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 1676 to 1700 of 4931 results

1676. Come On Baby, Light My Fire

Matthew 3:11-12

Sermon

James Merritt

I am beginning a series of messages on the Holy Spirit that I have titled "Earth, Wind and Fire." There are many metaphors that are used in the Bible to describe the Holy Spirit. In Matt. 3:16 He is compared to a dove that flies. In John 7:38 He is compared to water that flows. In John 3:8 He is compared to wind that blows. But here in Matt. 3:11 He is compared to a fire that burns. That is why I have entitled this message, "Come On Baby, Light My Fire" because we all need to be set on fire by the Holy ...

1677. His Way is the Right Way

Psalm 23:3

Sermon

James Merritt

They can make you, they can break you. They can put scars on your soul, or stars in your heart. A bad one can ruin a life forever, a good one can redeem a life forever. You will frequently rejoice over the good ones, and you will forever regret all the bad ones. What am I talking about? Decisions, decisions, decisions. They can make you bad, glad, or sad. I read about a man who had placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly departed mother. He started back toward his car when he saw another man ...

1678. The Marks Of A Spiritual Counterfeit

Jude 1:12-13

Sermon

James Merritt

Few people know that the Secret Service has not only far more to do than to protect the President. That is not even their primary job. Working under the Treasury Department, one of their major jobs is to try to catch counterfeiters. Therefore they have to learn how to recognize counterfeit money. The surprising thing is, the way they are trained to do this is not by studying counterfeit money, but by studying real currency. The better they get to know the real thing, the easier it is to spot the phony. ...

1679. The Revelation Code III: The Mark on Harry's Forehead

Revelation 13:11-14:7

Sermon

John E. Harnish

The date was June 6, 2006….or 6/6/6….and there was all kinds of anticipation. Not as big as the turn of 2000 and Y2K, but given the times, it couldn't pass without notice. The internet was awash with frenzied doomsday predictions. Heavy metal rock bands and right-wing religious publishers used it for self-serving marketing. One website, with what it calls a "rapture index" which calculates the likelihood of Christ's return, said it was time to "fasten your seatbelts." Some pregnant mothers tried to speed ...

1680. Hebrews 13:1-8

Hebrews 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The 13th chapter of Hebrews stands out, and some say stands apart. Whereas the first 12 chapters lay out complex patterns of themes and develop the author's thoughts with creative images, chapter 13 turns suddenly brusque and clipped. So dramatic is this stylistic change that there has been some suggestion that a different author composed this addendum at a different time and place - leaving the church to affix this conclusion at some later date. But while most scholars note this possibility, few actually ...

1681. 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The epistle reading for this week gives us Paul's concluding words to the troubled, contentious church in Corinth. Scholars generally agree that 2 Corinthians is actually made up of several letter fragments joined together (although they agree less well on just how many fragments and where all the cutting and pasting has occurred). It appears, however, that the final portion of 2 Corinthians runs from 10:1-13:10 and originally included the greetings and benedictions found in today's epistle portion, 13:11- ...

1682. Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Issues of "faith" and the act of "faithfulness" were central concerns of the author of Hebrews. The word "faith (pistos) is used more in this epistle than it is in any other book of the New Testament. Here in chapter 11, it is used a total of 24 times. This entire unit is almost wholly focused on what has occurred "by faith" throughout the history of God's people. The lectionary reading for today's epistle lesson picks up the author's introductory "definition" of faith in verses 1-3 before it skips ahead ...

1683. Luke 14:1, 7-14

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Jesus' banquet discourse is directed at two separate audiences. In verses 7-11, he is speaking about and to his fellow guests at this meal. In verses 12-14, he turns away from these guests and focuses instead on the mandates that should guide the behavior of the host. Luke sets the scene and the tone of this long banquet scene in the opening verse of chapter 14. Jesus has been invited to dine at the house of a Pharisee. It was the Sabbath, and "they were watching him closely." The setting and seating that ...

