Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4476 to 4500 of 5000 results

4476. The Counter Intelligence of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... what gives you the ecstasy in the fields.’” As cited in “Great Teachers on Teaching,” Spirituality & Health, March-April 2007, 57. “There is an African story of a tortoise about to meet a leopard in battle. Beforehand he went to the battleground and made marks all over the place, suggestive of a hard struggle. When he was asked what he was doing, he replied: ‘Because even after I am dead, I would want anyone passing by this way to say, ‘A fellow and his match struggled here.’” As cited on ...

4477. Peter, James and John

Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-13

Illustration

J.O. Sanders

... lessons. On the occasion of the raising of Jairus's daughter (Luke 8:51), they were granted a preview of their Lord's mastery over death ... On the mount of transfiguration (Matt 17:1), they gained clearer insight into the importance of His impending death ... On the Mount of Olives (Mark 13:3), they marveled at His prophetic discernment ... In the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37), they glimpsed in the sufferings of the Savior something of the cost of their salvation..."

4478. Advent 4

Psalm 80:1-19, Isaiah 7:1-25, Romans 1:1-17, Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... sign is stated by the prophet to King Ahaz in v. 9, "If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all." Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 - "A Communal Petition for God to Be Present" Setting. Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 bears the marks of a worship liturgy. Note the refrain that occurs in vv. 3, 7, 19. The psalm, therefore, was probably read by a worship leader or priest, with the congregation answering by means of the refrains. The refrain, with its request for God to break through to the worshiping community ...

4479. Easter 2

John 20:24-31, John 20:19-23, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Acts 2:14-41, Psalm 16:1-11

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... . The outline suggests a symmetry between salvation (vv. 3-5) and discipleship (vv. 6-9), with faith providing the link between the two. The central theme when preaching this text, therefore, is faith. The content of God's salvation is described in three parts, which are marked in the Greek text with the preposition eis (to). By the mercy of God, the writer tells us, we are born again to (eis) a hope (v. 3), an inheritance (vv. 4-5a), and finally salvation (v. 5b). Each of these three aspects of being born ...

4480. Easter 7

Jn 17:1-11 · 1 Pet 4:12-14; 5:6-11 · Ps 68 · Acts 1:6-14

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... as you saw him go into heaven." Moreover, in this story Jesus departs on "a cloud." This singular cloud matches the description of the coming of the Son of Man on "a cloud" with power and great glory in Luke 21:27 —not on "clouds" as in Mark 13:36 or Matthew 24:30. The risen Jesus has been exalted (through the Ascension) to a position of universal power and authority. All of this assures the disciples of God's ultimate triumph in and through the lordship of the crucified, raised, and ascended Jesus Christ ...

4481. Epiphany 2

Psalm 40:1-17, Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-34, John 1:35-42

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... number of problems in structuring Isaiah 49:1-7. The first problem is whether the second Servant Song includes v. 7. Most scholars would say that it does not. Note, for example, how there is a full introductory formula in v. 7 ("Thus says the Lord . . ."), which marks this verse off from vv. 1-6. Thus we should note that the lectionary reading consists of two distinct texts, in much the same way as Isaiah 42:1-9 did last week. The juxtaposition of two texts in one lectionary reading prompts us to raise the ...

4482. Epiphany 3

Psalm 27:1-14, Isaiah 9:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Matthew 4:12-17, Matthew 4:18-22

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... that day in honor of the Confession of Peter with the gospel lesson being Matt. 16:13-19. January 25, a much older festival in honor of the Conversion of St. Paul, is still widely observed across denominational lines. The observance of these days marking the Unity Octave implies that the unity of the Church is dependent upon an ongoing conversation between Peter and Paul and their contemporary disciples. For more than a decade, ecumenism has fared worse than the weather, since it is difficult even to find ...

