Sermon and Worship Resources

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Acts 14:8-18

Sermon

Will Willimon

... " and prepare to sacrifice an ox in honor of these two "gods." What would you have said? I doubt we would have called Paul and Barnabas "gods." Who worships Hermes or Zeus anymore? But we would have recognized their godlike power, because that is something you and I will bow before -- power. These first-century Greeks and Jews told so many miraculous stories of healings because, if you were sick or crippled in the first century, what power other than miracle was there to heal you? Unlike us, they didn't ...

2. Counterfeit Faith

Acts 14:8-20

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... as Zeus, the head of the pantheon of pagan gods. Paul, because of his speaking skills, was declared to be Hermes, the god of eloquence and rhetoric. The positive response of the people to Paul's preaching was really the reaction ... if we do something to deserve it. We are encouraged in this type of thinking by modern advertisements that continually speak of a "free gift" which will be sent to us "if." In Christian theology, such a phrase as a "free gift" is redundant. The New Testament knows of no gift of ...

3. Paul, Phoebe, Patronage, and Spain

Romans 16:1-27

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... ’s) desired action on the part of the Roman Christian recipients of the letter (v. 2a). In my analysis of 16:1–2 to follow I will use this three-point outline. 2. It is widely agreed that the word prostatis, describing Phoebe’s role in 16:2b, is a technical term ... churches. Paul greets five individuals who apparently were the leaders of another tenement church: Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them. Paul does not greet these individuals personally. Jewett observes ...

4. Beware! Caution! Danger!

Acts 14:8-20

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... the miracle of healing that they suspect that Barnabas, with his imposing appearance, is Zeus, the king of the gods, and Paul is Hermes, the god of speech, because he seems to be the main spokesman. Then, too, they don't want to get caught as they ... we?" I know they mean well, but how very dangerous such comments are! I believe in tolerance as much as is humanly possible, and will almost run from most fights, but when we must compromise the basic truth of the Bible, then we finally must recoil in horror, and ...

5. Orderly Worship

1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... directed from the speaker to God but that was unintelligible to other human listeners; interpretation is hermēneia (as in Hermes, the message-bearing god), a gift that complemented tongues by explaining the tongue speaking for the ... serves as a bridge to what is about to follow. Paul articulates the central or most important theological conviction that underlies everything he has said and will say: for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. Order is understood by Paul to be the very nature of God, and so ...

6. Some Illusions (Symbols) Are Better Than Others

Acts 14:8-20

Sermon

Carl Jech

... other respect they were "very human." The people of Lystra assumed Paul was a representative of the god Hermes because Hermes was identified in their minds with science, invention, cunning, trickery, luck and eloquence. In the old, classic movie ... as with being faithful to a concern for love and justice as we try to do what is best for us. Faithfulness to God's will, that we "love one another," is a much better symbol than success! The popular composer Irving Berlin once said that "the toughest thing about ...

7. The Raising of Paul

Acts 14:8-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... as a church are not asked to do impossible things. We are merely asked to call upon God to do impossible things. And God does and will. This week, let’s start as a church to be that gathering of praise that Jesus asked us to be in the world. It all ... in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the ...

8. God’s Love and Ours

1 John 4:7-21, 1 John 5:1-12

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... a certain circularity in the Johannine thinking about love and obedience (cf. 2 John 5–6). Those who truly love their comrades in the community will evidence this by a morally consistent and Christ-like character, one of the signs of which is love. 5:3 In v. 3 the author gives ... and Vaticanus over Alexandrinus, K, and L. 5:3 On v. 3c, cf. Deut. 30:11–14; Philo, Spec. Laws, 1.55, 299. Herm. Man. 12.4: “those who have the Lord in their hearts can also be the lord of … every one of these commandments. ...

9. Faith in the Son of God

1 John 5:1-12, 1 John 4:7-21

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

10. Easter 5

John 13:31-38, Revelation 21:1-27, Revelation 19:1-10, Acts 14:8-20, Leviticus 19:1-37, Acts 14:21-28, Psalm 145:1-21

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... people declared that the gods had "come down to them in the likeness of men." To them, Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was called Hermes. The priest of the temple of Zeus wanted to offer sacrifices to them, but Paul and Barnabas would have no part of such ... words of God." The message to the church is that those who are faithful servants and regularly find their places at the Table of the Lord will be included in the guest list. John 13:31-33a, 34-35 (RC); 13:31-35 (E, L, C) As so often happens, the Gospel for ...

