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 1226 to 1250 of 2815 results

1226. John 10:11-18

John 10:11-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... - or as John liked to refer to them, "through figures of speech" (10:6). Jesus also used the parable to skewer his adversaries, often with such subtlety that they failed to recognize their own caricature as it was drawn before them. Another favorite illustrative technique used by Jesus and recorded most prominently in John's gospel is the "I am" format used to introduce one after another new image ...

1227. Luke 10:25-37

Luke 10:25-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... so vital, his characters so pungent, his scenes so artfully set, that our whole being is drawn into the flair and fascination of these stories. It is no surprise that Luke's Gospel is most commonly read at Christmas, or that our most beloved parables are found in his writings. The "Good Samaritan" illustration is the continuation of Jesus' discussion with the lawyer about the requirements for inheriting eternal life. Matthew (22:34-40) and Mark (12:28-34) each record their own versions of this dialogue, but ...

1228. Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the insidiousness of greed, the fool's vice (v.20). After all, Jesus says, fullness of life does not consist in fullness of possessions (v.15). Jesus follows this warning with the parable of the rich man whose wealth was so vast, he continually needed to build in order to warehouse his treasures. There is no indication that the rich man of this parable was an evil man in any other sense. His land produced good harvests; he no doubt worked hard to make it happen. His riches are not ill-gotten gain. He is an ...

1229. John 10:11-18

John 10:11-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... John's gospel presents his readers with a number of dramatic "I am" statements in which Jesus speaks about himself and the reality of the kingdom. These "I am" declarations are neither an actual parable nor simply an allegory, although elements of both make up these utterances. When Jesus makes his declarative "I am" statements, he is offering a kind of "symbolic discourse" (see C.K. Barrett, The Gospel According to St. John, 2nd ed., [Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1978], 367) that freely mixes together ...

1230. Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... be Jesus' intent. Jesus' limited selection of witnesses emphasizes the need for his disciples to "be with him" if they are to learn and understand Jesus' special messages to them. Just as only those gathered about Jesus learned the full meaning of his parables (4:10-11), so only those gathered about him at this moment of miraculous restoration know Jairus' daughter was not awakened from sickness but was roused from death. The healing words Jesus speaks are repeated twice in this narrative, emphasizing their ...

1231. An Unpopular Preacher

Matthew 7:15-23

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... But the house that appeared to be nothing special weathered the storm, because it was built on the rock of God’s values. You see, it’s possible to gain the whole world but lose your soul, your life, in the process.” V. The Good Life Jesus’ parable of the two houses reveals two different ways of understanding what it means to live “The Good Life.” One way is the way of appearances. The prosperity gospel assumes that the more you possess the better your life will be. Jesus says that is a lie. And ...

1232. Proper 10

Matthew 13:1-23, Psalm 119:1-176, Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... , is consumated in the overturning of the birthright in a moment of weakness. Genesis 25:19-34 Second Lesson - Beyond our freedom from sin and guilt, says Paul, is the empowerment to live in peace with God. Romans 8:1-11 Gospel - When Jesus begins teaching with parables, he gives the disciples an example of how to interpret them. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Pray as a little child. The Spirit who adopts ...

1233. A New Hope

Jeremiah 18:1-10

Sermon

James Merritt

... God there is always the possibility of new hope for anyone no matter how far they may have crossed over to the dark side. This little parable tells us three things about how God deals with all of us. I. God Is Always Working On Me "The word which came to Jeremiah ... you are a child of God, God is always working on you. II. God Is Always Wanting What Is Best For Me Now the parable takes another turn (no pun intended!) "But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter. (Jeremiah ...

1234. Hell under Fire

Matthew 5:22; 28-30

Sermon

James Merritt

... from His own lips. Of the 1,850 verses in the New Testament that record the words of Jesus, thirteen percent of them deal with the subject of hell and judgment. Jesus talked more about hell than any other topic. Of the forty-parables that Jesus told, more than half of those parables relate to the concept of hell and God's eternal judgment. The strongest biblical word for hell, the word Gehenna is used twelve times in scripture and eleven times Jesus was the speaker. [[4]] I have to warn you that the picture ...

1235. The Kingdom Is Not K-Mart

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

James Merritt

... assure you the cost is far more for me than it is for him. That is the point Jesus makes in the first of too many parables He tells. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to ... Christian life and they quit. They played one quarter of the Christian contest and they quit. Jesus then goes on to give another parable. "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten ...

1236. First Things First

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

Gary L. Carver

... being faithful stewards. This really is what we are to focus on in the present moment — letting ourselves be loved by God and letting that love flow through us to those who need it most. It occurred to me one day as I reflected on Jesus' great parable of the final judgment, that in a sense, the Second Coming has already occurred. Not the Final Coming, mind you, but a Second Coming where Christ identifies himself with the last and the least of the human procession. Did he not say when they asked, "When did ...

1237. Abba, Your Kingdom Come

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... is more willing to forgive than we are to seek forgiveness, and the promise to forgive as we have been forgiven, greatly upset the Pharisees and other religious leaders who first heard these words. They saw that Jesus was saying that God is like that father in the parable who offers forgiveness before the lost son returned and that we are called to imitate God's ways. Do Not Bring Us To The Time Of Trial "Do not bring us to the time of trial" (NRSV) is a better translation than "Lead us not into temptation ...

1238. Death to Glory

Revelation 5:11-14

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... betterment of others. If we are to live like Jesus then this must be our goal as well. Another important aspect of the servant role is the virtue of humility. Jesus certainly taught this important quality by the way he lived and the message he preached. Jesus told a parable about those who sought places of honor at a banquet (Luke 14:7-14). He suggested it was best to sit at the low end of the table, so as to be raised up. Humility was also demonstrated by the younger so-called "prodigal" son (Luke 15:11-32 ...