4483. Epiphany 6

Mt 5:21-37 · 1 Cor 3:1-9 · Ps 119 · Dt 30:15-20

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... God. Our passage moves in a different direction by using geographical imagery to describe what it means "to cleave" to God. Cleaving to God means walking on God's road in God's land and never traveling any other roads. The map that gives us direction on this journey and marks the gas stations along the way is the law. The law is an expression of God's love, for without it we would be lost on back roads with an empty gas tank. We would wander and die in the wilderness. Psalm 119:1-8 - "Walking on God's Road ...

4484. Lent 5

John 11:1-45 · Romans 8:6-11 · Ezekiel 37:1-14 · Psalm 130

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... be very helpful to a congregation that takes such matters for granted.) In vv. 9-11 Paul's remarks become more positive in character. He declares who we, as believers, are: we are in the Spirit, and the Spirit is in us. This is the distinguishing mark of the Christian. Paul's turn here is deliberate. With all the previous admonition to set our minds on the Spirit rather than the flesh, we might easily but mistakenly conclude that our salvation is but a matter of making the right decisions. Wrong! We do ...

4485. Proper 9

Psalm 45:1-17, Romans 7:7-25, Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 11:1-19, Genesis 24:1-67

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... the previous discussion (or at least the summary in v. 13) one can easily, and mistakenly, come to Paul's "I" language in vv. 15-25 and assume that the apostle is giving us a bit of serious personal introspection. Nothing could be farther from the mark. The "I" of our lesson is a representative figure of all humankind, the typical "fleshly sinner" who speaks not merely for Paul but for the universal human experience in bondage to sin and death. Structure. In the lesson, vv. 15-20 take up the universal ...

4486. Proper 16

Exodus 1:1-22, Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:1-8, Psalm 124:1-8

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... ). Our lesson follows these passages, and it is distinct from them, although it is set among them. In 16:13-20 Jesus turns away from the Jewish authorities to his disciples. Structure. There are two parts to the lesson: vv. 13-16 and 20, which are comparable with Mark 8:27-30 and Luke 9:18-21; and vv. 17-19, which are without parallel in the other Gospels. The manner in which Matthew splices vv. 17-19 into the material in vv. 13-16 and 20 indicates his understanding of the interrelatedness of the two parts ...

4487. Proper 22

Exodus 20:1-21, Matthew 21:33-46, Philippians 3:1-11, Psalm 19:1-14

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... other professing believers had sharp differences of opinions. Apparently Paul's opponents attempted to win the day by claiming an authority based upon their Jewish credentials. In response, Paul recites his own qualifications. Many bad sermons, frequently well off the interpretive mark, have been preached on vv. 4-11. Notice that Paul is neither guilty nor disillusioned as he looks back on his life in Judaism; indeed, he was quite content and can refer to his former accomplishments as "gain." But now he ...

4488. Proper 23

Psalm 106:1-48, Philippians 4:2-9, Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... for God to remember the psalmist. Verses 6-46 are an extended section of historical illustration concerning God's goodness and Israel's disobedience. Verse 47 is a petition that provides a conclusion to the psalm. (The doxology in v. 48 is best read as marking a conclusion to the fourth book of the psalms, Psalms 90-106.) This overview illustrates how petition in vv. 4-5, 47 frames the central section of historical illustrations in vv. 6-45, and thus offers the perspective from which we are to read the ...

4489. Proper 26

Joshua 3:1-4:24, Matthew 23:1-39, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Psalm 107:1-43

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... our brother or sister has none that we are to give one away, but we live in a world where homelessness increases by the day. On basic matters such as the provision of food, shelter, clothing, and the making of peace, we fall dreadfully short of the mark to which Christ has pointed us. Clearly our comprehension outdistances our performance, so that we are all too much like the Pharisees in Matthew's Gospel. And like the Pharisees to which Jesus refers in this lesson, we fail to do what we know is right as ...

