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 951 to 975 of 3314 results

951. 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the tradition and his own knowledge of Scripture. This young man's faith had been nurtured through the guidance of both his mother and his grandmother, as well as, of course, by Paul himself. While Paul had been his most recent teacher, the apostle acknowledges that it was because he had the advantage of growing up in a Christian family that Timothy had been steeped in the tradition since "childhood." During this childhood, Timothy learned the true value and meaning of the Scriptures. Paul's Jewish heritage ...

952. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... letter to the church, while 2:14-7:4 and chapters 9-13 are taken from that crucial third letter. Thus it is well to keep in mind that this week's text owes its intensity to Paul's passionate plea for his continuing authority as an apostle for Christ. The Lectionary reading for this week has, unfortunately, hacked off the accepted beginning and ending of this unit. Most scholars see Paul's thought beginning at 5:14 (though some back up even further to 5:11) and continuing through 6:2. Paul spends verses ...

953. Philemon 1:1-20

Philemon 1:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Philemon will voluntarily respond to Paul's wishes (remember how you used to ask your best friend to stay for dinner while standing right in front of your mother, then turn to her and say, "It is OK with you, isn't it Mom?"), the apostle now suggests that Philemon consider something even more radical - the notion that his slave is now his brother in Christ for all eternity. The whole incongruity between Christianity and slavery rears up at us in this one sentence. Certainly Paul opens a can of worms here ...

954. 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a sign of true foolishness. Chapter 12 begins with Paul's apology for such boasting and his admission that "nothing is to be gained by it." Having already "boasted foolishly" of both his ethnic qualifications and the pain and suffering he has endured as an apostle of Christ, Paul now goes on to "boast" of a miraculous heavenly vision he experienced. In verse 2, Paul switches point of view and refers to himself in the third person "I know a person in Christ ...." Even though Paul is trying to be ironically ...

955. Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... afraid to show my colors and I have found that members of other faiths respect my commitment to my faith. It is disturbing that a fellow clergyperson is so hesitant to declare his loyalties and so willing to blend in as just another staff member. The apostle Paul never did anything half-way. He lived out his faith passionately whether he was persecuting or praising Christianity. Either way, he was not afraid to show his colors, even if it meant death. What about us? Are we willing to die? Are we willing to ...

956. John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , to the "kind of death by which he would glorify God" (v.19). Tradition, supported by Eusebius, has long suggested that Peter not only died a martyr's death, but that it was by crucifixion (the only one of the apostles to die in this manner) and that the apostle specifically requested he be crucified in a downward position because he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord. This crucifixion is powerfully represented by the renaissance painter Carvaggio in his "Crucifixion of Peter," a ...

957. Acts 9:36-43

Acts 9:36-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Although Peter is the central character in the first 12 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, there is scant mention of him in the immediate chapters which precede today' s reading. The apostles' encounter with Simon in Samaria who wanted to pay money for the power of the Holy Spirit is recorded in 8:14-25. Prior to this account, Peter is last seen in Jerusalem pushing through crowds of the sick and demon-possessed who wished to experience Peter' s healing touch, ...

958. Colossians 1:1-14

Colossians 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... other ministers of the Word he had witnessed to and sent out on the road. Perhaps because he is not personally known by this congregation, Paul feels it necessary to present himself in this letter's salutation with clear credentials. He is "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus" (v.1). While he spends considerable effort in this letter upholding the validity of the teaching the Colossians had received from their special preacher of the gospel (Epaphras), Paul nonetheless distinguishes his unique authority as an ...

959. Romans 13:11-14

Romans 13:11-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of action necessary to see Christians into the eschatological future that awaits all believers. Love in action must be demonstrated by Christians both now and in this future. Paul's language here is unabashedly eschatological in tone, tenor and texture. For this apostle, the imminence of Christ's return added to the urgency of his message. Paul's use of the idiomatic kai touto, translated as "besides this" (NRSV) or "in all this" (NEB), vividly highlights the command to "love" as the primary preparation for ...

960. Romans 13:8-14

Romans 13:8-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to end. Wakefulness was the condition demanded by the approaching Messianic era. Even Paul, with all his theological sophistication, still finds it difficult to put something as radical as the approaching kingdom of God into terms humans can understand. When the apostle declares that salvation is now closer than it was at the moment of his conversion, he falls back on the human need for temporal guidelines. Even thought the eschaton itself is a nontemporal age, Paul here testifies that it is inaugurated ...

961. Facing the Wild Beasts Within

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... We are trying to stand in the middle. We ask you to join us. Granted we all struggle with the wild beasts that would cause us to run away, give up, or fight with those who disagree with us. Jesus faced the wild beasts and committed himself, as the Apostle Paul put, to a more excellent way. Pray for those who will meet tomorrow night to design a proposal for the future worship life of this church. May we resist the wild beasts and their tyranny of fight or flight. May we seek the more excellent way of Jesus ...

962. Hurts Can Heal

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... glory of God as it was contained in the image, the being, the face of Jesus Christ. And like one wearing night vision goggles, the sudden brilliance and clarity of that new light temporarily blinded Paul. Saul of Taursus “died” that day. Paul the apostle was “resurrected” from that corpse. But does anyone doubt that for Paul there were not daily re-enactments of that death and resurrection drama? Every time Paul the Pharisee was denied access to a synagogue. Every time Paul the rabbi was accused of ...

