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 4676 to 4700 of 4968 results

4676. Whose Son Is the Christ?

Luke 20:41-47

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... he is the Messiah, be David’s Lord? He can be his Lord through the resurrection (see Acts 2:36). 20:45–47 The section ends with Jesus’ warning to his disciples to beware the teachers of the law who love to parade their religion but have no compassion for the poor and the defenseless. His warning is not intended to protect the disciples from these teachers, it is intended to warn them to take heed lest they become like them. Because of their (the teachers of the law) position of authority, which they ...

4677. To the Church in Sardis

Revelation 3:1-6

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... Spirit and the angels, are agents of God’s revelation and dispensers of God’s transforming grace. Both are now under the jurisdiction of God’s exalted Christ for ministry among Christ’s disciples. The church in Sardis, however, is a reclamation project, a community of the “living dead.” These disciples, who have a reputation of being alive, but … are dead, are in such a serious state that Christ breaks his normal pattern of dispensing commendation before condemnation; his message is one of ...

4678. Life Through the Son

John 5:16-30, John 5:1-15

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... the more to kill him … (v. 18, RSV) The alternating verses, accordingly, also begin with a common form, Jesus said to them/gave them this answer (Gr: apekrinato, vv. 17, 19). In the Gospels Jesus is represented as replying in several ways to the charge that he or his disciples are guilty of breaking the Sabbath. Most of his answers are based on logic or on practical considerations (e.g., John 7:22–23; Mark 2:25–27; 3:4; Matt. 12:3–7, 11–12; Luke 13:15–16; 14:5), but at least one focuses on the ...

4679. The Lord Appears to Elijah

1 Kings 19:9-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... Jesus must have a greater commitment to service in God’s kingdom than Elisha had. Yet the mention there of the plow reminds us of Elisha’s decisiveness in leaving his home (he burned the plowing equipment)—which in some ways represents greater commitment than Jesus’ disciples actually showed (they only “left” their nets, Mark 1:14–20, later to return to them, John 21:1–14). This is a good example of the way in which taking the OT seriously on its own terms can lead us to ask deeper questions ...

4680. The Call of Elisha

1 Kings 19:19-21

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

4681. Where Did He Get Such Authority?

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... over 500 years ago, is considered one of the classic masterpieces in the history of art. According to author Michael J. Gelb, this painting was done in a circular motif. Everything on the table is round, such as the bread and the plates. Also, the disciples are arranged in a half-circle on either side of Jesus. There is a distinct purpose behind da Vinci’s use of the circular theme. As Mr. Gelb writes, “Like a stone tossed into the still pond of eternity, Leonardo conveys Christ’s influence rippling ...

4682. Everyone Is Looking for You

Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... me.’” (3) What neither Camus nor his readers understood is that nothing in this world CAN satisfy their search for meaning. There is only one person who can do that. His name is Jesus. In order to have a satisfying life we must have meaning in our life. His disciples came to Jesus and said, “Everyone is looking for you!” I believe that is true whether we recognize it or not. Everyone is seeking for Christ. He is the truth, the way, the life. This is revealed in the narrative that follows. After his ...

4683. Simple Faith?

Mark 1:9-15

Sermon

John Jamison

... point in the story, one that rarely gets talked about. It’s that moment after the baptism, after the strange sound from heaven, and after they all stepped out of the water and were back on shore. Can you imagine that scene for a minute? John’s disciples were yelling and complaining. The common folk were pressing in close to ask Jesus questions and to see what he was going to do for them now that he was clearly the key religious leader in Galilee. The Zealots were gathered in a group, looking at Jesus ...

4684. Zeal!

John 2:13-22

Sermon

John Jamison

... realized it. As they watched him, one of them said that it reminded him of Psalm 69, in which the writer spoke to God and said: “Zeal for your house will consume me!” (v. 17). Although the disciples weren’t always that bright, they clearly understood that what Jesus was doing was going to end up consuming him. They might not have understood everything that was to come, but they realized he had had enough, and he wasn’t going to sit back any longer. Enough was enough. ...

4685. Out of Control (Good Friday sermon)

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

John Jamison

... a long walk after the big seder celebration. Since this was the time when family members came back home from the far corners of the world, it would have been quite a sight, filled with colorful clothing and with a constant hum from the many conversations. But the disciples were not a part of that crowd. Judas had left during the meal, and no one was quite sure just what was going to happen next, so the group took the dark side streets and avoided the crowds as they made their way out of Jerusalem that night ...

4686. Travel Arrangements

Luke 24:44-53

Sermon

John Jamison

... days before satellites and our overall understanding of things like astronomy and physics, but today, let’s just say it is simply too much for some of us in our faith journey. In short, the common telling of the story is that Jesus was with his disciples on the Mount of Olives. There is a church there today, marking the spot where tradition believes they gathered. Some traditions claim to know the actual rock Jesus was standing on as he spoke with them. After talking with them for a while, he ascended. He ...

4687. Does Easter Really Matter?

Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’t happen, do they? Notice the confusion that resulted. Mary Magdalene who loved him greatly failed to recognize him. Some of the disciples, when first informed of the empty tomb by the women who had been to the tomb, dismissed it as an idle tale. It is ... clear that, at first, even Simon Peter, Christ’s most prominent and out-spoken disciple, didn’t know what to believe. But in very short order they all discovered it was true--Christ had risen as he said he ...

