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 101 to 125 of 339 results

101. Trials and Temptations

James 1:1-18, James 1:19-27

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... heat of God’s judgment (as 5:1–6 will show). The fading away is not simply a withering, but a destruction, an eternal fact that should strike terror in the hearts of all tempted to the same lifestyle. 1:12 The term blessed (makarios) is also used in the Beatitudes and Psalms (e.g., Ps. 1). Its opposite is “woe.” The idea of persevering (hypomenō) is very important in the New Testament (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13; Rom. 12:12; 1 Cor. 13:7; 2 Tim. 2:12, etc., use the verb; Luke 21:19; Rom. 2 ...

102. Robbing God

Malachi 3:6-18

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... verb (shikkel) is used elsewhere only of women and female animals and means “miscarry.” The grapes will ripen to harvest, because neither drought nor pest will interfere. Such blessings will cause other nations to admire and envy Israel, and to pronounce a beatitude on them (call you blessed), for such a fertile country will truly be a delightful land—one to be desired for the bounty and pleasure it provides. Israel’s fame among the nations and the fertility of the land are both important elements ...

103. Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

John 13:1-17, John 13:18-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... good advice. It is something that Jesus’ followers “owe” (Gr.: opheilete) to one another (cf. 1 John 4:11) and consequently, to everyone (Rom. 13:8; cf. 1 John 2:6, where the obligation is to “live just as Jesus Christ did”). Jesus allots one of this Gospel’s two beatitudes (i.e., expressions with the Greek word makarios, “blessed” or “happy,” akin to Matt. 5:3–12 and Luke 6:20–23) to those who faithfully pay their debt of love (v. 17, you will be blessed if you do them; cf. the ...

104. The Second Appearance and Its Sequel

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... resurrection appearances), his readers should enter into the once-and-for-all experience of Jesus’ original disciples (cf. the invitation of the original disciples to do exactly that in 1 John 1:1–3). He wants them to claim for themselves Jesus’ last beatitude, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (v. 29). Their confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God echoes Thomas’ exclamation, My Lord and my God! (v. 28), while the accompanying promise of life in his name recalls ...

105. The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1-3

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... ; [14:12]; 19:10 [2x]; 20:4)—two somewhat synonymous phrases that describe the message of God’s great story communicated through his prophets and apostles, especially centering on the gospel. 1:3 Blessed is the one . . . , and blessed are those. This is the first of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). In this case, we have a double blessing: (1) on the one who has the ability and courage to read aloud the book of Revelation to the gathered church, and ...

106. The Conclusion

Revelation 22:7-21

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... 22:7 Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll. The imminent return of Christ, mentioned in 22:6, 7, 10, 12, and 20, calls us to obedient holiness. As with the first beatitude in 1:3, so this beatitude pronounces a blessing on those who obey the prophecy—God’s trustworthy and true words (see the sidebar in 1:1–3). Once again, since we are told to obey the prophecy, we should think of Revelation (i.e., “the prophecy written in this scroll ...

107. Prologue

Revelation 1:1-3

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... down in a particular genre for deliberate reasons presumes that John’s visions were not communicated to his readers without his “intervention.” 1:3 The beatitudes of Revelation share a common perspective with the beatitudes found elsewhere in the NT: they assure the hearers of their future participation in God’s promised salvation. In this sense, the parallel beatitudes, blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy/blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it ...

108. Jesus Is Coming

Revelation 22:7-21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... and shares perfectly all of God’s purposes (Caird, Revelation, p. 285) as well as God’s status within the worshiping community (cf. Rev. 21:22). In keeping with the structure (and so “theo-logic”) of Christ’s earlier benediction (22:7), a beatitude now follows: Blessed are those who … go through the gates into the city. Those who respond properly to John’s prophecy that Christ is coming soon, with either repentance or hope, will receive the promised blessing of a good God. In light of John ...

109. Blessings and Woes

Luke 6:17-26

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Jesus’ descent to teach the people, Ellis (p. 112) thinks that there might be a parallel with Moses in Exod. 19:25. 6:20–22 Blessed: Beatitudes also occur in the OT (Pss. 1:1; 2:12; 34:8; 41:1; 84:4; 94:12; 119:2; Prov. 8:34; Jer. 17:7) ... that people put on earthly things.… A paradox is often involved in them.” Talbert (pp. 69–71) explains that the Beatitudes do not confer blessings; they are expressions of congratulations. poor: Lachs (p. 71) suggests that the “poor” equals the righteous (Pss ...

110. Hallelujah!

Revelation 19:1-10

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... in Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 20:6; 22:7, 14), and seems to help explain the significance of the preceding doxology. Its importance for John is made even more emphatic by the angel’s remark that the beatitude comprises the true words of God (cf. 21:5; 22:6) and by John’s response of worship at the angel’s feet—in response to the message and not to the angelic messenger. What should we make of all this? Perhaps it is best not to put too fine ...

111. Jesus Appears to Thomas

John 20:24-31

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

112. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

113. Plain Talk

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... desperate, the marginalized. And if I read the statistics right, that's most of the people of today's world. Which gospel do we read -- and love? If I asked how many of you have heard of and can even quote sections of the Sermon on the Mount -- Matthew's beatitudes or the Lord's Prayer, for instance -- I'd get a pretty good show of hands. But if I asked how many of you knew of and could quote anything from Jesus' plain talk in Luke, there would be little response. We can take comfort from, "Blessed are the ...

