Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4026 to 4050 of 4936 results

4026. If Your Father Was….

Illustration

H. Norman Wright

One of the main reasons people hold false perceptions of God is our tendency to project onto God the unloving characteristics of the people we look up to. We tend to believe that God is going to treat us as others do. The Gaultieres agree: We like to think that we develop our image of God from the Bible and teachings of the church, not from our relationships, some of which have been painful. It's easier if our God image is simply based on learning and believing the right things. Yet, intensive clinical ...

4027. Being Prepared

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

Hurricane Bob was bearing down on the Atlantic coast. Safe in his home on that same coast, a man named J. R. thought he was well prepared. The power failed, but that didn’t faze him. As night fell, he simply fired up some oil lamps and placed his Coleman camping stove on top of the electric range in his kitchen to cook his dinner. So what if he had no electricity? He was able to enjoy a delicious meal thanks to his Coleman stove. He commended himself on his foresight. He went to bed secure in the knowledge ...

4028. Crying at the Tomb

John 20:10-18

Sermon

King Duncan

Al Smith was once governor of New York. He was doing his first tour of New York’s Sing Sing Prison when the warden asked if he would address the inmates. The governor was taken by surprise, but he agreed. His awkwardness was revealed when he began like this, “My fellow citizens . . .” He stopped himself. He wasn’t sure if inmates actually had the full rights of citizenship. So, he changed courses. “My fellow convicts,” he began again. Everyone laughed. He tried once more. “Well anyhow, I’m glad to see so ...

4029. Guarding the Treasure

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

Most of us have a long list of passwords, PINs, and usernames to type into our cell phones, our computers, our ATMs, and a host of other gadgets. We need these to protect ourselves. Identity theft has become a serious problem. We have all seen the commercials on television of the person bragging about a dream vacation, but the voice coming out of the character's mouth is another person's voice. The character in the commercial is portraying an identity thief. In real life, identity theft is not as funny as ...

4030. The Bridge at Sychar

John 4:1-26

Sermon

David O. Bales

A great deal of the Bible is quite understandable by itself. To grasp much of the Bible we don’t need tons of background, familiarity with ancient languages, or an advanced degree in archaeology. Then we approach other passages where we need the collective wisdom from the church’s scholars to open up the fuller meaning. We’re at such a place today. John chapter 4 speaks much louder of God’s grace when we review some background information. First, the history between the Jews and Samaritans was vicious, ...

4031. Soiled Faith and Watered-Down Churches

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Some of us are born with green thumbs — able to water and plant barren landscapes into lush gardens. Some of us are born with gangrene thumbs — unable even to grow a “Chia Pet.” Some people are born with the ability to take things apart and put things back together. They are handy-dandy, fixer-uppers from the get go. But in the most shallow part of the wading area of that “fixer-upper” gene pool, there are those of us who should never be allowed to handle hammers, screwdrivers, or saws. There are those ( ...

4032. In Corinth

Acts 18:1-17

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

Corinth was the most important city to which Paul had come since leaving Syrian Antioch, and he stayed there longer than in any other city (as far as we know). Luke tells us of the establishment of the church in Corinth, but nothing of its life. For this we must turn to Paul’s letters. So little does Luke say of this church that he has opened himself to the charge of being less interested in Corinth than in Macedonia and Ephesus (Rackham, p. 322). There may be something in this, but the reason lies more in ...

4033. Living to Please God

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

The first three chapters of this letter are largely personal and historical in character, the last two practical and doctrinal. They are joined in the Greek by the conjunction oun, which sometimes expresses a logical connection, as in Romans 12:1 where the exhortation arises out of the doctrinal exposition (cf. also Eph. 4:1; Col. 3:5). But not here. The oun is simply transitional. In his report, Timothy may have noted a tendency, or at least a temptation, for the Thessalonians to slip back into heathen ...

