Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 651 to 675 of 3852 results

Luke 13:22-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... commitment had better be strong, for this "narrow door" does not have easy access. Jesus' eschatological image is clearly drawn as he continues to flesh out this proverb. Scholars are divided over whether Luke's version or Matthew's is closer to the proverb's original form. Luke's text develops the whole theme of rejected entry to a much fuller degree and incorporates the teaching image to make identification with Jesus as "the way" even stronger. Part of the power of Jesus' image of the shut-up house in ...

652. Mark 16:1-8

Mark 16:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ending of Mark's gospel has been lost. All the earliest extant manuscripts available end the text abruptly at verse 8. In Greek this means the gospel ends with the term gar ("for"), a particle that usually comes second in a clause of many words. Whatever originally followed this gar disappeared. It almost seems as if the details that are missing at the final verse of Mark seem to be stockpiled at the beginning of today's text. In 16:1-2, there are details about the names, dates, times, shopping lists and ...

653. Luke 18:1-8

Luke 18:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... always and not to lose heart" clearly show us, not what appears to be the point of the parable, namely that God does not need to be pestered into coming to the help of his people, but that Luke's use of this parable goes beyond its original rhetorical intention to include an eschatological theology of hope. The post-Resurrection community which Luke now addresses may be beleaguered and confused, but if an earthly judge who has no fear of God can hear the cry of a widow, how much more will God come quickly ...

654. Luke 2:22-40

Luke 2:22-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... from the Isaiah passages" (458). On the other hand, Simeon's second oracle, the one Brown contends is the earliest, is not as grand in its scope or as polished in its poetic form. Verse 27 connects so smoothly to verse 34 that it suggests they originally stood together. Simeon's declaration is definitely about the baby in front of him and it considers events which clearly are yet to come not already accomplished. Just as Mary was the first to hear the Good News of Jesus' coming birth and his true identity ...

655. Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Even after likening human beings to "sons of disobedience" and "children of wrath," this section concludes by revealing our specialness. A perfectly acceptable translation of verse 10 might begin "we are God's artifact" or "work of art" as well as "workmanship." God's original act of creation was not enough. God has reworked the human creature in union with Christ to create the possibility of a new relationship. It is because of this new state of being that human beings are now able to offer God "good works ...

656. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... form. The extreme importance of the Johannine message delivered by these two scenes is evident by their placement. The final two verses read today (vv. 30-31) constitute John's original ending to his gospel before the events in chapter 21 were belatedly added. Thus, the events and reactions described in 20:19-23 and 24-29 were originally intended to be John's final words to all would-be followers of Jesus. The first pericope expands the astounding events of Easter Sunday "evening on that same day." Despite ...

657. Death Has Been Conquered

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... Giving Living In The Overflow Of God’s Love (Nashville, TN: Publishing Group, 2002), p. 68. 3. Harold S. Kushner, When Bad Things Happen To Good People (NY: Schocker Books). 4. Contributed. Source unknown. 5. http://www.stjeromecroatian.org/eng/March%2027,%202005.pdf. [ORIGINAL SERMON] The Rev. Gary Paterson, a pastor in British Columbia, tells about the first worship service he led in his first pastoral charge. He was young and very green. It was the first Sunday in August a hot summer day in a small ...

658. Bound to Earth, Destined for Heaven

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not already been; there is no pit of darkness where life can take you that Jesus has not penetrated with the light. The Prince of Peace took the beauty of God into the very living room of the Prince of Darkness, and there forever redeemed the original beauty of creation. If you were a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary in 2008, and attended your baccalaureate, you were treated to the worldwide debut of a hymn. The song is called “A New Creation” and the song is sung to the tune of “Come Thou ...

659. Lent 3

Exodus 20:1-21, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, John 2:12-25

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... on the third day. This proves who he is the Messiah and he has the right and authority to cleanse the temple. Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-17 1. God spoke (v. 1). The origin of the Decalogue is God. This was symbolized in the account that the commandments were written in stone by the finger of God. The laws are not of human origin nor the result of social and cultural development or needs. Since God gave the laws, they are universal, eternal and absolute. 2. I am (v. 2). The basis for the commandments is "I ...

660. Tinctures of Truth in the Tincture of Time

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... commonplace. But long before there were any “germy” concerns, which didn’t really come into play until the latter third of the 19th century, the church adopted an alternative way for communicants to participate in receiving the “blood of Christ.” Originally by using a spoon or tube, later by simply “dunking” — the wine was brought to the faithful, not by sipping, but by a process known as “intinction.” Today we think “intinction” makes good sense during cold and flu season — dip ...

661. All in the Family

1 Timothy 3:14-15

Sermon

James Merritt

... Body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:5, NIV) Do you realize that membership is a Bible word? It was originally a Christian word? In all of my ministry, I have never met a growing, glowing Christian who did not get linked to a church, ... just a family, though it is a family. It is a team. In the Greek language, in which the New Testament was originally written, the word "fellowship" can also be translated "partnership." Success of any team is always dependant upon every member of the ...

662. How to Preach a God-Sized Message to a Media Filled World

2 Timothy 4:1-5

Sermon

James Merritt

... Holy Spirit, it is still a fire that can melt the coldest heart, a sword that can cut the hardest soul, and a lamp that can enlighten the darkest mind. b. Preach Compellingly Paul goes on to say in verse 2, "Be ready!" (II Timothy 4:2, NASB) In the original Greek Language that word was used as a solider that was ready to go into battle at a moment's notice. This refers to the urgency and the passion and the zeal that ought to mark our preaching. Jeremiah was right. Preaching ought to be like a fire in your ...

