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 676 to 700 of 2815 results

676. The Lawyer

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Dave Zuchelli

... with interest. His intent was likely to find a flaw in the narrative Jesus was weaving. Not only did he fail to find a weakness in the story, but Jesus also compelled him to answer a final follow-up question of his own. I sometimes wonder if Jesus crafted these parables on the spur of the moment, or if he had a store of them at the ready. I suppose it may have been a bit of both, but they were certainly effective. The Good Samaritan has not only stood the test of time, but most people (including many who ...

677. God's Little Acre

Matthew 13:24-30

Sermon

Will Willimon

... choke out the good wheat but that bad weeds flourish in the same field as the good wheat, until, looking at the field in full flower, it's hard to know whether one is looking at weeds or wheat. What's to be done about it? Jesus tells this parable: God's kingdom is like…it's like this farmer who plants a field of wheat. While he was sleeping, his enemy c e and sowed weeds among the wheat…dandelions, bitter weed, wild onions…and then slipped away. When the plants grew and bore fruit, the weeds were ...

678. Polite Disobedience

Matthew 21:23-32

Sermon

Steve Molin

... of the house. He dodged a bullet and he could always come up with an excuse later. But the first son has a change of heart. He had remorse for the way he had answered his father, so he went and worked in the fields. When Jesus concluded his parable, he asked the Pharisees “Which of the sons, do you think, did the will of his father?” And all agreed that it was the first one. And then Jesus lowered the boom! “And I’m telling you that tax-collectors and prostitutes will be getting into heaven before ...

679. Fearless

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... but others. Jesus also knows that each of us was created uniquely with unique gifts and personalities. We don’t need to all invest in the same way, but we invest in the ways that we can with the opportunities that we see before us. But the problem in the parable doesn’t come up with which investments to choose, but it arises with a man who fears investing at all, but who deems it better to keep what he has to himself and guard it out of fear of being “hurt.” This is the root of all fear –that we ...

680. Bearers of the Seed

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... ; 17:6; 17:20; 26:3-4; 26:22; 28:3; 35:11; 41:52; 47:27; 48:4; 49:22. The command appears also in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy many times. ***For more information see “Of Seeds and the People of God: Preaching as Parable, Crucifixion, and Testimony” by Michael P. Knowles, p. 94-95 and for information on Esther and the birth metaphor and mission, see “Women in Travail: Travailing for Abraham’s Seed” by M. Elizabeth Adams. ^ We must never forget that Paul was a Jew trained by Gamaliel ...

681. When Self-esteem Gets Out Of Hand

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

... is, accepted by God, made right with God, put in a just relationship with God. But why? Why was a confessed sinner more acceptable to God than a person who kept the rules and observed the correct rituals of the faith? Doubtless many who first heard this parable asked that question. The tax collector simply threw himself on the mercy of God. He took his own sin seriously. He knew that God is righteous, hates sin, and will bring the sinner to judgment. He knew he could not hide himself from God, and he had ...

682. On Golf, Swimming, Gardening and Lent?

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

... , the confidence and the grace we need to go on. The gospel text for today carries the same theme hidden in that parable of the fig tree. Notice what happens when the owner of the vineyard comes seeking fruit for the third time on that ... story? And guess why we still live? Because of God's good grace and forgiveness in the intercession of the gardener on our behalf! An important parable for us today? Well, I don't know about you, but in those days (and sometimes years) when I feel like that barren tree, I ...

683. On The Road To The Cross

Luke 20:9-19

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

... work at it, and even gives us the freedom to harm his messengers and each other by acts of hatred and violence. And yet, God sent his son in love -- for you and me. What a perfectly illogical, irrational, profound thing to do! So, what is our response? Take that parable apart any way you want to, and we are the tenants in the vineyard. And what are we to do? -- to tend the place, to bear fruit, to care for each other, and to thank the owner with the fruits of our labor. Even though we aren't as faithful ...

