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 1476 to 1500 of 4968 results

1476. James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... for the dissemination of wisdom can humans finally possess a tiny measure of this precious gift. In truth (verse 28), the only real wisdom that humans are capable of cultivating is a healthy "fear of the Lord" by "departing from evil." The disciples in this week's gospel text dramatically demonstrate a profound inability to grasp this Jobean understanding of wisdom. The location of this text, the home turf of Capernaum in Galilee, and Jesus' expressed intent that his presence there not be announced, reveals ...

1477. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to injury, these men then begin arguing over which of them is most likely to become the greatest. After he flips their expectations upside down (the least shall be the greatest), Jesus continues the lessons in discipleship in verse 38. Just as the individual disciples had been trying to one-up each other, so now the "chosen" community of the twelve try to distinguish themselves collectively as better than the rest of those who invoke Jesus' name. Aghast that a man outside their group would dare to cast out ...

1478. Mark 1:14-20

Mark 1:14-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... with the simplest of grammatical connections, keeps the interaction in this "calling" scene to a bare minimum. In fact, the exchange is so stark that Jesus' "invitation" to discipleship is actually far more like a command than a request. The intended disciples in verses 16-20 show no prior interest in Jesus or in his gospel message about the kingdom of God. Simon and Andrew, James and John are apparently completely absorbed in attending to their normal workday lives when Jesus makes his unannounced ...

1479. Mark 16:1-8

Mark 16:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... had seized them." But what can we make of the fact that in direct contradiction to the angel's instructions, these women "said nothing to anyone." In one sense, it is appropriate to halt abruptly the gospel story here. If the women did not go to tell the disciples about the empty tomb and did not urge them to travel back to Galilee so that they could meet the risen Jesus there, then the good news could not be spread. But Mark's ending may also be understood as really no ending at all. The angelic messenger ...

1480. John 6:56-69

John 6:56-69

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... last week reminding us that it is Jesus' surprise message in John 6:53-59 that actually causes the reaction in verses 60-69. These texts portray two crucial events Jesus' final desertion by the synagogue establishment and by a large number of so-called disciples. What began as a chapter focused on a quest for faith (6:1-36) concludes with a scene of ultimate rejection (6:66). The profoundly personal and painful nature of this desertion is suggested by the change in location and audience cited between verses ...

1481. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a sort of "word magic," invoking Jesus' name to perform healings. Mark's description makes it clear that this man had received, no direct authority from Jesus so it would seem the disciples reaction may be justified. But Jesus' response flings wide the doors of discipleship. Jesus includes within his domain individuals his own disciples would never dream of embracing. Some commentators explain Jesus' acceptance of this unknown healer's activities by claiming he must have been one of John the Baptist's ...

1482. Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... by Jesus' metaphor of a camel threading the eye of a needle. Jesus' final words reveal that rich and poor who genuinely seek the kingdom should be confident: "for God all things are possible" (v.27). When Peter boasts to Jesus that he and the other disciples have already given up their past lives and livelihoods in order to follow him, Jesus refuses to let Peter and the others bask in a "feel-good" moment. The cost of their discipleship is not yet revealed. Awaiting them are "persecutions" as many and as ...

1483. Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... left unpacked. Although reference to Jesus' departure clearly points to his death, all that he was about to "accomplish" could include all of the passion events, the salvation they offer, or even all of Jesus' life experiences. As in Mark's version, Jesus' three disciples don't quite get the drift about what is happening before their very eyes. Luke's text alludes to the tremendous sleepiness that "weighed down" Peter, James and John. Was this the reason they saw but did not hear his epiphany? Peter also ...

1484. Matthew 11:2-11

Matthew 11:2-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the status quo. The reading branches in two directions. First, in response to the question of John the Baptist's disciples (v.3), Jesus summarizes the events that have marked his ministry up to this point, events that point to his ... again announce in 17:12 when he says, "but I tell you that Elijah has already come ..."). In verses 4-6, Jesus responds to John's disciples with words that both recall the prophetic texts of Isaiah 26:19 and 35:5-6, and recap some of the most dramatic events that thus far ...

1485. John 1:29-42

John 1:29-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the case, the confession the synoptic Gospels place on the lips of Simon Peter comes from the mouth of his brother Andrew here in John's Gospel. Since Jesus is introduced to Simon Peter as "the Messiah," John also moves the event of that disciple's symbolic name change to this same moment. Though unknown and untested, Jesus immediately discerns something special in Simon and renames him Cephas - Peter, the Rock (v.42). Name changes were highly significant in Jewish history. In Genesis 17:5 and 32:28, name ...

1486. Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... He judges the cost of eternal life too high and sadly leaves. Verses 23-31 continue the lesson begun in verse 17, but Jesus' audience has now changed. The seeking man, now revealed as a rich man, has departed from the scene, leaving Jesus and his disciples alone to discuss this matter further. Jesus' statement in verse 23 explicitly connects the two bits of information we now know about the man who had come to him entering the kingdom of God and possessing an abundance of riches are put in tension. Remember ...

1487. Are You Better at Wearing or Bearing Crosses?

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... identity are less known for wearing crosses than bearing crosses. I don’t know about you, but I’m increasingly concerned about our preference for the cross as a decoration rather than a devotion and a discipline. When Jesus called his first disciples, Simon, Andrew, James, and John, he didn’t call them to a life of thoughtful contemplation, days of mystic musing, or holy habitations. Jesus called them into live-action CrossLove missions. They had been making their living by catching fish. Now they ...

