Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 783 results

Drama

Jerry Nordstrom

... cost $12 more than I spent on my mother’s present! CHILD: And I want ice skates. WORKING WIFE: If you don’t like it, why don’t you do the Christmas shopping? She’s your mother, you know. CORPORATION MAN: (On phone) Hello, Linda? This is Paul Martin. You know, down the block? - Tommy’s dad. - Ah, we were wondering if you could sit with Tommy Monday the 24th. - Ah, yeah, that is Christmas Eve. - Oh. - Well, thanks anyway. - Yeah, sure, maybe some other time. WORKING WIFE: I get home from work at six ...

2. The Spiritual Fitness Demands of the New Age

Romans 7:7-25

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

... , but people rushed to the food bar to pick up oranges and other fruits to sustain them. There is something about a crisis that enables us to see life as it really is, to see values as they really are. In the Christian Century, Paul Martin makes an interesting statement: A growing measure of responsible opinion argues convincingly that had religion been doing the job it should have done, psychiatry would never have arisen as a profession. Proponents of this view say that the problem is generally not a guilt ...

3. Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory!

John 11:17-37

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... during the church year when we make a special effort to remember and celebrate all of those saints of faith who have been this way before us and are now departed. We remember such saints as Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Mary, the mother of our Lord, Peter, Paul, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Jr., and so on. We look to the example of their lives for inspiration as we struggle with what it means to live the Christian life. A day to remember the saints of the church has had a long history. In the third century ...

4. The Gift Has Arrived

Isaiah 61:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... believe that the Messiah who was to deliver Israel from her enemies could die like a common criminal on a cross. In I Corinthians 1, St. Paul calls it part of the foolishness of God. God has confounded human wisdom so that no one can boast at having either the intelligence or the ... : "I done it for love." 1. Steve Goodier, QUOTE, December 15, 1983. 2. Paul Martin, January, 1986, P. 118ff. 3. Anthony Robbins, UNLIMITED POWER, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1986). 4. Brennan Manning, LION AND LAMB, (Old Tappan, N ...

5. God's Most Welcome Gift

Isaiah 9:6-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... century Jews to believe that the Messiah who was to deliver Israel from her enemies could die like a common criminal on a cross. In I Corinthians 1, St. Paul calls it part of the foolishness of God. God has confounded human wisdom so that no one can boast at having either the intelligence or the virtue to merit salvation ... note that explains it all: “I did it for love.” 1. Steve Goodier, Quote magazine. 2. Paul Martin, p. 118ff. 3. Brennan Manning, Lion and Lamb (Old Tappan, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell).

6. Imitating Christ's Humility

Philippians 2:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... was E. Lohmeyer in the first edition of his commentary on Philippians (KEK, 1928) and in his monograph Kyrios Jesus: Eine Untersuchung zu Phil 2, 5–11. The predominant judgment on its authorship is that it was composed by someone other than Paul (see R. P. Martin, Carmen Christi, pp. 42–62). Pauline authorship, however, has been defended by M. Dibelius (ad loc.), W. Michaelis (ad loc.), E. F. Scott (ad loc.), L. Cerfaux, “L’hymne au Christ—Serviteur de Dieu (Phil. 2, 6–11=Isa. 52, 13–53 ...

7. What It Takes to Stay Christian

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... had done for a beggar, he had done for Christ. Martin’s faith had resulted in good works, and as a result, Martin’s faith was strengthened for future service. Martin of Tours was enabled to stay Christian because of his work of faith. But a Christian’s work of faith must simultaneously be linked with his labor of love. "We give thanks for you all ... remembering your work of faith and labor of love ..." Paul told the Thessalonians and us. Hard-working faith joined with long-laboring love helps insure ...

8. Mentoring Matters

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... was not frightened, nor did he run to hide behind Katy's apron. He continued singing, but in a much softer voice, not at all disturbed by his dad's censure. Martin marveled at his son's respectful joy and consideration, realizing that Hans was modeling the behavior God wants us all to exhibit. Both Luther and the apostle Paul understood that child rearing mirrors the sacred. Paul compares his relationship to the congregation at Thessalonica with that of "a father with his children" (1 Thessalonians 2:11 ...

9. Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... verb, however (apekdyomai), it is active in meaning and makes God the subject. Thus, “God stripped the evil powers of their dignity and authority” (see Lohse, pp. 111–12; Martin, pp. 86–88; Bruce, pp. 239–40; Abbott, pp. 258–61). A Manifesto of Christian Liberty 2:16 Christ’s defeat of these evil powers forms the basis for Paul’s polemic in this section. Therefore refers back to the work of Christ and his victory over those spiritual rulers and authorities that were thought to exercise power ...

10. The Gospel of God in Christ through Paul

Romans 1:1-17

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... were saved by faith. Quote: “Preface to the Complete Edition of Luther’s Latin Writings,” by Martin Luther. “I greatly longed to understand Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, and nothing stood in the way but that one expression, ‘the ... 13, 22; 9:30–31; 10:3, 4, 6, 10; see also Gal. 2:20–21; 3:6, 21–22; 5:5; Phil. 3:9). To be sure, Paul refers to faith as the basis of receiving God’s righteousness three times in Romans 1:16–17 alone. The transformative view of the phrase “righteousness of ...

11. The Story of Abraham versus the Story of Israel

Romans 4:1-25

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... 37:34 ET]; Prov. 11:31; 12:12–13; Ezek. 33:8–11; cf. Sir. 7:16–17; 9:11–12; 41:5–8).3And, if Paul’s audacious assertion that God justifies the ungodly by faith was not revolting enough, the apostle goes on to indicate that Abraham himself was ungodly ... by God to convict humankind of its sin and thereby drive people to the gospel of God’s grace in Christ. The Reformer Martin Luther recognized this long ago. Teaching the Text A couple of sermons come to mind for Romans 4:9–17a. The first, based ...

12. Hanging Around Jesus Changes You

Philippians 3:17 — 4:1

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... average American household had $16,000 in credit-card debt. Lent is a time for coming to terms with our unfaithfulness, without our waywardness and love for our bellies. This is why you and I need to hear the word of condemnation that Paul delivers in this lesson. Martin Luther was preaching a sermon on this text and made a similar point: The world cannot conduct itself in any other way, when the declaration comes from heaven saying: “True you are a holy man, a great and learned jurist... and honorable ...

13. Giving It All Up For Jesus And What’s Ahead

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... married to Christ. And in a good marriage, you become a little like your beloved spouse. You share everything in common. Martin Luther once profoundly made that point. He wrote: The third incomparable benefit of faith is that it unites the soul with ... engaged in a happy marriage, it changes you. After awhile you almost forget who you were before the relationship began! This is basically Paul’s point, his prayer for us. The past is yesterday for one who has become like Jesus and been united with him. It just ...

14. The Lamb of God

John 1:29-34

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... I'm not fearing any [man]. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."1 Those words, spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr., the night before he was assassinated in Memphis, still haunt us. To this day, they generate speculation and debate. Some ... the changes. The same thing happened to Paul and Silas. A woman was possessed by some kind of spirit that supposedly gave her psychic powers. Paul and Silas were preaching in the area and this woman became a nuisance. Paul turned to the woman and ordered the ...

15. A Protestant (And Catholic) Way To Confess

Romans 10:8b-13

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... is good for the church, good for society, and nurtures happy believers. That happiness, that joy, even gets better when you realize what it is we Christians confess, what Paul confessed. Paul makes clear that his confession is about justification by grace through faith (vv.10,13). What we do, our works, are not what determines whether you are saved. Martin Luther made this so clear: It follows, then, that a Christian must not believe that we are justified by an other righteousness. Let all works by which we ...

16. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... that he has endured while engaged in apostolic service. These boasts prove doubly foolish, since boasting itself is foolish, and, by the opponents’ standards, suffering and weakness do not count as meritorious qualities. The intricate structure of this subsection is best observed with a diagram (cf. R. P. Martin). 11:21b Paul begins by taking up the challenge of his opponents to boast. He does not let us forget that he is affecting the role of a fool in order to make a rhetorical point about his opponents ...

17. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

18. Body / Ambassador

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... ’s whole apology. If, however, most interpreters fail to recognize the point of 4:7–5:15, they also fail to see the function of 5:16, i.e., to draw a conclusion to Paul’s previous argument. Cf. Martin Hengel, “ ‘Christos’ in Paul,” in Between Jesus and Paul (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983), pp. 65–77, 179–88 (esp. p. 71); idem, “Christological Titles in Early Christianity,” in The Messiah: Developments in Earliest Judaism and Christianity (ed. James H. Charlesworth; Minneapolis: Fortress ...

19. Visit

2 Corinthians 13:1-10, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... the Apostle to the Gentiles (CRINT 3.1; Assen: Van Gorcum, 1990). 13:3 On the comparison between Korah’s rebellion against Moses and the Corinthians’ opposition to Paul, see Philip E. Hughes, Paul’s Second Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962), pp. 477–78; Martin, 2 Corinthians, p. 474. 13:5 Cf. Judith M. Gundry Volf, Paul and Perseverance: Staying In and Falling Away (WUNT 2/37; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1990), pp. 217–25. Second Timothy 3:8 uses the same word translated ...

20. Closing

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... depending on whether the verb [parakaleisthe] is understood as passive or as middle. Here again the verb form is equivocal. Paul’s usage of the verb allows for either possibility. Martin argues: “Since Paul is hoping that the Corinthians will again live in harmony, we take the verb to be construed as the middle voice” (p. 499). This does not exclude the possibility, however, that Paul is solemnly underscoring his appeal in verse 11. Fourth, the apostle exhorts the Corinthians to be of one mind (to ...

21. The Hiddenness Of Life’s Truths: Christian Life As Surprise

2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... overcome poverty. This sort of hidden working by God gets us to focus more on him. If we can come to realize, like we heard Martin Luther did, that all our wisdom is contradicted by God, then we have nowhere to turn except to the word of God. Get it? God’ ... himself, “finding in ourselves nothing but sin, foolishness, death, and hell...”[3] The Christian’s life is hidden. That is what Paul is saying in our lesson. This confusion is what drives us back to Christ. It’s hidden because in all Christians ...

22. God Doesn’t Always Behave Like We Think He Should

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... works through vehicles that are apparently contrary to his aims. Through such lowly means, God achieves just the opposite, exalting Christ. Paul adds in our lesson, still singing the same hymn: so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend, ... like that fickle crowd waving the palms, who later called for Jesus’ death. God working through opposites helps us see our sin more clearly. Martin Luther put it this way: It is impossible for a person not to be puffed up by his good works unless he has first ...

23. Seen The Doctor Lately?

Romans 12:9-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Rejoice in hope, serve the Lord, contribute, live peaceably - just four of the ingredients of this Prescription for Holiness given to us by Paul so we can become Living Sacrifices. Michael Diduit tells us that, in St. Martin's Church in Basel, Switzerland, stands a statue of Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who had come to faith in Christ. It is said that a beggar approached Martin on a winter day, but Martin had no money, so he took off his own coat, tore it in half, and gave half to the beggar. In a dream ...

24. In Debt Forever!

Romans 13:8-14

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... did, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). This was Paul’s way of saying that he had denied himself and had allowed Christ to replace his old self with Christ’s own self. Martin Luther once said, pointing to his breast: "If you were to ask who lives here (in my heart), I would say, ‘Martin Luther used to live here, but now Jesus Christ lives here.’ " Before Christ came into his life, Luther had a very low opinion of himself. He ...

25. Epiphany 4

Psalm 71:1-24, 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Jeremiah 1:1-19, Luke 4:14-30

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... of God - and it expresses itself in worship and the world through love for God, for others, and for one's self. Love, according to Paul, is the "more excellent way" of being a follower and a disciple of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:12b-20 (E) Just why the ... the pastor's style predating that of Frederick Buechner by several decades. But what I know for sure is that when Pastor Martin told Bible stories we kids could feel the centuries melt. We were there, on Mount Sinai with Moses, in the lion's den ...

Showing results