11. Unity and Community (Part 1)

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... ties directly to the Old Testament. Prophecy is a message from God to his people. The new covenant promise that the Spirit will come upon all flesh potentially makes all Christians prophets (Jer. 31:33–34; Ezek. 36:26–27; Joel 2:28–29; Acts 2 ... presence it claims unless God grants another (allos) person the gift of interpretation (14:19). The word for “interpretation” (herm?neia) can mean either “translation” or “interpretation.” It is doubtful that Paul is making as sharp a distinction ...

12. Keeping Promises

Numbers 30:1-16

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... If he says nothing when he hears about her vow or pledge, then her act is binding. But if he objects and opposes her vow, then God will “release her” (v. 5 [lit., “forgive her”]) from her vow or oath so that she is not under threat of divine punishment for not keeping her vow ... stone. Perseus’s vow was rash, but he was held to it. Yet with the help of Athena and the god Hermes, who gave him a shield by whose reflection he could safely see Medusa, winged sandals, and Hades’s cap of invisibility, ...

13. Building a Winning Team

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... to Caesarea Philippi, and all around this cave were carved niches filled with small statues of the various gods worshiped there, gods like Hermes and Echo. The region was also full of pagan religious sites, many devoted to the god Pan. Pan was the half-man, half ... verse 18. (3) This moment is the real birthday of the church. And notice how Jesus announces it: “. . . on this rock I will build my church.” Not the church. Not a church. My church. This is Jesus’ church—not my church, not your church, but ...

14. Easter 5

Jn 13:31-35 · Acts 13:44-52; 14:8-18; 21-27 · Rev 21:1-5

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... people's glorifying God, but here the people give the credit to Paul and Barnabas whom they consider to be Zeus and Hermes descended from heaven. Paul sees their wanting to worship them as gods as blasphemy. In his address he explains that they are ... for evil. In Apocalyptic literature, the dragon, Satan, comes out of the sea to afflict the earth. It is a way of saying that God will de~troy Satan and all evil. This is our future hope. 3. Bride (v. 2). The new Jerusalem is portrayed as the bride of God. ...

15. Serpents and Other Signs

Numbers 21:4-9

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... two serpents coming up the staff, then going out along the two branches of the cross. That is the wand of Mercury, or Hermes, the messenger from the gods. So snakes obviously had a different meaning in ancient times than they do for us. The Hebrews ... a simple cross made out of crude wood. If you come to the Vesper services on Wednesday night, during this season of the year, you will see that they have placed a rude cross on the floor of the chancel that is just as powerful, maybe more powerful, than a ...

16. Mary's Witness

Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Sermon

King Duncan

... ://qz.com/quartzy/1603533/at-whole-foods-a-cheese-will-celebrate-the-royal-baby/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=daily-brief. 2. Posted by Mommy Owl @Lhlodder on Twitter, December 9, 2019. Cited in “40 Funny Tweets That Sum Up Kid Logic” by Caroline Bologna, HuffPost.com January 19, 2021, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kid-logic-funny-tweets_l_5fb16b14c5b6b956698c38e1?guccounter. 3. “Be Born in Me,” written by Nicole Nordeman and Bernie Herms, recorded by Francesca Battistelli. 4. “The Lord is Near ...

17. The Great Reveal

John 12:20-33

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... form to his surprised followers. Christian theology is a theology that asserts a bodily (body/mind/soul) resurrection! By God. At God’s will. Think for a moment about Ezekiel’s encounter with God in the Valley of Dry Bones. The bones (including the souls) of those ... P. Bos, “A Lost Sentence on Seed as Instrument of the Soul in Aristotle ‘On the Soul,’ 114, 415 B7,” Hermes 138, 3 (2010): 276-287; and Jessica Moss, “The Birth of Belief,” Journal of the History of Philosophy, Faculty Papers, NYU ...

