Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 173 results

Matthew 11:1-19

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: We can miss the man, Jesus, if we become enthralled with His works. We can miss the Father if we cannot see Jesus. Summary: A slick public relations person is telephoning Jesus to set up a glitzy itinerary to promote Jesus' ministry. Jesus tells him He doesn't need that. (A monologue) Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: Anywhere Props: A mobile phone Costumes: A sharp suit Time: The present...

2. Would We Rather Be Comfortable Or Comforted?

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Mark Radecke

"What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?" Jesus asks the crowd. "Someone dressed in soft robes? Those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet." The crowds went out to see one arrayed not in comfortable soft raiment but in the rugged prophet's garb of camel hair and leather. The old saw has it ...

3. Christmas Questions

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

John Jamison

This passage has puzzled me. The story is pretty simple; John the Baptist sends some of his followers to talk to Jesus, to ask him if he is really the Messiah they have been waiting for, or if they should keep looking. Rather than getting into a bunch of theological jargon, which God's Son could probably do even better than most preachers, Jesus simply tells them to look around at what they see go...

4. Are You the One?

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Johnny Dean

H. A. Williams, one of the leading preachers and theologians of the Church of England, titled his autobiography, Someday I’ll Find You. That may seem like an unusual title for an autobiography, but if you read the book, as I did when I was a seminary student, it begins to make sense. You see, there was a period in Dr. Williams’ life when he was almost totally incapacitated by phobic anxieties. He ...

5. How Do You Know?

Matthew 11:1-19

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Knowing Jesus is God's promised one who was to come. Props: I do not use any props in the text but a letter with your name on it or other items that identify you may be used. Work them in at the appropriate time. This Children's Sermon must be adapted to fit each person’s family name and vocation if someone other than the minister is giving it. If you are a teacher by vocation bri...

6. How to Handle Criticism

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

It is impossible to go through life without being criticized. If you try to accomplish something, you will be criticized. If you are satisfied to loaf, you will be criticized for that. I heard about a department store that made a big fuss over its millionth customer. The store president made a speech in her honor. She was given gifts. Her picture was taken for the paper. After these ceremon...

7. The Struggle of Faith

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

A local pastor for ten years, the author of a number of publications in the area of pastoral care and counseling, WILLIAM B. OGLESBY, JR., has been from 1952 to the present Marthina DeFriece Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He is a past president of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and a Diplomate of the American Association of Pastoral Cou...

8. The Unexpected Universe

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

It has already caused a stir in the minds of many. Long- held doubts have surfaced. A steady skepticism seems to be reinforced. The college cynic seems to be confirmed. And the village atheist smiles in self-congratulation. But there it was nevertheless. Time magazine's cover story asking whether the Bible really can be verified from an archeological point of view. Were the patriarchs, Abraham, Is...

9. Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's gospel reading stretches over two separate pericopes. Each has a distinct message, and each shares some common concerns. Both are within Matthew 11 a chapter devoted to answering a single question. In 11:2, the imprisoned John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" Although Jesus' first response uses positive im...

10. Matthew 11:2-11

Matthew 11:2-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Matthew is closing out his treatment of the emergence of Jesus' preaching, teaching and healing ministry (4:12-11:1) and opening up a more dialectical section in which he focuses just as intently upon the response Jesus' works and words evoke as on the events themselves. The crowds and the disciples lap up Jesus' words and deeds. But the religious authorities are growing more restive and rigid, co...

11. Matthew 11:2-11

Matthew 11:1-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week we continue in the season of Advent, the season of preparation for the Incarnation. The gospel text for this week reminds us of all the divinely-laid groundwork that paved the road to redemption. Matthew concludes with Jesus’ words to his own disciples as he sends them out on their missionary travels. But surprisingly, Matthew’s text returns to the figure of John the Baptist. For those o...

12. The Water Witcher

Matthew 11:1-19

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

Theme: Difficulty of believing and the possiblity of doubt turned into faith Characters: Grandfather Willard Adamson Grandson Joey (eleven years old or younger) Slick (skeptic neighbor) Tone: Nurturing relationship, encouragement Setting/Props: Imaginary tool shed Paintbrushes Paint Imaginary old-fashioned well pump Cup Y-shaped stick One option that may enhance the scene would be an actual o...

