Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 51 to 75 of 662 results

51. The Vocation of Leadership: A Prophet Among Them

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... people for God, reminding them that holiness is not an option for God’s people. It is not likely that our prophetic words to the nations will be heard unless and until there is at least a remnant of faithful people who seek to be as Paul says, “Imitators of God – holy as He is holy and living ‘in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Holiness without love is not God’s kind of holiness; and love without holiness is not God ...

52. Proper 25

Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 22:41-46, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... us in Christian living? There is a chain reaction to living an example. Paul gave an example which was initiated by the church. This church in turn was an example to others. It is a call and a challenge to say, "Look how I live the Christian faith. Imitate me!" 2. Idols (v. 9). The Thessalonian Christians came a long way from idols to the one, true God. Here is the first step in being a Christian - repentance and conversion. Here there is no pluralism - God among gods. It is another "all" we found in Jesus ...

53. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a preacher of the gospel, he had every right to expect a certain degree of maintenance from the community he was serving. But he did not even accept that while he was among them. He waived that privilege so he might be a better "example to imitate" for all his brothers and sisters in that community. The phrase translated "give you an example" is literally "in order that we might give ourselves" as examples - suggesting that Paul and his co-workers gave not just the message they preached, but that they gave ...

54. Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of God,” perhaps because this directive is coupled with the notion of being God’s “beloved children.” For good or ill, children will imitate their parents. As “children of God,” the faith community has the perfect model of the divine parent to “imitate.” Finally, the author notes this “imitation” is to be acted out most fully and perfectly by living “in love, as Christ loved us.” Living in love will not only entail all the “virtues” he has just spelled out. It will also involve ...

55. The World According to Paul

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... other boys. In Sunday school, Owen's classmates lift him up and pass him around the room over their heads. His speech is denoted in upper-case letters in the novel, to represent his strange resonance, and to indicate that he is the "Christ figure," imitating the red-letter Bible. As in Owen's case, God's faithful servants sometimes hear voices that others do not hear and entertain visions that others do not share. Faith is the substance that empowers and fuels the vision. The apostle Paul is an instrument ...

56. Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... epistle writer is urging the faith community to emulate. The faith community cannot itself exonerate sin, but it can embrace the sinner and offer a place in the community. In that way we become “imitators of God.” The sacrificial act that makes it possible for the community of faith to act as “imitators of God,” is the act that has transformed sinners into saints, into “beloved children” in God’s eyes. That act, of course, was Christ’s dedication to “live in love” and to give “himself ...

57. The Condemning Heart

John 3:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... he paused) . . . to forgive him.” “Say again?” Ken said. “I have decided to forgive him,” Joel stated rather emphatically. Ken smiled. “What are you smiling at?” Joel asked. “There’s just something about a child imitating his father that makes my heart smile,” Ken said. (3) It makes God smile when we imitate Christ. A father condemns his son because he is gay. He tells the boy’s schoolmates and they give him a brutal beating. I can only hope that God is more merciful with that father ...

58. Consider Others Higher Than Yourself

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... cf. Gal. 6:3). Christ alone possesses the full measure of knowledge (Col. 2:3); those who live to incarnate his teaching will gain true knowledge—partly now, fully when he appears. 8:3 whoever loves God is known by God. The connection between the imitation of Christ and knowledge comes to full light in Paul’s pregnant statement on the true significance of gn?sis. In the tersest of statements, Paul switches from the active form of the verb (“they know” [8:2]) to the passive form (“is known” [8 ...

59. The Beast from the Sea (Antichrist)

Revelation 13:1b-10

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... . We endure tribulation because we know this is precisely how we conquer Satan and his forces (12:11; 15:2). In responding to evil, we should not become like the perpetrators of evil (Matt. 5:44–45; 26:52; Rom. 12:14; 1 Pet. 3:9). Rather, we should imitate our Lord, who conquered Satan through his death on the cross (5:5–6). We stand for truth through our prophetic witness to Jesus and our faithful endurance along the path he has pioneered (Heb. 12:1–3). The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Eph ...

