Sermon and Worship Resources

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51. Being Wronged versus Claiming One’s Right

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... the Text The story in which we frame our lives will determine how we define winning and losing. Film: Pick one, two, or three current movies, the genre and plot of which will be familiar to a majority of your listeners. (You could do this illustration with only one example, but the point gets stronger if you have time to cover a small variety.) Pick ones that are vastly different in genre and style, like an action/adventure or war movie, a romance or moody drama, and perhaps a comedy or children ...

52. Many Parts, One Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... known in Greece, it changed from a fable to an allegory with didactic purpose.[1] The story was applied to soldiers (feet) and the general (belly). Stories like these were usually designed to give an argument for societal unity and order by giving an illustrative explanation of the necessity for the subordinate classes to accept their place in society as the natural order of things.[2 ]For example, Paul’s contemporary Seneca writes: What if the hand should desire to harm the feet, or the eyes the hands ...

53. The Fifth Trumpet (First Woe)

Revelation 8:6--9:21

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... with an unhealthy fear of unseen spiritual powers, and they need to be reminded that God will protect them from demonic attack. Satan is God’s opponent but not God’s opposite, with equal abilities and powers. Satan is a dangerous, but defeated, enemy. Illustrating the Text God is sovereign over the forces of evil. Quote: Revelation, by Grant Osborne. Even the demonic forces can do nothing, unless God allows it! Many have the mistaken opinion that Satan has autonomy from God and can do whatever he wishes ...

54. The Vision of the Great Prostitute

Revelation 17:1-18

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... is that the text is rooted in the first-century Roman context but extends beyond that to a final future fulfillment. For that reason, it would be wise to focus on what we know and how we are to respond (i.e., the points of application above). Illustrating the Text Evil is always self-destructive. History: It is striking to see how many evil men ended life impaled on their own sword. Undoubtedly, one of the most stark examples is Adolf Hitler. The man who had proclaimed war against the world ended his days ...

55. The Day of Atonement: Preparation

Leviticus 16:1-34

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... high priest, and even he only on the Day of Atonement, can enter the most holy place to sprinkle purifying blood before the ark. This access is limited to the high priest because only he is in the same circle of holiness as the holy of holies (see illustration). Other priests can provide purification of less-holy zones. 16:18 come out to the altar. This is the altar of incense that is “before the Lord” in the holy place outside the most holy place (Lev. 4:7, 18), not the altar of burnt offering east ...

56. Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Obedience

Num 15:1-41

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... any of these commands the Lord gave Moses” (Num. 15:22). But the kind of sin that God forgives is “unintentional” or, better, “inadvertent” sin. The sins that are forgivable are ones that do not genuinely represent what the sinner wants and insists on doing. This is illustrated by the use of the root shagah/shaga’/shagag elsewhere (see comments on v. 22). A sheep does not want to go astray (Ezek. 34:6), though it deliberately acts in a way that leads it to do so. A drunk does not want to stagger ...

57. Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

1 Samuel 15:1-35

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... from God’s discipline. From everyone to whom much is given, much is required (Amos 3:2; Luke 12:48). 2. When God announces judgment unconditionally, he will not alter his decree. This theme has also appeared earlier in the story (see chap. 4). As illustrated in the account of the fall of Eli and his sons, God’s unconditional decree of judgment cannot be averted. As the story continues, Saul meets his demise in an inexorable manner, facilitated by God’s sending an “evil spirit” to torment him and ...

58. Nabuchadnezzar’s Dream and Daniel's Interpretation

Daniel 2:1-23, Daniel 2:24-49

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... is not intended as a model prayer in structure or content. Focus on the truths about God’s person and work. Third, do not read the text’s drama and poetry in a monotone voice. Develop your skills as a good storyteller and reader of poetry. Illustrating the Text God deserves all our praise because of who he is. Church History: The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1646–47) teaches that the primary goal of all human beings should be “to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”9 How often do you take ...