13. Jesus as Isaianic Messiah and Wisdom Embodied

Matthew 11:1-19

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Matthew demonstrates Jesus to be the Messiah, who signals the kingdom’s arrival by his acts of healing and preaching of good news and confounds human expectations by embodying the wisdom of God. Understanding the Text This passage begins a two-chapter account of various responses to who Jesus is and to his kingdom message among the Jewish people of Galilee. Beginning with John the Baptis...

14. If You Are Looking for a Savior...

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

James L. Killen

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyon...

15. Jesus and John the Baptist

Matthew 11:1-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

11:2–16:20 Review · Rejection by leaders and Jesus’s withdrawal from conflict:In Matthew 11:2–16:20, Matthew narrates Jesus’s ongoing ministry to Israel in the face of increased confrontation with and rejection by Jewish leaders. Faced with these controversies, Jesus withdraws from confrontation and instead turns to compassionate ministry focused on the Jewish crowds (12:15; 14:13; 15:21, 30). Mat...

16. Jesus and John the Baptist

Matthew 11:1-19

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

11:1–6 Verse 1 of chapter 11 marks the transition to a new section in Matthew’s Gospel. Once again we find the same formula that was used at the end of the Sermon on the Mount (kai egeneto hote etelesen ho Iēsous; cf. 7:28). Up to this point the public ministry of Jesus has met with success. Now the atmosphere changes, and hostility begins to manifest itself. Having finished giving instructions to...

17. Preparing the Way

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida. It destroyed entire communities and killed 26 people, obliterated more than 25,000 homes, and damaged more than 100,000 others. I remember one news program was going through a residential area where it looked like every single home had been blown to smithereens by bombs. There, in the midst of all that devastation stood three houses. Each of the house...

18. Passing the Torch

Matthew 11:2-11

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight - indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. (based on Malachi 3:1) Collect Lord, we recall that when John the Baptist was taken from your people a greater prophet emerged. Despite that example we struggle wh...

19. So Just What Do You Want Anyway?

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship The winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, all who are beloved by God, and speed into his presence. (based on Song of Solomon 2:11-13) Collect Lord, your world is b...

20. Prayer

Matthew 11:1-19

Bulletin Aid

Who is Jesus? The Babe of Bethlehem? A kid like other kids? A village carpenter? A story-teller? A miracle worker? A convincing preacher? A troublemaker? A political radical? The Messiah? A convicted criminal? The Risen Savior? All of these ... And more BUT ... Who is Jesus? And how does his history affect me? How I live? What I do?... Where I'm going? I know who Jesus was But I don't always kno...

21. Prayer

Matthew 11:1-19

Bulletin Aid

Stephen Brown

We wander in the wilderness… O God. We are blinded and lost… unable to see the pain, hindered from envisioning healing, unwilling to see wholeness. We are deaf and lost… we cannot hear the cries, we ignore the pleading, we will not listen for hope. We are lame and lost… afraid to walk among the darkness in the streets, refusing to pass by the battlefields, given up marching for peace. We are s...

22. Remaining Faithful to the Lord

Matthew 11:1-19

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Wait upon the Lord; be strong and let your hearts take courage! People: We do wait upon God's promise and healing power in the world today. Leader: Wait upon the Lord; be strong and let your hearts take courage! People: Teach us Your ways, O Lord, and lead us to follow Your paths. Leader: Wait upon the Lord; be strong and let your hearts sing praise! All: Blessed be the nam...

23. Third Sunday in Advent

Matthew 11:1-19

Bulletin Aid

Call to Worship Pastor: We have twenty centuries of church history giving evidence that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah. People: We have heard from others, and we have seen for ourselves, what wonderful things God does through his Son Jesus, our Savior. Pastor: Truly, God is present in his Son to heal the brokenness of his world! People: Jesus is our Lord, the Messiah who brings God's sa...

24. The Christian Walk

Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 11:1-19

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Let all who would follow Christ come together this day and worship. People: For some in the world complain if we eat and celebrate God's love, Leader: Yet others complain if we mourn and long for the day Christ returns. People: Only in the Lord are we given the key to truly living each day. Leader: Then let us celebrate and lift our voices in praise for God's love! All: Ble...

25. Proper 9

Gen 24:1-67, Zech 9:9-13, Rom 7:7-25; 8:1-17, Mt 11:1-19, 25-30

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Isaac marries Rebecca. Abraham, being very old, was anxious to get Isaac a wife before he died, a wife from his own people. He sent a trusted servant to go back to his homeland to look for a wife. The servant succeeded in getting Rebecca, daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother, Nahor. When Rebecca arrived, it was love at ...

Showing 1 to 25 of 173 results