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 551 to 575 of 715 results

551. Jesus the Toxicologist

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... every encounter Jesus had with people he immediately discerned and diagnosed the “toxin” that was most affecting and infecting their lives. The Pharisees continued to “grumble” against him and “ridicule” him — for hanging out with known “sinners” and “tax collectors,” for suggesting that one had to choose between serving God and serving mammon. But Jesus had no trouble detecting the true toxins that infected their pharisaic faith. Though they professed to love and serve the law, their ...

552. What Should We Do?

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." [10] And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" [11] In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." [12] Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?" [13] He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." [14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from ...

553. Chosen

John 15:9-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... chosen, simply because he's been hanging out with Roy. (1) Sometimes it works just the opposite, too. Look at the company Jesus kept. To the religious establishment, Jesus couldn't be the Messiah because He associated with the sick and lame, prostitutes and tax collectors, fisherman and women. How could He be the Messiah. Surely the Messiah would come to the righteous ones, like them. At the Last Supper, Jesus not only talks about his coming death and resurrection but He also talks about His deep love for ...

554. Worth a Thousand Points

Luke 18:9-14

Illustration

John P. Jewell

... street. He finally arrives at a grand total of 431 points and cries out... "I am sunk! There is no hope for me! What more could I have done? O Lord, all I can do is beg for your mercy!" "THAT," exclaims Peter, "Is a thousand points!" So also, the tax collector in Jesus' parable finds his hope in the grace and mercy of God.

555. Everything He Says Is True

Luke 18:9-14; 1 Cor 13

Illustration

Ray Pritchard & Brett Blair

... he tithes on the gross and not on the net. He went beyond the Law of Moses. That's no big deal; all the Pharisees did that. When he says, "I am not a crook," he really isn't a crook. When he says, "I am not like this filthy tax collector," he's really not like that guy. When he says, "I do not commit adultery," he really doesn't commit adultery. He is faithful to his wife. When he says, "I am honest, I am faithful, I am zealous for my religion," he means it and every word of it ...

556. The Law and the Gospel

Luke 18:9-14

Illustration

David Ernst

The primary purpose of the Law is, like a mirror, to teach man the true knowledge of his sin. We see this in the example of the publican. The publicans were tax-collectors for the Roman imperialists. They were Jews, but were not respected by their people. They were considered traitors and thieves, with some justification. So the publican did not approach God with pride, demanding what was owed him. On the contrary, he approached the Lord with maximum humility and true repentance. ...

557. The Worship Wars

Luke 18:9-14

Illustration

Stephen M. Crotts

... a part of the community for he was "standing by himself." And Jesus said pointedly that he was never forgiven by God, for "all who exalt themselves will be humbled." I guess you might say he was so self-conscious he lost his God-consciousness. The second gentleman, however, the tax collector, "went down to his home justified." It seems that even though he was not satisfied with himself, God was. So, from the text, which of these two men do you relate to in worship? You went to church today. What happened?

558. How Jesus Saw

Lk 19:1-10

Illustration

King Duncan

... as a flower girl, and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me as a lady, and always will." It is both interesting and encouraging to notice how Jesus treated people whether it be the woman of the streets or the tax collector in the tree. He saw something no one else could see. That is the first thing we need to see. Jesus was more eager to see Zacchaeus than Zacchaeus was to see him.

559. Proper 21, Pentecost 19, Ordinary Time 26

Psalm 25:1-9, Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32, Matthew 21:23-27, Philippians 2:1-3

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

... me your paths. III: Wherever we go, our path is the path of love; our destination, your heart. IV: Show me your way, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Prayer Of The Day Leader: Father of all mercies, you call us to do your will. Tax collectors, prostitutes, and garden-variety sinners, you call us all, that we might enter your kingdom. May we run swiftly to answer your call, that receiving the joy that you have promised, we would forever sing your praise, through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with ...

560. Hey, Foolish Thing!

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

King Duncan

... influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world . . .” Paul is saying, “Look, God hasn’t chosen celebrities or rocket scientists to proclaim His word. He’s chosen people like us farmers, fishermen, tax-collectors, housewives . . .” Today we might say, “God’s chosen electricians and plumbers and sales people and teachers . . .” That’s who God depends on. God uses everyday people to do His work. We worship celebrities in our culture. Actor David Niven ...

561. Let My Little Light Shine - Sermon Starter

Mt 5:13-20

Illustration

King Duncan

... were not Jesus' methods. Jesus motivated through positive messages of hope and encouragement. Consider our lesson for today. Jesus says to his followers, "You are the light of the world. . . ." Can you imagine that? Here was a motley crew of farmers and fishermen and tax collectors and housewives in a tiny and remote village in an obscure part of the world and Jesus was saying to them, "You are the light of the world." Talk about a statement of faith! Let's go farther than that. Talk about a crazy idea ...

562. Matthew 5:38-48

Matthew 5:38-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... “the righteous and the unrighteous.” Jesus reminds his listeners that merely “loving those who love you” is so distant from what God expects of God’s “children” that even those at the very bottom of the respectability scale — “tax collectors” (who openly colluded with the Roman authorities) and “Gentiles” (pagans who had no knowledge of the one true God) — were capable of such self-contained love. Instead of expressing this “lowest common denominator” kind of love, Jesus sets ...

