Sermon and Worship Resources

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Mark 4:26-34

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... what if Jesus is being both more literal and more ironic in his use of this image? Some other scholars have suggested that by focusing on the surprising size of the mustard plant sprung from the tiny seed, we miss the most obvious point of Jesus' illustration (See Robert W. Funk, "The Looking Glass Tree Is for the Birds," Interpretation 27 [1973], 3-9). The truth is: A mustard plant is no tree. It is a very large shrub, an annual herb whose surprising capacity for growth allows it to reach considerable size ...

2277. Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-41

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of nowhere is, of course, indicative of more than the changeable weather patterns over the Sea of Galilee. In all near-Eastern mythologies, the sea plays an important role identified often as both god and serpent. The potentially raging, dangerous nature of the sea illustrates a god's warring conflicts with all other gods in a fight for supremacy. Only by quieting the chaotic power of the sea does one god triumph and become the positive creator-God. In Jewish apocalyptic literature the rages of the sea are ...

2278. Mark 6:1-13

Mark 6:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ," here in Nazareth Jesus' ability to effect action is thwarted by a pervasive environment of unbelief. Jesus departs from his village, but this attitude of unbelief in no way deters his mission. Jesus continues "on the way." If 6:1-6 illustrates a brief flicker of failure in Jesus' mission, verses 7-13 reassert his authority with a strong surge of decisive action. Recounted as a series of authoritative initiatives on Jesus' part, this commissioning clearly demonstrates the growing power of Jesus' ministry ...

2279. Mark 9:30-37

Mark 9:30-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... focusing his attentions on his disciples, they were hardly living a sequestered life. All around them the normal activity of a busy household must have been going on people talking, bread baking, children scooting about in play. Jesus takes advantage of this environment to vividly illustrate his points to his disciples. The text does not make it clear whether Jesus now got up and led a child by the hand into the midst of the gathered disciples, where he then scooped the young one up in his arms or if Jesus ...

2280. Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... as articulated both by Jesus and the uncommon scribe in verses 29-34), these religious authorities face a future not of greater honor but of greater condemnation. The story of the "widow's mite" that follows Jesus' exhortation against the scribes is not an illustration of rich versus poor. It is right that verses 41-44 should be read along with verses 38-40 this week, for the story of the generous widow is a continuation of Jesus' commentary against those in positions of religious authority. Jesus' location ...

2281. A Dramatic Career Change

Mark 1:14-20

Illustration

Scott H. Bowerman

... heart, which no doubt shocked his wife to the core. He wanted to move from their home in Nebraska to a place where he could fish - full time - as a professional bass fisherman. I guess you can imagine Denny's wife thought of this. Jack McCallum in Sports Illustrated captured their prospects nicely when he wrote, "Deciding that you wanted to make a livable wage as a bass angler in 1980 wasn't quite as risky as deciding that you wanted to make a livable wage as, say, a marble shooter, but it was close." But ...

2282. Eight Days until Eternity

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... , January 1995, pp. 105-110. 2. Pastor Tim Zingale’s website, http://www.dodgenet.com/~tzingale/sermonb/goodfridayillustrations.html. 3. Christina Baxter, The Wounds of Jesus: A Meditation on the Crucified Savior (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004). 4. Pulpit Helps, August, 1992, p. 14. 5. Edward K. Rowell, 1001 Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2008), p. 180. 6. J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Scholastic: 1998), p. 216.

2283. Remember Me

Luke 22:7-38, John 13:18-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... ://www.motherflash.com/sermons/sermonsb3/maundythurs3bl.html. 3. Luigi Santucci, Wrestling With Christ,, pp. 155-157. http://www.challengeonline.org/modules/articles/article.php?id=56. 4. Jerry Fritz, Machias, Maine via PresbyNet. Cited by Dr. David E. Leininger, http://leiningers.com/waiting.html. 5. Pastor Tim Zingale’s Sermon Illustrations, http://www.dodgenet.com/%7Etzingale/sermonc07/2epiphanyillustrations.

