Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2326 to 2350 of 5000 results

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is a vocation when taken on gladly." (William L. Holladay, Isaiah: Scroll of Prophetic Heritage [Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1978], 158.) Relating the Texts From the Service of the Word this week's gospel text encompasses the entirety of the fourteenth and fifteenth chapters of Mark. Rather than trying to distill some narrow message out of that extensive portion of scripture, we have chosen to focus on one of the gospel texts from the Service of the Palms, John 12:12-16. The entry into Jerusalem was truly a ...

2327. 1 Samuel 16:14-23

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , posits evil as a form of fallen good. Evil exists. But it has no unique identity shaping and defining it, it is only the embodiment of choices for the not-good over the good. Two plots run through the text from Mark for this week. Using one of his favorite story forms, Mark brackets one story on either side of a central, different story. In this case the conflict between Jesus and members of his family stands on either side of the accusations made by the scribes. While there are two separate stories, they ...

2328. Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... which must prevail as Christians consider their words, thoughts and deeds. Building up" the body of Christ which "gives grace" to all its members is the ambition of the Christian life. Paul insists that Christians take their baptism seriously. As a people "marked with a sea," believed are to act discernibly different than the pagan society surrounding them. Paul initiated this message in verses 4:17-19, drawing a dismal portrait of the lives of those untouched by the knowledge of Christ. Christians are to ...

2329. Colossians 1:11-20

Colossians 1:11-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that shortchanges its complexity. Historically, this was one of the psalms celebrating Yahweh's enthronement. Psalm 95, like Psalms 24 and 68, was a processional hymn ("It's got a good beat, I think I could dance to it...") and introduced a series of psalms marking the onset of God's reign. Psalm 95 begins this ceremony with shouts of praise. As one of the songs of hope written during the SecondTemple period, Psalm 95 focuses on Yahweh's impending enthronement and sings of the joy that will accompany the ...

2330. Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is not dependent on genealogy but rather on a series of steps. First, the individual must hear "the word of truth," that is, the "gospel of your salvation." Second, after hearing, each person must respond by believing in this message. Third, the believer must be "marked with the seal" of the Holy Spirit, an idiomatic phrase which suggests that all believers enjoy the full measure of the Spirit's gifts. The presence of this Spirit is a sure sign of the full inheritance of redemption that is shared by all who ...

2331. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ' sacrifice was given freely, and humans retain their own freedom to respond to that sacrifice positively or negatively, with belief or with disbelief. The disciples' mission is empowered by the same Spirit and limited by the same freedom that marked Jesus' own mission. In Luke's Pentecost scene (Acts 2:1-21), the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples and immediately transforms them into preaching powerhouses. In John's Pentecost, the disciples' first Spirit-assisted missionizing attempts are considerably ...

2332. Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2:1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is as an apocalyptic moment. The Holy Spirit's arrival, the power and authority this Spirit has poured out onto the disciples, is likened to the well-known apocalyptic text from Joel 2:28-32. It is a time of a new, never before seen event. It is time to mark the birthday of a new creation by God, a creation that itself invokes the beginning of the end times. The miracle of the Holy Spirit's arrival is not based on linguistic abilities. It is ...

2333. Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42-47

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... up their individual economies in order to support the whole group ("... sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all ..."). The believers are so on fire with their faith and fellowship that they joyfully burn all those labels marked "mine." Indeed, this first example of faith and fellowship gives a special depth of meaning to the term koinonia that will challenge all later generations of Christian communities. Martyria: One of the primary ways these new believers continue to practice ...

2334. John 2:13-22

John 2:13-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... scene comes early in Jesus' career - - during the first of three Passover pilgrimages Jesus makes to Jerusalem. The focus of John's gospel at this time is on signs not yet on the cross. The force of Jesus' actions is actually given more weight in Mark's gospel, where this temple-cleansing scene occurs as an introduction to the final acts of betrayal and intrigue that nail Jesus to the cross. But in John's rendition, subtle changes in the story develop different themes. Note that John's Jesus demands the ...

