Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1826 to 1850 of 3099 results

Matthew 5:43-48

Sermon

James McCormick

Is your religion a load or a lift? That was a popular sermon topic during my growing up years. Preachers were fascinated with alliteration: load/lift, and they thought the idea was a catchy one, so I heard more sermons on the subject than I wanted to hear. Frankly, I never cared much for them. Do you have ideas, like that, that turn you off sometimes? I thought it was a pointless question. I thought the preachers were just setting up straw men only to knock them down again. After all, the answer ...

1827. Romans 13:8-14

Romans 13:8-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... typical and in touch with Paul's insistence on the primacy of love is this week's epistle lesson. To begin with, Paul adds this admonition to love to the end of a discussion about paying taxes and obeying governmental authority - two subjects that are always popular. But Paul seems to find a tangible connection between keeping one's fiscal and civil relationships cleaned up and the ability to exercise genuine Christian love. He insists that Christians should be debt-free and consequently have no unfulfilled ...

1828. Philippians 1:21-30

Philippians 1:21-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... reminds us, martyrdom was a very real hazard for first-century believers. History and tradition hold that every one of Jesus' disciples met with a violent death. Thus, while death - both what it means and what it brings - remains one of the few taboo theological subjects as we approach the 21st century, the first century faithful were far more willing to confront the mystery head-on and discern death's place in life. This week's epistle finds Paul once again in prison. Apparently he is charged with no civil ...

1829. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... work among these Thessalonian "brothers and sisters" may be noted in his repeated use of the idioms translated as "you know" and "you remember" within the text of his letter. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 divides its intended focus between its readers and its subjects (Paul, Timothy and Silas). Paul reminds the Thessalonians of both the work he carried on in their midst and the truly Christ-inspired motivation behind that labor. Despite the fact that Paul was tossed out of the city and is now cut off from contact ...

1830. Ephesians 1:15-23

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... content overwhelms the believer with the blessings available through Christ. Paul starts the momentum by confessing that, every time he prays, he ceaselessly gives thanks for the faith and love demonstrated by the Ephesian Christians. In verses 17-19a, Paul reveals the subject of his constant prayers and it is no insignificant appeal. Paul carefully notes his prayer is to God, even as Jesus Christ prayed a bold address made possible, of course, by Christ himself. Having gained God's ear, Paul now requests ...

1831. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the more obedient the disciple, the more accessible the power of Jesus' name in that disciple's life and work. With the power of Jesus' name comes the gift of leadership and a responsibility for safely nurturing the faith of others. The true disciple thus is both leader and follower subject to all and yet a leader to many.

1832. Mark 10:2-16

Mark 10:2-16

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and Jesus now leave the crowds and retreat to the privacy of their local home base and the intimacy of a private tutorial. The "whatever cause" phrase from Matthew that is dropped in Mark's gospel remains absent in Jesus' final private words on this subject to his disciples. Matthew knows his audience and is well aware of "unchastity" as legitimate grounds for divorce a point Jesus himself concedes in Matthew 19:9. But before Mark's Gentile listeners, Jesus' words are void of any gray areas. Indeed the only ...

1833. Revelation 1:4b-8

Revelation 1:4b-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... internal evidence clearly suggest when this book may have been written. While most scholars place it about 94 A.D., there are arguments for placing it in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. Certainly the content of Revelation has never been a subject for agreement. The stockpile of bizarre images and cryptic pronouncements appear to be both eschatological and historical, but where Revelation's interpretation of its own age stops and its predictions for the distant future begin is part of its delightful mystery. Few ...

1834. Luke 3:1-6

Luke 3:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... neither well-loved nor respected. Pilate rose from the obscurity of Roman "middle-management" to his position as procurator of Judea in 26 A.D. From the moment he began his rule, Pilate seemed to have a gift for insulting and antagonizing his Jewish subjects. Knowing that his hold on Judea was tenuous, Pilate made up for his weakness by periodically unleashing his soldiers on the citizenry. He was both despised and feared. Herod was an unbalanced and dangerous ruler, designated as "King of the Jews" by the ...

