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 26 to 50 of 344 results

26. Jesus Walks on the Water

John 6:16-24

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... were expecting to meet Jesus, whether miraculously walking on the water or at some prearranged point on the shore. Far from calming anxieties they may have had about the rising storm (v. 18), the visitation itself produced among the disciples immediate fear (v. 19). The synoptic account explains that they thought they had seen a ghost (Gr.: phantasma: Mark 6:49; Matt. 14:26). When Jesus assures them, It is I; don’t be afraid (Gr.: egō eimi, v. 20; cf. Mark 6:50; Matt. 14:27), his intent is simply ...

27. The Plot to Kill Jesus

John 11:45-57

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... 8:59; 10:22–39; cf. Luke 21:37–38), and second, the theme implicit within that teaching that both he and his audience are involved in a trial, calling their respective witnesses and seeking vindication (e.g., 5:30–47; 8:12–20). Compared to the synoptic records of Jesus’ trial before the Jewish ruling Council, or Sanhedrin, (cf. Mark 14:53–65; 15:1; Matt. 26:57–68; 27:1–2; Luke 22:66–71), this is a long trial indeed. If there is anything corresponding to his momentous self-disclosure before ...

28. Jesus Predicts His Death

John 12:20-36

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... again of death, this time in the language of parable (v. 24). The parable, like several of Jesus’ parables of the kingdom of God in the Synoptics, is a parable of a growing seed (cf., e.g., Mark 4:1–9, 26–29, 30–32; Matt. 13:24–30. But Jesus, instead of ... Gethsemane (by the time Jesus is in the garden, the issue is already settled, 18:11). The closest equivalent to the synoptic Gethsemane is his prayer out of a troubled heart (v. 27) concerning the hour that is upon him. Momentarily undecided as ...

29. Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

John 13:1-17, John 13:18-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... of 11:55 (“it was almost time”), 12:1 (“six days before”), and 12:12 (“the next day”) up to date. The further indication that the evening meal was being served (v. 2a) is a necessary minimum for making sense of verses 4–5. On the basis of the synoptic Gospels, the evening meal is commonly assumed to be Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, a Passover meal at which he instituted the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:12–26/Matt. 26:17–30/Luke 22:7–23; cf. vv. 21–30). But if this is the case, the ...

30. Jesus’ Love and the World’s Hatred

John 15:1-17

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... (my Father is the gardener, v. 1; you are the branches, v. 5). The result is not a full-blown parable (both 10:1–5 and 10:12–13 are more like parables in the sense of telling a real story), but something similar to the interpretations attached in the synoptic Gospels to the parables of the sower (Mark 4:13–20 and parallels) and of the weeds in the field (Matt. 13:36–43). Jesus identifies himself in relation to the Father in verses 1–4, and in relation to the disciples in verses 5–8. The vine or ...

31. God’s Love and Ours

1 John 4:7-21, 1 John 5:1-12

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... of universal salvation. That Jesus was uniquely conscious of his special relationship of Sonship with the Father is witnessed to by the Synoptic Gospels (e.g., Matt. 11:27) and throughout the Gospel of John (e.g., 5:17–23; 6:43–46; 8:28–29 ... as the source of the command to love one’s brother or sister. Indeed, it is God’s teaching which Jesus cites in the Synoptics and on which the “new commandment” (John 13:34) is based. Whoever loves God recalls the claims of the opponents, as implied in 4:10 ...

32. Balaam’s Donkey

Numbers 22:21-41

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... solution that sees flashback in the story. Balaam is condemned for going in verse 22 because he intends to curse Israel and has not yet been given permission to go. According to this solution, Numbers 22:22–35 is synoptic/resumptive repetition.2Verses 20–21 are the synoptic summary version of the dream account, stating that Balaam has a dream-vision from God that allows him to go with the dignitaries from Moab. Verses 22–35 are the resumptive-expansive version of the same story. In other words ...

33. Jesus Clears the Temple

John 2:12-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... festival in which Jewish families traveled to Jerusalem for worship. Hence Jesus travels from Galilee to Judea. The story of the temple cleansing (2:13–25) provides us with one of the closest Synoptic/Johannine parallels (cf. Matt. 21:12–13; Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46). Aside from its chronological placement (the Synoptics have it at the end of Jesus’s ministry), the stories are strikingly alike. Some would argue that they narrate the same event. Jesus is offended by two things that he witnesses ...

34. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Mark 6:30-44

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... would represent nearly a year’s wage. Probably, the number simply signifies that a large amount of money would have been needed to supply the crowd with food. The reference to this amount appears also in John’s account (6:7) but not in the other Synoptics. 6:38 Five [loaves]—and two fish: The loaves were probably made of barley, the ingredient mostly used by the common people. They may have been quickly prepared flat loaves of circular shape, often taken along as a provision for a journey (see e.g ...

35. The Twelve Apostles

Luke 6:12-16

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Gospel of John (1:43–45; 12:21–22; 14:9). His name appears in the gnostic Letter of Peter to Philip (see note on Peter above). Bartholomew: His name (from Aramaic bar-Tolmai meaning the “son of Tolmai”) occurs only in the formal lists of the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. We know nothing of him. There is no evidence that he is the same person as “Nathanael” (John 1:45–46), though this suggestion has been made from time to time. Matthew: The name is from the Hebrew and means “the gift of the Lord ...

36. The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

John 4:27-38, John 4:1-26, John 4:39-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... ). By race and religion she is from the Jewish standpoint an outsider, a hated Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans, the writer explains, will not even touch the same utensils (v. 9). In reaching out to her, Jesus in this narrative is recognizably the Jesus of the Synoptics (cf., e.g., Mark 7:24–30; Luke 7:36–50; 10:25–37), the one who came to show mercy to tax collectors, prostitutes, and all such outcasts of Jewish society. The encounter begins surprisingly, not with Jesus granting mercy to the woman, but ...