2335. Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... canopied above it. This betwixt-and-between region was believed to be inhabited by a myriad of evil forces. Hell and its wickedness was still a subterranean region, but it was not the only residence of its Dark Prince. Mark 3:22, Matthew 12:24 and John 12:31 all describe this earthly ruler Mark and Matthew name him Beelzebub. The power this evil one wields is considerable, and the influence he is able to exert is even more far-reaching. This Dark Prince, the ruler of all evil spiritual forces, makes the ...

2336. The Most Stubborn Man in the Bible

Jonah 3:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... location, are virtual carbon copies of one another. The modern banana lacks genetic diversity. Therefore, any parasite or disease that strikes one banana tree has the potential to wipe out the world’s entire supply. The fruit is threatened by its uniformity. Writer Mark Tabb makes this comment: “The banana crisis shouldn’t surprise us. Uniformity always makes a species weaker. The more alike plants or people may be, the more at risk they actually are. This is especially true of the human race. Most of ...

2337. Death Has Been Conquered

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... one notable exception. That exception took place at a tomb just outside of Jerusalem. The accounts differ in the various Gospels, as befits an eye-witness account. It is the first day of the week. The Sabbath has passed. Three women are there, according to Mark’s account Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome. They have brought spices that they might anoint the body of their close friend, a man who had been crucified on the preceding Friday on the cross of Calvary. Two days have passed, but ...

2338. A Visionary Moment

Mark 9:2-13

Illustration

Edward F. Markquart

One of my favorite stories about the United Nations is the story about Dag Hammarskjold, who was Secretary General of the UN many years ago in about 1961. Many of us like his book entitled, MARKINGS. MARKINGS is Hammarskjold's notes of his life as Secretary General of the United Nations but it is also a spiritual diary of his spiritual journey. Hammarskjold was a mystic, believing in the mystery of life and the mysteriousness of God. In his diary, he wrote the following words: "Summoned to ...

2339. Easter 2

Acts 4:32-37, 1 John 1:5--2:14, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... a problem of a Christian's self-identity. Jesus faced the problem when he first appeared to the disciples on Easter. How could he prove to them that he is real and alive? He shows them his scars. Paul, in Galatians, refers to the marks of Jesus on his body. The distinguishing mark of a Christian is his relationship with Jesus. Does the world see Christ in today's Christian? Outline: How a Christian shows he is a Christian – a. Christ is in him as an abiding presence. b. Christ is ahead of him as a model ...

2340. It's Not a Snuggie Love

Mark 15:1-15, Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... named in today’s text: Simon of Cyrene. Simon did not choose his burden. Simon was pressed into service by the Roman soldiers charged with getting Jesus out to Golgotha. Mark’s text notes that this Simon was “the father of Alexander and Rufus” — a detail that seems to suggest that those sons were known to the Christian community that Mark is addressing. If so, it would seem that Simon’s first cross-bearing led to further involvement in the on-going lives of those who continued to follow Christ ...

2341. Easter 6

Acts 10:23b-48, 1 John 4:1-6, John 15:1-17, 1 John 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Acts 10:44-48 These verses constitute the conclusion of a Roman centurion's request to hear the gospel, Peter's converting vision and a gospel sermon. The result was the reception of the Spirit manifested by glossalalia in praising God and baptism. It marked a new dimension for the church, from Jew to Gentile, from sectarianism to universalism. Through this experience the kingdom was opened to all humans and for the first time Gentiles received the Spirit and were baptized into Christ. Lesson 2: 1 John 4:1 ...

2342. John 20:1-18

John 20:1-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Jesus first appears. As Mary turned from the tomb entrance Jesus is simply there, standing before her. But as is the case in many of the post-resurrection encounters (or “christophanies,” as they are called), Jesus is not recognized at first (see Luke 24:16; Mark 16:12; John 21:4). Jesus repeats the angel’s question, a mild scolding, “Why are you weeping?” Jesus’ second question is an invitation to Mary to open her eyes to a new reality: “Whom are you looking for?” Mary is looking for a dead ...

