists describe the character of Christ, the list is just as applicable to God. A Jewish audience subscribing to the affirmation that "God is love" could find Paul's list perfectly proper. The final style change in this unit takes place at verse 8. Paul now abandons the pedagogical format of Wisdom literature and picks up a more polemical style. Whereas he sought to gently instruct his readers in verses 17, he now sets ...

3204. Luke 6:17-26

Luke 6:17-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... s rendition of these teachings, referred to as the "blessings and woes," divides them into two groups: four blessings and four woes. (Matthew is more upbeat here, for he lists nine blessings and no woes at all!) Luke's reconstruction of Jesus' message is perfectly symmetrical. Each blessing corresponds with a woe in complete opposition to it. Thus the poor stand in contrast to the rich; the hungry to the full; those weeping to those laughing; and the rejected to the accepted. Jesus' statements are in no way ...

3205. Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... only ones brought up short by such an outrageous action. Many scholars suggest that Luke 16:10-13 was added on to the original ending of Jesus' parable by the early church as it struggled to deal with "dishonest stewards" within its own walls. Finding the perfect lead-in to this issue with Luke 16:1-7, the first Christian communities supposedly skipped over the problematic verse 8 and added a further commentary on the rewards for honest and dishonest behavior in verses 10-13. The master's praise in verse 8a ...

3206. Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... wife - and thus fulfills the prediction that the Messiah will come from the house of David. Furthermore, although now formally married, Joseph has no intercourse with Mary, so that the prediction that "the virgin shall conceive and bear a son" will also be perfectly fulfilled. Finally we are told that when the baby is born, Joseph once again follows the directive from his dream and names the child "Jesus." Joseph's obedience and acceptance of every word spoken by the angelic messenger enables every facet of ...

3207. John 1:29-42

John 1:29-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... terms throughout his text, both to point to the theological truths beyond the historical events he is recording and to poke at and play with the ignorance of those who heard but did not understand Jesus' message. This "Lamb of God" title is a perfect example of Johannine ambiguity. Scholars have argued long and hard about where John got this image and what function it suggests. As a member of a priestly family and an observant Jew, John the Baptist was certainly familiar with the lamb as a traditional ...

3208. Romans 5:12-19

Romans 5:12-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... alone as humanity's redeemer. To effect this redemption, Paul points to Christ's death on the cross as the great mediating event of our salvation. It is his emphasis on the universality of Christ's saving action that leads Paul to use Adam as the perfect example of humanity's universal need for this redemption. In verse 13, Paul notes that there is no "lag time" between Adam's sin and the introduction of the Law that occurred at the time of Moses. All those generations that existed between Adam and Moses ...

3209. Romans 8:26-39

Romans 8:26-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... with God through the Spirit's intercession. Some translations work verse 26 to make the believer, not the Spirit, the one "groaning" or "sighing" inarticulately toward God in prayer. Whichever way you interpret this verse theologically, remember that it is perfectly acceptable to read Paul's declaration as the groaning of the Spirit itself on our behalf. The Spirit is emotionally involved and eternally invested in our yearnings toward the Divine. Verse 27 reveals that God hears and understands the Spirit ...

3210. Romans 12:1-8

Romans 12:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... he was deep in conversation with the great prophets of the past. The Corinthians are being called to be "unveiled" and turn toward God's revealed image. The transformation of the Roman's "renewed mind" is to be toward the "good," "acceptable" and "perfect" that is, toward an image of pure holiness that God offers believers. The first step in this transformation, Paul notes, is a call to humility (v.3). Amid all the variety and independence of the Roman Christian communities, Paul calls all members to ...

3211. Philippians 4:1-9

Philippians 4:1-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... This, coupled with a letter from Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna to the Philippians testifying to the letters Paul had written them, suggests that this epistle has been constructed from two or more separate pieces of correspondence. Today's text would seem to fit perfectly behind the exhortation to "rejoice" given in 3:1. The interceding text, 3:2-21, with its diatribe against the "dogs" who would tempt the faithful with bad theology, interrupts the flow of Paul's "rejoicing" message quite awkwardly. All of today ...

3212. Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... questions asked in these dialogues, and in the responses given by Jesus, these Pharisaic challenges demonstrate a precise practice. Although the title "teacher" originally may have been employed as part of the testing process, Jesus' skillful answers, crafted in perfect rabbinical interrogative fashion, testify to his legitimate claim to rabbi status. With the question about whether it is morally correct to pay the demanded Roman tax to Caesar, the Pharisees and Herodians hope to force Jesus into a choice ...

3213. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to this "power" with a desire to share in Christ's sufferings, even "becoming like him in his death." Some have suggested that Paul's words here should be understood as referring to an inward transformation. In such a reading, the old self is so perfectly united with Christ that its previously sinful nature is indeed put to death. But Paul's words would seem to indicate a more tangible relationship with Christ's sufferings. Paul not only understands the ends of Christian faith to be superior to all else ...