963. Prayers for Strength

John 17:6-19

Illustration

King Duncan

... year. Terry will be the first to tell you that he survived because of prayer. After a month of captivity, Terry and the other hostages were given Bibles. With nothing else to occupy his time, Terry read and reread the Bible. He was particularly drawn to the Apostle Paul. Paul struggled with his weakness and his pride just as Terry did. And through Paul's struggles, Terry drew closer to Christ and was able to express his love of God. He was also given another book while being held as a hostage, a book on ...

964. Proper 25

Psalm 65:1-13, Joel 2:23-32, Luke 18:9-14, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... AND COMMEMORATION Heavenly Parent of all parents, receive our prayers for others through Jesus Christ whom you sent to be an elder brother to a great family of siblings. Founder of the church, you have built us on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself the cornerstone. Preserve and extend this structure through us like living stones, being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you through Jesus Christ. Make us your ...

965. Proper 27

Psalm 98:1-9; 145:1-5, 17-21, Haggai 1:15b-2:9, Luke 20:27-40, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... OR] Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 First Lesson—The prophet promised that the glories of the rebuilt temple will outshine the glories of the temple now in ruins. Haggai 1:15b-2:9 Second Lesson—The very antithesis of the Christ will come, warns the apostle Paul, before our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 Gospel—Jesus answers the Sadducees’ question about the resurrection with a strong counter proposal. Luke 20:27-38 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ...

966. Epiphany 3

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19:1-14, Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... and preaching of the Word so that understanding your will for us, we may go to do it, individually and together. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING God-out-of-hiding, speaking and acting, we rejoice in every rediscovery of your written Word by the hand of prophets and apostles. We are moved to tears when your voice sounds again in our ears after the silence of years. We come to the table to feast on the rich food and sweet drink that are provided in the sacrament. We give thanks for the spiritual refreshment and ...

967. First Sunday after the Epiphany (Baptism of Our Lord)

Psalm 29:1-11, Isaiah 42:1-9, Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 10:34-43

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... . We celebrate the good news of Jesus, that he went about doing good and healing all who were sick in mind, body or spirit. We remember with devotion his death on the cross for us and how, rising from the dead, he was witnessed by the apostles and women of faith, chosen in advance. We ascribe to you creativity, caring and covenanting. Give us life, granting us healing and forgiveness, gathering us into the church of Jesus Christ. Amen PRAYER OF DEDICATION God of glory, we respond to all you have spoken, in ...

968. Easter 7

Psalm 68:1-35, John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-19

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... of Nazareth. Acts 1:6-14 Second Lesson - Peter holds out the hope for us that after the ordeal of suffering will come exaltation as experienced by Jesus. 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 Gospel - This climactic prayer of Jesus is for the unity of the apostles and the church to come. John 17:1-11 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Worship God, the sovereign Lawgiver of Sinai. Worship the One who ascends from the hill called Olive. People ...

969. The Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Sermon

James Merritt

... not come today to mourn someone who is dead. We have come to celebrate someone who is alive. In I Corinthians Chapter 11 the Apostle Paul gives his account of the Lord's Supper that he said was directly given to him by the risen Lord Jesus. He ... says to us each time we observe it - never forget - Jesus died for you. The greatest preacher who ever lived outside perhaps of the Apostle Paul was a man named, Charles Spurgeon. On his death bed, his last words were these, "Jesus died for me." That is the last ...

970. All By Myself: The Fear of Loneliness

2 Timothy 4:9-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... his life, yet in Genesis 2:18 God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." (Genesis 2:18, NIV) The first thing God ever said that was not good about earth was loneliness. In II Timothy 4 the greatest Christian who ever lived, the Apostle Paul, writing his last book, his last chapter, his last words, tells us how to overcome the problem of loneliness. I. Why We Experience Loneliness Understand there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. You can be alone without being lonely. As a matter of ...

971. Member Means Minister

Ephesians 4:11-12

Sermon

James Merritt

... to serve. III. God Equips Me To Minister To Others This is my favorite part of this message because I get to show you now what God expects out of me and what God expects out of you. Listen carefully to Ephesians 4:11-12. "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12, NASB) What you have here is in effect a job description for ...

972. One Year to Live

Jeremiah 28:10-17

Sermon

James Merritt

... would not want to die with God's offering in my wallet. As a matter of fact, if I knew this was my last year to live, I would want to give more to God's work this year than I have ever given before. In II Corinthians 8 the Apostle Paul was bragging on some churches in Macedonia, because they had been so generous in giving to the poor and needy in Jerusalem. He was trying to motivate a church, at a city called Corinth, to also become a generous giving church. He made an interesting statement to them in ...

973. Men in Black

Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43

Sermon

James Merritt

... transforms himself into an angel of light." (v.14) The truth is, there are cults out there who preach Jesus, but it is a different Jesus than what we preach. But Satan also offers counterfeit servants. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2 Cor. 11:13, 15) Someone has well said that if you want to ...

974. Experiencing God

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Stan Purdum

... of the human genome — and continues to amaze us with how well put together the world is. A modern physicist named Paul Davies goes as far as to say that in his opinion, "science offers a surer path to God than does religion."2 Even the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, argues that natural knowledge points to God. He writes: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God ...

975. Triumphing over Obstacles

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... are seen as poor, as having nothing, but again the reality is that they are very rich and possess everything that they need. Saint Paul is telling the Corinthians that as he has overcome many obstacles in life, so, too, must this nascent community of faith. The apostle has used every manifestation of adversity as a tool to grow and gain greater strength, so as to continue toward the goal of building God's kingdom day-by-day in our world. The season of Lent is a time when we use, as Paul also suggests ...

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