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Showing 301 to 325 of 4943 results

301. Our Most Common Sin

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , they never met. Neither of them ever made a gesture of friendship. When the time came for graduation, sure enough, one of them made valedictorian and the other salutatorian. Each walked across the stage and received his certificate, and each disappeared to take up his chosen profession. Forty years later, one of them was a portly and balding gentleman, dressed in the elaborate robes of the church and the purple hat that signified he was a Cardinal. This portly and balding gentleman entered Grand Central ...

302. Moving On

Luke 6:12-16, Luke 9:1-9, Luke 10:1-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... and maneuvering the waves. Such is the way of discipleship with Jesus. And the true meaning of faith. Christians are meant to be people who sail the seas, proclaiming Jesus Lord, going in search of places to baptize and to bless. Christians were not meant to take up residence in the safety of the docks. The church was not meant to hug harbors. Perhaps the best picture of faith, of discipleship is that ship riding the crests of the waves, not sure where it’s going, but knowing it is safe in Jesus’ arms ...

303. The Gracious Dream

Genesis 28:10-17

Sermon

Will Willimon

... , Much more than death. Do not say "banishment."... "banished" is death mis-term'd;... Then cut'st my head off with a golden axe, And smilest upon the stroke that murders me. (Romeo and Juliet, Act Ill, Scene 111) Alone, vulnerable, nowhere, that's where we take up the saga of Jacob. It is night, time when wild beasts roam. And Jacob prepares to sleep with nothing but a stone for his pillow (28:11). The sleep of the exile is a restless sleep. Alone, night, vulnerable, between nowhere and no place. Have you ...

304. Just Common People?

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

... yourself that question, really, honestly? What does life want of you? What does this world, what does your Lord, want of you? I don’t care what YOU want. Have you got any good reason for going on breathing the air of this world and eating its food and taking up its space? Have you? Come on! What does this world and your Lord in it want of you? You see, here’s where the Church gives us a marvelous opportunity to pool our talents and our gifts and to share our convictions in finding ways to serve Him. I ...

305. Playing A Role Or Being A Truth

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... scripture lesson today, we read of one of Jesus’ most dramatic confrontations with his disciples. It came as a result of Jesus’ understanding of his mission involving suffering and death, and resulted in his call to ultimate devotion and commitment, to deny self, take up the cross and follow him. His clenching word was the most powerful; for what will it profit a man if gained the whole world and lose his own soul. That’s the Authorized Version, but the new English Bible provides a more meaningful ...

306. The Secret Man

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... see that he will undergo great suffering, rejection, torment, and death. All will see that he will rise from the dead.” And not only Jesus. Make no mistake. Jesus told not only his disciples, but the crowd, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it (8:34-35).” This is crucial. What does it mean for us to ...

307. Epiphany 2

Psalm 40:1-17, John 1:29-34, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-7

Sermon Aid

CSS

... the ones who are "sick" and need Christ's deliverance.) 4. The Christ we need has come to us in the only way that will be beneficial to humanity - he comes as a servant, the servant of God - to save us - and, we know, he suffered for taking up the servant's role. Isaiah 49:1-6 - "The Song of the Savior." 1. Put into the mouth of Christ, this is the antiphonal response of Jesus to Mary's lovely song, "The Magnificat" - "My soul magnifies the Lord ... henceforth all generations will call me blessed." Jesus ...

308. Brothers

Luke 15:1-7

Drama

Pamela Urfer

... tell me ... JOSHUA: And tried and tried. But you wouldn't listen to anyone who told you what you didn't want to hear. NATHAN: I know, Josh. I was wrong. But I want to change all that. JOSHUA: You want to come home? NATHAN: Yes. JOSHUA: And I suppose take up just where you left off, the pampered little boy. The spoiled younger son. NATHAN: No, I'm going to do my share from now on. JOSHUA: And I suppose you'll want your share of what's left of Dad's money when he dies. Well, you won't get ...

