Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 926 to 950 of 4914 results

926. Are You Feeling Sheepish?

Psalm 23, John 10:11-18

Sermon

Mark Trotter

This Sunday could be called the "Good Shepherd Sunday." All the scripture lessons for this morning are about shepherds. We have chosen the music in this service with the same theme. It is some indication of how important the image of the Good Shepherd is for our faith. I want to take this opportunity to share an anecdote Neil Morgan tells about Ted Geisel, in his book about Geisel. It seems that when Geisel was a student, he and his roommate in college wanted to open up a private detective firm. They were ...

927. It’s All about Jesus

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Ron Lavin

A post-resurrection story is told about Lazarus, the man Jesus brought back from the dead. You won’t find this post-resurrection story in the Bible, but it has the ring of truth. After Jesus was raised from the dead, all the disciples were empowered to witness for him all over the world. Easter set them free. They told everyone they met that Jesus was Lord of all. The Roman officials saw these followers of Christ as troublemakers because they refused to acknowledge Caesar as Lord. Many Christians were ...

928. Lord of All!

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Ron Lavin

A post-resurrection story is told about Lazarus, the man Jesus brought back from the dead. You won't find this post-resurrection story in the Bible, but it has the ring of truth. After Jesus was raised from the dead, all the disciples were empowered to witness for him all over the world. Easter set them free. They told everyone they met that Jesus was Lord of all. The Roman officials saw these followers of Christ as troublemakers because they refused to acknowledge Caesar as Lord. Many Christians were ...

929. Paul in Ephesus

Acts 19:1-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

This section and the one before it are a pair. They are both concerned with the relationship of Christianity to an imperfect form of the faith—“the baptism of John.” In this case Paul deals with the situation himself. These verses include also a brief description of his ministry in Ephesus, aspects of which are illustrated in the following section. But again we must turn to Paul’s letters to fill out our knowledge of these years. They show that his achievement in Ephesus was at the cost of much suffering ( ...

930. The New Heaven and New Earth

Revelation 21:1-27

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: God will live with his people in the new creation. Understanding the Text The final vision of Revelation (21:1–22:5) highlights the primary goal and theme of the entire book and all of Scripture: God’s presence among his people in the new creation. From the time sin and death intruded upon God’s good creation, God purposed to defeat his enemies and live among his people in a new garden city. This final vision of Revelation represents the fulfillment of the promises to those who overcome (Rev. 2–3 ...

931. “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God”

Psalm 19:1-14

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: We see God’s ubiquitous revelation in the world he created and his unique revelation in the Torah. Understanding the Text Mays has made a convincing case for the pairing of the Torah psalms (Pss. 1 and 2; 18 and 19; 118 and 119)[1] in order to present the eschatological kingdom of God, which will come in the context and through the instrumentality of Torah piety.[2] In the case of Psalm 18, David’s deliverance from Saul is a foreshadowing of future salvation. Psalms 18 and 19 both give a picture ...

932. Struggling with Sin

Romans 7:7-25

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

We noted in section 14 that chapters 6–7 are something of a theological entrenchment on Paul’s part designed to defend his gospel against three objections. In 6:1–14 he contended against a misunderstanding of 5:20 (“where sin increased, grace increased all the more”), which would argue that if grace increases with sin, why not sin all the more? In 6:15–7:6 he answered a second objection that freedom from the law leads to moral anarchy. Now in the present section (7:7–25) we hear his final defense, in which ...

933. One Body, Many Parts

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

In three striking movements these verses introduce (vv. 12–13), develop (vv. 14–26), and apply (vv. 27–31) Paul’s best-known ecclesiastical metaphor: the body of Christ. Scholars debate the exact background from which Paul may have drawn inspiration for developing this memorable image for the church. Paul is likely to have encountered the thinking of Stoic philosophers, some of whom spoke of the cosmos in its unity as a body, and Jewish wisdom thinking, which often reflected upon the idea of corporate ...