4490. Proper 27

Joshua 24:1-27, Psalm 78:1-72, 1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11, Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon Aid

Soards, Dozeman, McCabe

... of Jesus with sections of teaching material that are referred to as "little apocalypses"—that is, the last words of Jesus prior to the Passion narrative are remembered as his teachings about the future. In arranging the material in this fashion, Matthew (along with Mark and Luke) shows the concern of the early Church to connect the time after Easter firmly with the time of the historical ministry of Jesus. The early Church understood that its time was not separated from the time of Jesus, indeed in his ...

4491. Trinity Sunday

Genesis 1:1-2:3, Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Psalm 8:1-9

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... in context, including our lesson. Verses 5-10 issue an appeal and plainly state Paul's purpose for writing. The actual lesson for today, vv. 11-14, may cause a slight problem, because some English language Bibles versify these lines 13:10-14 (e.g., KJV) while others mark the text with vv. 10-13 (e.g., NRSV). It is not that some translations have an additional verse, but that some divide v. 12 in Greek into two parts in English, vv. 12-13. The motivation for shifting this section from three to four verses is ...

4492. Commentary for Matthew 4: 1-11

Matthew 4:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the next one is 2160. We are as unaccustomed to this early a Lenten season as we are accustomed to the temptations story beginning our Lenten journey. In fact, the “forty days and forty nights” Jesus spent fasting in the “wilderness” is what marks a season of “Lent” on the church calendar to begin with. The church uses Lent as a time for “tuning up” spiritually. Jesus’ own experience of this journey, a tempestuous time of testing and tempting, is somewhat different. In the account found in ...

4493. Changed Lives: The Man Born Blind from Birth

John 9:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... many years, he or she will note that it is not the steps, the throw rugs or the canned goods in the kitchen that are a problem. Steps and rugs are landmarks, felt by the feet. Canned goods can be labeled with Braille or other markings. A person blind for many years will rather find that it is the demeaning, belittling, or patronizing attitudes and opinions of people with sight that present the greatest difficulties. Insensitive people are the biggest obstacle. (3) So, how do you see other people? Here’s ...

4494. Getting a Handle on Our Faith

John 11:1-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

It’s time to find our pump handle, or to get a right pump handle. Let me explain. 150 years ago, 500 people died of cholera in just ten days in one London neighborhood, marking the beginning of another horrible epidemic. Victorian physician Dr. John Snow of London had already written a controversial pamphlet suggesting that cholera was not caused by “vapors,” but was instead a disease of the “gut,” spread by contaminated water. With the high number of deaths in this neighborhood, he studied ...

4495. Remove the Handle Cut off the Source

John 11:1-44

Illustration

Brett Blair & Leonard Sweet

It's time to find our pump handle, or to get a right pump handle. Let me explain. In the 1850's, 500 people died of cholera in just ten days in one London neighborhood, marking the beginning of horrible epidemic. Victorian physician Dr. John Snow of London, now considered one of the fathers of modern epidemiology, had already written a controversial pamphlet suggesting that cholera was not caused by "vapors," but was instead a disease of the "gut," spread by contaminated water. With the high ...

4496. Two Roads Diverged

Romans 8:1

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

... . I can go one-way or the other. Which one should I take? (the one that takes you to your city) Why can’t I take this one? (it doesn’t go the city) I see. It would only get me further away from where I need to be. Finish marking the map to your proper destination. Application: Did you know that our lives are like this road map? There is a road that God wants us all to be on, and then there is a road that leads away from where God wants us to be. The good road is ...

4497. Matthew 21:1-11 - Roll Out the Green Carpet

Matthew 21:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... specified and used. Of course, Matthew had no trouble understanding the Hebrew text that describes the king “riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey,” so his reason for including two animals is not just some embarrassing literalism. Both Mark and Luke mention that the “foal” had not been ridden before, making the presence of its mother in Matthew’s gospel a logical, and compassionate, calming device for a skittish young animal unused to being ridden or to big crowds. But Matthew also ...

