Sermon and Worship Resources

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Matthew 21:23-32

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . The indefinite term "things" is never fully clarified by Matthew's text. Although it could refer only to Jesus' teaching of that moment, it could also include the temple-cleansing incident, along with the unexpected and no doubt disturbing "parade" that marked Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Moreover, this term "things" is so indefinite in Matthew's text that it could also refer back to the whole course of Jesus' ministry encompassing all his authoritative acts such as healing the sick, exorcising demons and ...

4727. Joshua 3:7-17

Joshua 3:7-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... from Shittim to Gilgal the Abrahamic promise is at last fulfilled. As befitted such a momentous occasion in the history of Israel, the first steps into Canaan are carefully orchestrated and ritualistically precise. Furthermore, the symbolic "crossing over" marks the first real demonstration of Joshua's divinely anointed leadership since Moses' death. It is under Joshua's exacting directions that the Jordan crossing is executed. Speaking under Yahweh's authority, Joshua commands the people on every nuance ...

4728. Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 25:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... community's primarily Jewish-Christian believers. The delayed return of Christ and the promised Parousia were especially problematic topics for the synagogue Jews. The rabbinic Judaism that dominated after the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. showed markedly less interest in apocalyptic issues and messianic identities than had earlier Judaism. Rabbinic Judaism looked askance at the heavy emphasis these Christians still placed on a possible Parousia. Of course, they refused to identify "the Son of Man ...

4729. John 1:6-8, 19-28

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The gospel text spends more time explaining who John the Baptist is not than defining who he is. Introducing the Baptist, describing his message, explaining his unique style is a common thread that runs through all four gospels. However else Matthew, Mark, Luke and John differ on their opening presentations of the "Good News," they agree that John the Baptist was essential to portraying an accurate and authentic picture of Jesus, his identity and his mission. The gospel writer opens with a remarkable, ...

4730. Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... writer wants to convey Jesus' divine origins and to emphasize the miraculous nature of his coming into our midst. Yet it is also true that Luke chose to look at Mary's obedience and her "favored" status not at Joseph as did Matthew, or at the Spirit as did Mark, or at the pre-existent Word as did John as the conduit God chose to play a part in this greatest chapter of salvation-history. In even a casual reading of Luke's gospel, it is evident that the saving action God is about to undertake through Mary is ...

4731. Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:1-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... truly "perish" or not. Luke now adds the voice of mercy to the warnings of judgment (12:57) and repentance (13:5) he has already announced. Again, this parable of the barren fig tree is found only in Luke. Yet, since both Matthew (21:18-19) and Mark (11:12-14) record the story of Jesus' cursing a barren fig tree _ which Luke omits _ this may be Luke's "kinder, gentler" version of that episode. This parable begins with the owner of the vineyard visiting his fields to survey their fruitfulness. In Palestine ...

4732. Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 's gift to his followers, Paul now carefully defines just what kind of "freedom" this is and what it requires. Paul reveals that freedom in Christ is not a freedom toward the "self-indulgence" of licentiousness. Rather, the exercise of loving service is the truest mark and measure of Christian freedom. In verses 13 and 14, Paul directs the attention of his Galatian audience out of their self-absorption and reminds them that loving service is measured by one's response to the neighbor not the self. Love, as ...

4733. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... as an "abomination" by God. Some scholars have taken this focus on finances to an extreme. Richard Bauckman ("The Rich Man and Lazarus: The Parable and the Parallels," New Testament Studies 37 [1991]: 225-46) has suggested that this parable differs markedly from its other Jewish and Egyptian counterparts in that it is really not interested in the ethical status of its two central characters. Bauckman concludes that this parable is concerned only with the economic status of the two men. He notes that ...

4734. 2 Timothy 1:1-14

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Testament faith and his own preaching of the good- news gospel that now makes up the New Testament. Verse 4 breaks the flow of Paul's thanksgiving with his personal recollection of Timothy as he was at their last meeting. This personal aside, marked with "tears" and "joy," emphasizes the closeness of their relationship and the encouragement Timothy's friendship gives to Paul. In verse 5, Paul returns to the formal thanksgiving theme, offering thankfulness for God's work in Timothy's life. The bulk of Paul ...

4735. Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... " as is used for "salvation." This leper's eyes are opened to the fact that he is not only "healed," but "saved" as well. Accordingly, he "returns" to Jesus and begins "praising" or "glorifying" God. This type of behavior is repeated several times in Luke to mark the occasion of a miraculous event that signifies God's active presence (see Luke 2:20; 5:25-26; 7:16-17; 13:13; 18:43). In verse 16, this healed leper's actions continue to startle the reader. He "prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked ...

4736. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... this error. Establishing a correct chronology is key. "That day will not come unless" two significant and unmistakable events occur. First, a "rebellion," an outright rejection by the world of God's divine rule and an active opposition to the divine, will mark and mar the face of the earth. Second, associated with this tremendous rebellion is the one Paul calls the "lawless one," the supreme embodiment of evil. It seems quite apparent that Paul is not concerned with pinning this title on any particularly ...

4737. Jeremiah 23:1-6

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... weakling, Jeremiah spoke of a messianic ruler who would unquestionably embody the righteousness of the true Davidic line. Under this wise and just rule, Israel and Judah would be returned and reunited in strength and safety. A final play on words marks the end of these verses. Whereas Zedekiah had been named by his Babylonian bosses, the future king Jeremiah envisions will be named by none other than Yahweh. "The Lord is our righteousness" translates into Yahweh sidqenu, a name which is practically ...

4738. Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:13-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... this second fulfillment is made evident by Hosea's next comments. In 11:2, the prophet immediately recounts the continued disobedience of Israel after her exodus from Egypt. As the genuine and complete fulfillment of deliverance, Jesus' unswerving obedience will mark all of his life and Sonship. The second fulfillment text is described in verses 16-18. Enraged by the trickery of the Magi, Herod commits one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Yet, as the second exodus theme continues, this bloodthirsty ...

4739. 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 ...

4740. 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 ...

4741. 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 ...

4742. 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 ...

4743. 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 ...

4744. 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 ...

4745. 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 ...

4746. 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 ...

4747. 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 ...

4748. 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 ...

4749. 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 ...

4750. James 5:7-10

James 5:7-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... be tested and suffering will be endured. Relating the Texts While James' text warns of the pain and suffering that must be expected and endured as the Lord's Day approaches, Isaiah sings a hymn of praise about the miraculous fulfillment that will mark those days. For First Isaiah, the return of the redeemed means nothing less than total transformation. All of God's promises for the people are fulfilled. The wilderness is made unbelievably fertile, bursting with the glory of new life. A land formerly known ...

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