Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 376 to 400 of 2815 results

376. Living The Faith For Dummies

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... And Third, there's the Samaritan's philosophy: "What's mine is yours, I'll share it." That's how I want us to look at this parable today, through the lens of each of those. I. What's Yours Is Mine, I'll Take It There are so many people like that today. ... in for twenty four years. In six years it would have been yours. You weren't mugged or physically assaulted like the man in the parable. But you were left by the side of the road and left for dead. That was the attitude of the robbers. "What's yours is mine ...

377. You Never Noticed

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony . . .” If there ever was a parable of Jesus that should keep us awake at night, it is the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Why? Because, compared to most of the people in the world, we are quite rich. That is why most of us would prefer not to think too much about ...

378. No Excuse

Luke 14:15-24

Sermon

James Merritt

... used over 180 times in the Bible. One of Jesus’ favorite pastimes was to eat with both His friends and His foes. This parable that we are studying today revolves around a meal He was having with the Pharisees. “One Sabbath, when he went to dine at ... he said to him, ‘A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.’” (Luke 14:16, ESV) As you will see, the host in this parable is Jesus. God sent His son, Jesus, to this earth to invite everyone to be a part of His Kingdom and to invite everyone to have ...

379. Hamburgers Don't Grow on Trees

Mark 4:26-29, Mark 4:30-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Now, remember this is a parable about the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? It is God’s reign in human life. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom ... Kingdom came into the world with Jesus and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it has been growing ever since. Notice in this parable that the farmer doesn’t plow the seed under nor does he irrigate it. He simply scatters the seed on the ground. Then ...

380. Jesus Claims God-Given Authority to Condemn the Leaders

Mark 12:1-12, Mark 11:27-33

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... second half of the quotation), and it is “wondrous, amazing” to all who are part of the kingdom community. 12:12 looked for a way to arrest him. This repeats 11:18 (also 14:1). The leaders realize that they are the evil tenant farmers of the parable and that Jesus was unmasking them before the people. They have to get rid of him before he turns the people against them. However, they cannot arrest Jesus publicly lest a riot ensue. Their only hope lies in arresting Jesus by stealth away from the crowds ...

381. “Love Your Neighbor”

Luke 10:25-37

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... understanding of the law that Jesus was out on a limb, but in the radical comprehensiveness of the way he applied it. This parable subverts not the ethical demand of the law, but the Jewish sense of ethnic superiority. The two chosen texts (Deut. 6:5 and ... 14; James 2:8 (all of which focus on Lev. 19:18), and compare Jesus’s own summary in Matthew 7:12. The parable of the good Samaritan, however, is not primarily a call to universal benevolence; rather, it is a challenge to social and ethnic stereotyping ...

382. “Unless You Repent . . .”

Luke 13:10-17, Luke 13:1-9

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... But this is not, of course, to make light of sin. This same passage teaches that all are equally sinful and deserve God’s judgment. Hence comes the centrality of the call to repentance both in Jesus’s message and in our proclamation of the gospel today. The parable of the fig tree reminds us that it is only by God’s grace that we are not immediately destroyed, but that we must not therefore presume on his generosity: there is a limit to God’s patience and therefore also a point of no return for the ...

383. Blago and Radnan, Two Lost Sons

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... . We had to celebrate Radnan’s return. He was lost and now he is found.” We never get to hear how Drago responded to his father. Did he reject Yacob’s explanation for the party or did he understand and join in the rejoicing? We don’t know. The parable ends with Drago dumping his anger on Yacob. What we can assume is that when Drago scolded his father, it hurt Yakob deeply. In fact, Drago’s behavior must have cut so deeply the older brother must have been deemed as much a lost sinner as the younger ...

384. Mending Fences

Luke 16:1-15, Luke 16:16-18

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... can trust the manager with his wealth. He has after all treated his debtors badly, and in that way has made the Master himself look bad in their eyes! And he has not respected the Owner’s property (much as the terrible vineyard managers in another of Jesus’ parables). So what does the manager do? Does he simply resign and accept whatever fate may befall him? Not a chance! Caring much about what will befall him, he tries to remedy what he has done. Granted, he doesn’t do it out of the kindness of his ...

