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 76 to 100 of 4968 results

76. WaterFire Disciples

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Does your church have a mission statement? There are very few now that don't. Remind your congregation what it is. Can they recite it by heart? Does your church have an image statement? There are very few now that do. But in an image culture, it's more important to have an image statement than a mission statement. The city of Chicago came up with an image statement for itself in 1999 and it brought into the city hundreds of millions of dollars. The image that best captured their history and heritage was ...

77. The Disciples' Culture Shock

Mark 9:30-37

Illustration

Father George Griener

In the summer of 1971 I had gone to Munich to study German. It was my first time in "the Fatherland," and I suppose I had half expected to find blond, blue-eyed kids yodeling on street corners, or adults heading to work in Lederhosen humming Beethoven's 9th. Instead, blaring from every Italian Pizza Parlor, every Turkish shish kabob stall or ubiquitous McDonald's was the 1971 Lynn Anderson hit song, "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden." Some of you may even remember the words: it was a ...

78. Drowsy Disciples

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

David J. Kalas

I watched with amusement, recently, as a gentleman across the table from me at a church committee meeting struggled to stay awake. Our meeting came at the end of what had apparently been a tiring day for him, and now the meeting itself was running long. No one there would question this member’s devotion to the church or his commitment to its work. But he simply could not keep himself awake. His eyes would blur and begin to flicker, his head would start to bob, and finally his chin would sink into his chest ...

79. Whose Disciple Are You?

Illustration

Michael P. Green

It is said that D. L. Moody was once accosted on a Chicago street by a drunk who exclaimed, “Aren’t you Mr. Moody? Why, I’m one of your converts!” Said Moody in reply, “That must be true, for you surely aren’t one of the Lord’s.” The gospel promises not only forgiveness of sins but also new life. When a person receives this new life, his or her life should begin to show some changes.

80. Jesus Comforts His Disciples

John 14:1-4

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In early Christianity, the problem of Jesus’s departure was resolved by looking forward to his return, or second coming (Greek parousia). For some this was the only comfort. However, the discourse in chapter 14 is a carefully designed reassessment of this. It begins with a description of the traditional futurist hope (14:1–3). Jesus is preparing rooms in heaven (14:2) and someday will return to transport his followers there (14:3). The discourse then introduces three questioners (Thomas, 14:5; Philip, 14:8 ...

81. Jesus Prays for His Disciples

John 17:6-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The glory of God has been visible in Christ in yet one more way. Jesus has revealed God’s name (Greek onoma, “name”; NIV “you”; 17:6). Paul says the same: this Christ who emptied himself is the bearer of “the name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). The name of God is a vital Old Testament concept beginning with Moses’s experience on Sinai (Exod. 3:13–15; Deut. 12:5; Isa. 52:6), and Jesus has given this throughout his public ministry in the great “I am” sayings (e.g., 8:28, 58). In the Old Testament, ...

82. The Impending Departure II

John 16:5-16, John 16:17-33

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... from their Lord. For them, Jesus prays “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (17:21). Chapter 16 affords yet one more clue about the prayer in chapter 17: It is to be Jesus’ last prayer for his disciples, not only because he is leaving the world, but because his return to the Father makes possible for the believer a new relationship to God in prayer. To pray to the Father in Jesus’ name (vv. 23, 24, 26) is to have direct access to the Father. Jesus will not ...

83. The Impending Departure I

John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14, John 14:15-31

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... said to love Jesus perfectly (cf. 1 John 4:18), and to that degree they are still on the same footing as the world. Here for the first time in the discourse is the implicit recognition of a crisis to come that will test the faith and love of the disciples. It is a crisis of separation, and even though Jesus has gone to great lengths to show that the separation is not ultimately real, he tacitly admits that it will be real to them, at least for a time. It is a temptation, a cause for anxiety, and though it ...

84. Jesus’ Love and the World’s Hatred

John 15:1-17

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... is thrown away and withers; such branches are … burned (v. 6). a’ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples (vv. 7–8). The point of the sentence as a whole is that when branches remain with the vine they bear fruit, and when they do not they die. Clearly, a and a’ are promises, while b and b’ are warnings or threats. In b the negative point is made ...

85. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

John 14:15-31, John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

86. The Empty Tomb and the First Appearance

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... the tomb and then by Jesus himself. The angel said, “Do not be afraid … I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you” (Matt. 28:5–8). On their way from the tomb, the women met the risen Jesus, who echoed the angel’s words: “Do not be afraid ...

87. Stilling The Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

... his readiness to cross to the other side of the lake is the closest Jesus comes to saying he has had enough for the day. It is his way of saying, "Get me out of here, fellas." Asker: Scripture says you took Jesus in the boat just as he was. Disciple: You might interpret the words "just as he was" in a couple ways. One meaning is on the spur of the moment without any special gear or preparation beforehand. One might also say this is a story about God's acceptance of human weakness, God's acceptance of us ...

88. The Third Appearance

John 21:1-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... Jesus’ enemies, but now he and his scattered companions were back with the Lord at their true home, free to enjoy its fire and share in what Jesus had provided. The story of a miraculous catch of fish merges here into a story of a meal at which the disciples are the guests and the risen Jesus is the host. The stories overlap: The account of the meal is given in verses 9–13, yet woven into this account is the decisive ending of the story about the great catch of fish (vv. 10–11). It is the overlapping ...

89. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 10:1-42

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... kill only the body, not the soul (10:28). They can be unafraid because they are supremely valued by God their Father (10:29–31). 10:28 be afraid of the One who can destroy. Instead of fearing those standing against Jesus and against their own mission, disciples should have an appropriate fear or reverence for God, who has ultimate power over their future. This one with ultimate authority is also the one who cares for them to such an extent that even the hairs on their heads are numbered (10:30). 10:29 ...

90. The Lonesome George Church

Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:12-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... were suddenly, dramatically altered by the sound of a single voice. Jesus of Nazareth called to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people” (v.19). At the sound of that unique voice, for Simon Peter and Andrew, everything changed. They became “disciples” who 1) followed Jesus and 2) reproduced Jesus in their life and the lives of others. Matthew’s text doesn’t give any indication that Simon Peter and Andrew had ever heard of or seen Jesus before. There is no hint that they have any ...

91. Proper 14

Mt 14:22-33 · Rom 9:1-5 · Ex 14:19-31 · Ps 106:4-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... had the grace to save from death - v. 31 C. He was worthy of worship - v. 33 6. Human Reactions to a Successful Storm (14:22-33). If a storm threatens to destroy your home and your very life, how would you react? Would you feel the same as the disciples in this storm at sea? They probably said - A. "If only Jesus were here!" - vv. 22-24 B. "I knew you would come!" - vv. 25-27 C. "Because you came!" - "You are worshiped as Son of God." - v. 33 Illustration Keep Your Eyes on Jesus. When Peter took his eyes ...

92. Broadband Discipleship

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... cannot sit and wait while information is downloaded. We cannot live with a weak or wavering signal. We crave full power and instant access to the online world all the time — wherever we are. Jesus’ mission and ministry was also all about trying to connect disciples to a new world. Of course, Jesus wasn’t trying to get his followers booted-up onto the “world-wide-web” that we know. In fact, “www” is the equivalent of 666 in Hebrew. The Hebrew and Greek alphabet does not have separate characters ...

93. The Second Appearance and Its Sequel

John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... synagogue” (12:42). Of those, the narrator had said, “They loved praise from men rather than praise from God” (12:43). The disciples had fled at Jesus’ arrest (16:32; 18:8) and returned to their quarters in Jerusalem (cf. 19:27; 20:10); now ( ... will see me (16:16). I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy (16:22). The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord (20:20). I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor … the Spirit of truth ( ...

94. Reveille

Mark 6:7-13, Matthew 10:1-42, Luke 9:1-9, Luke 10:1-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... were pleased to do. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Image Exegesis: Reveille The scriptures of Jesus ...

95. Calming the Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... 38:1-11; Psalm 74:13-14; 107:23-29. The Creator has the final word over the creation! In relationship to the forces of nature Jesus acts as God acts. Truly this man is the Son of God! We will focus our remarks on this text upon the disciples and their response to Jesus. "Why are you afraid?" Jesus asked them. "Have you still no faith?" This contrast between faith and fear as alternative responses to the work and word of the Sower is woven throughout Mark's Gospel. In the stories of Mark 5, for example, we ...

96. Easter 7

Jn 17:1-11 · 1 Pet 4:12-14; 5:6-11 · Ps 68 · Acts 1:6-14

Sermon Aid

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

... of Man on "a cloud" with power and great glory in Luke 21:27 —not on "clouds" as in Mark 13:36 or Matthew 24:30. The risen Jesus has been exalted (through the Ascension) to a position of universal power and authority. All of this assures the disciples of God's ultimate triumph in and through the lordship of the crucified, raised, and ascended Jesus Christ. He is exalted into heaven and is the source of the promised Spirit. This means that Jesus does not merely belong to the past. He has not ascended into ...

97. Pentecost

John 20:19-23, Acts 2:14-41, Acts 2:1-13, Psalm 104:1-35, Numbers 11:4-35

Sermon Aid

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

... in a position to understand properly the present work of God. The masses could not comprehend the effects of the Holy Spirit on the believers, because they had no knowledge of the promise of the risen Jesus that the Spirit would come upon the disciples. The superior knowledge of the disciples is not a source of privilege, but a call to service in behalf of Christ to the masses. Christianity is not gnosticism. Whatever we know by the grace of God is given to us to direct us to ministry. (2) Christians have a ...

98. The Thing With Two Heads

Matthew 16:13-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... have stung. That must have stung, deeply. The fall from the height of the pride of being called the head of the church with the keys to the kingdom, to being called 'Satan' must have nearly killed him. Simon was a Man with Two Heads and Two Hearts. II. Making Disciples A. But Simon didn't stay that way. Jesus couldn't have used him in such a powerful way if Simon hadn't become Peter. Remember what Jesus said, "you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Jesus gave Simon a new name and a new ...

99. Don’t Get Into Things!

Luke 24:50-53

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... “The Avengers” not one of these chosen heroes are enough on their own. They MUST work together as a team in order to achieve save the world. A uniting force must drive them and bind them to work together so that they might succeed. After Pentecost the disciples, the “chosen twelve,” and the 120 of the other faithful, and all those who were to come, were joined together on the same team. They were given the same “super hero” strength of the Holy Spirit, not to act alone, but to act together as a ...

100. So Send I You

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , when we celebrate that Christ is alive. We serve a “risen Savior.” We believe Jesus is “in the world today.” And how is Jesus alive in “in the world today.” Because he lives in you and me and in his body, the Church. What it means to be a disciple is to “Discover your inner Jesus.” We are called to sing his song in the world. Or in words that some of you will recognize, and some of you won’t, “I’ve got the Music in me.” Do you have the music in you this morning? Have you discovered ...

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