Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1301 to 1325 of 4681 results

1301. Jacob Wrestles with God

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... responded that his name would no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because he had struggled with God and with men and had overcome. Israel means “God fights”; it may be emblematic for “you have fought with God.” This account is vital for the people who bear the name Israel; it records that their identity was defined in a special encounter with God. The changing of Jacob’s name reveals the power this opponent had over Jacob as well as his heavenly role, for in giving him a new name he altered either ...

1302. The Ten Commandments

Deuteronomy 5:1-33

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... David’s lust (2 Sam. 11), or his vengeful rage (1 Sam. 25), in Wisdom’s portrait of murderous greed (Prov. 1:10–19), and in the penetrating law of Leviticus 19:17f., “Do not hate your brother in your heart . . . Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.” It was an authentic extension of this OT perception that led Jesus to condemn anger as the moral root of murder (Matt. 5:21f.). The Seventh Commandment 5:18 You shall not commit adultery ...

1303. Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

Isaiah 8:1-10

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... (2 Kgs. 16:10–16; 18:2). The signs are presented to the whole people, not just the king. To a birth that leads to a phrase that comes into being before an actual birth. To the promise regarding conceiving and bearing a son is added the actual event of conceiving and bearing a son. To an unnamed mother is added a mother who is herself a prophet, presumably a member of the temple staff like the later prophet Huldah. The child’s name speaks unambiguously of coming defeat, taking up the sarcastic challenge ...

1304. Jeremiah's Complaint

Jeremiah 12:1-4, Jeremiah 12:5-17, Jeremiah 11:18-23

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... all future offspring. 12:2 This verse describes the wicked as those whom God has planted, who have taken root and bear fruit. This is the reverse situation envisioned in Psalm 1 (see also Jer. 17:7–8) where it is the righteous who are said to be planted near ... the water. They are the ones who bear fruit, while the wicked are like chaff. 12:5 The thickets by the Jordan would refer to the jumble of reeds, bushes, and other ...

1305. The Most Generous Gift

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... will. But in our world where billionaires live lives that would have made Solomon in all his glory envious, in our world dominated by the pursuit of pleasure and the almighty dollar, we need the reminder of the Christmas story that the truly important things in life bear no price tags. Love for God and love for one’s neighbor is all that matters in the story of the first Christmas. Everything else decays and dies but these alone are eternal. Christmas is a time for generosity. I hope that the gift of God ...

1306. The Sacred Power of a Listening Heart

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19

Sermon

King Duncan

... , he was listening to God. Most of you remember the story of the boy Samuel from your Sunday school days. It begins with the very touching scene of a holy woman named Hannah pleading with God to allow her to bear a son because she is barren. Hannah made a vow to God that if He would allow her to bear a son, she would give the boy to the service of God all the days of his life. Some time passed and God answered Hannah’s prayer. She conceived and bore a son, calling his name Samuel, saying, “Because I ...

1307. Everything You Need to Know about Love

John 15:9-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” I would like to begin with one of the most beautiful love stories that I know. It is the story of the courtship ...

1308. His Name Is John

Luke 1:57-66, 80

Sermon

King Duncan

... Zechariah tried to communicate with the people who had been waiting on him by making signs with his hands. Can you imagine the scene when he got home? I would have liked to have seen him pantomime to Elizabeth that, in her advanced years, she would conceive and bear a child. They would have a son and he would grow up to be a very special man. It was probably a hilarious scene. But it was also a sobering scenario. That night they surely clung to one another in joy and disbelief. Everything happened of course ...

1309. What Really Counts

Mark 9:38-43

Sermon

King Duncan

... and the rest of us--we’re fortunate that we do not have a lot more sectarian violence. When will we realize that Jesus is too big to restrict to one denomination, one culture, or one nationality? There are people of every circumstance and every ethnic origin who bear the name Christian. Just think of how small and petty we are being when we try to restrict Jesus to people who look and think like we do. Truth is always bigger than one person’s, or one denomination’s grasp of it. Like too many people ...

1310. It's Not About Me

Luke 6:39-49

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... gift and pure grace from God, the life of discipleship is hard work. Being Christian demands doing Christian — bearing good fruit, building strong foundations — and most of all connecting with people around us — whether we like them ... . Friends in Christ, with God’s help and with a strong foundation of community and gospel values, we Jesus people are called to bear rich fruit in our communities and around the world. Let us continue to clean out the specks and logs from our eyes so that the light of Christ ...

1311. Creeping on the Promises

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... and the surface of the mighty stream was covered with ice. Could he dare cross over? Would the uncertain ice be able to bear his weight? Night was falling, and it was urgent that he reach the other side. Finally, after much hesitation and with many ... ice and singing merrily as he went his way. Here he was, on his hands and knees, trembling lest the ice be not strong enough to bear him up! And there, as if whisked away by the winter's wind, went the man, his horses, his sleigh, and his load of coal, upheld ...