385. The Healing Tree

Revelation 22:1-6, Luke 8:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... must be healed. And Jesus is the One to do that healing. Come forward now as we sing: There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead To heal the sin-sick soul.… Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Jesus’ Parables of Seed and Harvest as Told By His Disciples (Luke 8) The Restoration of Eden and the Tree of Life Bearing 12 Crops of Fruit for Healing (Revelation 22) Minor Text The Purpose of the Seed (Genesis 1) The Story of Cain’s Offering (Bad Ground/A Jealous Heart ...

386. A Dirt Story

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... relatively small number of seeds fell on good soil. This farmer was so slip-shod in his work that we can only conclude that this parable isn’t about farming at all. It is really about God—and the seed which was sown is His grace. God is not so much ... your heart and that seed is multiplied through the people you touch. And who knows where it will end? Where are you in today’s parable? I doubt that any of us is the hardened path, the nonbeliever. We wouldn’t be in worship today if we were, and that’s ...

387. Dealing with T-A-R-E-ists

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

... because in this life all of us who are followers of Jesus Christ are still saints and sinners at the same time. The struggle with the presence of sin in our lives continues even as we pray to be fruitful for God and the kingdom. Jesus makes clear in the parable that we simply cannot be certain who is “in” or who is “out,” and thank God it is not up to us to decide! We can leave the weeding to the angels on the last day, and get on with the mission Jesus has given us — proclaiming the good news ...

388. Lent 3

Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Psalm 63:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... between his written words and his words when face to face. Gospel. (Luke 13:1-9) The reading has two parts. The first speaks to the question of the wickedness of those who died in a slaughter by the Romans and the collapse of a tower. The second is the parable of the barren fig tree that is to be cut down if it produces no fruit. Psalm. (Psalm 63:1-8) The psalmist is in danger. He looks to God for support. He remembers the power and glory that he felt when he worshiped God in the sanctuary. He rejoices ...

389. Proper 10

Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 1:1-14, Amos 7:10-17, Psalm 82:1-8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... urges them to continue steadfastly and assures them that he is praying that for them. Gospel. (Luke 10:25-37) Jesus responds to a series of questions from a lawyer. The persistence of the lawyer in wanting to know the meaning of the law leads Jesus to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is more an illustration of the heart of the law than a discourse on what it is about. The lawyer is led to draw his own conclusions about the essential intent of the law. Psalm. (Psalm 82) God is seen as a judge in ...

390. Advent 3

Luke 13:1-9, Exodus 3:1-22, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... is not one piece of fruit on it. This happens for three years. No wonder the owner wanted to cut it down. This is a parable of life. The tree represents a human who has nothing to show for his/her life. It is a barren, fruitless, wasted life. What can ... pardon ..." 3. Seek (v. 6). "Seek" is more active than "come." To seek is to hunt for the truth, for God himself. In Jesus' parables, the woman sought the lost coin and the shepherd sought the lost sheep. Before we can find, we must seek, make an effort. What ...

391. Lent 4

Luke 15:11-32, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Isaiah 12:1-6, Joshua 5:1-12, Luke 15:1-7

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... you take an ex-murderess into your house to care for your youngest child? Really? Then you identify with the father. 3. Glad you're back! (Luke 15:11b-24). Are you really glad when a wicked person comes back home to God, to church, to family? In the parable, the prodigal was received with a party: a banquet, a robe, a ring, shoes, friends, music, and dancing. It was a festive time. Does the church have such a party when new members are received? Are we glad when a person is baptized or are we irritated that ...

392. Proper 10

Colossians 1:1-14, Amos 7:10-17, Luke 10:25-37

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... reverse this order. Note also the intensity of the love of the two. We are to love God with our "all" compared with our love of neighbor as "yourself." How much we love the neighbor depends upon the love of self. 3. Neighbor (v. 29, 36). In this parable Jesus teaches that our neighbor is one in need. This need transcends all national, racial, and religious obligations. The neighbor may be 10,000 miles away. He/she may be of another nation, race, or religion. This is who your neighbor may be. But, are you a ...