1684. Hebrews 13:1-8

Hebrews 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

1685. Mark 13:1-8

Mark 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The disciples were not the only ones impressed with the stature and structure of the temple. The ancient world considered both Jerusalem and the temple in its heart to be magnificent. Dazzling white stone, intricate carvings, gold adornments, all made the temple building and its various courts a "wonder" to all, especially country bumpkin-types like most of Jesus' disciples. Marveling at the size and glory of the temple as it bustled with Passover crowds, the disciples must have been stunned by Jesus' ...

1686. Luke 21:5-19

Luke 21:5-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Today's gospel lesson is a selected reading from Luke's rendering of Jesus' temple teachings. Luke's version of this eschatological discourse, which is most fully found in Mark 13, gives Jesus' message a uniquely Lukan spin. While neither gospel writer sugar-coats the catastrophic events that will befall both the chosen people of God (the destruction of the Jewish temple) and Jesus' loyal followers (the public and personal persecutions of Christians), Luke highlights these catastrophes as opportunities. ...

1687. Easter 3

Luke 24:36-49, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Acts 3:11-26

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 3:12-19 The people of Jerusalem assembled at the temple were astounded at Peter's healing of a lame man at the beautiful gate. Peter explains what and how it happened. The miracle was caused by faith in the name of Jesus whom the people in ignorance killed, but whom God raised. The crucifixion and resurrection, however, were not by accident, but by God's plan foretold by the prophets. What can the guilty people do about the cross? They are to repent and to receive forgiveness and ...

1688. Epiphany 2

John 1:43-51, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, 1 Samuel 3:1--4:1

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) In the temple at Shiloh, the boy Samuel is serving the priest Eli. He sleeps near the ark of the covenant, symbol of God's presence. One night Samuel is called. Twice he mistakes the voice of God for Eli's. Then Eli instructs the boy to say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." Samuel obeys and God speaks to him of future happenings in Israel. Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:11b-20 People in the Corinthian church were sexually immoral for religious reasons. They ...

1689. Proper 15

John 6:25-59, 1 Kings 2:1-12, 1 Kings 3:1-15, Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 We have come to the end of the story of great King David who reigned for 40 years. He was succeeded by his son, Solomon. Soon after succession to the throne, Solomon had a dream in which the Lord asked him what he should give him. He asked for wisdom to govern the nation. This pleased God so that he gave Solomon more than he asked: wisdom and riches. Epistle: Ephesians 5:15-20 The exhortation to Christian living continues in this pericope. It was probably ...

1690. Proper 28

1 Samuel 1:1-20, Hebrews 10:1-18, Hebrews 10:19-39, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Elkanah had two wives. Hannah was barren and was ridiculed by the second wife, Peninnah. When the family went to Shiloh to worship, Hannah slipped away to pray. She prayed so intensely with tears for a son that the high priest, Eli, accused her of being drunk. In her prayer she promised God that if he gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord. In due time she had a son and named him Samuel. Epistle: Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18), 19-25 This one supreme ...

1691. Proper 4

2 Corinthians 4:1-18, 1 Samuel 3:1--4:1, Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) Samuel was a special gift of Yahweh to his mother, Hannah, who was barren for many years. She went to the tabernacle and fervently prayed for a child. If the child was a male, she promised to give him back to the Lord. After weaning him, she took him to Eli, the high priest, to be a servant in the temple. Three times Samuel mistook Yahweh's call for Eli's. Upon Eli's direction, Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Then Yahweh disclosed to ...

1692. The Transfiguration Of Our Lord

2 Kings 2:1-18, Mark 9:2-13, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Kings 2:1-12 This account of Elijah's being taken to heaven on a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire is an Old Testament type foreshadowing the transfiguration. Elisha, like the three disciples, was there to witness the event. When Jesus was transfigured, Elijah returned to earth to bear witness to Jesus as the Son of God. Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 The glory of God in the face of Jesus cannot be seen by unbelievers who are perishing. Paul proclaims that the gospel sheds ...