934. The Song of Moses

Deuteronomy 31:30--32:47

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

A Song for the Future: At the beginning of Chapter 31, we move finally to the “outer frame” of the book, composed of chapters 1–3 and 31–34. The links between the two sections are very clear, and they could be read together continuously. The common theme, especially at the “join” (cf. 3:21–28), is the commissioning of Joshua to lead the Israelites into the land, in view of the fact that Moses would not do so but would die outside it. However, whereas chapters 1–3 focus primarily on the past, chapters 31–34 ...

935. A Prophecy Against Babylon

Isaiah 13:1--14:23

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Poems about Northern Powers: Introduction to Chapters 13–23: Chapter 12 would have made a fine ending to a book, and perhaps it once did. Isaiah has warned Judah of calamity to come, then looked at the other side of trouble to the punishment of the troublers themselves and to the fulfillment of Yahweh’s purpose for Israel “in that day.” Isaiah 13 then marks a new start. The word oracle announces something new; this distinctive title will introduce most of the sections within this next major division of the ...

936. The Sending Plan (Alternate title: Our Human Predicament)

Mark 6:7-13

Sermon

Ron Lavin

In his sermon at the hometown synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus preached to the hometown folks -- family and friends who rejected him. One of the reasons for rejection was apparently overfamiliarity. Jesus went about healing, casting out demons, and preaching the need for repentance. Some people rejoiced. The hometown folks were offended. Jesus was rejected in his own hometown. Therefore Jesus made plans to send others out in his name. We pick up the story in verse 6: "And he was amazed at their lack of faith. ...

937. Proper 24

Exodus 33:12-23, Isaiah 45:1-7, Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The rule of God. In the Isaiah text, God rules through a heathen king, Cyrus. In the Second Lesson, he claims us through the gospel. In the Gospel Lesson, Jesus reminds us that God's rule includes the power structures of this world, yet transcends these structures. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 33:12-23 The Lord is still stung by the golden calf episode and is threatening to withhold his presence. Moses pleads that God would go with him and the people as they made their way to the Promised Land. ...

938. A Perspective on the Ascension

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Donald Macleod

Today our focus is upon an unusual event which closed the earthly ministry of Jesus. Perhaps even more so than his Resurrection has the Ascension created unceasing controversy among believers and scholars alike. All four Gospels report Jesus’ Resurrection in considerable detail, but it is only Mark and Luke who include the Ascension, albeit briefly. Luke, however, in this first chapter of The Acts of the Apostles, provides us with the fullest account in the New Testament. Now, what about the Ascension? ...

939. Connected

John 15:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

A newspaper reporter went to interview a successful entrepreneur. "How did you do it?" he asked. "How did you make all this money?" "I'm glad you asked," the entrepreneur replied. "Actually, it's a rather wonderful story. You see, when my wife and I married, we started out with a roof over our heads, some food in our pantry, and five cents between us. I took that nickel, went down to the grocery store, bought an apple, and shined it up. Then I sold it for ten cents." "What did you do then?" the reporter ...

940. If You Really Want To Be Helpful

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

A nationally known minister of the Gospel was involved in a question/answer session. He was on stage with several prominent church leaders in front of a large audience made up of pastors and lay persons. The minister had just responded to a question from one of the other leaders on the panel when he was shocked to see someone rise in the audience. The person who stood up seemed to be out of place. Actually this person was a friend from the minister's past whom he had not seen since he had professed his ...

941. With The End In Mind

Philippians 3:7-11

Sermon

James Merritt

One of the best selling books written in the twentieth century and one that made a tremendous impact on my life is a book by Stephen Covey, called The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People. That book has sold millions of copies and even to this day sells extremely well. One of the seven habits Covey says of an effective person is beginning with the end in mind. He begins this chapter with this thought provoking scenario. "Picture yourself driving to the funeral parlor or chapel, parking the car and ...

