Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 151 to 175 of 2157 results

Luke 19:28-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a portion of this holy city, no less than the temple itself, for the proper worship and praise of God. Since all the Gospels tell a variation of these events, it is important to pay attention to what does and does not happen in Luke's version. Like the other Gospels, Luke puts Jesus in a very particular geographical position. While we no longer know the exact location of Bethphage and Bethany, it appears that this location was about two miles east of Jerusalem, at the foot of Mt.Olivet. Mt.Olivet itself ...

152. Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... only" assuring that this petition must be prayed every day anew or if "day by day" would be a more appropriate rendering. "Day by day" looks to the future gifts we may expect from God, while "daily" seems to focus on the present moment only. Luke's version of this prayer now links together the petitioner's plea for forgiveness of "sins" with his or her promise to forgive the "indebted"-ness of all others. For a disciple to utter this prayer with a clear conscience, the reality of living at the dawning time ...

153. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... comfort in the heavenly kingdom they now inhabit. Regardless of the cross-fertilization between cultures that may have taken place, Luke's tale differs from all other known cultural commentaries on the fates of the rich/bad-poor/good after death. In Luke's version, there are definite overtones about the dual role of the tradition and the Resurrection in the lives of believers. Luke 16 is a chapter whose structure and themes seem to be fairly diverse. Yet the chapter begins with another story in which money ...

154. John 20:1-18

John 20:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Peter meet. It is then Peter's turn to put their separate experiences into a common theological framework so that the whole Christian community may benefit. Peter's proclamation in verses 34 and 35 surely stunned and shocked the early church community. The NEB version of verse 34 makes its radical nature even more apparent: "God has no favorites." Having loosed this bombshell, Peter now proceeds to relate why all humanity now stands in this new relationship to God. The story he tells, of course, is a highly ...

155. Luke 19:28-40

Luke 19:28-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

156. Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... source with Luke, Matthew had his own "M" source of material to draw from. Second: Matthew was what Meier calls a "mesher" - a literary artist skilled at weaving together the strands of many different traditions to create a richer, more vibrant whole. When creating his version of Jesus' beatitudes, Matthew drew on the materials available to him from the "Q" source (Matthew 5:4, 6, 11-12) which he then "meshed" with sayings found only in the "M" source (Matthew 5:5, 7,8,9,10). Meier notes that the beatitudes ...

157. Matthew 17:1-9

Matthew 17:1-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Jesus' face shone as well as his clothing, bringing to mind Moses' encounter with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:29). Then Moses and Elilah are there in person, speaking directly with Jesus. The enthusiastic Peter comes off looking a bit better in Matthew's version. Mark records Peter blurting out his impetuous suggestion that they set up tents for the three of them because "he did not know what to say, for they were terrified' (Mark 9:6). Matthew, on the other hand, has a much more controlled Peter politely ...

158. Romans 10:5-15

Romans 10:5-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Like the Mosaic law, Christ is not somewhere up in heaven or descended into the depths of Hades. Moses' words are just as applicable to the new law as the old: "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart" (v.8). Paul's version of this text, introduced and highlighted by the scribal addition "what does it say," is an almost exact quote of that found in the Septuagint. The apostle does everything he can to make the gospel of the new law and covenant as appealing as possible for Jewish unbelievers ...

159. Decoding the Da Vinci Code (Part Two - Explaining the Facts)

1 Peter 3:15

Sermon

James Merritt

... we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. (I Corinthians 8:5-6, NASB) It is very plain from the Old Testament that the title "Lord" often referred to God. The Jews used a Greek version of the Old Testament known as the "Septuagint" where the title "Lord" is often substituted for "God." When Paul called Jesus Christ, Lord, both Gentiles and Jews would have clearly understood that this referred to His deity. He even identifies Him in this passage as the ...

160. Cross Eyed: Anger

John 2:13-22

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Roman coins for Temple coins. It was the fact that the merchants had taken over the Court of the Gentiles making it virtually impossible for any of the Gentiles to worship because of the din and noise of the marketplace conditions. It was sort of a Jerusalem version of the Ft. Worth Stock Show at its highest combined with an old fashioned carnival with all it's barkers hollering and selling their wares at one time. The market trade had grown from simply being the animal sacrifices to a bit of a flea market ...

161. The Awful Grace of Amazing Grace

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... renditions of “Amazing Grace.” It has become almost obligatory for every artist to have one. For my favorite one by bass player Victor Wooten, see the URL below. Probably the most beloved rendition of the song today is the “My Chains are Gone” version by Chris Tomlin at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqJsBRFdrA0]. This song began as an anguished confession of sin and an outpouring of love in the face of forgiveness, as experienced by a greedy, money-grubbing, slave trader named John Newton. It has ...

162. One to Take the Place of Jesus

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of the promise: ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matthew 28:29). The Spirit would bring to men an uninterrupted fellowship forever.” (William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of John, Volume 2, p. 224). The King James Version translates John 14:16 in this fashion: “And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” In terms of current use of the word comfort, that is not a good translation. We think of ...

163. No Partiality

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... clear as how bogus the schemes I mentioned are. And yet, for a variety of reasons, many Christians often get them amazingly wrong. It is no more helpful, than in the cases I just described, to beat up on ourselves or others, in a theological version of blaming the victim, but we need to clearly see what is happening. One of these messages that somehow gets overlooked or distorted is the astounded remark of an obviously amazed Peter in today's reading: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but ...

