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 1501 to 1525 of 2815 results

1501. Proper 12

Luke 11:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Hard on the heels of a very abbreviated Lord's prayer (vv. 2b-4), Luke inserts two quasi-parables framed as rhetorical questions. Their point is that prayers should be approached in a positive frame of mind, based on the assurance that God may be relied upon at least as much as a friend asking an inconveniencing favor or a parent responding to a child's request for food. ...

1502. Proper 13

Luke 12:13-21

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Jesus' caution against covetousness, his declaration that there is more to life than material possessions, and his parable of the rich fool are part of a recurring theme in his teachings, especially as reported by Luke. The contrast is between the material and the spiritual, not in any Platonic metaphysical sense, but as regards the true priority of the things of God over the things of the world. ...

1503. Proper 16

Luke 13:22-30

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Luke uses the rather speculative question about the number to be saved as an opportunity for Jesus to answer with an expanded version of the parable of the feast from which some late comers are excluded by the owner of the house. What is intended here is the apocalyptic messianic feast, and a warning that the coming reign of God, which is in principle inclusive (vv. 28-29), will in fact be exclusive, precisely because of ...

1504. Proper 18

Luke 14:25-35

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note In our age of religious head-counting and number-crunching, it is instructive to see Jesus turning to a crowd of would-be followers and discouraging them by indicating in sayings and parables the cost of discipleship that must be weighed in any decision to join this "reign of God" movement. It should also be rather sobering for modern purveyors of Christianity as a gospel of prosperity and success to see the total self-renunciation demanded in v. 33. Liturgical Color Green Suggested ...

1505. Proper 20

Luke 16:1-15

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The parable of the unjust steward (who is "too weak to dig and too proud to beg"!) and the sayings, which here serve as a commentary on it, culminate in a difficult dilemma, that in turn demands a decision. This passage presents an opportunity to address what must be a touchy subject ...

1506. Proper 22

Luke 17:1-10

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Flying in the face of conventional wisdom in any age, the parable contained in this passage (vv. 7-10) asserts that obedient service to God and God's coming reign is actually owned and expected, and not something to be rewarded. The fact that the servants declare themselves "unworthy" comports with Paul's view of salvation as a gift bestowed upon the ...

1507. Proper 24

Luke 18:1-8

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note There seems to be a discrepancy between this parable's original meaning in Jesus' teachings and its intent in Luke. For although the story itself and the concluding commentary by Jesus would seem to be focusing on God's speedy vindication of the elect (in contrast to that of the judge), Luke's introduction concentrates on the necessity that ...

1508. Proper 25

Luke 18:9-14

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The parable of the pridefully pious Pharisee and the sinful but suppliant tax collector is an object-lesson in God's grace. Apparently, trying to achieve divine acceptance with one's own righteousness is a fruitless exercise in self-confidence and pride, while acknowledging one's own unworthiness in humility and relying ...

1509. Proper 6

Luke 7:1-10

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Although the wording of v. 47a is ambiguous, read in light of the parable of the two creditors that precedes it (vv. 41-43), it is clear that the point of Luke's version of this incident is that the (unnamed) woman loved much because she had been forgiven, i.e., that love is a consequence of forgiveness rather than a pre-condition for ...

1510. As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Steve Burt

... he rejoices at seeing them. He makes the first move and hugs and kisses them. He's the offended party, but because they can't do anything to restore the relationship to health, he (Joseph) must make the first move. (It's similar to the New Testament parable Jesus tells about the Prodigal Son who has squandered his inheritance. He comes back to his Father without a leg to stand on, having hurt their relationship -- and it is the Father who acts first to restore the relationship to health.) In the case of the ...

1511. How Blest Are Those Who Know Their Need Of God

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... not in vain. Your efforts have meaning and purpose, and will bear fruit"). In theological terms, it is what we call the difference between law and gospel, between demand and promise. And the business executive's act of benevolence is an excellent and living parable of the gospel. The sovereign God could say to us, "If you work hard, keep your nose clean and your shoulder to the wheel, then you might overcome the overwhelming odds against you and gain citizenship in my kingdom." But our Gracious Benefactor ...

1512. Running Around The Empty Tomb

John 20:1-9

Sermon

Thomas Long

... of his sight, he did not fear abandonment; Jesus' love had become for him an inner certainty, and he bet his life on the wager that this absence was another and even higher expression of Jesus' love. In John Updike's A Month of Sundays, there is a parable about how the Christian faith is, indeed, an improbable wager on the impossible possibility. In one episode, a group of men are playing a variation of poker. In this game, each person is dealt several cards, some of them on the table face up and the others ...

1513. Loving Jesus, Hating The Church

John 9:35-41

Sermon

Thomas Long

... moved so many times, what is home to you?" She thought for a moment and then replied, "The furniture." He knew what she meant. No matter how many moves they made, how many towns they lived in, the furniture was always there. Perhaps there is a parable here for the church. Because God is always surprising us, always breaking the rules and performing wonders we did not plan, the faithful community must be ever ready to move. Its structures and programs are not the land; they are the furniture. Its creeds and ...

1514. Greed - Putting Things In Their Proper Perspective

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

... . Lazarus, the one whom Jesus brought back to life, was one of his wealthy friends, and so was Zacchaeus. Jesus accepted their hospitality and friendship. But Jesus was critical of anyone who thought the value of life could be measured by how much he or she had. He told a parable about a man who built more and more barns to hold his wealth, warning us to be rich to God. The question every day is this: "Will I strive to value my life on what I have, or will I strive to value my life on who I am as ...