4688. United We Stand

John 17:11b-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... Christ. A young woman was joining a certain church. The pastor asked her, “What do you do for a living?” And with a sly smile, she looked at him and said, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ secretly disguised as a legal secretary.” “Isn’t that wonderful?” says Dr. Victor Pentz. “I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ carefully disguised as a carpool mom. As a financial advisor. As a bank teller. Or even as a McDonald’s hamburgerologist. The attitude we bring can change almost any occupation into ...

4689. A Divided Family

Mark 3:20-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 59-62). Later he puts it even more starkly: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). There was another occasion when Jesus’ mother and brothers came looking for him. “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever ...

4690. The Advocate and the Street Where You Live

John 15:26-27, 16:4-15

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... the wilderness of life. The text, John 15 and 16, originally applied to the people of the first century. The text also deals with us today. In the first century, the Advocate called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified the disciples of Jesus Christ. That's also true for twenty-first-century disciples. After telling us how the Holy Spirit testifies to us about faith, Jesus says, "And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:27). In John 16:13 Jesus says, "But when ...

4691. Chaos and Solitude

Mark 6:30-44, 53-56

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... a time of recouping, and a healthy rhythm. Without that rhythm, life can become distorted, disheveled, and diseased. People in the marketplace must be balanced by meeting God in a quiet place. That's why Jesus took his disciples to a deserted place, a place of solitude. Jesus' disciples had just returned from a mission of preaching and teaching the word of God. They had been involved in healing many diseases. The preaching, teaching, and healing had taken something out of them. They needed to have something ...

4692. You Are What You Eat

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

... was an appropriate question for parents trying to teach their children good hygiene. But, at first glance, a strange concern for a religious leader, don't you think? It wasn't like they were afraid that these guys would get their food all germy, they were concerned that the disciples were breaking one of their rules; one of the traditions of their elders. It was a good way to take a pot-shot at Jesus. See, he couldn't possibly be who people say he is because either he doesn't know the rules of the game, or ...

4693. A Cross-Shaped Life

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... it was not one or the other, but both. By his death and resurrection, he brought forgiveness from sin and peace with God (the vertical dimension), and he brought peace with ourselves and others, peace with the world around us (the horizontal dimension). He taught his disciples to pray and to heal. He said the two greatest commandments were to love God and to love others. As followers of Jesus, we are also called to a cross-shaped life: loving God and loving others, at peace with God and at peace with others ...

4694. Jesus' No-Nonsense Guide to Being Rich

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... of its load. That's how hard it is for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God. "Then who can be saved?" asked Jesus' disciples. I wonder if they were getting nervous about their own entry into God's kingdom? If the rich person couldn't get in, if the respectable person ... . Even Mary and Martha didn't keep their home solely for their own use, for they very often hosted Jesus and his disciples and had a house full of people. All of them had left something behind in order to follow Jesus -- whether it was ...

4695. No Reason to Worry

Matthew 6:25-33

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... for human life as well. If nature has failed to provide as God intended, we as human beings certainly bear some of that responsibility. Instead of worrying, we are to set our minds and hearts on God's kingdom. Just before these verses, Jesus told his disciples, "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and wealth" (Matthew 6:24). In our text he provides another application of that same principle. You cannot serve God and worry. You cannot have faith in God and be anxious about food and clothing ...

4696. She Gave More than Bill Gates

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

King Duncan

... recovery from her grief experience. By dropping in those coins she realized she was part of something bigger than herself. She was participating in God’s work on earth. No wonder Jesus was pleased to see her make her offering. No wonder he praised her to his disciples. She had been victorious over her grief. She trusted God for her daily bread, and she was involved in the ongoing work of the kingdom. In fact, in God’s eyes this poor widow gave Him more than Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Jackie Chan put ...

4697. How Angry Are You?

Luke 4:21-30

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... this reason — that can transform our destructive anger into righteous anger and into a worthy partner with love for pursuing the way and the word of God. Friends, today Jesus prompts us to recognize both the promise and the peril of anger. All of us are called, as disciples of Jesus Christ, to acknowledge and befriend our own anger so that embracing a discipline of grace we can use the power of our anger to strengthen the church and to heal God’s broken world. May it be so for you and for me. Amen. 1 ...

4698. Surprise--One Got Out!

Luke 24:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... eternal life offered through knowing Jesus? Or will we leave here like Peter, who saw the empty tomb and the grave clothes and just walked away unconvinced? One of the most surprising elements to the story of the first Easter is the initial reaction of the disciples to the women’s testimony about finding the tomb empty. Luke tells us that they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. There was one exception. Peter, says Luke, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he ...

4699. A Hall of Fame Dad

John 16:12-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... stole your car, bullied one of your children, ran off with your spouse. You would feel that something sacred had been violated--and you would be right! Notice what it says in our scripture for the day. Jesus is talking to his disciples about the Holy Spirit that is to come upon his disciples. Listen to what he says: “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth . . .” Isn’t this a primary characteristic of ...

4700. Planted for a Purpose

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... like pulling on the flowers to make them grow? We ought to have trouble with that kind of approach. Neither our Lord nor his disciples ever dealt with anybody in that way. Yet we are called to be evangelists, to bear witness to our faith as we live and ... them. Surely it will create problems, surely it will be a challenge, but we have no choice in the matter, because like the disciples of old, Jesus calls us to be fishers of people, not merely keepers of the aquarium. So we commit ourselves to sharing the ...

Showing results