Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3326 to 3350 of 4508 results

3326. Behold The Man Who Tried To Be King

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

Some time ago there was a stage play called Construction. It was the story of some people who wanted to build a wall. But there was a young man there who urged them instead to build a bridge. The people turned on him and killed him because of what he wanted them to do. After they killed him one of the characters said, "We can't go on crucifying the truth forever."1 When Jesus went to Jerusalem he...

3327. Wave The Flag

Children's Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

Object: a flag and a palm branch Good morning, boys and girls. Isn't it great to be here on Palm Sunday? I am so glad you came today, and that all of you were able to come in with the choir and wave your palm branches. You did a really good job with that. Today on Palm Sunday we think about Jesus entering Jerusalem. When he did that everyone in town came out to see him. You know, they say everyo...

3328. Places That Have a Memory

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

Do you believe places have a memory? I know that seems like a strange question this morning. Don’t worry, I drank my coffee. I’m firing on all cylinders. But are there places in your life that evoke such strong memories that when you go back to them, you can almost see and feel and smell past experiences there? Or have you ever stood in a place and felt the stories emanating from its walls? I feel...

3329. Flash Mob

Sermon

Lori Wagner

One year ago, crowds at London’s many train stations stopped amazed, as flash mobs broke out everywhere to celebrate the end of covid lockdown. Professional dancers, as well as over 100 volunteers contributed to the surprise flash performances. You can see the joy on people’s faces as they sway to the music and collectively cheer and celebrate together.[1] It had been a long, rough season. People ...

3330. Jesus Demonstrates Messianic Authority over the Temple

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority as Messiah over the temple and his critique of its leadership as well as the importance of unwavering faith in following Jesus. Understanding the Text In Matthew the account of Jesus in the temple immediately follows his entry into Jerusalem. Both stories highlight Jesus’ identity and authority as Israel’s Messiah, with the acclamation of Jesus as th...

3331. Jesus at the Temple

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Matthew immediately turns to Jesus’s clearing the temple upon his arrival in Jerusalem (21:12–13). The selling of sacrificial animals was a necessary accommodation for pilgrims traveling long distances to Jerusalem for Passover (26:2), as was the changing of money from Greek and Roman currency (with their pagan images/inscriptions) to the prescribed temple currency of coins from Tyre in Phoenicia....

3332. Jesus at the Temple

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

21:12–13 The temple in Jerusalem consisted of an inner sanctuary (called the naos) surrounded by a series of courtyards. In descending order they were the Court of the Priests, Israelites, Women, and Gentiles. The entire temple area was designated as the hieron. It was in the outer court that the temple authorities arranged booths (called the Bazaars of Annas and belonging to the family of the hig...

3333. The Crowd that Feared Him

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Doves from a pet store How many of you remember being in the crowd that welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday? Do you remember how happy you were and how much you loved him when he rode on the back of the donkey into the holy city? That was a great day for all of us. I want you to remember how you felt that day, but I also want you to pretend that you are part of a different crowd to...

3334. It Felt Good

Children's Sermon

Shirley Jennings

Object: None Expressing anger in non-destructive ways can help us feel better. One day a mom and a dad were planning to take their four children to the zoo to see the monkeys and the elephants. When the day came to go to the zoo, it was raining hard, so the mom and dad told the children, "We can’t go to the zoo today, as we were planning to, because of the rain." What do you think the children ...

3335. Responding In Anger

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

A 75-year-old man went to his doctor for a physical examination. The doctor went through all the procedures and found everything to be perfect. "It's amazing," the doctor said to the patient. "You have the body of a man 25 years younger. What's your secret?" The patient replied: "Well, when my wife and I were married fifty years ago, we made an agreement. We decided never to fuss or to argue with...

3336. The Fig Tree Withers

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In the third of three symbolic acts, Matthew’s Jesus curses a fig tree that has no figs (21:18–22), evoking Old Testament prophetic critique of Israel’s fruitlessness (Mic. 7:1; cf. Jer. 8:13). Matthew uses this account to emphasize Jesus’s critique of the current temple administration (in combination with 21:12–13, with the most immediate referent for mountain in 21:21 being the temple mount) and...

3337. The Fig Tree Withers

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

21:18–22 The day after the cleansing of the temple Jesus returned to Jerusalem from Bethany. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. To the tree he said, May you never bear fruit again! The disciples were astonished to see the tree wither so quickly and asked in amazement how it had happened (v. 20). Jesus responded, saying that if they had faith...

