Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1026 to 1050 of 3852 results

Psalm 110:1-7

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... is resignified as “the Christ” or “messiah” and the speaker as David. Thus, David addresses the Christ as “Lord,” implying a relationship of David’s subordination to the Christ. Although Jesus’ use of Ps. 110 is not consistent with its original use as a liturgy addressed to the Davidic kings, his reinterpretation is endorsed by the book of Psalms itself. The historical superscriptions invite readers to re-read the “psalms of David” as those authored by David (see the Introduction). Jesus ...

1027.

Psalm 114:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... —dramatically present.) In effect, they are asked to testify to the “land” (NIV “earth,” v. 7) that there is good reason to respond to God’s appearing as they have. These stylistic features reflect poetic license to impress generations far removed from the original events with the impact of God’s interventions into history and nature. Thus, the key dramatic function of verses 1–6 is to create suspense in the listeners as to the identity of “his” in verse 2 and as to the cause of these ...

1028.

Psalm 121:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... –8 point to a liturgist (perhaps a priest) and an assembly of pilgrims. Verses 1–2 read as a testimony and verses 3–8 as a priestly assurance to the pilgrims (cf. Ps. 91). The question must remain open as to whether the psalm was used originally on the departure to or from Jerusalem. While the psalm is not a formal priestly blessing (e.g., “may the Lord bless you” or “the Lord bless you”), it does share similarities to the Aaronic benediction (“the LORD bless you and keep [Hb. šmr, the same ...

1029.

Psalm 145:1-21

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... , they may be accented by their direct address to him (thematic explanation). Third, the action described in the phrase, “the eyes of all look” to God, implicitly calls for direct address to him (ritual explanation). Fourth, if this psalm was originally sung at a harvest festival, these verses are the expression closest to that occasion (situational explanation). Verse 13a is also a “you” verse and it describes Yahweh’s kingdom. As will be argued below, this verse climaxes the central section ...

1030. “Lord, Our Lord, How Majestic Is Your Name in All the Earth!”

Psalm 8:1-9

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... . 3:4–5), and many of its proponents insist this occurred only after the Davidic monarchy ended in 586 BC. This is essentially the position of Craigie, who espouses the form critical method and insists that the messianic nuance is not incorporated into the original psalms but came subsequently to be associated with them somewhere in the history of interpretation.3 While that is certainly a valid way to view the messianism of the Psalms, it seems to me that the strong prophetic hope, also reflected in the ...

1031. The Interpretation of the Dream

Daniel 7:15-28

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... is of the utmost importance for understanding both the identity of Jesus and the plan of God for the end times. When the book was written, “son of man” was not a title, but rather the vision referred to a transcendent one who looked like a man. Originally it was probably understood to be an angel or archangel—Michael is the best candidate, since he figures prominently in the deliverance of the Jews (12:1). However, in the NT, Jesus uses “Son of Man” as a title for himself (for example, Matt. 8:20 ...

1032. Uncommonly Good

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... , serves, and cares. To be “holy” meant to have an extraordinary faith and an uncommonly good heart. Some of you are probably old enough to remember the original Keebler cookie commercials, complete with all those elves. Remember the tagline? Keebler: made by elves and “uncommonly good!” But Keebler has another message for us, based on their original 1960s messaging. Take a look at this clip from 12 years ago: https://vimeo.com/43197124 “Uncommonly good” –that’s what it means to be holy. It ...

1033. Faithfulness In These Days

Romans 10:8b-13

Sermon

Bonnie Bates

... . I want to recount a story from my own life. In my seminary days, I participated in a spiritual group working through the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius. Originally designed as a thirty-day retreat for those determining a call to the religious life, the nineteenth annotation was developed for a weekly experience. Thus, each day of the original program was studied as a week. The first seven weeks were focused on learning about and experiencing the love of God ― not superficially, but in our very ...

