Sermon and Worship Resources

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Mark 6:1-6

Children's Sermon

... learning about the habits of a particular kind of insect or a constellation or a disease of someone in your congregation. There are all kinds of possibilities. This week pick something to learn with your child that they are interested in. Encourage the learning habits of developing wisdom. Teachers: The fear of many teachers is a certain amount of time to teach a certain amount of material being thrown completely off by questions they can't answer. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know, but let's find out ...

2. Arrested Development

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... be what you ought to be. Spiritual maturity is not a process of gaining things that you did not have when you became a believer. For example, consider a newborn baby. It isn’t born without arms, and then gets them later. It’s not a pollywog. It doesn’t develop into a frog. When a baby is born, it has all the physical equipment it will ever have. In fact, the older we get, the more stuff we lose! When you were born in Christ, you were made spiritually whole and have all you will ever need to become ...

3. Developing a Glad Attitude

1 Timothy 6:3-10

Sermon

Clayton A. Lord

... can only come through the acquisition of more and more material things. If you think this is something new, then you need to look back to Paul's second letter to Timothy. As Paul is giving his final instructions to his young friend, he talks about developing an attitude that will open the door to happiness. Paul has experienced it all in his life and he speaks from personal example. He begins by saying that contentment begins with an attitude. We all know people who have so many blessings in their lives and ...

4. Developing Your Gifts

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

One of Ripley's "Believe It or Not" items pictured a plain bar of iron worth $5. The same bar of iron if made into horse shoes would be worth $50. If it were made into needles, it would be worth $5,000. If it were made into balance springs for fine Swiss watches, it would be worth $500,000. The raw material is not as important as how it's developed. God says we have spiritual gifts, but their worth to Him will be dependent on how we develop them.

5. Develop Leaders—Humbly

Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... from your role as a spiritual leader—a person with the responsibility of influencing God's people in God's direction—in your family, in your community, at your church, and yes, even at work. Today, I want to talk about developing leaders humbly. I. SPIRITUAL LEADERS CLOTHE THEMSELVES IN CHRIST. In the scripture lesson for today in Verse 12 Paul says, “Clothe yourselves with compassion and kindness and humility and genuineness and patience." Clothing stores have a saying which goes, “Clothes make ...

6. Developing Leaders

Illustration

Staff

An ancient Persian proverb offers the following excellent advice on developing leaders: He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool—shun him. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not is a child—teach him. He who knows, and knows not that he knows is asleep—wake him. He who knows, and knows that he knows is wise—follow him.

7. Developing Staying Power

1 Peter 4:12-19

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

Some people read this passage, and they decide that everything that happens to us is to be seen as a "blessing" from God. They will tell you, quite straightforwardly, that God has every event of your life planned, including anything that seems to be bad at the time. If that gives them faith that everything will come out right in the end, it could be a blessing. But too often, what happens is that we then think that every evil thing that happens is visited on us by God. And instead of being led to a renewed ...

8. Arresting Developments

Mark 1:9-15

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. Collect To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul ... Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Amen. (Psalm 25:1, 4-5) Prayer Of Confession Jesus, the waters of forgiveness are calling. The time is here. As we proclaim you Lord and Savior, we also pledge to live these words more than ...

9. The Exorcism of a Child Develops a Humble Model for Faith

Mark 9:14-32

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: This event is another fulcrum in the book, as three primary Markan themes coalesce: (1) the power and compassion of Christ, (2) demonic conflict, and (3) discipleship failure. Understanding the Text This is a classic example of the mountaintop/valley experience. The innermost circle of disciples experienced the glory of God in Jesus, as great a spiritual “high” as anyone in history has known. Now they are about to join the rest of the Twelve as they descend into the valley and face one of the ...

10. Cain and Abel

Genesis 4:1-26

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... that cultural center, as was the case with the Tower of Babel (11:1–9). Or the citizens of a city may use the urban environment for advancing the pursuit of pleasure, as was the case in Sodom (13:13; 18:20–21). Thus cities can develop such a self-sufficient culture that their citizens come to live without regard for either God or high moral standards. Cities then have the potential of becoming centers of rebellion against God. In extreme cases like Sodom and Gomorrah, God was moved to judge such centers ...

11. Dead or Alive?

Joel 2:28-32

Sermon

... man. It’s an old, simple, tried-and-true formula that has worked again and again for countless persons through the ages. But what is it like to be alive in Christ? Saint Paul indicated that a maturation process is involved. Many stages of development are to be expected. Born again persons grow in grace. Babes in Christ move toward maturity and fullness of stature. The common identifying characteristic is that of love trying to respond in obedience to the love of God. This leads toward the highest level ...

12. Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles

Ephesians 3:1-13

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... of the Gospel 3:1 As indicated in the introduction, the phrase for this reason points back to the theological ideas that have been developed in the preceding section and that lead the apostle to prayer. I, Paul, is an emphatic expression designed to draw attention to the ... sense, one could say that God’s purpose for the Gentiles was made known. But this is far short of the development in Ephesians, which envisions a universal community in which Jew and Gentile have equal share in what is to become known as ...

13. Making One's Calling and Election Sure

2 Peter 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... Note on 1 Pet. 1:7. The Greek noun aretē is here (and in 1:5) translated in its primary sense of goodness, moral excellence (“virtue” in KJV). But the word (which occurs in the NT only in Phil. 4:8; 1 Pet. 2:9; 2 Pet. 1:3, 5) develops in meaning. It is treated as a synonym for doxa (glory) in Isa. 42:8, 12 (LXX), and renders the Hebrew hōḏ (splendor) in Hab. 3:3 and, in a messianic context, in Zech. 6:13. Finally, aretē comes to express the manifestation of divine power, i.e., miracle, which ...