4498. No Formal Greeting

Luke 19:28-44, Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Alan Jackson

... . Common people's cloaks and some branches cut from the fields were the best substitute they could come up with for a red carpet. There was no formal greeting by any dignitaries, just a crowd of nobodies shouting the lyrics of Psalm 118. And instead of receiving a royal welcome, Mark says that Jesus simply went directly to the temple, looked around, and then without a word, he left the city to spend the night in the nearby village of Bethany.

4499. A Little Longer Of Earthly Darkness

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

... his death, in his blindness and his frailty, he dictated this farewell message: "I have only a little longer of earthly darkness, and then the sunshine of the Father's throne. God is love. Good night, good night." Those words by a man who left forever his mark on earth by writing great hymns of praise to God tell us something very important about why we have gathered here this Easter Day to celebrate the risen Christ. For Ira Sankey's blind eyes could see God when it mattered the most, as he was passing ...

4500. The Lost and Found Coin

Luke 15:8-10

Sermon

James W. Moore

... . For one thing, the single coin does not sound like much money to us, but it was more than a day’s wage back then and most of the people were quite poor. But, then, also Barclay points out that: “There may have been a much more romantic reason. The mark of a married woman was a head-dress made of ten silver coins linked together by a silver chain. For years maybe a girl would scrape and save to amass her ten coins, for the head-dress was almost the equivalent of her wedding ring. It may well be that ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 4476 to 4500 of 5000 results

4476. The Counter Intelligence of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

4477. Peter, James and John

Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-13

Illustration

J.O. Sanders

4478. Advent 4

Psalm 80:1-19, Isaiah 7:1-25, Romans 1:1-17, Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4479. Easter 2

John 20:24-31, John 20:19-23, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Acts 2:14-41, Psalm 16:1-11

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4480. Easter 7

Jn 17:1-11 · 1 Pet 4:12-14; 5:6-11 · Ps 68 · Acts 1:6-14

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4481. Epiphany 2

Psalm 40:1-17, Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-34, John 1:35-42

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4482. Epiphany 3

Psalm 27:1-14, Isaiah 9:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Matthew 4:12-17, Matthew 4:18-22

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4483. Epiphany 6

Mt 5:21-37 · 1 Cor 3:1-9 · Ps 119 · Dt 30:15-20

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4484. Lent 5

John 11:1-45 · Romans 8:6-11 · Ezekiel 37:1-14 · Psalm 130

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4485. Proper 9

Psalm 45:1-17, Romans 7:7-25, Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 11:1-19, Genesis 24:1-67

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4486. Proper 16

Exodus 1:1-22, Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:1-8, Psalm 124:1-8

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4487. Proper 22

Exodus 20:1-21, Matthew 21:33-46, Philippians 3:1-11, Psalm 19:1-14

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4488. Proper 23

Psalm 106:1-48, Philippians 4:2-9, Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4489. Proper 26

Joshua 3:1-4:24, Matthew 23:1-39, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Psalm 107:1-43

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4490. Proper 27

Joshua 24:1-27, Psalm 78:1-72, 1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11, Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon Aid

Soards, Dozeman, McCabe

4491. Trinity Sunday

Genesis 1:1-2:3, Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Psalm 8:1-9

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

4492. Commentary for Matthew 4: 1-11

Matthew 4:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

4493. Changed Lives: The Man Born Blind from Birth

John 9:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

4494. Getting a Handle on Our Faith

John 11:1-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

4495. Remove the Handle Cut off the Source

John 11:1-44

Illustration

Brett Blair & Leonard Sweet

4496. Two Roads Diverged

Romans 8:1

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

4497. Matthew 21:1-11 - Roll Out the Green Carpet

Matthew 21:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

4498. No Formal Greeting

Luke 19:28-44, Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Alan Jackson

4499. A Little Longer Of Earthly Darkness

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

4500. The Lost and Found Coin

Luke 15:8-10

Sermon

James W. Moore

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