Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 901 to 925 of 2815 results

901. Not the Seasons for Figs

Mark 11:12-19

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... -Semitism and hindering ecumenism which makes it embarrassing to many and which may account for its omission from the lectionary.” (Williamson, p. 209) Even John Wesley, in his commentary on this story, falls into the subtle trap of saying that this is a parable “which was to reprove the Jewish church for its unfruitfulness at that very season when fruit might best be expected from them.”(WESLEY’S NOTES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT, London: Charles H. Kelly, p.178) We must listen to the text in the setting ...

902. Food That Is Needful

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . But there is more to the image than the battle with the kudzu. The old farmer's solution is at the heart of life and offers a distinct expression of the Christian Gospel. Jesus told a parable that expressed the same notion. Perhaps you remember the story. We call it "The Parable of the Empty House." In the parable, Jesus expelled a demon from a man's life. The man's house is now empty. He didn't replace the evil force with anything else. After wandering and looking for another dwelling place, the demon ...

903. God Communicates in Humanly Understandable Terms

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

Richard D. Campbell

... was one of the most renowned preachers of his era, said quite simply: "I thought your boys might miss their father on Christmas morning." He spent the next two hours playing with the two boys and their new toys.1 That minister became a living parable of the meaning of Christmas! By his caring deed, he demonstrated the doctrine of the Incarnation far more persuasively than he could have with his most eloquent sermon. Christmas means God humbled himself to come to the place where we live. The Incarnation of ...

904. Standing In the Gap: The Work of Intercession

2 Chronicles 7:11-22

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... this story because His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray as John had taught his disciples. It’s in this setting, according to Luke’s Gospel, that He gave them the model prayer, the Lord’s Prayer. But then He told the parable. See that parable in its setting. Jesus is praying in a certain place. The disciples find Him there—maybe they came upon Him unexpectedly. They were not willing to interrupt Him because they knew that something deep and powerful was taking place. They had seen prayer in ...

905. Obedience Really Matters

Matthew 7:15-23

Sermon

Phil Thrailkill

... section in verses 24 through 27 begins with the words Everyone then who hears these words of mine. The negative example of the prophets is about them but for all of us. They are an example we are not to follow, lest we meet their end. 1') vv.24-27 Parable Of The Two Houses And The Storm. Eleven miles off the east coast of Scotland stands Bell Rock Lighthouse. Since 1811 it has endured the North Sea's most violent storms. It rests on less than an acre of solid rock that is covered by seawater twenty hours a ...

906. Financial Freedom

Luke 16:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... were usually very slow paying their bills, if they paid them at all. Maybe what the business owner was praising was his manager being able to collect as much as he did before he left. Jesus doesn’t explain. And he doesn’t need to. A parable only has one point and he explains the point like this: “I tell you,” said Jesus, “use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves ...

907. Connect the Dots

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... us much, and you expect much. Let your word rain upon us, bringing life and drawing us to your eternal light. Amen. (based on Matthew 13:11) Prayer Of Confession Hid from who, Lord? They're as clear as glass. Who could fail to understand your parables? Unless, of course, we simply don't want to face the facts. We are not seeds - we make choices. Yet your parable causes us to consider - what sort of seed have we become? What sort of soil do we choose to plant ourselves in? We see at last, Lord, that your ...

908. The Kingdom Is Like All These

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... . God gave everything to purchase us. Collect Lord God you are our treasure, you are our pearl of great price, your blessings fill our nets as we cast them into the sea. Whereas we might struggle to understand other parts of your word, your lessons today in the parables of your Son make it clear that nothing matches the worth of your kingdom, and the salvation that you have offered to us this day. Yes, Lord, we seek you, we love you, we serve you, and we worship you. These things we pray in your mighty name ...

909. Proper 19

Exodus 13:17--14:31, Romans 14:1--15:13, Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... was forgiven the huge debt. The contrast is relevant to the enormity of our sin against God in comparison to the sin committed against us. It is also plain to see that we can expect no more mercy from God than we give to our fellow men. The parable teaches that we are not to seek vengeance, but rather, to forgive. Unless we forgive, God will take back his forgiveness of us until we forgive. It is not an easy saying. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35 1. Brother (v. 21). This passage deals not ...

910. Proper 21

Exodus 17:1-7, Ezekiel 18:1-32, Philippians 2:1-11, Philippians 2:12-18, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... the leaders will. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32 1. Think (v. 28). "What do you think?" Jesus asked this question of his enemies during the last week of his life. Here we see a teaching technique of Jesus. At the time of giving the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus used the same technique by asking the lawyer, "Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor?" Jesus challenges us to think for ourselves and to come to the answers. If you ask the right questions, you may get the right ...

911. What Is Success?

Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... 've spent a lifetime trying to figure out who has success." Don't we know how it is? So, today I want us to look to Christ and his words in the Bible and see if we can learn what success is. In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus told the parable of the wise and foolish builders. In this story both men decided to build a house, both men worked at it, both desired to succeed. Furthermore, both of them heard the word of God, finished their work, moved into their buildings and both suffered through a severe storm. The ...

912. How to Motivate People

Matthew 10:1-42, Matthew 9:18-26

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... me." "My son is ill. Come and heal him." But he spent most of his time with the twelve he selected to be with him. They were the ones who wanted his gospel. They were the ones who asked, "Lord, teach us to pray." "Lord, explain again to us the parable." Why Just Twelve? Now the question might arise, why did Christ select only twelve men? Why didn't he select 24 or 100 or, better still, 1,000? Some say he selected twelve to symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel and to point to Christianity as being the new ...