14. One Body, Many Parts

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... Corinth was diversity run wild. 12:13 From the outset of this discussion it is clear that this metaphor is possible because of the unifying work of the Spirit. The emphasis on unity cuts sharply across all social boundaries. Then, as Paul develops the metaphor, he ponders the significance of “body” from alternating points of view. Paul expands, or perhaps even mixes his metaphors, with the additional reference to being baptized by one Spirit into one body. Nevertheless, this expansion of the basic image ...

15. The African Foundations Of Christianity

Exodus 4:1-17

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... outlines the African influences on Greek philosophy. Aristotle, Plato, and other Greek philosophers took much of their learning from the North Africans. It is believed that Plato modeled his famous "Academy" on the schools of Egypt and Luxor. In modern times Albert Schweitzer developed the "Quest of The Historical Jesus." This was an attempt by numerous scholars to discover the historical Jesus. Who was he? What did he look like? We know much about the Christ of faith, but who was this man Jesus? Can we ...

16. African-American Spirituality: The African's Gift To America

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... the war because he knew that they would be the answer to the problem of civil strife which wrecked and wracked the nation. And whatever you say about slavery, it was instituted as an answer to a problem facing American entrepreneurs and merchants. How can we develop an economy that will make us and the nation wealthy and who can we use to do the labor to sustain that economy? Who will work our fields and build our wealth? Who will nurse our children and feed our hungry bellies? Who? Our spirituality has ...

17. Meeting And Mastering Temptation

James 1:1-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , would you like to see me about strengthening your will power?" The man thought for a moment and replied, "No, what I would like to talk to you about is weakening my conscience." That reflects our age, doesn't it? We are not so much interested in developing our conscience as we are in finding a way to live the way we wish without feeling guilty. Now, another story. An extremely depressed man in Paris went one day to see a psychiatrist. His eyes were sunken and his cheeks were hollow. His back was stooped ...

18. Will The Real God Please Stand?

James 1:1-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

19. What We Want for Our Children

John 14:15-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... this. We do our children no favor when we deprive them of the opportunity of contributing to the family’s well-being. How will they discover that they are capable unless we require them to try their hand at tasks around the house? How will they develop the discipline they will need to succeed in life if we do not set expectations for them? Some parents fail their children because it is easier to avoid conflict than it is to teach them to pick up their clothes, clean their rooms, help with the housework ...

20. Warnings from Israel's History

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... :1; 2 Cor. 1:8; 1 Thess. 4:13. After this commanding opening the verses that follow in this section display a refined rhetorical character that indicates Paul’s concern and magnifies his basic argument. On the structuring of the material in 10:1–13 as a subtle exegetical development of Exod. 32:6, see W. A. Meeks, “ ‘And Rose up to Play’: Midrash and Paraenesis in 1 Corinthians 10:1–22,” JSNT 16 (1982), pp. 64–78. 10:2 The phrase into Moses (Gk. eis ton Mōysēn) is an apparent retrospective ...

21. The Fruitful Vine

John 15:1-17, 1 John 4:7-21, Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:1-31

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... new growth and the harvest was even more abundant than before. 5. Why Prune? · Not only vines but also other fruit trees need to be pruned. The secret of pruning is to cut back excess growth so that the sap can give life to new growth where fruit develops. The pruning should also let in as much sunlight as possible so that the leaves can store the energy of the sun. The pruning needs to allow space for the fruit to mature. If you want large fruit such as peaches, pears or apples, you should also thin out ...

22. The Fruitful Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... had new growth and the harvest was even more abundant than before. 5. Why Prune? Not only vines but also other fruit trees need to be pruned. The secret of pruning is to cut back excess growth so that the sap can give life to new growth where fruit develops. The pruning should also let in as much sunlight as possible so that the leaves can store the energy of the sun. The pruning needs to allow space for the fruit to mature. If you want large fruit such as peaches, pears or apples, you should also thin out ...

23. Chapter V

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Frank H. Seilhamer

... for living have been set by God. And that Divine Wind is one you can trust when you look for the principles by which to build a life. The shaping of the character of every child needs the concern of the parent. Left to himself a child often will develop into a terror that nobody, including you, can stand to have around. Like any growing thing, its shaping will be done by outward, as well as inner forces. Be certain that you, as a parent, are one of those forces, and make no excuses for being that. This ...

24. Exodus 24:12-18

Exodus 24:12-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... This focus on levels of authority has led scholars to determine that at least Exodus 24:15-18, and perhaps the entire chapter, should be viewed as being organized by a priestly group of editors who use two images to convey their organizational developments and concerns. First, there is a definitive stairstep of hierarchies leading up that smoky mountaintop pyramid. Beginning in 24:1, one sees an ever-narrowing group of chosen ones selected to draw near to God. Initially, there is a final unifying covenantal ...

25. My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Psalm 22:1-31

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 46, see also vv. 35, 39, 43), he becomes the lamenter par excellence. No other individual prayer psalm is as dark as this one (aside from Ps. 88, which complains of lifelong suffering and would be inappropriate to Jesus). Our exploration has also uncovered the developments in the psalm’s usage. It was used to express not only an individual’s lament and prayer but also a nation’s lament and praise for restoration from captivity. Now with our post–Easter vision, we can see that it foreshadows both the ...

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