Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 526 to 550 of 4943 results

526. God Our Protector and Shield

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... down the various pieces of God's armor and how they must be used to protect the people against the wiles of evil and darkness. First, Paul tells them to gird their loins with the truth. He must have been told what Jesus had said to his disciples: "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31b-32). Anything but the truth is a masquerade, but God sees through the disguise. God's truth will protect us. Next, Paul says to put ...

527. Living the Word of God

James 1:17-27

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... what is seen in the mirror the situation cannot be corrected; things will remain in disarray. James is telling us that we must live the Word of God, as did Mahatma Gandhi, not only in what we say, but more especially in what we do. The apostle continues by saying that we cannot be true practitioners of the faith we profess if we cannot bridle our tongues. James would say, think before your speak. Furthermore, we are not simply to talk about what we will do, but to care for orphans and widows in their ...

528. Strength through Diversity

James 2:1-17

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... along the sidewalk he passed a homeless man sitting on a bench with a pot of somewhat wilted flowers and a hat ready for donations. Feeling sorry for the man, he reached into his pocket and threw in about a dollar of change, but he took no flower. He continued down the sidewalk but was forced to stop at a traffic light. As he waited he thought, "That man was selling flowers and I did not take my purchase. I must return and take a flower." Although he might be late for his meeting, the man turned about and ...

529. A Promise Fulfilled: A Gift Given

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... been given and return same for the betterment of others, as did Bishop Nicholas, as did Jesus of Nazareth? Certainly the Lord would be pleased with any of these gifts and many more besides. The Christian tradition of Bishop Nicholas' actions on behalf of others continues to bring a smile to all people of faith. Nicholas promised that he would divest himself of riches, but he was able to do so in a way that brought gifts and great joy to others. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise, initiated originally ...

530. Accepting the Unconventional in Life

Mark 2:13-22

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... the needs and address the concerns of those who live on the margins of society. Jesus' second response comes when he and his disciples fail to follow the fasting laws. He says, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they?" He continues, "The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day" (Mark 2:19, 20). Again Jesus is announcing that there are limits to convention; there is a time for all things. Possibly Jesus was thinking ...

531. With Friends Like These ...

Job 38:1-7 (34-41)

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... . But, suffering has forged a stronger man, leaving Job to tower over the others. Suffering is painful, but it is also an opportunity, leading us to focus on what is really important in life. Where is God in the midst of all our torment and trials? Job continues his search for God, and for answers. We all hunger for a relationship with God. Saint Augustine said, "Our hearts will be forever restless until they rest in thee."4 Within each of us is a void that only God can fill. Job is angry that he still ...

532. Speak Up for Forgiveness

Hebrews 13:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... stipulates that the fifth step in the forgiveness process is to "follow words with actions" (102-105). This is what Paul is urging Philemon to do in Onesimus' case. Identifying a wrong and voicing forgiveness for it is worth nothing if your behavior continues to punish the offender. In the case of a spouse, perhaps this action can be as simple as invoking the mandate "kiss and make up." For Philemon, the relative simplicity of the initial action he must take, welcoming Onesimus back without punishment, has ...

533. Tremendous Trifles

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... lapses in "tremendous trifles." Have you ever tried quickly to pull a dangling thread from the hem of a pant-leg or skirt or jacket, only to find you've got hold of one of those dreaded running stitches? Instead of breaking off, the thread continues to unstitch itself until the entire hem falls out. Instead of freeing yourself from one annoying little thread, you now have a major clothing catastrophe. It is always the little things that end up getting us in the biggest trouble. G. K. Chesterton referred to ...

534. Stone Testaments

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... take seriously Flag Day any more, or Veterans Day, or Armistice Day, or VJ Day or Columbus Day? Arbor Day has been reborn as Earth Day, but can you name the date when it is celebrated? Holidays, days set aside to commemorate special events, must continue to straddle the line between private and public importance, communal and individual responsibility, if they are to remain part of the natural ebb and flow of our lives. Special days that are too generic, or that we have no personal or familial investment in ...

535. A Theology of Linguistic Linguini

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... when first given this grim news by his mother Jamie, he described it in his personal journal this way: “My mom told me I had a tumor, and that is when my journey with God began.” As John underwent radiation and chemotherapy at St. Jude’s, he continued on that journey. He wrote that during the treatments his Mom encouraged him “to imagine God zapping the tumor away. And you know what, I did. I did every day.” Instead of trying to be “large and in charge” of his treatment, fourteen year old John ...

