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 2201 to 2225 of 3314 results

2201. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and asceticism to be the preferred state for Christians ("It is well for a man not to touch a woman."). While Paul himself had chosen a celibate life, he refused to equate that lifestyle with any notion of spiritual elitism or savantism. Instead, the apostle counsels that both a married and a celibate life may be godly, but he emphasizes that each person should "lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you" (7:17). Some Corinthians felt that in confessing Christ they had somehow ...

2202. Cha-cha-cha Christians: The Dance that Advances

2 Peter 1:12-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... as “sesophismenois” (“cleverly devised) makes it clear that his detractors did not intend the “myth” label to suggest anything worthwhile. To counter this myth allegation 2 Peter emphasizes the eye-witness reliability of himself and the other apostles present during Jesus’ life and work. Though the author will use the transfiguration moment as evidence of Jesus’ “power” and “majesty,” he shows no interest in detailed particulars as they are recorded elsewhere in the various gospel ...

2203. Successful Judas

Matt 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-13

Illustration

Tim Kimmel

Among the apostles, the one absolutely stunning success was Judas, and the one thoroughly groveling failure was Peter. Judas was a success in the ways that most impress us: he was successful both financially and politically. He cleverly arranged to control the money of the apostolic band; he skillfully manipulated the political forces ...

2204. An Impossible Sermon

Matthew 17:1-13

Illustration

Fred Craddock

... to "hold this text before the listeners in (its) full extraordinariness rather than reduce (it) to fit the contour of our experiences. It is better to be led to the foot of the Mount of Transfiguration, to be helped to sense its significance on Jesus and three apostles, and to be left there for a while in awe of its mystery and power. Such an experience might finally influence life in more ways and in more depth than interpretations that reduce the text to lessons that assume `this is the way life is for us ...

2205. Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 14:1--15:13, Isaiah 11:1-16, Psalm 72:1-20

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... 13 - "God's Work and Our Hope" Setting. Paul wrote to the Romans as he was about to go to Jerusalem to deliver the collection he and his co-workers had assembled for assisting the impoverished among the believers in Jerusalem. Yet, in writing, the apostle looked beyond delivering the collection in anticipation of the next major phase of his apostleship, a mission to Spain. He wrote to win a reception for himself and the gospel he preached in Rome, because in order for a Spanish mission to be successful Paul ...

2206. Easter 2

John 20:24-31, John 20:19-23, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Acts 2:14-41, Psalm 16:1-11

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... during Eastertide is not some Marcionite perversion of the liturgy; rather, it is an attempt to illustrate through the liturgy that the Church sees itself in the history of covenant that began in Genesis and continues through the witness of the prophets and apostles. Acts is reserved almost entirely for Eastertide to demonstrate that the New Testament Church was the result of the Easter event and was not a break with the past but rather a continuation of what God had been doing from the beginning. The ...

2207. Easter 3

Psalm 116:1-19, Acts 2:14-41, 1 Peter 1:13-2:3, Luke 24:13-35

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... presents Peter and positions him to speak and us (as readers) to hear. The shape of the lectionary causes v. 36 to become Peter's message. Then, vv. 37-40 rehearse an abbreviated form of the exchange between the crowd and the apostles, especially Peter. Verse 41 summarizes the outcome of the events. Significance. The gospel message, as summarized in v. 36, has two distinct dimensions—one positive, the other negative. First, the gospel presents the good news that God has established Jesus as both Christ ...

2208. Easter 5

John 14:5-14, John 14:1-4, 1 Peter 2:4-12, Acts 7:54--8:1a, Psalm 31:1-24

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... over the centuries. The litany should include the name and some indication of the grace or witness made evident in the particular death. The epistle suggests the use of the following collect: Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you. The Lutheran hymn, "Built on the Rock the Church Shall ...

2209. Easter Vigil

Genesis 1:1-2:3, Romans 6:1-14, Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... , ye souls that first believe, Who dare the gospel word receive, Your faith with joyful hearts confess, Be bold, be Jesus' witnesses. Go, tell the followers of your Lord Their Jesus is to life restored; He lives, that they his life may find; He lives to quicken humankind.* Because the Apostles' Creed is the historic baptismal creed, its use during all the Sundays of Easter is appropriate as another remembrance of baptism.

2210. Epiphany 2

Psalm 40:1-17, Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-34, John 1:35-42

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... . Significance. The wording of the seemingly benign opening of this epistle connotes the radical reframing and reorganization of life's relationships through the work of God in Jesus Christ. Paul says he was called by God's will to be sent by Jesus Christ (apostle means "one who is sent"). That is, he is not a self-determined individual; rather, his life is dominated and directed by God. Furthermore, the manner in which Paul refers to himself and to others in this address is evidence that God's will ...