164. Matthew 14:13-21

Matthew 14:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... companionship of others. This great miracle of feeding five thousand is the only miracle besides Jesus’ resurrection that is recorded in all four gospels (Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-15). Many specific details are found in all four versions. Matthew’s recording of this event is somewhat pared down, however, omitting some of the particulars such as who provided the bread and fish as well as the unique seating arrangements described by the other gospel writers. Matthew places the timing of this ...

165. Matthew 21:23-32

Matthew 21:23-27

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... exchanges between himself and the priests and elders. Only Matthew’s gospel contains this first parable. Once again it uses the image of a “vineyard,” the familiar symbol for Israel and her relationship with God. Curiously this parable is found in three different versions. While most manuscripts have the text in the order found in today’s gospel reading, there are manuscripts that flip the two sons and their responses — the son who says “yes,” then does not go is followed by the son who says ...

166. Stuff!

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

... year, a bonus, do you first rearrange your portfolio and build new barns with CDs, mutual funds, and stocks, or do you thank God from whom all good things come and give, if even just a little bit, to those whose crops have failed while yours flourished? Amen. 1. A version of a story by Anthony de Mello, S.J., Taking Flight (New York: Image Books, 1990), pp. 60-61. 2. There are many ...

167. You Provoke Me...and That's Good

Hebrews 10:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... also touched. That is why we are to provoke one another to love and good works. So that someday the whole world will know Jesus and his love. 1. The Good Clean Funnies List, good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 2. A complete version of this commercial was compiled by Kenneth J. Hockenberry at http://www.beulahpresbyterian.com/sermonapr05_07.html. Or it can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76h8jbjZqOI. 3. Stephen R. Covey, Everyday Greatness (Nashville: Rutledge Hill Press, 2006), p. 345. 4 ...

168. Your Home Page

Hebrews 13:1-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... has become so intense that the “upgrade” limits have been tumbling down or trashed altogether. All the major competitors seem to be welcoming the return of still warm “hot-off-the-presses” models in order to get new customers for their latest version of the twenty-first century’s “third eye” the eye that is a one-stop guide through an increasingly dense and entangled information jungle. The newest, biggest draw or more accurately, the most relationship-trashing, out-with the-old/in-the-only ...

169. The Faith of a Saint

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... .” (1) I don’t believe you will think me irreverent if I say to you that there is a lot in the Bible that is tough to swallow. Today’s lesson from the Gospel of Luke may be one of the toughest of all. It is Luke’s version of the Beatitudes. The eminent twentieth century theologian Paul Tillich once noted that readers and students of the New Testament often find that it is not the refined argument of Paul or the mystical wisdom of John, but the simple sayings of Jesus, as recorded by the first three ...

170. The Lord Is (More Than) My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

King Duncan

... the Hebrew Bible. Instead, God’s love and care are compared to that of a Shepherd who tends his sheep with affection. That is true in both the Old Testament and the New. There are few passages in Scripture more prized than Psalm 23. The New King James Version translates it like this: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though ...

171. You Have a Friend (Memorial Day)

John 14:15-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... his absence. He says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate . . .” That is the New International Version translation, “another advocate” like someone who stands beside you in a court of law. The original Greek is allon parakleton. The King James Version translates this phrase as “another comforter.” The old Revised Standard Version translated it as “another counselor,” though it was changed to “another advocate” in the New RSV. The Message translation says the ...

172. Winners and Losers

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’ve noticed that, haven’t you? It’s true of everybody at some time or another. We have a term for it, Murphy’s Law: “If anything can go wrong, it will.” And its corollary: “If anything can’t go wrong, it will anyway.” Every field has its own version of Murphy’s Law. For example someone has made a list of Murphy’s Laws of Computers. Here are some of them: As soon as you delete a file you no longer need, you’ll need it. Installing a new program will always mess up at least one old one ...

173. Solomon's Other Activities

2 Chronicles 8:1-18

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... 10 These verses closely follow the source text in 1 Kings 9:20–23. The distinction between foreign Canaanites being conscripted as forced labor and Israelites who served as commanders and chiefs of his army was taken over from the Deuteronomistic version. 8:11 Although both versions report about Solomon’s Egyptian wife, who moved from the City of David to the new palace built by Solomon, the Chronicler adds an interesting motivation for this move: For he said, “My wife must not live in the palace of ...

174. The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

2 Chronicles 9:1-12

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... of Solomon. Although this account follows the Deuteronomistic source text closely, an interesting deviation occurs in 9:8. Whereas 1 Kings 10:9 reads, “Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel,” the Chronicler’s version differs in the last part: and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. The change from “the throne of Israel” to Yahweh’s throne is in line with the way in which Solomon’s kingship is presented in the ...

175. Jehoram King of Judah

2 Chronicles 21:4-20

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... his honor, as they had for his fathers, a sentiment echoed again in 21:20. 21:20 The first part of this verse, the final summary of Jehoram’s reign, repeats the information already provided in 21:5 (taken from 2 Kgs. 8:17). Then follows the Chronicler’s own version of Jehoram’s death and burial: he passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings (cf. 2 Kgs. 8:24). In this final remark the Chronicler’s great contempt for this king cannot be ...

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