Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. A Flock of Sheep or a Pack of Wolves?

Matthew 7:15-23

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

Pierre von Paassen in his book Days of Our Years, tells of a hunchback, Ugolin, who lived in a small French village. He had a hard time because he was a monstrous looking creature. Children would not play with him. One night some drinking men starting making fun of him. They kicked him, spit on him, tore off his clothes, and finally left him in a pool of blood. Later that night the local priest fo...

2. A Happy Ending

John 20:1-18

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

Our time of tears throughout Lent has come to a happy ending with tears of joy over the Resurrection. A father took his little boy to a pet shop to pick out a puppy for his birthday present. For half an hour he looked at the assortment in the window. "Decided which one you want?" asked his Daddy. "Yes," the little fellow replied, pointing to one which was enthusiastically wagging his tail. "I want...

3. A History Of Epiphany

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the church year. In Asia Minor and Egypt, Epiphany was observed as early as the second century. The Festival of the Epiphany fell and still falls on January 6. It was observed as a unitive festival -- both the birth and baptism of Jesus were celebrated at this time. January 6 was chosen as Epiphany Day because it was the winter solstice, a pagan fe...

4. A House of Prayer

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

Leslie Weatherhead in his book, A Private House Of Prayer, suggests that the structure of the content of prayer be likened to a house of seven rooms. Each room is a division of prayer. There may be some duplication with ACTSS which we just discussed. The first room is for the affirmation of God's presence. If prayer is a conversation with God, obviously it is necessary for him to be present. When...

5. A King Worth Having

Zechariah 9:9-13

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the...

6. A Matter of Life and Breath

John 20:19-23

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

Pentecost I On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even...

7. A New Star

Matthew 2:1-12

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

In October, 1989, a new star was added to the 1900 stars on the famed sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard. The new star was placed near the stars of Julie Andrews and Wayne Newton. The new star, as curious as it seems, was evangelist Billy Graham, who has preached the gospel to more than 100 million people around the world. Forty years ago he refused to have his name on a star, but he reconsidered it ...

8. A Revealing Reflection

Matthew 1:18-25

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

In Rome's Barberini Palace there is a great painting by Guido Reni. It is a masterpiece showing the chariot of the sun coming through the clouds, horses and clouds, and darkness and light. The painting is very difficult to see because it is on a ceiling. The problem has been overcome by placing a long table with a mirror top underneath the painting. The mirror reflects exactly the painting on the ...

9. Adam’s Prime Rib

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

When William Jennings Bryan went to the father of the young woman whom he loved to ask her hand in marriage, he remembered that the father was a strong religious believer, so he quoted a proverb of Solomon from the Bible: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.” But the father surprised him by responding with a quote from St. Paul, “He who marries his betrothed does well; and he who refrains from...

10. Advent 1

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Jeremiah 33:1-26, Luke 21:5-38

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are coming when Yahweh will fulfill his promise to send a son of David who will save his people. This prophecy by a post-exilic author is a repetition of Jeremiah's original promise in 23:5-6. Jeremiah predicted that the Davidic kingdom would be restored soon after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. when Judah was carried captive to Babylon. Dur...

11. Advent 1

Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:8-14

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Isaiah 2:1-5 (C, RC, E) In the "latter days" all the nations will come to Yahweh and make peace. This passage is repeated in Micah 4:1-3. Scholars claim that it was a later insertion. It tells us what will happen in the latter days, the end-time of earth. The house of the Lord, or Yahweh, will be the highest mountain and center of the earth. All nations will come to him for i...

12. Advent 1

Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1-8 This pericope comes from the third section of Isaiah (chapters 56-66). It was written by an unknown author(s) in the period of 540-500 B.C. The Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. The exiles find a pathetic situation: Jerusalem is desolate and the temple has been burned to the ground. This passage is a lament and a cry for God to co...

13. Advent 2

Isaiah 11:1-16, Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 14:1--15:13

Bulletin Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10 Isaiah describes the character and work of the promised Messiah, the son of David. Here Judah is given the promise of a Davidic king-messiah who is the basis for hope for the future. The king-messiah possesses the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit. Accordingly, he has a government characterized by justice and righteousness. His only weapon is word of mouth. As...

