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 4126 to 4150 of 4968 results

4126. Proper 26

Matthew 23:1-39, Joshua 3:1-4:24, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Malachi 2:1-9

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... , he is grateful that they accepted his preaching as the very Word of God. Because of this warm and close fellowship with them, Paul is anxious to visit them again, for they are his joy and glory. Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus urges his disciples to follow what the Pharisees taught but not what they practiced. New Testament scholarship does not credit Jesus with these words but, rather, Matthew. At the time of writing, the church was having a struggle with the Jews. The harsh words of Pharasaic hypocrisy ...

4127. Disappointed in Jesus

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... she turned around and left the store without buying anything.2 Friends, I believe that our passage for today speaks to us about our calling as Christians in a world of violence, in a world of increasing poverty, in a world of terrorism and intolerance. As disciples of Jesus, our text for today is calling us to follow him as those who embrace his prophetic vocation. Yes, we are called to criticize when necessary. We are called always to energize with hopeful visions of a new social order. But most of all, we ...

4128. God's Delight

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... ?" And Jesus, predicting the Day of Pentecost, answers, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses ... to the ends of the earth." It was only after these words that Jesus was able to leave the disciples, confident that his power to save would continue to be expressed through the faith and ministry of a living church. Our New Testament lesson for this morning is Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism. It is nothing more and nothing less than a public affirmation ...

4129. Sharing the Pain of Others

Matthew 26:14-27:66

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... of Jesus, must follow his lead. Holy Week is a rare and blessed time, a special opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Lord. Since Jesus did not shy away from the fate that he knew was his, we, if we truly seek to be disciples, must not shy away from the opportunities that come our way to be the Christ to others and share their burdens. The Ragman willingly took on the pain and suffering of those he encountered. He shouldered their crosses and lifted their burdens. Jesus similarly took on the pain ...

4130. The Price of God's Glory

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... cross willingly, as depicted by the synoptic evangelists, he finds his greatest exaltation in his willingness to sacrifice his own desires and needs for the betterment of all. Jesus finds his glory in being cut down for all. If we wish to be true disciples, then we must follow, fully. If we believe that Jesus' death is salvific, then to follow his lead will assist us along our journey home. Yet, many are unwilling to suffer. Obviously, no one seeks to bring pain upon oneself, but the question remains - do ...

4131. God Never Gives Up on Anyone

John 14:15-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... the Spirit would be released upon the world. Next, Jesus assures his friends that they will not be left orphans. We recall how the Lord made this promise to his apostles, as reported by Saint Matthew, when he prepared to return to the Father: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20 ...

4132. Reevaluating Our Mission for Christ

John 17:1-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... woman (John 8:1-11) and even forgiving Peter (John 21:15-19) after he had denied the Lord three times on the night before he suffered and died. Jesus, like the two elder sons in the story, used his talents well and wisely. We, the contemporary disciples of Jesus, have been given many talents and gifts to be used for the construction of God's kingdom. We have been sent to this world, individually and uniquely, to wisely and fully use the many and wonderful gifts we have been given. We have been given ...

4133. Deep Water!

Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... for us today! Christ was tired. He'd been grieving over his cousin John the Baptizer's death. But as he sought to be alone, the crowds sought him more. He'd spent the time teaching and healing and feeding them. He is really fatigued. He sends his disciples packing. They put to sea in the boat. Jesus goes up on the mountain to pray, to rest in the night's solitude. Somewhere in the wee hours of the morning, Christ seeks to regain the company of the twelve. And he does something totally unimaginable, yet so ...

4134. The Cry for Help

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... of Tyre and Sidon, where this Canaanite woman lives. Somehow she has heard of his reputation as a healer and comes to him to beg for help. She wants Jesus to heal her daughter. What will he do? Some of his people - and that apparently includes some of his disciples who are present - would say that he shouldn't even speak to the woman. There are a couple of possible responses that Jesus might make. We might like to think that the obvious thing for him to say would be, "Of course I'll be glad to help. God ...

4135. The Incomparable Christ

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... one of the crowd. And that just isn't historically or theologically accurate! For you see, Christ is so unique as to be incomparable! In the text, Jesus asked the question, "Who do you say that I am?" Was he just another on of the crowd? Did his disciples have any idea of who Christ was? Peter, of course, responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." While it's pretty clear that Peter did not fully understand all that meant, he was absolutely right. Jesus is the Christ. There is no one like ...

4136. True Reformation

John 8:31-36

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... , and that it can be known by us. "Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" the prologue of our Gospel of John tells us. Today, in the long debate in the eighth chapter of that gospel that we read part of, Jesus promises that his disciples will really know the truth, and that that truth will liberate them. What is this "truth" that Jesus is talking about? We hear all kinds of claims to truth in today's public square. There are political and scientific and economic claims, liberal and conservative claims ...

4137. Live and Learn

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . In other words, Jesus "learns" to hear his own words through the ears of her faith. That's why ultimately Jesus declares, "Woman, great is your faith" - not, "You are very clever." This is how philosopher Dallas Willard puts it, as he defines exactly what is a disciple: "One of those who have trusted Jesus with their whole life, so far as they understand it. Because they've done so, they want to learn everything he has to teach them about life in the kingdom of God now and forever, and they're constantly ...

4138. Gone with the Wind

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... that had heaved the boat from first one side and then the other now batter (or torment) Peter, who now has become himself a vessel on the sea, the lead disciple loses his nerve and lets doubt infect his faith. That said, we shouldn't ignore the fact that despite what Jesus later identifies as Peter's little faith, he was the only disciple who HAD launched himself over the side of the boat and set out across the roiling waters. The moment Jesus offered the invitation to "Come, " Peter came. Even Peter's ...

