Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1551 to 1575 of 2157 results

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... how Jesus wants us to be “prepared,” so that we can . . . what? So that we can party . . . with Jesus! Are you prepared to party? Are you planning for gloomy-doomy scenarios? Or are you full of great expectations? Prepared to party is not the usual version or vision painted by the church across the centuries. In every generation of the faithful, it seems, there have been those whose mission has been to spread the message of fast approaching doom and gloom. The end of the world. The final judgment. The ...

1552. The Positive Thinker

Humor Illustration

There are many ways for the message of the church to be misinterpreted. In today's society, there are many versions of "the truth", and each one promises its own rewards or punishments. Whose is right? We'll never know in this lifetime, but in the next some of us may be in for a shock: Three men went out fishing. The first was a Baptist who believed "Once in grace, ...

1553. A Greek Testament

Humor Illustration

As a young man at Oxford, Oscar Wilde was being tested on his ability to translate from the Greek. The assignment was to orally translate the Greek version of the New Testament, and Wilde began accurately translating the story of the Passion. His examiners told him that he had passed and could stop, but Wilde went on reading. They again interrupted, but Wilde continued translating. Finally, they got him to cease and asked why he was so insistent ...

1554. A Good Idea

Illustration

Staff

Mahatma Gandhi was asked what he thought about Western civilization. "I think," he replied, "that it would be a very good idea." It is an ideal; isn't it? Something we aspire to and may never attain. And depending on your version, maybe it's something we shouldn't try to attain.

1555. The Four Sacred Chords of Home

Mark 13:24-37

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... excerpts from almost a hundred popular hits, even iconic songs, all of which are based on the simple progression of the same four chords. No doubt inspired by the Axis of Awesome YouTube “hit,” the musical team from North Point put together their own version of this variation on a four chord theme. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HJ2Qkys86c These four chords are “home base.” These four home-base chords are the foundation upon which a vast amount of human creativity and divine inspiration ...

1556. John 1:6-8, 19-28

John 1:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

“Moderation should never be excessive.” That is my motto for holiday eating. Or in an alternative version, “Everything in moderation . . . including moderation.” As we continue to munch and graze our way through holiday goodies and seasonal specialties, we worry about those extra layers of padding we are putting on. But there is one kind of extra puffery, extra padding most of us have willingly participated in at ...

1557. Bear the Light

John 1:19-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... that transcends a universe of unceasing flubs and gratuitous bluster, I saw the star of Bethlehem shine as bright as 2000 years ago. COMMENTARY “Moderation should never be excessive.” That is my motto for holiday eating. Or in an alternative version, “Everything in moderation . . . including moderation.” As we continue to munch and graze our way through holiday goodies and seasonal specialties, we worry about those extra layers of padding we are putting on. But there is one kind of extra puffery ...

1558. Out Moose Hunting

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

There was a story years ago in the Canadian version of the Reader's Digest of a large moose that wandered into a residential area in Calgary, Canada. The moose ended up on the lawn of a lady named Lorna Cade. A Fish and Wildlife officer was dispatched to try to coax the magnificent animal back into the wild. After ...

1559. It’s a New Year: Take 7 Steps Forward

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

How many parents have blessed the invention of the “Swing’N’Sway?” Can I get a witness?! There are actually two versions of this battery operated baby care gizmo. For newborns there is a Swing’N’Sway bassinet that gently rocks from side-to-side and back-to-front to simulate the infant being held and walked and rocked. This enables new Moms and Dads to catch some desperately needed shut-eye. ...

1560. Seeking Christ

Mark 1:29-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... s friends. And, of course, that is what Christ did for us on Golgotha. Not only does Christ point to the direction we are to go, he goes before us, giving his life that ours might be saved. The writer of Hebrews in the New International Version of the scriptures calls Christ “the pioneer and perfecter” of our faith. Some translations of that verse call him the “author and finisher,” but I prefer the NIV. The Greek word translated “author” is archçgos and that word means “one [who] takes the ...

1561. The Reluctant Celebrity

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

King Duncan

... our lesson for today. A man with leprosy came to him. The man got down on his knees in front of Jesus and said, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” It’s interesting. The NIV says that Jesus was “indignant” at this request. Other versions say he was “filled with compassion.” Perhaps he felt a little of both. He wanted the man with leprosy to be healed. Jesus wants everyone who is physically sick or emotionally sick, to be healed. He wants everyone who is hurting in any area of life to ...

1562. John 2:13-22

John 2:12-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week’s gospel text gives John’s version of Jesus’ enthusiastic “cleansing” or “clearing” of the Temple. While the Synoptic gospels all place this event at the end of Jesus’ public ministry, during his final Passover trip to Jerusalem, John places this dramatic scene at the very beginning of Jesus’ work. While most commentators assume this is simply ...

