Sermon and Worship Resources

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Acts 4:32-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... told in this week's text from Acts. How else but through a miraculous eschatological moment could the community of believers be described, as they are in verse 32, as being of "one heart and soul." This divinely inspired state of being not only illustrates a harmonized church, it also reflects a harmonized heritage: The Greek ideals of hapata koina and koina ta philon are smoothly integrated by Luke with biblical expressions ("one heart and one soul" cf. Deut. 6:6) and a Jewish concept of attaining equality ...

2252. John 10:11-18

John 10:11-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... parables - or as John liked to refer to them, "through figures of speech" (10:6). Jesus also used the parable to skewer his adversaries, often with such subtlety that they failed to recognize their own caricature as it was drawn before them. Another favorite illustrative technique used by Jesus and recorded most prominently in John's gospel is the "I am" format used to introduce one after another new image of Jesus' role and mission. Jesus claims "I am" before such images as "the salt," "the gate," "the ...

2253. Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-41

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , Jesus now turns to his followers and accuses them of abandoning their faith in him and in their mission. At stake here are the issues of Jesus' identity and the kind of response on our part this identity should evoke. In Mark faith is illustrated by recognizing who Jesus is: the Messiah, the Son of God. When the disciples demonstrate their lack of trust in Jesus they reveal that their faithfulness is uncomprehendingly shallow. Mark's miracle story asks us to consider two questions. First, who is Jesus (v ...

2254. Mark 6:30-44

Mark 6:30-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... as a warrior, present in the battlefield, a comrade to his troops. Now, however, we see David the monarch sending out his armies while he stays in Jerusalem to reign. The image of Israel's soldiers ravaging the Ammonites and besieging Rabbah (verse 1) illustrates the active life of danger and hardship the army led for the sake of their country. The image of David languidly rising from his couch following an afternoon nap and idly meandering about the roofscapes to pass the time (verse 2) markedly contrasts ...

2255. James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... politically astute maneuverings, James insists that Christians must strive for impartiality. The reward for such peacemakers is a "harvest of righteousness," which stands in sharp contrast to the turmoil of internal cravings and "wars" James returns to in 4:1 (further illustrating how well this pericope bridges together the discussions of chapters 3 and 4. Relating the Texts The portion from Job for this week (28:20-28) deals directly with the question of what is valuable. Chapter 20 begins with Job musing ...

2256. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... structurally represents the triune God. The underlying sameness of the Source is verified while the diversity of form is demonstrated. The "same Spirit," the "same Lord," the "same God" are manifested in varieties of "gifts," "services" and "activities." Thus Paul illustrates there is only one Spirit, the Spirit of God, but that its expressions or its "distributions" ("diaireseis") take on as many variations as there are people called by God. Whatever else Paul covers in this extended section on spiritual ...

2257. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... away our broken fragment of pie-crust and replaces it with an entire pie? The elegant mystical language Paul uses in verses 11 and 12 is some of the best loved and most quoted - by the religious and non-religious alike. As moving as Paul's illustration is, it was hardly original. The contrast between child and adult was a common rhetorical analogy of Paul's day, and the image of the dark, distorted reflection seems to have its basis in another analogical root, Numbers 12:8. When God confronts the grousing ...

2258. Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-19

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of faith sandwiched between 10:36's recognition that we need endurance and 12:1's exhortation that we practice endurance. Chapter 11 serves as the author's prescription for nurturing into full maturity the endurance he expects. Endurance, this chapter illustrates, is built upon a firm foundation of faith - a faith foundation that reaches down through the ages from the faithfulness of the patriarchs, matriarchs and martyrs to us today. The author begins by giving a two-edged definition of faith. As ...

2259. Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... without fixating on dollar signs, we see that, like the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan and the Great Supper parables, this story is also about the necessity of establishing and maintaining right relationships. In the Near Eastern milieu from which this illustration is taken, the value of honor and respect was as calculable a currency as any coinage. The steward's dishonesty had endangered the social standing of the master by impugning his reputation and smearing his good character. The master had lost ...

2260. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... turpitude. But when the only reason is his money, all our pocketbooks suddenly weigh heavy. The parable clearly says that what was wrong between the rich man and Lazarus was the inequality of life existing between them. The gate mentioned in verse 20 illustrates the economic and physical barrier that kept Lazarus away even from table scraps. It divided the two men completely. The heavenly chasm Abraham identifies in verse 26 now does the same thing for all eternity. The impassable inequality of one world is ...

2261. Colossians 1:11-20

Colossians 1:11-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... souls' thankfulness - they turned away their hearts from the presence of the Lord. God's ire is rightly raised because of the people's continuing disobedience, not simply because of the atrocities that occurred at Meribah and Massah. This psalm clearly illustrates the two-sided thrust of its message. There is a message of jubilant celebration, marked by praise and thanksgiving, because of the divine salvation that is expected. But, the obverse side of the psalm leaves little doubt about Yahweh's capacity ...

2262. 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... The summons is direct and personal, urgently calling Samuel by name. Note that the voice in the night does not frighten young Samuel; in fact, he hears it as a familiar voice and is convinced that Eli is calling him. The boy's response illustrates the obedience that Samuel has demonstrated throughout his temple tenure. Without hesitation, Samuel runs to his master and declares both this presence and his eagerness to serve ("Here I am, for you called me"). Two times the Lord calls Samuel. Two times Eli sends ...

