Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3451 to 3475 of 4963 results

3451. New Beginnings

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... Hawthorne’s story: “Unhappily, this is the story of too many lives. The principal character simply never appears. The person we might grow into, the human being we might become, doesn’t show up. Our potential greatness lies unrealized, the splendor remains imprisoned, the promise unfulfilled. Our lives develop a static character.” (6) I hope that doesn’t happen to you, or to me. God has placed within each of us enormous potential, mental potential, physical potential, but the greatest of all is ...

3452. Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... unit, the type of text these verses represent is straightforward. Today’s text is an introductory eulogy, or “berakah,” an intentional focus on “declarative praise” (Westermann). Despite the numerous ideas and images Paul’s text introduces, this unit remains, at heart, a distinctly Christian “berakah,” praising and thanking the God who is the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.3). Part of the difficulty Ephesians 1:3-14 presents translators is its liturgical roots and intentions ...

3453. Mark 8:31-38

Mark 8:31-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... what the title they have just proudly declared actually means. It is a startling lesson. Rather than claiming authority from his identity, Jesus shakes his faithful followers with the news that the Son of Man (the term Jesus uses to define himself) is to remain obedient to God above all else. The cost of this obedience, Jesus reveals, will be rejection, suffering, and death. Only when he has endured all this will the Son of Man "after three days rise again" (verse 31). Not surprisingly Peter and the other ...

3454. Luke 24:35-48

Luke 24:35-48

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . The drama of his disappearances inspires the disciples for their future mission. Jesus' Emmaus Road companions immediately realize who they have been walking and talking with, and without hesitation know they must now go back and convey the good news to the remaining disciples. At the conclusion of his visit to the gathering in Jerusalem, Jesus blesses them and then makes his bodily ascension into heaven. The power of this glorious vision spurs the disciples on to worship and to work. It is only with ...

3455. John 6:24-35

John 6:24-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . They are looking for their next meal. Jesus attempts to turn their appetite for bread into a hunger for the imperishable food of eternal life. Since this whole dialogue sets up a discussion of the Eucharist (6:51-58), the imagery of eating remains essential. But Jesus' first efforts to get this stubborn crowd to think with their heads instead of their stomachs is a failure. Their next question does not suggest any comprehension on their part it only reveals that they are trying a different tack. Perhaps ...

3456. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of others, will find themselves securely part of an eternal relationship with God. The rhetorical questions in verses 36-37 highlight the fragile mortality of humanity and emphasize our dependency on the divine. Whatever gains we may feel we have made in this life, the old truism remains that "you can't take it with you." The value of our life was established before we were born. It is a gift we receive with our first breath, a gift we can never repay. Following Jesus or not is left up to us. But Jesus ...

3457. Genesis 2:18-24

Genesis 2:18-24

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that God intends not just any sort of companion rather a "helper" and a "partner" is the missing component. In verse 19 God seeks to remedy this divine oversight through the outpouring of a series of new creative energies. The creative process, however, remains basically the same - God once again uses the "ground," the earth itself, as the raw material for creation. While these new creatures share with the human a basic commonness of being, these late arrivals do not receive the additional gift of God's ...

3458. Hebrews 4:1-3; 9-13

Hebrews 4:1-3; 9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... will happen to those whose lives fail to manifest a faithful, obedient spirit. The author believes his message to be critically current - for it is only while the promise of "rest" is still "open" that we are able to act. God's promised rest yet remains a viable pledge. It did not conclude when the Hebrew people entered into Canaan. It has never been rescinded. But attaining the ability to spiritually rest in God is not some easy, passive spectator's reward. Throughout Hebrews one of the author's repeated ...

3459. Mark 10:35-45

Mark 10:35-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... those who confess Christ. Once again the author of Hebrews uses the familiar image and language of the high priest to convey the truth about the radically new situation in which humanity may now participate. Having just concluded a second admonition to remain faithful (vs.11): "let us make every effort") the writer now buoys up his readers with encouragement. Filtered through the familiar, Jesus is now called "the great" high priest, obviously of a completely different order than Aaron. His status as the ...

3460. Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Keeping all this in mind enables the thrust of Jesus' observation in verses 41-44 to take on new meaning. Whereas the institutional church has often used "the widow's mite" as a kind of ecclesiastical fund-raising text, it actually remains within the context of Jesus' teachings against the religious establishment. That Jesus is still teaching is indicated by his physical location - "he sat down opposite the treasury" taking up the traditional position used by rabbis when conducting their classes. Having ...

3461. Luke 2:41-52

Luke 2:41-52

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to understand his response (verse 50), Jesus suddenly submits to their authority as his parents and returns home with them. Notice that Luke carefully points out that Jesus "descends" with his parents to return to Nazareth. He voluntarily leaves the high ground of his experience in Jerusalem in order to remain "obedient" to his earthly parents.

3462. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... there is only one Spirit, the Spirit of God, but that its expressions or its "distributions" ("diaireseis") take on as many variations as there are people called by God. Whatever else Paul covers in this extended section on spiritual discernment, this remains his overarching tenet. Bridging the span between this general rule and particular gifts in verses 8-10 is verse 7. Charismatics and oldliners who expend their energies spotting shortcomings in each other usually find this text a useful one to avoid ...

3463. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... place. The further reference to "the twelve" served to distinguish them from the rest of the faithful as well. At verse 6 the style of the text changes to a distinctly Pauline character, indicating that the catalogue of information on the remaining "appearances" is supplied by Paul himself. These additions to the traditional confession create an impressive line-up of post-resurrection witnesses. It seems that although Paul knows that the gospel has been passed on to the Corinthians, he deems it necessary ...

