Sermon and Worship Resources

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Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... 1:38-50: King Solomon anointed king Hebrews 1: The Son of God anointed 2 Corinthians 2:12-17: The Fragrance of Christ Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ anointing at Bethany just before his betrayal (26:6-16) Mark’s Witness to Jesus’ anointing at Bethany just before ... others, who provided for them out of their resources. Image Exegesis: The Sweet Fragrance of Brokenness “Your Name is as ointment poured forth.” Song of Solomon (1:3) Matthew, Mark, and John all tell a story about an anointing of Jesus ...

2. The Prophet of Locusts and Honey

Luke 3:1-20, Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... farm in ruins, she fed herself and her children from the jars of vegetables and honey until the farm could be renewed. But more than that, a sweetness had come into her life that she couldn’t explain, except that she had found the Jesus that the pastor had spoken of, and he had ... Covenant History (Hebrews 11) The Prophecy About John the Baptist (Luke 1) John the Baptist’s Prophecy and His Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3; Mark 1:1-11; John 1:1-34) Peter’s Sermon and the Prophesy of Joel (Acts 2:14-41) The ...

3. Bittersweet

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... take a bite. And he didn’t have the heart to tell her. He took another bite, stored it in his cheek, and said sweetly, “Thank you Sonja! These are delicious!” When she ran out of sight, he discretely disposed of the remainder in a napkin and a ... Isaiah of the Bearing of Gifts from Medea and Sheba (Isaiah 60) Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: Following Jesus Can be BitterSweet. Matthew’s Witness to the Visit of the Magi to Bethlehem After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King ...

4. The Great Dinner

Luke 14:1-14, Luke 14:15-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... Jesus is already at the table. I’d like to invite you now to come forward to the table of the Lord and to receive a sweet roll and some juice. And beside the rolls and juice, you’ll find a tray with little crosses that say “Jesus loves you.” Take one ... so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Story of a Wedding Banquet Told in Jerusalem in His Last Week Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying ...

5. Sweet Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... 15) Israel’s Wickedness (Hosea 10) The Song of God’s Vineyard (Isaiah 5) Jesus’ Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Luke 20:9-19; Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12) The Fruit of the Spirit Described by Paul (Galatians 5) Image Exegesis: Fruit Sometimes you can’t ... brawlers, revelers (who would waste the wine in drunkenness instead of seeing it as sacramental). Grapes are either bitter or sweet. The passage draws upon the rich scriptural heritage of “bearing fruit” which goes all the way back to the ...

6. 2025 Lent Sermon Series

Sermon

Various Authors

... 10. Creation Reborn - John 20:1-18 What If It’s ALL True? by Lori Wagner 1. The Wild Within – Luke 4:1-13 · Mark 1:9-13 · Matthew 4:1-11 2. It’s Okay to Cry – Luke 13:31-35 3. Fertilize Your Faith – Luke 13:1-9 4. The Prodigal – Luke 15:11-32 5. The Sweet Scent of Death – Luke 12:1-8 6. The Lamb - Luke 19:28-44 · Matthew 21:1-11 · Mark 11:1-11 · John 12:12-19 7. Pilate’s Ruse - Luke 22:66--23:25 8. What If It’s ALL True? - John ...

7. The Lost Five Commandments

Mark 12:35-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and nose with the scruff and scent of a rainbow pile of leafy leftovers. Leaf piles, piles of the past glory of summer’s sweetness, are worth inhaling with our body and our souls. Other piles are not so worthy or rewarding. Our culture of “too much is never ... me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28‑30) And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (Luke 12:25) Peace I leave ...

8. The Lord’s Prayer and The Stones-Serpents-Scorpions Story

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... telling, gives his disciples exactly what they ask for — a “formulaic” prayer. The “Lord’s Prayer” or “Pater Noster” is found both in Matthew and in Luke — suggesting a “Q” source. But while Matthew’s version is proclaimed publically at the “Sermon on the Mount,” and is more detailed and eloquent, Luke’s version is short, sweet, and offered privately to Jesus’ closest disciples. For twenty-first century Christians, the initial address of “Father” is not startling. But for ...