1034. The Grey Zone

John 21:1-19

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... covenant celebration, one in which both the disciples and Jesus must commit to being part of. After the meal was over, the re-commitment vows would begin. Jesus addresses his prodigal leader and “fisher of men” not as Peter, the stable rock, but using his “original name,” “Simon, son of John.” And the commitment vows begin: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” More than these? Such a small phrase, and yet, so important to Peter’s relationship with Jesus. Do you love me and ...

1035. Spirit Struck

Acts 2:1-21 · John 14:8-17, 25-27

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up” (John 3:14). Now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) From stone to heart. From “original covenant” to “new covenant.” From living by the Mosaic “law” to living stones built upon the foundation of Jesus, Messiah, Son of God. June 1st marked an important holiday in the Jewish calendar –Shavuot, otherwise known as the Feast of Weeks. We know it as ...

1036. Becoming A Faithful Witness

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... voice. We get sidetracked by pursuing the wrong message. We are too easily led down the wrong path. Isaiah stressed the need to listen to the message of God. Most of us are listening to some message. But Isaiah cautions us to listen to the message that originates with God. It seems that it is no longer uncommon to encounter a preacher who has either stopped listening or never learned to listen for God. It is a tragic thing to witness. The messenger can speak words. He may even be able to offer intellectual ...

1037. A Call To Community

Acts 16:6-10

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... missed a call from the vet's office. When the vet came out to speak with them, he was carrying Cocoa's collar and tags but Cocoa was not in sight. They knew immediately. Unexpectedly, Cocoa had died during the night. Perhaps the poison had been stronger than originally thought. Perhaps Cocoa did not have any more fight left in his tired body. Perhaps it was just his time. They had been prepared to love him for longer than two years, but it wasn't meant to be. That night as their oldest son prepared to go ...

1038. Unfair - The Prodigal Son

Luke 13:1-9

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... , he worked two jobs, but what Mom and Dad didn't know was that one of the jobs was pushing dope. Good riddance, I say. I hope I never see him again. HOST: John's father is semi-retired and has built a small house on some acreage near the original farm. JOHN'S FATHER: Oh, why don't they let it be? Sure, my son left home, but he didn't steal anything. I gave him what was rightly due him. I was going to will it to him anyway. He just wanted it early, that's all. I made ...

1039. Beware Of Your Piety

Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... raises the issue of whether we should not be much more aware of our Lenten piety. The History Our observance of the season of Lent has its roots in the early church. Two early church fathers, Augustine and Tertullian, related that the Lenten fast originated with the Apostles. However, the fast of which they wrote was neither the season nor the fasting that we know. What the fathers were undoubtedly referring to was the desire of the early Christian community to sense anew the deep sorrow and pain they ...

1040. The Compassionate Healings

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... , because we do not often experience it in the world. Compassion is so rare that when it comes, we are shocked. Compassion literally means "coming with passion." Passion in this context has nothing to do with lust or a hot temper. The original meaning of passion is suffering with someone. Compassion is not pity. Pity lets us stay at a distance. Pity can be condescending. Compassion does not mean sympathy. Sympathy comes from someone superior to someone inferior. Compassion is not charity. Charity allows a ...

1041. The Sending Plan (Alternate title: Our Human Predicament)

Mark 6:7-13

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... all who care must deal with the whole patient." Healing is a ministry of God. Jesus commanded that we bring healing to one another by his power. We protest: "We can't do that. We are too flawed ourselves to heal others." Flawed or not, we, like the original twelve apostles, are sent to bring healing to the body, mind, and spirit. God is the one who brings healing. He brings healing to us and then sends us forth that it might touch others through us. Henri Nouwen says that we are "wounded healers,"2 healers ...

