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Showing 4076 to 4100 of 4914 results

4076. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's gospel text (like last week's) presents two "versions" of Jesus' favorite communication form a parable. More than mere "stories," less than full-blown "myths," and with a different focus and format than an "allegory," parables remain a distinctive part of Jesus' teaching ministry. While his own mastery of this story-form is unique and unparalleled, the parables of Jesus may have grown out of the Hebraic tradition of the mashal. A mashal was an allegorical type of communication often used by ...

4077. 1 John 4:7-12

1 John 4:7-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The fourth chapter of 1 John is an elaboration on the statement in 3:23: "Believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ, and love one another." While 4:1-6 concerns itself with "believing in the name," this week's text focuses on the entreaty: "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God." Gnostic mysticism often spoke of the divine as "wisdom" or "power." But a deity personified as "love" flew in the face of popular Hellenistic concepts of an omnipotent god. When John asserts that "love is of God" ...

4078. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul spends considerable time in 1 Corinthians on the topic of food. Chapters 8-11 all look at the use and abuse of such a humble human necessity when it provides a symbolic means of dining with the divine. This week's epistle text lies midway through his discussion. In chapter 10 Paul begins by reaching back into Hebrew history to show how the fickle tendencies of the human spirit can undo the exquisite acts of love and deliverance God may perform. Paul spends the first four verses citing some of the most ...

4079. John 12:20-33

John 12:20-33

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

John gives us a scene that has no parallel in any of the synoptic gospels. Following on the heels of the Pharisees' disgruntled observation, "Look, the world has gone after him" (v.19), John notes the arrival of "some Greeks" who voice their desire to "see Jesus" (vv.20-21). The fact that these "Greeks" have apparently gone up to worship at the temple during the Passover festival and that they are interested in "seeing" the now notable Jesus indicates that these figures are either "God-fearers" (Torah- ...

4080. 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The agonies and anxieties inflicted on Paul by the Corinthian church led him to focus fiercely on the most crucial tenets of a Christian's life and faith. The opposition Paul faced, both insidious and confrontative, forced him to take uncomfortable positions and reveal personal and spiritual experiences that he would not normally have exposed for public scrutiny. Today's reading from 2 Corinthians finds Paul in the midst of just such an uncomfortably combative debate with those who opposed his words and ...

4081. Luke 1:39-45 (46-55

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

In Luke, the lives of John the Baptist and Jesus are closely interwoven from the time of their conceptions to the time of Jesus' entrance into public ministry. Luke relates in detail the angelically announced beginnings of both John and Jesus. These two parallel stories finally come together in today's gospel text as Elizabeth and Mary, the two mothers, meet and reveal their surprising conditions to each other. Everything about this meeting is unusual. Mary, apparently unchaperoned and alone, journeys to ...

4082. Mark 1:40-45

Mark 1:40-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

There is one particular facet of Jesus’ mission that was a complete failure. At least in Mark’s gospel, time and again Jesus instructed those he healed to keep quiet about their experience (see Mark 1:25, 34, 44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:56). Yet those who experienced healing or witnessed Jesus’ miraculous works blabbed the news to everybody they met. The result, according to Mark’s gospel, is that Jesus ended up surrounded by great crowds of the curious (1:45; 6:35-34; 7:24-25; 10:1). What has been tagged as “the ...

4083. Christ The King

2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4-8, John 18:28-40

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Scholars are divided on the question whether David actually wrote this song. If he did, they are not his last words but his last song. The first verse is an introduction to David, a man raised by God to a high position, anointed by God, and a sweet psalmist. Now David declares that the Spirit speaks through him. The Spirit says that a godly ruler is as appreciated as the sun in a cloudless sky and as rain that makes grass grow. The song concludes with the claim ...