393. Proper 24

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8, Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Luke 18:1-8

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... a heart. c. God a loving Father who vindicates. 2. The power of persistence (18:1-8). Need: How long should we pray for the same favor? How long is "long"? We have a tendency to grow weary in praying about the same need or problem. Jesus told this parable to teach us that we ought "always" to pray. (v. 1) We are to keep praying until the prayer is answered. That answer may be "yes," "no," or "wait." Outline: To get power through persistence in prayer a. Overcome the tendency to stop praying v. 1. b. Have a ...

394. Why Do We Ignore Warning Signs?

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

... feelings. Kindness means that if my brother or sister or my neighbor is in trouble, I help him or her. Kindness means I answer Cain's question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" with a resounding "yes." And when I ask myself, "Who is my neighbor?" I remember the parable of the Good Samaritan and remember that my neighbor may even be someone who comes from the other side of the world or the other side of the tracks and may look like my enemy. Walking humbly means I walk with God remembering who I am and who God ...

395. Proper 21

Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32, Exodus 17:1-7, Ezekiel 18:1-32, Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... operates in a vacuum; it only grows as you exercise it. Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32 Not the talk but the walk. In the parable that Jesus told, the first son initially refused to obey his father but later repented and did as he was asked. The second son ... ? Are you seeing Christ's truth in the world around you? Sermon Title: Rebellion In The Vineyard. Sermon Angle: The first son in this parable was guilty of the sin of overt rebellion. He, at first, refused to obey his father's request that he work in the vineyard ...

396. Proper 23

Exodus 32:1-33:6, Isaiah 25:1-12, Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... can aid one in accomplishing her goals, but this is not faith. Faith is trust in God, not in a person's own abilities. Faith, not PMA, was the source of the apostle's can do attitude. Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 Not fasting but feasting. In the parable, the king invited guests to a feast, the marriage feast of his son. The wedding feast was the epitome of joy because it meant the continuance of his reign through his progeny. Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a feast which has no end. However, the religious ...

397. Tough Faith In Tough Times

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

... live by faith in God, to persist in trusting God, even when appearances do not seem to support either his existence or his concern for us. The righteous person lives by faith. "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" That is the question this parable asks of each of us. Where is the point in your life at which you need to let go of your fears, your frustrations, your impatience, your anger, and sink down into patient trust in God's timing and in his way of working? There's a point like ...

398. Easter 4

Psalm 23:1-6, Acts 4:1-22, 1 John 3:11-24, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... in the final analysis by the example of Jesus, who served others to the extreme extent of giving his life willingly for them. His eternal presence enables his followers to obey the command to love in the same manner as he loved. Gospel. (John 10:11-18) The parable of the Good Shepherd contains the statement by Jesus that an evidence that he is the shepherd is his readiness to lay down his life for the flock. Furthermore, he also has the power to take it up again. That sets him apart from the others who also ...

399. Sharing Shalom

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

... that we do not need. We are a nation of bigger barn builders. We comprise only six percent of the world's population but consume forty percent of its goods. Collectively, we, too, are a bottleneck in the flow of Shalom to the rest of the world. Jesus' parable, therefore, does have relevance. It raises the question, "How am I to regard my wealth, and what am I to do with it?" Sensitized to the plight of the world's oppressed peoples who are my brothers and sisters in Christ, I must now make a choice. I ...

400. The Problem With Finding The Kingdom

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

William J. Carl

... to Jesus, the greatest of all is the kingdom. And it’s not wrong to search for it. But the man in the first parable just stumbled onto the kingdom when he wasn’t even looking for it. He found it plowing one day, one poor farmer working another ... finding the kingdom: It asks too much of us. It has too much of an edge to it. And the edge really comes out in the third parable where God separates those who understand about the kingdom and live it in their lives and those who don’t. The image he uses is one ...

Showing results