2263. Mark 2:23-3:6

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... lawful on the sabbath?" (v.24) is followed by an explanatory example given by Jesus. Jesus calls on Jewish history and cites an incident from the life of David as precedence for his own disciples' behavior. However, scholars have noted that this illustration is in many ways strangely unrelated to the situation the Pharisees are concerned about. Some scholars are convinced, therefore, that verses 25-26 are added explanatory verses. If they are correct, and the original consisted of verses 23-24,27, it was ...

2264. Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... wealth to lose. The wealthy face the personal challenge of willingly becoming like a "little child" powerless, dependent, without control in order that they, too, may receive the kingdom gift. The impossibility of achieving this right attitude without God's help is illustrated by Jesus' metaphor of a camel threading the eye of a needle. Jesus' final words reveal that rich and poor who genuinely seek the kingdom should be confident: "for God all things are possible" (v.27). When Peter boasts to Jesus that ...

2265. Acts 10:34-43

Acts 10:34-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... shows no partiality." (See Jouette M. Bassler, "Luke and Paul on Impartiality," Biblica, 66, [1985], 546-552 for a more complete examination of the differences between the Lukan and the Pauline understanding of divine impartiality.) The Lukan author takes great pains to illustrate what a good man Cornelius is (10:2,4,22,25,31) and how his behavior pleases God. After hearing Cornelius' explanation for extending an invitation to Peter, the apostle clearly sees that their meeting is providential. It is at this ...

2266. Isaiah 11:1-10

Isaiah 11:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of his lips he shall kill the wicked" (v.4b); knowledge and the fear of the Lord - "Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins" (v.5). Thus, the gifts of the coming ruler are identified (v.2) and then illustrated (vv.3-5). The future king places little stock in rank or station in life: He judges impartially and in fairness for the lowly and marginalized of society. He is fiercely hostile to the wicked. So strong is his spiritual presence that he is said to ...

2267. A Powerful Sacrament

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... Baptism tells us who we are. We are Christ’s forever. We are baptized! 1. Vance Havner, Threescore and Ten (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1973), pp. 71‑72. Cited in Robert J. Morgan, Preacher’s Sourcebook Creative Sermon Illustrations (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007), p. 45. 2. The Christian Century (November 29, 2005), pp. 22-28. 3. “Catch of a Lifetime” in Stephen R. Covey, Everyday Greatness (Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press, 2006), pp.122-123. 4. Pastor Glenn Schwerdtfeger ...

2268. Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... resulted in rewards, that certain human actions would guarantee specific outcomes. Earlier beatitudes (e.g. those in Proverbs or Psalms) testified to this predictable equation of divine rewards and punishments. Wisdom Psalm 128:1-2 illustrates the characteristic beatitude form and standard formula: declaration of happiness; description of that happiness; promise of rewards awaiting exhibitions of specific attitude. While Matthew's beatitudes adhere strictly to this traditional form, their content reveals ...

2269. Matthew 17:1-9

Matthew 17:1-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... it has been only weakly celebrated in the traditions of the church. Like the disciples who first witnessed the Transfiguration, the church has also seemed unsure of what it meant, what its purpose was, and what it calls Christians to do today. Illustrative of the church's nervousness about the Transfiguration is the fact that it has shifted the church calendar around like some poor relative in need of housing. The Transfiguration was not fixed into the liturgical calendar and lectionary readings at the same ...

2270. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... demand that he must physically see and feel the gruesome wounds from Jesus' crucifixion might serve as intentional hyperbole - pointing up how ludicrous the demands of doubters can become when doubts are given full rein. Thomas' demand might be better understood as illustrating John's parody of doubters who want to be able to feel and see every tenet and tendril of their faith. Yet despite his literary image as the consummate doubter, Thomas can still convey a positive image. First, consider his very ...

2271. Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42-47

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... community of faith. The Holy Spirit may have descended in the shape of wind and fire, but the Holy Spirit immediately takes on a new form - that of the Christ-body community. In many ways, verse 42 encapsulates everything that Luke may want to illustrate about the strength and unity and commitment of this infant church. Verses 43-47 are simply specific examples of what a Christ-body community, built on these four tenets, may expect. Luke describes four tell-tale marks that together create this body of ...

2272. Mark 13:24-37

Mark 13:24-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 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 while he is away. Each has a specific, assigned task ...

2273. Mark 1:14-20

Mark 1:14-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... state that Jesus went about "preaching" without giving us any of its content. But here at the very beginning of his ministry, Mark specifies Jesus' message precisely: it is the announcement of the kingdom of God. For Mark, Jesus' whole life, ministry and death are an illustration of what it means that this Kingdom of God is at hand. The tangible power of the kingdom is also apparent from the way others react to Jesus and his message. The rest of this week's gospel text (vv.16-20) demonstrates how even the ...

2274. Acts 8:26-40

Acts 8:26-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... episode is over. While the Western Addition also adds another commentary here specifying that the Spirit fell upon the eunuch at the same time it snatched Philip up and away to Azotus. The eunuch, who "went on his way rejoicing" (surely a non-specific way of illustrating he was filled with the Spirit) is lost to us forever, but Philip disappears from the Acts narrative only until 21:8 when he returns to the story. Philip is still in Caesarea, and he (now with all his family) is still an active witness for ...

2275. Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2:1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Passover/Easter and crucifixion/resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the one who received the Holy Spirit from the Father and now pours it out onto his disciples (Acts 2:33). The images Luke uses to describe the Holy Spirit's arrival also evoke familiar Old Testament illustrations of divine power and presence. From theophany stories such as those in Exodus 19:11, 1 Kings 19:11, Isaiah 66:15, there are sounds from heaven "like a rush of mighty wind" and tongues "as of fire." Isaiah's description of a reigning yet ...

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