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Showing 4726 to 4750 of 4915 results

4726. David Conquers Jerusalem

2 Samuel 5:6-16

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Confirmation and Consolidation: 5:1–5 This section provides an editorial summary of what may have been protracted and at times tense negotiations. The delay between Ish-Bosheth’s death and David’s enthronement over Israel is not known. It was seven years and six months before the capital was moved to Jerusalem, and verse 5 could imply that the two events were simultaneous. However, although it is likely that the negotiations took longer than they would have if Ish-Bosheth had lived, it is unlikely that ...

4727. David Defeats the Philistines

2 Samuel 5:17-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

4728. Laban Pursues Jacob

Genesis 31:22-55

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

31:22–24 Three days later, after Jacob left home in a secretive manner (31:17–21), Laban is informed that Jacob has fled. Immediately he gathered his relatives and pursued Jacob. After seven days, possibly a symbolic number for several days, Laban caught up with Jacob in the hill country of Gilead, close to four hundred miles away—a journey of more than seven days for one driving small herds. The night before Laban overtook Jacob, God warned Laban in a dream, restricting any hostile action he might be ...

4729. True Fasting

Isaiah 58:1-14

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Critique of the Community: While there are positive notes throughout 56:9–59:8, the dominant tone is confrontational, and even the positive notes incorporate barbed comment. The way the passages speak of shalom, which occurs six times (57:2, 19, 21; 59:8), sums up this point. This distinctive concentration of references finds its closest parallel in Zechariah 8, which again belongs to the same period as Isaiah 56–66. Admittedly there are no specific indications of a particular context here, and the ...

4730. Faces of Failure: Peter

Matthew 26 (selections)

Sermon

Don Tuttle

On the counter above our kitchen sink, my wife keeps a little flip calendar. It’s called, “If You Want Breakfast in Bed, Sleep in the Kitchen,” and each day it offers a bit of pithy wisdom. Things like—“We all get heavier as we get older because there’s more information in our head,” or “Confidence is the feeling you have before you really understand the situation.” One saying this week seemed appropriate for our current series on the Faces of Failure. “It may be your purpose in life,” it read, “to simply ...

4731. Would You Take the Crown Without the Cross?

Mark 1:9-15

Sermon

Brett Blair

The local sheriff was looking for a deputy, and one of the applicants - who was not known to be the brightest academically, was called in for an interview. "Okay," began the sheriff, "What is 1 and 1?" "Eleven," came the reply. The sheriff thought to himself, "That's not what I meant, but he's right." Then the sheriff asked, "What two days of the week start with the letter 'T'?" "Today & tomorrow." Replied the applicant. The sheriff was again surprised over the answer, one that he had never thought of ...

4732. The Devastating Influence of Faultfinding, Nay-Saying, and Nitpicking

John 12:1-8

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

This is the fifth and final Sunday in Lent. In today’s gospel reading, it is the Saturday night before a crowd lined the streets of Jerusalem to give Jesus a parade, throw palm branches in his path, and sing, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (v. 13). In spite of that enthusiastic welcome, by the following Friday night, Jesus was in a grave. In the previous few weeks, it was increasingly evident that things were headed in that direction. There had been serious run-ins with the ...

4733. The Opposite of Steward Is Victim

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

In his book, The Search for Power, Harvard Professor David C. McClelland contends that there are four stages in the development of the individual to maturity: Stage 1: Power is perceived as coming from others, but is directed toward oneself. Stage 2: Power is perceived as residing within oneself, and is used for the needs of the self. Stage 3: Power is perceived as residing within oneself, but is used for the sake of others. Stage 4: Power is perceived as residing outside, coming through the self, but used ...

4734. Same Ol’, Same Ol’

Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

Herod I or Herod the Great was born in 73 BCE, the son of Antipater the Idumaean, a high ranking court official. Through a series of intrigues and coups more complex than we have time to unravel, here, he was declared King of Judea by the Roman Senate in 37 BCE. He would rule as “King of the Jews” for about thirty years until his death in 4 BCE. Historically, he is remembered mostly for his building projects. In 20 BCE he undertook the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple which had fallen into disrepair from ...

