Matthew 26:57-68, Matthew 26:47-56, Matthew 26:36-46, Matthew 26:31-35, Matthew 26:17-30, Matthew 26:14-16
Illustration
Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus and the events of Holy Week: Betrayed by a friend - Ps 41:9 Sold for 30 pieces of silver - Zech 11:12 False witnesses accusing Him - Ps 27:12 Silent when accused - Isaiah 53:7 Struck and spit on - Isaiah 50:6 Suffered in our place - Isaiah 53:4-5 Hands and feet pierced - Ps 22:16 Mocked and insulted - Ps 22:16-18 Prayed for His enemies - Ps 109:4 His side pierced - Zech 12:10 Soldiers cast lots for His clothes - Ps 22:18 Not a bone broken - Ps 34:20 Buried with the ...
3427. Still A Threat
Matthew 21:1-11
Illustration
Lest we be too critical of Jerusalem, ask yourself this question: What city even today would not be shaken by Jesus' entry into it? Imagine Jesus entering New York, Belgrade, Washington, or even (add your city here). Oh, I'm sure we'd welcome him with our hosannas - at first, anyway. We'd line the streets and strike up the band and have a grand parade right down Main Street. But I'm equally sure that, by the end of the week, we'd have him nailed to a cross, too. Why? Because the Kingdom Jesus came to ...
3428. Why Did The Cheering Stop? - Sermon Starter
Matthew 21:1-11
Illustration
Brett Blair
Some years ago a book was written by a noted American historian entitled “When The Cheering Stopped.” It was the story of President Woodrow Wilson and the events leading up to and following WWI. When that war was over Wilson was an international hero, There was a great spirit of optimism abroad, and people actually believed that the last war had been fought and the world had been made safe for democracy. On his first visit to Paris after the war Wilson was greeted by cheering mobs. He was actually more ...
3429. The Secret of the Power
John 20:19-31
Illustration
Brett Blair
Thomas Jefferson ranks as one of our nations greatest intellects but not many people know that he rejected the notion of miracles. When he approached the scriptures he could not tolerate those passages which dealt with the supernatural. So what did he do? He wrote his own bible. In the Thomas Jefferson Bible you will find only the moral teachings and historical events of Jesus' life. No virgin birth. No healing of Jairus' daughter. No walking on water. And, no resurrection. Here is how the his bible ends ...
3430. Peace of Mind
Acts 2:1-13, Acts 2:14-41
Illustration
Duke University did a study on "peace of mind." Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are: The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness. Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression. Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it. Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist ...
3431. The Importance of Rooftops in Jesus' Day
Matthew 10:1-42
Illustration
Rooftops were places of great activity in Bible times. The high, open, flat surfaces were perfect for winnowing chaff from grain, drying fruit, storing grain, nuts, and fruit, and sun-bleaching laundry. Rooftops were also household gathering places because so much work was done there, and they were sleeping places on the hot nights of summer. But rooftops, because of their height, their openness, and frequent assemblies of people, rooftops were great places from which to shout the news.
3432. St. Ignatius Prayer
Matthew 10:1-42
Illustration
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous, teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to seek reward, except that of knowing that I do your will.
3433. Who Do You Say I Am? - Sermon Starter
Matthew 16:13-20
Illustration
Brett Blair
Jesus and his disciples ventured into the District of Caesarea Philippi, an area about 25 miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee. The region had tremendous religious implications. The place was littered with the temples of the Syrian gods. Here also was the elaborate marble temple that had been erected by Herod the Great, father of the then ruling Herod Antipas. Here also was the influence of the Greek gods. Here also the worship of Caesar as a God himself. You might say that the world religions were on ...
3434. The Authority of the Church
Matthew 16:13-20
Illustration
Brett Blair
Dr. W. A Criswell, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas Texas, said on one occasion on an airplane flight he found himself seated beside a well known theologian. He desperately wanted to start a conversation and they got to talking. The man told Dr. Criswell about how he had recently lost a little boy through death. Dr. Criswell listened as he told his story: He said he had come home from school with a fever and we thought it was just one of those childhood things, but it was a very virulent form ...
