Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 701 to 725 of 1230 results

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... are all made evident in verses 50-53 - an awesome image that makes the new face of God taking shape in the tiny helpless unborn child Mary carries all the more startling in contrast. What J. Gresham Machen called “a genuinely Jewish religious ideal" ("The Origin of the First Two Chapters of Luke," Princeton Theological Review 10[1912]:260-61) is celebrated in the final verses of this "magnificat."Underlining the personal joy Mary experiences at being chosen as the mother of the Messiah is the jubilation ...

702. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... rich man was "feasting" also suggests he was in the midst of the companionship of friends and family. Lazarus, however, was cut off from human contact with only wild curs hungrily slavering at his wounds. The curtain is drawn on these two disparate ideal types by that great equalizer among the human family, death. Immediately the tables turn, for while the rich man is simply "buried," Lazarus is "carried away by the angels." But it is when these men arrive at their respective destinations that the radical ...

703. Mark 9:2-9

Mark 9:2-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Jews on earth were intentionally temporary, lean-to type constructions. A traditional sukkot could have four walls. More often they had only three, or even two and a half. The roof was supposed to give only minimal shelter from the elements. Ideally the stars, the lights of heaven, should be visible through the roof in several places. More than we have appreciated, Peter may have realized the transient nature of the occurrence. Desirous to do something to commemorate the event, he proposed building ...

704. John 10:11-18

John 10:11-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to being a "good shepherd" by defining the first characteristic such a shepherding one bears: "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." What we are used to translating as "good" here (kalos) would be more fully understood as "model," "ideal" or even "noble." This is the Good Shepherd not as opposed to a "bad" shepherd, but as distinguished from the simply average or minimal shepherding that another would offer. The difference between the two is easily described by Jesus' reference to "hireling ...

705. Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... are carefully detailed by Mark's text. But all these negatives only serve to point up her story's positive thrust and focus her tremendous faith in Jesus. Despite her appearance, her gender and her status, this woman surprisingly provides Mark with an ideal model of faithfulness. The method of healing this woman experiences is quite unusual. In Matthew's version, the actual healing moment is freeze-framed to make it clear that it is through Jesus' intentionally spoken healing word that she is healed (see ...

706. Mark 13:1-8

Mark 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to do (Mark 8:11-12). Jesus' reply, beginning in verse 5, is a caution against the constant temptation to look for signs. In response to the disciples' request for more facts, Jesus gives them a discourse that combines informational data with inspirational ideals of how the faithful should interpret these signs of the end. Verses 5-8 conclude this week's reading. But Jesus' long discourse (13:5b-37) the longest single discourse in Mark's gospel constitutes only his opening remarks on this subject. Jesus ...

707. Luke 4:1-13

Luke 4:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of Jesus and was an identity fraught with miracle-working features. The traditional Jewish title used elsewhere was Messiah. This "Son of God" title, used in this temptation sequence, is perhaps a presentation of Jesus which does not fit the traditional, Hellenistic ideal of divine offspring. The temptations both affirm Jesus' "Son of God" identity while rejecting any simplistic depictions of Jesus as some mere miracle worker. In the first temptation to turn a stone into a loaf of bread the Devil is asking ...

708. Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

709. Jeremiah 31:27-34

Jeremiah 31:27-34

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... reconceptualization of Scripture into an "Old Testament" (Old Covenant) and a "New Testament" (New Covenant). The Christian appropriation of the new covenant idea has been so complete, in fact, that we often read too much "newness" into Jeremiah's covenant ideal. While this new covenant was a profound theological assertion and insight, it nevertheless has its roots sunk deeply into traditional Jewish covenant theology. Today's Old Covenant lesson begins just before the new covenant text, as the prophet's ...

710. Isaiah 11:1-10

Isaiah 11:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of such traditional images, Isaiah skillfully attracts the attention of an audience politically and economically beleaguered with a messianic message of hope: "The earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (v.9). The arrival of an ideal ruler who would judge with righteousness and "not ... by what his eyes see, or ... by what his ears hear" (v.3) is suggested throughout this section, chapters 7-12. Ahaz (see 2 Kings 16), who had the misfortune of being Judah's king during ...

711. John 1:(1-9) 10-18

John 1:(1-9) 10-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Aramaic. (Thanks to Dr. Laurence Welborn, Professor of New Testament, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.) If indeed this is the case, the work of the redactors can be appreciated all the more for the remarkable way they demonstrate that the hymn's ideals are completely fulfilled in the life and mission of Jesus Christ. No matter what its heritage or chronological relationship to the rest of the Gospel, the prologue only finds its wings once it takes on its Christian identity. A number of topics ...

712. Matthew 5:13-20

Matthew 5:13-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... these thoughts is that of eschatological fulfillment. First he reminds his listeners of the two-layer tradition Judaism enjoys - both the law and the prophets. Jesus then claims that in the approaching days of fulfillment, these two arms of the tradition, the ideal law as written and the enfleshed law as preached and practiced by the prophets, will come together in a seamless unity. This will be the eschatological age where "all is accomplished." Then the attitudes of the beatitudes will be fully incarnated ...

713. 1 Peter 1:17-23

1 Peter 1:17-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... eschatological future, not a humanly conceived time. Thus 1 Peter also spends as much time discussing suffering - both Christ's and his followers - as it does rejoicing. The circumstances and events surrounding these distant Christians were far from ideal. They were a tiny, struggling minority amidst a powerful, belligerent pagan culture. Acknowledging the place of suffering in their lives, however, does not mean their expectation of future joy should be muffled. 1 Peter calls these Christians to celebrate ...

