Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 826 to 850 of 4943 results

826. The Sawdust Trail

Colossians 3:1-4

Sermon

Dr. Ronald Love

... , “for I have learned 50,000 ways it cannot be done and therefore I am fifty thousand times nearer the final successful experiment.” Eventually the battery was developed. Edison was a genius, and a large part of his genius was knowing that he would never yield to disappointment. Let us take up the challenge of 50,000 attempts to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

827. A Basket of Ripe Fruit

Amos 8:1-14

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... cited above. But 8:10 supports the reading as “temple.” The End and the God of the End (8:4-14): In 7:8 and 8:3, Amos has announced the end of Israel, and the thought of that end dominates this whole section. One by one, the prophet will take up those aspects of Israel’s life that will come to an end, until finally the totality of Israel’s existence will be seen to be fated for extermination by the God who is Lord both of its beginning (cf. 2:9–11) and of its end. 8:4–8 By ...

828. The Empty Tomb

John 20:1-9, John 20:10-18

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... appearance by Jesus to Mary, to really set things straight. (Prior to her actually seeing the Risen Jesus, she had been scared and upset.) Only when the disciples had word of the Risen Lord or saw him themselves did they believe and were ready to take up his ministry of the new life he had given them. Why was there so much initial confusion and lack of understanding among Jesus' followers until they actually met the Risen Lord? The failure of Mary and the disciples to get things right has something to ...

829. The Trading Post

Illustration

... greater measure of peace, a stronger faith, and increased strength for your journey. This would be a nice trade, don't you think? And it isn't so difficult, really. For this is a kind of trading post, a place of exchange, where you can put down a burden and take up a song.

830. Decaffeinated Christianity

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... a minute. For you to provide eggs would require only compassion. For me to supply ham would require total commitment." Both compassion and total commitment are essential to the Christian lifestyle. Jesus said, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it." Try to visualize this scene: Jesus and the disciples are ...

831. On Knowing What's Best For Your Kids

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... the annual city-wide Easter egg hunt, because parents were getting out of hand? If you don't believe that can happen, visit any Little League ballpark. It's hard, but we can sympathize. Where do you draw the line in teaching a child responsibility, to take up for themselves, to be independent, yet to care for others? We need the wisdom of Solomon for such tasks. FINALLY, THERE IS THE PLACE OF ADVERSITY IN OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES. None of us wants to see our child get hurt. We want to protect our children ...

832. What Would Jesus Really Do?

1 Peter 2:13-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... terminal cancer." The gasp was audible in the room. "My doctors have given me three to six months to live. I have struggled with this for a month now and have finally made a decision." His voice gained self-confidence as it grew. "I am going to take up flying lessons." The words hung in the air. Flying lessons? "I have chosen to live." Flying lessons! The middle-aged man drew in his breath. His mind flew over all of the imaginary reasons he had created for this young man to have spoken, realizing each of ...

833. Proper 17

Exodus 3:1-22, Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21, Psalm 105:1-45

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... has been given to me." PROPER 17: THE CELEBRATION The Old Testament's emphasis today on God as I AM leads naturally to the use of "The God of Abraham Praise" as an opening hymn. The Gospel obviously calls for something like "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone" or " 'Take Up Thy Cross,' the Savior Said." The emphasis on call in the Old Testament and on bearing one's cross in the New Testament can be used together in exploring what it means to hear and answer God's call. Where it is not used as a reading, the ...

834. Mark 8:31-38

Mark 8:31-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Notice that in verse 34 Jesus' message is directed beyond the already chosen disciples; he includes "the multitude" of potential followers that has tagged along. Basically there are only three requirements to followership, but they are frightening: to "deny" oneself, to "take up" one's cross and to "follow me" (verse 34). It is the same requirement that continues to meet Christians today. Jesus asks that we relinquish the illusion that we possess our own lives, and that we can somehow neatly arrange our ...

835. Mark 8:31-38

Mark 8:31-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

836. Building God’s Kingdom: The Christian Challenge

Romans 10:8-13

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... program. Everybody thought Anybody would apply; Anybody thought Somebody would apply. So, guess who applied? You are right, Nobody! Let's not be Everybody, Somebody, or Anybody. Rather, let us seek to be a Nobody, working not for ourselves but for others. Let us take up the challenge of building God's kingdom in our world upon Christ, the rock foundation. We have a good example of how disaster brought the world together. Let us not wait until disaster strikes the Christian community, but let us act now so ...

837. Titus' Task on Crete

Titus 1:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... ferret out the error but to see that the churches are set in order with duly appointed elders/overseers, who are themselves to resist the errorists. Hence, the letter begins with this matter of setting the churches in order (vv. 5–9) and then takes up the false teachers (vv. 10–16). This paragraph, especially verses 6–8, has very close resemblances to 1 Timothy 3:1–7. As with 1 Timothy 3, there are fifteen qualifications given; five are identical, and five or six others have points of correspondence ...

838. Doing What is Good

Titus 3:1-11

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... . 6:9–11; this latter passage has several interesting parallels to vv. 3–7 in both form and content). The evangelistic intent emerges in the we too were like them. One should note that whenever Paul is moved to speak about the gospel he takes up the personal self-identification of we too (cf. 2:11–14; 2 Tim. 1:9–10; Gal. 1:4; etc.). What we too were—and they by implication still are—includes foolish (perhaps “without understanding,” Williams), disobedient (“to God” is implied; cf. 1:16 ...