2284. Was It Really Necessary?

John 19:17-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... challenge to each of us is to respond in faith to that love, to cast off the sin that so easily besets us, and to give our lives to him as he gave his life for us. 1. 1000 Windows: A Speaker’s Sourcebook of Illustrations, Standard Publishing Company, 1984. 2. Sisters, OR: Random House, 2000. 3. Rev. Eugene N. Nelson, Jr., http://www.uccseb.org/Sermons/2004/March%2028,%202004.htm. 4. Seth Mydans, “Russians Revere Fallen Soldier,” New York Times. Cited by Rev. John H. Pavelko, http://www.crossroadspc ...

2285. The Gifts of Word and Table

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Mike Ripski

Turn in The Hymnal to the very front – where the pattern for worship is located. Note the title given to the way we Christians worship together. Our worship is a Service of Word and Table. This morning’s text illustrates how the risen Christ meets us through Scripture and Sacrament. PART I (Luke 24:13-28 is read.) It is Easter evening. Two who’d been part of the Jesus Movement were heading home to Emmaus, about 7 miles outside Jerusalem. They are trying to make sense of Jesus’ suffering ...

2286. Sometimes It Isn’t about Winning

Mark 1:40-45

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

... finish the 50m. Perhaps sometimes it isn't about winning. When Paula finished her heat in 1 minute and 3.97 seconds, the crowd gave her a deafening round of applause. "I got very tired at the end, but the crowd urged me on," Paula confessed in a recent Sports Illustrated article. Which will carry you farther in life, a gold medal or undaunted courage?

2287. Breaking Satan's Claim over Humanity

Mark 1:9-15

Illustration

Ben Sharpe

At the temptation Jesus begins the process of breaking Satan's claim over humanity. This process culminates at the Cross. C.S. Lewis beautifully illustrates this truth in his book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Witch, who represents the devil in this book, claims Edmund's life as hers to take because he has betrayed Aslan and his siblings: "You at least know the Magic which the Emperor put into Narnia at ...

2288. Cheap Grace

Mark 8:31-38

Illustration

Joel Leyrer

Let me give you a modern day illustration of a man whom I believe both understood and exemplified Jesus' words on self-denial, cross-bearing and following Him. Some of you may be familiar with the name Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a Lutheran pastor who lived in Germany during the Second World War. Convinced that it was his ...

2289. Sunday Of The Passion (Palm Sunday)

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... ," etc. When we do something senseless, we say we were not in our right minds. Paul felt that way about members of his Philippian church they were haughty and proud. This resulted in divisions. The solution was a change of mind to one of humility as illustrated by Jesus. "Have this mind among yourselves" what mind? Outline: Marks of being in your right mind – a. A mind of humility "he humbled himself" v. 8. b. A mind of obedience "he became obedient unto death" v. 8. c. A mind of consecration "every knee ...

2290. Epiphany 5

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

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... For Suffering Humanity Gospel Jesus heals various physical and mental diseases. Lesson 1 Job endures physical and mental suffering. Lesson 2 Paul identifies with people of all conditions. Healing is the predominant Theme of the Day. The depth of suffering is illustrated in the exiles' experience (Lesson 1). The Gospel tells us of Jesus' healing physical and mental diseases resulting in "Everyone is searching for you" (v. 37) to be healed? Lesson 2 may be difficult to integrate into the theme. We remember ...

2291. Proper 14

Ephesians 4:17--5:21, 2 Samuel 18:1-18, 2 Samuel 18:19--19:8, John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 's haste to flee in a jungle from David's forces, his head gets caught in a fork of an oak tree. His mule keeps going and Absalom is left hanging between heaven and earth. It is, in a sense, a humorous end to a wayward son and illustrates the final end of disobedience and faithlessness. But there is another hanging a Savior's hanging between heaven and earth on Calvary. It was a faithful and obedient Son whose death brought together heaven and earth. 3. Silver (vv. 11, 12). Judas was willing to have Jesus ...