4084. Epiphany 8

Mark 2:18-22, 2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6, Psalm 103:1-22, Hosea 2:2-23

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Hosea 2:14-20 Hosea was an eighth century prophet in Israel (Northern Kingdom). At this time the popular religion was Baal, a sensuous religion involving infertility rites and cultic prostitution. Hosea used this analogy of sex and marriage to call Israel back to Yahweh. As Yahweh made a covenant at Sinai in the wilderness, Israel is invited to come again into a wilderness where there is no competition from false gods such as Baal to make a new covenant, a new marriage. This new ...

4085. Proper 8

2 Samuel 1:1-16, 2 Samuel 1:17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Mark 5:21-43

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 In a battle with the Philistines King Saul and his sons lost their lives. An Amalekite soldier describes how Saul died. Saul was severely wounded and asked the Amalekite to kill him. Though Saul requested the Amalekite to kill him, David ordered one of his men to kill the Amalekite for slaying the Lord's anointed. Then he sang a lament for Saul and Jonathon. Epistle: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 In chapters 8 and 9 Paul discusses the stewardship of money. The pressing ...

4086. Romans 8:12-17

Romans 8:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul knew a lot about being “chosen.” First, he was a Jew. Paul was a member of a nation chosen by God to be in unique relationship with the Creator of the universe. Second, within this Jewish identity Paul was a Pharisee. Paul was chosen to wield special power and influence among his people because of his vast learning and piety. Third, in addition to his special religious status Paul also enjoyed unique political status. Paul was a Roman citizen, and that honor accorded him the rights and privileges of ...

4087. Lent 1

Deuteronomy 26:1-15, Psalm 91:1-16, Luke 4:1-13, Romans 10:8b-13

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 First Lesson—After the years of slavery in Egypt and the hardships of the wilderness, the people of Israel are called to celebrate the land of plenty in thanksgiving before God. Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Second Lesson—Paul assures his listeners that, whether they be Jew or Greek, there is one Lord of all. Romans 10:8b-13 Gospel—Jesus, fasting in the wilderness, overcomes the temptations of the Evil One. Luke 4:1-13 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ...

4088. Pentecost

John 14:8-17 (25-27), Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:1-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS First Lesson—The Spirit of God bridges language barriers to begin the creation of one church for Jesus Christ. Acts 2:1-21 [OR] The confusion of language can bring to a halt human cooperation and empire building. Genesis 11:1-9 Second Lesson—Paul reminds the Romans that the Christian family spirit is created by the Spirit of God. Romans 8:14-17 [OR] Acts 2:1-21 Gospel—Jesus promises that with the coming of the Spirit his disciples will do even greater things than he has done. John 14:8-17 (25-27) ...

4089. Proper 25

Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Psalm 90:1-17, Matthew 22:34-46, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 90:1-6, 13-17 First Lesson - With the death of Moses, Joshua succeeds to his the leadership of the people of Israel. Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Second Lesson - Paul expresses a motherly affection for the church at Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Gospel - Jesus asks questions, as well as answering them, in a debate with the Pharisees. Matthew 22:34-46 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Revere our Sovereign God ...

4090. John 6:1-21

John 6:1-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

There are many distinctive aspects of the “Fourth Gospel,” but one of its most unique features was John’s relatively brief focus on Jesus’ Galilean ministry. The Synoptics, on the other hand, spend a great deal of time detailing the teachings Jesus offered, the miraculous works performed, and the crowds that followed him as he crisscrossed the Galilean countryside. Today’s text is the exception to John’s usual Galilean omissions. Because he too recounts the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, this ...

4091. A Certain Word in an Uncertain World

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

I want to put two famous quotations side by side and see which one you think is closest to the truth. Here is the first one. "There is no such thing as a sure thing." Now that would probably capture the sentiment of most people around the world as in the year 2004. 9/11 and terrorism around the world has changed everything. Security on New Year's Eve this last year was unprecedented. International flights were cancelled for the first time in the history of airlines over terroristic threats. One train of ...

