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 2351 to 2375 of 2815 results

2351. Oops! I Did It Again

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... honest about it, there is a lot about our faith that bothers all of us. If that is not so, why are we not turning this community upside down with our zeal for the Gospel? Why are we so anemic in our witness for Christ? Soren Kirkegaard once told a parable about a town where all the citizens loved and admired the fire chief and his crew. One day the alarm went off at the fire house and so the chief and his crew hurried to get into their wagon to race toward the burning building. But part of the way ...

2352. I Want You All to Get A’s

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Will Willimon

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard that cries out against our sense of judgment. We cannot help but puzzle and protest over the actions of the landowner. We cannot avoid the conclusion that this story is just not fair. William Willimon gives the story a modern twist: First day of ...

2353. Our Fair Share

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

Barbara Brown Taylor says that this parable is a little like the cod liver oil that mothers used to give their kids to cure what ailed them: you know it's good for you, you trust the one who is giving it to you, but that doesn't make it very easy to swallow even so! Most ...

2354. Jesus Would Do What?

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... about the feeding of the 5,000 immediately responded, “Oh, Dad, He would just make more!” (2) Maybe Jeremy’s right. Theologians warn us against trying to speculate too glibly about what Christ would do in any given situation. After studying Jesus’ parables in depth, one scholar said that the only reliable answer to the question, “What would Jesus do?” can be summed up in two words: “Something unexpected.” That is probably true as well. And yet the question is an important one. St. Paul ...

2355. Needing a Change of Heart

Matthew 21:28-32

Illustration

Brian P. Stoffregen

The primary point of this parable of the two sons is about having a change in heart, not just about saying or doing the right things. The following stories might illustrate this point. Once there were two couples. Couple A were married in a large, beautiful church ceremony. They pledge life-long faithfulness and love to ...

2356. Lord, Excuse Me

Matt. 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24

Illustration

Philip W. McLarty

Luke tells the same parable in a simpler, less militant way. (Luke 14:16-24) According to Luke, the host invited three friends, but each was predisposed. One had just bought some land, another five yoke of oxen, and another had just gotten married. Given the particulars, each had a reasonable excuse. Years ago, a ...

2357. The Difference Between Getting and Giving

John 1:1-18

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... blessings he had received. And that’s the story of the old man ... What did God tell him? Well, the difference between giving and getting is so simple that everyone knows what God said! Well, doesn’t everyone...? Adapted from the Alternatives newsletter article, “Giving Means Getting Means Giving: A Parable for Advent.” Used by permission. © Alternatives, Box 2857, Sioux City, Iowa 51106.

2358. Funny but Critical Bible Erros

Illustration

Staff

... printers whose hands had touched the edition. MURDER'S BIBLE. This 19th-century faux pas had Mark 7:27 as "Let the children be killed" instead of "filled." PLACEMAKER BIBLE. a 16th Century printer had Jesus blessing the "place-makers" instead of "peacemakers." An American printer later substituted the "Parable of the Vinegar" for the "Vineyard." PRINTERS Bible. Perhaps King David was on target in a 1702 edition, which quoted him as saying "Printers (instead of "princes") have persecuted me without cause.

2359. Many Ways To a Good Grade

Illustration

Tim Hansel

Here's an example of uncommon creativity in a story, actually a modern parable, originally told by Alexander Calandra: Sometime ago, I received a call from a colleague who asked if I would be the referee on the grading of an examination question. He was about to give a student a zero for his answer to a physics question, while the student claimed he ...

2360. End of the World: Bringing Down the House

Illustration

The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. ...

2361. Eternal Punishment

Illustration

James Packer

We are told in the parable of the sheep and goats (Matt. 25:31-46) that those whom the judge rejects go away into Kolasis (punishment) aionios (a final state). The phrase is balanced by the reference to zoe aionios (eternal life) which is also a fixed and final state. Even if this word aionios is ...

2362. Sun Gazing

Illustration

Philip Yancey

... him I presently saw his picture though I was in the dark." If he had stared a few minutes longer, Newton might have permanently lost all vision. The chemical receptors that govern eyesight cannot withstand the full force of unfiltered sunlight. There is a parable in Isaac Newton's experiment, and it helps illustrate what the Israelites ultimately learned from the wilderness wanderings. They had attempted to live with the Lord of the Universe visibly present in their midst; but, in the end, out of all the ...

2363. Bound By Your Own Chains

Illustration

Mr. Spurgeon told the following parable: There was once a tyrant who summoned one of his subjects into his presence, and ordered him to make a chain. The poor blacksmith whose occupation it was to fulfill this order had to go to work and forge the chain. When it was done, he brought it into the ...

2364. The Lost Sheep

Illustration

'Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away in the parable Jesus told. A grown-up sheep that had gone astray from the ninety and nine in the fold. Out on the hillside, out in the cold, 'twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought; And back to the flock, safe into the fold, 'twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought. And ...

2365. What Your Ledger Reveals

Illustration

... better clue to what he thought was really important than the reading of his letters or speeches." How we handle money reveals much about the depth of our commitment to Christ. That's why Jesus often talked about money. One-sixth of the gospels, including one out of every three parables, touches on stewardship. Jesus wasn't a fundraiser. He dealt with money matters because money matters. For some of us, though, it matters too much.

