Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 151 to 175 of 4681 results

151. You Bring Me Great Pleasure

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... truth — even when we fear them and the truth they speak. To welcome those we least desire. To give to those we deem unworthy. They might not be nails. But each and every one of those actions is a heavy cross to bear. But we bear the cross because we need the cross to get across 2011. Yet when we bear the cross out of love for Christ, out of a desire to live a Jesus kind of life, we end up with the greatest gift we could ever envision. We hear deep in our souls a voice proclaiming, “Well done, beloved ...

152. Wives and Husbands

Ephesians 5:22-33

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... in the following way: “The mystery of the union of man and wife into one flesh is of far-reaching importance and clearly points itself toward some transcendental, eternal reality. I for my part take it to be a symbol of the union of Christ and the church” (Beare, p. 727). 5:33 Lest the readers be too caught up in the mystical aspects of these thoughts, and in spite of that application to Christ and the church in 5:32, the author brings them back to reality: However, each one of you.… By doing this, he ...

153. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Colossians 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... “love,” (1:5) and yet strongly encourages them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and to walk worthy of the Lord (1:9); he praises them for the spread and growth of the gospel in their lives (1:6) but nevertheless prays that they will “bear fruit” and “grow” in the knowledge of God (1:10; 2:6). The entire section 1:3–14 is a beautiful example of how Paul combines praise, thanksgiving, and prayer for his readers. 1:3 Though the use of the plural we may mean that Timothy is a part ...

154. Separating Defilement from Sanctuary and Community

Leviticus 16:1-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... in his territory, implying that he is the source of the moral faults, to which they are returned. This nonsacrificial elimination ritual (“purification ritual,” not “purification offering”) teaches that after the Lord’s sacrifice bears all of the people’s responsibility for their sins as their substitute, a demonic archenemy of the Lord bears responsibility for his own part in their sins as the originator of sin (cf. Genesis 3), tempter (1 Chron. 21:1; Matt. 4:1, 3; 1 Cor. 7:5; Rev. 12:9), and ...

155. The Resurrection Body

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... to the resurrection of the dead, and “the likeness of the heavenly one is hardly to be achieved by exhortation“—see Orr and Walther (I Corinthians, p. 344), who cite the fifth-century Christian writer Theodoret, who wrote, “He [Paul] has said ‘we shall bear’ in a predictive, not a paraenetic, sense.” If Paul uses the future tense here, he once again makes the point that the resurrection of the dead is real and in the future, as God wills. Apocalyptic Revelation Paul completes this long and ...

156. Pop Star Madonna and the Cross

Mark 8:31-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... a woman who had a rattle in the dashboard of her new BMW. She took it to an auto mechanic. He said, regardless of how hard he tried, he could not repair it. “Oh well,” she said, “this is just my cross, and I will have to bear it!” (2) Friends. Bearing a cross has nothing to do with uncooperative nails, unruly children, a snoring husband or a rattle in your new BMW. Denying ourselves and taking up a cross is a choice we make--not something that is forced upon us. It has to do with discipline and ...

157. A Difficult but Joyous Journey

Luke 1:39-55

Sermon

King Duncan

... suffer and die for the sins of the world? What were the thoughts that went through Mary’s head as the mother of the Christ child? Perhaps she thought, first of all, that life certainly has some strange twists and turns. The announcement by the angel that she would bear God’s son was literally right out of the blue. It’s just as well. How could you ever prepare yourself for such an event? Never again would her life be the same. Of course, that is true of all new parents. A child has a way of changing ...

158. Conditioned

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... the Denver Zoo had a difficult decision to make. They were offered the gift of a beautiful, large polar bear, but the problem was that there was no existing room for the bear. At the time of the gift the board of directors was in the middle of a fund-raising campaign to renovate the zoo. They changed the strategy to include a magnificent habitat for the polar bear in their renovation plans. In the meantime the bear was put in a small temporary cage. The space was so small that it could only take three steps ...

