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 601 to 625 of 2273 results

601. Jesus and John the Baptist

Matthew 11:1-19

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Sermon on the Mount (kai egeneto hote etelesen ho Iēsous; cf. 7:28). Up to this point the public ministry of Jesus has met with success. Now the atmosphere changes, and hostility begins to manifest itself. Having finished giving instructions to the Twelve, Jesus departs (apparently alone) to teach and preach in nearby towns. From this point on, healings are less frequent (cf. Matt. 4:23). Jesus began his ministry in Galilee following the imprisonment of John the Baptist (Matt. 4:12). Josephus records that ...

602. He Is Risen!

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... cried in the face of undeniable evidence. The resurrection is an historical event. It permeates the whole New Testament. Paul's account was probably the first written account. He testifies in I Corinthians 15 that the risen Christ appeared first to Peter, then to the twelve, then to more than five hundred of the brethren, some of whom were still alive, then to James, then to all the apostles and finally to Paul himself. Sermons in the book of Acts tell us the importance of the resurrection in the preaching ...

603. Fish and Sheep

John 21:15-25, John 21:1-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... sounds like the other disciples were doing all the work in bringing the heavily loaded net to shore. This fellow designated as "the Rock" by many was certainly colorful but many, if not most of us, would not have made him first among equals in the college of the twelve apostles! Yet, the gospel story, not just in John but the other three, tells us he and the Lord had a very special relationship. After all, he was the one who recognized Jesus as the Christ. Some might add, in jest, Jesus had to call him to ...

604. No Turning Back

John 6:60-71

Sermon

King Duncan

... calls us to wear aprons, not bibs. The people came to Jesus to be fed, but when he challenged them to feed others, they weren’t interested. It hurt Jesus to see many who been with him for much of his ministry turn their back on him. He turned to the twelve who were left and said rather sadly, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” And, of course, it was Simon Peter who answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the ...

605. Training Session

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

The recruiting of the twelve disciples is now complete. Jesus has chosen a group of unlikely candidates - fishermen, tax collectors, unsophisticated Galileans, and others - to communicate the good news to the world that he is the Messiah. Training these people for their task is the second phase of this operation. Jesus takes the disciples away ...

606. Which Way?

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

... resolving to play a game on the athletic field by following the rules means going on the field without first getting into shape, securing the equipment necessary, or expecting to fight hard and win. The whole point of the words which Jesus spoke to Peter and the Twelve was precisely that the unexpected, unspectacular approach will win the day. It’s simply that it doesn’t look to us as though it will - not at the time, not in the short run. But we must remember in what context Jesus’ cross was set. He ...

607. Welcoming Jesus

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... with ice sculptures for $22,000+. Trouble. Behavior? Much as we find in each of our lessons this morning. Child...ISH! The Epistle of James: "bitter envy and selfish ambition...disorder and every evil practice." The gospel of Mark: Jesus asks the Twelve, "What were you arguing about on the road?" Silence. EMBARRASSED silence. Because "they had argued about who was the greatest." A bit like the old Smothers Brothers routine: "Mom always liked you best!" Laughable. And, of course, childish. Actually, there is ...

608. Curses from Mount Ebal

Deuteronomy 27:9-26

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... here there is a selection of specific actions that are placed under a curse without the nature of the curse being spelled out, whereas in chapter 28 the content of the curse is described in graphic detail. Two points may be made about the twelve curses of this chapter. First, there is an interesting combination of the very public nature of the declaration of the curses with the generally private nature of the actions described (cf. Alt, “Israelite Law,” pp. 114f.). The list speaks primarily of offenses ...

609. Good News for Good Living

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... ordinary sense.”1 The Easter faith creates us; we do not create the Easter faith. • Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. • He was buried. • He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. • He appeared to Cephas, to the twelve, to more than five hundred people at one time, to James and all the apostles, and last of all, to Paul. This Pauline repetition of the good news is not only one of the earliest creeds of the church, it is also our Rosetta Stone for ...

610. Changed Lives: Judas

Matthew 26:14-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... Christ’s passion--beginning with Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and the grim reality of death by crucifixion. Today we are going to focus on Judas’ betrayal. You know Judas’ story, all too well. We pick up the story with Matthew 26:14. “Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand ...

611. Changed Lives - Thomas

John 20:24-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side ...

612. No-fault Religion

2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13), 14-17

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... more — ministers who have been the targets of vicious and vociferous attacks by their own parishioners who profess to have had their lives changed by Christ. Nevertheless, despite all that, I believe people do change and sometimes radically. Probably the twelve-step groups experience radical change as much as any in contemporary society. And in some of the more conservative, Evangelical churches, radical conversion and change often are witnessed. In our more staid mainline churches, we are reluctant to ...

613. Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

Acts 13:1-3

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... fairly be called the “elders of the church in Antioch,” whose official position was enhanced by their special gifts—elders like those in 1 Timothy 5:17 who worked hard “at preaching and teaching.” Their role was perhaps analogous to that of the Twelve in the early days of the church. We could call them “the Five.” Their names are full of interest, embracing a wide range of social and possibly racial backgrounds. Barnabas is mentioned first, as being perhaps the senior in status or in faith ...

