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 201 to 225 of 4943 results

201. Matthew 23:1-12

Matthew 23:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

In Matthew's gospel, Jesus' active earthly ministry seems opened and closed by great sermons given before huge crowds. The Sermon on the Mount has received scholarly acknowledgment and scholastic scrutiny as the public starting gate for Jesus' ministry. Yet little attention has been given to the contents and concerns contained in his last great public discourse recorded in Matthew 23-25. Speaking to both his disciples and a crowd of curious yet passively hostile followers, Jesus, in his final sermon, picks ...

202. Romans 8:12-17

Romans 8:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul knew a lot about being “chosen.” First, he was a Jew. Paul was a member of a nation chosen by God to be in unique relationship with the Creator of the universe. Second, within this Jewish identity Paul was a Pharisee. Paul was chosen to wield special power and influence among his people because of his vast learning and piety. Third, in addition to his special religious status Paul also enjoyed unique political status. Paul was a Roman citizen, and that honor accorded him the rights and privileges of ...

203. From Greed to Generosity

Mark 10:17-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Author and spiritual director Richard Foster says, “The great moral question of our time is how to move from greed to generosity." That's what we would like to talk about today. A. GREED: the Bible calls it avarice, or covetousness. Greed is the gratification of my desires often at the expense of the common good. We all have a need for greed. We are born to be greedy. It would be easy today to talk about the greediness of Enron executives who are on trial for pocketing millions of dollars. It would be ...

204. Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

One of the worst things you can say about anyone is this: Greatness passed by, and they did not recognize it. Ever been somewhere, in a classroom, a meeting, a concert, a church, a family gathering, when some life-changing, reality-shifting, soul-lifting insight has been revealed? Even if most of those listening with you realized they were hearing something amazing, there is always some dimwitted dipstick who has no idea they are in the presence of greatness. Things weren’t any different in the first ...

205. Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Some of you here this morning can remember before it was possible to get a quick synopsis of information on any topic imaginable by hitting that all-knowing “Google Search” button. In those ancient of days we had to rely on other measures to get compressed information. One of the most popular among students, and despised by teachers, was “Cliff Notes.” Anyone remember those? Instead of reading some enormous literary masterpiece, you could buy an oh-so-slender Cliff Notes version. So instead of actually ...

206. Romans 12:9-21

Romans 12:9-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

As new Christian communities were established, the inclusiveness of the invitation meant that all sorts of different people, different backgrounds, regions, religions, found themselves joined together in their new common faith. These differences were genuine and deep-seated, making “community” life in these churches a challenge. Little wonder Paul spent much of his correspondence addressing the riffs among the factions within the faithful. In his letter to the Roman Christian community Paul had once again ...

207. 12-Step Nights

Humor Illustration

I want you to picture in your mind a typical white New England Church nestled near a forest and lake. The sign reads: Little Church Of Walden. Inside the church in the fellowship room the long-haired, bearded pastor, wearing a clerical collar, briefs his congregation on the events of the week ahead. Reading from his clipboard, he begins by stating, "This Monday, of course, we have a lecture on nutrition from Kate Moss'' personal chef . . ." He continues, "Tuesday and Thursday will be our regular 12-Step ...

208. James 3:1-12

James 3:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Twice already in James’ brief epistle readers have been admonished to mind their tongues. In 1:19 the epistle writer advocated being “slow to speak,” while in 1:26 James affirmed that an unbridled tongue could lead to religious faith that was “worthless.” In this week’s epistle text James sets forth a carefully constructed, organized argument about the need for those who would call themselves members of the community of faith, to tame their tongues. James surprisingly begins with some negative career ...

209. Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The week between Christmas and New Years is a festive time, with plenty of holiday parties and get-togethers. It is the perfect time to show off all the new clothes opened up on Christmas day. Whether it’s an expensive designer-label jacket or just a different pair of jeans, wearing something new makes everything seem special and different. In this week’s Colossians’ text the author affirms that “putting on” something new is transformative. But instead of clothing ourselves in new designer duds, the ...

210. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The United States likes to think of itself as a “great melting pot” - a place where people from all different countries and cultures have come together for over two centuries to form a (somewhat) coherent new whole, a new national identity. But the “E Pluribus Unum” or “Out of Many, One” model was initiated and perfected two millennia ago in the first century, when the creative new entity known as the “ecclesia” or “church” was called into being. For the first time Jews and Gentiles, peoples from Asia, ...

211. Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week’s epistle reading continues to the conclusion of what has been called the Hebrew’s “great faith” chapter. Beginning with a definition of faith in 11:1-3, the Hebrews’ author then proceeds to cite a long list of examples of great faithfulness, from Abraham on throughout Israel’s long history. Among those singled out and their faithfulness raised up, there are both the expected and unexpected. Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses are obvious choices. But as this litany of the faithful continues ...

212. Worship, Doubt, and the Trinity

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

Worship, doubt, and the Trinity — strange bedfellows, right? The odd one out is obviously doubt, isn’t it? Worship is one of the central activities of faith-filled people. The Trinity is an essential and distinguishing doctrine of the Christian faith. Clearly, the two go well together. But doubt? How did doubt creep in there, into this triumphant final scene after the resurrection when Jesus is saying goodbye to his disciples before ascending into heaven? When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some ...