37. The World Hates the Disciples

John 15:18--16:4

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

38. Faith in the Son of God

1 John 5:1-12, 1 John 4:7-21

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

39. More Than Enough

John 6:1-21

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... , after everyone had all they wanted to eat, when they were “satisfied,” (From the root word “sate” which means to fill up so that no more is wanted.) Jesus gave his disciples another task, one that he did not speak in the other gospels. In the synoptic gospels, the leftovers were mentioned almost as an afterthought, a footnote to the story. But for John, it was part of the very center of the narrative. Jesus said to them, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” And, we ...

40. Night and Light

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... passion. The scenes shifted, and John 13-20 became “the book of glory.” Here in John 13, we are told that Jesus knew that his “hour” had come, and so he gathered his disciples for a final meal. Following Mark’s lead, the synoptic gospels clearly identified the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples as a Passover celebration. Yet strangely, for all the other symbolism in the fourth gospel, John clearly steered away from that connection in chapter 13. Why? The answer appears to have several ...

41. The Perisitent Noise Of Solemn Assemblies

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

There is hardly a better-known or better-loved story in the New Testament than that of the Good Samaritan. A Jewish scholar says that it "is one of the simplest and noblest among the noble gallery of parables in the Synoptic Gospels. Love, it tells us, must know no limits of race .... Who needs me is my neighbor. Whom at the given time and place I can help with my active love, he is my neighbor and I am his."1 So it is that Jesus illustrates in an unforgettable way ...

42. Holy Week

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... there to rescue the Hebrews, to release them from their bonds. The tradition is significant and is still celebrated with much solemnity. Christianity certainly has a vast tradition as well. The account of the Last Supper is mentioned in all four Gospels, but only the Synoptics describe the institution of the Eucharist on this date. St. Paul is our other source of what happened that evening. Paul tells us in the Second Reading that he hands on to us what he himself learned. In other words Paul is passing on ...

43. Easter 5

John 13:31-38

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... ) is that there are no Last Supper eucharistic words of institution. John's equivalent to "Do this in remembrance ..." is his "new commandment" in verses 34-35. This is apparently not the Synoptic Jesus' more general, sweeping commandment to love neighbors and even enemies, but rather a call for "in-house" love among the faithful; and it is precisely this kind of familial love that will be for outsiders evidence of true discipleship. Liturgical Color White Suggested Hymns At The Lamb's High ...

44. Pathway To God's Kingdom

Mark 4:26-29, Mark 4:30-34

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

... . In the gospel of John it is cited only twice. In the book of Acts, describing the beginnings of the Christian church, it is only noted six times. But the kingdom of God is a central part of the synoptic tradition, that collection of preaching found in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Jesus' preaching, as remembered in Matthew, Mark and Luke, is filled with illustrations of God's rule upon earth, God's kingdom. His teaching is understood as both something about to happen (imminent) and as something already arrived ...

45. Lessons for Lent 3

John 2:12-25

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... toward the onset of our Lord's ministry and leads to the Jews questioning his authority to commit such an act. The sign Jesus gave was the destruction of the temple and its rebuilding in three days, an allusion to his death and resurrection. In the synoptics Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee but John has Jesus launching out in Jerusalem after an initial miracle at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. The act of overturning the money changers should not be viewed as an explosion of anger but of divine ...

46. Lent 5

John 11:1-16, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44, John 11:45-57

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... that Jesus is the Light of the world, the 11th chapter demonstrates through the raising of Lazarus that Jesus is the Life of the world. Only John tells the story of this miracle. Since it is so dramatic and important, the question is often raised why the Synoptic writers are silent about it. Did they not know about it or did they not think it was important enough to tell it? Or, is the story of Jesus' raising Lazarus a non-historical creation of John's mind? The miracle occurs between the winter feast of ...

47. Manufactured Christianity: Jesus Sells, Jesus Sells!

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... the same incident. Consequently, when different witnesses corroborate a story, you can be fairly certain that it is of exceptional clarity and veracity to them. The writers of the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, fall into this phenomenon. Some of their stories are disputed by each other. On some they agree. All three synoptic writers agree on a significant incident: the temptation of Jesus, following his baptism. All three writers relate the story. We can infer from the temptation story that the ...

48. Lazarus Laughed

John 11:17-37

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... , you will admit, open some interesting possibilities! At any rate, this story does not sound like an allegory or a parable or a “made up” story. It is filled with all sorts of little details which give it the ring of veracity. Why, then, did not the “Synoptic Gospels” (that’s what we call the first three) mention it? Could it be that Lazarus was still alive when they wrote, and they wished to save him the embarrassment of having folks treat him like a side-show freak, coming up to him and saying ...

49. Some Said It Thundered

John 12:20-36

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... wishes to die at age 33. (Give or take a few years. We are unsure of Jesus’ actual age.) No one wishes to die upon a cruel Roman cross. John’s Gospel does not give us the story of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where the Synoptics tell us that He sweat great drops of blood in fearful anticipation of the cross, but John does have Jesus, in the very last week of His life, shrinking back from the frightening realization that the path he was treading would inevitably lead to a cross. As Betty ...

50. Dealing with Our Doubts

Mark 9:14-32

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... AFTER JESUS AND THE “INNER CIRCLE” OF PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN, CAME DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THEY ENCOUNTERED HUMAN SUFFERING. This narrative, commonly referred to as “An epileptic boy healed” appears in all three Synoptic Gospels...and in each, immediately follows the Transfiguration of our Lord. In all the Synoptic Gospels these events are linked: the glory at the mountaintop and the suffering in the valley. That’s the way life is, isn’t it? We may have some high moment of inspiration, but ...

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