1835. Are You Better at Wearing or Bearing Crosses?

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and teaching was all about “the kingdom of God.” The first-century world understood the concept of “kingship” all too well. The nations of the world were ruled by kings, and kings were absolute authority figures with unquestioned control over their subjects. The Old Testament refers to the kingship of God more than any other divine quality. Israel was God’s first kingdom, but in an eschatological future all the nations would recognize God’s ruling status and bow down before him. So when ...

1836. Here I Stand

Mark 1: 21-28

Illustration

Maurice A. Fetty

... authority heard all over the world. He staked his life on it. Amidst the blizzard of information available today, you can be sure we are on to something significant when the teacher begins to stake his reputation, even his life, on it. Talk is one thing, but commitment to the subject matter of the talk is quite another. As in Luther, so in Jesus we have a man who takes a stand on what he is saying.

1837. When a Mother Speaks

Mark 1: 21-28

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

Jesus had authority, which seems to mean a kind of gravitas, a theological heft, a sureness of his subject matter that distinguished him from the teachers of the law. A while ago I read a charming anecdote involving the great Pope John XXIII. One day the pontiff was having an audience with a group of people, one of whom was the mother of several children. At one point the ...

1838. Evangelism is Holy Communion

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... heat of the day to avoid them. 5. Fifth, Jesus connects her experience of his love for her with God’s love for the world. What do you do when someone has ventured into truth you find unbearable to acknowledge? You change the subject. “You Jews worship in Jerusalem. We worship on Mt. Gerizim. Who’s right?” Jesus responds, “The day is coming when we won’t worship separately, because location, ethnicity, race, ritual, and style won’t matter. Traditional and contemporary won’t matter. Organ or ...

1839. Learning to Listen

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... grown up there. He returned to interview persons about the town’s history and to see what kind of town it is today. Among those he interviewed was his own father, who had become a judge and subsequently moved away. In talking with his father the subject of race came up. He recalled when the first black family moved into the town 50 years ago. The Meyers had rocks thrown through their windows and suffered other forms of harassment. His father, now 82, confessed, “Looking back on that is very sensitive to ...

1840. The Big E

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... or not see them at all. As they say, “A little learning can be a bad thing.” Some of our learning makes us see things wrongly or not at all. The Christian life entails a lot of unlearning and relearning. II. Our presumptuous glasses Such is the subject of today’s story about Jesus’ encounter with a man born blind and how the man comes to “see” who Jesus is and how everyone else who see are spiritually blind. When Jesus and his disciples come upon this man who has been blind from birth, they ask ...

1841. Easter 5

Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-17

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... to establish and nourish this relationship. Prayer is often perfunctory rather than a personal encounter with Christ. A majority do not attend church regularly. Only the exceptional family has family devotions. Most Christians do not know the meaning of solitude and meditation. No subject is more needed in preaching than the question of abiding in Christ. Outline: The Christian of the abiding presence is – a. One who is in Christ v. 4. b. One who is disciplined v. 2. c. One who is fruitful v. 5. d. One ...

1842. Easter 7

Acts 1:12-26, 1 John 5:1-12, John 17:6-19

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... the Christ? To get the answer, we call on witnesses to tell their story about Jesus. We can call on human witnesses: John the Baptist, Peter at Caesarea Philippi, a Roman soldier at the cross. These witness to the truth that Jesus is the Christ. Since humans are subject to error, we may doubt these witnesses. But, John in this passage calls upon God to witness. His testimony is that Jesus is his Son and in him there is eternal life. If God says it, enough said! 2. Liar (v. 10). A witness at court swears on ...

1843. Easter 6

Acts 10:23b-48, 1 John 4:1-6, John 15:1-17, 1 John 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... is universal and for all people without the limits of time and space. He is at the throne of God, interceding for us and sharing in the rule of the universe. How can the church ignore this great festival with its truth and how can preachers avoid the subject by not preaching on it? It is time for us to consider this question because Easter VI is the Sunday preceding the ascension and Easter VII follows it. A number of options is presented to a preacher: 1. Hold a service on Ascension Day and preach on or ...