60. Living as Children of Light

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , enjoining them instead to speak in ways that meet hurting people in their need, to speak words that ultimately encourage and strengthen the whole group (4:29). Fifth and finally, in this new life of Christlikeness believers must forgive one another in imitation of God’s having forgiven them in Christ (4:31–32). Forgiveness springs from kindness and compassion and has nothing to do with bitterness, anger (4:26), or malicious and vindictive cruelty. Cattiness and a vengeful spirit have no place in God ...

61. The Believer's Freedom

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... and work of Christ. According to Paul, the lordship of Christ determines his living, so that the reality of Christ manifests itself in the concrete matters of Paul’s life and becomes a real presence that the Corinthians are able to see and, through imitation, themselves make real. In this way and for this reason, Paul issues a call to Christlikeness. Additional Notes 10:23 Some ancient manuscripts—not the most reliable—do read the Gk. word moi, “to me,” at this point, but this variant is a scribal ...

62. Godstruck

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... come closer to God. The Teruah (or 9 quick blasts in succession) is a “wake-up” call for us to be alert and to focus on that change. Some say that the shofar represents the “root” of our speech and the depth of our souls. The shofar is said to imitate God’s voice to us. It’s a way for us to remember that God’s voice created the heavens, and the earth. In fact, some translate Genesis as “And God sang, ‘Let There Be Light.’” In sum, the shofar is the symbol and sound of our lives and our ...

63. The Rabbi's Apprentice

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... from your mind, and fluency begins to emerge. For some of you, the same might be true with learning an instrument. In learning an instrument, it’s not enough to learn notes from a page. You must sit with a teacher and learn how to play. Listen, imitate, practice, learn. Year after year, you sit beside the teacher until you begin to sense the music on your own. This is apprenticeship. Faith in praxis at the feet of a master. Because of the practice part of learning in an apprenticeship style, it’s not ...

64. Ancient Christian References To Feetwashing

1 Corinthians 11:17-34, John 13:1-17

Sermon Aid

Brett Blair

... humility, and we are cleansing not only the smallest, but even the most serious of our sins. -- Ceasarius of Arles (c. 470-542), Sermon 202, Saint Ceasarius of Arles: Sermons (Washington, D.C. Catholic University of America Press, 1973) III, pp. 65-66 Cyprian Let them imitate the Lord, who at the very time of His passion was not more proud, but more humble. For then he washed His disciples' feet, saying, "If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet. For I have ...

65. Proper 25

Exodus 22:16-31, Leviticus 19:1-37, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Matthew 22:34-46, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; 2:1-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... normally speak of affliction and joy in the same breath. Christians can have joy in affliction because we have the Spirit of God and the good news of Jesus Christ. Imitation of Christ. The Thessalonians became imitators of the apostolic party and of Christ. It is fine to emulate the example of other Christians so long as they are imitating Christ. The problems arise when those whom we look up to for an example, no longer reflect Christ. Like children, we learn from the example of those whom we respect. The ...

66. Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday

John 13:1-17, Exodus 12:1-30, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, John 13:31-38

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... time in which the youngsters strive to put into practice that which they have observed in their elders. A good and godly example is needed now more than ever. The world contains enough precepts and philosophies; what we really need are worthy models to imitate. Love is an imperative (v. 34). Jesus commands his disciples to love one another, a new command for a new covenant. Oh, yes, the old covenant commands God's people to love their neighbor (fellow Jew) but Jesus goes much further. He commands us ...

67. Divine Liturgy, Divine Play, Divine Comedy

John 13:31-38

Sermon

Carl Jech

... in this world as nothing but a poor copy of the ideal thing (a chair, for example) in the mind of God. Since an actual chair is just a poor imitation of the "idea of chairness," it is not particularly valuable or important. For Plato, a painting of a chair was particularly useless and valueless because it was nothing but "an imitation of an imitation!" Plato had a very low opinion of art and artists because he felt that art was just too far removed from Reality. Plato would not have appreciated John's words ...