3214. John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , or perhaps "tucks up" that which he already has on, and springs into the water. The reference to Peter's attempts to clothe himself properly is most likely an effort to demonstrate Peter's respect for Jesus. His surprising leap into the water perfectly depicts the impetuous, exuberant, but not always socially correct behavior that was so typical of the Peter of the gospels. The miraculous fishing expedition closes. A new scene now takes place on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. Before they quietly gather ...

3215. Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of their pronouncement of the kingdom. The primacy of this message is imperative because of the immediacy of this kingdom. In verse 9, Jesus declares his missionaries should state: "The kingdom of God has come near to you" an announcement given in the perfect tense, indicating that the process of the kingdom's approach is now over. The kingdom is now a present reality. Possibly in light of the fiasco at the Samaritan village (9:52-54), Jesus now gives specific instructions for dealing with those who reject ...

3216. Hebrews 12:18-29

Hebrews 12:18-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... themselves standing in the midst of a joyful, celebratory gathering. Among those participating in this festival of praise and worship are all the firstborn of faith. In contrast to Esau mentioned earlier, these firstborn have inherited the promise they have been made perfect. Not only can the faithful expect to find themselves gathered into such a joyous community; they will directly experience the presence of God. Instead of high and away, terrifying imagery, God is in the midst of the heavenly city. It is ...

3217. Luke 15:1-10

Luke 15:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... order of her whole house tearing it apart in a tireless search for that which is missing. Some who have felt the need to explain this woman's ardor suggest some reasons for her single-minded behavior. First, the number 10, like the number 100, is a perfect, a complete, number. It represents a totality, a wholeness, and as such, the divine presence. To recover this unity, the woman must recover her 10th coin. Second, the coin itself has often been seen as part of a bridal necklace. There was a Middle Eastern ...

3218. 2 Timothy 1:1-14

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... God in Timothy's call. God's activity has a dual nature - both purpose and grace. These two divine reasons have been established forever and acted out in history with Jesus' arrival on earth. In verse 10, Paul's creedal confession seems to fit Timothy perfectly - to give encouragement to one who is facing the possibility of suffering for the sake of his faith. Paul's words remind Timothy that with his appearance, Christ has broken the power of death and brought "life and immortality." Death itself has been ...

3219. 1 John 4:7-12

1 John 4:7-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... skillful pruning there is nothing beyond the strength of their love. Philip demonstrates the extensive reach of our ability to love when we are abiding in Christ, led by the Spirit, and directed by God. Luke's story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch perfectly illustrates how the "true Israel" bears its fruit. The pericope begins with Philip unhesitatingly responding to the voice of the Spirit, even when it calls him onto a deserted highway in the middle of a barren land. Yet Philip's "pruning" has just ...

3220. Mark 6:30-44

Mark 6:30-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... requires that he take quick action. But David's own moral turpitude is only deepened by Uriah's steadfast piety. By refusing to enjoy the comforts of his home and the love of his wife while his battalion remains in the field, Uriah perfectly demonstrates the selfless dedication to a code of honor which David has so badly betrayed. Twice David tempts Uriah to sleep with his wife; twice Uriah resists temptation (once even while he is drunk). In desperation David completely abandons any remaining ethical ...

3221. James 1:17-27

James 1:17-27

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... news of salvation. God does not set people up with "tests" or otherwise try to tempt believers into wrongdoing. Verse 17 restates James' earlier point in verse 5 that wisdom and all other good gifts do come from God. Although somewhat mangled to fit more perfectly into his line of reasoning, verse 17 is actually James' reworking of a pagan proverb which claimed in essence, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." The God James defines in verse 17 is utterly trustworthy. This God has distributed only goodness ...

3222. Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46-52

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... follows Jesus "on his way." Mark thus closes his section on discipleship with a profoundly positive image - those who truly see Christ feel overwhelmingly called to follow his pathways and purposes. They become imitators of Christ as they seek to become perfected disciples. Bartimaeus' journey was not easy. He began to follow Jesus just when, from a human point of view, things began to degenerate. Jesus now enters Jerusalem to play his part in the final scene of confrontation, prosecution and execution ...

3223. Luke 21:25-36

Luke 21:25-36

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... not yet. In verses 27-28 Jesus describes the final fulfillment of the Kingdom. While awaiting its consummation, the Kingdom of God cuts across time - it is present in part without being fully arrived, kingdom come and kingdom coming. The Son of Man is therefore the perfect title for Jesus, since he is the one who participates in the Kingdom as it is present now and who ushers it in fully on the day of judgment. Verse 31 continues to emphasize Jesus' dual concept of the Kingdom. The Kingdom is near even as ...

3224. Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of obedience. Verses 8-9 make it clear that Jesus’ sacrifice was both obedience to the will of the Father and a freely chosen path. Thus this action, wholly acceptable to God, inaugurates the new reality boldly proclaimed in verse 10. By perfectly fulfilling the will of God, through both freedom and obedience, Jesus has succeeded in sanctifying us before God. This "once and for all" sacrifice has changed our whole relationship to God and has made future sacrifices unnecessary. The old order is forever ...

3225. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Showing results