Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4701 to 4725 of 5000 results

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... marriage, remarriage, celibacy, and slavery must be seen through this eschatological lens. Without condemning marriage or normal dealings with the world, Paul urges Christians to boldly adapt their attitudes to the new threats and challenges facing their faith and the church. Mark is also announcing the arrival of a new time, a new era, and the new message that distinguishes it. The arrest of John the Baptist reminds the reader that the time for preparation is over - Jesus' words now call listeners to ...

4702. Ephesians 2:4-25

Ephesians 2:4-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... example of God's merciful love in all of history. This text, which Martin Luther called "the Gospel in miniature," has probably captured the hearts and transformed the souls of more people than any other biblical passage. Scholars agree that verse 16 marks the beginning of John's own commentary following Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus. As in his stunning prologue, John reaches for the boundaries of the universe (God so loved the cosmos being a more accurate translation) to express the breadth and depth of ...

4703. John 20:1-18

John 20:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... stands in this new relationship to God. The story he tells, of course, is a highly condensed version of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Witnessing the physical resurrection of Christ (he "ate and drank" with them after he rose) now becomes the special mark of the chosen disciples, Peter among them. The mission of these chosen witnesses is to spread the word, not only of Jesus' resurrection, but of Christ's role as the "judge of the living and the dead." Christ's role as judge was part of ...

4704. Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... go to God in prayer. The Bible teaches us that Jesus spent many hours and many nights on his knees. In fact, Jesus had a reputation for being a person of prayer. Whenever his disciples couldn't find him, they often assumed he had slipped away to pray. In Mark's Gospel Jesus is seen as rising "long before dawn" in order to pray, probably two or three hours before the first traces of light. Jesus prayed also at dusk and between three to six a.m. in those lonely hours. Dr. Luke's Gospel, which begins and ends ...

4705. John 6:24-35

John 6:24-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , and pathetically ignorant lot been more clearly portrayed than by John in this chapter. On the day after the miracle of the loaves, the throng wakes to find Jesus and his disciples had crossed the sea to Capernaum. (John's geography does not agree with Mark's or Luke's, but it is of little consequence.) Conveniently (for both the crowd and the gospel writer) some boats appear and ferry the people over to Jesus. Though anxious to re-establish their relationship with the one who fed them the day before ...

4706. Genesis 2:18-24

Genesis 2:18-24

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the equality of these beings which were both divinely separated in order to be divinely joined. Relating the Texts The gospel lesson continues to discuss the nature of human relatedness and relationships, specifically marriage, divorce and children. This section of Mark is part of a long section on teachings in discipleship, begun in retreat back in 8:24 and continuing until Jesus reaches Jerusalem. Chapter 10 deals with a series of controversies and tests from both outsiders (various Pharisaic groups) and ...

4707. Luke 21:25-36

Luke 21:25-36

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... in spirit will "faint with fear and foreboding" (vs. 26) as they anticipate this new age. Verse 27 reveals what all this shaking and quaking are about: the "Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." In Luke's Gospel - even more than in Mark's - the title "Son of Man" is limited almost exclusively to Jesus' direct discourse. Clearly it is Jesus' chosen term for himself. Perhaps it is the dual nature of this term that makes it so attractive to Jesus and to the gospel writer. The Son of Man ...

4708. Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... by reading from the "law of Moses" - undoubtedly a book from the Pentateuch. Deuteronomy 31:9-13 stipulates that the Torah given to Moses be read every seventh year during the Festival of Booths. Perhaps Ezra's scripture reading is the rebirth of this tradition, marking a new age of obedience to God's word. Whether or not this was Ezra's specific intention, the result of reading the law at this time during the joyful celebration of the refortified city puts all the human labor expended on the wall's ...