1239. The Prodigal Father

Romans 8:14-17

Sermon

John Jamison

... you what I mean. Many years have passed since that night the son walked out of the kitchen. But rather than worry about what the son was up to, as the story usually talks about, let's keep our eyes on the father. That's the real story in this parable. As soon as word got out the next morning, the entire village was up in arms. When he walked out on his father, the son not only insulted him, but the whole community. It was a horrendous act of defiance against all of their rules, and their authority. If he ...

1240. If This Is Your Faith, Tell Me Your Stories

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... form history books but no longer lived out in a life of faith. That is why Paul longed to return to Thessalonia and spend some serious “face time” with that fledgling Christian community. Paul had stories to tell. He had faith stories, prayers, and parables that needed to be communicated to that first, most crucial generation. If the first generation, which for Christians is every generation, doesn’t “get it right,” doesn’t hear the message, then there will be no more. Some sort of belief system ...

1241. Every Day God Encourages

Acts 4:36-37; 11:22-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... can share God's Grace and the Good News with others. You can do that with a simple piece of ribbon. Who knows what difference it will make in their life or yours. 1. Leadership - Vol. 7, #1. 2. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), Feb 1992 3. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), Oct 1989 Adapted from a story told about William Stidger 4. The Autoillustrator, P.O. Box 336517, Greeley, CO 80633 1-877-970-AUTO (2886) 5 ...

1242. They Devoted Themselves

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... us: To what or whom are you devoted? Do others see the likeness of Christ in your actions? Are others invited to accept Christ through the witness of your life? Do you exemplify the Christian life with a "glad and generous heart?" To what or whom are you devoted? 1. Parables, Etc., January 1987 2. Preaching Magazine; March/April 1996, p. 54. 3. Roger von Oech, A Kick In The Seat Of The Pants ...

1243. Seeing God In The Ordinary: Friends

John 11:1-45

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... you watch Deal or No Deal. And with this friendship, you won't have to worry about being laughed at by God, even if you do have toilet paper stuck to your heal. Reach out and take the hand of the Greatest Friend of all, Jesus. 1. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651, February 1997 2. The Pastor's Story File (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651, February 2002 3. The Pastor's Story File (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651, February 2002 4. Adapted ...

1244. God IS In The Ordinary

Romans 12:1-2, 9-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... affair with God. Let them see that love through the Harm you don't do, through the Good you do through Forgiveness. Let the world know God is right smack dab in the middle of the ordinary everyday world offering that forgiveness to everyone. 1. (Sermons.com Dynamic Preaching) 2.(Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651, 1983) 3. Nationwide Insurance Commercial 4. (Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651, 1983) 5. (Wilson) Sept 9, 2008

1245. Walking First Class

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . John Wesley would call this Sanctification or Sanctifying Grace or going onto Perfection. Today, as it relates to Walking First Class I want to talk about three distinct kinds of Christians. There are weeders, waders and walkers. I. Weeders A. Jesus describes the weeders in the parable of the soils. Weeders are those folks in whom the faith springs up quickly along with the weeds but is soon choked out by the cares of the world. When they live their lives, they don't really know what kind of seed has been ...

1246. Settling In Celebration

Romans 12:1-2

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... are hiding and hide with them. Pretty soon everybody is hiding together, all stacked in a small space like puppies in a pile or Sardines in a can. Before long, somebody giggles and then somebody laughs and everybody gets found. Personally, I think that game has always been a parable about God and the Church. I think God is a Sardine player. God is found in the midst of the sound of laughter and celebration. I think God wants all of us in the Sardine pile. God doesn't want any of us left out and alone. The ...

1247. A Word to Prodigals

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

King Duncan

... strict standards that apply to industry and to the law to apply to relationships within the family, as well as to our relationship with God. “Mandatory sentences and no parole . . . and executions.” Would you want this man to be your Dad? Jesus was telling a parable about God. Would you want God to operate with mandatory sentences for doing wrong? Be careful how you answer, for, according to the Bible, all of us have done wrong. It’s one of the best known stories in Scripture. “There was a man who ...

1248. By Right Paths

Psalm 23:3

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the example, our children won't have to ask if we know what a Christian is. They'll see it for themselves. They'll know first hand. And they'll follow you down the right paths for God's name sake. Be the parent, be there, be the example. 1. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), Aug 1998 2. DADS MAGAZINE (JUNE/JULY 2000) 3. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), July 2001 4. Leadership-Vol. 17, #1 5. Autoillustrator

1249. Close Enough For Comfort

Psalm 23:4, John 14:15-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... I was think about and working on this sermon, something Dr. John Lukert shared with us at one of our Charge Conferences came to mind. He said: fear freezes, faith frees. I. Fear Freezes A. And that is so true. Fear freezes. The Truman Show, which is really a parable of life, is about a man, Truman Burbank, whose entire life has been broadcast live in a 24 hour a day soap opera. It's the ultimate reality show and the most popular TV show on television. There's a scene in the movie that shows exactly what I ...

1250. A Chance To See

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... What do you want me to do for you?" All we have to do is answer "A Chance To See." His love and grace have already provided it for you, all you have to do is ask. 1. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), March 2001 2. eSermons.com 3. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), March 1999 4. A CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN FOLKLORE, (New York: Pantheon Books, 1982). 5. The Autoillustrator, P.O. Box 336517, Greeley, CO 80633 1-877 ...

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