2292. Proper 20

Mark 9:33-37, Mark 9:14-32, James 4:1-12, James 3:1-12, Proverbs 31:10-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... group reached Capernaum, Jesus asked them what they were discussing during the walk. They were too embarrassed to answer, for they had discussed who would be number one in the second kingdom. Jesus taught that the one to be first must be last as a servant. To illustrate he takes a child in his arms, for in that day women and children were considered second-class citizens. Jesus makes the point that the greatest will minister to one like a child in his name, and when he does, he serves both Christ and God ...

2293. Proper 21

James 5:13-20, Esther 7:1-10, Esther 9:18-32, Mark 9:38-41, Mark 9:42-50

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . Epistle: James 5:13-20 In the concluding paragraph of the book of James, we deal with sickness, sin and prayer with oil. Praying with faith will heal the sick and forgive sin. If we pray for each other, we will be healed. The power of prayer is illustrated by Elijah's prayers dealing with rain. Whoever brings back a sinner will save the sinner's soul from death. Gospel: Mark 9:38-50 The first part of the Gospel lesson (vv. 38-41) deals with Jesus' approval of a non-disciple casting out demons in Jesus ...

2294. The Power of Belief

John 20:24-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... Fenster, Well, Duh! Our Stupid World and Welcome to It (Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Pub,. 2004), p. 16. 7. The Museum of Hoaxes by Alex Boese, Dutton, 2002. 8. Bits & Pieces, January 6, 1994. 9. (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing, Inc., 2004), pp. 166-167. 10. Edward K. Rowell, 1001 Quotes, Illustrations . . . (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2008), p. 198.

2295. The Forgiveness Business

Luke 24:36b-48

Illustration

Brian Stoffregen

... under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. [pp. 157-8] The goal of our preaching is not more moral behaviors, but forgiveness. I have often said that the primary purpose of sermons is absolution. While there may be instructions, and illustrations, and jokes, etc., if the forgiveness of sins through Jesus is not proclaimed in some way, I think that the sermon (and the church) has failed in its God-given purpose.

2296. Anybody NOT seeing red?

1 John 1:5--2:14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of building on Mother Teresa’s quote. Best of all would be for you to do something similar on twitter, and talk about “Irritable Christian Syndrome” using your own “tweats” and those who “tweat” you back in place of mine. Or you can use this illustration as is. As far as we know, this is the first use of twitter in a published sermon. We reference letters, phone conversations, and emails all the time now. In the future we will also be routinely referencing twitter.] The hottest thing on the ...

2297. Proper 6

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Mark 4:30-34, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Mark 4:26-29, 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... , unvarnished truth. No one can see God directly and live. We can see him only through media; we do not hear but overhear the truth. It is also true that pearls are not to be thrown to swine. What then is a parable? It is not an allegory, nor an illustration of a truth. It has one main point to get across, and this truth is indigenous to the parable. Old Testament: 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 1. Sorry (v. 34). The Lord was sorry he made Saul king. Can God ever make a mistake? Couldn't God foresee that ...

2298. Staying in Touch

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Joel Leyrer

... cultivated. When it is, great blessings follow. If it is not, the friendship, the connection, the joy of knowing that He is genuinely interested and involved in our life can grow distant or even be lost completely. Today Jesus talks to us about these things. He provides us with an illustration of the importance and blessing of staying connected.

2299. The Power of Belief

John 20:24-31

Sermon

King Duncan

2300. The Third Ear and the Imagination of Jesus

Mark 4:1-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... wind blow and felt the coolness of the winter rains and the scorching heat of the summer sun. We know this because when Jesus taught, when he preached his parables and stories, he almost always reaches out to the natural world for his images and illustrations. In fact it seems that Jesus’ commute did more to influence his later ministry than did his actual job, his trained profession. How can you draw this conclusion, I hear you saying to yourself. Well, take a look at the imagination of Jesus. Yes, Jesus ...

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