159. Planted for a Purpose

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... a particular purpose. They were to be a special people, agents of God's mercy in the world, and they were to bear fruit befitting that holy cause. In other words, instead of calling God into question and asking, "Are the misfortunes of life God' ... that kind of approach. Neither our Lord nor his disciples ever dealt with anybody in that way. Yet we are called to be evangelists, to bear witness to our faith as we live and move and have our being right here in our own community. But what does that mean? Simply ...

160. Living a Jesus Powered Life

Genesis 9:1-17, Genesis 6:1-8:22, Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... Jesus powered life. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Commissioning of His Disciples (28:16-20) The Story of Noah’s Mission and the Rebirth of the World (Genesis 8 and 9) Minor Text The Story of Tamar’s Mission to Bear a child of the Covenant (Genesis 38) The Birth and Saving of Moses (Exodus 2:1-10) The Story of Passover and the Saving of Israel’s Children (Exodus 12) The Story of Esther’s Loyal Mission in the Midst of Turmoil (Esther) Ezekiel’s Prophecy of ...

161. The Good Yoke

Matthew 11:25-30, 1 Kings 19:1-8, 1 Kings 19:9-18, 1 Kings 19:19-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... yokes that are deceptively pretty but can pull our lives in directions away from Jesus. Often it’s not intentional. We can just get stuck. Sometimes it can feel right at the beginning. But then sometimes the things we yoke ourselves to can get weighty and start bearing us down. Sometimes what we at first see as a good and worthy thing ends up feeling like a noose around our necks. You all know what I mean. Once you get stuck in that iron noose, and you become more and more immobile, your identity becomes ...

162. Having the Right Connection

John 15:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... letting the spirit of Jesus inspire all our actions. Not just our actions in the church. But our actions on the job and on the sports field and at school and out with friends and on social media. And when we are all alone and nobody is looking. Bearing fruit is what life is all about. And when we stay connected to Jesus, when we cultivate a daily relationship with him, his spirit and values will fill our minds and hearts. And our actions will start to change to reflect his actions. In their book, Same Kind ...

163. How Does Your Garden Grow?

John 15:1-8

Sermon

Timothy W. Ayers

... ground grows up a wooden stake. The main stalk pulls the nutrients from the soil. No branch can exist without it. No branch can bear fruit without it. If you were to cut it off, then even the healthiest branch would not survive. Every branch must be attached ... big, juicy grapes. The gardener has a lot of work to do. First of all, it takes time for the vine to produce branches that bear fruit. As a branch, remember the branches are you and me; we may not produce fruit for a few years. There are lots of things ...

164. Jesus' Vacation

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Will Willimon

... " in the next breath (Luther's Works, 7:837-38)! Perhaps Jesus dares to speak of giving us rest by placing his burden upon us because Jesus knows that the issue in life is not IF we shall be burdened but rather which burdens we shall bear. As a pastor, I spent much of my day providing comfort to people who were cracking under the burdens of affluence. Two cars, the big mortgage. How many of our emotional, physical illnesses are due to stress brought on by economic overextension? ''Honey, the dishwasher is ...

165. People With Power To Forgive

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... . Who did Jesus think he was, anyway? Was he presuming to be God? Jesus replied, "Well, would it be easier to say you are cured. Take up your bed and walk," which is precisely what the ex-paralytic did. The one who had been borne on the stretcher now was bearing it. The Son of Man does have power to forgive sins, and the cure is the proof of it, said Jesus. Forgiveness is real. Forgiveness is possible, not only for God, but for the Son of Man, and the sons and daughters of men. Because we have received the ...

166. The Mark Upon Us

Sermon

Lee Griess

... for others to see. I can't help but think of that "X" however, and its stark reminder that there is another mark that we all bear upon us, not only the mark of false piety, of religion done for show, but the deeper, more scarring mark of sin that is also part ... etched the sign of the cross, over top the "X" of our sinfulness is placed the gift of forgiveness. For we children of God bear another mark that distinguishes us as clearly as the big "X" mark labeled the Manson family, and it is the mark of baptism. ...