4735. Peter the Petulant

Mark 14:1-11, Mark 14:12-26, Mark 14:27-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Prop: a white linen cloth… or apron For centuries, pastors have been called a “man” or “woman” of the cloth. I always wondered about that phrase. When I looked it up, I saw that in fact, many people used to be called people of the cloth –bakers, kitchen workers, tradesmen, all who worked primarily in service or handworking positions to others. Later, the term remained only for the clergy, who also wore ...

4736. Mercy Me!

Romans 14:1--15:13, Luke 6:27-36, Luke 6:37-42, Luke 6:43-45

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“My yoke is easy, my burden light.” --Jesus What burdens are you carrying this morning? How heavy is your heart? How weighed down is your spirit? Most of the time, when we think about that question, we think of the burdens of responsibility we carry or the weight of grief, the sandbags of unfair treatment levied against us, or hardships, such as unemployment, or health, or broken relationships. Certainly, those burdens of despair and sorrow can weigh heavily upon our hearts. But other kinds of burdens can ...

4737. The Oath

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Edgar Allen Poe, one of our great American authors, wrote a famous, rather chilling tale called the “Tell-Tale Heart.” In the story, we see the inner workings of an unknown narrator’s mind, as he wrestles with guilt, self-loathing, fear, and growing paranoia. From the beginning of the tale, the narrator feels mentally and emotionally tortured by encounters with an elderly gentleman, who he believes is watching him, and judging him. He is literally spooked by the old man, and as his paranoia grows, so does ...

4738. Shake It Up

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Shaken not stirred.” When James Bond orders his signature martini, this is always what he says. The phrase signals a long-running amusement for serial Bond fans. Why? Bartenders and drink afficionados know that no one makes a martini by shaking it. The drink is always stirred.[1] But then Bond never does anything “by the book.” And never gently. The famous 007 has his personal preferences. But more than that, his presence packs a wallop. When he is engaged in a mission, he’s all in and streamlined like a ...

4739. Text Message From Jesus

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

Mary Austin

It was often said that the late President Reagan was the “great communicator.” He was very talented, but the title really belongs to Jesus. In all the gospel stories that we have, he’s always communicating something. Every time he heals someone, there’s a message about God’s love for people. Every time he teaches, there’s a lesson about who God is, or who Jesus is, or who the people of God should be. Every time he pokes the religious authorities, there’s a warning. Whenever he acts on the sabbath, there’s ...

4740. Fear of Flying

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Jerry Angstrom had a fierce fear of flying. It’s not as though he had flown in a plane before. He hadn’t. Nothing bad had happened to him in the air or on the ground to make him fear the 747 that could take him on his vacation trip to Key West. He simply couldn’t bring himself to do it. Every time he thought about stepping onto the plane, his mind would race with thoughts of doom and gloom. “What if the plane crashed?” “What if the engine failed?” “What if it ran out of gas.” “What if I die?” The very ...

4741. Easter Joy

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

A remarkable feature of Dwight D. Eisenhower's memoirs is the composure with which he greeted crises. He titled his autobiography At Ease, an appropriate description for not only his retirement, but the manner in which he appeared to be on top of life. Colleagues, of course, could recall how excited he could get in revealing his impatience with mediocrity and the failures of the people in his command. However, what was impressive was the way he took control in the European theater in World War II with no ...

4742. Take Up Your Ministry

Mark 9:38-41

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

Several years ago at my previous congregation I remember a discussion I had with the church council. It was very revealing of the kind of distorted vision of ministry that is very much afoot in the church these days. I had a sudden change in my vacation plans and was going to have to be out of town for a Sunday that I had not planned on. I was having great difficulty finding another pastor to fill the pulpit. It was the summer. Many pastors are already on vacation and those who are available for pulpit ...