18. The Naked Christian

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of the experience of those whose lives are a struggle for the mere basics of life: The hungry will be filled. Those who weep will laugh. The poor, those with nothing, will have no less than the kingdom of God. Jesus keeps it simple, too, for those in the crowd ... need Naked Christianity. So beware of that Prada piety, that Armani attitude, that St. John sanctimoniousness, that Hermes holiness, that Versace virtuousness, that Kate Spade superiority, that Donna Karan dominance, that Anne Klein/Ann Taylor ...

19. The Compelling Call

Drama

Karren Boehr

... his name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel. He chose me -- Saul of Tarsus, the greatest persecutor of the church that you will ever see. There was no Jew more devout than I. And, he chose me. Barnabas, he chose me. Without Christ, I am nothing. I ... d say PLENTY! PAUL: You're right, Barnabas, but you'll have to admit, no one's ever wanted to make us gods before. You, Zeus? Me, Hermes? A man of God, I am. A god, I'm not. I'll be honest. I was quite shaken. Without God, I am nothing! BARNABAS: And I ...

20. Where Do Sins Go?

2 Samuel 12:1-31

Sermon

Edward Chinn

... God," said the prophet after the days of Exile (Isaiah 59:2, TEV). Sins also go out into the world as evil consequences. As we will see, Nathan the prophet was right when he said to King David, "The Lord has laid on another the consequences of your sin" (2 Samuel ... eagle came and ate Prometheus’ liver; every night his liver regrew. Prometheus lived in perpetual pain. Now listen to the words of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, who came to Prometheus and said to him: "Look not for any end, moreover, to this ...

21. Why We Give

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... came, they were to bring a tithe of their harvest and dedicate it to God. This rite was a promise as well as a prescription. If I said to you that next year God will bless you with a million dollars, but that in turn he would require you to bring 10% to the altar, you would cheerfully sign up, would you not? Can you imagine how readily ... give of yourself. For God's sake-and your own-give something. 1. THE INSPIRATIONAL WRITER 2. Herm Albright in QUOTE 3. Ruth Baldwin in CATHOLIC DIGEST 4. SERMONS ILLUSTRATED

22. Which Will It Be - the Silvered Cross or the Slivered Cross?

Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and on the cross, is in the public eye in a way that the Christian tradition hasn't been in decades. No, no one will miss the beginning of Lent this year. Whether you care about the movie or not, the beginning of the church's most somber, holy ... is made possible by human sin and hate. The cross is not a present from Tiffany's. The cross is not a treasure from Hermes. The cross is a torture-chamber from Hades. Today's gospel text recounts the glorious epiphany of the transfiguration that Peter, James, and ...

23. Unlikely Election

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... of the free-flow of Christ's spirit in their midst, blocking God's ability to do anything new. Maybe it was only when they were willing to open their hearts to Matthias, open their minds to a new voice and new ideas, open the doors to a new disciple (Open hearts, open ... the family of Astrobulus Herodian, Tryphaena and Tryphosa (I wonder if they were twins?) Persis, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas Philologus, Julia, and Nereus Olympuas and all the saints who are with them… Who are all these ...

24. Wise, Worshipful, and Wonderfully Wayward

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... on Wall Street, Madison Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, still bear the same traits. And many of the same names: Hermes, Diana, Venus, Nike, Amazon, Hercules, Odyssey, Trojan, Saturn, Phoenix, Mercury. But the worship that flows from the body ... spoken on the desolate surface of the moon: “I am the Vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me, and I abide in you, you will bear much fruit. But without me you can do nothing.” The first liquid poured out on the moon, was communion wine. And the note that verse ...

25. Personal Greetings

Romans 16:1-27

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... ” (Mark 15:21). The mother of Rufus had greatly served or endeared herself to Paul, for he calls her his mother. Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas (v. 14) are all either Latin or Greek slave names. Phlegon was the name of a dog in Xenophon; we would ... sovereignty in such matters. “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath” (12:19). The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (v. 20). Obvious here is the allusion to Genesis 3:15 as well as to the thought ...

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