684. Week Two Of Lent

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... Genesis, Joseph has the last say. He refuses to hate his brothers, but rather builds them up so that they may live in their adopted land of Egypt. The sons of Israel had the opportunity to use their delegated responsibility wisely; they missed the chance. The parable of the tenants in today's Gospel is a second story of the abuse of responsibility. The owner of the vineyard leases out the land of his estate; the tenants are given responsibility to properly use it for the betterment of all. The tenants, like ...

685. The Shepherd And His Flock

John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... way, the truth and the life." Jesus is the way people can enter into the kingdom and know salvation, the consequence is the discovery of the real meaning of life. Jesus' way is the way of life as contrasted with the way of death. Key Words in the Parable 1. "Very Truly." (v. 1) For Jesus, truth is not propositional. It is real being; it is life. He emphasizes the point he is about to make by claiming that it reveals what is the reality, not the appearance of real existence. 2. "Sheepfold." (v. 1) The image ...

686. The One Thing That Would Make The Biggest Difference

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

... person. And I mean that figure of speech literally, too. Sartre was wrong. Hell isn't other people. Hell is spending your life -- and, maybe eternity -- waiting for someone else to make the first move. It is no accident that Matthew locates these instructions immediately after the parable of the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep in order to go searching for one who is lost. Love always calls us to be the shepherd, to be the one who goes looking for the brother or sister who is lost to us either because we sinned ...

687. Entertaining Tips for Christians

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... of the Guests at the Wedding Feast, reminds us of the dangers in thinking too much of ourselves. Those who try to build themselves up, like the pushy guest at the wedding feast, get "put down." But the second parable, the parable about who to invite to dinner, is also about humility. I think we are called to reach out to "the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind," because at various times, the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind are us. Perhaps we're not financially poor. But ...

688. On The Cross-Road

John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

689. At The Right Place At The Right Time

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... issues in the kingdom. When David went to see Nathan he had no idea what he wanted to talk to him about. Nathan had a parable to tell David. I wonder if David saw Nathan's hands trembling as he began. Once there were two men, one rich and the other ... in front of us to see the wrongs we have committed. With great courage as well as risk Nathan told David, "You are the man." The parable Nathan told David was actually about him. He was the man who stole from the poor man in taking his wife to be his own. In ...

690. Proper 20

Philippians 1:12-30, Jonah 4:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13, Exodus 16:1-36, Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... be found ...." Old Testament: Jonah 3:10--4:11 Jonah is angry when the Ninevites repent and God withholds destruction. He parks himself under a broom tree to see what would become of the city. When the tree is wilted by a hot wind, God uses this as a parable of forgiveness and mercy. Jonah mourned the loss of a tree he did not grow; should God have pity on this great city? Epistle: Philippians 1:21-30 (C); 1:1-5 (6-11) This is the first of four lessons based on Philippians, which provides the preacher with ...

691. Outsiders and Insiders: A Gospel Surprise

Mark 9:38-41

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... that to receive such a child is to receive him. Story Three could examine the inside/outside status of the disciples. The context set by Tolbert centers in the failure of the disciples. We also related this story to the insider/outsider language of the Parable of the Sower. Jesus tells the disciples that they are the insiders (Mark 4:11). Later, however, he reprimands the disciples by telling them that they possess the precise characteristics of outsiders (Mark 4:11- 12; 8:16-21). The story of the disciples ...

692. Tying Up A Strong Man

Mark 3:20-30, 1 Samuel 8:1-22, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, Mark 3:31-35, Psalm 138:1-8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... doing what he believes is God's will for him. Thesis: Jesus Christ as God's agent is stronger than the forces of evil in the world. Theme: The followers of God in fellowship with Christ have the power to overcome evil. Key Words in the Parable 1. "The Crowd." (v. 20) Many people were attracted by his healings and preaching. They followed him wherever he went, presumably at this point to Capernaum. It appears that he had moved his headquarters there from Nazareth. 2. "His family." (v. 21) The Greek is vague ...