614. Levi

1 Chronicles 6:1-30

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... related in the literary structure to the genealogies of Judah and Benjamin. The community identity that the Chronicler fosters rests solidly upon these three pillars. This long chapter covers different aspects related to the lineage of Levi. Levi, being one of the twelve sons of Israel mentioned in 2:1–2, is credited with being the ancestor who delivered to Israel its priestly lineage. The very extensive genealogy therefore starts with the family list of the high priests who served in Jerusalem (6:1 ...

615. A Failure of Leadership

Num 20:14-29

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... to attack Israel if it tries to pass through. 20:14 your brother Israel. Edom’s patriarch is Esau (Gen. 36:9), the twin brother of Jacob (Gen. 25:25–26). Jacob is also known as “Israel” (Gen. 32:28), and he is the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. Thus, Israel and Edom are “brother” nations. You know about all the hardships that have come on us. Like a personal letter from a relative not seen in years, the message to Edom in Numbers 20:15–16a recounts the exodus story—Israel ...

616. Do You See Lazarus On Your Doorstep?

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... parable. The point of the parable is not a sweeping condemnation of wealth but rather a critique of the rich man’s self-centered ways. He didn’t even “see” the poor man Lazarus sitting on his doorstep. Jesus’ audience this time was not the twelve disciples but the Pharisees. Those who proclaim the so-called “prosperity gospel” can find some resemblance of it in the book of Deuteronomy where the writers of the book have God not only blessing war but blessing success in the marketplace as signs ...

617. The Dynamics of Doubt

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. When the other disciples told him that they had seen the Lord, he declared, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will ...

618. Why You Should Be Afraid of Sin

Numbers 32:23

Sermon

James Merritt

... will hunt you, hound you, and haunt you until it finds you, unless you deal with it at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. The context of this verse is very illuminating. Israel was at the threshold of entering into the promised land, but two of the twelve tribes, Reuben and Gad, wanted to stop short of crossing over. They liked the land east of the Jordan River, and they wanted to stay right there. But the Lord had told the entire nation that they must, as one, enter the promised land, fight the battle ...

619. The Three Shower Gifts

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Christmas.” The day after tomorrow, January 6, will be “Epiphany,” the official end of Christmas. Only a small percentage of Christians will take note, since they ceased being Christmassy the day after Christmas even though the church celebrates the twelve days of Christmas called “Christmastide.” But in the Eastern Orthodox tradition Epiphany IS Christmas. Epiphany is the day that the “wise men” arrived where Joseph and Mary were staying and worshiped the newborn baby Jesus. In our “Cliff ...

620. Three Men Changed by God

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-13, Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... s words, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” But, I have one more. Paul relates it to us in I Corinthians 15. It is the story of how the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples‑‑first to Peter and later to the rest of the twelve, and then to five hundred more followers‑‑most of whom were still alive when Paul wrote‑‑and finally Paul writes, “Last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” Listen as Paul continues, “For I am the least of the apostles and do ...

621. We Come to Jesus for Rest

Mark 6:30-44

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... fringe of his cloak they were healed. Leader: Jesus, brush us with your cloak's fringe, and heal our sickness too. Greeting Use the hymn "Serenity" as the congregation's response below. This hymn can be found in The United Methodist Hymnal. Leader: The twelve apostles gathered around Jesus, just like we are now. "Come away by yourselves," he said to them, "and rest awhile." People: (Sing "Serenity") Leader: Jesus had sent the apostles out with his authority, and their ministry was much like ours. And as we ...

622. The Prod of the Past

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... different than all other nights?" The youngsters respond with the Exodus story of God's miraculous deliverance of their people. In a unique way, it is the story of the formation of a "family" - competing interests and rivalries that had characterized the twelve tribes of Israel now united forever after into one. A holy nation, set apart, God's chosen people. Why the annual observance FOREVER, as the scripture says? One reason is that families need regular reminders that they are "in this together," and ...

623. Unworthy or Not?

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me ...

624. An Unpopular Profession

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... people. What kind of a fisherman would a tax collector make? Fishing for tax cheaters, perhaps, but not for disciples. What could a tax collector do for the kingdom of God? He could become a secretary. Matthew was probably the only one of the twelve who could write Greek. It may be no accident that Matthew quotes Isaiah on almost every other page. What makes Isaiah so important? Because the teachings of Isaiah the prophet were written down by secretaries who preserved his words for future generations, after ...

625. How Does It Work?

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Sermon

James L. Killen

... God make a big difference in the world. That is how it works. That is how the Christian faith makes a difference. There is an Alcoholics Anonymous group that has a very significant way of ending a meeting. They spend their meetings talking about the twelve-step program, which is really an application of the life-changing dynamics of the Christian faith to their particular problem. Speakers take turns telling how the program has worked for them to encourage others to give it a chance to work in their lives ...

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