59. The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... . 13:10–17 When Jesus finished the parable of the sower, his disciples came to him with the question, Why do you speak to the people in parables? This question would be hard to understand if parables served to clarify truth by simple illustration. A different explanation is in order. Jesus answers their query by indicating that the privilege of understanding the secrets of the kingdom belongs to his followers but not to those who refuse to believe. In Jewish apocalyptic literature the “mystery of the ...

60. Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... by saying, if you do marry, you have not sinned … I want to spare you [many troubles in this life]. 7:29–31 Paul explains his reasoning in one long complex, compound sentence that makes up verses 29–31: What I mean … He explicates and illustrates by naming several groups: those who have wives, those who mourn, those who are happy, those who buy, and those who use the things of the world. The groups named are self-evident, although Paul attempts to create some pairs of contrasting groups as he uses ...

61. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... terms reflect the range and effect of the wisdom enterprise: to gain knowledge of the world (binah) and to achieve mastery (khokmah) that leads to benefit in life. This poem begins to state clearly what Job’s arguments to the friends thus far have only illustrated less explicitly: that even sages are unable to understand fully God’s world and what he is doing in it (see, e.g., Eccl. 8:16–17). Treating “wisdom” like a commodity to be “found” and possessed (like gold or silver) is thoroughly to ...

62. Faith and Deeds

James 2:14-26, James 2:1-13

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... that if he had ever heard Paul’s teaching (as he might not have before A.D. 49), he had only heard it in the form of second- or third-hand slogans, which had taken on a meaning that Paul would have rejected. The three critical terms discussed illustrate this point. The first is the Greek ergon, which in James means what he does (charity, kindness, virtue), whereas in Paul it is always joined to the word “law” (nomos) and always means ritual acts, except in Gal. 5:19 and 6:4 where it is used positively ...

63. Advocating For Whom?

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Sermon

David Coffin

... does not overcome it. To believe in the name of the one who is light in the world is to become children of God. Thus, for Jesus in John’s gospel, there is no gray area. One is either a child of the light or darkness. The lunch room lady illustration is a reminder that all people are often put on the spot to be an advocate for one position or another. Jesus was with the disciples at this point of the gospel narrative. However, he would go to his Father and the disciples would see him no longer (John 16 ...

64. Proper 18

Psalm 139:1-24, Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Luke 14:25-35

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... if they want to follow him they must have less love for family and kin than for him. Only those who are willing to bear the cross with him can be his disciples. He proceeds to tell two brief parables about considering cost before undertaking a project to illustrate his message. The first is positive. It is a builder who has to calculate the cost before starting the construction. Otherwise he will run out of money and not be able to finish it. People will then make fun of his lack of foresight. The other is ...

65. Proper 19

Psalm 14:1-7, 1 Timothy 1:12-20, Jeremiah 4:5-31, Luke 15:8-10, Luke 15:1-7

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... , sharing in the rejoicing when that which had been lost is found. How does the church celebrate its joy that the angels in heaven know over a sinner who is redeemed? How is the merriment expressed in the community of believers? Is your church known for such joy? Illustrative Materials 1. A Lost Purse. A woman went to the post office. As she prepared some things to mail, she laid her purse on a counter. She walked out without it. On the way home she stopped to visit a friend so that it was some time later ...

66. The Limits Of Love

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... cesspool might be alive and well, or that God was doing powerful things there. People don't want to hear how God is blessing their enemies. They didn't want to hear it in first century Nazareth; we don't want to hear it today. The master's first illustration in this hometown sermon described how Elijah took care of the needs of a woman from the hated land of Sidon at a time when Hebrew women were starving. The word of the Lord came to Elijah telling him to go to Zarephath where he would meet a widow ...

67. Seeds And The Kingdom

Mark 4:30-34, Mark 4:26-29

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... 3:6-7 -- Various persons plant or water, but God gives the growth. James 5:7-8 -- Be patient as a farmer who waits for the precious crop. Revelation 14:14-20 -- The angels using the sickle for harvest. CONTENT Precis (Mark 4:26-34) A parable is told to illustrate the nature of the kingdom of God. A farmer sows the seed. Then he waits to allow it to germinate, sprout, grow to maturity when it puts forth the heads for grain, and then the head ripens. Only at that point does the farmer again become active by ...