693. Wedding Sermon - The Solid Rock On Which We Stand!

Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... respects, it is a welcomed change, and no doubt, one well received by you both. Still, because this is an occasion marked by change, I have chosen as today's scripture lesson a brief passage from the seventh chapter of the gospel of Matthew. Admittedly, this parable may seem a rather strange text for a wedding sermon. However, even though one's marriage might be made in heaven, it remains a partnership to be worked out here on earth. Like these two builders, the two of you will want to choose carefully that ...

694. He Came Seeking Fruit

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

... prove to be my disciples." He also said, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits." Moments Of Quiet Meditation: (Accompanied by soft music) Scripture: Luke 13:6-9 (NRSV) Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard: and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down ...

695. Proper 10

Colossians 1:15-23, Colossians 1:1-14, 2 Kings 2:1-18, Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Psalm 69:1-36, Psalm 25:1-22, Luke 10:25-37

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... sinned and needs to have the new covenant in Christ, and in Baptism, renewed. It could be the word of either of the two sons in Jesus' parable. Psalm 69:13, 16, 29-30, 32-33, 35-36 (RC) - A song of the passion that is considered to be second only to Psalm 22 is ... of these reasons simply declare how much we really love ourselves and how little we love others. 2. That's what the whole parable is about, isn't it? Godly people, which Christians are supposed to be, not only are to love God, but they must also love ...

696. Proper 13

Luke 12:13-21, Psalm 49:1-20, Ecclesiastes 2:17-26, 2 Kings 13:10-25, Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... has forgotten that his life and everything else are gifts from God, not possessions that belong to that person forever. 2. The "rich fool," who lives for pleasure and plenty, as if these are all there is to live, is really a "poor fool," according to Jesus' parable. And, as anyone knows who has lived more than a few decades, a rich person may become a poor person very quickly. 3. The really "rich fool" is the person who gives his life for others, for Christ and the church - the person who gives of his ...

697. What's The Bottom Line?

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

George Johnson

... focus? Do they understand what is expected, what the bottom line is? Isaiah 5 is one of those reviews. The audience listening to Jesus tell this parable was very familiar with the song of the vineyard in Isaiah 5. Here's how it starts. "Let me sing for my beloved a love song ... What was the bottom line? "God looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed. Righteousness, but behold, a cry." In the Matthew parable we have the same image of a vineyard. The owner is looking for a harvest, but instead, violence and ...

698. On the Art Of Listening To Sermons

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

... days, is not that God stopped speaking, but that we quit listening? Before us this morning is a story that is about more than poor farming techniques and uneven ground conditions. It is, at one level, about how we listen when the Word is proclaimed. The parable offers some guidelines on the art of listening for God’s Word in the sermon. Listen. Guideline Number 1: Do not have your mind made up before you come. We often fail to hear anything because we think we know everything there is to know already ...

699. The Signs Of Salvation

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... we can never attain the self-containedness we so impiously desire. We can live in forgetfulness of him, but not with peace of mind. We can live without his blessing, but not without his judgment."2 Zacchaeus had alienated himself from God. Just as the tax collector in Jesus' parable, he is trapped by his profession and by his wealth. Even Jesus had said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it would be for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. So here is Zacchaeus ... up a ...

700. The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

Drama

Robert A. Lehmann

... when I come back. Solo 3 (Innkeeper): Is he a Samaritan like you? Solo 2: No, he's a Jew. Solo 3: And you're paying for his care? Solo 2: Yes, of course. [Solos 2 and 3 return to chorus position] Narrator: See what I mean? After telling this parable, Jesus turned to the Lawyer and asked, Jesus: Which of these three do you think proved neighbor to the man who fell among robbers? Lawyer: [With humility] The one who showed mercy on him. Solo 1: The Samaritan! Solo 2: The one who went out of his way to comfort ...

Showing results