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 2126 to 2150 of 2815 results

2126. What Is a Good Samaritan?

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , you have to be different. This was the error of the lawyer Jesus spoke with in today's gospel text. The lawyer wanted to reach his goal, his desired finish line of "eternal life" by doing something, by achieving something. The Good Samaritan parable demonstrates that we cannot do discipleship. We must be disciples. We must be the neighbor to each person we encounter. Only when we become Christ's messengers of faith, love and hope in this world do we become truly alive, living participants in eternal ...

2127. Treasure Hunters

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... amounts of space, but very little music. One soul might need symphonies, but have only a slight requirement for fine food. One soul might long to taste every gourmet "goody" that comes his/her way, but need only a humble abode. That is why, as the Parable of the Talents teaches us (Matthew 25:14-30), inequality does not spell injustice. We all share as equals, but we are not all given equal shares. It is not inherently wrong for one person to possess more than another person because each person has many ...

2128. Drawing Lines

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... become a circle - a circle of love and concern that puts every living creature on the "inside" of this boundary. This is the kind of line, an eternal line - for a circle has no beginning and no end - that Jesus wanted to call attention to in today's gospel parable. The rich man, during his life on earth, had drawn his lines very tightly about himself and his possessions. The poor Lazarus lived in misery and hunger "at his gate." He was of no concern to the rich man because his agony lay on the other side of ...

2129. Attacks upon Mary

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

Byron L. Rohrig

Some years ago a vandal attacked Michelangelo's Pietà with a hammer, seriously damaging the face and arm of the figure of Mary. A magazine article suggested that the act was a parable of the violence done Mary by the church by Roman Catholics who have idolized her and by Protestants who have ignored her. While Protestants have criticized Catholics for coming close to ascribing to Mary the lead role in God's salvation drama, Protestants could be accused of making her into ...

2130. Living without Christ

John 1:1-18

Illustration

King Duncan

Fred Craddock once told a parable about a man who moved into a cottage equipped with a stove and simple furnishings. As the sharp edge of winter cut across the landscape, the cottage grew cold as did its occupant. He went out back and pulled a few boards off the house to kindle the fire. The ...

2131. Mark 6:7-13

Mark 6:7-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... usher his disciples forth into their first "solo missions" is somewhat surprising. They have evidenced no great new insight into Jesus and his mission. They are still gamboling along, bumbling about two steps behind each punch line in his parables, about three steps behind in recognizing the meaning of his miracles. Yet, despite their imperfect comprehensions, Jesus sends them out, trusting them to spread his work. Before they leave Jesus specially prepares the disciples for their journey. This preparation ...

2132. Luke 13:22-30

Luke 13:22-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Gospel text begins with one of Luke's periodic signposts, set up to remind the reader that this episode is still a part of the travel narrative in Luke's great center section. Stretching from 9:51 to 18:14, this crazy-quilt of stories, parables and incidents stands apart from the rest of Luke's tightly woven, thematically skeined text. Under the thin guise of a journey motif, Luke stockpiles a series of texts that could easily stand independently. Verse 22, then, serves as another Lukan reminder to readers ...

2133. Matthew 24:36-44

Matthew 24:36-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... on redeeming this in-between time with acts of faithfulness, remaining obedient to all of Jesus' commands so that when that end-time finally arrives, the Christian will have no fear of Christ's judgment. But it is difficult to discern whether the stories and parables Jesus tells on the heels of 24:36 (concluding with 25:46) are more concerned with the quality of this in-between time or if our proper focus should be on the unpredictable nature of its duration. The second theme undergirding all these words ...

2134. Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... are we to wait for another?" Although Jesus' first response uses positive images, he soon begins to discuss the attitudes and outlooks for those who fail to see him as "the one who is to come." Our text begins with the so-called "parable of the children" (vv. 16-17). These unusual verses seem to reflect both patterns of traditional children's behavior and gender roles in ancient Near Eastern culture, as well as subtly skewering adult behaviors and formalities. Jesus compares "this generation" that is, his ...

2135. Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... In 23:29-39, the "scribes and Pharisees" are denounced for their rejection of the Messiah and their ultimate punishment (a hell sentence) foretold. This judgment text is followed by the examples of the faithful and unfaithful servants (24:45-51) and the parable of the talents (25:14-30). In both cases, those who break faith with their "trusts" are punished when the master returns to judge their stewardship. Having already established faithfulness as the plumb line for condemnation or mercy at the returning ...

2136. Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:38-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... about being disciples of his world. Martha's annoyance at Mary's apparent inactivity is seemingly justified, and Martha's role as one "serving the Lord" would seem to be both honorable and defensible. But Jesus' words surprise both Martha and the reader just as Jesus' parables often picked surprising heroes and examples of those doing the Lord's will. Mary, like Luke, is focused on Jesus himself on his words, his message, his presence in the midst of her world. As such, it is Mary who is acting as the true ...

2137. Luke 13:22-30

Luke 13:22-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2138. Matthew 24:36-44

Matthew 24:36-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2139. Mark 8:31-38

Mark 8:31-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... now begins a new lesson plan. In 8:31, Jesus recites the first of three Markan passion predictions. Not only is this decidedly unwelcome news, but Jesus presents it in a new manner. When speaking about the kingdom of God, Jesus usually spoke in parables, told stories, or gave demonstrations to his disciples and the crowds following him. Now, however, as Jesus "began to teach them" about the suffering, rejection, death and resurrection of the Son of Man, he speaks plainly and openly (v.32): His passion is ...

