Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. Creating a Duplicate

Illustration

Staff

... he returned and was told of the tragic loss, he showed no sign of despair or impatience. Instead, he knelt and thanked God that he still had the strength to do the work over again. He started immediately, not wasting a moment in self-pity. Before his death, he had duplicated and even improved on his earlier achievements.

2. “The Lord Is Great!”

Psalm 70:1-5

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... end of the verse (as does also the NASB). The problem is that the first half of the verse has no main verb, with only an infinitive, “to save (me),” at the end of the clause. On the basis of the analogy with 40:13, which is a duplicate verse (except it employs an initial verb, “be pleased”), the NRSV renders it, “Be pleased, O God, to deliver me!” 70:2 May those who want to take my life. Psalm 70 omits two words from Psalm 40:14, “all” (yahad, “together”) and “to take” (sph). In ...

3. Episode 1: The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Brett Blair

... that day. Now that’s church’s Episode I. It is the story if the coming of the Holy Spirit. Today, we cannot duplicate the exact events of Acts. That was a one time event in the life of the church. We may not be able to duplicate the exact event but we can duplicate three things that occurred on that day and I would like to point out the three things that the church needs to duplicate if we are reach people for Christ. 1. We must have Passion The first thing we need is passion and desire. The disciples ...

4. Episode III: Birth of the Church

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Brett Blair

... on that day. Now that’s the church’s Episode II. It is the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Today, we cannot duplicate the exact events of Acts. That was a one-time event in the life of the church. We may not be able to duplicate the exact event but we can duplicate three things that occurred on that day and I would like to point out the three things that the church needs to duplicate if we are to reach people for Christ: 1. We must have Passion The first thing we need is passion and desire. The ...

5. Easter People

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

T. A. Kantonen

... was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Let us catch the breathtaking boldness and tremendousness of the challenge. The resurrection of Christ is the greatest of all miracles and we are asked to duplicate it. We are almost tempted to ask: What right does Paul have to confront us with such a challenge? Is he not exceeding his authority? But when we turn to Christ himself, we find that he backs up what Paul has said. When he said lofty things ...

6. New Wine

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... to the fellow raking the grass to ask if he thought his friend would like the job. The man yelled to his partner to ask him, "Hey, Fred! Do you think for $100 you could step on that rake one more time?" Just so impossible is it to imitate or duplicate the events of Pentecost in our day, but we do know that God would like to send a fresh outpouring of his New Wine into our thirsty souls and refill us with his own dear, divine Self. It will take for us just what it took for those early disciples ...

7. “I Love You, Lord, My Strength”

Psalm 18:1-50

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... of other kings to celebrate their victories as well.2 The response in 18:46–50 indicates that it was used in the tabernacle and temple in a service of thanksgiving, with the congregation affirming the psalmist’s thanksgiving. Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel 22 are virtual duplicates, with only minor variations.3 Both texts may be taken from a common source, or one of them may be the original, but that is difficult to determine. The fact that the psalm is quoted in Proverbs 30:5 (18:30) and Habakkuk 3:19 (18:33 ...

8. “Be Exalted, O God, above the Heavens; Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth”

Psalm 57:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... root, rum, but translated by the NIV as “be exalted” in 57:5a and “in their pride” in 56:2).5Fifth, both Psalms 56 and 57 have a refrain that expresses praise of God’s universal sovereignty (56:4b–c, 11; 57:5, 11). Psalm 57:7–11 is duplicated with only minor differences in Psalm 108:1–5, there introducing a psalm of praise, compared to its use here, where it concludes a lament (see discussion of Psalm 108). Psalm 18:49, which Paul quotes in Romans 15:9, is a close equivalent of 57:9. Paul ...

9. The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Matthew 15:21-28

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... the feeding of the four thousand relates to the Gentiles (the seven baskets of Matt. 15:37 symbolize the seven deacons of Acts 6:1ff.). Carrington (The Primitive Christian Calendar, p. 16) says that the writer of the Gospel was following a lectionary that required the duplication. Beare holds that we have here not simply a second account of a feeding but a more extensive cycle (p. 347). It is more likely that we have not two accounts of a single event but two separate but similar events. It is unlikely that ...

10. Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

Matthew 15:29-39

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

11. The Infinite Becomes An Infant

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... two accounts of Jesus' birth. Both accounts are given on two Sundays: Advent 4 and Christmas. Matthew's version comes on Advent 4. It would seem that having two birth stories together would be a duplication for both preacher and people. But, there is a difference in the accounts that remove the supposed duplication. Matthew gives the account from Joseph's viewpoint while Luke makes Mary the central character. Matthew does not give details such as the angel's visit to Mary, the census, the inn, the shepherds ...

12. His Teachings

Luke 20:27-40

Sermon

Brett Blair

... questions. Someone has figured that if we put all of the materials in the Gospels that tell us about the life of Jesus together that it would equal about 80 pages. Yet, most of that would represent duplication, for we know that some of the Gospel writers copied from others. If, therefore you eliminate the duplication, you would have only 20 pages that tell us about Jesus life and teachings. Of those 20 pages, 13 of them deal specifically with the last week of his life. And if you separate it still further ...

13. The Political Controversies Of Jesus

Luke 20:27-47

Sermon

Brett Blair

Someone has figured that if we put all of the materials in the Gospels that tell us about the life of Jesus together that it would equal about 80 pages. Yet, most of that would represent duplication, for we know that some of the Gospel writers copied from others. If, therefore you eliminate the duplication, you would have only 20 pages that tell us about Jesus life and teachings. Of those 20 pages, 13 of them deal specifically with the last week of his life. And if you separate it still further, you will ...