4743. The Essence of Spirituality

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

Our scripture for today comes from the first words of the first book of the Bible. We probably best know it as the seven-day account of creation. By way of orientation, let us remember that this is Holy Writ and not an article from The Journal Of The American Academy Of Science. As such it embodies a statement of our faith. While science has its place in our lives, this is not it. Frankly, science has a very narrow boundary on what it accepts as truth. It can describe the facts very well, but seldom, if ...

4744. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

CELEBRATION THROUGH PRAISE Pastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers) Welcome, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the second Sunday in Pentecost, during which time we will consider the Lordship of our Sabbath/Sunday. Be ready for some surprises; for God also is the Author of Surprises. P: For what purpose have you come to worship today? M: We have come to allow the Risen Christ, through his Spirit, to challenge us intellectually, to receive his love for emotional strength, and to gain courage to choose to ...

4745. Reformation Sunday

Jn 8:31-36 · Jer 31:31-34 · Rom 3:19-28

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

THE LESSONS Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:31-34 The promise of a new covenant. Lesson 2: Romans 3:19-28 Justification by grace through faith, not works. Gospel: John 8:31-36 Jesus' disciples know the truth which frees. Hymn Of The Day: A Mighty Fortress Theme For The Day: Salvation: The Work Of God Gospel -- God gave Christ to set men free from sin. Lesson 1 -- God promises a new covenant of forgiveness. Lesson 2 -- God justifies the sinner by grace through faith. Several themes can be found in today's lessons: ...

4746. Corpus Christi

Jn 6:51-58 · 1 Cor 10:16-17 · Deut 8:1-20 · Ps 116

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16 Deuteronomy came to light in the seventh century, during the reign of King Josiah, who instituted a religious revival. It comes in the form of discourses from the mouth of Moses, which bring to mind the goodness of the Lord in leading them through the wilderness and into the promised land. The people are called to respond to God's goodness by ratifying the covenant and serving the Lord. In this text, Moses exhorts his people as they are about to embark ...

4747. Proper 15

Mt 15:10-28 · Rom 11:13-15, 29-32 · Gen 45:1-15 · Is 56:1-7 · Ps 133

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Genesis 45:1-15 Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, who have come to Egypt to secure food during the famine. Rather than seeking revenge, he sees God's gracious hand in his brothers' treachery. Joseph openly wept for joy and reveals his plan to provide for his entire family in Egypt. This ends the cycle of stories from Genesis. Old Testament: Isaiah 56:1-7 The prophet foresees a time when foreigners would be included in God's covenant. God's holy temple will be a house for all ...

4748. I Want To Go South, Lord

Genesis 12:1-8

Drama

Jerry Eckert

Comment: One of the great figures of Genesis, Abraham, amazed me the first time I read the story of his argument with God over His plan to destroy Sodom. With that in mind, I got to wondering how Abraham might have handled his anxiety over how his obedience to God was paying off. I chose a time early in his career when that anxiety would have been high. The first time I did this story sermon, a friend let me use a classic old black telephone that dated from the early '40s. With it, I conducted a one-sided ...

4749. Proper 6

Mk 4:26-34 · 2 Cor 5:6-17 · 1 Sam 15:34 - 16:13 · Ps 20

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 God regrets having made Saul king and Samuel mourns Saul's fall from grace. The Lord instructs Samuel to quit mourning for Saul and go anoint his successor. Samuel goes to Bethlehem, ostensibly to conduct a feast before the Lord. The real reason is to anoint Saul's successor. The sons of Jesse are presented to him one by one. None of the seven eldest sons of Jesse are picked. Samuel asks Jesse if he has other sons. He responds that the youngest son is out in ...

4750. The Resurrection Of Our Lord

John 20:1-9, John 20:10-18, Acts 10:23b-48, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Mark 16:1-20

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Through Christ's resurrection we are raised to newness of life. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Acts 10:34-43 (C, RC, E) Peter witnesses to the Roman officer Cornelius and his household concerning Jesus' earthly ministry, his crucifixion and especially his resurrection. Luke, the author of Acts, points to the Holy Spirit as the source of Jesus' power. The disciples of Jesus, those who communed with Christ, are witnesses to the resurrection. They are to proclaim that Jesus is the judge of the living and the ...

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