4034. The Agreement of the People

Neh 9:38–10:39

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

A Communal Pledge of Obedience: Before Jerusalem could be repopulated in line with Nehemiah’s plan in 7:4–5, the last part of the program laid down in chapter 1 had to be implemented. The community had started to take the Torah into account in the readings and responses of chapter 8, but they had to go further. Their prayer of repentance in chapter 9 must logically lead to wholehearted obedience to God’s commands. The divine condition for a return to Jerusalem, “if you return to me and obey my commands” (1 ...

4035. I Am a Rose of Sharon

Song of Songs 2:1-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

The Lovers Together (2:1-7): As this section opens, the two lovers are clearly together: they become partners in dialogue. The woman and the man first exchange playful banter, then admiring comments. The admiration closes with the woman speaking to or about the man. She then speaks for the first time a verse which will recur. This verse is clear in imagery although not in time (2:6). Then there follows the first instance of another recurring verse, the adjuration to the daughters of Jerusalem (2:7). 2:1–7 ...

4036. The Nations Judged

Joel 3:1-16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

God’s Case against the Foreign Nations (3:1-8): 3:1–3 The NIV has eliminated two important words in the translation of verse 1. In the Hebrew, the verse begins, “For behold,” which not only connects this passage with the preceding poem, but also emphasizes the content of verses 1–4. In 2:28–32, Joel has announced those signs that will precede the coming of the day of the Lord. He now tells what will happen at the time of the day itself. When the day comes, God will save Israel (v. 1) but will gather ...

4037. Leaders and Prophets Rebuked

Micah 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

Judgment on the Legal Butchers (3:1-4): It would seem as if 2:12–13 has interrupted the series of judgment oracles that we find in chapters 2 and 3 and that this oracle of judgment in 3:1–4 simply continues the announcements of sins and their punishments that we have seen in 2:1–3, 4–5, and 2:8–11. As a result, many commentators have considered 2:12–13 to be a later editorial insertion unrelated to its context. But in the sweep of Yahweh’s plan in Israel’s history, the book of Micah envisions that part of ...

4038. Jacob Apprehension in Meeting Esau

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Jacob’s Enigmatic Wrestling Match: Before Jacob’s wrestling match (vv. 24–30), he has a vision of angels at Mahanaim (vv. 1–2). On the surface this brief report seems to be disjunctive. Nevertheless, several terms tie these two passages into the flow of the Jacob narrative. Jacob meets the angels or messengers of God (mal’ake ’elohim), and he sends “messengers” (mal’akim) to meet Esau. There is a play on “camp” (makhaneh; 32:2, 8, 10, 21) and “gift” (minkhah; 32:13, 20; 33:8, 10). Two terms for grace ...

4039. Getting Ready for the Passover

Luke 22:7-38, Luke 22:1-6

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: It is at Passover time that Jesus is to die, and he is determined to have a last Passover meal with his disciples before his death occurrs. Understanding the Text In 21:37–38 Luke rounds off the account of Jesus’s teaching in the temple courtyard, which began at 20:1. With the mention of the Passover in 22:1 the long-anticipated climax of the story (see 9:22, 31, 44, 51; 13:31–35; 18:31–33) begins, as these verses relate the plotting of the Jerusalem authorities, the fateful decision of Judas ...

4040. The Lord Chooses a New King

1 Samuel 16:14-23, 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: When choosing his servants, the Lord gives priority to inner character, not outward appearances. Understanding the Text In the previous chapters Saul lost his dynasty (13:13–14) and then his position as king (15:26–28). Chapter 16 is a turning point in the story: the process of Saul’s actual removal from kingship begins. God withdraws his Spirit and sends another spirit to torment Saul and undermine his kingship. Prior to this, the Lord announced that he would raise up “a man after his own heart ...

4041. “Ascribe to the Lord the Glory Due His Name”

Psalm 29:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: God has many voices, sometimes proclaiming his majesty and power through nature, while his people acclaim the message in worship. Understanding the Text In this beautiful psalm of praise, the “voice of the Lord,” the central thrust of Psalm 29, heard in the frightful storm, announces in nature’s accent the lordship of Yahweh, ending in the peaceful lull of the storm. In Psalm 96 (v. 10a) the announcement of the Lord’s reign sends the heavens and the earth and all creation into passionate ...