1042. When It's Hard To Give Thanks

Joel 2:18-27

Sermon

Zan W. Holmes

... to the building to see it. You have to move back from it in order to get a full view of it." After their repentance and return to the Lord, the people were able to see that more was going on in the midst of their crisis than they could originally see. They now saw that God was using their crisis to bring them to their senses. God was seeking to prepare them for the Day of the Lord which was an even greater challenge than the plague of locusts. It is a reminder that God does not bring us through ...

1043. No Box Seats In The Kingdom

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

William G. Carter

Historically speaking, the church has usually painted a pretty picture of the twelve original disciples of Jesus. All except Judas have been considered saints. Pious people have named churches after them, often referring to the first disciples as the rocks upon which Christ has built his church. Yet anybody who hears the Gospel of Mark's stories about the disciples gets a different picture ...

1044. A Tale Of Two Cities

Micah 5:1-4

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... promised David, "Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16). Now the contemporary Davidic dynasty in Jerusalem is to be destroyed. But God will make a new beginning and start over again. The origin of this king will be "from of old, from ancient days" (v. 2), in that it is a continuation of the promise made to David. The wonder of God's sovereignty is shown in the choice of the smallest and weakest clan of Judah as the source ...

1045. A Light In The Darkness

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... of Peace (v. 6). While such royal adulation always bordered on idolatry, it shows the great longing of the people for a wise, strong, and benevolent ruler. Of course, such a hope was never fully realized under any Davidic king. Whatever enthronement it originally celebrated (some say Hezekiah's), it eventually became part of the messianic hope, the longing for the ideal king. But even as a part of the messianic hope, this text stretches our imagination and exceeds all historical limits. In its verbal excess ...

1046. Who's In Charge Here, Anyway?

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

Tony Everett

... from living in conflict. We cannot escape our desperate need for the nourishment and wholeness that comes through being reconciled with our sisters and brothers in the Lord. Soon this pressure builds and builds until it makes little difference what the original cause for separation was. The pain is too great. Forgiveness and renewal are our only hope for alleviating our distress. Someone must take the first step. Someone -- anyone -- even the most injured party, must take some initiative to restore the ...

1047. Proper 18

Psalm 139:1-24, Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Luke 14:25-35

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... record levels. People are unwilling to postpone gratification and thereby get themselves caught in paying exorbitant interest rates. They dig themselves deeper and deeper into debt since they so often cannot afford the interest rates if they could not afford the original expense that leads to the debt. In the same way, escalating expenses for military security are leading to a bankruptcy of the country as interest on the national debt becomes the largest expense in the budget. 4. Figuring the Costs in ...

1048. Proper 20

Psalm 79:1-13, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, Jeremiah 8:4--9:26, Luke 16:1-15

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... dishonest is adikos, which is more often translated as "unrighteousness." The translators of the NRSV probably chose dishonest to have the play on words in verse 10 where dishonesty and honesty are contrasted. An Explanatory Note Kenneth E. Bailey contends that the original hearers of Jesus' parable would have readily understood much that is not given in great detail.1 That the manager did not protest his innocence when the master accused him would imply guilt. The rich man was generous in just dismissing ...

1049. Proper 24

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, 2 Timothy 3:10--4:8, Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 119:1-176

Bulletin Aid

William E. Keeney

... , making it harsher, after he conferred with the police about the case. Some think he made the change so that the police would support his wife, who was running for an office as a prosecuting attorney. An appeals court said the original sentence had to stand. Corrupt judicial and law enforcement personnel are especially grievous because they are entrusted with responsibility for upholding the law. They are charged with assuring fair treatment of people according to the standards which the society has set ...

1050. Sow's Ears And Silk Purses

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... the dust of the roads. According to the text, each urn held 20 or 30 gallons. We are not talking about tea pots. Multiply it out and you get something between 120 and 150 gallons. That's at least 600 bottles! And this after the robust supplies originally laid in for the week-long party were depleted. According to the editor of the fourth gospel, this was Jesus' first miracle. Some have suggested, tongue in cheek, that he was still practicing the tricks of the Messianic trade, and wanted to start out slowly ...

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