14. A Distant Light

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

... OF DISCIPLINE. In it he speaks of the discipline of simplicity. The simple life is a life of honesty, dependability and devotion to those things that really matter. He begins his chapter like this: "Simplicity is freedom. Duplicity is bondage. Simplicity brings joy and balance. Duplicity brings anxiety and fear. The preacher of Ecclesiastes observes that "God made man simple; man's complex problems are of his own devising." (Eccles. 7:39, Jerusalem Bible). Because many of us are experiencing the liberation ...

15. Advent 4

Isaiah 7:1-25, Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Emmanuel." Lesson 2 refers to "for the sake of his name." The Gospel tells of an angel who instructs Joseph to name the child "Jesus." Since the "Name of Jesus" day falls on January 1, this theme would be considered at this time. To avoid duplication, the preacher on Advent 4 would steer away from the name theme. 3. The virgin birth. This may be a controversial subject in a congregation. To preach on it may not be wise or appropriate for the Christmas season about to begin. Fundamentalists (literalists) in ...

16. Lent 5

John 11:1-16, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:1-17, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... in one week Holy Week begins with the Passion Story. The theme of Lent 5 seems to be in conflict with the Passion and a duplication of Easter. The theme of the day deals with the conquest of death or new life through the Spirit. In Lesson 1, Israel, as dead ... the resurrection and the life, and offers eternal life here and now to those who believe in him. Does this not duplicate what we will be preaching on Easter - power of life over death? Here we have resurrection before the Resurrection. Three Lessons: ...

17. Small-Minded Christians in a Big World

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... us. We become what Henri Nouwen has called "pygmies in a world of very small people." Non-Christians often ask how an affluent church can sit in the middle of a slum and ignore people literally sitting on their doorstep, or why almost identical ministries duplicate or even compete with each other. Paul gives us the obvious answer: instead of envisioning ourselves as "saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," we think in terms of our small group, its ...

18. The Political Controversies of Jesus - Sermon Starter

Luke 20:27-47

Illustration

Brett Blair

19. Accusations

2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... heard the good report from Titus that most of the Corinthians have been reconciled to Paul (cf. 7:6–7). Yet, because of the discrepancy between Paul’s written word and his actions, the Corinthians have become suspicious of Paul’s motives, accusing him of duplicity and double-mindedness, especially in regard to his travel plans. Why, for example, did he delay his third visit? Why, instead of coming to Corinth, did he write a “tearful letter” after his painful second visit? And why did he then go to ...

20. “God Looks Down from Heaven . . . to See If There Are Any Who Understand”

Psalm 53:1-6

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... 4) (see the comments on 53:2). The God-deniers have no spiritual perception. 53:5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you. The first part of this verse and its duplicate (Ps. 14:5a) may speak of the evildoers, who are “overwhelmed with dread,” even though “God is present in the company of the righteous”—the evildoers did not perceive it (“where there was nothing to dread”). Then in Psalm 53, to prove his ...

21. Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... dream interpretation. The contest theme is found elsewhere in the Bible. In Exodus 1–13, Yahweh shows himself to be greater than the gods of Egypt by putting a series of plagues on the Egyptians (Exod. 12:12). Pharaoh’s magicians are humiliated: they can only duplicate the first two plagues of water to blood (Exod. 7:22) and frogs (Exod. 8:7); they fail to produce gnats (Exod. 8:18); eventually, they cannot even show up, because they are so afflicted by the plague of boils (Exod. 9:11). By contrast, God ...

22. The Thorny Price of Perfidy

Esther 3:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... people from the entire realm. Esther remains calm, but in her humility and honorable behavior, she finds a way to thwart Haman’s plan. The final show-down occurs at a dinner in which Haman and the King are present, and Esther reveals Haman’s duplicity. Haman’s true nature emerges (much like Judas’s emerged when Mary poured that fragrant oil upon Jesus head), and the King sets things right. The Jewish people all repent, and then celebrate that they are spared, and that Esther, even in her position as ...

23. The Interpretation of the Vision

Daniel 8:15-27

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... king will become very strong, but not by his own power (8:24). Literally, the Hebrew text says, “his power [will be] great, but not by his power,” which seems self-contradictory. The phrase “not by his own power” is, therefore, suspect and may have been duplicated here erroneously from the Hebrew text of verse 22. The Greek text does not support it, but if it is original, it might mean that his strength is not his own; that is, it comes from God. This would not imply that God condones Antiochus’s ...

24. The Seventy “Sevens”

Daniel 9:20-27

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... Because of that we should perhaps translate “flying in weariness,” taking the first word from “to fly” and the second from “to be weary.” Another option is to eliminate the second word as a dittography (a scribal error that occurs when something is accidentally duplicated). Against the whole notion of using “to fly” is the fact that angels are not described as winged beings in the Bible. Seraphs (or seraphim; see Isa. 6:2 RSV) and cherubs (cherubim; see, e.g., Exod. 25:18–20; 2 Sam. 22:11 ...

25. Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... you wanted to? Wouldn't that be nice? RALPH: Well, of course. That's what I'm talking about. That's what I have right here. MABEL: If you truly carry the Holy Spirit with you ... RALPH: I do. MABEL: If you truly do then you should be able to duplicate church wherever two or three are gathered. RALPH: Aha, that's a problem. There aren't two or three Christians at work or on my bowling team. MABEL: Aha, then pray about that and see who the Lord wants to convert. RALPH: Yes, I could do that. I would like ...

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