4709. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 's faith story. Relating the Texts From this week's gospel lesson comes an example of how the mere presence of Jesus, before his transformative resurrection, radically changed the lives of those to whom he appeared. Luke breaks with Matthew and Mark's tradition of placing the call of the first disciples at the earliest stages of Jesus' ministry. Rather, Luke waits until Jesus has an established reputation, considerable fame and an impressive following before he has Jesus call his first 'official' disciples ...

4710. Luke 6:17-26

Luke 6:17-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ), Jesus and his disciples now come down to "a level place." While all three of the synoptic gospels record their own versions of the following events, they all locate the participants in very different geographical areas - the mountains for Matthew, the sea for Mark, and the plain (the "level place") for Luke Luke's choice of location seems to be not only a "level place," but a leveling place as well. Here the perhaps slightly smug apostles, all the rest of the disciples, and a large, milling crowd ...

4711. Luke 4:1-13

Luke 4:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the spiritual lineage of Israel's great religious leaders as well. Further on in the text, we also see that as Jesus faces his tempter, he finds his defense in the solid rock of Hebrew scripture (citing Deuteronomy 8:3; 6:13; 6:16). Mark's much condensed form of the temptation episode begins almost violently with the Spirit "driving" Jesus away from civilization. Luke (along with Matthew) envisions a more cooperative experience as he records that Jesus was "led by the Spirit into the wilderness" (v. 1). Yet ...

4712. Galatians 6:7-18

Galatians 6:7-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 's message. In a few words, he reiterates all the points he had taken pains to develop in the body of the letter. Matters of circumcision, the flesh, the law, the cross of Christ, boasting and persecution are all sandwiched into these terse lines. The "marks of Jesus" he bears (v.17) are most likely the scars Paul has earned by preaching the truth of this "new creation" to an old and corrupt world. And despite the sternness of verse 17, Paul feels enough unity and camaraderie with those in the Galatian ...

4713. 2 Kings 5:1-15ab

2 Kings 5:1-15ab

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 's Jordan River, not some Aramean waters, as the potential source of Naaman's cure. Furthermore, Elisha's directions hardly make for a dramatic or impressive scene. As Naaman notes sulkily in verse 11, there is no hand-waving, power-invoking ceremony to mark this significant event. Convinced that this whole scenario is insulting and worthless, Naaman prepares to leave. Here the author of this tale once again skillfully juxtaposes weak and strong by using the humble voice of a servant to speak the truth to ...

4714. Ephesians 1:11-23

Ephesians 1:11-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... faithful is to do nothing less than "live for the praise" of Christ's glory. As well as responding with unending praise, those Ephesians who had heard and seen the "truth," that is, the good news of salvation through Christ, took definitive action: They were "marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit" (v.13). This is a reference to baptism, an act of faith that reflects the commitments of both the human and the divine. While believers respond to the gospel by seeking baptism, God responds by giving ...

4715. Isaiah 11:1-10

Isaiah 11:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... due to the kind of rule the restored Israel will enjoy under the leadership of this child-king (as first noted in Isaiah 9:6). Instead of relying on brute strength and force - as did Assyria - the rule imposed by this new "shoot" of Jesse will be marked by "wisdom," "understanding," "counsel," "knowledge" and a "fear of the Lord" (vv.2-3). All of these traits will be practiced by this new young ruler who will incarnate this prophet's and the Lord's desire to establish true justice. Verses 3-4a declare that ...

4716. Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... as "Matthew" wrote his version of the gospel. The style and grace of his writing tells the story of Jesus' birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection with a unique kind of sophistication and artistry. Luke is a master storyteller, John a consummate theologian, Mark an emotional eyewitness, but Matthew is the creation of a closely woven literary masterpiece. Yet Matthew's genius is only interested in one thing - presenting a written version of the gospel story that will work to change everyone who reads it ...