1563. No Cleansing, No Refreshment

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... cleansing” brings our spirits to the surface and lets us risk being tender and exposed before God’s presence. Lenten cleansing brings Easter resurrection. No, cleansing, no refreshment. __________________ COMMENTARY This week’s gospel text gives John’s version of Jesus’ enthusiastic “cleansing” or “clearing” of the Temple. While the Synoptic gospels all place this event at the end of Jesus’ public ministry, during his final Passover trip to Jerusalem, John places this dramatic scene at ...

1564. Mark 1:1-11

Mark 11:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Mark’s version of Jesus’ arrival and entrance into Jerusalem celebrates the drama and pageantry of the event and yet is far more understated than the other gospel accounts. All the common elements of the story are found: the borrowed colt, the cheering crowd, the garments on the ground, the branches gathered, the ...

1565. Will You Be an April Fool for Christ?

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . To be on parade. To be different. To be a follower of the One who never flinched when it came to being a fool for God, is to be an April Fool for Christ. Will you be just that? An April Fool for Christ? COMMENTARY Mark’s version of Jesus’ arrival and entrance into Jerusalem celebrates the drama and pageantry of the event and yet is far more understated than the other gospel accounts. All the common elements of the story are found: the borrowed colt, the cheering crowd, the garments on the ground, the ...

1566. Mark 16:1-8

Mark 16:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Mark’s text is less about the disciples who will make up the community of faith, and more about the faith that will make a disciple-community possible — the faith that Christ is Risen. Although Mark’s Easter text is a shorter version, it nevertheless provides some traditional, historical details. He begins by carefully connecting the events of Sunday morning to those of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial just before the Sabbath. Mark, who is generally stingy at naming names, reiterates in 15:40, 47, and ...

1567. Be Hatched or Go Bad

Mark 16:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1568. Red, White and Pink

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... label. As we take on college, careers, families, relationships, and responsibilities we increasingly all become “martyrs” — we sacrifice our dreams; we don’t take “the road less taken;” we martyr our uniqueness to live predictable, conventional, acceptable versions of our lives. We martyr our energy to collecting baubles and trinkets. We martyr our originality to the pink aisles of consumer culture and celebrity worship. Some of the worst pink martyrs? Pastors and priests, who martyr their ...

1569. Candidates for God’s Candid Camera

1 John 3:11-24

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... point with that “what-have-I-got-myself-into” look of desperation on their face. Flash forward fifty years. TV is still doing the “candid camera” thing, but with far less comedy involved. Although Ashton Kutcher’s “Punked” was a comedic but crueler version of Candid Camera, most undercover filming, catching people being themselves when they think no one’s looking, now ends up as an “expose.” From “Under Cover Boss” that has CEO’s pose as a hired hand in order to get the view from ...

1570. Whistling Jesus

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ). The sacrifice Jesus is about to make, laying down his own life for their sake, is to be the template for the love all Jesus’ disciples are to show. Lest we think that this command to offer sacrificial love for “one’s friends” is a watered down version of directives given elsewhere (Matthew 5:43-47) to show love for one’s enemy, it would be good to recall that in this context Jesus is speaking to his own disciples. He is addressing his “friends” and laying out the basis for the obedience he ...

1571. John 15:9-17

John 15:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

1572. Mark 6:14-29

Mark 6:14-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is rendered as “his daughter Herodias” in some manuscripts. In others the text reads “Herodias’ daughter,” which of course best fits with the rest of the story. Josephus’ account of this story names the young woman as “Salome.” Although Mark’s version does not explicitly state this was part of a plot hatched by Herodias, the inference of her influence is heavily suggested. Later artists’ renditions of this scene paint the daughter’s dancing as sensuous and seductive, but Mark’s text ...

1573. When Others Serve Your Head on a Platter

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1574. The 4 Spiritual Flaws

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... It would make a great ending for your sermon.] COMMENTARY The miracle of the "sign" (John's preferred term) of feeding the five thousand in today's gospel text is the only wondrous work of Jesus recorded in all four of the gospels. John's version, however, contains its own unique details and nuances, along with a startling ending. Throughout this unit the subtle and not-so-subtle parallels that John draws between Moses, who was Israel's first "redeemer," and Jesus, whose ultimate act of redemption is yet to ...

1575. John 6:1-21

John 6:1-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The miracle of the "sign" (John's preferred term) of feeding the five thousand in today's gospel text is the only wondrous work of Jesus recorded in all four of the gospels. John's version, however, contains its own unique details and nuances, along with a startling ending. Throughout this unit the subtle and not-so-subtle parallels that John draws between Moses, who was Israel's first "redeemer," and Jesus, whose ultimate act of redemption is yet to come, is evident. The Sea of ...

Showing results