9. Sparkle

Luke 4:31-37

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... incense.] Incense too would be said to chase away such unwanted and unclean spirits, as they would be uncomfortable with the sweet smells of prayer coming from synagogue and temple. It was said of course that wherever and whenever one praised God, ... come onto his radar, so much so, that at the time of his trial, Herod would pass him on, finding no crime in him. Matthew also saws that Jesus “withdrew” to Galilee (to Capernaum). He didn’t just decide on a “lake view” home; he may have been in hiding ...

10. Bitter-Sweet Recollections

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... also felt forsaken by God, crying out, "MY God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) It is the only word of the seven from the cross that Matthew gives, and it is the only word given in the original tongue, Aramaic, "Eli, Eli, la ... Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame." I’ll See You Over There! When you and I stand in our loss and grief, with bitter-sweet recollections of our dear ones, we whisper a parting word in the death-deaf ear, "I’ll see you over there," "I’ll meet you in ...

11. Fruitcakes, Fruit-Baskets and New Year’s Babies

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... especially to the kids.] I am one of a small minority, I know. I actually like fruitcake. Come on, it’s moist; it’s sweet; it’s nutty; it’s got a rich bouquet; it’s texture is unparalleled. That said . . . . There is no more maligned food than the ... concept of an “unpardonable sin,” a sin usually associated with bad mouthing the Holy Spirit. You can find this mentioned in Matthew, Mark and Luke: Matthew 12:31-32; Luke 12:10; and Mark 3:29. Anyone who has grown up in the church has wondered at one ...

12. John 12:1-8

John 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is a scene that is described in all four gospels, yet each rendition has a separate set of details. Matthew and Mark’s versions (Mark 14:3-9; Matthew 26:6-13) have the most in common. John’s description is very similar. Luke’s description (Luke 7: ... transformed life bringing an unexpected richness and sweetness. But even into this fragrant environment John wafts a whiff of what is to come. John identifies Judas as a sour note within this atmosphere of sweetness. As in 6:71 John specifically identifies ...

13. Be a Bethany

John 12:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

14. The Way Up Is the Way Down

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Phil Thrailkill

... that the person who can’t, they are offended. So be it! Their souls have grown flabby, their brains turned to mush! They want sweet relief from Pastor Feel-Good, not the informed, sustained repentance which is the only path to spiritual growth, in my life or in theirs ... see the world through the eyes of the one person who best understands both it and us. To enter these three chapters, Matthew 5 through 7, is to enroll in a program tougher than Parris Island and more intellectually demanding that any Ph.D. ...

15. Soul Food

Luke 9:10-17, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, John 6:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... bit of faith. Then add the first two mixtures into the third. Toss in the seeds of God’s Word –the Son, and add the sweet love of Jesus. Knead deeply 10 minutes in order to allow God to enfold the Holy Spirit within you. Cover with plastic wrap and allow ... Feasting from Leviathan (29-30) The Apocryphal Book of 2 Esdras 6:49-52: The Prophecy of God’s Provision From Leviathan Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Feeding of 5000 People [Now when Jesus heard about John the Baptist’s murder], he withdrew from ...

16. Soul-Scrubbing

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... that God exalts the humble but opposes the proud (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14; James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5). If we are ever going to hear his voice, we must embrace humility. Jesus was humble in heart (Matthew 11:29), and so are all of his intimate ... "cat-box." The same bad smell still lingers undisturbed underneath, but now it is made ludicrous by the false sweetness that hangs over it. Churches and Christians bloated by spiritual pride and arrogance stink. Literally. Despite the apparent smugness ...

17. What's The Bottom Line?

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

George Johnson

... a while, as individuals and as a church. Why am I here - why are we doing this - what's the bottom line? In our text from Matthew we are encouraged to ask the question, when all is said and done, what's the bottom line. What is our ultimate purpose for living? ... the scriptures. This is one of the most compelling. To have the best harvest of grapes, to make sure the grapes are good, sweet, tasty and high quality, the lover who owns the vineyard pulls out all the stops. Notice what is done for the vineyard. A ...