2140. Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to utter three times daily. It begins: "Lord God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob! Most High, Creator of heaven and earth! Our Shield and the Shield of our Fathers!" (1.23-24). The simplicity of the address bookends nicely with the parable which follows in which Jesus makes the pointed observation that God does not need to be browbeaten into submission before he acts upon our petitions (11:9). What follows constitutes an expression of praise couched in the eschatological language of hope: "hallowed be ...

2141. Matthew 16:13-20

Matthew 16:13-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... human figures God has used over the centuries to speak to humanity. Moving beyond traditional understanding is not yet possible for them. Jesus then asks, "But who do you say that I am?" The disciples are now on the spot. This is no parable or image or suggestion or story - this is a straightforward question. Biblical scholars often part ways at interpreting Simon Peter's eager leap into the awkward silence that followed. Some insist that Peter was simply the representative voice of all the disciples there ...

2142. Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... -heeled Herodians a first-hand taste of Jesus' famous impartiality and equanimity. Instead of answering outright, he first reveals their true intent entrapment and duplicity. Then, Jesus boldly labels them for what they are "hypocrites." Part of the power of Jesus' preaching in parables was his refusal to use just words when pictures would do. When we think of the teachings of Jesus, we don't recall lofty maxims so much as we do lifting images a wedding feast, a prodigal son hugged by his father, a field ...

2143. Mark 13:24-37

Mark 13:24-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... "hour" are not directly tied to the moment "heaven and earth will pass away." God's complete sovereignty and divinity is indisputable but so is God's intended intrusion into the world's normal order. Jesus' key advice remains constant throughout the two parables he offers in Mark 13:28-36 "watch." He illustrates this imperative in the story of the absentee master. Before he leaves, this master does an unusual thing he entrusts his servants, his slaves actually, with a certain degree of freedom and autonomy ...

2144. The Most Stubborn Man in the Bible

Jonah 3:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... disheveled, bearded man with disgust and says, “For crying out loud, Jonah! Three days late, covered with slime, smelling like a fish. And what story have I got to swallow this time?” (1) Well, it is kind of hard to swallow Jonah’s story for some people. As a parable of God’s grace, though, it is magnificent. God came to a man named Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh, a wicked city, and “cry against it.” But Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh. It would not be wrong to say that Jonah hated the ...

2145. Help in Facing Our Fears

Mark 1:21-28

Illustration

Leslie Weatherhead

Leslie Weatherhead once told a parable of a little boy who fled from a witch who had turned herself into a cat. As the boy ran, he kept glancing fearfully over his shoulder. The first time he looked back, the cat was the size of a calf. The next time he looked, it had grown to ...

2146. Mark 8:31-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... prediction,” the final note sounded is one of triumph: After three days he will “rise again.” Jesus’ messianic identity reaches beyond the grave and breaks the power of death itself. For one who usually taught by telling stories and parables, there is no cloaked meaning in Jesus’ words. He “said all this quite openly.” The clarity of Jesus’ message is so shocking, however, that Peter, the disciple who had just acknowledged Jesus’ divine messianic identity, presumes to “rebuke him” by ...

2147. No Celebration without Confession

John 2:12-25

Illustration

Brett Blair

... forgiveness. Catholic priests have expressed concern over the sharp decline in the number of people desiring to take confession. We hear a lot of talk about the word celebration in our church today. There can be no celebration until there is first confession. In the parable of the prodigal son, the banquet does not occur until the boy had first come to himself. A Sunday School class in a church once made an unusual request one day. They requested that the prayer of confession be taken out of the order of ...

2148. Easter 4

1 John 3:11-24, Acts 4:1-22, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... because we obey his commands. His commandment is to believe in Jesus and to love one another. When we do this, we are one with Christ. We know we are in Christ because we have the Spirit. Gospel: John 10:11-18 Verses 11-16 explain the parable of the good shepherd. An explanation is made of what constitutes a good shepherd in contrast to a hireling. Emphasis is laid upon the fact that Jesus' death was voluntary. The shepherd has an intimate knowledge of his sheep. An ecumenical note is sounded in the promise ...

2149. Epiphany

Daniel 7:1-14, Psalm 111:1-10, Hebrews 13:1-25, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... return to gather his own, but in contrast his words are changeless. We continue with Mark's "Little Apocalypse." The pericope tells us of the coming tribulation, the collapse of the universe, the return of Christ and the gathering of his people. There follows the parable of the fig tree which is to give the faithful an indication of the time this will happen. While the universe passes and generations come and go, there is assurance that God's Word is eternal. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: Mark 13:24-31 1 ...

2150. Lent 2

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

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . We can endure the pain for the joy of ultimate victory. 3. Plainly (v. 32). In telling of his coming passion, Jesus spoke "plainly." He was honest, frank and pulled no punches. He told it as it was going to be. Heretofore, Jesus taught primarily in parables. He let his hearers decide what he meant. Now there must be no misunderstanding. He, the Christ, is going to suffer shame, suffering and death. That is plain talk. 4. Cross (v. 34). The rugged cross means a rugged way of life for a follower of Christ ...

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