Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 239 results

Deuteronomy 5:1-33

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... image God created in his own likeness—the living, thinking, working, speaking, breathing, relating human being (not even a human statue will do, but only the living person). Chapter four also influences how we interpret the commandment in this context. First, Yahweh ... of the legal and social status of wives in Israel and the wide range of scholarship on the issue, see C. J. H. Wright, God’s Land, ch. 6, pp. 183–221. It is also often pointed out that in terms of legal technicality, adultery was an ...

2. Baby Steps on the Sea of Galilee

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... deliberately. He wanted us to trust him with our lives without absolute proof of his existence. He wanted to draw us to God with love, not compel us by force or fear. He wanted us to have the free will to choose to follow him or not. Let me tell you about a man named John C. Wright. Wright is a former lawyer and an award-winning science fiction writer. At one time he was also a committed atheist. But one day, in the midst of wrestling with some questions and doubts, he prayed a really honest prayer. Listen ...

3. Unlocking The Doors

John 20:19-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... proclaimed. Thus He breathed on them saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." Which brings us to the second thing that happens when we meet Christ: II. He Gives a Foundation that will not Crumble. Over 100 years ago, Japan asked the famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design a hotel for Tokyo that would be capable of surviving an earthquake. When Wright visited Japan to inspect the site where the Imperial Hotel was to be built, he was appalled to find that the soil there was only about eight feet deep ...

4. The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... not bow down to an alien god. I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it” (Ps. 81:9–10). The prophet Jeremiah, who recognized that an external confession of faith in the Lord might be a deceptive cover ... the animals, see 21:2; 23:10–12. The Sabbath has been called the “greatest worker protection act in history” (Wright, Deuteronomy, p. 76). It established a community where the most powerless living thing, the nonhuman earth, could rest in the ...

5. A Kingdom that Cannot Be Shaken

Hebrews 1:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... lines, usually the first to shear off in an earthquake, were hung in vertical shafts where they could sway freely if necessary. Wright knew that the major cause of destruction after an earthquake was fire, because water lines are apt to be broken in the ... or need a reference both to heaven and what would be left of her days on earth. “God has promised that my latter days will be better than my former days.” (6) His mother understood what the writer of Hebrews meant when he spoke of a kingdom that ...

6. Love the Lord Your God

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... Hebrew was not so much the seat of emotions and feelings—as it is in English metaphors—as the seat of the intellect, will, and intention. You think in your heart, and your heart shapes your character, choices, and decisions. It is also the center of the ... preservation and inculcation of Israel’s historical faith and its implications (cf. the comments on the fifth commandment). Cf. C. J. H. Wright, God’s Land, pp. 81–89. Verses 21–24 were isolated by von Rad as an example of what he described as ...

7. Miscellaneous Laws

Deut 23:15–25:19

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... that echo precisely God’s own choice of a place: “With you let him live, in the midst of you, in the place which he will choose in one of your towns as is good for him” (v. 16). This is a significant example of the way Deuteronomy reinforces its ... shares. This may have been ideal but not very common in practice (perhaps why it is commended in Ps. 133). Cf. C. J. H. Wright, God’s Land, pp. 54f. The law also specifies that the brother had died without a son. Inheritance was normally through the male ...

8. Offerings for Priests and Levites

Deuteronomy 18:1-8

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... but indeed surpassed him as a son surpasses a servant (cf. Heb. 3:2–6). Thirdly, the true prophet would speak God’s message. I will put my words in his mouth; this is as direct a statement of the link between God’s word and the prophets’ words as could ... was this priestly income from sacrifices that the priests refused to donate for the temple repairs (2 Kgs. 12:16; L. S. Wright, “MKR”). It is no longer thought probable that vv. 6–8 are connected with Josiah’s program of destroying the rural ...