1693. The Holy Trinity

John 3:1-21, Romans 8:1-17, Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 6:1-8 Isaiah's experience in the temple occurred in 742 B.C., the year King Uzziah died. For the nation it was a time of mourning as well as confusion and concern, for the king was considered a "son of God," God's vice-regent. At the same time the Assyrians were on a rampage and changing the map of the area. In the midst of these troubled times, Isaiah went to worship in the temple and had an experience with a sovereign God who caused him to confess his sins, receive ...

1694. Christmas 2

Ephesians 1:1-14, Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, John 1:1-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Yahweh promises to rebuild the nation of Israel. God's word is one of hope through restoration of the exiles to their homeland. Previously Jeremiah had the unpleasant task of giving God's word as a message of doom, destruction and exile. Now, God has him give a message for the period after the Babylonian captivity. Through Jeremiah, God has a word of hope by promising the gathering and the returning of the exiles to Zion. Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14 In Christ, God ...

1695. Eternity 101: The Final Exam

1 Corinthians 3:5-15

Sermon

James Merritt

Everyone who has ever gone to school, be it high school, college or graduate school knows that there are two words that can turn your stomach into a pretzel, make your mouth as dry as cotton, shoot your blood pressure through the roof and send your sweat glands into apoplexy. Those two words are the words – "final exam". I will never forget the final- final I ever took. It was my oral examination in front of my three supervisory professors in my doctorial program. I've never felt such pressure in my life, ...

1696. What If It Happens To Me? The Fear of Suffering

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

James Merritt

I want to talk to you today about perhaps the most thorny issue confronting the Christian faith. In fact, it is the single biggest obstacle for non-Christians to overcome in order to become believers in Christ. George Barna, who is the George Gallup of the Christian world, conducted a national survey in which he asked this question, "If you could ask God only one question and you knew He would give you an answer, what would you ask?" By far and away the number one response was this one - "Why is there pain ...

1697. Am I a Real Christian?

Acts 11:26

Sermon

James Merritt

How would you answer this question? "Do You Consider Yourself a Christian?" That question was asked recently in a nationwide survey and 77% of men and 86% of women in America answered “Yes.” [[1]] The question remains however, what did these people understand the term “Christian” to mean? The term “Christian” is used more today than any other term to describe a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ. People talk about the Christian church and the Christian faith. There is a debate always raging as to whether ...

1698. Here I Am To Worship

John 4:24

Sermon

James Merritt

There is nothing that I enjoy more than a good debate. I don't mean an argument or a disagreement or a quarrel. I am talking about an honest debate where give and take or given and taken in the right spirit with each person trying to learn. At the same time, I would never ever want to debate anything with anybody who knows everything. Yet, that is exactly what we continue to read in the four gospels. Sometimes it was the Pharisees and sometime it was the Disciples. Here in John 4 there is a woman who is ...

1699. God’s Guidance System

John 16:12-15

Sermon

James Merritt

A great preacher in our Convention once told the story of skiing in Colorado, and he noticed on the slopes some people wearing red vests. Wondering whom they were, he went closer and read these words on the vest: BLIND SKIER. He was astounded. If you've ever been skiing or just watched other people ski, you know how hard it must be to ski with two good eyes, much less with no eyesight at all. He wondered to himself, "How do they do it?" He went to a ski instructor and asked him how a blind person could ski ...

1700. Pro-Choice is No-Choice

Proverbs 24:11-12

Sermon

James Merritt

The Declaration of Independence says: "All men are created equal," and goes on to say they are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." Now those rights specifically are "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Now this may shock you, but did you know that every person in America is protected by these words except two groups: convicted felons, and pre-born children. Now my question is: For what crime does a pre-born child forfeit his or her constitutional rights? I ...

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