114. Sermons

Sermon

John R. Bodo

... Fundamentalist Christians who treat the Bible like a digest of laws. But the ways of God are not necessarily logical -- by our standards. It was part of Jesus' mission to reveal God's lack of logic -- and excess of love. What could be more illogical than the Beatitudes? What could be more unexpected and offensive than the Son of God suspended on two wooden posts stained by his own blood rather than seated in splendor on a throne of gold? But Jesus did not come to explain why God behaved this way or that way ...

115. How Blest Are Those Who Know Their Need Of God

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... promise, our lives now, in this present moment, take on a new shape, a new texture. In a very real sense, we live life backwards, moving from death to life. God treats us now as the people will be when his kingdom comes in all its glory. Again, the Beatitudes give us the picture. Because we have obtained and shall obtain mercy, we are even now free to be merciful. Because we shall see God, our hearts are even now purified by that promise, for purity of heart is to place our trust in God and God's promises ...

116. Ka-Chang

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

John Jamison

... righteousness, and have tried to be merciful. We all dream of having pure hearts, like the role of peacemaker when we can get it, and certainly get our share of persecution if we put on the appearance of being too religious. The words Jesus speaks in the Beatitudes help us feel better. We know that he understands. However, I have always wondered about the other folks. As Luke reminds us when he tells this story, the other side of "Blessed art thou," is "Woe to you" and I have always wondered how those folks ...

117. An Attitude of Sacrifice

Lk 6:17-26; Mt 5:1-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

... him why he turned down the episcopacy. He laughingly replied that if he became a bishop he would have to retire at age 70. "I am now 82," he said, "and I am still going strong." Then someone asked him: what do you think of the Beatitudes? Several students picked up their pens expecting something profound and they got it. Here's what he said: "At first sight, you felt they turned everything upside down. At second sight, you understand that they turn everything right side up. The first time you read them ...

118. Second Lesson

Matthew 5:13-16

Sermon

... constitute a first lesson, which all hangs together when we look at them and reflect upon them. From the end of the Beatitudes through the next two and a half chapters of Matthew’s Gospel, we seem to have fragments from Jesus’ three-year teaching ministry that are strung together in didactic disarray. One wonders, since neither Mark nor John reports anything like the Sermon on the Mount, and although Luke does have ...

119. When the Poor Become Rich

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

... peacemakers, and persecuted. Happy are all those people, because God has not abandoned them; God is their comfort and strength. Moreover, the blessedness promised by Jesus is not a happiness we can create, it is a gift of God. The first of Jesus’ beatitudes is indicative of this essential character of all the rest. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." With that seemingly modest opening Jesus begins his pronouncement of blessings. "Poor in spirit" is likely to conjure up images of beggars and persons who are ...

120. Epiphany 4

Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 1:1-6

Sermon Aid

... and helpless to win their own salvation. (Note: This gospel is best "preached" in the form of a thematic sermon that spells out the basis for true happiness in life and after death through God's gifts of grace as they are spelled out in the Beatitudes.) SERMON SUGGESTIONS A sermon on the Gospel, Matthew 5:1-2 - "He Taught It On a Mountain." In his book, Jesus the Magician, Morton Smith contends that there were many magicians roaming about the world in Jesus' day; some of them did astounding acts of magic ...

121. All Saints' Day

Revelation 7:1-8, Isaiah 26:1-21, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Revelation 21:1-27, Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 24:1-10, Psalm 149:1-9, Psalm 34:1-22

Sermon Aid

... his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads." God will truly be the light of all people, and he shall reign forever and the feast will have no end. Matthew 5:1-12 There can be little doubt that Jesus was addressing the beatitudes to his disciples, who, at his call and direction, had left everything - homes, families, friends, work - in order to follow him. His "blessed are's" assures them that he knows their sacifices and devotion, and that they will be recompensed in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore ...

122. All Saints' Day

Matthew 5:1-12

Bulletin Aid

... , the sayings are best taken as revealing the features of true saints: they are poor in spirit, gentle, "hungry" for justice, merciful, pure-hearted, peace-making, reviled and persecuted, and (probably because of these last two) sorrowful. But, as the second clause of each beatitude shows, they also have a promising future. Call to Worship Leader: Let us magnify God and exalt God's name! People: LET US LOOK TO GOD AND BE RADIANT! Leader: Taste and see that God is good! People: HAPPY ARE THE SAINTS WHO TAKE ...

123. The Joy of Sorrow?

Matthew 5:4

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... but something was missing. "She will be great," said the musician, "when something happens to break her heart." Sorrow is the source not only of growth but also of some great discoveries in life. I believe so strongly in that statement that the second Beatitude of Jesus becomes quite real, and therefore I take it literally. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Blessed are they that mourn, not as those who deny that sorrow exists, not as Stoics who never let themselves get attached to ...

124. The Strength of Poverty

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Hubert Beck

... to lose or give up voluntarily, renounce them all as inconsequential in the interests of possessing the kingdom of heaven? "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," we hear in the Gospel for today, setting the tone for all the beatitudes to follow. Let us not be too distracted by the "in spirit" part of the poverty suggested, for these are precisely the people who know they are paupers in every way, owning nothing and entirely dependent on the Giver to sustain them in every way ...

125. God's Kind of Happiness, Today

Matthew 5:1-12

Illustration

The Best Gift

... only a future hope, but also a very present reality. So may it be for us all. The point I want to make here is this: God's kind of happiness, as defined in the Beatitudes of our Lord, represents a radical reversal of almost everything we have ever been taught about the meaning of happiness! Look at the Beatitudes again and contrast them with what we have been taught. "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor." We have always been taught to define happiness in terms of wealth. "Happy are those who ...

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