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 1376 to 1400 of 4942 results

1376. Liar, Liar

Exodus 20:16

Sermon

James Merritt

In the movie, Liar! Liar!, Jim Carrey plays the part of Fletcher Reid, a fast talking attorney and habitual liar. He is always lying to his son, Max, and he lied to him when he told him he would attend his fifth birthday party. When he didn't show up, as Max is blowing out the candles on his birthday cake, he has only one wish, "that his dad would stop lying for twenty-four hours." His wish comes true and for twenty-four hours, this man can no longer lie. Every word that comes out of his mouth is the truth ...

1377. Don't Be Afraid Of The Light

John 8:12

Sermon

James Merritt

Pop Quiz Question: What was the very first command that God ever gave in the Bible? Answer: "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3, NASB) Light is a major theme in the Bible. God and light are so interconnected and so inseparable that the Bible even says, "God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5, NASB) That verse alone sheds a lot of light on the verse that we are going to be studying today where Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." (John 8:12, NASB) You may not think this is ...

1378. Digging Deeper

Philippians 3:12-16

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Three students were discussing various versions of the Bible. One said, "I like the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. It is easier to read than the older versions." A second student said, "I like the Message. It's easy to read and it's pithy and to the point. I can use it in my daily prayer." The third student surprised them all and said, "I like my mother's version the best. She translated the Bible into action I can use in my daily life." I really like that. Somebody once said, "You may be the ...

1379. Where Do We Grow from Here?

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

There are some writers and some speakers who pack every sentence to the brim. If you miss a sentence you miss something significant. Others of us would like to think that true, but it really isn’t. You can miss a sentence here and there, unfortunately, maybe a number of sentences - and still not be poor for what you didn’t get. Samuel Miller is one of those people who packs every sentence to the brim, and you need to get every word. Listen to him. “A man’s birth is not ended with the first gasp of his ...

1380. Are We There Yet?

James 5:7-10

Sermon

John N. Brittain

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" It's not just children of a certain age who ask that question, although they certainly do. I've been on a number of trips in the past few years with delayed flights, missed connections, and lost luggage, where I've been the one asking the question. Leading up to Christmas (or a birthday or wedding or trip to Disney World) the question becomes one of time rather than distance: "Is it here yet?" On such occasions, we give advice that sounds very much like that in James 5 ...

1381. The Armor of Light

Romans 13:8-14

Drama

Larry Lange

Characters Harry Christian Margaret Christian (Harry's wife) Fed-Up Express Man Accompanist (nonspeaking) Props Stuffed chair Newspaper Table Lamp Bible Dressing mirror Large box (containing the following items) Silver shirt Silver gloves Silver sunglasses Silver light saber Silver-wrapped instruction book Small box (containing the following item) Huge, foil-covered binoculars (Harry Christian is pacing. Margaret Christian is seated on the pulpit side of the sanctuary in a stuffed chair reading the ...

1382. Accuracy: Not Good Enough

Illustration

Unknown

If 99.9 percent is good enough, then... - Two million documents will be lost by the IRS this year. - 22,000 checks will be deducted from the wrong bank accounts in the next 60 minutes. - 12 babies will be given to the wrong parents each day. - 268,500 defective tires will be shipped this year. - 14,208 defective personal computers will be shipped this year. - 103,260 income tax returns will be process incorrectly this year. - 2,488,200 books will be shipped in the next 12 months with the wrong cover. - 5, ...

1383. The Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Have you ever wished that you were something you were not? I suspect we all have. There are times as I watch some of the professional athletes on television I wish that I could be them, playing games and making megabucks at it. Great life, but I realize that I cannot live that life: I am too old, too fat, too slow, and too lacking in talent. Still, it's a nice dream. Have you ever wished you were not something you are? I confess that I do. There are times when I begin a week, look at my calendar, see how ...