309. The Problem With Giving Up Chocolates

Mark 8:34-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... God. And thus he followed God's plan for his life all the way to the cross. Now, let's look at our scripture. "And Jesus called to him the multitudes with the disciples, and said to them, ˜If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me . . .'" (RSV) What does he mean by telling us to deny ourselves? Does he not mean that we are to listen to our values and not our needs? That is what self-denial is all about. It isn't about giving up chocolate for Lent! Giving ...

310. A Mountain Too High To Climb

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

... . Advent is not only a preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth. It is also preparation for that day when God's perfect Kingdom will come ” when nations will "beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, not will they train for war any more." With the coming of Christ, the establishment of that Kingdom has already begun. In 1964, legendary announcer Harry Caray screamed to St. Louis fans, "I can't believe it! Roger Craig hit ...

311. Birdbaths and Flagpoles

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... the community? In the world for which Christ died? Will this be a better world because you've been here? It doesn't take a lot of talent to make a difference in the world. All it takes is someone willing to take up a cross. 1. Bernard Brunsting, The Ultimate Guide to Good Clean Humor (Barbour Publishing, Inc., 2000). 2. Tom Long relates this in Journal for Preachers. He references James H. Billington, "The Religious Dimensions of Post-Modern Change," American Theological Library association of Proceedings ...

312. Jesus, The One And Only

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... 7, "When the time came he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave and became human!" (v.7, MSG) Now we come to the great question: Why did Jesus leave the glory of Heaven for the grief of earth? Why would He take up the cloak of humanity along with the crown of deity? All He had ever known for all eternity was glory, honor, praise, and adoration. Why would He leave all of that to come to a planet where He would be ridiculed, rejected, and crucified as a common criminal? Well ...

313. Busy with a Purpose

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... something be — marriage, children, health, or God? Or will it be something else? Obviously, this cannot be fixed with one sermon, but we can take a step in the right direction. What is one thing in your life right now that has to give? Something that is taking up so much time that you feel as if you cannot be still. Something that feels like busy work, makes you run aimlessly and beating the air. Something that you've turned to instead of God for a sense of worth, value, and importance. Being busy is not ...

314. Paul Before Agrippa

Acts 25:23--26:32

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... . He had spoken of faith (vv. 11, 18) and hope (v. 6f.) and, in these closing words, had revealed a love that was “not rude” or “self-seeking” or “easily angered” and that kept “no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5f.). But he did not take up Agrippa’s word “Christian,” either because he did not know it or because he only knew it as an expression of contempt (see disc. on 11:26b). The lightness of his last remark about the chains (the plural may have been rhetorical) may have eased the ...

315. The Glory of Zion

Isaiah 60:1-22

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... people over decades and centuries since the day of the Preacher, and in looking forward to more of that. Christians also see it in what God has done in Christ and may long that there may also be more of that. In various respects, chapter 60 takes up the Poet’s vision of a great reversal of the experience of affliction. It includes the following elements: (a) Ms Jerusalem’s sons and daughters will return from their scattering all over the world (vv. 4, 9). As we have noted, the return of some Judeans ...

316. On Divisions in the Church

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... community. 3:16 Paul extends or expands the metaphor of the Corinthians’ being God’s building. He begins this verse with a rhetorical jab, Don’t you know …? Thus, he implies that they do not know the important matter that he is about to take up with them. Paul refers to the Corinthian congregation as God’s temple and explains that God’s Spirit lives in them. By selecting the particular word for “temple” that he uses here (Gk. naos) and by introducing the issue of the Spirit’s indwelling ...

317. David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17:1-58

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... Saul’s exceptional height, that he thought his armor would help David perhaps further indicates his inability to plan coherently. However, wearing another person’s clothes is sometimes a sign of acting on that person’s behalf or with the person’s power (cf. Elisha taking up Elijah’s cloak, 1 Kgs. 19; 2 Kgs. 2). David’s refusal to wear Saul’s armor could then be a symbolic affirmation that he needed God’s power, not Saul’s. David enters the field not as a soldier but as a young shepherd ...