942. The 4 Spiritual Flaws

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Want to attract young, floundering, post-high school people to a life of faith, fulfillment, and commitment? Would your first thought be to offer that age group a solid set of "divine directives" aka "Four Spiritual Laws?" Probably not. Unless you were Bill Bright in 1952, when he offered that gleaming, golden nugget of insight to a new generation of spiritual seekers. But the "laws" Bill Bright proposed were far from rude and reactionary. Instead they were redeeming and revealing. And they have touched ...

943. Lift High the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

There might be times in our lives when we are confused and unsure about what direction to go next. We live in the information age with readily available knowledge literally at our finger tips. There has been more information generated in the last thirty years than during the past 5,000. Having an abundance of information available does not always solve our problems. We are told that to improve our health we should try different foods, new drugs, or vitamin supplements, only to discover a couple of years ...

944. Have You Checked Your Love Levels Recently?

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Before he was a NASA astronaut and commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 flight, the one that never landed on the moon but miraculously made it back to earth, Jim Lovell had already experienced being “lost in space.” As a Navy pilot out on a routine nighttime flight, his aircraft suddenly lost all of its navigational systems. Miles away from his ship with nothing to guide him back to the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La, Lovell decided to go completely dark. He turned off all of his cockpit lights and peered ...

945. Comfort for God's People

Isaiah 40:1-31

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

The Gifts of Comfort and Energy: So Isaiah 39, set in Isaiah’s own day, envisages the future deportation of Judeans to Babylon. Isaiah 40–55, however, is set in the time after this deportation has happened. It does not say “In days to come God will send a message of comfort to people who have been punished,” in the manner of a passage such as 30:19–26. It says, rather, “God is now comforting you who have been punished.” The traditional view is that these chapters were written by Isaiah ben Amoz, and we may ...

946. Negative Responses to Jesus

Luke 11:33-36, Luke 11:29-32, Luke 11:14-28

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: Jesus has come not to collude with Satan but rather to confront and dispossess him. Jesus is far greater than any prophets or kings who have come before, bringing the light that we now must shine to the world. Understanding the Text There have been indications throughout Jesus’s ministry in Galilee that not everyone is favorably impressed by him. Now the opposition is focused in two specific lines of attack (11:15–16). The first concerns his deliverance of those who were demon-possessed, a major ...

947. Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

Will Willimon

I had this man in my last church who frequently greeted me at the end of the service by thrusting into my hand some newspaper article, usually from the Wall Street Journal, which he thought to be of help in his never-ending battle to educate his preacher. One Sunday, he gave me an article by a national columnist, in which the columnist described how a young woman had been indicted in Chicago after her baby was found to have died from complications brought on by malnutrition and infection from rat bites. ...

948. A Question of Trust

Romans 5:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

Does it seem to you that it is getting more and more difficult to trust anybody? It seems to get more and more discouraging to simply answer the telephone, for fear of being bombarded with scam telephone calls. It’s just as discouraging to turn on a cable news program for fear of being bombarded with fake news. And when it seems humanity can’t get any lower, we’re even afraid to open our email. Why? According to the Worldstart Computer Tips & Techniques Newsletter another email scam has been making its ...

949. Stairways Of Heaven

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Justin Tull

Our narrative begins with Jacob’s sending his family across the Jabbok stream while staying behind to spend the night alone. Tomorrow he must face his brother, Esau, whom he has not seen since he escaped after stealing Esau’s blessing and having fleeced him out of his birthright. Jacob does not know how his brother will receive him… but several possibilities have occurred to him -- none of them positive. It should come as no surprise that Jacob got little sleep that night. Who could sleep well, knowing ...

950. "On A Hill Far Away"

Eulogy

Joe Barone

Deuteronomy 26:5-11Psalm 78:12-16Hebrews 9:24-28 A Scriptural MeditationOn An Often-used Funeral Hymn Our faith is a paradoxical thing, isn't it? In Jesus, God turns our world upside down. That's one thought I always have when I hear the words to George Bennard's beautiful old song, "On a Hill Far Away." In that song, Bennard talks about clinging to the very things from which we shy away. He talks about clinging to the suffering and death of Jesus. As we come here today to share our love and our grief at ...

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