839. Saul Takes His Life

1 Chronicles 10:1-14

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... of David, followed by the reign of his son Solomon (described in 2 Chron. 1–9). It is clear from the literary construction that the writer’s focus is very much on this period. Not only do the histories of David and Solomon in total take up about a third of the length of the book, but they also show indications of careful selection of source materials and deliberate construction. This is intended to portray the reigns of David and Solomon as epitomizing the manifestation of royalty at its finest. The ...

840. The Baby Messiah Recognized

Luke 2:21-40

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... inspires respect, even awe, and changes everything before he leaves. In this novel, based on historical realities and set in nineteenth-century Wyoming, Shane comes to bring hope to the homesteaders who are being threatened by the cattle barons. Initially, he takes up residence with a homesteading family, exchanges his gunslinger clothing for a farmer’s garb, lays down his gun, and helps out. But before long, he must pick up that gun again and take action against those threatening to bully and kill ...

841. On the Mount of Olives

Luke 22:47-53, Luke 22:39-46, Luke 22:7-38

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... literalness (“Enough of that!”). It is hard, in the light of 22:49–51, to suppose that he meant that the two swords would suffice (for what purpose?). 22:40 Pray that you will not fall into temptation. This instruction, repeated in 22:46, takes up the final petition of the Lukan Lord’s Prayer (11:4). On the range of meaning of peirasmos (“temptation, testing”), see comments there (and at 4:2). Jesus has already predicted their ordeal and attributed it to Satan (22:31), the tempter. They need ...

842. Babylon

Jeremiah 50:1--51:64

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... floor (51:33) is figurative, representing the place where God’s further smashing with his war club will take place. The next section (51:34–53) focuses on Babylon and Israel. Babylon has overstepped her bounds in destroying Jerusalem. Like an attorney, God again takes up Israel’s case (51:36). Babylon will be reduced to rubble (51:37). Israel is urged to seize the moment of Babylon’s confusion and make her escape (51:45). Rumors of a Babylonian resurgence or of new leadership are not to be believed ...

843. Trials and Temptation

James 1:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the living God. James’s readers are also honored to belong to the people of God of the last day—“the twelve tribes.” As I suggested in the introduction, these readers are probably Jewish Christians who had to flee from Jerusalem and take up new lives in lands outside Palestine. 1:2–12 · Overcoming trials:As James’s readers establish themselves in their new surroundings, they have to face many trials. Poverty and persecution appear to have been the biggest trials faced by these early Christians ...

844. Calling All Wide Receivers!

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... a fear of intimacy, a fear of sharing, a fear of commitment, ….a fear of love. Being a “wide receiver” in your relationship with God is about engaging your faith and trust. It’s about trusting the gift of the Giver of all Life enough to take up His cross and walk with Him. It’s not always easy. Sometimes you can get scratched up, injured, discouraged. Sometimes you can even lose or fail. People will tackle you and try to bring you down. But the relationship itself is the ultimate win win! It ...

845. Ascension

Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53, Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... and Luke 24:44-53 relate the story of the Ascension, according to Luke. The account from Ephesians 1 exalts Christ as having all things put under his authority. COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 1:1-11 In introducing his book, Luke notes to Theophilus that he is taking up where he left off with his gospel. The gospel ends with the witness to the resurrected Christ and Acts begins by bringing to a close this 40-day string of appearances. The disciples are still anticipating a kind of earthly reign (v. 6), but Jesus ...

846. Thanksgiving

Lk 17:11-19 · 1 Tim 2:1-4 · Phil 4:6-20 · 2 Cor 9:6-15 · Deut 8:1-18 · Ps 65

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... One who led them through the perilous wilderness, supporting them in those difficult times. Thanksgiving is the only proper response. Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Paul encourages the Corinthian church to generously support the offering that he is taking up for the Jerusalem Christians. The apostle reminds them that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly and vice-versa. Generosity is a prime mark of the Christian life, which will be richly rewarded by the Lord, not materially but spiritually. Their ...

847. Transfiguration

2 Peter 1:12-21, Daniel 7:1-14, Exodus 24:1-18, Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... rise from the dead. Following this, Peter and Jesus exchange rebukes. This notion of suffering and death is anathema to Peter and the others. Then comes the second part of the one-two punch. Not only must their Master suffer and die but they must take up their crosses also. Finally, Jesus speaks of the Son of Man returning in glory to establish the kingdom, which some standing there will witness before they die (vv. 27-28). What God wanted the disciples to listen to was the message of the cross, a message ...

848. Finding Life!

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

"Whoever loses ... for my sake ... will find ..." - Matthew 16:25 As Jesus was starting his final journey to Jerusalem, there to be crucified, he said this to his disciples: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?" In this monumental statement of our Lord, he ...

849. Remember Me?

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

... to live like he lived. That’s the target toward which Christ calls us to aim our lives. Stated in terms of everyday living it is an invitation to forgive seventy times seven, turn the other cheek, share our wealth, lay down our lives for our friends, take up our crosses daily, be constant in prayer and thankful in every circumstance of life. We are called to strive to love the Lord our God with all our heart and mind and soul and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. That’s the target, the goal, the ...

850. Counsel for Discouraged Disciples

Habakkuk 1:1-4

Sermon

... social action has been exceeded only by the number of those who have closed their eyes to social evil and sought salvation without personal involvement. Jesus was greatly concerned both that evil be resisted and debilitating discouragement avoided. He challenged his disciples to take up their crosses and follow him. He instructed them to make concern for the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth the prayerful passion of their lives. He commissioned them to go into all the world with the good news of the ...

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