68. Remember That You Are Not Alone

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Robert V. Dodd

... envy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, party intrigues and jealousies, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. If your life happens to be short on Christlike characteristics, the solution certainly isn't to deny that fact, or resolve to try harder to imitate Christ. An imitation is always an imitation. But Christ wants you to be a real Christian. If your life is filled with trying to be like him and yet knowing that you are not, the result is bound to be fear of being found out. God is light, and ...

69. Christ's Passion Portraits

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Paul Hegele

... were first derisively called Christians, which literally means "little Christs," we've tried to be just that - wise and warm, strong and loving. But what of the darker side of Christ? The Lord we see in these tragic days of Holy Week is one few want to imitate. He is the Lord of suffering and pain. On this day, he is painted slouched on a too-short donkey, riding quietly through the happy tumult to his doom. Later he's portrayed kneeling, small and afraid, in the dark Garden of Gethsemane. After that, it's ...

70. Studying under the Greatest Teacher

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Gary W. Houston

... still Terry’s student as well as Dr. Hoffmann’s. I still read their books over from time to time. And, as with Hoffmann, there was that time that I wanted to be just like Terry. I edited and published two serious books on interfaith dialogue, probably in imitation of Dean Holmes. I tried my hand at heavy theological writing and found I had little talent. But I learned something from both these great men - and that is to be myself and reach for the skies. Now I am called a lay person’s theologian and a ...

71. Hooray for Humility!

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... man emptied himself of Divine privileges and made the awesome sacrifice of death on a cross-tree! JESUS’ HUMILITY IS TO BE IMITATED "Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus." Yes, that really is what it says: "think just as ... badly he is infected, how much he needs help, how "at-the-end-of-his-rope" he is. And he prays a prayer we would do well to imitate every day: "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" The proud Pharisee reminds us of the proud male Jew of earlier days who used to pray each ...

72. Dark Shadows

John 4:5-26

Children's Sermon

... in the old stories did just that. She always repeated what others were saying. She had no thoughts of her own. They are like mockingbirds. Have you ever heard a mockingbird? It imitates other birds. In fact mockingbirds will try to imitate barking dogs and all kinds of sounds. It would be hard to know when a mockingbird is being itself because it is always imitating others. We all want people to like us, don't we? But it is also important that we do not let others think for us. We do not have to be cruel ...

73. Servants Without Portfolio

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... it incorporates both. The old hymn is right, ‘my will is not my own till I have made it thine.’ So we are given the will to be a servant. When we think that living the downward servant way is within our reach, and that our task is simply to imitate Jesus, we have misunderstood the basic truth which is revealed to us. The downward servant way is God’s way, not ours. The Christian life in full degree is the life in which the spirit of Christ who reaches into the depths of God is given to us so that ...

74. Proper 22

Exodus 20:1-21, Isaiah 5:1-7, Philippians 3:1-11, Philippians 3:12-4:1, Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... was a Christ-saturated man. He had one goal: to match Christ. There is a simplicity here that is to be admired. It leads to a unified life with Christ as the hub. 3. Example (v. 17). The best thing one can give to another is a good example. Paul imitates Christ and offers himself as an example of the Christian life. What a daring thing to do! Who would dare to set up his life as an example to be followed? It indicates that Paul had an exemplary life, not perfect, but a life dedicated to becoming like Christ ...

75. First-Class Christianity

Ephesians 5:18-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... of talent They try their uttermost, But what they need, brother Is God the Holy Ghost.1 Oswald Chambers, who wrote the magnificent work, My Utmost For His Highest, once said, "There is one thing we cannot imitate we cannot imitate being full of the Holy Spirit." What we need in this crucial hour is not imitation, we need appropriation. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The central passage on the teaching of the filling of the Holy Spirit is the one we will undertake to study today. I. The Command ...

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