536. Luke 24:35-48

Luke 24:35-48

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is a Jewish crowd, the Lucan focus on the Judaic heritage is once again evident. Peter addresses the people as "Israelites," but knowing Luke's concerns, it is obvious he means to compare these "old" Israelites with the "new" Israelites personified here by Peter. Peter's words continue to link their heritage by addressing them in the name of "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (v. 13). But this bond cuts them no slack. For Luke there is no theology of the cross to cushion the harsh ...

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

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... happens in heaven, what goes on in God. It is characteristic of Jesus, who knew the bickering, boasting ways of his disciples, and who deeply felt the loss of Judas, that he should now specifically ask for the gift of unity to be bestowed on his disciples. When Jesus continues his prayer in verse 13, his word reminds us of how often he found time to 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 ...

538. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... too embarrassed to even ask him to clarify his words. Adding insult to injury, these men then begin arguing over which of them is most likely to become the greatest. After he flips their expectations upside down (the least shall be the greatest), Jesus continues the lessons in discipleship in verse 38. Just as the individual disciples had been trying to one-up each other, so now the "chosen" community of the twelve try to distinguish themselves collectively as better than the rest of those who invoke Jesus ...

539. Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... pleasure." Actually, the Psalmist's words in 40:6 merely stated that these offerings are "not required." The Hebrews' author's paraphrase of Psalm 40:7-8 has the incarnated Christ proclaiming to God that he has"come to do your will" (10:7), but fails to continue with the Psalmist's assertion that "your law is written on my heart." However, any reader aware of the Psalm being quoted would recall both this conclusion to that text in the Psalm and the link that it makes with the new covenant language found in ...

540. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of the One who established the covenant. In verses 7-9 God now reveals that the covenant is about to be renewed and the divine commitment expanded into the immediate future. A new history of deliverance is about to come to the Hebrews. When God continues, and Moses realizes that he is to be God's instrument in making this deliverance real, he is filled with dismay. As with all those whom Scripture records God calling, the immediate response of this chosen one is to deny his ability and worthiness to ...

541. Genesis 11:1-9

Genesis 11:1-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... they will be left to carry on. As further consolation to his disciples, Jesus reveals the gift he will leave with them, a gift that comes from the Father but through the Son. That gift is of course the Holy Spirit, the enabling force behind the disciples' ability to continue Jesus' work. Like the mathematical rule that declares if a=b and b=c, then a=c, Jesus, who is the Truth, dwells in the Spirit of truth which is now given to the disciples. As the Spirit of truth dwells in each and every one of them, so ...

542. Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-19

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... in chapters 12 and 13. In verses 8-12, Abraham's faith is lauded in two areas. The patriarch's willingness to leave his homeland on the basis of God's promise is his initial act of faithfulness. But Abraham "kept the faith." He continued as a tent-dwelling sojourner in this Promised Land, patiently waiting, always believing, confident that God would eventually fulfill the pledge. Verse 10 is a trifle ambiguous. At this stage in the description it would seem to be referring to the future establishment of ...

543. Romans 8:26-39

Romans 8:26-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... 38-39) separate events which cannot destroy the "good" that God plans to work out in the lives of those who love God. This "good" declared in verse 28 is defined in verse 29 as being a transformation into "the image of his Son" a continuing process toward Christlikeness in the lives of all believers. The unqualified nature of this good news offers Paul and all Christians a foundation of unshakable faith and hope no matter what challenges or hardships must be faced. As Christians who have been "called" into ...

544. Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to he who is not of a "peaceful" mind, the Good News will not even register. The households of those closed off to the peace message will remain in spiritual darkness. Hence these missionaries are counseled to stay in one home only without fear that their continued presence may be a hardship on their hosts. Jesus also appears to counsel a relaxing of dietary laws as part of these messengers' marching orders. This is not mere courtesy so much as it is part of the demand to be about spreading the Good News ...

545. Luke 24:35-48

Luke 24:35-48

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

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

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

547. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

548. Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... canticle known as "the Magnificat." At the start of the canticle Mary confirms the "makaria" ("blessed are you") pronounced upon her by Elizabeth in both 1:42 and 45 when she rejoices that "all generations will call me blessed." Elizabeth’s theme of praising God is continued by Mary as she thanks the God who has glorified her through this divine act. The unmerited nature of this gift, the divine "favor," is recited in verse 48, an echoing refrain to the angel’s words to Mary in verse 30. Her status as a ...

549. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

550. Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-19

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

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