663. Holy Extravagance

John 12:1-8

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... ministry is found in him and none other. Another way of looking at it is to show that there is only a short time left on earth for him and it is imperative he be placed first. The centrality of Christ in the life of the church emerges originally because of his physical presence among us. Had our Lord just sent his ideas by way of Peter, James, John, and Paul, where would the Jesus movement be today? Likely, a well-developed theology and/or philosophy in books on the shelves of libraries would be its lot ...

664. Cured Cripples and Crabby Critics

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... said, "Pastor, now I know what you mean by saying that God is out in front of us, suffering as we suffer. That young man, Steve, was a spokesperson for God, wasn't he?" The pastor replied, "Steve is crippled by cancer, but not by the bitterness he originally felt about his cancer." Joanne said, "Now I know why you wanted me to meet Steve." Three weeks later, Joanne attended Steve's funeral at the church served by her pastor friend. "That was a real celebration of life," she said. "Now Steve is cured of his ...

665. Be Real

Colossians 1:3-8

Sermon

John Jamison

... that the Greeks admire, or a God who once did some amazing things for a bunch of people who sacrifice the right stuff. Paul simply stopped by the house, and wrote to us in some letters, to tell us what God had done in his life. It's that original source thing. Others can speak from tradition and stories and hopes, while Paul speaks to us from his own personal experience. And there were enough folks around who knew Paul back when he was Saul, to know that the change that had taken place was indeed real. It ...

666. What's in a Name?

Isaiah 43:1-7

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... their studios laid down an ultimatum: no name change meant no movie contract or no recording contract. Leonard Slye thus became cowboy Roy Rogers, while Betty Joan Perske changed her name to Lauren Bacall. We knew Frances Gumm as Judy Garland. Actor Kirk Douglas was originally Issur Danielvitch Demsky and singer John Denver began life as Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. We must even pay careful attention to what the initials of our baby's name spell. No child will be pleased to wear a monogram such as C-O-W, D ...

667. New Covenant, New Testament

Jeremiah 31:27-34

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

... the promise marks the end of the history of God's previous dealings with God's people and a new history will begin. In point of fact, the new covenant that is promised in these historic verses is only new in the sense that it will fulfill the original intention of the Sinai covenant. Maybe the best way to understand the difference between the Sinai Covenant and this new covenant as described in Jeremiah is to say that words must be lived, not only spoken. In the book of Exodus we hear "I am the Lord your ...

668. Building the Temple of God

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

... the return of the exiles. In this account we see that there was great rejoicing on this occasion by the younger people, but also weeping on the part of the older priests. Why? Because the older people remembered the laying of the foundation of the original and knew of its magnificence and glory. What happens today when a church puts on an addition? Or when a church closes one building and prepares to build a new one? Comparisons are made; it is the natural response of people. Our grandparents remember "when ...

669. Rehearsal for Christmas Eve

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... offers a range of roles for adults and teens, as well as children. Musical interludes are inserted throughout the play, and particular carols are suggested for each one. These were the songs used in the original production. Other songs can be substituted, or, if preferred, these interludes can be removed. In the original production, the songs were performed by a chorus of Sunday school children, but they can be sung by solo voices, or even by the congregation as a whole. (As the program begins, the Director ...

670. Superman: More Than A Super Hero

John 1:1-5, 9-14; John 13:31-32; John 20:30-31

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . For example there's a scene reminiscent of Salvador Dali's "The Christ of St. John" And "When his mother finds her son in the field after his return, she holds him just like Mary did Jesus in Michelangelo's Pieta'. (3) Did you know that originally Superman's parents names were Mary and Joseph and not Martha and Jonathon. I guess they thought it was too blatant. (4) In the current movie, Lex Luthor is a compilation Herod and Pontius Pilate and when Jesus is under the effects of the deadly Green Kryptonite ...

671. Cleaning House

Mark 1:1-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... all alone. (2) We cater to clutter. We're offered a clean heart and a clean soul through Christ . So, while you're Cleaning House for Xmas, don't forget to Clean the House of Your Soul. That IS why He came, you know. Don't miss it. 1. An original story written for this sermon. Copyright (C) 2007 2. An ...

672. This Is Where We Come In

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . Pour yourself out into your community. Pour yourself out into the world that God loved so much God sent Jesus to die for it. Pour yourself out as Christ poured out his very life for each of us. J. D. Salinger’s third book Franny and Zooey (1961) was originally a series of two stories in The New Yorker in 1955 and 1957. There is a scene in the book in which Franny, a 20-year-old theology major, has just come home from college for a long weekend in November 1955. She’s a nervous wreck. Her concerned ...

673. What Matters In the Light of Eternity: “God Matters”

Acts 17:16-34

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... is kind. God is just. God is holy. God is. The God who is, acts. “The God who made the world and everything that is in it is the Lord of heaven and earth,” says Paul in Verse 24. A great debate still rages in our day over the origin of the universe. On the one hand there are fundamentalist Christians who insist that the whole thing started a little over 6,000 years ago when God in six, twenty-four hour periods, created the world and everything that is in it. Bertrand Russell, on the other hand, called ...

674. Discover The Joy Of Christmas

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... clean soul through Christ and the Joy He brings. So, don't miss it. Don't forget the most important character of the Season. You're the reason He came, you know that don't you. You're the reason this baby was born. Don't miss it. 1. An Original Story by Billy D. Strayhorn 2. An ...

675. Hope in a Plain Brown Wrapper

Luke 1:47-55

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... , it was of little consequence. The Temple had been built and it outshone everything. The prophet Micah wrote: "But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days." Bethlehem was just a small town, like Joshua. It's name means "House of Bread." God took the plain brown wrapper of Bethlehem and made it a Jewel of hope. IV. Stable And what about the stable. Surely god could ...

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