2211. Epiphany 4

Psalm 15:1-5, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... different meanings for the groups. To those who are perishing it is folly, but to those being saved it is (one would expect in the structural juxtapositions of Paul's remark to read "the wisdom of God," but instead one finds) the power of God. This is the apostle's "theology of the cross." Paul deliberately shapes a remark to drive home the point that the cross is the power of God that saves a group of humans. In other words, Paul argues that it is not human activity—even as a comprehension of God's ways ...

2212. Lent 1

Mt 4:1-11, Rom 5:12-21

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... : Adam is interpreted as an antitype for Jesus; Adam personifies the sin-flawed old creation, and Jesus embodies the perfect new creation. Romans 5:12-19 - "God's Old and New Creation" Setting. Paul's letter to the church at Rome is a rich complex of the apostle's theological reflections on a wide range of crucial topics. The body of the letter is quite extensive, running at least from 1:11 through 11:36 (some argue for 15:13 as the end of the "body" of the letter). Paul sounded the theme of this epistle ...

2213. Lent 5

John 11:1-45 · Romans 8:6-11 · Ezekiel 37:1-14 · Psalm 130

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... the human versus the divine, or worse to contrast matter and spirit. As heirs to Greek thought, especially elements of Plato's dualism, which devalued the physical or real in deference to the spiritual or ideal, we may easily misunderstand Paul. The apostle is not lapsing into a Platonic dualism here. Rather, he is using the antinomic language of apocalyptic eschatology to contrast spheres of power. Flesh for Paul can, and sometimes does, mean the real physical human self, but when set over against Spirit ...

2214. Pentecost

John 20:19-23, Acts 2:14-41, Acts 2:1-13, Psalm 104:1-35, Numbers 11:4-35

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... divine anointing of believers, the ensuing miracle(s), and the misunderstanding of the masses. Verses 17-21 correlate the events of Pentecost with scriptural texts that provide a biblical interpretation of the incidents that are recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. Significance. Peter claims that prophecy clarifies the Pentecost happenings; he identifies divine activity and the presence of the Holy Spirit with the effects on the believers. This allows him to name the time as "the Last Days." In turn, this ...

2215. Proper 10

Psalm 119:1-176, Romans 8:1-17, Matthew 13:1-23, Genesis 25:19-34

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... sin and freedom for a free walk in the Spirit. With this contrast made, Paul moves on. In preaching this passage, one should give some attention to contrasting our lives prior to Christ with our lives " "in Christ." In vv. 6-8 the apostle does not lapse into Platonic dualism. Rather he uses the antinomic language of apocalyptic eschatology to contrast spheres of power. Flesh for Paul can, and sometimes does, mean the real physical human self; but when set against Spirit Paul employs the word metaphorically ...

2216. Proper 17

Exodus 3:1-22, Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21, Psalm 105:1-45

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... and gives the Romans a lesson. He announces his topic in v. 9: Live a life of genuine love. But while love is the theme, we do not encounter a unified, developing discussion of love such as that found in I Corinthians 13. Here, the apostle is much more practical and far less poetic. The lines of advice assembled here have the appearance of catechistic materials, so that Paul may be going over familiar teachings with the Romans. The statements are generally self-evident, and only two points need highlighting ...

2217. Proper 24

Exodus 33:12-23, Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Psalm 99:1-9

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... his companions. (The latter matter, the missionaries' character, anticipates a later theme of the letter.) In vv. 6-7 the writers remind the Thessalonians of the origins and character of their faith from a human point of view: They faithfully imitated the apostles, and in turn, they themselves became faithful examples to other believers. Verses 8-10 recognize the striking results of the gospel finding its place among the Thessalonians. There has been a geographical spread of the word and the faith. As the ...

2218. Transfiguration

Psalm 2:1-12, Matthew 17:1-13, 2 Peter 1:12-21, Exodus 24:1-18

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... main parts: Verses 16-18 recount the story of the Transfiguration in language remarkably similar to the story in Matthew 17. Verses 19-21 build on this story in four moves: (1) From the experience of witnessing the Transfiguration, the apostles and, in turn, the Church "have the prophetic message more fully confirmed." Therefore, (2) believers do well to pay attention to the prophecy of scripture, (3) remembering that legitimate interpretation is not a private matter, but (4) a divinely inspired activity ...

2219. Romans 5: 1-11

Romans 5:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . The logic of such an argument offers that if a lesser point is true “how much more” will the greater point be truthful. For Paul’s purposes here, however, he reverses the order, arguing from “heavy” to “light.” In v.9 the apostle asserts that since sinful humans have been “justified” by the “blood” of Christ and thereby brought into a new reconciled relationship with God, “how much more” will these justified humans be spared the “wrath” meted out at the end times. Verse 10 ...

2220. Guess Who?

Illustration

Warren W. Wiersbe

... for walking on water without a lifejacket and for flying without an airplane, the SPCA for driving hogs into the sea, the NATIONAL BOARD of PSYCHIATRISTS for giving advice on how to live a guilt-free life, the NOW for not choosing a woman apostle, the ABORTION RIGHTS LEAGUE for saying that whoever harms children, it is better that they had never been born, the INTERFAITH MOVEMENT for condemning all other religions, and by the ZONING DEPT for building mansions without a permit. Guess Who? Peter T. Forsythe ...