563. Looking at Footprints

John 17:1-11

Illustration

Barbara Lundblad

... of Torah. One does not live by bread alone. Worship the Lord your God and serve only God. Can you see Jesus walking on the wrong side of the street with the wrong people? Can you see Jesus walking up to a sycamore tree, then looking up at Zachaeus, the tax collector, perched in the branches? "Come down, Zachaeus," Jesus said, "let's walk over to your house for dinner." Can you see Jesus walking, then riding, into Jerusalem? Can you see him stumbling toward Golgotha, loving us to the very end?

564. Evangelism

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the "E" word thing. You're sort of like secret agents. Most folks don't expect you to talk about your faith or be involved in this whole Evangelism deal. But you know what, you are exactly who Jesus would have chosen. Jesus called fishermen, tax collectors, and the every day ordinary kinds of people. He didn't have a single Pharisee, Sadduccee, Priest or Levite on his staff. It was all run by the laity. And after Pentecost their ministry exploded. William Willimon said: "In baptism we are initiated, crowned ...

565. Why Are You Acting Like Orphans?

Romans 8:18-27

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , unredeemably bad.” Jesus said something else: “Yes! You are loved, forgiven, and redeemed.” Jesus spoke “Yes!” with his whole life encouraging the weakest, healing the most sickly, inviting the most “sketchy” (sketchy fishers, sketchy tax collectors, sketchy single women, sketchy crazies, sketchy Roman authorities, sketchy lepers). To every orphan who asks, “Please, sir, may I have some more?” Jesus speaks these words: “Yes! Ask for more.” Everyone Jesus encountered, everyone Jesus ...

566. Power!

Mark 1:4-11

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... that fact that you are Israelites — God's chosen people — to save you. Get right and do right." The crowds asked what to do. He responded, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Tax collectors were told, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers were instructed, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages" (Luke 3:7-14). It was a message that affirmed what they already ...

567. Riff-Raff

Mark 2:13-22

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... the story better, we should recast that dinner party scene to the twenty-first century to see how we would react, keeping in mind that, even as grown-ups, we are defined by those with whom we associate. To begin with, the host is not a tax collector — we do not hate those folks. We might think they are aggravating or intimidating, especially if they call us for an audit, but we do not hate them. The host of this party must be someone completely despicable. Instead of a revenuer, this large and expensive ...

568. Hope

John 12:20-33

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... draw people to him. It had been so since the night of his birth — humble shepherds and learned magi. As a boy in the temple, there were rabbis and scholars. As a man there were folk from all walks of life — from fishermen and tax collectors to men like Nicodemus, the cream of Israelite society; upstanding women and fallen women; the little children loved him enough to make such a nuisance of themselves that the disciples tried to shoo them away. Even a hard-bitten Roman governor would be mesmerized ...

569. They Call It Grace

2 Peter 3:8-15

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... at the table. Of course they didn't. That's the point. However, the church didn't like the message and made him change the title and make it into a secular scene. People have a hard time with the thought of Jesus having a party with prostitutes and tax collectors who were received with grace. There is a little elder brother in each one of us who would like Jesus to come today so that those misfits with loose morals would get what they deserve. And we would be rewarded with a place at the table. We don't ...

570. But Is It True?

Luke 2:8-20, Romans 16:25-27

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... Jesus washed his feet. Peter didn't ... but Jesus gave him the keys to heaven. The shepherds didn't ... but they were the first to be invited. Mary didn't ... but she was chosen. The adulterer didn't ... but she was given a second chance. The sinners and tax collectors didn't ... but Jesus welcomed them to his table. And really, neither do we deserve it. Not on this night. It comes as an extravagant gift — and I'm taking that leap because I'm betting my life that this story is true. What are you betting ...

571. It’s about Grace

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

Nancy Kraft

... be gracious, then be gracious to Israel, but don't waste it on these good-for-nothing Ninevites!" Jonah resented the grace of God. He wasn't the only one. Consider the life of Jesus, who was the embodiment of God's grace. For the sinners, the tax collectors, the social outcasts, and all who were recipients of his grace, Jesus was the greatest. But for the good, moral people of his day, his grace was a threat to society, which was built upon proving your worthiness by doing what was right and good. God's ...

572. Antidote for Bad Times

James 5:13-20

Sermon

Thomas Lentz

... the person who humbly confesses his guilt than the self-righteous individual who professes to be flawless. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector." And Jesus said, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." — Luke 18:11, 14b Jesus says that we should confess our sins to another. Each one of us should have a trusted confidante ...

573. Conflict Saps the Life Out of the Church

Matthew 18:15-20

Illustration

Todd Weir

... of the church. Pastors that want to survive learn to tell people to talk to the person they are angry with first, then come back if they can't work it out. I'm sure Jesus had to do this all the time with an unruly group of fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot and two brothers known as the Sons of Thunder. There may have been days when he felt like he would be better off without disciples, but his whole purpose was to create a community of believers, not just individuals interested in spirituality.

574. Be Careful Who You Judge

Matt 21:31

Illustration

Roger G. Talbott

... her husband drank up the money. She would pay their bill and she made me swear never to tell. But, I figure now that she is dead, people ought to know especially those who benefited from her charity who have been most critical of her." "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you."

575. Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... who “the least of these” describes. Throughout Jesus’ ministry he had intentionally extended compassion and healing and acceptance to those deemed the “least” by first century culture and tradition — most specifically, women, children, lepers, tax collectors, Samaritans, the powerless, the excluded. It would seem reasonable to assume that this reference to the “least” continues that intentional inclusiveness. However, it is also true that elsewhere in Matthew the “least” specifically ...

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