714. Matthew 23:1-12

Matthew 23:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... make it clearer. There was to be a profound difference between the stratified, star-studded synagogue and those who would be called Christians. Service, not status, is the mark of this new community. True humility is the only position actively sought. This ideal community of equals that Jesus preaches to and Matthew teaches recognizes only the authority of the Christ. There is no place for grandstanding grace or "holier-than-thou" attitudes in this new community envisioned by Jesus. The super-spiritual are ...

715. Don’t Forget Your Dance Partner!

Mark 1: 21-28

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... to think about each movement before you actually make it, then you can't dance yet but are just learning how to dance. Worship is like that, Lewis thought. A believer should be able to move through the liturgy without having to check his every movement first. An ideal service would be one you hardly notice in the sense of your simply being immersed and caught up in a set of actions and a series of thoughts that are fully a part of you already. Overall, Lewis makes a good point. Still, I would throw in a ...

716. It Is God's Will to Heal

Mark 1:40-45

Illustration

Glenn Pease

... question everything, and demand answers and explanations for everything, and if it doesn't make sense to them, they won't do it. They are independent, but they are the ones who are most likely to get well. Those who never question, and just go along with the routine, are ideal patients, but they are the ones most likely to die.

717. The Miracle Fruit

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Martin Luther King suffered, the more the strength of the civil rights movement grew. - The more Soviet dissidents suffered, the more the hearts of the Russian people were won over. - The more time Nelson Mandela spend on Robben Island, the more his ideals and dreams captured South Africans hearts and souls. Talk about cognitive dissonance. Peter was not the only one who let the wrongness of this world pretend to be rightness. In John’s gospel, when Jesus was brought before Pilate, the discussion between ...

718. Easter 2

Acts 4:32-37, 1 John 1:5--2:14, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . Hearing of great preaching v. 33a. c. Reception of grace v. 33b. d. Love of fellow-Christians v. 34. Epistle: 1 John 1:1--2:2 1. He's for real! (1:1-4). Need: Is Jesus a real person or do we think of him as a principle, an ideal, or a goal of life? Christianity is based on a person, a flesh and blood individual who lived, died and rose again. He is not a myth of the first century or an ancient story we love to tell. He is truly human even though he rose from the dead ...

719. Easter 7

Acts 1:12-26, 1 John 5:1-12, John 17:6-19

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... are one. They are to be made holy in his word. As he was sent into the world, he sends them into the world for the same purpose he was sent. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: John 17:6-19 1. One (v. 11). Is Christian unity an impossible ideal? Jesus prays for the unity of his church, for he knows what can happen when he leaves. When he was with them, they argued among themselves which was the greatest and one of them even betrayed him. Paul refers to factions in his churches. Throughout her history, the ...

720. Epiphany 2

John 1:43-51, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, 1 Samuel 3:1--4:1

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... or lesbian. Paul faced the problem of sexual promiscuity in Corinth, but the difference between the Corinthians and us is that they excused their immorality on religious grounds. Is our situation too far gone to be corrected? Will America ever return to the ideal purity of sexual behavior? On this text Paul gives religious reasons for sexual morality. Outline: The Christian answer to today's sexual perversion – a. Consider your body as a member of Christ's body v. 15. b. Reverence your body as a temple ...

721. Epiphany 7

Isaiah 43:14-28, Mark 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 43:18-25 The Jews are in exile in Babylon. Deutero-Isaiah sees hope in the future. God will use Cyrus, the Persian, to defeat the Babylonians. Then the Jews will be free to return to Jerusalem and set up an ideal nation. This is a new thing God is about to do, a new exodus greater than the old exodus from Egypt. But Yahweh has something against his people who came into captivity because of their unworthy worship. Nevertheless, Yahweh will forgive his people and restore them ...

722. Proper 12

Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:16-24, John 6:1-15, 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... v. 11. c. Rejoice in what Christ can accomplish v. 12. Old Testament: 2 Samuel 11:1-15 1. The story of a good man gone bad (11:1-15). Need: At present the latest fad in preaching is the telling of a story. In Lesson 1 we have an ideal opportunity to preach a story sermon. If the story is properly and dramatically told, the story will speak for itself and the people will get a message. It needs to be kept in mind that in the lesson only a part of the story is told about David's sin ...

723. Proper 22

Job 1:1-5, Job 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-14, Hebrews 2:5-18, Mark 10:1-12, Mark 10:13-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... gets a divorce, and it is considered a sin, can one be forgiven? Because of divorce there are many hurting people: the divorced, the children of the divorced and the parents of the divorced. These will listen eagerly to this sermon. Outline: Is divorce a sin? a. According to the ideal, divorce is a sin vv. 6-9, 10-12. b. Because of sin, divorce is practiced vv. 4-5. c. Forgiveness of divorce is possible Psalm 130:3-4. 2. The good of divorce (10:4-5). Need: Can there be any good in a divorce? It can be the ...

724. Trust and Obey

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... trust.” To “believe” is not to intellectually assent to something. To believe is to hold something so close to the heart that you trust your life to it. The disciples’ “belief” is not some intellectual agreement to some cognitive ideal. Their “belief” is now fully embracing, gratefully leaning on, wholly trusting in, the risen Lord who stood before them. In fact, the word “truster” may be a better word than “believer.” Doubting disciples have been transformed into passionate “Trust ...

725. A Shepherd's Love

John 10:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

Two television evangelists were talking. One was explaining how he was seeking to be the ideal shepherd to his television flock. “There are three ways I seek to do that,” he said. “What three ways do you mean?” asked the other evangelist. “Well” he explained, “First, we FIND them. Every year we find new stations to carry our ministry. Then we FEED them. I give them ...

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