2221. Don't Worry

Philippians 4:6

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

... of itself? (response) No? Of course not! Who took care of this flower, making it grow into something beautiful? (response) Yes, God did. Application: Jesus reminded the people that God would take care of them even more than God takes care of the flowers. And the Apostle Paul said this, "Do not worry about anything, but by prayer let your requests be known to God." In other words, if God takes care of the flowers, and makes them beautiful without them really doing any work, then he will care for you even ...

2222. Hard Work

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

... at the building. Isn't it pretty? It must have taken a lot of work to build it. Do you think that it took a lot of work to keep the church going? (response) Application: Let me tell you how old the church is. It’s 2000 years old. The Apostle Paul was one of the first preachers and reminded the church that he worked real hard to build the church. We ought always to remember that people before us worked hard to make the church. Hold up one of the pictures. We also should keep that work alive by working ...

2223. Can You Tell Time?

Philippians 3:7-11

Sermon

James W. Moore

... of a new year is a good time to do just that. It’s a good time to take stock of… where we’ve been and where we’re going, how we can do better and how we can be better people. Attitude adjustment. This is precisely what the Apostle Paul was talking about in Philippians 3. In effect, he said, “I know that I’m not perfect, but I’m trying my best to be better because I have committed my life to Christ and He deserves my best. So, forgetting what lies behind, forgetting my failures, forgetting ...

2224. Magnanimity: The Essential Spirit of the Christian

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

James W. Moore

Someone once said: “You can call me anything, if you let me define the terms.” This morning, I want us to define the term “Magnanimity”…because it was such an important word to the Apostle Paul… and such a key characteristic in the life of Jesus. Writing a long time ago to the Philippian Christians, Paul called the spirit of magnanimity the essential spirit of the Christian. He told the Philippians that a Christian should be characterized by his or her magnanimity… and that the ...

2225. God Speaks and the Church Is Our Hearing Aid

Mark 4:1-9

Sermon

James W. Moore

... it rained harder! Then it dawned on me through the help of my pastor that the fact that I kept asking, (that I wanted it so much…) was God’s way of calling me. I was looking out there somewhere and God was calling me in here all along. The Apostle Paul once said: “My call is from God, not man.” I would say: “My call is from God, but the church (along with a very unlikely character named Miss Marie) was my hearing aid!!” Two quick comments here: 1. To the young people who are here… let me just ...

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Showing 2201 to 2225 of 3314 results

2201. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2202. Cha-cha-cha Christians: The Dance that Advances

2 Peter 1:12-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

2203. Successful Judas

Matt 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-13

Illustration

Tim Kimmel

2204. An Impossible Sermon

Matthew 17:1-13

Illustration

Fred Craddock

2205. Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 14:1--15:13, Isaiah 11:1-16, Psalm 72:1-20

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2206. Easter 2

John 20:24-31, John 20:19-23, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Acts 2:14-41, Psalm 16:1-11

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2207. Easter 3

Psalm 116:1-19, Acts 2:14-41, 1 Peter 1:13-2:3, Luke 24:13-35

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2208. Easter 5

John 14:5-14, John 14:1-4, 1 Peter 2:4-12, Acts 7:54--8:1a, Psalm 31:1-24

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2209. Easter Vigil

Genesis 1:1-2:3, Romans 6:1-14, Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2210. Epiphany 2

Psalm 40:1-17, Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-34, John 1:35-42

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2211. Epiphany 4

Psalm 15:1-5, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2212. Lent 1

Mt 4:1-11, Rom 5:12-21

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2213. Lent 5

John 11:1-45 · Romans 8:6-11 · Ezekiel 37:1-14 · Psalm 130

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2214. Pentecost

John 20:19-23, Acts 2:14-41, Acts 2:1-13, Psalm 104:1-35, Numbers 11:4-35

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2215. Proper 10

Psalm 119:1-176, Romans 8:1-17, Matthew 13:1-23, Genesis 25:19-34

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2216. Proper 17

Exodus 3:1-22, Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21, Psalm 105:1-45

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2217. Proper 24

Exodus 33:12-23, Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Psalm 99:1-9

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2218. Transfiguration

Psalm 2:1-12, Matthew 17:1-13, 2 Peter 1:12-21, Exodus 24:1-18

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

2219. Romans 5: 1-11

Romans 5:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2220. Guess Who?

Illustration

Warren W. Wiersbe

2221. Don't Worry

Philippians 4:6

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

2222. Hard Work

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

2223. Can You Tell Time?

Philippians 3:7-11

Sermon

James W. Moore

2224. Magnanimity: The Essential Spirit of the Christian

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

James W. Moore

2225. God Speaks and the Church Is Our Hearing Aid

Mark 4:1-9

Sermon

James W. Moore

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