3435. What is Christianity Without the Cross? Sermon Starter
Matthew 16:21-28
Illustration
Brett Blair
The Second President of the United States, John Adams, said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for a government of any other." In other words, unless our country remains Christian the Constitution will not function properly. Is John Adams right? Can our society survive without the Christian faith? There are many who would say that religion does not have the influence it once had. I agree. But they go on to say that religion is no longer relevant, that ...
3436. A Living Sacrifice
Matthew 16:21-28
Illustration
Brett Blair
There is, I think it is true to say, something a little bit depressing about Labor Day weekend. For Labor day weekend signals the psychological end, at least, to summer with its periods of refreshment, and the start again, for many of us, of the more hectic rhythm of life and work at school, in college, at office or, in home. So let me ask you: How is your work? Are you giving of your self at work? Is work a place where you sacrifice for a cause? I find it helpful to remember the story of the little girl ...
3437. Scandelon
Matthew 16:21-28
Illustration
Brett Blair
Some years ago Michael Card, a contemporary Christian artist, wrote a song called Scandelon. It is about the scandalous nature of the cross. The chorus goes: He will be the Truth that will offend them one and all. A stone that makes men stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And many will be broken so that He can make them whole. And many will be crushed and lose their very soul. Peter understood the scandalous nature of the cross. It repulsed him. There was no way Jesus was going to go to Jerusalem and ...
3438. Your Place Is Behind Jesus
Matthew 16:21-28
Illustration
Johnny Dean
One of the early church fathers, a man named Origen, suggested that when Jesus said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan," what he actually meant was, "Peter, your place is behind me, not in front of me. It's your job to follow me in the way I choose, not to try to lead me in the way YOU would like me to go." Certainly what Jesus said immediately after his rebuke of Peter would support that interpretation. He told all of his disciples, including Peter, that not only did HE have a task that was set before him by ...
3439. Forgive Us Our Debts - Sermon Starter
Matthew 18:21-35
Illustration
Brett Blair
As with so many of the stories of Jesus, the parable of the debtors arose out of a question that was posed to Jesus. Simon Peter said to him: "Master, if my brother sins against me, how many times should I forgive him? Seven times? Even as he asks that question my mind cannot help but think about children and how they will sometimes confess something they do wrong expecting to get praise from a teacher or a parent because they were so honest. In the same sense, Simon Peter by asking this question is not ...
3440. Electing Servants - Sermon Starter
Matthew 23:1-39
Illustration
Brett Blair
With Election Day upon us, I thought this text about hypocrisy was appropriate. I am reminded of a story about Theodore Roosevelt. During one of his political campaigns, a delegation called on him at his home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. The President met them with his coat off and his sleeves rolled up. "Ah, gentlemen," he said, "come down to the barn and we will talk while I do some work." At the barn, Roosevelt picked up a pitchfork and looked around for the hay. Then he called out, "John, where's all ...
3441. Uncovering Hypocrisy
Matthew 23:1-39
Illustration
Brett Blair
A man, returning from a business trip, was met at the airport by his wife. They walked from the gate together and were standing waiting for the baggage to be unloaded. An extremely attractive stewardess walked by. Suddenly, the man came to life. Beaming, he said to the stewardess, "I hope we can fly together again, Miss Jones." On the way home his grew suspicious, "How come you knew the name of that stewardess?" she asked. The man replied smoothly, "You see, my dear, her name was posted right up front in ...
3442. The Parable of the Talents - Sermon Starter
Matthew 25:14-30
Illustration
Brett Blair
Jesus once told a story about a wealthy landowner who was preparing for a long journey. He called his three servants and divided his money between them, each according to their ability. To one servant he gave five talents, meaning a sum of money, to a second two, and to a third one talent. Why is life like that? I don't know. We are all equal in the eyes of God. We are all guaranteed equal rights under the Constitution. In an election our votes are all equal. But when it comes to our abilities, we are as ...