3338. Monday: The Way Of The Cross: Figs & Fig Trees

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

An eight year old boy came running home from school one day all excited because he'd won a stuffed animal won at the class Valentine's party. "Congratulations. How did you do that?" Mom asked. "Well," he explained, "the teacher put all our names together in a box, and then picked one out. I feel kinda bad though. I cheated." he said. You cheated?" Mom said. "How did you cheat?" With a guilty l...

3339. RIDE ON! RIDE ON!

Sermon Aid

John W. Rilling

"Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass. "Blessed is he that cometh ..." Some of us never knew there was such a thing as English grammar until we had to learn it the hard way by taking first year Latin in high school. Verbs and nouns and pronouns were a mystery to us, although in time we did learn that there w...

3340. Merciful Anger

Illustration

James Packer

Jesus went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and saw a man with a crippled hand. He knew that the Pharisees were watching to see what he would do, and he felt angry that they were only out to put him in the wrong. They did not care a scrap for the handicapped man, nor did they want to see the power and love of God brought to bear on him. There were other instances where Jesus showed anger or ster...

3341. Matthew 21:23-32

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

At some point in life we’ve all had to live through a rude guest. Once inside the house, the ungracious lout puts feet up on the furniture, paws through cupboards, scavenges in the refrigerator, snoops in closets, and generally acts like your home is really theirs. It is hard not to lose one’s temper and toss the trespasser out. No wonder there is the old saying that the three most beautiful light...

3342. Monday Morning Faith

Sermon

Johnny Dean

If we’re honest about it, we have to admit that just about the only place where we feel comfortable making bold statements about our religion and our allegiance to God is in church on Sunday mornings. In our hymns we sing, "All to Jesus I surrender All to Him I freely give." In our confession of faith, we say, "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and I accept him as Lord...

3343. Three Parables about the Unfaithfulness of the Jewish Leaders

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: When his authority is questioned by the Jerusalem leaders, Jesus, the faithful Son of God, tells three parables contrasting those who are faithful and do God’s will (even supposed sinners) and those who disbelieve and disobey (the Jerusalem leaders). Understanding the Text Two symbolic actions of Jesus—his entry as king into Jerusalem and his temple critique (21:1–22)—provoke a contest...

3344. The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

21:23–27 The chief priests and the elders came to Jesus as he was teaching in the temple (probably in one of the porticoes that lined the Court of the Gentiles) and asked by what sort (Gk. poios) of authority he was doing these things (e.g., riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, cleansing the temple, etc.), and Who gave you this authority? The chief priests and elders represented the Sanhedrin, whose...

3345. Was Jesus the First Buster?

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

As the first, in-your-face Buster, Jesus said: "Don't listen to people's WORDS; look at their DEEDS." 1996 is a very significant year for baby boomers because it is the year the first wave of boomers hit 50. Boomers like rocker Bruce Springsteen and actor Diane Keaton, director Steven Spielberg, basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and singer Dolly Parton (to name a few) are squinting into the su...

3346. When Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Sermon

King Duncan

A construction crew was laying a drain line as part of a new building. While excavating, the workers uncovered a power cable directly in the path of their work. The excavation was halted. An electrician was called in. The electrician came and looked at the cable. He assured workers that the cable was dead. "Go ahead and cut it out of the way," the electrician told the workers. The foreman asked, "...

3347. Being Faithful Servants

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Come, let all who would serve the Lord gather now for worship. People: But there are some who would silence the message of God's love. Leader: Even Jesus faced those who would keep God's love from the Temple. People: Then let us walk with Christ and share God's love with all we see. Leader: For the Gospel of Christ cannot be stopped once in a believer's heart. All: Blessed ...

3348. Proper 21

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7 Moses brings water out of a rock. In their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites came to Rephidim where there was no water. The people were angry enough to stone Moses to death. He takes the problem to Yahweh who directs him to strike a rock to get water. Old Testament: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 God appeals to Israel to repent and live. Epistle: Philippians 2...

3349. Two Sons: A Parable

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

In the current vernacular people speak of those who "talk the talk" in contrast to those who "walk the walk." Those who "talk the talk" are persons who recognize a problem and analyze the situation. They may rant and rave about the difficulties and the need for change. They make accusations against those whom they believe to be responsible for the situation. But they do not move to action to do an...

3350. Proper 21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: God judges us not based on what we were but what we are. If a sinner turns away from his sin to the Lord, he is accounted as righteous. This is the point of Ezekiel 18. The Gospel makes a similar point, if the rebel turns to obedience, he is accounted as righteous. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Exodus 17:1-7 (C) The Israelites complain loudly to Moses that they had no water. They question whether ...

Showing 3326 to 3350 of 4508 results