Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 426 to 450 of 2962 results

Mark 1:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

As the earliest gospel, Mark's writings offer a brand new kind of Jesus. Beyond oral narratives and retold stories, Mark's work brought his first-century readers a completed, coherent message a gospel. He opens his account of Jesus' life and ministry by designating it once and forever as "good news." Just as Mark's account of Jesus' life is the briefest version of the four, he seems to have an editor's knack for finding the most succinct way to get his message across. Jesus' mission and message are surely ...

427. John 1:6-8, 19-28

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... as well. While the Baptist is positively defined as being "from God," the writer's most forceful sentence here is a declaration about who John the Baptist is not. John is "not the light" (v. 8). The light was still "coming into the world" (v. 9). Scholars designate John 1:19-12:50 as the "Book of Signs." While this section of John's gospel contains in it all his references to the acts and wonders Jesus performed during his ministry, the first "sign" in this "book" is the witness of John the Baptist. In ...

428. Philippians 3:17-4:1

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of a sense of egotistical pride, but as a teacher urges his students to take his lessons to heart. Paul may also be seen as exercising some apostolic authority here _ urging the Philippians to heed him simply because of his special designation. However, Paul does not designate himself as the sole example the Philippians have from whom to learn. He urges those in the Christian community in Philippi to look towards the examples they have in their midst of those who follow the lead of Paul and his associates ...

429. Jeremiah 23:1-6

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... or "visit" the flock and its new shepherds as he had done before. Verses 5-6 are sometimes dealt with as an entirely separate pericope from verses 1-4 and are sometimes included in a larger textual division that encompasses verses 1-8. Whatever the scholarly designation, it is clear that the prophetic author has moved beyond Judah's recent dismal past and is looking ahead to the day when the first of the promised good shepherds (v.4) will emerge to rule over the people. Many scholars suggest that verses 5-6 ...

430. Matthew 24:36-44

Matthew 24:36-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... about them and to ready themselves for the unexpected. The Matthean text personalizes the Messiah's impending arrival for each listener by having Jesus switch from "Son of Man" language to declaring that it is "your Lord" who is about to arrive. While Matthew's designation may have been gleaned from Mark's story about "the master of the house" who checks on his servants without warning (Mark 13:34-36), now "the lord of the house" has become the personal "your Lord." Verse 43 begins with an idiomatic Greek ...

431. Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:13-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... were seeking your life are dead" (Exodus 4:19). The angel's pronouncement in verse 20 exactly parallels that of verse 13 - the call to return mirrors the call to flee. Matthew's desire to recall the first exodus event may also be indicated by the unique designation given their place of return in verses 20 and 21 - "the land of Israel." These are the only two references to "the land of Israel" as a name-place in the New Testament. Such a place name, however, certainly recalls the final goal of the Exodus. As ...

432. Revelation 21:10, 22-27

Revelation 21:10, 22-27

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... other directly. Verse 22 highlights this new relationship by stipulating that there is no temple in this New Jerusalem. Holiness so saturates John's new city that there is simply no need for a separate space designed to enhance God's presence or Christ's rule. It would be as superfluous as our designating certain parts of our cities as having oxygen for us to breathe. By definition planet Earth has an atmosphere that provides oxygen - it is found everywhere there is air. So with the divine presence in the ...

433. Acts 8:26-40

Acts 8:26-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... people. Making eunuchs of one's enemy, or an enemy's sons, was the ultimate sign of a conqueror's force. Yet in the first century, the term "eunuch" was also used to describe a role or a status within ancient society. The term "eunuch" could simply designate a servant, especially one with specific duties within a royal household. We believe today's text means to define this man as a physical eunuch, for verse 27 goes on clearly to outline his position within the queen's court. In fact, this eunuch's role as ...

434. Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... our full acceptance as adopted children of God. Third, God bestows on us "all wisdom and insight" (v.8) through which we can finally glimpse "the mystery" of God's will (v.9). This enables us finally to begin to understand the plan of salvation God has designed and to feel the true and pure presence of God's "good pleasure" all around us. The gift God's grace bestows upon us is not only the redemption Christ brings, but the deliverance God-gifted wisdom gives us from ignorance and hopelessness. We, too, can ...

435. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Paul develops the body analogy, delicately balancing the genuine uniqueness of each part against the organic result these parts produce the miracle of a functioning, unified body. Variety is affirmed as a God-given gift (v.18), but variations in function and design are wholly attributed to God not to any inherent superiority of one body part over another. While Paul knows that part of the Corinthians' problems lay in assigning a hierarchy to spiritual gifts a "charismata" pecking order the body analogies of ...

436. Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... style (v. 6, "The word of the LORD came to me") detailing the divinely foretold visit of Jeremiah's kinsman Hanamel, who will offer Jeremiah a field to purchase as a "right of redemption." This "right" is described in Leviticus 25:23ff and was designed to ensure that land remained within tribes and families from generation to generation. Here in today's text we have the only detailed example of that Levitical precept being carried out. Because it is the only extant example, we should be cautious about ...

437. John 15:9-17

John 15:9-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of decisive, continued action on the part of the disciples. The disciples must demonstrate that they love Jesus by keeping his commandments in order to remain recipients of Jesus' love. There is both respect and freedom for the disciples' chosen actions implicit in this design. But Jesus next reminds his followers that he too was free to act in obedience or disobedience to his Father's commandments, and offers himself as a model of obedience and abiding love. Indeed the "joy" Jesus goes on to speak of in ...