3443. A Little Effort
Matthew 25:14-30
Illustration
Brett Blair
Apathy is the opposite of Faith: Some years ago in South America, a crew of Peruvian Sailors, headed up the Amazon river came upon a strange sight. It was like a scene from "The Twilight Zone." A Spanish ship was anchored off the coast and all the sailors were stretched out weakly on the deck of the ship. As the Peruvians drew closer, they saw that the Spaniards were in terrible physical condition. They looked the picture of death itself, their lips parched and swollen. They were literally dying of thirst ...
3444. I Can Be A Good Business Man
Matthew 25:14-30
Illustration
Brett Blair
Henry P. Crowell contracted tuberculosis when a boy and couldn't go to school. After hearing a sermon by Dwight L. Moody, young Crowell prayed, "I can't be a preacher, but I can be a good businessman. God, if you will let me make money, I will use it in your service." Under the doctor's advice Crowell worked outdoors for seven years and regained his health. He then bought the little run-down Quaker Mill at Ravanna, Ohio. Within ten years Quaker Oats was a household word to millions. Henry P. Crowell ...
3445. Do Not Let Him Find You Sleeping
Luke 12:32-40; Mark 13:1-37
Illustration
Brett Blair
Augustine, a man in the 5th century who became, Bishop of the church and a saint in history, originally lead a life of sin giving himself over to whatever pleasures presented themselves. His mother had earnestly prayed for him his entire life that he would give his life to the service of Christ, but Augustine persisted in his sins until one day he sat with a friend on a bench weeping over the state of his life. It was at this moment that he heard a boy or girl--he says he does not know which it was-- ...
3446. What Would We Do Without Friends - Sermon Starter
Mark 2:1-12
Illustration
Brett Blair
After Jesus had completed his tour of the synagogues he returned to Capernaum to rest for a few days. The news got out quickly that he had arrived and soon the house was filled to overflowing with people and people even spilled out into the streets. Into this crowd came four men carrying on a stretcher a friend of theirs who was paralyzed. So jammed was the narrow street that they could not get through. But they were as resourceful as they were determined. Thus, we read, that they climbed on top of the ...
3447. I'm Ashamed of You...
Mark 2:1-12
Illustration
Staff
A father and son were driving along and the father was coming down pretty hard on the teenager for not measuring up to the father's expectations. After a few choice words the father said, "Frankly, I'm just ashamed of you. You still don't have a job. When George Washington was your age he was working hard as a surveyor in the wilderness." This young man, who obviously had no self-esteem issues, quickly fired right back. "Well, put in those terms, Dad, I'm ashamed of you, too. When Washington was your age ...
3448. He's The Clumsy One
Mark 2:1-12
Illustration
Brett Blair
Perhaps you have heard about the father who introduced his children: "This is Pete. He's the clumsy one of the lot." "That's Kathy coming in with mud on her shoes. She's the sloppy one." "As always, Mike's last. He'll be late for his own funeral, I promise you." That dad did a thorough job of labeling his children with their faults and mistakes. People do it to us and to those we love all the time. They remind us of our failures, our errors, our sins, and they won't let us live them down. Try as you may to ...
3449. An Arm Around the Shoulder
John 15:9-17
Illustration
Brett Blair
You will remember Jackie Robinson as the first black man to play Major League baseball. In his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson faced venom nearly everywhere he traveled. Pitchers threw fastballs at his head. Runners spiked him on the bases, brutal epithets were written on cards and spoken from the opposing dugouts. Even the home crowds in Brooklyn saw him as an object of reproach. During one game in Boston, the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak. To make matters worse Robinson ...
3450. Revived Through Service
John 15:9-17
Illustration
I read about one occasion when Sadhu Sundar Singh and a companion were traveling through a pass high in the Himalayan Mountains. At one point they came across a body lying in the snow. Sundar Singh wished to stop and help the unfortunate man, but his companion refused, saying, "We shall lose our lives if we burden ourselves with him." But Sundar Singh would not think of leaving the man to die in the ice and snow. As his companion made his farewell, Sundar Singh lifted the poor traveler onto his back. With ...