318. Proper 8

Romans 6:1-14, Romans 6:15-23, Jeremiah 28:1-17, Genesis 22:1-19, Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... was not being asked to give up merely his own son but God's son. As the offertory states: "We give thee but thine own .... All that we have is thine alone ..." After all, doesn't Jesus urge us to sacrifice our lives to him by taking up our cross? 2. Sermon Title: Substitutionary Sacrifice. Sermon Angle: The Old Testament sacrificial system was for two primary reasons. First, to atone for human sin. The animal was a substitute for the guilty party. Secondly, to demonstrate that God is the Lord of all. The ...

319. Academics, Fanatics, and Other Disciples

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... it might continue its faithful witness even in times of adversity. And for churches in this land, in this city, in this very place, we pray renewed vision and strength. Help us all once again to give up worship of the self or money or nation, to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses of discipleship to follow our Lord into the new age he has prepared for us. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

320. Jesus Wuvs Me and Dat's Dat

John 15:1-5

Sermon

James W. Moore

... the morning and go through the day looking constantly (natural as breathing) for ways we can be Christ-like servants. II. SECOND, STAY CONNECTED TO CHRIST’S GREAT PROMISE. After the resurrection, Christ reassured and encouraged the disciples and told them to take up His ministry… and then He gave them His great promise: “Lo, I am with you always.” That promise “Christ’s presence always with them” is what kept the early disciples going. It gave them strength and assurance and hope and courage ...

321. The Iron, Silver, Golden, Platinum and Titanium Rules

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not yet extend to the fate of Jesus’ disciples themselves. In this final section of his missionary discourse, Jesus gets specific and elaborates the true nature of genuine discipleship. A faithful disciple is one who will “take up the cross and follow me.” The “cross” a disciple “takes up” here is not some nuisance, some ache and pain. As in, “‘How’s your arthritis?’ ‘Oh, we all have some cross to bear.’” The “cross” here we “take us” is public disgrace, shame before the ...

322. The Cost of Discipleship

Luke 14:25-35, Luke 14:15-24

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... accepted the invitation, then failed to honor it. This raises the possibility of failed discipleship, and the following verses, 14:25–35, explore this theme, not now at the table, but as Jesus continues his journey toward Jerusalem. This paragraph therefore takes up the theme with which the journey began (9:57–62): the cost of following Jesus. Historical and Cultural Background For the significance of meals and who is invited to them, see “Historical and Cultural Background” on 14:1–14. This ...

323. Paul's Vision and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... for boasting is nothing in comparison with knowing Christ and sharing in his sufferings, so that he may participate in Christ’s resurrection (cf. Phil. 3:5–11). Paul boasts in his weakness so that (hina) Christ’s power might rest on him. The verb actually denotes “take up one’s abode, dwell” and may well recall that the presence of God dwelled in the tabernacle and the temple (cf. Exod. 25:8; Ezek. 37:27; 2 Cor. 6:16). If so, the verb ties our passage back to 2 Corinthians 5:1, where Paul refers ...

324. Live Spelled Backward

Matthew 26:14-27:66

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... . You do not have to retaliate. You do not need to waste your time and energy worrying about people possessed of serpentine spirits. Take them Up! Up! Up! Up in prayer. Up in love. Up above the snake line. Do not live your life in reverse. Do not take up residence where the snakes abide. Always live your life going forward and along the way sing to yourself, I'm pressing on the upward way; New heights I'm gaining every day; Still praying as I onward bound, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. Lord, lift me ...

325. The Kingdom Is Not K-Mart

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

James Merritt

... with whole-heartedly. "I think the main reason people do not come to Christ is because they do not want to pay the price, but Christ will not compromise and He will not negotiate."[1] Jesus said, "You have to take up the Cross." Now the cross was the symbol of one thing in that day – death. The only reason a man would take up the cross was because he was going to die. Jesus makes it plain that he not only expects us to live for Him. He expects us to die with Him. That is why he said back up in verse ...

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