1384. A Fool and His Money

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

David E. Leininger

A fool and his money are soon parted, right? Someone has rewritten it to suggest that "A fool and his money are some party!" Of course, this link between a fool and money (or possessions) goes back at least as far as our gospel lesson. The story is prompted by a man from the crowd that has been surrounding Jesus: "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me" (Luke 12:13). Apparently the man's older brother refused to give him what he felt he was due. The laws of inheritance in that day ...

1385. Pax Christi Or Pox Christi?

Luke 12:49-56

Sermon

David E. Leininger

This is not a favorite passage for preaching. "Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth?" (Luke 12:51). Well, now that you ask, Jesus, yes. I mean, we call you the Prince of Peace, and I remember the angels at your nativity and their anthem about "Peace on earth." What's going on? From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother ...

1386. Prayer-Conditioning Your Life

Luke 2:29-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Today is a national day of prayer. Okay, not “officially.” Not sanctioned by any denomination or government decree. But there will still be more prayers hurtled heavenward today than on any other given Sunday. Yes, it is Superbowl Sunday — and there are prayers going up for that favorite team by player, family members, coaches, investment brokers, and, of course, fans, all over this country. And, like the pizza-hawker “Papa John’s,” who promised a free pizza to anyone who correctly calls the “head or tails ...

1387. Building a New Team

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

When Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1958, the team was in dismal shape. A single win in season play the year before had socked the club solidly into the basement of the NFL, and sportscasters everywhere used it as the butt of loser jokes. But Lombardi picked and pulled and prodded and trained and disciplined the players into becoming a winning team. They were NFL champions in three consecutive seasons, and took the game honors for the first two Super Bowls. Lombardi was ...

1388. I'll Never Forget That Night

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

Years ago, a band called Lobo sang about an international memorable event. Describing the impoverished plights of a boy from Chicago’s racial ghetto and a girl living among India’s “Untouchables,” the singers went on to shake their heads in wonder that both, on a “July afternoon,” along with the entire population of planet earth, heard and saw Neil Armstrong “walk upon the moon.” Some incidents are so unusual or catastrophic or fraught with meaning that they cannot be forgotten, and all who were alive ...

1389. Turn On the Light

John 8:12-30

Sermon

James Merritt

It was my first and only time ever to be in a cave. Teresa and I were on our way back to Kentucky where I was going to seminary and we decided to stop off and tour Mammoth Cave. They tried to prepare us for what was going to happen, but in this case the picture was worth far more than 1000 words. We descended deep down into this cave and then with a quick warning the guide turned off the flashlight. Have you ever heard the term “achluophobia-”? That is fear of the darkness. If I didn’t have it before I ...

1390. The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

2 Chronicles 9:1-12

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Solomon’s International Fame: Now that the Chronicler’s narrative has reached its climax in the building and dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, the focus shifts to King Solomon himself. His outstanding achievement was, of course, the construction of the sanctuary. However, the Chronicler goes to great lengths to emphasize the glorious reputation of this king. He is somebody who acts with wisdom, which is a confirmation that Yahweh granted his wish (2 Chron. 1:10–12). But he also possesses abundant ...

1391. Amaziah King of Judah

2 Chronicles 25:1-28

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Amaziah: After the house of David was saved from extinction in the previous royal narrative, Amaziah continues the Davidic line as king after the death of his father, Joash. His reign (ca. 796–767 B.C.) lasted for twenty-nine years. The ambiguity in the Chronicler’s presentation of many of Judah’s kings—for example Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Joash—continues in the next episode. The Chronicler’s version features two prominent insertions into the source material, 2 Kings 14:1–20. Second Chronicles 25:5–10 (from ...

1392. Philip and the Ethiopian

Acts 8:26-40

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

8:26 If these stories of Philip belong in the sequence and close connection in which we now have them, then either he returned with the apostles to Jerusalem and from there set out for Gaza, or Peter and John returned without him and he traveled directly from Samaria. The Greek favors the first, in that Philip’s instruction was to go “on” the road, not to the road as in NIV; and the road to Gaza ran from Jerusalem. There were, in fact, two roads—the more northerly, which went first to Ashkelon and then by ...