438. John 17:6-19

John 17:6-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... with his followers, Jesus now turns his heart and words toward God in prayer. The common lectionary recognizes both the beauty and power of this prayer, as well as its soothing, sonorous quality. Thus, while the entire text of Jesus' prayer is part of the designated lectionary readings, only a portion of the prayer is read each year. As this year's section of the great prayer begins, Jesus reminds God of the obedience both he and his disciples have shown thus far. Already implicit in verse 6 is the theme ...

439. John 1:43-51

John 1:43-51

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... be part of that series. 90210 is the zip code for Beverly Hills. Notice, we don’t even have to add “California.” And we all know what that name “Beverly Hills” means. “Beverly Hills” means big money, huge Hummer Houses, the hottest cars, designer duds, luxury, power, prestige, Rodeo Drive. If you can include the zip code 90210 in your home address, you reveal a lot about yourself, your family, your world. Anybody here know anyone who ever had that zip code? . . . . No? Me either. The closest ...

440. Etched in Stone

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... as a guide for living. But we need to see that the Ten Commandments are only the beginning of the Christian’s responsibility to God and to society. The Ten Commandments give us the minimum daily dose of what it means to serve God. Truthfully, the Ten Commandments were designed for a pre-Christian society. Now don’t get angry with me, but it’s true. Do you remember the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Rich Young Ruler? Of course you do. It’s found in Matthew 19:16-22. A young man came up to Jesus ...

441. God Be With You All

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... say the following: We pray that you have come to know who you are and how life is to be lived, because you have come to know the God called “Trinity.” We pray that you have come to know the God who created you and alone can show you the design by which you were made and for which you were made. We pray that you have come to know the God called “Trinity.” If you have, then this same God will have used us to bless you with two gifts: Mystery and Relationship. Some refer to the gifts as Wings ...

442. The Darkness of a Youniverse

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... dark, cover it under a blanket of blackness. Good things, on the contrary, we cannot wait to trot out onto center stage. Kids show off homework with A’s and B’s. You find the D’s and F’s in the trash can. We buy designer clothes, move to nicer neighborhoods, get a fancier car, not just because we’ve got more money, but because we think we’re doing “good.” Second, John’s gospel doesn’t let our own personal determination of “good” and “evil” be the determining factor. Instead, the ...

443. Proper 12

2 Samuel 11:1-27, Psalm 14:1-7, John 6:1-21, Ephesians 3:14-21

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... to do, not for the glory of the doer but for the glory of God. Sovereign of sovereigns, let your authority to call to account be remembered by all who take lightly the responsibility of high office, and use their position for less than just designs. Creator of all good things, inspire the creative among us to find new ways of employing the talents of human workers, that the unemployed may be put to work at what is more than busyness, making our communities more beautiful, more healthful, more friendly in ...

444. Lent 4

Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22, John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... us to life with Christ even when we were dead in ours sins; it is by his grace that we are saved. Pastor: Friends, believe the good news! People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Exhortation Devote yourselves to the good deeds for which God has designed you. PRAYER OF THE DAY Divine descendant from heaven, human ascendant from earth, let the light of love from your cross continue to shine in our world so that all who look to you in faith may live, no longer under judgment, but in grateful allegiance ...

445. A Certain Word in an Uncertain World

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

... 't choose where you were going to be born. You didn't choose when you were born. You didn't choose who you were born to. You didn't choose your nationality, your talents, your abilities, your gifts, your interests, or your personality. We are all literally filled with "designer genes." I don't mean the kind you can find in the GAP or J. Crew. I do not know of a more certain word in an uncertain world that I could give you than those four words, "God is in control." Because of that, there are three things ...

446. Begin With the Blueprints

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

... Makeover: Home Edition. It is not only a fascinating show to watch, but it will touch even the hardest of hearts. Each episode features a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take somewhere between 3-4 months to achieve. A team of designers, contractors, and several hundred workers have just 7 days to totally rebuild and remake an entire house - every single room, plus the exterior and landscape. What you get to see in one hour is not only the unbelievable makeover of the house, but you see ...

447. Don’t Be a Hypocrite

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

James Merritt

... scenes or different parts of the act and that is why they were called "hypocrites." Sometimes, they would wear one type of mask and sometimes they would wear another. For the same reason that modern actors today put on heavy makeup and perhaps wear specially designed costumes or will pad their clothes to make them look bigger or stronger; they project an image that appears to be real, but it really is false. The word hypocrite soon took on the connotation of someone who treats the world as a stage on ...

448. Life on the Rock

Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

James Merritt

... 24-27) Now according to the story two men built two houses. Both started off with the same purpose; they wanted to build a place for their families to live. Both used similar plans. In fact, all homes in Bible days were very similar and very simple in design. Both built in the same place. But this is the key: Both houses were hit with a storm. Storms are inevitable. The Lord Jesus is not telling us how to find a safe comfortable setting where the sun always shines, the clouds never rain, and the wind never ...

449. Daily Homework

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

James Merritt

... to be like Jesus - that is maturing them by teaching them His commands. That is why we have a required Discovery Class. That is why Small Groups are so vitally important in the life of our church. That is why we have a class called "The Pointe" designed for new Christians and unbelievers who are seeking truth. When this happens, when we follow this plan and we help others become disciples so that they in turn get baptized and also begin to make disciples that is the way God grows His church. He does not ...

450. Five Differences between a Franchise Faith and an Authentic Faith

Mark 9:38-41

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... from the outside in. It is made to look, and taste, and feel like "Italian"... but no true Italian would be fooled. OG is Italian in one sense only... it is what North Americans expect of the name Italian, and it is designed to prop up the illusion already in the minds of the customer. Following Jesus is more than “feel” and illusions and appearances. This is an appearance culture almost as much as it is a convenience culture. We like to “appear” the part. But authentic followship is more than ...

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