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 651 to 675 of 2815 results

651. Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... barns.” As any farmer/agri-entrepreneur knows, a great harvest year is a double-edged sword. Yes, there is a lot more to harvest and sell. But with a glutted market the price for the commodity drops. Supply and demand. The rich man in Jesus’ parable not only needs more storage space because of the bumper crop; he wants more long-term storage facilities so that he can hold on to his harvest until a time when the “demand” will outpace the “availability” — thus earning him a better price for his ...

652. Risky Business

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... afraid to plan big mission projects or big building projects because we fear we may fail. Sometimes I think in J. B. Phillips words, our “God is too small.” Some of the most fearful people in the world are in church. That may be why Jesus told today’s parable. Jesus says, “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his ...

653. Who Is Right

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

James Merritt

... ��In God’s eyes, who do you think got up justified?” We are in a series called “Snapshots.” We know that a picture is worth a thousand words, but in the hands of Jesus words became pictures. These pictures we call “parables” are little stories that answer big questions. These parables give us snapshots of the Kingdom of God and of the God of the kingdom and it tells us how we are to relate to both. Frankly, no snapshot that Jesus ever took makes me more uncomfortable, more convicted, and more ...

654. Determining Your Destiny

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

James Merritt

... so you don’t get to practice.” I believe Jesus told this story to clear up some of that unknown. Remember, we are in every parable. Just as there are two men in this story every one of us are one of those two men. These two men were different in so ... that difference that actually determined their destiny. As we study these two men they teach us the central lesson of this parable. Key Take Away: Today’s decision determines tomorrow’s destiny. Nobody gets to determine how they enter this world. You didn ...

655. The Impending Departure II

John 16:5-16, John 16:17-33

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... 21, and perhaps to the metaphor of the vine in 15:1–17. To characterize the whole discourse as speaking figuratively is an exaggeration, to about the same degree as the statement in Mark 4:34 that Jesus would not speak to the people “without using a parable.” No sooner is the distinction between “figures of speech” and plain speech out of Jesus’ mouth than he begins to speak as plainly as it is possible for anyone to do! (vv. 27–28; esp. v. 28: I came from the Father and entered the world; now ...

656. Oracles of Restoration

Ezekiel 34:1-31, Ezekiel 35:1-15, Ezekiel 36:1-38, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ezekiel 37:15-28

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... see the discussion at 30:3). The “day of clouds and darkness” is the Lord’s Day of vengeance and deliverance, when God will seek out and save God’s scattered flock. Jesus uses this image of God searching for the lost sheep in a powerful way in the parables (Matt. 18:12–14; Luke 15:1–7). Verses 13–15, which describe the return of the flock into their own land (v. 13), is reminiscent of Psalm 23. The Lord will cause Israel to lie down in good pasture, beside streams of water (NIV ravines, v. 13 ...

657. Community Discourse: Care for Others in the Kingdom

Matthew 18:1-9, Matthew 18:10-14, Matthew 18:15-20

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... came to save the lost” (derived from Luke 19:10). Copyists very likely added this line, possibly to smooth the transition from 18:10 to the parable in 18:12–14. 18:12 If a man owns a hundred sheep. The parable of the wandering sheep receives a similar rehearsal in Luke 15:3–7, though there with an emphasis on a lost sheep. In Matthew, the parable highlights the value of pursuing a single sheep that has wandered away, fitting nicely between teachings on those vulnerable to stumbling (18:6–7) and ...

658. The Necessity of Vigilance in Light of the Parousia

Mark 13:32-37

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... s return are laboring under false pretenses, for God does not intend us to know the time that he has established for the eschaton. 13:36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. This makes explicit what is implicit in the parable and its explanation in verses 34–35. Watchmen were to remain alert throughout the night, and there were severe penalties for guards caught sleeping. This in fact is exactly what happens at Gethsemane, when Jesus asks the disciples to “watch and pray” (14:34 ...

