Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 701 to 725 of 1285 results

Colossians 3:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... "pagan" in character, are listed: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed. The writer follows these with five more negatives (verse 8) that are evils that emerge when humans live in community with one another: anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive language. The double-listing of five virtues are not given in the context of this week's epistle reading, extending as they do from verse 12 (the first five virtues) and verses 13-15 (the second five). Even though the epistle writer had in mind ...

702. Hebrews 12:1-2, 12-17

Hebrews 12:1-2, 12-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... as a whole - not individuals - emphasizing their responsibility for one another. In the tale of Esau (Genesis 25:27-34) this eldest son of Isaac trades away his legitimate birthright to his wily younger brother, Jacob, for a simple steaming bowl of porridge. The double portion of the first-born was a special right, but as Genesis describes it, Esau "despised" it. Once the deal was made with Jacob it was gone forever, completely unrecoverable. What is more, in Genesis 27 the story of these brothers continues ...

703. Matthew 5:21-37

Matthew 5:21-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... : A First Century Discussion of Male Sexuality," New Testament Studies 36 (1990), 130-141). Jesus' words on sexual behavior are directed toward both men and women. It was generally recognized by the traditional legal practices that only women committed "adultery." A true double standard ignored male sexual behavior. But Jesus addresses any man who "looks at a women" as having committed the adultery. The woman is not painted as a seductress. Indeed, she may not even be cognizant of the man's roving eye and ...

704. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 1 Corinthians 13:2 Paul metaphorically speaks of a faith so all-consuming that it can "remove mountains." All Christians are required to have faith that is, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ but to some there can be a spiritually-infused double portion, a turbocharged faith. These and all the other gifts Paul itemizes are carefully described as being from the "same Spirit" or the "one Spirit." The gifts themselves were well-known. The gifts of healing and miracles were commonly accepted among the Corinthians ...

705. John 14:23-29

John 14:23-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... disciples already had the perfect love and perfect peace that Jesus offers, they would not have needed this sneak preview into the future. But because they are still riddled with fears and driven with faithlessness, Jesus has braced and buoyed them for the future so that they might believe. The double entendre of "believe" serves Jesus well, for he is both urging his disciples to believe what he is saying is true and encouraging them to have faith in him.

706. 2 Kings 2:1-12a

2 Kings 2:1-12a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... finds strength in quieting the voices of those who do not understand and continuing with Elijah in simple obedience. Not until verse 9 does Elijah ask Elisha what he would request of him for his years of service and loyalty. Elisha's response, asking for the "double share of your spirit" (verse 9) is the customary portion given to the first-born heir. Elisha is not asking for more power than Elijah had. He is only requesting that he be designated the undisputed heir of Elijah's place and role. Elijah grants ...

707. Luke 24:35-48

Luke 24:35-48

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The themes Dr. Luke wants to emphasize in his gospel are made clear by double or sometimes even triple stories, replaying essentially the same message. The good news that God has fulfilled all prophecies in the person of Jesus Christ, the fact of the resurrection, and the imperative that the New Israel (the Church) live in the light of this new reality are all truths ...

708. John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... into this serious theological monologue. The typical Johannine discourse formula is followed to the letter in this first pericope. It begins as a dialogue between Jesus and another, in this case Nicodemus. Jesus proclaims a message loaded with double entendre. The other then grossly misinterprets the meaning of Jesus' proclamation. Correcting this misconception takes the form of a long monologue on Jesus' part, where the accurate interpretation of the pronouncement is given and its implications expanded. In ...

709. Philippians 4:49

Philippians 4:49

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of others. Magnified by magnanimity, believers are to display this spirit of loving acceptance to "everyone" - not just members of their church, or even to all Christians, but to pagans and scoffers as well. Verse 5 concludes with yet another statement with double entendre. Paul proclaims "The Lord is near." But his words are less straightforward than they appear. "Near" can mean either space or time - and for Paul either understanding agrees with his theology. That the Lord is near to you, close by you ...

710. John 20:19-31 [Genesis 2:5-24]

John 20:19-31 [Genesis 2:5-24]

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Gospel." Second, it uses image after image (John is also called the "I-Am" Gospel), appealing to a visual culture where the perceptual is more galvanizing and mobilizing than the conceptual. Third, it revels in a pervasive irony and reveals a double vision (what the biblical characters see, and what we know must be seen) which speaks to postmodernity's affinity for irony and play. Lastly, it draws from both ancient and contemporary Jewish Scriptures and proves Judaism's extensive drinking at Hellenistic ...

711. Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 3:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

712. 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people." As the story for this week begins to unfold, the author describes the current prophet Eli as one whose "eyesight had begun to grow dim" (v.2). Although it is tempting to read double entendre into many of the phrases in this unit, it is not necessary. The dimmed eyesight Eli suffers does not necessarily infer that he had lost his ability to receive visions from the Lord. Indeed this pericope makes it clear that "visions" of the God of Israel ...

713. Mark 13:1-8

Mark 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , especially country bumpkin-types like most of Jesus' disciples. Marveling at the size and glory of the temple as it bustled with Passover crowds, the disciples must have been stunned by Jesus' horrifying prophecy. It left no room for negotiation. The double negative in verse 2 make it emphatically clear that every sign of the temple will be utterly destroyed. Although shocking, this prophecy is actually a logical continuation of Jesus' activities in Mark 11:12-21 and his "subversive" teachings delivered ...

714. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ," Anglican Theological Quarterly, 51, 1969, 20-21.) In each of these grammatically separate colons, the subject matter which stands at the very front of the colon is God or Jesus. Bracketing the end of this extended thanksgiving section, this double benediction reminds readers of the motifs Paul expressed in chapters 1-3. In this section, Paul had compared the Thessalonian Gentile-Christians with and inserted them into the long tradition of God's people including the Hebrew prophets (1 Thessalonians ...

715. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... known about his name. (In fact, the synoptists do not record this encounter.) The name by which he is called is a transliteration of a word from Hebrew and Aramaic which means "Twin." This is not, as some suggest, a psychological preparation for the double-mindedness or hesitant nature of his faith. His Greek nickname, Didymus, also means twin. Neither do we know to whom he was a twin. In some Syriac traditions he was known as "Judas the twin," as distinguished from Judas Iscariot, but still no indication ...

716. 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... study of Moses and Elijah). In the privacy of their transjordan location, Elijah now makes an incredible proposal to Elisha: "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you" (v.9). Elisha's response is quick: "Let me inherit a double share of your spirit" (v.9). Elijah acknowledges that this is a difficult request to grant but stipulates the conditions under which it is indeed possible: Elisha must be present when Elijah's translation takes place (v.10). The text then records that the two ...

717. Hosea 1:2-10

Hosea 1:2-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The uniquely painful ministry and personal message of the prophet Hosea manage to bring the fate of an ancient country and the facts of our own struggles into a sharp double focus. Despite Hosea's extreme distance from us in days, the metaphor that defined both his personal life and his preached message continues to transfix us. The power of his predicament as well as his predictions remain undiminished. A prophet in the northern nation of Israel, Hosea lived during the ...

718. Jeremiah 18:1-11

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... staved off. The warning about impending divine judgment given in verse 7 is clearly the main force behind the Lord's word to Jeremiah. But never forget that God is free to act as God wills in response to Judah's own behavior. Verses 7-10 read as a double sequence, a kind of stuttering "if ... if ... then ... then ..." argument. "If ... if ... then ... I will repent of the evil that I intended to do to it" (vv.7-8). "If ... if ... then ... I will repent of the good which I had intended to do to it" (vv.9-10 ...

719. 2 Timothy 1:1-14

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... " of his life, his very soul, to Jesus Christ. Grammatical vagaries make it possible to read verse 12 either as a declaration of "what I have entrusted to him" or "what has been entrusted to me." Instead of confusing the meaning, however, this double entendre helps to remind contemporary readers even as Paul sought to remind Timothy that both gift and duty are part of discipleship. In verse 14, Paul makes this manifest, telling Timothy to: "Guard the good treasure entrusted to you." Paul reveals that there ...

720. Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... pericope. Some scholars have identified this, along with several other Lukan texts, as a "quest story." In a "quest," an individual seeks something from Jesus even though socially disqualified in some way from obtaining what he/she requests. Even though this man is both a leper and a Samaritan, a double social outcast, his faith in Jesus brings about complete fulfillment of his quest and request for healing, wellness and salvation.

721. Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . In fact, verse 18a links today's section directly to the preceding genealogical table in verses 1-17. Jesus, legal son of Joseph, is now in the Davidic lineage even though not a direct descendant of Joseph. Matthew's theology was not troubled by this double claim: Jesus, Son of Abraham, Son of David; and Jesus, Son of God. In fact, the angelic announcement follows a tradition of birth announcements (Ishmael, Genesis 16:7-12; Isaac, Genesis 17:1-19; John the Baptist, Luke 1:11-20). Our text highlights two ...

722. A Powerful Sacrament

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... this script comes from the rituals in which our families engage. For some of us this may be as simple as, “My dad always said . . .” (2)Writer James P. Lenfesty tells about an eleven-year-old boy fishing one night with his father. Suddenly the boy’s pole doubled over. He knew something huge was on the other end. With much effort he reeled it in. It was the largest bass he had ever seen. His father watched proudly, but then looked at his watch. It was 10:00 p.m. two hours before the bass season opened ...

723. John 4:5-42

John 4:5-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... meaning of Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well by referring to him as the "bridegroom." That foreshadowing in chapter 3, these scholars conclude, is coupled with a dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman that is heavy with sexually suggestive double entendre baggage. Bligh and Eslinger find all Jesus's references to "living water" and flowing fountains (see Jeremiah 2:13) and the verbal joustings between a woman and an unknown man at a public place, indications that there are two levels of ...

724. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , possibly as a semi-magical initiation ritual. Obviously this group understands neither Judaism nor Christianity a doubly irritating fact to Paul who is both Jew and Christian. In verses 4-6, Paul's description of his Jewish heritage thus pulls double duty. While he denies that his current "confidence" stems from his Jewishness or fleshly righteousness, Paul makes it clear that Jewish righteousness is not the result of some magical power received in the rite of circumcision. What makes a Jew, Paul ...

725. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... John the Baptist into the "light" motif, clearly distinguishing him from the light, yet maintaining that he was "sent from God." In verse 20 the gospel writer reiterates the distinction between these two John and Jesus using the Baptist's own words. The double use of "confessed" is for emphasis and might just as easily be translated "he spoke out openly and clearly" (TEV). The gospel writer has John himself make it abundantly clear that he is not the Messiah. The priests and Levites seem to be extremely ...

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