9. Bringing Back the Ark

1 Chronicles 13:1-14

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... is not just a cultic ritual or a political event, but rather manifests the “seeking of Yahweh.” It is furthermore an event that will confirm that David’s reign is a total break with the past under Saul. 13:5–7 It is important to note that no ... Seventieth Birthday [ed. A. B. Beck et al.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995], pp. 258–74). Although there is merit in Wright’s arguments about 1 Chron. 14 and although Eskenazi’s literary arguments for unity are sometimes unconvincing, it remains unlikely ...

10. Confronting a Christless Culture

2 Timothy 3:1-17

Sermon

James Merritt

... have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state. Grant them your wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will. I ask it in the name of Your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.9 Did Joe Wright get a chorus of amens, hallelujahs, and thank yous from that august body? No. Within a few seconds some representatives sat down in protest, some walked out fiercely angry. One representative said, "I have never heard in ...

11. John Called to Prophesy Again

Revelation 10:1-11

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... apostle Paul reminded Timothy of this hard truth: “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). In spite of the promised difficulties, God assures us of his constant presence, of spiritual protection, and of future rewards for our sacrifices. Illustrating the Text Prophecy makes things happen. Quote: Revelation for Everyone, by N. T. Wright. N. T. Wright tells about Bill Klem, an umpire famous for placing great confidence in the power of his decisions. He ...

12. Discerning The Will Of God

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... a time when you must go ahead and act in the confidence that God is faithful to His promises. If you still make a wrong decision, He will show you. I was amused by a story that Norman Vincent Peale told about Henry B. Wright, a professor at Yale University. Wright had a friend who was a bum on skid row in New York City. One weekend after a visit with his friend, Wright was on a train returning to Yale when God seemed to tell him to send the friend a gold watch with a certain inscription. Knowing that God ...

13. The Year of Canceling Debts

Deuteronomy 15:1-11

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... law of Lev. 25:2–7 and the implications regarding the documentary hypothesis and the relative dating of D and P, see C. J. H. Wright, God’s Land, pp. 167f. 15:2 Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made . . . The syntax of the Hb. text here is ... authority of Yahweh, and at regular sabbatical intervals (for which no clear ancient Near Eastern parallel has been found). 15:11 There will always be poor people in the land: It is possible that hāʾāreṣ in this first line of the verse means “the ...

14. The Eleventh Commandment

John 13:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... will disown me three times!’” The next time that someone you think very highly of—in some small measure disappoints you, hurts you, or outright betrays you—remember that it happened to Jesus. And it happened at the most hurtful time—right after he had humbled himself—took upon himself the role of a servant and washed his disciples’ feet. Sadly, it also followed a meal in which he broke bread with them and shared with them the cup—his body broken, his blood shed. Bishop N.T. Wright reminds ...

15. Mystery of the Unlikely

Luke 1:39-55

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... in our future?" The college president responded, "I believe we are coming into a time of great inventions. I believe, for example, that men will fly through the air like birds." The Bishop was indignant and said, "That's heresy! The Bible says that flight is reserved for the angels. We will have no more such talk here." After the Annual Conference was over, the bishop, whose name was Wright, went home to his two small sons, Orville and Wilbur. And, of course, you know what they did to their father's vision ...

16. Everyone Is Searching For You

Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

Brett Blair

... right then," he'd say with a twinkle in his eye, "not to miss the things in life, that my uncle had missed." Frank Lloyd Wright saw in those tracks what his uncle could not: It is easy to let the demands of life keep us from the joys of living ... most of instinctively know what Proverbs explicitly warns, “A little sleep a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and your want will come in like a blind man.” We are fools, the wisdom book tells us, if we say to ourselves, a little more sleep, a ...

17. Atonement for an Unsolved Murder

Deuteronomy 21:1-9

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... be atoned for (v. 8), and the guilt of shedding innocent blood will be purged away. What is less apparent is the exact significance of the killing of the cow and reason for the place in which it was to be done. For a survey of the various explanations that have been offered, see D. E Wright, “Rite of Elimination.” Since the text itself gives no explanation of the ritual, we cannot be dogmatic, but the two most likely explanations are as follows. (a) It represents a vicarious execution of the unknown ...