659. What Can I Get By With?

Luke 17:5-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , and one of his toughest. It doesn’t let us off the hook. One preacher, Terrence Johnson, was so frustrated with this parable and saying of Jesus as he sought to prepare a sermon on it, that he ended up writing Luke a letter which became ... can satisfy the righteous demands of God. A seminary student was invited to preach one Sunday, and she was given one of the most difficult parables of Jesus, the one about the farmer who recruited workers and paid all of them the same thing at the end of the day, even ...

660. Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36-50

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... interpreted at times to mean that the woman is forgiven because of her love for Jesus. But the point of the entire story is that her love is the result of her forgiveness. That love and gratitude flow from forgiveness is clearly the point of the parable (7:41–42), and the woman’s actions of love toward Jesus stem from her experience of a forgiveness that has already been received. In verse 48 Jesus simply confirms the forgiveness of the woman. Indeed, verse 50 clearly shows that it is faith that has ...

661. The Rich Man And Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... takes a different tack. The rich man realizes that it is too late for him, so he entreats Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers of their imminent doom (16:27–28). (One should not use this detail of a parable to probe the self-consciousness of those who are being punished.) Abraham dismisses the suggestion because the brothers already have “Moses and the Prophets” (16:29). This also suggests that the message of Jesus does not invalidate Old Testament revelation (cf. 16:17). The rich man, however ...

662. Sin, Faith, Duty

Luke 17:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... addressed not Jesus’ disciples, but Pharisees (and Sadducees?), who owned farms on which servants worked. If so, then this would be another example of how a Palestinian saying or parable came to be applied to the later, wider Christian context. 17:10 So you also: The parable (vv. 7–9) is applied to the disciples (or apostles). In another context the parable may have been applied to others, such as the Pharisees. we have only done our duty: This is apparently a common theme in Jewish piety. Lachs (p. 318 ...

663. The Wise and Foolish Builders

Luke 6:46-49

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... refers to his disciples as well. Thus understood, it is an exhortation to all disciples to hear and obey Jesus’ teachings and so remain firmly founded in the faith. Additional Notes 6:46–49 Lachs (p. 151) cites this interesting rabbinic parable that parallels Jesus’ Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders: “He used to say: ‘One in whom there are good works, who has studied much Torah, to what may he be likened? To lime poured over stones: even when any number of rains fall on it, they cannot ...

664. The Disciples' Grief Will Turn to Joy

John 16:17-33, John 16:5-16

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

665. Excuses! Excuses!

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” Obviously the master was unhappy. What is Jesus trying to say to us in this parable? What practical wisdom can we obtain from it? We need to begin here: We are responsible for how we live our lives. You and I are responsible for the choices we make. That’s not a popular viewpoint nowadays. We are a generation of excuse makers. Nevertheless ...

666. Some Things I've Learned Since I Knew It All

Mark 4:26-34

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... a youngster. "I can be a good guy without God," he said. He was only fooling himself, but he wouldn't listen to anyone else. The biblical corrective for such attitudes and boasts, and for any and all aspects of an attitude of superiority, is this little parable spoken by our Lord and presented to us in Mark 4:26-34. We know people like Adam who go through phases when they act like they are superior, often to cover up feelings of inferiority. We also know that temptations and the demons of bragging, putting ...

667. Are You a Lemming or a Lassie?

Luke 12:13-21, Luke 12:22-34, Luke 12:35-48, Luke 12:49-53, Luke 12:54-59

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... place, you are on a mission for Jesus in the world, to gather, to proclaim, to serve, to save. Of you much will be expected. Of you much will be asked. But the reward will be oh so great! Amen. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Jesus’ Parable of the Rich Fool and Warnings to His Disciples and Others as Told by Luke (12) Minor Text Abraham and God Discuss Sodom and Gomorrah’s Lack of Loyal People (Genesis 18) Stay Loyal and True to the Lord Your God (Deuteronomy 8) Psalm 24: Receive the Blessings ...