18. The Parable of the Soil

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... hungry birds. More common than out-right hard-packed, hard-driven, hard-heartedness is the short-lived sweetness of shallowness. Nobody has better mastered the art of sowing and reaping the rootless commitments of wanna- ... /video, etc). [The lyrics are here along with the song in the background, so your people can sing the song along with Matthew West: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGVazfjJPLo ] Matthew West, “Motions” This might hurt It’s not safe But I know that I’ve gotta make a change I don’t ...

19. Have You Checked Your Love Levels Recently?

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... his ship and a safe landing. If you grew up east of the Rockies, there is a good chance you have some sweet summer memories of catching fireflies. Cupping those little critters in your hand and then cracking your fingers open to catch them going ... relationship that brings about this miraculous illumination — “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (Mark 9:7) Mark and Matthew both focus the beam of Jesus’ divine radiance on love, but the Luke inclusion encourages us to see this radiance as the ...

20. Apples, Onions, and Cheese

Mark 7:1-23, Mark 7:24-30

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... “taste and see.” No matter what or who something looks like on the outside, if the inside isn’t good, there’s nothing sweet about it. It’s the inside that counts –the part you taste. You can peel off bad clothing. You can peel off bad habits ... the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart. O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51) In Mark, Matthew, and Luke, we see Jesus having it out with some of the Pharisees from Jerusalem. The topic is “defilement.” What does it ...

21. Third Day

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... Hope and the Giver of Life. HE is your God. And He has come …for you today with the power to turn water into the sweet wine of salvation. For today is the Day. Those who follow Jesus, those who trust in Him, recognize Him, believe in Him, commit heart and ... raised on the “third day” in 1 Corinthians 15, and he notes that it is “written.” Similar are Jesus’ references (Luke 24:46, Matthew 12:40, 16:21, and 17:23). Where was it written? We have hints in the Torah and prophets about Third Day. But ...

22. And It Came To Pass

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

... theology, but of practical piety: How tedious and tasteless the hours When Jesus no longer I see! Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers, Have all lost their sweetness to me; The mid-summer sun shines but dim, The fields strive in vain to look gay ... the overwhelming debacle, wherein everything seemed lost, is the sure mark that Jesus meant what he said: "Lo, I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). God’s power is never so available as when we are reduced to the extremity of despair. We are never told ...

23. Live and Learn

Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... as life-long learners and to pass that love for learning along to the world: “Go therefore and make ‘disciples’ of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). A call to discipleship is a call to enroll more and more people in “Jesus School” — a school from which ... book. The student then licks the honey off the page when he/she turns the page. The sweetness of this honey is forever linked to the act of learning. The sweetness of learning is to be a lifelong craving. Have any of you seen the “My Baby Can ...

24. No Cleansing, No Refreshment

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... chocolate or long for a steak or loath going to the gym, that “roughed-up” moment reminds you of why you have sloughed off sweets or meat or sloth. Every craving should remind you of Christ. If you are “cleansing” your temple, your mind/body/spirit through some ... with them. The accusation that Jesus said he would destroy the Temple was one of those levied against him at his trial (Matthew 26:60,61; Mark 14:57-59). Stephen, the first Christian martyr, had that accusation flung at him as well (Acts 6: ...

25. An Invitation to a Wedding

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... it was Harrison who introduced the Beatles to Eastern religion in the 60s and (after the group broke up) wrote “My Sweet Lord.” To the end of his life, Harrison continued to investigate spiritual matters. He summed up his priorities this way: “ ... . The Jokesmith. 3. Aiken@AikensLaughs.com (Aiken Drum). 4. Matthew for Everyone: Part Two, p. 82. Cited by Samuel D. Zumwalt, http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-7/051009-7-e.html. 5. Ibid. Matthew for Everyone: Part Two, pp. 84-85. 6. Pastor ...

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