Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 126 to 150 of 662 results

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... their love for God with their desire to be like God as children mimic their own parents' behavior and attitudes. God has shown us the divine attitude towards all creation with the sacrifice of Christ for its sake. Paul's directive that we imitate this behavior is then no small undertaking. Those deceptively simple qualities of kindness and a forgiving nature are in reality a call to let membership in the body of Christ change the sinful heart of humanity into a commitment to selfless, sacrificial love ...

127. 1 Peter 2:19-25

1 Peter 2:19-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Christians, they have already received the gifts of grace and redemption. Now, the author reminds his readers, participation in Christ's life, death and resurrection also means participation in the suffering he endures for the sake of others, and he urges his readers to "imitate" or "follow" Christ as closely as possible even "in his steps." 1 Peter's image shows that Christ has already broken the trail we are called only to follow his path. It is important to note here that Christians do not suffer because ...

128. Luke 6:27-38

Luke 6:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of the Most High." For God's own mysterious reasons, God is "kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." Jesus does not try to give any rationale for this divine eccentricity _ God is God, and God will do what God will do. Jesus calls his listeners to imitate God's penchant for meting out unmerited mercies and love. Luke follows this mandate with the "judge not" commands in verses 37-38. This order probably is older than the scattering of these texts that Matthew provides (Matthew 7:1-5; 15:14; 10:24-25). It is ...

129. Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

130. Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

It is not until the last two verses of today's epistle reading that the positive thrust behind the series of negative "do nots" is revealed. The driving impetus for the Ephesian Christians is to "be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us" (5:1-2). Ephesians is dedicated to detailing how new and different life in the church as the body of Christ should be from the pagan life previously led by Gentile Christians. Ephesians celebrates the oneness in ...

131. Five Differences between a Franchise Faith and an Authentic Faith

Mark 9:38-41

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... culture. We like to “appear” the part. But authentic followship is more than “appearing” to follow Christ. It is the transformation of the heart, mind and soul that the gospel promises. The promise of the gospel is not imitation, but implantation. The promise of the gospel is not that you can imitate Christ. The promise of the gospel is that the spirit of Christ can be so implanted in your life that you begin to share a life together. Again, it’s not that franchise food is bad food. But ...

132. Those Who Doubt

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... his people. Don't be like Thomas and require of the Lord a specific sign! Our Savior is crystal clear that "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." There is not much subtlety here! We honor and appreciate his likes but don't imitate him. The eyes of faith must prevail as the Father works and weaves his ways and will among precious people. What a glorious history it is, as you and I are recipients of the greatest story ever told. We are to see with spiritual vision. In the long run ...

133. Standing Tall in the Lord

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... do the same. All the more meaningful because Paul wrote his letter to the Christian community at Philippi from prison around the year 50 during his second missionary journey. In much difficulty Paul would tell the Philippians that they must imitate him as he imitates Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). Like Jesus, Paul suffered greatly in numerous ways. He had suffered much physical adversity — imprisonment, beatings, and the need to flee from his enemies. Later he was shipwrecked and eventually martyred. He was forced ...

134. When Christ Is King

Colossians 1:11-20

Sermon

Donna Schaper

... road offers to us, there is an activism in Christianity. We live with a full house in our hand. We make our luck. We act with mercy — and make a difference in the road. We are led forth by Christ and live so as to imitate him. In that imitation is our power, our core, our urgency, our life. Living by Christ means mobilizing mercy. We become merciful toward our own stupidity. We experience grace. We become merciful toward those who rob us, like the Good Samaritan did. We mobilize mercy by giving more than ...

135. Don't Settle for Half A Glass

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . One of the Verizon Commercials illustrated this quite well. (Chimp banana phone, Verizon). This is an ad about cheap imitation. That's what giving into Temptation is all about. Had Jesus given in and bowed down before the Tempter so He wouldn't have to face ... the cross, the Kingdom established would have been a cheap imitation of God's Kingdom. It would have only been half a glass and not the whole glass. Let's look at the passage ...

136. If, Because, Regardless

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. [7] For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, [8] and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with ... not burden any of you. [9] This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. [10] For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. [11] For we hear that ...

137. How to Make Heaven Our Home

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... values, but Kingdom values. The world has no intent to live up to those values. It is not the world’s purpose to do so, but it is our calling to do so. Paul says in V. 17, in a very bold and brave statement, Do as I do. Imitate me as I imitate Christ. Can you say that? Dare we live with such character, with such integrity, with such honesty in our lives that we could look to someone else and say, “Don’t do as I say, just do as I do”? Will Willimon illustrates it this way: At confirmation ...

138. Remember: No Deposit, No Return

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... see, we all have a lot of trash and garbage and clutter in our lives. We all have emotional and spiritual baggage and garbage that we just drag along with us wherever we go. Today Paul talks about "putting away" all that junk. And he challenges us to be "imitators of God" and "beloved children" so that we can be like Christ Jesus, "a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Let's look at the passage for today. Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (NRSV) [25] So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to ...

139. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... forceful, confrontational tone. Although the apostle’s own behavior will be put forward as an example for the Thessalonians to imitate, the instructions given in this section are issued as a “command” (“parangellomen”). The authority standing behind this command is ... Paul and his followers had established. Working was the behavior that this faith community is now commanded to “imitate.” While “keeping away” from those who shirk work might not sound like a particularly dreadful punishment, the ...