668. Don't Stop Praying!

Luke 18:1-8, Luke 18:35-43

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... valued are you? Put your faith in God. Choose God. Choose Jesus. And revel in undeserved joy….and justified and assured peace of mine and heart. *The photo for this sermon is from the blog of Henry Harvey. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Jesus Tells a Parable of a Widow and Judge and Heals a Blind Beggar (Luke 18) Minor Text From Enoch Who Walked With God to Noah Who Walked With God (Genesis 5-8) Jacob Wrestles with God (Genesis 32:24-28) David Teaches God’s People to Seek the Lord Always (1 ...

669. Ten Pounds of Mercy, One Pound of Faith

Luke 19:11-27, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’” After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. Matthew’s Account of Jesus’ Parable of Virgins and Bags of Gold “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any ...

670. Crossing Over

Luke 10:25-37, Genesis 48:1-22

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... to a place of life, breath, hope, love. Once we put our fears to rest by taking that first step, each next step is a confirmation that we are moving in the “right” direction, the right way. Today I want to suggest to you that Jesus’ parable of the traveling Samaritan is a “crossing over” story. The border between Samaria and Judea in Jesus’ day was one that most Jews (at least those who hailed from Jerusalem) would never cross. In fact, so great was their distaste for the Samaritans that they ...

671. Big Spender

1 Kings 10:14-29, 1 Kings 11:1-13, Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of grace fill you, complete you, and bring you to a place of still waters to drink, to eat, to feast with him at his heavenly table. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text The Extravagance of Solomon (1 Kings 10:14-29 and 11:1-6) Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) Minor Text The Story of the Extravagance of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) The Lord Will Show His Glory to the Pursuing Egyptians (Exodus 14) Guidelines for Clean and Unclean Foods (Leviticus 11) Saul is Tormented by an Evil Spirit (1 Samuel ...

672. Stay Awake!

Mark 13:24-37

Sermon

Michael L. Sherer

... and listening to him speak who would see the end of the Age. That makes us wonder what Jesus, or at least Mark, thought the end of Age was supposed to look like. If there truly was to be a cosmic interruption of life on our planet, then Mark’s parable, which has Jesus calling his listeners to stay awake, makes perfect sense. But what if the cosmic interruption never came? There’s good evidence that, as the first believers imagined it, such an event never occurred. So, then, does the ...

673. Are You Ready to Wait?

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Albert G. Butzer III

... they fall asleep — all of them fall asleep, the wise as well as the foolish. Rather, they are chastised because they didn’t bring enough lamp oil to keep their lamps burning during the bridegroom’s delay. Like a number of Jesus’ parables, this one is best understood allegorically — things in the story represent other things. For example: the wedding banquet is a symbol for the kingdom of God, the bridegroom is clearly Jesus, and the bridegroom’s midnight arrival suggests that the messiah will ...

674. Now

Mark 13:32-37

Sermon

Will Willimon

... when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work"? Did you hear that? In the initial shock of the absence ("going on a journey, when he leaves home"), did you hear the "puts his servants in charge, each with his work"? The story is a parable of absence, of masters who leave, go away. And in listening to the story, we're apt to hear that and nothing else. Absence. But the story is also a message about the meantime. How then do we live? The master is going away, yes, yes, we know about ...

675. Graciousness and Grumbling

Matthew 20:1-15

Sermon

Will Willimon

... . Here we are, Sunday morning, a beautiful chapel, good music, so much substantial stone, order, and pleasing harmony. Then comes this parable about people going to work, some for eight hours (and in the heat of the day, too), some for three, some ... which cuts into me from without. Here sits a ticking bomb in the middle of the straight-laced, ethically earnest Gospel of Matthew, this little parable. It is not a story about how God helps those who help themselves. It is not a call to do good so that good ...

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