1515. Lust - To Discipline The Eye And The Heart

Matthew 5:27-30

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

... would belong to his descendants. But later the Israelites were defeated by the Assyrians, who then settled in the land and mixed with the population. So in Jesus' day the people of Israel viewed the Samaritans as half-breeds and false worshipers. Jesus' parable of the "good Samaritan" was a contradiction; to the Jews there were only bad, corrupted and devious Samaritans. To the Jews there was no such person as a "good Samaritan." For instance, while the Samaritans called the town Jesus stopped at by the ...

1516. Room For Questions

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... we realize that we no sooner get an answer in our possession before it creates a hundred more questions. What does it mean that God is love? What action does my faith compel me to make in a world of pain and confusion? What else can I learn from this parable? What did this hymn mean to me when I was a child and what does it mean to me now? Grady Nutt used to tell the story of taking a goldfish out of a bowl and placing it in a large body of water. He said that for several hours ...

1517. Easter 2

Jn 20:19-31 · 1 Pet 1:3-9 · Acts 2:14a, 22-32 · Ps 16 · Ps 111

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... no longer live; Christ lives in us 4. Let us bless God for our new birth (v. 3) and rejoice (vv. 8b-9). Illustration: Many people, even good Christians, are sometimes filled with anxiety about their forthcoming birth into the kingdom of heaven. This story, "The Parable Of The Twins," might provide a new perspective. Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived in the same womb. Weeks passed, as the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: "Isn't it great that we were conceived? Isn't it ...

1518. Maundy Thursday

Lk 22:14-30 · Jn 13:1-17, 31b-35 · 1 Cor 11:17-32 · Ex 12:1-14 · Ps 116

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... 13:1-17, 31b-35 John has no account of the institution of the Lord's Supper. Instead, he recounts another act of Christ's self-giving love, the washing of his disciples' feet, which takes place at the Passover celebration. This gesture is an acted-out parable that provides a teaching moment. "So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (v. 14). Since the Lord Jesus had shown himself their servant, they too must be willing to serve the needs of others ...

1519. Proper 26

Joshua 3:7-17, Amos 5:18-27, Micah 3:1-12, Malachi 2:1-9, Matthew 23:1-39, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... not seek to be addressed as Rabbi because all are learners, nor Father, because there is just one Father of us all. The truth of the Beatitudes is reaffirmed: the humble will be exalted and the exalted will be humbled. Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 The parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Old Testament: Joshua 3:7-17 Change of command. Moses had died and Joshua took over the task of bringing the people to the land of promise. Would the people follow? They were so used to Moses ...

1520. Proper 4

Genesis 6:1-8:22, Deuteronomy 11:1-32, Matthew 7:21-29, Romans 1:1-17, Romans 3:21-31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... one who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (v. 21). To know the Christ through faith necessarily leads to doing the works of Christ. This teaching bears out the point of Jesus' parable of judgment found in Matthew 25:31-46. It is a wise person who puts Jesus' teachings into practice. That person is like the one who builds his house on a rock. When the storms of life assail, it will not move. The foolish person is the one who fails ...

1521. Proper 7

Mt 10:16-39 · Rom 5:12 – 6:11 · Jer 20:7-13 · Gen 21:8-21 · Ps 86

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... To God Prayer. Sermon Angle: Prayer that is not brutally honest is just so much pious prating. That's why Jeremiah's prayers are so refreshing; he just bares his soul to the Lord. God accepts us just as we are. It's pretending that puts him off. Recall the parable told in Luke's gospel of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. We need to hold up the example of such honest to God prayer. Outline: 1. When's the last time you had an honest to God prayer? 2. Actually, there is no other kind 3. Jeremiah is a ...

1522. Christmas 1

Galatians 3:26--4:7, Galatians 3:15-25, Colossians 3:1-17, Hebrews 2:5-18, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... me with the robe of righteousness" (v. 10). This spiritual dressing up is compared to the glad attire of the bride and groom at their wedding. The Apostle Paul also spoke of salvation as a spiritual garment: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ ..." (Romans 13:14). The parable that Jesus told of the man who came to the marriage feast without the proper wedding garment also comes to mind. God sent his Son into the world as a naked infant in order to clothe all who desire with the garment of salvation. Let us thank ...

1523. Christmas 2

Mt 2:13-23 · Jn 1:1-18 · Eph 1:3-14 · Jer 31:7-14 · Is 61:10--62:3 · Ps 147

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

1524. The Peacemakers

Sermon

John A. Terry

... . The nature of God, as we know that through Jesus, is love, forgiveness and reconciliation. It is our God who is the creator of this peace. When the great Swiss theologian Karl Barth visited the United Nations, he said, "The international organization could be an earthly parable of the heavenly kingdom, but real peace will not be made here although it might seem as an approach. Peace will be made by God himself." To go out making peace we go out bearing the nature of God and living as members of God's ...

1525. Will We Enjoy Heaven?

Jonah 3:1-10

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... and contemplate the meaning of our lives, one biblical character especially leaps out at us: the prophet Jonah. Most of us associate Jonah with being swallowed by a legendary whale or giant fish. The book of Jonah, however, is actually a poignant parable about the relation of Israel to other nations. The book skillfully and forcefully calls Israel back to her universal mission of preaching the wideness and totality of God's mercy and forgiveness to all nations. In Jonah's day the Ninevites were enemies ...

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