4139. Tell You the Truth

John 14:5-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ; 3) the truth about what lies beyond ourselves. What Lies Inside The truth Jesus proclaimed about our interior lives, what lies in our heart, and what lies corrupt our heart, was not a truth people always wanted to hear. During this Last Supper with his disciples, as Jesus tried to prepare them for his departure, Peter demanded to go with Jesus. Peter even vowed he would "lay down my life for you." Jesus responded, "I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows you will disown me three times!" (John 13 ...

4140. From Real Life to Resurrection Life

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... followers of an executed criminal). The angel gives the two Marys a directive with direction. These two women are to carry the most miraculous message ever received by human beings, the message of Jesus' resurrection. And they're also to command the other disciples to go to Galilee to meet with the risen Jesus. Galilee, the real site of most of Jesus' teaching, preaching, healing ministry, was now to become the first resurrected site of Christ's message and mission to the whole world. Not everyone responds ...

4141. Are You Willing to Be a Donkey?

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... gospel writer is careful to emphasize an almost seemingly discordant note in this celebratory theme. Jesus specifically instructs two disciples to appropriate for him a very particular mount, a young donkey colt. Matthew's text even carefully notes ... anything in this life, then I did so as a relative of the ass who at that time was going his way carrying an important burden. The disciples had said to its owner: 'The Master has need of it.' And so it seems to have pleased God to have used me at this time. ...

4142. Soul Deep Not Skin Deep

Luke 16:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . What Jesus focuses on is the fruit that results from the manager's shrewdness (machinations?). Jesus sees a man unafraid to push the accepted limits in order to bring about a needed change. And he sees in this shrewdness something that his disciples might well learn from. The commentary Jesus offers after this story is as central to this parable as the debt-dealing details. Jesus focuses on the effective and efficient use of worldly, dishonest wealth, not for money-making, but for relationship building ...

4143. The FUD Club: Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... his book The Revenge of Gaia: “We’re doomed.” Lovelock declares that “Only a handful of the teeming billions now alive will survive. It is too late for sustainable development; what we need is sustainable retreat.” Lest the church become another FUD CLUB, disciples of Jesus today need to hear and heed the words from 2 Thessalonians this morning like never before. Living with FUD takes a toll on the human spirit and psyche. This same fear, the same feeling of having our very foundations shaken and ...

4144. Don't Forget the Mustard

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... them (and us) to think that their paltry faithfulness earns them privileges from God, a lofty place in the kingdom. The truth is that as obedient, faithful servants of the kingdom all disciples owe God nothing more than all their devotion, all their labor, all of their life. Jesus' choice of the mustard seed also points up another discipling quality that we self-centered followers like these self-obsessed apostles forget to consider. Mustard is not to be eaten alone. It is as its best when doing what it is ...

4145. The Longest Running Parade in History

Psalm 118:1-29

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... acted with complete and immediate obedience – a sure sign that for once they had figured out what was up. · The crowd, seeing Jesus approach, already accompanied by his own disciples and by those he had previously healed and taught, knew what they were seeing. · Observant Jews, pious travelers on their way into Jerusalem for Passover, had also heard stories of this man Jesus. Now, as he appeared mounted on the donkey colt, the crowds brought their long-established traditions, their ...

4146. The Ultimate Happy Meal

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and eat make the loaves and fishes enjoyed by these five thousand hangers-on and would-be, wanna-be followers, the first true Happy Meal. Yet, the feat of this feast is a mere foretaste of the banquet Jesus the Messiah plans to offer. When the disciples gather at table with Jesus on that final Passover eve, he breaks bread and pours wine and institutes for all who will follow the ultimate, definitive Happy Meal. Here's a feast that really satisfies, filling heart and soul, mind and body, with the flavor of ...

4147. What Is Jesus Doing?

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... intervened. Instead the two women see and hear the miracle of the resurrection. Instead the women run to tell and the disciples and run smack into Jesus himself. Instead of feeling lost and wondering, "What would Jesus have me do?" these women ... two millennia ago, but this morning. We live in the plenitude and power of Christ's resurrection. Christ is alive, not for his scared and scattered disciples hiding in Jerusalem, but for each one of us here today. We don't have to ask W.W.J.D. But we do need to ...

4148. Son-burned, Wind-blown, Earth-Stained

Luke 12:35-48

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... coiffed, never freeze-dried into rigidity. Although the master hasn't yet returned home, the Holy Spirit, the companion whom Jesus promised to send to all his disciples, blew into town long ago, ruffling feathers and tossing aside our pre-conceived, hair-sprayed notions of our limitations and inabilities. The still terrified, tongue-tied disciples were suddenly transformed into bold, articulate witnesses when wind-blown by the Spirit. To be a prepared servant today means we too must be willing to sport ...

4149. Living in the Red

Galatians 6:11-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... God is Love, you're a spendthrift with God. In other words, if you're alive in Christ Jesus, you're always in the red. This is where Love always leaves us: in the red. The Christian life is the music of "Rhapsody in Red." No disciple of Jesus lives within his or her means. Every Christian lives beyond his means. Every Christian borders just this side of bankruptcy. In a true blue Christian, there are streaks of the deepest red. The great Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes argued that no profession ...

4150. Are You Running?

John 12:12-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... in Judges 6 against his whole town 8. Electing Saul as a King (even though Samuel and God thought it a bad idea) 9. Absalom "stole the hearts of the people." 10. Elijah versus the prophets of Baal in the contest on Carmel 11. All the disciples fled and left the one man, Jesus And possibly the most inexplicable and worst crowd decision ever made . . .the crowd's response to the choice Pilate offered them: "We want Barabbas!" Jesus was crucified by majority vote, by a crowd mentality. In fact, I can't ...

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