14. Advent 2

Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 40:1-11 These verses open the second part of Isaiah dealing with the exiles in Babylon. The opening verses constitute good news to a people sitting in the darkness of bondage and despair. God tells second Isaiah to comfort the people with the news of promised deliverance. They have suffered enough. A highway is to be built for God to come and rescue his people and...

15. Advent 2

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-20, Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Malachi 3:1-4 Yahweh promises to send his messenger to prepare the way for his coming. The messenger is the center of this pericope. Malachi means my messenger." (v. 1) The book was written by an unknown prophet who considered himself the messenger to prepare the way for Yahweh's coming to the rebuilt temple after the return of the Exiles from Babylon. When Yahweh comes,...

16. Advent 3

Lk 3:7-18 · Phil 4:4-7 · Zeph 3:14-20 · Isa 12:2-6

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Zephaniah 3:14-20 Rejoice, for Yahweh will restore his people to their homeland. This is the only use of Zephaniah in the three-year Lectionary. Zephaniah lived during the reign of Josiah in the seventh century, prior to the Babylonian captivity. Our pericope is considered an addition by an unknown author of the Deutero-Isaiah period. The passage gives good news of salva...

17. Advent 3

Luke 13:1-9, Exodus 3:1-22, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Isaiah 55:1-9 Yahweh will have mercy on all sinners who come to him. This lection is in the last chapter of Deutero-Isaiah. It is a fitting and beautiful invitation to the Exiles in Babylon to return to Yahweh. If they return, they will receive the mercy of forgiveness. Lesson 1: Exodus 3:1-15 Moses is called to deliver God's people from bondage in Egypt. While tending his f...

18. Advent 3

Lk 3:7-18 · Php 4:4-13 · Zeph 3:14-20

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Zephaniah 3:14-20 Rejoice, for Yahweh will restore his people to their homeland. This is the only use of Zephaniah in the three-year Lectionary. Zephaniah lived during the reign of Josiah in the 7th century, prior to the Babylonian captivity. Our pericope is considered an addition by an unknown author of the Deutero-Isaiah period. The passage gives good news of salvation to those in ex...

19. Advent 3

Romans 14:1--15:13, Matthew 11:1-19, James 5:7-12, Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

20. Advent 3

Isaiah 61:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, John 1:1-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Isaiah 61:1-13 is the text for Jesus' inaugural sermon at Nazareth (Luke 4). It gave the forecast of his ministry. This passage comes from an unknown author of the sixth century B.C. when the Babylonian exiles returned to Judea and found their country in ruins. It constituted a message of good news of liberation and comfort. Verses 10-11 comprise Isra...

21. Advent 3

Lk 3:7-18 · Phil 4:4-7 · Zeph 3:14-20 · Isa 12:2-6

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

22. Advent 4

Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:46-56, Micah 5:1-4, Hebrews 10:1-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

THE LESSONS Lesson 1: Micah 5:2-5a Out of Bethlehem will come a shepherd king who will be great. Micah was a prophet of the seventh century during the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah. The first three chapters are considered to be the work of Micah, but chapters 4 and 5 are believed to be the work of an unknown author writing during or near the end of the Babylonian exile. In the dark years of the exi...

23. Advent 4

Lk 1:39-55 · Heb 10:5-10 · Mic 5:1-4

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Micah 5:1-4 Out of Bethlehem will come a shepherd king who will be great. Micah was a prophet of the seventh century during the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah. The first three chapters are considered to be the work of Micah, but chapters 4 and 5 are believed to be the work of an unknown author writing during or near the end of the Babylonian exile. In the dark years of the exile, the Jews...

24. Advent 4

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

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10-16 (C); Isaiah 7:10-14 (RC); Isaiah 7:10-17 (E) Yahweh gave King Ahaz the sign of a child as deliverance. The historical situation behind this Lesson needs to be known for an understanding of the passage. It was the time of the Syro-Ephramite war (736-734 B.C.). Israel and Syria joined in an attack on Judah and King Ahaz. He planned to get help from Assyria, but Y...

25. Advent 4

2 Samuel 7:1-17, Romans 16:1-27, Luke 1:26-38

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 David tells his prophet, Nathan, that he wants to build a temple for Yahweh. But this idea is rejected. Yahweh declares instead that he will make a house out of David. He promises David that he will make his name great, give him rest from his enemies and will establish him in an everlasting kingdom. David was promised that his descendants would rule G...

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