1844. Lent 3

Exodus 20:1-21, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, John 2:12-25

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... we have more than 300 kinds of crosses, but the cross itself may be made of different materials: wood, silver, gold, brass, mother-of-pearl, etc. In a spiritual sense, what is the cross? What is the cross made of? We find the answers in the text where the subject is Christ crucified. Outline: What the cross contains – a. The wisdom of God to reveal. b. The power of God to save. WORSHIP RESOURCES Psalm Of The Day: Psalm 19; Psalm 19:7-14 "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul." (v. 7) Hymn Of ...

1845. Lent 2

Mark 8:31--9:1, Romans 4:1-25, Genesis 17:1-27

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... are beyond our understanding. Divine plans seem to us preposterous and impossible. We can identify with Peter's protest when Jesus, who was just confessed to be Christ, announced he was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die. Can the Son of God, the Messiah, be subject to human abuse? Unthinkable! When Abraham was promised a son in his old age, he laughed at the idea, for he knew it was physically impossible for Sarah at age 90 to become pregnant. It sounds ridiculous: just believe and you will be saved! The ...

1846. Advent 4

2 Samuel 7:1-17, Romans 16:1-27, Luke 1:26-38

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... to the will of God v. 38. Jesus: "Not my will but thine be done." 5. A focus on the angel What an angel said to a girl - Luke 1:26-38 Need: People have an interest in angels. A recent book by Billy Graham is on the subject. Popularly we think of angels as perfect beings, as "good as an angel." People need to realize that angels are divine messengers who bring important communications from God. Imagine what would have happened to the Christ-child if Mary and Joseph had not been told about the coming ...

1847. Epiphany 5

Isaiah 40:1-31, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Mark 1:29-34, Mark 1:35-39

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . There is a seamy side of life. It is a life that is "one damn thing after another." Life can be hard, tough, disappointing and painful. The three Lessons give a balanced perspective on the fact of suffering. To deal with this subject, the preacher needs all three Lessons for a text. Outline: You and your suffering – a. Personal suffering (the depths of human suffering) Lesson 1. b. Vicarious suffering (sharing others' misery) Lesson 2. c. Temporary suffering (the solution of suffering) Gospel. Gospel ...

1848. Epiphany 8

Mark 2:18-22, 2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6, Psalm 103:1-22, Hosea 2:2-23

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 19 and overlook verse 20. When Jesus returns, never again to leave us, we can stop fasting and forever celebrate. In this sermon we need to "sell" fasting as a worthy and helpful activity. Outline: Why Christians fast – a. Fasting keeps the body in subjection. b. Fasting expresses repentance. c. Fasting influences the action of God. d. Fasting relives portions of Jesus' life. 2. New wine or new wineskins? (2:22). Need: Frequently one hears the cry, "We need new wineskins for the new wine." The former is ...

1849. Proper 11

2 Samuel 7:1-17, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-44, Mark 6:45-56

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... sheep who blindly follow the first leader who comes long. Sheep without a shepherd are unable to govern themselves nor to reach a destination. People have not changed. They run after fads, fashions and trends. They can be easily aroused by rabble-rousers. They are subject to scares. Jesus saw the people of his day as shepherdless sheep, and he felt sorry for them. Outline: Jesus feels sorry for people today because – a. They run after any leader v. 33 ("ran there on foot"). b. They gather in crowds v. 34 ...

1850. Proper 13

2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, John 6:25-59, Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Prisoner (v. 1). Paul identifies himself here as a prisoner of Christ. At other times he referred to himself as a servant, apostle, ambassador and spokesman. To be a prisoner of Christ is to suffer for him. When we are zealous Christians, we will be subject to the opposition and persecution of the enemy, Satan. The test of a true Christian is the suffering he experiences in living out the Christian life. 2. One (vv. 4-6). Seven times the word, "one," is used. Repetition indicates the importance of the word ...

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