Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 26 to 50 of 2331 results

26. Saved By Water: The Well

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Steve Swanson

... of dead calms and thirst-crazed sailors. I don't suppose many of us have ever thought of dying of thirst. About the nearest we can come to feeling thirst is when we watch an old Wagon Train movie on TV, or one about a posse of cowboys on the desert. Sooner or later, in those films we see John Wayne or Gary Cooper under a relentless sun, crawling on hands and knees toward a water hole - which may or may not be dry. As we watch, our mouths begin to feel chalky, our tongues swollen and parched. Just then the ...

27. When God Does A New Thing

Isaiah 43:14-28

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... still exist and man still faces his share of woe, but if the owls and jackals can see, why can’t humankind see what God is doing? “Behold, I will do a new thing. Will you not perceive it? Behold I will do the impossible by making streams in the desert. I will give new life and new direction.” The Father gives us something new in his son Jesus. Will we not perceive it and know what he can do in our lives? God is constantly doing new things through Christ who is the savior and liberator of the world ...

28. Hope That Hangs In There

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... need to keep things in perspective, I get so engrossed in my ups and downs That I forget that you hold The whole world in you hands. Just for today, help me see the big picture. Fill my heart with a daring and dangerous hope. II. God Is In the Desert of Our Temptations No sooner is Jesus baptized than he is led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. There He struggles with the meaning of life. Is life about BREAD? Take the cash and let the credit go. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die. Every ...

29. Reviewing the Past

Numbers 33:1-56

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. It seems to be close to Ezion Geber. Ezion Geber is adjacent to the city of Elath on the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), where Solomon builds a fleet to trade with Ophir (1 Kings 9:26–28). 33:36 Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin. Israel moves back from the north end of the Gulf of Aqaba to the north-central Sinai, from where scouts had originally been sent out, where Miriam dies, and near where the people rebel over lack of water causing Moses and Aaron to sin (Num. 13:26 ...

30. Great Joy

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... for the work ahead with a vision of what can be and what will be by the grace of God. Can you see it, smell it, taste it, hear it, feel it? Can you sense the underground river of joy welling up to eternal life? Joy like streams in the desert, bubbling up to eternal life. When Lucy and Peter and Susan and Edmund first make their way through the wardrobe and into Narnia, they find a world frozen under the curse of the White Witch; a land of hopelessness and death where Lewis says it was "always winter, but ...

31. Israel’s Ill-Placed Confidence

Amos 5:18-27

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! 25 "Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? 26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god - which you made for yourselves. 27 Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the Lord , whose name is God Almighty. Commentary ...

32. Encouragement to Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... Christ (v. 8a). Then he reminds Timothy of his (Paul’s) own ministry, as one who is not ashamed to suffer for Christ, because God can be fully trusted to keep safe what has been entrusted to him. Thus, do not be ashamed of me. Examples of those who have deserted Paul (v. 15) and of one who was not ashamed of him (vv. 16–18) follow this first appeal. The second part of the appeal (2:1–13) takes up especially the theme of Timothy’s need for steadfastness as he takes his own part in the suffering. 1:6 ...

33. The Christmas Cactus

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon

Paul E. Robinson

... Zion, thinking that that was the only way to get close to God. Do you think that you need to be in some other place or circumstance in order to get close to God, in order to continue the journey? Would you like to inhabit some other desert, any other desert than your own? I was touched by a quote from Scott Russell Sanders: "To withhold yourself from where you are is to be cut off from communion with the source. It has taken me half a lifetime of searching to realize that the likeliest path to the ultimate ...

34. Failure to Enter the Land

Num 13:1–14:9

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... . 14:40 we are ready to go up to the land. Having mourned bitterly (v. 39) and confessed their sin, the people now agree to go and take the land, but by doing so they now are in violation of God’s new command to turn back toward the desert (v. 25; cf. Deut. 1:42). The attack will fail because Yahweh is not with them (vv. 42–43). God’s sentence against them is final (cf. v. 35). 14:44 neither Moses nor the ark . . . moved from the camp. Invading without God’s appointed leader, Moses, and God ...

35. Massah and Meribah

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of the earth, just like at the foundation of creation! But they saw so much more than a flowing fountain of water. They saw that God was with them! In all of their loneliness, and doubt, and weariness of the red earth and the scorching sun, of the never-ending desert of their arduous journey to a place they could not yet see ---thank God, the Lord was still with them! The Lord of Life, who created the world from the waters of The Deep, who brings forth Living Water from the depths of the sin-sick soul, who ...

36. Serpentine Soul

Numbers 21:4-9

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Moses chose to make a bronze snake –probably much like the snake that they encountered in the desert, the horned viper –a bronze-colored reminder of what death –and sin looks like! God told Moses that anyone who was bitten and looked at it would live. But they had to look at the snake to be healed! Why? The symbol of the snake is a reminder. It’s ...

37. Two Kinds of People

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... . If I want a strong body, I must exercise it. If I want an educated mind, I must study and learn. Doing nothing produces a desert. If we want more fruitful and productive lives, there are some things we will need to do. In the first place, we will need to ... learn to trust God. And we need to see the possibilities God offers us. Isn’t that what hope is? To believe that--even in the desert--a stream of life-giving water still flows. We may not see it with our eyes. We might not feel it with our fingers. But ...

38. The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

Mark 1:9-13

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... area shortly after his baptism, but there are interesting peculiarities to the account in Mark. For one thing, although the accounts in Matthew (4:1–11) and Luke (4:1–13) describe the Spirit leading Jesus into the desert, Mark says that the Spirit sent him out into the desert (1:12). Though we do not really know what was behind Mark’s choice of words here, the effect is to make the temptation seem more of an unsought and uncomfortable experience, an ordeal. The fact that it is the Spirit who drove ...