213. A Working God

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

As I originally prepared this sermon the news was breaking about the tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015, with the Honorable Reverend Pinckney and eight of his parishioners gunned down in the historic black Emmanuel A.M.E. church. But this tragic act couldn’t be conveniently blamed on Islamic extremists. No! This time the perpetrator in custody had the blasphemous audacity to pretend to be one of us and claim the name of Christ as his Lord, and, in fact, was a member of a congregation of my own ...

214. The End Times

Daniel 12:1-13

Understanding Series

William Nelson

The Final Revelation--The Body: We enter now into the body of the last main revelation of the book of Daniel. There has been some progression in the visions of the book from a more general scope, encompassing larger blocks of history, to a more narrow focus on shorter periods of time. So, for example, Daniel 2 spans four and a half centuries by outlining the four human empires of Babylonia, Media, Persia, and Greece, which are swept away by the fifth—the eternal kingdom of God. Aside from the fact that the ...

215. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

In the last section of the letter (2 Cor. 10–13) Paul makes a frontal attack on his opponents to prepare the Corinthians for his third visit to Corinth. In chapter 10 he has already dealt with two of the opponents’ accusations against him. Now, in 11:1–12:13, the apostle condescends to boasting about himself at the provocation of the opponents and in the face of a lack of concrete support from the Corinthians. These opponents, who evidently bill themselves as “apostles,” had made a strong impression on the ...

216. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

217. The Woman, the Son, and the Dragon

Revelation 12:1--13:1a

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: God protects Jesus Christ and the messianic community against satanic attack. Understanding the Text As well as being the start of a new major section, Revelation 12 stands as the theological heart of the book because it shows why the church faces spiritual hostility in this world and how God provides the victory. Revelation 12:1–14:20 forms a grand interlude detailing the cosmic conflict between God and the forces of evil, as well as God’s vindication of his people and judgment of the ...

218. Witnesses of the New Covenant

Romans 12:1-8

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: Paul challenges believers to be witnesses of the new covenant by distancing themselves from this age and by being transformed in their minds so that they can fulfill the will of God. Understanding the Text Romans 12:1–2 is, in genre, parenetic (exhortational) material. The basis of Paul’s challenge to the Roman Christians (and us as well) is the mercy of God—that is, the blessings of the new covenant delineated in 3:21–11:36: justification, sanctification, glorification, and so forth. Thus, the ...

219. God Disciplines His Sons

Hebrews 12:1-13, Hebrews 12:14-29

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

Looking to Jesus as the Perfect Pattern With the glorious history of the faithful in mind, our author turns now to his readers. The standard of faith has been set by the record of God’s faithful people in the past, who moved out into the unknown with confidence and who endured hardship without giving up their expectation of a future fulfillment of the promise. But the author now comes to the supreme example of this kind of faith in Jesus—the name that must be the climax of any list of paragons of faith. ...

220. Warning Against Refusing God

Hebrews 12:14-29, Hebrews 12:1-13

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

221. “In the Lord I Take Refuge”

Psalm 11:1-7

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: When our theological foundations are threatened, our fears are disabled by remembering God’s just and majestic character. Understanding the Text Psalm 11 is an individual lament. The lament is quite brief (11:1b) and obviously grows out of the immediate threat of danger that David faced (11:2), which itself grows out of the nature of the wicked “who love violence” (11:5). It is that bigger problem that shakes the foundations of faith and life (11:3), until Yahweh’s vision from his heavenly throne ...

222. Proverbs of Solomon

Proberbs 10:1--22:16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

10:1–29:27 Review · Proverbial Collections: Advanced Instruction in Wisdom: If one views Proverbs 1–9 as a basic introduction to proverbial wisdom, then chapters 10–29 serve as the advanced course. Or, to express it differently, the prologue presents and commends wisdom, while the collections that follow illustrate the scope and variety of situations in which wisdom is advantageous (without absolutely guaranteeing success) if employed properly and in a timely manner. Proverbs 1–9 also gives the reader a ...

223. “The Words of the Lord Are Flawless, Like Silver Purified in a Crucible”

Psalm 12:1-8

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: In a society where lies and falsehood constitute the “ethical norm,” God’s flawless words reset the standard and are of a seamless piece with God’s character. Understanding the Text Psalm 12 has features of an individual lament (12:1–2), the cause of the lament clearly being the depletion of the righteous and the occupation of society by liars and deceivers. Psalm 12 fills out the picture of the scenario outlined in Psalm 11: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” ...

224. Paul's Vision and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

12:1–10 Up to this point in the “Fool’s Speech” Paul boasts that, as a servant of Christ, he is superior to his opponents (the so-called super-apostles) mostly in terms of his far greater sufferings (11:21b–33). In 12:1–10 the apostle goes on to boast of his surpassing revelatory experience. In contrast to the disgraceful descent from the wall in Damascus (11:33), Paul here recounts a glorious ascent into heaven (cf. T. Jos. 1:4 for a similar contrast between descent as humiliation and ascent as exaltation ...

225. Job’s Reply to Zophar

Job 12:1--14:22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

Job’s Equal Wisdom 12:1 Undeterred by Zophar’s stringent warnings, Job answers Zophar’s harshness with equal venom. 12:2 Doubtless. Job begins his reply to Zophar with the same word with which he began his response to Bildad (ʾomnam, “surely, certainly, without a doubt,” 9:2), but here the word drips with intentional sarcasm. Job clearly has his doubts about the wisdom of the three friends—especially after the rather unfeeling rebuke that Zophar has just pronounced. He directs his reply at all three ...

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