913. Don't Forget the Mustard

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... no accident that Jesus picks the mustard seed in today's example of faithfulness (Luke 17:5-6) as well as in his parable of the kingdom of Heaven (Mt. 13:31-32). Its reputation for being proverbially (though not actually) the smallest of seeds, creates ... as well as the world's. Jesus said we are to be salt and light to the world. And mustard. Don't forget the mustard. Jesus' parable about the mustard seed reminds us that we are to be to the world what mustard is to the hot dog-pungency and power. Will you ...

914. The Smell of Fear

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... than the paltry power of the storm they had feared. What response could they make in the face of such power? One painfully honest disciple from the twentieth century admits that the parables of Jesus "harden on me like glue and will not wash away." In fact, after reading some of these parables, she says, "I am afraid. I am afraid of this parable; I am afraid of its rhetorical power; I am afraid that its power is not merely rhetorical; I am afraid of the word made flesh; I am afraid of Jesus." (Cited by ...

915. Love One Another

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

James W. Moore

... joy. That’s why they were so drawn to Jesus… because He brought them good news. Over and again, He said to them, “You count! You matter! Fear not! Don’t be afraid! God loves you! God is with you!” Let me make the point with a parable… a parable written by Dr. Fred Craddock. One evening a farmer named John was heading for home… running late. He tried to take a short cut, cutting across an unfamiliar field. He fell into an old abandoned cistern… a deep, deep hole. He was a proud and strong man ...

916. The Three Approaches to Life

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

James W. Moore

... to help… and he addressed that troublesome situation lovingly… in the Spirit of Christ… and that’s why to this day, we call him the Good Samaritan. Third class ticket-holders are indeed good people to have around. Jesus taught us that not only here in this parable, but also in many other places. Over and over he said it: He said: “I am among you as one who serves”… go and do likewise! “Those who act privileged will be last, but those who serve will be first! Those who rush to the front and ...

917. The Door Is Always Open

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

James Merritt

... who has never heard the story of the prodigal son. It is one of those stories that never grow old. It is sweet every time you hear it. It revolves around three characters: a younger son, an older son, and a father who loves them both. As we study this parable, keep in mind that the star of this story is not the prodigal son, but it is the prodigal's father. I. The Stubborn Rebellion of a Sinful Son The story begins with a son who has a good home, godly parents, everything in life you could ever want. But ...

918. Just the Right Touch

Mark 5:25-34

Sermon

James Merritt

... of grace. In fact, the Apostle John calls miracles "signs." A sign is something that points to something else. Miracles are signs that point to a higher truth. Someone has aptly said, "Every parable is a miracle of teaching, but every miracle is a parable of teaching." This miracle of physical healing points to a greater miracle of spiritual healing. Literally, it deals with sickness, but figuratively, it deals with salvation. As we look at this miracle through the lens of Mark's gospel, I want us to ...

919. Turn Right with the Right Turn

Luke 13:1-8

Sermon

James Merritt

... it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'" (vv. 6-9) Now what does the parable have to do with what Jesus just said about repentance? Well, a truly repentant person will bear the fruit of repentance. You see, real repentance not only clears a man's head, and cleanses a man's heart, and connects with a man's will; it gets into his feet ...

920. The Tincture of Time

Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... furnace of fire (vv. 41-42). Jesus not only counsels patience; he reserves for himself the role of future, final judge. The wheat and the weeds, the good and the bad, will be determined under his auspices and his direction. So what do we make of this parable? Is Jesus really saying we cannot recognize evil in our midst and deal with it? Isn't part of creating a just society the very ability to assure others that righteousness will be rewarded and evil-doers will be punished? Both the Old and New Testaments ...

921. Pulling Weeds - Sermon Starter

Mt 13:24-30, 36-43

Illustration

King Duncan

... 's way, He is an excellent designer! I doubt than anyone likes pulling weeds, including God. In today's lesson Jesus tells a parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came ... bring it into my barn.'" Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." Jesus answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, ...

922. Strong in Faith: A Little Dab'll Do Ya

1 Corinthians 16:13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of all shrubs and becomes a tree, so that birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." And he told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it leavened the whole lump." (Matthew 13:31-34) Faith like a tiny seed. Faith like a bit of yeast. Jesus would say, "A little dab'll do ya"… 1. But ...

923. Breakfast on the Beach

John 21:1-14

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... This was their trade, their livelihood, their daily work before Jesus had called them on the mission. So now what else were they supposed to do? It's back to work. Back to fishing. Little did they realize this would be the parable of a lifetime, a parable of their calling, their future, their mission, a parable of our calling and our mission. Here, at the end of the story, Jesus takes them right back to the beginning of the story when he met them in the first place…by the sea, when he called them from the ...

924. Fairness

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

George E. Thompson

... faith's consolation. His physician, who loved him, was moved by his valor and whispered, "If I were God, I would far sooner save the man who does not repent at the last minute." Deep inside, our sense of even-scaled justice admires the hardened skeptic. But Jesus' parable communicates the opposite message. It shatters all our preconceived assumptions about the justice of God. Here is a story with a coded message that brings us to the core of what Jesus of Nazareth is all about! The key to interpreting the ...

925. Ten Million Dollar Winners

Matthew 18:23-35

Sermon

Shirley Gupton Lynn

... the impatience, the ambition or the work drive, it's the ANGER! It sends your blood pressure skyrocketing. It provokes your body to create unhealthy chemicals. For hostile people, anger is a poison." In other words, the hostile heart kills. And Jesus told a parable about a man whose hostile heart killed his relationship with his king. You recall the story. A king called in his servants to settle accounts. They were probably governors of his provinces. One owed the king 10,000 talents. In Jesus' day, a king ...

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