39. Joy of the Redeemed

Isaiah 35:1-10

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... ” in v. 6a). Scattered over the four corners of the Middle Eastern world, they have nothing to shout about, but arriving at Zion they will have reason to make a noise. Everlasting joy will crown their heads as forests and woods crown the tops of the desert mountains and as these rejoice. Sorrow and sighing will flee from the hasty-hearted and fearful. It is a strangely negative way to end, but perhaps it does so because that is where the people are, and the negative promise is the most welcome one. This ...

40. Stop the PANIC!

Luke 15:1-32 · Exodux 15:1-27--16:36 · Psalm 23

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as ...

41. Well of Wisdom, Water of Life

Genesis 21:8-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of heart, and faith in God that could move mountains and shake cedars. Those disciples of the faith, those Fathers of Faith who came before you, are there to lift you up, so that someday, you can be that Father to someone else. God saved Ishmael that day in the desert for a purpose. He knew, that someday, Ishmael would become a “Father” of nations. God has a plan for each of one of you. For each one of you too has a purpose in this world. Rely on God. Live in faith. Allow God to nurture you and guide ...

42. The Other Ninety-nine

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

John G. Lynn

... precious this boy is to me. She will feel something of the compassion I feel for him. In stifling his tears she is driving this precious lamb of mine from me -- his pillar of fire by night and his cloud of refreshment by day. I will leave her in the desert for a while. She will learn she is not sufficient unto herself or in control of my lambs. She will learn to cry." God does this to us all. When we are self-sufficiently safe in the sheepfold or fat in the pasture, he will take someone away. Feeling left ...

43. Living Beyond Unhappily Ever After

Genesis 21:8-21

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... we have Hagar in Genesis 21. Here is a woman who loved Abraham dearly. There is no doubt that she was in love with the man, but Abraham, at the jealous and envious entreaties of his wife Sarah, puts Hagar and her son Ishmael out to die on the desert. What did she do to deserve this? The scriptures say that Sarah was upset that Ishmael mocked her son Isaac and asked that Hagar not receive Abraham's inheritance. Abraham was hurt by this prospect, but cautioned by God that it would be the right thing to do ...

44. Jesus Is God’s Faithful Son in Gethsemane and at His Arrest and Trial

Matthew 26:31-35, Matthew 26:36-46, Matthew 26:47-56, Matthew 26:57-68, Matthew 26:69-75

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... lives; rather, it is about placing ourselves in the hands of the covenant God, who cares deeply for us as we say yes to our God-given mission. 2. Matthew portrays the commitment to “being with” Jesus as fundamental to discipleship. In the scene of Jesus’ desertion by his disciples we get a glimpse of how important it is for followers of Jesus to remain loyal to him. For the Twelve, who have been present with Jesus for much of Matthew’s narrative and whose call to follow has been about presence (4 ...

45. Advent 3

James 5:7-12, Isaiah 35:1-10, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... 's promise was that God would pour the water of his spirit into their parched souls and they would blossom and grow into a garden of delight (vv. 1-2). This word from God caused buds of hope to spring up in the desert of the captives' soul. Where is the desert experience for our people today? Is it sickness, old age, loneliness, poverty, or faithlessness? God has provided the way out of the wilderness of our sinful human situation through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We can travel on our way rejoicing as we ...

46. Prime The Pump!

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... that the unseen Master is walking beside you, guiding and empowering your next steps. And the fellowship of his company is mighty sweet! When we act on faith instead of fear, God’s grace and power are always near. Just picture each of us in the desert, reading old Desert Pete’s note. We’re holding that bottle of water in our hands. We’re mighty thirsty. Do we drink it or prime the pump? In the final analysis, it’s a matter of faith. 1. Moore, James W., Attitude is Your Paintbrush, (Dimensions for ...

47. The Arrest of Jesus

Mark 14:43-52

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... had wanted to do just that but were afraid that an arrest would incite the crowds, which were enamored of Jesus. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled. This could be a reference to the sword incident that has just occurred (Luke 22:37 notes Isa. 53:12), or perhaps the desertion of the disciples (Zech. 13:7 in Mark 14:27), but more likely this is a reference to the whole of Jesus’s suffering and death. The passion predictions in 8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34 (1 Cor. 15:3: “he died for our sins according to the ...

48. Setting Forth with God

Numbers 10:11-36

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... makes its pilgrimage to the land. But Hobab will be treated well by Israel (v. 29), and he will receive a share in the blessings of the land of Canaan (v. 32). Judges 1:16 records the fulfillment of this: Hobab’s descendants settle in the southern desert of Judah near Arad. 3. A new mission. Moses’s offer to join Israel involves a mission for Hobab. The Israelites are essentially traveling blind, not knowing the land through which they are traveling. It is true that they have the guidance of God in the ...

49. Telling the Truth

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... attached. But you know and I know that we cannot truly hear this good news until we first confess the bad news — until we tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the brokenness and the deep need of our lives. Repent. Confess. Prepare a highway in the desert of your broken promises and your broken dreams. This is the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Hear it. Trust it. Practice it. And then wait for God to pick you up and tenderly carry you home. May it be so for you and for me. Amen ...

50. Returning

Isaiah 40:1-11

Sermon

Will Willimon

... for most marriages. Maybe what they're really saying is, 'Help! We are scared, inadequate, but we don't know how to say we need help so we'll say that Little Janie needs help.'" "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." Wilderness is that place, which is no place, where we lose our way, wander from the path, get lost. Exile is that time when we become enslaved to false gods, serve an alien empire, sell out, forget. Fred Craddock remembers a little ...

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