3464. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... clarity of their call to ministry, Moses' experience on Mt.Horeb is enviously dramatic and unambiguous. While the format of this week's Old Testament text follows the established guidelines of all the "call narratives," the face-to-face quality of Moses' experience remains unique. Despite the miraculous nature of the vision, Moses does not immediately associate it with the presence of God. It is curiosity more than awe that originally draws Moses to the burning bush. Not until verse 6 is it made clear that ...

3465. John 20:1-18

John 20:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... so that she can simply stand around. She has been awakened to the miracle of Christ's resurrected presence and is now called to take action and proclaim the good news of prophesy fulfilled. Mary's miraculous message opens a door for the remaining disciples, for they may now expect the rest of Jesus' promises to be just as wondrously brought to life. Transformed by the content of this message, Mary does as she is told and joyfully proclaims to the sorrowing, frightened, disheartened outcasts that are ...

3466. Acts 9:1-20

Acts 9:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... only think of getting out of there before Jesus sees him and forces a confrontation. He hastily pulls on some clothing so that he won't be stranded naked on the shore and plunges into the water. His disappearance from the text now seems reasonable, for he remains waterlogged for some time. But Simon Peter does not make his escape; his love for Jesus keeps him close. This construction allows Peter's reboarding of the ship (now from the water, not the shore) in order to empty the net (verse 11) to serve as ...

3467. Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 3:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... not encounter the vision of Christ at God's right hand, but will be confronted by God's wrath. For all those who succeed in establishing their "new self" after being raised in Christ, the promise of the eschatological vision of paradise remains - whether Greek or Jew, Scythian or slave. Secret rites, prematurely transporting only a privileged few believers to this scene of glory, are categorically denied. By dying in Christ and then living for Christ, all believers will be welcomed. Christ truly "is all ...

3468. Hebrews 12:1-2, 12-17

Hebrews 12:1-2, 12-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... run. The pace is to be so quick and demanding that all excess weights must be shed. Though this homily has already spent several chapters outlining the miracle of the new covenant, it recognizes that, nevertheless, the baggage from the first covenant remains with us. We saddle ourselves with sins, adding weight to our spirits even though Christ himself has voluntarily offered to carry it all. Verse 2 declares Jesus to be both a "pioneer" (or "initiator") and a "perfecter" of our faith. This echoes Hebrews ...

3469. Hebrews 13:1-8

Hebrews 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... leaving the church to affix this conclusion at some later date. But while most scholars note this possibility, few actually adhere to the hypothesis. While the style of prose changes in chapter 13, the author's essential vocabulary and primary concerns remain the same. A less drastic theory states that while the author was concerned with voicing general guidelines and Christian attitudes in the first 12 chapters, he now focuses on specific, practical matters that directly concern members of the community he ...

3470. Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... parables is the story of the so-called "Dishonest Steward" in Luke 16:1-9. Few parables have been subject to such a myriad of interpretations - all attempts to harmonize the story's surprising end with our traditional moral expectations. The problem remains that after painting the steward with the brush of questionable ethics and untrustworthy behavior, this story concludes with words of praise for the master's fiscal manager. The parable starts traditionally enough. It is cast in the middle of a series of ...

3471. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a Roman citizen, and as a pharisaic scholar trained to understand the intricacies of law, it is likely Paul afforded himself every opportunity for extending his defense. Whatever the chronology, verse 16 makes it clear that Paul's spiritual response remains steadfast and unwavering. Paul not only bears no ill will towards those absenting themselves from his defense, but he also uses this very abandonment as yet another opportunity (like his impending death itself) to demonstrate a true Christlike spirit of ...

3472. Ephesians 1:11-23

Ephesians 1:11-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Ephesians is one of the most optimistic communications in the Bible. Whether or not authentically Paul's work, the fact remains that the distinctively Pauline nature of faith is presented here with a distinctively celebratory note. This week's epistle reading introduces one of the central tenets of this entire section - that of the special "inheritance" available to us through Christ. Verse 11 declares that this inheritance is experienced once believers ...

3473. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 3:5

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... debate continues over the authenticity of Pauline authorship, there is no doubt that these letters grapple with the heart of Paul's missionary message. Significantly, the challenge that confronted the Thessalonian Christians is one that still faces the faithful today: remaining true to the word of God when it conflicts with the message of popular culture. As a much-favored free city in the Roman empire, Thessalonia was granted courtesies that enabled her to retain her own culture and governing traditions ...

3474. Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:13-18, Matthew 2:19-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The journey of the Magi is recounted in Matthew 2:1-12 and demonstrates the trustworthy nature of these three powerful figures. The Magi take the signs and portents of the Lord very seriously. They go to great lengths and some risk to remain obedient to the visions they are given. First they seek the child by going on a kind of pilgrimage journey. When they find Jesus, these stately, royal personages do not hesitate to bow down and worship the tiny baby. They also pay homage to the infant's foretold ...

3475. Matthew 5:21-37

Matthew 5:21-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... or readers could avoid finding themselves personally challenged. Jesus' directive about "salt" and "light" begins to personalize his message by evoking the emphatic "you." Yet the call to be "salt" and "light" is sufficiently vague that the audience could remain reasonably comfortable in their seats. Beginning in verse 17, however, Jesus begins to reveal the meat of his text - and tough and chewy it proves to be. If the crowds thought Jesus' unusual, user-friendly methods indicated some libertarian ...

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