1393. Herod’s Death

Acts 12:19b-25

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

Verses 19b to 23 are a kind of footnote to the previous section, adding nothing to the main thrust of the narrative, but giving a point of reference to secular history (cf. Luke 3:1f.). They do, however, contain the salutary warning that God is on the throne to judge as well as to save. The section ends with a note on the progress of the gospel and the return of Barnabas and Paul to Antioch. 12:19b–23 The death of Herod Agrippa I is recorded also by Josephus (Antiquities 19.343–352). The two accounts are ...

1394. Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

Acts 16:11-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

The story that begins here and runs through to 21:16 covers the greatest years of Paul’s life—years that saw the foundation of the churches of Macedonia, Achaia (Greece), and Asia and the writing of some of his most important epistles. The story is told by means of a few typical pictures (see disc. on 3:1–10) by which Luke is able to show both the power of the gospel and the effect of its meeting with the other powers of that day: philosophy, religion, and the Roman state. At a number of points the story ...

1395. In Berea

Acts 17:10-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

17:10 Under cover of darkness, perhaps for fear of further violence should they be seen, the missionaries were sent off by “the brothers” to Berea, some forty-five miles southwest of Thessalonica. There is no mention of Timothy; he may have stayed in Thessalonica only to catch up with Paul again in Athens (see disc. on v. 16). Berea, which lay at the eastern slopes of Mount Vermion, had been founded in the fifth century B.C. In 168 B.C. it became the capital of one of the republics into which Macedonia was ...

1396. Paul Speaks to the Crowd

Acts 21:37--22:21

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

There begins in this section the first of three speeches by Paul in his own defense (22:1–21; 24:10–21; 26:2–23). To a certain extent, these speeches are complementary with respect to both the details they give of Paul’s life and their theological thrust. The latter is most evident in the two accounts of Paul’s conversion (22:6–16; 26:12–23). Acts 22:6–16 makes the point that Paul, alone of all the disciples, had seen the Christ exalted in glory (vv. 11, 14) and that the glorified Christ had spoken in a ...

1397. Paul Opposes Peter

Galatians 2:11-21

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

2:11 Paul continues to present his relationship with the Jerusalem Christians to the Galatians. In the next verses he recounts an incident with Peter that occurred at Antioch. It is almost certain that the Galatians had already heard of this incident, for before describing it Paul declares the sides in the case (Paul opposed Peter to his face) and pronounces the verdict (Peter was in the wrong). But it seems that the Galatians have understood this incident from a different perspective—one in which Peter, ...

1398. Not Circumcision but a New Creation

Galatians 6:11-18

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

The closing of Pauline letters have several standard features, among them a blessing of grace (e.g., 1 Cor. 16:23; 2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 4:23), a wish for peace (e.g., Rom. 15:33; 2 Cor. 13:11b; Phil. 4:9b; 1 Thess. 5:23), and greetings (e.g., Rom. 16:3–16; 1 Cor. 16:20b; 2 Cor. 13:12a; Phil. 4:21a; 1 Thess. 5:23). In Galatians the blessing of grace appears at 6:18 and the wish for peace at 6:16. There is, however, a conspicuous absence of any greetings. This is particularly noteworthy because Paul had a ...

1399. Timothy’s Encouraging Report

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

The somber note on which the previous section ended now gives way to joy at the news brought to Paul at Corinth by Timothy. The Thessalonians were standing firm in the faith and still held the missionaries dear. In view of the missionaries’ intense longing for the Thessalonians (2:17), this news is like a breath of life to them—“now we really live” (vv. 6–9). On the strength of it, Paul reports, they pray night and day that they may see them again (v. 10). An actual prayer to that end follows in verses 11 ...

1400. Stand Firm

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

With relief, Paul turns from discussing the delusion of those who are perishing to give thanks again for those who are being saved. The structure of this thanksgiving is almost identical with that of the introductory thanksgiving of this and other letters. So much so, indeed, that some suggest that this could be the remnant of another epistle that has been incorporated into this (see Schmithals, pp. 193f.). Nothing can be proven, of course, and it is better therefore to regard these verses as simply ...

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