18. The Only Place of Worship

Deuteronomy 12:1-32

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... Both sides of the picture are missiologically important and ought not to be collapsed in either direction (cf. Goldingay and Wright, “Yahweh Our God”). The direction of our particular text here, however, is clearly toward the latter pole of an ... terms of the theory. (d) The syntax of v. 14 can be understood in a distributive sense—i.e., “at whatever place Yahweh will choose in any of your tribes.” This would then imply that the single central sanctuary of v. 5 was not envisaged as necessarily ...

19. Dream Weaver

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... with a dream. God is still speaking to us in our dreaming. God is the ultimate dream weaver. Not John Lennon. Not Gary Wright. God knew first how to break conventions, break down stress and fear, help us to envision a future of promise, encourage us to ... is God calling you to pay attention? Where is God is leading you in your life and in the life of your church? What dreams will inspire you to follow Jesus into a new and unknown world to do new and exciting things in His Name? This advent, as we prepare ...

20. What Ever Happened to Norman Rockwell?

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... children was to try to please God by their daily living in the world as it was. And slavery was a way of life. N.T. Wright says slavery was to Rome what electricity is to us. Even for St. Paul, freeing the slaves overnight was unthinkable. [1] The best a slave could ... , self-giving love as the pattern for marriage was unheard of. It is, in fact, the new word, the word which will reshape the marriage covenant. "Fathers, don't provoke your children to anger." The very idea that fathers should care about their ...

21. Do You See Lazarus On Your Doorstep?

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... consistent were they in relying on God alone, wherever they were, whatever happened, no matter what? How about us?”[2] Tom Wright brought the story up to the present where it involves all of us “rich” people, in case we forget, by almost ... job. If we give him money he’ll only spend it on drink. Stay away — he might be violent. Sometimes, in some places, the police will move him on, exporting the problem somewhere else. But he’ll be back, and even if he isn’t, there are whole societies like that. ...

22. The Star Thrower

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... bald." Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, my fellow Wisconsin native, was not known for his modesty. As the architect of the age, he typified the arrogance. When an attorney characterized Frank Lloyd Wright as America's greatest architect, Wright confessed to his wife ... heard him, and turned back to help him. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent over and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine handicapped children linked arms and walked together to the finish line. The stadium crowd stood and ...

23. A Healthy Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... Teamwork by Pat Williams, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1997, p. 10. 5. Max Lucado. No Wonder They Call Him the Savior (Portland, OR.: Multnomah, 1986), pp. 34-36. 6. David A. Redding. Before You Call, I Will Answer (Old Tappan, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1985), p. 119. 7. Alan D. Wright, A Chance at Childhood Again. From Stories for the Family's Heart compiled by Alice Gray (Sisters, OR.: Multnomah Publishers, 1998), pp. 49-51. 8. Ken Medema, “If This Is Not a Place," copyright 1982, Glory ...

24. Don't Put a Limit on Yourself

Illustration

Maxie Dunnam

... and claimed that we were then living in the epitome of civilization. Later, the president of the college where he was speaking suggested that perhaps some new things would be discovered. “Name me one thing,” the bishop replied. The president said, “I believe some day people will build a machine that will fly in the air.” Bishop Wright was flabbergasted. “That’s the most stupid idea I ever heard. If God wanted men to fly he would have given him wings.” Well, it happened that the good Bishop ...

25. Clean and Unclean Foods

Deuteronomy 14:1-21

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... stress is on the other side of the parent-child relationship, namely, the duty of the child to obey the parent’s will. Do not cut (better, “lacerate” or “gash”) yourselves . . . or shave . . . for the dead. (Cf. also Lev. 19:27f.) Both customs are ... Isa. 1:2; 30:1, 9; Jer. 3:22; Mal. 1:6 (sg.); 2:10). Cf. de Boer, Fatherhood; C. J. H. Wright, God’s Land, pp. 15–22; and Wright, Knowing Jesus, pp. 118–35. 14:4–19 Many attempts have been made to explain why certain species were clean and others ...

Showing results