Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 301 to 325 of 5000 results

Mark 7:1-23

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... strange), or whether the words were added by some scribes who were familiar with Lev. 15, with its requirements about the ritual cleansing of the people and the clothes of people who touched a bed made unclean. 7:6 Hypocrites: This is the only occurrence of the word in Mark, though it appears several times in Matthew (e.g., 6:2, 5, 16; 23:13, 15, 25, 27, 29) and in Luke (6:42; 12:56; 13:15). The term in Greek means a pretender or even a shyster and indicates that the critics here are accused of claiming ...

302. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... always just outside their grasp—the poet now offers to provide the treasure map to the hidden stash. There is a way to wisdom, the poet claims, but it requires special guidance and direction to reach it. Almost like unrolling an ancient parchment pirate’s map marked with X’s to indicate where the gold is buried, the narrating voice beckons the reader to digest the coded words and follow the measured paces to uncover the prize! 28:20 Where then does wisdom come from? Except for one verb, this verse is ...

303. Jesus Walks on the Water

Matthew 14:22-36

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Greek for on the lake differs in verses 25 and 26 (in v. 25 the preposition epi is followed by the accusative case and in v. 26 by the genitive), we should interpret the first as “toward the sea” and the second as “by the sea” (cf. similar uses in Mark 16:2 and John 21:1). Taken in this way, Jesus, as he came toward the lake, saw the boat that had been driven to the northern shore by the heavy winds and then waded through the surf to be of help. Though such a reconstruction is grammatically possible ...

304. The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

Mark 1:9-13

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

1:9–13 In this passage Jesus appears for the first time in the narrative, and the direct relevance of the introduction of John the Baptist earlier in the story becomes clear, for here Jesus is baptized by John. This of course means that Mark’s narrative not only associates John with Jesus as an endorser of Jesus but also associates Jesus with John as one who accepted John’s message and obeyed his call to be baptized. A relationship between Jesus and the Baptist is attested in all four Gospels, but in ...

305. Peter's Confession of Christ

Mark 8:27-30

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... Thus, the confession in 8:29 must be read in its context, where it reflects an insight into Jesus that is only partially correct, resembling the eyesight of the blind man in the preceding story at the first stage of his healing. Most students of Mark agree that this passage is a major turning point, introducing a new, large section that reaches to 10:52, largely devoted to Jesus teaching his disciples about his impending death and about the true nature of the discipleship to which they (and the readers) are ...

306. The Week

Mark 14:1-15:47

Sermon

John Jamison

... each bowl was shared between two people. This narrowed down who Jesus was referring to as the one dipping into the bowl with him. Mark never actually told us who that person was, but just said it would actually be better for that person if they had never even ... it was done this time, but we do know that when the lost pieces of bread were found, instead of just eating them as dessert, Mark tells us that Jesus passed the bread around and called it his body. Throughout the meal, there had been a cup of wine that ...

307. Stay—Tuned

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... the first person we meet is a strange and interesting character, one whom we have come to know as John the Baptist. Actually, the gospels of Matthew, Luke and John also introduce us to John and they help us to get to know him even better. Mark simply introduces him with some Old Testament references, from the prophets Malachi (3:1) — “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” and Isaiah (40:3) — “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the ...

308. Taking the Long Way Home

Mark 7:31-37

Sermon

Will Willimon

... you say about dogs is true” this gutsy mother replies, “but even dogs are allowed to clean up the children’s crumbs.” “Touché”' says Jesus. “Stranger, for a cultured, educated, classical Greek, you are almost smart.” He heals her daughter. From here, Mark takes Jesus on a ridiculous itinerary. He says that Jesus went from Tyre to Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the Decapolis-- equivalent to saying that Jesus traveled from Durham to New York by Way of Miami and Mobile. The little maps ...

309. Kingdom Mystery

Mark 4:26-34

Sermon

David Coffin

... seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how” Mark 4:26-27 (RSV). If the reader is discouraged by the previous parable that has only one of four groups of planted seeds producing ... becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade” Mark 4:31-32 (RSV). The good news of the kingdom of God arrives in a mysterious way despite our efforts. This is both God’s ...

310. The Agony And The Ecstasy Of The Family

Mark 3:20-35

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... thought of before. "Don't be surprised when conflict arises even in the best family. Remember the Bible story of the fall. The family too is under the curse of the fall as described in Genesis 3." That is the beginning point of the Bible story of Mark 3:20-35 -- conflict and agony in the physical family. Agony In The Physical Family Because Of Sin Jesus had conflict with his physical family. Some family members came and tried to take charge of him, because they thought he was crazy. They thought he had gone ...

311. When All Is Said And Done

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

William G. Carter

... come in judgment and justice. The early church identified the end with the second coming of the risen Jesus, who will return to vindicate and complete what he started. Speaking of that day, Jesus said, "They will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory" (Mark 13:26). Yet we wait for this to happen. As we wait, we grow tired. As we grow tired, we let our culture tell its own story about the way the world will end. As a grade school student in the '60s, I was well trained in duck and ...

312. Advent 1

Isaiah 63:7--64:12, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Psalm 80:1-19, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... 1 Corinthians 1:3-9) Paul gives thanks that the grace of God given in Jesus Christ has enriched the Corinthians. They still look forward to the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ. He calls them to be strengthened so that they will be blameless on that day. Gospel. (Mark 13:24-37) The passage closes with an admonition to be awake and watchful so that those who read the signs are prepared for the coming event that may be imminent. The exact time when it will occur is uncertain. Psalm. (Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19) As ...