1312. Asserting Leadership

Humor Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... was proud of his mastery of the animal kingdom. One day he decided to make sure all the other animals knew he was the king of the jungle. He was so confident that he bypassed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear. "Who is the king of the jungle?" the lion asked. The bear replied, "Why, you are, of course." The lion gave a mighty roar of approval. Next he asked the tiger, "Who is the king of the jungle?" The tiger quickly responded, "Everyone knows that you are, O mighty lion." Next on the list ...

1313. The Surrendered Self

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... ." So he tore up the letter and said, "Lord, you'll have to take care of my reputation." A few weeks later he received a letter of apology from the man who had turned on him. When the self is unsurrendered, it tends to be touchy, easily provoked, unable to bear insults. When the self is surrendered to Christ and the love of Jesus fills and cleanses the self, then we can ...

1314. With Friends Like That...

Humor Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Two friends went camping out in the woods. They woke up the first morning and were standing by their tent having their first cup of coffee for the day when they suddenly spotted a grizzly bear heading for them at full speed. Quickly, the one man reached down and grabbed his tennies and started putting them on. The other man looked at him and said, "What are you doing? Do you think you can outrun that grizzly bear?" And the first man said, "No, and I don't need to. All I need to do is to outrun you!"

1315. Listen to the Angels

Revelation 5:11-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... first book in the Bible--the book of Genesis--and the ancient story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham and Sarah were in their nineties when Isaac was born to them. You will remember that Sarah could only laugh when she was told that she would conceive and bear a son at such an advanced age. Needless to say, Isaac was a very special gift to Abraham and Sarah--a gift directly from God. Few fathers have ever loved their sons more than Abraham loved Isaac. Imagine his emotions, then, when God came to him and said ...

1316. A Hall of Fame Dad

John 16:12-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... are the Father and the Son. [I can see why women would feel left out whenever we use that language. I hope you know that I know that God is Spirit and not flesh and therefore has no gender. But change is slow in an institution like ours. Please bear with me.] Today we salute our fathers. Dad, we love you. The role of a Christian father is more important in today’s world than ever before. Being a Dad is a different role than in earlier generations. In most households today Dad is called upon to play more ...

1317. Where's the Magic?

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... even though he did not know where he was going . . . And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children . . . And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as ... countless as the sand on the seashore.” A 99-year-old woman, way past childbearing years, bears a child whose 100-year-old father is “as good as dead” in the words of the writer of Hebrews. If that is not ...

1318. Lost in the Wonder of God

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... given all authority and power. And I will be with you. Emmanuel, “God with us,” had spoken and had bestowed upon the eleven a new covenant commitment. To be observant, to follow Jesus, to be a part of God’s new covenant, that meant to make disciples, to bear fruit, to multiply, to “go, to baptize, to teach.” To do it, they would need every bit of courage they could muster. It’s easy to make promises when you’re standing on top of the world. It’s hard to take those promises into the caverns ...

1319. Parabola

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” The Parable of the Narrow Door (as told by Luke) Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be ...

1320. What Kind of Sheep Are You?

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20, Ezekiel 34:1-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord ...

1321. Redeemed

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the responsibility for the family in the absence of the Father by death. In Jesus’ case, the symbolism is clear. As God’s firstborn and only Son, he was also given to be the sacrifice and bear the responsibility for all of God’s people. The ritual of redemption of the firstborn would in this case produce the Redeemer. And he would be the redemption of Israel, as the priest foretold. The atonement of the woman in this case represents the fruit of her womb which would ...

1322. Bittersweet

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon (I Kings 10) Psalm 45: Gifts for God’s King Psalm 72: Gold from Sheba will be given to God’s King King Hezekiah Shows Marduk-Baladan (son of the King of Babylon) His Treasures The Prophecy of Isaiah of the Bearing of Gifts from Medea and Sheba (Isaiah 60) Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: Following Jesus Can be BitterSweet. Matthew’s Witness to the Visit of the Magi to Bethlehem After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the ...

1323. The Good Catch

Matthew 17:24-27

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... community. Honor your baptism promise by being part of that faith community. Because YOU are free in Christ. But Christ lives on this earth through the body, the Church! Your debt has been erased by your Lord Jesus. But be a voluntary part of the Church that bears His name! Today, I invite you to come forward and to renew your baptism. Come, be blessed, splash some water from the basin up front onto your face and hands. And pray with me: “Lord, you have made me free in Jesus. Make me your disciple also ...

1324. As I Am A Witness

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... with the greeting of “peace be with you.” Do the disciples fear partly because they had all deserted him in some way? Did Jesus’ message of peace serve not just to calm their fears of a ghost, but a vengeful one? Jesus comes however bearing peace and forgiveness, and that same forgiveness must then be preached by them to others. Only when their minds are at peace can they attune them to understand the scriptures. Jesus opens their minds, and through scripture, he also reveals Himself. His presence in ...

1325. Higher Ground

Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... house of bread in Hebrew but “house of meat” in Arabic, perhaps too “Bethany” means house of abundant fruit in Hebrew but house of the afflicted in Aramaic. If true, what a beautiful set of metaphors, for surely Jesus has told us many times that to “bear fruit” for God means to be a servant to those of God’s children who most need help. While Bethany was said to be a little patch of beauty, yielding lush foliage and fruit trees, as opposed to its surrounding barren fields, it also may have ...

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