68. Ash Wednesday

Mt 6:1-6, 16-21 · 2 Cor 5:20 - 6:10 · Joel 2:1-2, 12-19 · Ps 51 · Ps 103

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... 3 hypocrisy alienates us from God, self, and others Jesus warns us not to lay for ourselves treasures on earth, which are subject to corruption and decay, but in heaven, "where neither moth, nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal" (v. 20). Illustration: The ashes of Ash Wednesday are a much needed reminder of the impermanence of all things earthly. "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." It's a hard lesson to learn. A man very dear to my heart died recently. One day ...

69. The Nativity Of Our Lord

Luke 2:1-20 · Titus 2:11-14 · Isaiah 9:2-7 · Ps 96

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... John 4: "See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God .... If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." (Based on an article by the Rev. Michael Lindvail in Good Housekeeping, December, 1990.) Illustration: This account is based on a story in Parade Magazine, titled "The Gift Of The Toy Man." The Toy Man is Eric Hultgren, who was a tool and dye maker for over four decades. Eric's life was turned on its head by his wife's final illness. Shirley ...

70. Creative Preaching

Sermon

Michael Rogness

... to the text. The text becomes a pretext for the sermon. A truly biblical sermon can take various forms: *thematic, where the theme comes from and is tightly bound to the text; *expository, where the preacher goes through the text verse by verse; *illustrative, where illustrations and stories are used to convey the story or narrative of the text; *retelling, where a large part of the sermon is the text itself, retold in the preacher's words. Old Testament and gospel texts which are stories in themselves lend ...

71. Big Rocks

Luke 8:26-39

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

... hope they are onto you now and will answer negatively Good! With the pitcher of water, fill the jar to the brim. Now is it full? (no) Yes, it is! It is now full. What is the point of this illustration? (response) Give them time and several attempts at the answer. Here is the actual point of the illustration: What this teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all. Application: What are the big rocks in your life? (response) Here is a big rock: Spending time praying ...

72. Communion Is Real Presence

John 1:1-18

Sermon

... replies as did Martin Luther, that no one can understand or adequately explain the natures of Christ because it is simply one of the great mysteries of our faith. It is something that Scripture affirms as true while we simply stand in awe, trying to illustrate it and symbolize it, even though we cannot explain it. But we believe that Jesus of Nazareth was, at the same time, fully human and fully divine. Now, when some people read the Gospel narratives, they try to divide the events of our Lord's ministry ...

73. Advent 1

Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122:1-9, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 24:36-51

Sermon Aid

... the world to himself; they know they have nothing to fear as they go, for Jesus travels with them and will support them to the end of the age. Pilgrim people are: 1. Expectant people 2. Hopeful people 3. Prayerful people 4. Prepared people These ideas illustrate a few of the possibilities in the pericopes of any single Sunday of the church year in the hope that pastors will use their intellect and imaginations to discover the wide variety of sermons that might be preached on any given Sunday. Time and space ...

74. The Light that Shines Within

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Mann

... of him who has it in possession and to the inner spirits of those around him. Someone says: "We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a dial; and we should count time by heartthrobs." I have been trying to illustrate for you the immense dimension and importance of the wonderful world of inner spirit. Now let me say: it is into this world that the light shines. God knows where his light is needed most - and where it will do the most good, where it will make the ...

75. Now That School's Out...

Proverbs 8:1-36

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... , then take the advice of scripture and pray, "[Lord], teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to WISDOM."(7) For Jesus' sake. Amen! 1. From a baccalaureate address given by the Rev. Peter Gomes at the Stanford Chapel in 1977 quoted by James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 296 2. Linda Kraft, "The Holy Trinity," via Ecunet, "Sermonshop Sermons," #653, 6/5/98 3. Plautus. 254 (?)-184 B.C., Trinummus. Act ii. Sc. 2, 88 4. Bible ...

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