313. When All Is Said And Done

Matthew 13:24-30

Sermon

William G. Carter

314. Time Taken, Life Restored

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

William G. Carter

... The boy said, "Because I think he's busy helping everybody else." My friend said, "I left that room, got in the car, and drove around for a while. I didn't know what to say." What can we say? Some people get well; others do not. The Gospel of Mark would probably say, "That is the way this world is." All the gospels agree Jesus was a healer. He restored life in the face of death. Some of the stories sound quite successful. Luke says, "People came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases ... and all in ...

315. When Something Is About To Happen

Mark 13:32-37

Sermon

Thomas Long

... little. We still have the question of how to hope in the meantime, when nothing ever happens. And that is why the writer of Mark remembered the other word which Jesus said. This word was a story, a parable actually, about a man who went on a trip and ... the morning," and "as soon as it was morning," Jesus was bound and led away to his trial and to his death. What the author of Mark has heard in Jesus' story, and has woven into the fabric of his gospel, is that every moment of the passing day is already alive ...

316. Tying Up A Strong Man

Mark 3:20-30, 1 Samuel 8:1-22, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, Mark 3:31-35, Psalm 138:1-8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... God; if we are in our right mind it is for you. John 10:19-21 A division arose where some contended Jesus had a demon and was mad, while others contended that he could not have a demon for he had healed the blind man. CONTENT Precis (Mark 3:20-35) The account begins with a crowd so large following Jesus and his disciples that they did not have time to eat. His family (or friends, according to some translations) tried to restrain him because they were afraid he was crazy. That was followed by an accusation ...

317. Passion Sunday

Mk 14:1 - 15:47 · Isa 50:4-9 · Phil 2:5-11 · Ps 31:9-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... have a healthy sense of self before we can empty ourselves in service. Jesus didn't become "nothing" but acted as if he were nothing. This means that he didn't let who and what he was prevent him from pouring out his life, even unto death. Gospel: Mark 14:1--15:47 The extravagance of love (14:3-9). As Jesus dined in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came and anointed Jesus' feet with an extremely expensive perfume (nard), probably imported from India. Those present commenced to criticize her for such an ...

318. Don't Give Up Too Soon!

Acts 15:36-41

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... turned to muscle and the awkwardness came under control. What a mistake, what a tragic mistake, Paul would have made, giving up on John Mark too soon! As his life wound down, one of the two people who stood by Paul was a person he had fired as a ... from an awful failure. There probably aren't many people here who don't number among their family or former friends or teammates, a John Mark out there trying to find his or her way back from failure. And there will come a time when you will be tempted to give ...

319. A Daughter of Jacob

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

Richard Hoefler

... a house, and did not want anyone to know that he was there." Some writers see the lack of this detail in Matthew as his hesitancy to have Jesus enter a Gentile house because it was well understood that a pious Jew would never enter an unclean place. In Mark, the woman comes to Jesus, enters into the house and falls at his feet. In Matthew, she comes out from Phoenicia and meets Jesus while he is still in Galilee. The issue of whether or not Jesus actually set foot on the foreign soil of a Gentile land is ...

320. On Leaving Your Signature

Revelation 22:1-6

Sermon

Allan J. Weenink

... , but with viable beings and forces - with the physical, mental, and spiritual. This has been so from the beginning. God made man in his own image and pronounced judgment on what he had created by saying that it was good. All of us have been imprinted with the divine mark, with a sacred signature. God has left his imprint, which is not a brand such as the one a rancher uses when he puts his signature on his cattle. It is not a brand, but a living, dynamic influence; it calls a person from what he is to what ...

321. When Something is About to Happen

Mark 13:32-37

Sermon

Thomas Long

... with a curse and a denial, "I do not know this man." The cock crowed. Maybe the coming of the master will be "in the morning," and "as soon as it was morning," Jesus was bound and led away to his trial and to his death. What the author of Mark has heard in Jesus’ story, and has woven into the fabric of his gospel, is that every moment of the passing day is already alive with the promise of God’s future. As the church strains its sight toward the horizon of the coming kingdom, it also hears the ticking ...

322. The Glory and the Cross

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

Richard A. Jensen

... , "it is well that we are here." We have had our own experiences of glory. We know something of what Peter experienced. We always want to remain in that glory. Peter continued. "... let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah" (Mark 9:5b). The last words we had heard from Peter were words of rebuke. He rebuked Jesus for his announcement that he must suffer and die. Peter did not want anything to do with that. Peter did not want anything to do with the cross. But the glory. Ah ...

323. When the Guest Becomes the Host

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

George Bass

... from, among other things, the limitations we put on discipleship. And we need to ask ourselves, as we approach the Table of the Lord tonight: Just how committed are we to Christ and his mission to the world? What happened to Judas? At this point in the story, Mark doesn’t even mention his name or relate his fate, but merely says, "It would have been better for that man if he had not been born," or, certainly, that he had not heard of Christ and committed himself to him and his mission. And the reason for ...

324. That Carpenter Is God

Mark 6:1-6

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... be fully appreciated. We need to hear this statement of the divine becoming human in all of its astonishing and bewildering splendor. In the lofty words of John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." It is put in a plainer package here in Mark. That flesh was a carpenter’s son who himself plied the carpenter’s trade - a Nazarene named Jesus. The divine entered the human. Why is this so important? Because is shows how far God will descend to lift us up. God entered the dust in order to take ...

325. On Talking to Oneself

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... , and God’s interruption of the flow of history at Easter have forever changed the world and the way we look at death! Mark has a fondness for stories within stories. Here is one which is forever bound up with the healing of Jairus’ daughter. A great ... 38-40, and they were to signify to others, and to remind a man himself, that he was a member of God’s chosen people. II. IN MARK 5, THERE CAME TO JESUS A WOMAN WITH A SERIOUS PROBLEM. He says: “And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve ...

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