4717. Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:13-18, Matthew 2:19-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... brats" and "preachers' kids." Jesus' moves fulfill prophecy, but they also make him "from" both everywhere and nowhere. Always the strangers and newcomers, the Joseph/Mary family live both undercover and underground in order to safeguard their child's life. This early experience became a mark of Jesus' later ministry. For it was out of years of a "guerilla" lifestyle that Jesus could sigh and say, "Foxes have holes and birds ... have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head" (Matt. 8:20 NIV).

4718. 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... fueling a large part of the divisiveness. Paul withdraws himself completely from the competition between baptizers by instead claiming that Christ has sent him "to proclaim the gospel" (v.17). Not less important than that of the baptizers, his role is markedly different. Later in the Corinthian correspondence, Paul again focuses on the need for a diversity of functions within a united Christian church by evoking the familiar "body" image (1 Corinthians 12ff). How ridiculous it would be, Paul points out, if ...

4719. Exodus 17:1-7

Exodus 17:1-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... "Horeb"), the "L" source does not denigrate the nomadic, unsettled existence, but honors wandering and wilderness as a grand tradition exactly "as the Lord commanded." In contrast, both an established, well-run agricultural life and a strong, thriving cultus of Yahweh marked the period of the Jahwist writer. The issue of finding water for the people, however, is not the only crisis confronted in this text. Also at stake is the people's trust in Moses' leadership and their belief in the abiding presence ...

4720. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... better translated as they "kept on telling him" repeatedly without success. The tone of Thomas' surly response would be more accurately rendered into English as "unless I jab my finger ... I will never believe." Thomas, who had been part of Jesus' earthly mission that was marked by signs and wonders, refuses to accept the gospel as it is now offered in its brand new form the preached word of the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit. In verse 26, the conclusion to this scene is played out on the next Sunday ...

4721. 1 Peter 1:17-23

1 Peter 1:17-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of faith. the reference to those who have been "purified" suggests 1 Peter is talking about those who have received the symbolic, purifying washing of Christian baptism. Only after joining the community of faith through baptism are believers capable of expressing that indelible mark of a Christian "genuine mutual love." But even this remarkable ability is not enough for 1 Peter. He urges his readers to do even more to "love one another deeply from the heart" (v.22). 1 Peter's advice would surely wipe away ...

4722. Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:22-33

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... conditions. The purpose Matthew seems to suggest for Jesus' walk on the wild side has more to do with building up the disciples' life of faith than bailing out their swamped boat. Of the three gospels where this story is told (Matthew, Mark and John), only Matthew singles out Peter and describes that disciple's own attempt at water-walking. In Matthew's telling, Peter's words and actions demonstrate an almost archetypal picture of Christian discipleship. In typically exuberant Petrine fashion, the disciple ...

4723. Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... title as "leaders of the blind." Because they themselves are blind, Jesus scoffs, these authority figures would only lead others into a pit with them. As Jesus now continues to explain his remarks in verse 11, the Matthean text rearranges and edits Mark's material (7:18-23). Matthew's arrangement is intentionally organized. The list of "defiling things" presented in verses 18-19 places the specific violations of the Decalogue in the center of the text. Furthermore, Matthew places them in the same order ...

4724. Matthew 18:15-20

Matthew 18:15-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Matthew's conspicuous concern for ecclesiastical good health and the growth of true discipleship faith is evident throughout chapter 18. While in Mark's gospel, issues of inter-disciple relations are pared down to the argument over "Who is the greatest?" (9:33-37), Matthew crafts an entire chapter around how disciples of Christ should live together in a faith community and how the church should conduct itself and treat its own members. ...

4725. Romans 14:1-12

Romans 14:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to Jewish dietary restrictions that they avoid any possibility of eating non-kosher meat by eating "only vegetables" (v.2). These abstainers, whom Paul brands as "weak," were believers in Christ who remained fiercely dedicated to the traditions that had marked Jewish obedience by upholding the law and its dietary restrictions. In contrast, the "strong" eat anything they want because they understand and stand under the freedom Christ's message of redemption has brought them. Paul denies these "strong" ones ...

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