167. Proper 17

Exodus 3:1-22, Jeremiah 15:15-21; 20:7-18, Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:1-8

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... 's holy presence. Old Testament: Jeremiah 15:15-21 Chafing under the cross. The cross was not used as an instrument of execution in Israel during Jeremiah's day. Nevertheless, Jeremiah had to bear a type of cross; he had to suffer for God's sake. Jeremiah didn't bear up very well under the duress of his cross bearing. He demanded that God bring down destruction upon the heads of his tormentors and even accused God of tricking him. How different from Christ, who bore his cross quietly and willingly. When we ...

168. I Am The Real Vine

Sermon

Ronald Lavin

... out all his creative energy on his painting. "Now, you've got it," said the master. "Now, you've got it," says our master to the woman who was the daughter of an alcoholic father, who has finally come to faith. "Now you are dwelling in me to bear fruit. I am the real vine. You are the branches." Questions For Reflection Or Discussion 1. Do you know anyone like Linda in this chapter? Describe her verbally or write down a few of her characteristics. 2. How is someone like Linda reached for Christ? 3. Looking ...

169. Jesus: The Ultimate Ordinary

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Thomas Peterson

... reply, “Jesus is the ultimate ordinary.” I have thought about that a lot. It occurred to me: might it not be that if I pursued the meaning of “ordinary” I would discover what it is in all of us, since we are all ordinary, that bears witness to the truth of Christ? Many times when we use the word “ordinary” it seems to me that the meanings are: low, inferior, cheap, demanding little effort. The dictionary, to the contrary, gives positive definitions. Let’s look and see. 1. Those parts of the ...

170. Advent 3

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Isaiah 61:1-11, John 1:19-28, John 1:1-18

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... faith does not rest on the surface but penetrates to the marrow of our being. Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28 Willing witness. The writer of the Gospel seems to indicate that God sent John the Baptist into the world for one major purpose -- to bear witness to the light, the truth, the Christ (vv. 6-8). Some people resist becoming witnesses because they don't want to get involved in somebody else's life. They would rather draw attention to themselves than to persons or truths outside themselves. By nature, the ...

171. The Word Of The Cross Is The Power of God

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Mark J. Molldrem

... The word of the cross is the pearl of God, the power of God. For at the center of every one of the crosses that we bear in life is the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the bringer of God's love to the world, died on the cross. God used that apparent ... an end. Because of that one singular cross upon which Christ died once for all, the power of God is at hand to help everyone to bear their crosses. That pearl of infinite worth can belong to anyone by faith. Faith finds the power of God in the word of the cross. The ...

172. The Mark Upon Us

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

Lee Griess

173. He Came Seeking Fruit

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

... should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.' " Hymn: "Open My Eyes, That I May See" Sermon: "He Came Seeking Fruit" ... the vinedresser interceded, saying, "Let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down." A parable is a teaching tool. The symbolism ...

174. The Ascension Announces a Triumph

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... , and, according to Pulpit Helps (July 1990) 167 million Americans do not know Christ as Savior and Lord. The number of the unconverted in America increases by about 2 million each year. We are sorely in need of impassioned hearts and dedicated tongues to bear witness to the Christ. Psychologists estimate that the average person is each day given 700 chances to say something. Talkative people utter about 12,000 sentences each day, which averages out to a little over 100,000 words. Would it not seem that at ...

175. Advent 4

Psalm 80:1-19, Micah 5:1-4, Hebrews 10:1-18, Luke 1:39-45

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... of Christ, which will have significance for all people and forever. SERMON STARTERS Luke 1:39-45 (RC); 1:39-49 (50-56) (E); 1:39-55 (C); 1:39-45 (46-55) (L) - "The Tale Of Two Pregnant Women." One was married, really was too old to bear children, but God had told her husband, Zechariah the priest, that it would happen, and she, indeed, was pregnant. The other was unmarried, a young maiden, and she was pregnant, too, supposedly by the Lord God through the work of the Holy Spirit. The angel Gabriel had told ...

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