140. Don’t Be Childish, Do Be Child-like

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... into a sacred moment for all his followers, into a communal commitment, into an expression of love. In Jesus, tragedy is re-membered as triumph, as the gift of forgiveness and deliverance. To grow in faith, to have a faith that flourishes requires a child-like imitation of “Abba, Father.” Nothing and no one is forgotten. But he focus is on the future — on what will be faith’s next move. We are all time travelers into the future, journeying at a rate of one second per second. There is no going back ...

141. How Much of an Honor?

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... guide, leading to the one who is worthy to open the seals that close up history. Thanks to the Lamb, history is now an open book! We are called to be good shepherds in imitation of Jesus, but there are those among the flock who choose to take advantage of other sheep. They see their stewardship not as a chance to imitate Jesus, but to wield power and authority. They would be wise to think of the words of Ezekiel, who wrote to the leaders of the people, comparing them to shepherds, but also stating they ...

142. Be Shrewd

Luke 16:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... s exegesis probes some of them. In this morning’s sermon we only have time to highlight one of them. This story provides primary evidence that Jesus wasn't just about telling stories of people who were "better" than we are, good and moral people we should try to imitate in some tradition of Aesop’s fables. The servant in this parable is bad to the bone. Yet he still has a message to bring that we can learn from. Jesus shows how even the worst have something of the best to teach us if we will be willing ...

143. Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... again that faith is the key that opens the door (from the inside) to God’s word (cf. Acts 14:27; Rev. 3:20) and so puts us in the path of God’s salvation. 2:14 In 1:6 Paul remarks that the Thessalonians were their imitators, and imitators therefore of the Lord in terms of conduct. But the likeness to their mentors did not end there. They also suffered (as of necessity since they were Christians; the promise of Jesus to his followers is not popularity but persecution; see disc. on 3:3). Just like (kath ...

144. Warnings Against Idleness

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... ate by working night and day.” This statement repeats almost precisely 1 Thessalonians 2:9 (see disc. and note on that passage), although the reason for making it is quite different. Paul is in this instance holding himself and his colleagues up as a model to be imitated; there he was defending their motives and his own in particular against the slanders of their antagonists (see also disc. on 1 Thess. 2:9 for night and day, and on that passage again and on 1 Thess. 1:3 for laboring and toiling, kopos and ...

145. Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

1 Timothy 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord). One could note in response how many genuinely Pauline features there are as well. In fact one might have expected an imitator to be more slavish in copying Paul. The modifications in this salutation just as easily argue for Paul, since such modifications are his regular habit. Of course, an imitator could have noted that as well. So the argument is a standoff here. The Charge: Stop the False Teachers Paul begins the letter proper in a way that is uncharacteristic ...

146. Concluding Exhortations

Hebrews 13:1-25

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... relationship to the readers is apparent in his earnest request for prayer to be restored to them. He longs to be in their midst again. Additional Notes 13:17 This reference to obeying the present leaders (hēgoumenoi) brings to mind the challenge to “imitate the faith” of former leaders (13:7; see note there). The verb underlying submit (hypeikō) occurs only here in the NT. The nuance of the verb agrypneō, keep watch over, suggests constant vigilance or wakefulness (cf. Eph. 6:18; Luke 21:36; cf. the ...

147. Fear the Lord

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” To fear the LORD your God is to have a basic respect and reverence for the covenant Lord that permeates all other attitudes (cf. 5:29; 6:13; 10:20). To walk in all his ways, as the imitation of God, is perhaps the phrase in the Hebrew Bible that most nearly summarizes what we mean by “Old Testament ethics” (cf. 5:33; 8:6; 11:22). To love him is to have and express covenant loyalty and obedience flowing out of gratitude (cf. 6:5; 11:1, 13 ...

148. Caring for the Needy and Commissioning Apostles

Mark 3:7-12, Mark 3:13-19

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... to discipleship here. Primarily, the disciples are ontologically to “be with him,” meaning that they are to accompany Jesus in his ministry and absorb everything about him. Their mission is Jesus’s mission, and their ministry is an extension of his. They are to “imitate” him in every way (cf. 1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 4:13; 5:1; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14). The core of discipleship is Christlikeness. The other two flow out of this and become the functional aspects, remarkable in a rabbinic framework in which ...

149. Church Divisions and Confusion of Allegiance

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... “same purpose” does not translate into full agreement on all issues in the church. It does, however, rule out any notion of “I alone can be right.” Personal agendas have no place and must give way to the greater purpose of creating a community that imitates Christ and exists to give him glory. 3. Christ’s power to transform. It is always a danger for a church to downgrade itself to a mere religious expression of the culture that surrounds it. Although the purpose may be noble (to win more people ...

150. Leadership and Servanthood

1 Corinthians 4:1-21, 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... of the cross must be the measuring stick for any and all Christian activity. Paul’s emphasis in 3:18 on becoming a “fool” is designed not to encourage ignorance or a lack of refinement but to remind the Christians that the agenda for the church is imitation of Christ. When the church’s agenda, and its measurement for success, is set by the world, churches and Christians have gone awry. It proves they are more interested in the praise of other humans than in the praise of God. 3. It is one thing to ...

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