2366. A Little Privacy Please

Mark 6:30-56

Illustration

Charles Swindoll

... activities for mice: courtship and mating." Q: What results would such overcrowding have on humanity?" A: We would first of all cease to reproduce our ideas, and along with ideas, our goals and ideals. In other words, our values would be lost." This is a parable of modern life. For many people, a simple task like getting to work is extremely draining. There are too many cars on the highway. Roads are too often under construction. Commuting time is getting longer and longer. We have even invented a new term ...

2367. Where Four Streets Meet

Illustration

Staff

... own method of approaching complicated problems," writes Harold Nicolson in his excellent biography. "It implied in the first place a realistic skepticism regarding the capacity of human intelligence. It was in the second place an object lesson in the inevitability of gradualness. And in the third place, it was a parable of how, when the ultimate end is uncertain, one should endeavor to advance, if only a little way, in the correct, rather than the incorrect direction."

2368. Being Prepared

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... a few minutes, confirming that no bones were broken, and making a mental note to use a shorter bungee cord next time. William is still waiting to hear from the movie producers. (2) The scout motto is correct. Be prepared be thoroughly prepared. Jesus told a parable about the kingdom of God. It concerned some young women who were part of a wedding party. Ten bridesmaids, he said, took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. But only five of the bridesmaids were wise enough to fill their lamps with oil ...

2369. Life Is Yours

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... marshmallows over a campfire . . .fun stuff! They were preparing for good times, not just bad. As Christians we are called to “be prepared”—-but not just for all those “trials and tribulations” that grab the headlines. Today’s gospel text tells us in parable form how Jesus wants us to be “prepared,” so that we can . . . what? So that we can party . . . with Jesus! Are you prepared to party? Are you planning for gloomy-doomy scenarios? Or are you full of great expectations? Prepared to party ...

2370. All The World's Wisdom

Humor Illustration

There is a parable about a king who ordered his wise men to condense all human wisdom into one memorable phrase. They returned after twelve years of work with twelve volumes. "It is too large," protested the king. "Condense it further!" So the wise men returned in a year and presented one large volume ...

2371. The Calf Who Didn't Rejoice

Humor Illustration

A clergyman was telling his Bible class the story of the Prodigal Son. Wishing to emphasize the disagreeable attitude of the elder brother on that occasion, he laid especial stress on this phase of the parable. After describing the rejoicing of the household over the return of the wayward son, he spoke of one who, in the midst of the festivities, failed to share in the jubilant spirit of the occasion. "Can anybody in the class," he asked, "tell me who this was?" A small boy, ...

2372. Answered Prayers

Humor Illustration

There's a parable about a voyaging ship that was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert-like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to ...

2373. The Rich Pig

Humor Illustration

... time. My family is hungry. We don't have much time." This pathetic appeal failed to move the rich miser. He argued fiercely with the caller and then ordered him out of the house. "Very well, I'll leave," said the beggar, "but first let me recite a short parable." "Go ahead and recite it, but you won't get a cent!" grumbled the wealthy but stingy old man. "Ever since the beginning of time," said the beggar, "no one has ever figured out why a dog grabs a pig by the ear when he catches it. According to ...

2374. Life’s Take-Home Final

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

... a firm answer to how much more the instructor expects. Instead of a quick couple paragraphs, obviously a longer, more extensive, more exhaustive presentation is rightly required. Jesus left us with a rather lengthy exhaustive take home test. At the top of the home assignment is written these words: The Parable of the Sheep and Goats.

2375. Using Our Own Burdens as Excuses

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

David Zersen

... . Cain desperately wants to talk to someone, to try to understand his distance from God, to have a brother who really cares. But Abel is too busy with his own appreciation for acceptance, his reverie in piety. He has no time. It's a common theme in the parables of Jesus. There are always those who don't care about the other and have to bear some responsibility for driving the brother or sister to actions we find it all too easy to judge. Wiesel says that the Cains of the world become what they are because ...

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Showing 2351 to 2375 of 2815 results

2351. Oops! I Did It Again

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

2352. I Want You All to Get A’s

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Will Willimon

2353. Our Fair Share

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

2354. Jesus Would Do What?

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

2355. Needing a Change of Heart

Matthew 21:28-32

Illustration

Brian P. Stoffregen

2356. Lord, Excuse Me

Matt. 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24

Illustration

Philip W. McLarty

2357. The Difference Between Getting and Giving

John 1:1-18

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

2358. Funny but Critical Bible Erros

Illustration

Staff

2359. Many Ways To a Good Grade

Illustration

Tim Hansel

2360. End of the World: Bringing Down the House

Illustration

2361. Eternal Punishment

Illustration

James Packer

2362. Sun Gazing

Illustration

Philip Yancey

2363. Bound By Your Own Chains

Illustration

2364. The Lost Sheep

Illustration

2365. What Your Ledger Reveals

Illustration

2366. A Little Privacy Please

Mark 6:30-56

Illustration

Charles Swindoll

2367. Where Four Streets Meet

Illustration

Staff

2368. Being Prepared

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

2369. Life Is Yours

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

2370. All The World's Wisdom

Humor Illustration

2371. The Calf Who Didn't Rejoice

Humor Illustration

2372. Answered Prayers

Humor Illustration

2373. The Rich Pig

Humor Illustration

2374. Life’s Take-Home Final

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

2375. Using Our Own Burdens as Excuses

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

David Zersen

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