4042. This Spirit Is Not Spooky

John 14:15-21

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

These words were spoken just hours before the greatest act of love in world history, the death on a cross of God's incarnate Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He died in our place so that everyone who believes on him (Mark you, not in, but on him -- and there is a difference. To believe in something can be seen as nothing more than an exercise of intellectual assent for we remember that we are told, "Even the demons believe -- and shudder" [James 2:19]. To believe "on" him means to lay our whole lives on him and ...

4043. Called to Bigness

Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20

Sermon

James L. Killen

Lots of Christians think of Judaism as a worn-out, rigid old religion that needs to be replaced. Apparently Jesus didn't think that way. When Jesus gave the teachings that are parts of the Sermon on the Mount, he was speaking as a Jew to Jews. He apparently thought of himself as part of a vital religious tradition through which God had been at work for centuries and through which God was just about to do something new and even greater. When Jesus spoke of fulfilling the law and the prophets, he was calling ...

4044. The Collection for God's People

1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

Paul almost certainly is responding to a pair of inquiries at this point, since the words now about (vv. 1, 12) identify topics that were brought to Paul’s attention by the letter or the delegates from Corinth. Paul discusses the collection he was assembling. He states some guidelines that the Corinthians may follow, and the principles inherent in his directions provide theological insight into Christian life. In turn, Paul mentions his future travel plans to inform the Corinthians of his situation and ...

4045. The Death of Nadab and Abihu

Leviticus 10:1-20

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Unfortunate Incident of Nadab and Abihu: The historical narrative continues through chapter 10, a narrative of joy interrupted by trouble. Such a pattern is not unusual in the Hebrew Scriptures and in this case raises important issues about obedience in the life of the people. In a sense this incident mars the climax to the inauguration of tabernacle worship in Leviticus 9:22–24, but it also punctuates the story with a startling reassertion of Yahweh’s holiness. The unfortunate incident of Nadab and ...

4046. Jacob Wrestles with God

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

4047. Setting His Face Toward Jerusalem

Luke 9:51-62

Sermon

King Duncan

I’ve got a question for you this morning, a quick opinion poll. How many of you believe that current technology makes certain tasks easier? For example, how many of you prefer a washing machine to a washboard when doing laundry? How many of you like keeping in touch with family and friends on Facebook or Instagram? But how many of you also believe that we can misuse technology in ways that the inventors of these various technologies did not even think about when they invented them? For example, there was ...

4048. Jesus' Guide to Wise Investing

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

King Duncan

A sixth-grade teacher posed the following problem to one of her arithmetic classes: “A wealthy man dies and leaves ten million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his wife, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his nephew, and the rest to charity. Now, what does each get?” After a very long silence in the classroom, one little fellow raised his hand. With complete sincerity in his voice, he answered, “A lawyer.” He’s probably right. Most of us are quite serious when it comes to money. It is estimated that ...

4049. Use Your Head as Well as Your Heart

Luke 14:25-33

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever noticed that some people don’t think things through very well? There’s a story about a professional football player who wasn’t very fond of team curfews when the team was playing on the road. So this player had a routine that he followed whenever his team was in another city. If he wanted to stay out after curfew, he would take whatever he could find loose in his hotel room and cram it under his bed cover so it would appear that he was in his room. However in one motel there was very little ...

4050. What Super Power Would You Choose?

Luke 10:1-11, 7-20

Sermon

King Duncan

When you were a kid what superpower did you want to have? Flying like Superman? Scaling tall buildings like Spiderman? What superpower did you want to have and how did you want to use it? I thought about that recently when I saw a question which was posted on the website forum Reddit. The question was, “If you could have a useless superpower, what would it be?” Did you catch that--a useless superpower? Here’s one response that came in to that question: “The ability to win at rock- paper-scissors every ...

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