Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. A Model of Faith

Mark 7:24-30

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

It may come as a shock to most Christians today, but we would do better to use this woman as a model of faith even more than the disciples. After all, we are neither Jewish nor Galilean; we have no familial claim or geographical claim to Jesus. While the woman learns that the power of faith lies internally, the disciples learn that faith can't be measured by proximity to Jesus. They are right nex...

2. Comfort, protection, and Safety Seed

Matthew 13:31-32

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

The mustard seed can get stuck under the tip of a fingernail. It is so small that you could grasp it in your palm and not feel it. Yet, from the smallest seed grows a shrub as large as a tree; it is not just tall but is also wide. It was known as the poor man's fence providing shade and protection at no cost. It kept predators out and children in. The mustard plant was thick providing nests for bi...

3. Deus Interruptus

Mark 6:45-56

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

Jesus and the disciples had been in Capernaum on the north side of of Sea of Galillee and now headed for Bethsaida (on the NE side of the Sea of Galilee) when the evening's storm blew them to Gennesaret instead (the NW side of the Sea of Galilee), essentially blowing them backwards -- in the opposite direction that they wanted to go. Notice our Lord's response. He does not tell the Apostles to set...

4. Four Views of the Gospels

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

In this single chapter there are four views of the same God: A coin lost through no choice of its own; a sheep that strays because it hasn't the sense to know better; a boy who chooses to get lost but learns the hard way what real love means; and a brother who rejects pure love and chooses hatred and self-righteousness when he could have known pure joy. Which story am I living out today? Herein ...

5. Priorities

Mark 5: 21-43

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

What is at about human nature that makes us put off the most important things until a crisis looms? So often we coast in our relationships until they skid into a crisis. We think nothing of spending thousands on a car and blindly drive it by the homeless shelter everyday. We think nothing of a sixty-hour workweek but can't find time for dinner as a family. We live lives of loneliness and sorrow b...

6. Stopping Pettiness

Mark 9:38-41

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

All too often, gossip, silence, and exclusion serve just these purposes, cutting off the prophetic from the congregation. This is what the Apostles were doing to this one man "caught healing." They were demanding that Jesus hobble his powerful works because he wasn't one of them. We can stop our pettiness by taking four actions: 1. Get out in the harvest. Recognize the crisis in harvesters an...

7. Taking the Lead

Matt 11:16-19

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

When I was a single man, my definition of a bad date was someone who would never tell you what they wanted to do—but always tell you what they didn't want to do. The conversation often went like this: "What would you like to do?" "Anything you want to do." "Well, how about let's eat Chinese food tonight." "No, I hate Chinese food, let's do something else." "Okay, how about we eat a Mexican m...

8. The Man in the Middle

Luke 23:26-43

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

Luke, the painter, sketches a scene for us that should be imprinted upon our hearts for eternity: Two men – "evil doers" – only a few meters apart, and Jesus, the man in the middle. All three are suffering the most horrific torture that the decadent Roman Empire could concoct. Two men suffer for their sins; one man suffers for the sins of others. For one of these two men, death will be liberati...

9. Using Up the Ground

Luke 13:6-9

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

Soil was at a premium in Israel. It was not unusual for a vineyard owner to give a little bit of his soil up for a fruit tree but the tree took up the best soil, the deepest soil, and required the most water. A fig tree doesn't grow fruit until three years after planting. The owner in this story, had given the tree "due season" to bear fruit and yet the tree bore no fruit. It took up valuable spac...

Showing 1 to 9 of 9all results

Showing all results

1. A Model of Faith

Mark 7:24-30

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

2. Comfort, protection, and Safety Seed

Matthew 13:31-32

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

3. Deus Interruptus

Mark 6:45-56

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

4. Four Views of the Gospels

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

5. Priorities

Mark 5: 21-43

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

6. Stopping Pettiness

Mark 9:38-41

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

7. Taking the Lead

Matt 11:16-19

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

8. The Man in the Middle

Luke 23:26-43

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

9. Using Up the Ground

Luke 13:6-9

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

Showing 1 to 9 of 9all results