1488. I'm a Leper, You're a Leper

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... were still hiding out in Jerusalem, the Bible says this: “the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked, for fear of the Jews” (Luke 20:19). How strange a situation! Who are the disciples afraid of? Let me read that again: “the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked, for fear of the Jews.” Wait a minute! What’s wrong here? The disciples ARE Jews. The disciples are afraid of their own people. They are afraid of their own identity. They are afraid of themselves ...

1489. Epiphany 3

Jonah 3:1-10, 1 Corinthians 7:1-40, Mark 1:1-8, Mark 1:9-13, Mark 1:14-20

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... men. He sees them at work. He sees them as future "fishers of men." We do not choose Jesus but he calls us as disciples. Discipleship is a result of grace. 4. Become (v. 17). "I will make you become fishers of men." To be a Christian is a ... to prepare for the end of time. In each of the Lessons, "time" is mentioned. It was time for Jesus to begin his ministry and to call disciples, time for Jonah to preach to the people and time for them to repent; and it was time for Christians to live in the light of the ...

1490. Proper 7

2 Corinthians 6:3-13, 1 Samuel 17:1-58, Mark 4:35-41

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... help v. 38. c. Overcome fear with faith v. 40. 2. Jesus in who's who (4:41). Need: When we want to know the identity of a person, we turn to "Who's Who." People of accomplishment and prominence are honored by being included in "Who's Who." The disciples needed such a dictionary of the great, even though they had been with Jesus for some time. They never did find the answer to their question, "Who then is this?" until the cross. At the time of the storm, he was a man of promise, but what man can make ...

1491. What Would Jesus Do? - or - How Would Jesus Do It?

John 17:6-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . We don’t know what he wrote, but we know he could write. And you always wondered why that was there. We don’t need to ask the question: Would Jesus want us to work to ease the burdens for the poor? Or, would Jesus want us to make new disciples and evangelize? Or, would Jesus want us to plant new communities of faith? Of course. We don’t even need to ask those questions. Jesus wants us to be “in” the world. But Jesus doesn’t want us to be “of” of the world. That’s why the question we ...

1492. Mary Magdalene’s Day

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... know is Mary is alone with two angels in white. She must not have been afraid. Our suspicions are that she is not going to give up on finding the Man who must have meant more to her than life itself. She may have been the most dogged of the disciples who believed defeat was not defensible! She recognized him by his voice. Not knowing who he was, she responded to his question of why she was weeping and for whom she was looking by supposing he was the gardener. She wanted to know where they had laid him. Then ...

1493. Braveheart

John 20:24-29

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... final miracle: 'he was raised from the dead.' I feel the same way about that as I do about his birth. So what? Jesus was a great man, a great teacher. I don't need all this miracle business. I honestly doubt that it really happened that way. Maybe the disciples just made it up for all we know." At the end of their discussion, however, Tommy agreed to keep his promise and go with her on Sundays for a few more months. One Sunday the gospel reading caught Tommy up short. It was about Thomas. That was his name ...

1494. A Chance To Help

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... ] After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. [2] A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. [3] Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. [4] Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. [5] When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" [6] He said this to test him, for he himself knew ...

1495. Come and See

John 1:29-42

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' [34] And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." [35] The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, [36] and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" [37] The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. [38] When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you ...

1496. One to Take the Place of Jesus

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the Holy Spirit. In the Sermon, I’ll refer to a number of these words, but for now, let’s read from chapter 14, verses 15-24. Remember that everything that Jesus says about the Spirit, He says in the context of his announcement to his disciples that he is going to leave them. He is preparing them for his crucifixion and resurrection. (READ SCRIPTURE LESSON) Somewhere I read about a church in Boston which had a “committee on water levels”. Now we have all sorts of committees in this church, but not ...

1497. When a Person Is Called

Galatians 1:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Christ. And so do we if we are Christian. One of Rembrandt’s paintings illustrates this in a gripping and unforgettable way. It is his painting, “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” which hangs in the Gardiner Museum in Boston. It’s a depiction of Jesus with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee. Matthew gives two accounts of what appears to be the same story - one in Chapter 8 and the other in Chapter 14. In Chapter 14, Jesus is on the shore and bids Peter to come and walk to him. In the other account ...

1498. Characteristics of the Church

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... on in private, they asked Jesus, “Why could we not cast out the devils”, and Jesus gave them that sober and challenging word: “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” This was one dramatic instance. Jesus was always having to call the disciples back to faith, back to the reality of the power available to them, back to the fact that he was delivering unto them the same power that he possessed from the Father. He did it even more dramatically in terms of the words that he spoke when ...

1499. Lord, Is It I?

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... distrust and self-examination at which we want to look today as we begin this Lenten season, and as we come to the Lord’s table for Holy Communion. The setting for our scripture is the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. They had planned a kind of secret rendezvous. The disciples had gone into the town, and they found a little upper room, and they have prepared it for this gathering. Mark is very brief in telling the story. He doesn’t talk about the audacious hypocrisy of Judas. He doesn’t record ...

1500. What Would Jesus Say About Modern Churches?

Mark 1:4-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... shall we think of Christ?" Shall we make him one of many, in an effort to be tolerant of all? Shall we make him the enemy of everyone who fail upon his name to call? Shall we accept him as Savior, embrace Him as Lord, and follow him as faithful disciples, as people in one accord? It is time for the Church to clarify its Christology. If Jesus came to our church to spend a day or two, I think he would say: Discover the power of prayer. Have you heard the story about the preacher and the taxi cab driver ...

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