2343. Funny Things Can Happen in Church

John 17:6-19

Illustration

King Duncan

... But if we get lost or fail to follow God's teachings, we can be like the seeds that never grow. Six-year-old Mark understood this very well. He announced loud enough for the whole church to hear: "My father! He's over the fence all right. He never comes ... to church, he doesn't read the Bible, and he never helps anybody." I would like to have heard the conversation in Mark's car going home that morning. Some funny things happen in church. Often they are inadvertent. Kolette Irving of Salem, Oregon spotted ...

2344. Too Good Not to Be True

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

King Duncan

... her apartment as well as her mood. Sunday night was the best time to do this; that’s when the produce manager would remove any flowers that were past their prime from the refrigerator case and place them in a bucket of water on the counter, and mark them down to just 25 cents each. Noren worked her way carefully through that bucket of flowers that night, hoping to find the best flower of the lot. The department manager saw her, and hurrying over to the counter she asked, “Are you going to buy some ...

2345. The Third Ear and the Imagination of Jesus

Mark 4:1-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... what do you get? The “art” of “hearing” requires “ears” of the “heart.” The “HEART” is a multi-tasking organ. It is very name demands that we learn the “art” of “hearing” with the “ears” of our “heart.” (With thanks to Mark Brady, who teaches Deep Listening courses in the University of California system, for this exercise, as found in his collection of essays The Wisdom of Listening [Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2003], 299). I challenge you this week to open up your third ...

2346. The Mystery and the Glory of the Kingdom of God

Mark 4:26-34

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... headed up by the hounds of hell itself, we dispatch lamb-like folks to China and the Sudan and Afghanistan as missionaries witnessing to the Lamb who was slain. None of it seems equal to the task of reaching, much less changing, this sorry and troubled old world. Yet as Mark 4 reminds us, hidden in the midst of all that is a small mystery — hiding the uncontainable glory — of the kingdom of God.

2347. Stilling Storms

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

... a wholesome Christian environment to young people, in whatever role they may be, just as we saluted Christian women on Mother’s Day. Our scripture lesson today concerns that time when Christ stilled the storm on the Sea of Galilee. You know the story from Mark’s Gospel. Jesus and his disciples are crossing the sea when a furious squall comes up. The waves are breaking over the boat. It’s nearly swamped. While this is going on, Jesus is in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The frightened disciples wake ...

2348. The Ride of Your Life

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

... the need of any supernatural intervention." Now that's nifty. Except for one small fact. The story doesn't read that way. In Mark's version, Jesus speaks to the waves. He does not speak to his men. What's more, this is one of those stories ... story is altogether different. The purpose is to identify Jesus as one who can master the demonic and unruly forces of life and hold them at bay. Mark says he'll be there. He will be right in the boat with you. But you may not know it until the storm comes. You may not ...

2349. The Healing of Jairus' Daughter and the Hemorrhaging Woman - Sermon Opener

Mark 5: 21-43

Illustration

James W. Moore

... are hugging me to death!" "No, Daddy," the little girl said, "I'm hugging you to life!" This was the greatness of Jesus. He took people where they were and hugged them to life. That is precisely what we see Jesus doing here in this dramatic passage in Mark 5. He is loving needy and hurting people, hugging them to life. This passage is a fascinating one because here we have a story within a story, or two healing stories rolled into one and the people involved could not be more different. On the one hand, the ...

2350. Jesus Brings Life

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Will Willimon

... father. A little girl whose young life is being cut short. There are the baffled disciples, the crowd who doesn't know what to think of all this. Where are you? And yet, intruding into the story is another face, the strong, live-giving face of Jesus. Mark says that Jesus was forever intruding into fixed, settled, hopeless situations and bringing life. Hear his strong voice speaking over the laments and dirges in today's gospel? Hear him as he calls to the little girl, "Get up!" I think he may be calling to ...

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