4092. Shame On Who?

John 8:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

I recently came across an article in a Baltimore newspaper that was entitled, "Whatever Happened To Shame?"[[1]] The journalist who wrote this article made, I believe, a very astute and accurate observation. These are just some of his remarks. "Some of us remember when "shame on you" or "you ought to be ashamed of yourself" meant something. There was a moral obligation to feel shame and to direct it toward ourselves. I don't think this happens much anymore...Instead of feeling shame, we feel embarrassed, ...

4093. Dead Man Walking

John 11:38-44, John 11:17-37, John 11:1-16

Sermon

James Merritt

In 1927, an S-4 Navy submarine was accidentally rammed by a Coast Guard Cutter, sending it immediately to the bottom of the bay. The entire crew was trapped. Every effort was made to rescue them, but every effort failed. Near the end of the four day attempt, to bring these men to the surface, a diver placed his helmeted ear to the side of the vessel and heard a man tapping Morse Code from inside. This was the last question that he heard. "Is...there...any...hope?"[[1]] If there is any day of the year and ...

4094. Houston We Have a Problem

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

"Houston, we have a problem." They are the most famous words ever uttered in the history of space travel. One single sentence, five small words, but they signal what could have been the greatest disaster in the history of NASA. It was April 13, 1970; astronauts Jim Lovell, John Swigert, and Fred Haise were in the lunar module - Apollo 13. They were two hundred thousand miles from Earth, 5/6th of the way to the moon, 55 hours into their flight when disaster struck. A mysterious explosion rocked the ship and ...

4095. Why Must We Carry a Cross? - Sermon Starter

Mark 8:27-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

Can people change instantly at salvation? Some traditions call it repentance and renewal. Some call it Sanctification of the believer. Whatever you call it most traditions expect some quick fix to sin. According to this belief, when someone gives his or her life to Christ, there is an immediate, substantive, in-depth, miraculous change in habits, attitudes, and character. We go to church as if we are going to the grocery store: Powdered Christians. Just add water and disciples are born not made. ...

4096. Leaving Before the Invitation

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Gary L. Carver

John and Mary have been married for about twenty years. These are good days for Mary as she looks at her life with a sense of satisfaction and joy. She worked long and hard to help put John through medical school. Now that the schooling debts are almost paid off, they have a nice home, a savings account, and she has been able to quit work. Johnny and Susie, sixteen and fourteen, are happy in their school and neighborhood. Many of the things for which Mary has dreamed and worked all of her life are finally ...

4097. A Frightening Friday

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

So much happening in so little time! We are left gasping for breath. We stagger under the weight of the mighty arm of historical occurrence. You and I praise God because we know the rest of the story. Those present did not know how things would turn out. They must have been like awestruck children nearing exasperation. Those of us who have read and perhaps studied the great writers amazingly discover that Saint John tops them all. Shakespeare was truly brilliant but there is a peculiar demeanor about our ...

4098. We Are One in Christ

Sermon

Clayton A. Lord

Someone once said that action speaks louder than words and that is true. When someone reaches out to help a person in need, they have done more than give a sermon. When a person spends time at the soup kitchen feeding the hungry or hammering nails on a Habitat For Humanity house, they are telling the world what they believe is important. Jesus instructed his disciples to be like salt, flavoring and preserving the world so that it would bring glory to God. He sent them out and told them to let the light of ...

4099. Abraham Believed God

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

If you've traveled with small children in a car, you've probably heard this conversation more than once. Sooner or later, whether the journey is half an hour or half a day, someone asks, "When do we get there?" "Soon." "How much longer?" "A few minutes." How long do we have to wait? It is an essential question asked in scripture. Job, the psalmist, and God's people wonder over time how long they will have to wait until God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray that phrase in the Lord's Prayer ...

4100. A "Somebody Done Somebody Wrong" Song

Hosea 1:2-10

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again. This is a nursery rhyme we learned as children, and somewhere along the line in history class we were taught that its composer, "Mother Goose," was, in fact, a political satirist. If we look between the lines of these playful rhymes we will find some kind of hidden message poking fun at royalty. (I guess you had to be there to get the joke.) Whether Sir Dumpty ...

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