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Showing 226 to 250 of 1967 results

226. Proper 6

Luke 7:36-50, Galatians 2:11-21, 1 Kings 21:1-29, Psalm 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

Forgiving Debts Two of the most difficult practices which emerge in Jesus' ministry are forgiveness and gratitude. A frequent charge against Jesus was that he preempted the prerogative of God when he presumed to forgive sins. It is difficult to know which is harder to do: to forgive another or to forgive oneself. Lavish expressions of gratitude for acts of forgiveness are rare. Persons do not like to admit their indebtedness. If we owe someone gratitude for something that he has done for us, we feel ...

227. Maundy Thursday

John 13:1-17

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes John's account of the Last Supper differs from the Synoptics in placing it on the day before the actual Passover meal and in recounting a footwashing, an act that for the evangelist symbolically entwines two principal symbolic themes: cleansing and mutual submission. The former of these appears to refer mainly to the import of Jesus' crucifixion for the disciples, while the latter bespeaks the attitude that the disciples should display to one another. Liturgical Color Red Suggested Hymns We ...

228. Monologue: A Slave, A Jailer, A Child Of God

Acts 16:16-40

Drama

Robert F. Scott

We have only a bare-bones mention of the Philippian jailer. He received Paul and Silas, beaten and bleeding; he fastened them in the painful stocks; after his conversion, he personally dressed their wounds and then fed them at his own table. What other changes grew from the jailer's new Christian faith? Let us attempt to stretch some living flesh over those bare bones. Call me Quintus, but my name doesn't matter. Most people just see me as a slave, a piece of the house furniture, nothing more. My master is ...

229. House Rules

1 John 5:1-6

Children's Sermon

Various Authors

Object: list of house rules Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you brushed your teeth this morning before coming to church? (Let them answer.) Good, who told you to brush your teeth? (Let them answer.) How many of you wash your hands before eating? (Let them answer.) Very good, your mom or your dad tells you to wash your hands. Who tells you what time to go to bed, say your prayers, and turns out the light? (Let them answer.) Mom and Dad! I have a list of some rules to show you. (Show them the list ...

230. The Wedding Was Saved, but the Marriage?

John 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Larry Davies in his book, Sowing Seeds of Faith in a World Gone Bonkers, tells about a wedding he performed once on a wooden boat dock over a beautiful pond in Amelia county, Virginia. To his surprise, on the night before the wedding the bride (we’ll call her Pamela) called to ask him to read a special set of marriage vows to her new husband after the formal ceremony was through. She would give him a copy of the vows just before the service started. The next morning, the groom (we’ll call him Paul) also ...

231. Let Me See Your Shoes!

John 13:4

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: The children's shoes. Lesson: Discipleship; tolerance; service. This morning I greet the children with a question and a request: "Does everyone have shoes on?" They look surprised, as if wondering silently, "Who would come to church without shoes?" "Let me see your shoes!" I command. Twenty-four little feet emerge from where they have been curled under dresses and slacks, showing off everything from stiff, dressed-up, uncomfortable-looking shoes to a pair of sandals and even a pair of red-and-white ...

232. The Miracle Molecule

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Today's gospel story is all about a miracle molecule called water. Any water people here? I don't mean sun people who gather at the water because of the sun. I mean true water people. Swimmers? Surfers? Fishermen/women? Boaters? Bathers? Hot-tubbers? Islanders? Anyone here ever spend a night on an island somewhere? If you live on an island (like we do Orcas Island, Washington State), you're surrounded on all sides by water, cut off from easy access to the rest of the state, and the country. Islanders are ...

233. The Passover Meal Of The Last Supper

Mark 14:12-26

Bulletin Aid

MAUNDY THURSDAY The Passover Meal Of The Last Supper A Communion Service This communion may be celebrated around tables or in the pews. It is possible for a meal to be served as part of the celebration, but not necessary to the service. This is not, strictly speaking, a Seder in the traditional sense, for many of the Seder traditions are rooted in the diaspora of post-biblical times. Rather, this is a celebration of the Lord’s Supper which includes some traditional Hebrew Passover prayers and symbolic ...

234. Holy Week

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Monday Holy WeekIsaiah 42:1-7John 12:1-11 Following The Road All people have a vocation in life. Many times the word vocation is applied to priesthood and religious life alone, but this is far too limiting. All people have a vocation, a road that they will follow in life. Some people will follow the vocation to the single life; most will follow the call to married life and family. Some will follow the invitation to become religious and/or priests. Many people will be wives or husbands who work daily to ...

235. When The Saints Come Marching In

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

Most readers of the Bible seem to have a love-hate relationship with its concluding book. In fact, the Revelation to John almost appears to possess the uncanny ability of being frustrating and fascinating at the same time -- much like a toddler playing with a piece of Scotch tape! They are, no doubt, the most famous last words ever written. However, "well-known" does not always imply "well-thought-of" or even "well-understood." Granted, few portions of Scripture have aroused the curiosity of as many -- I ...

236. Jacob's Well

John 4:1-26, John 4:27-38, John 4:39-42

Sermon

Lori Wagner

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3) My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13) Props: a fountain of water (you can find small fountains at most greenhouses or online) running; large pot made of pottery or clay; bottle of spring water; baptismal font or other large bowl of water with nearby towel; fishbowl; glasses of water that look ...

237.

Drama

David E. Ullery

CAST (in order of appearance) Claudia: The wife of Pontius Pilate, Procurator of Palestine. She has been influenced by Jesus. Rachel: A Jewish servant-girl in Pilate’s household. Joanna: Wife of the chief steward in Herod’s household. She is a follower of Jesus. Pilate: Pontius Pilate, the strong-willed Procurator, symbol of the hated Roman conquerors. Sergius: A Roman soldier, personal body-guard of Pontius Pilate. Caiaphas: Chief Priest and leader of the Jewish Sanhedrin, an evil and crafty man - a ...

238. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Isaiah 1:1-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Back in the early 1980's, there was a best- selling book entitled Blue Highways. The novel chronicles one man's adventures along the back roads and secondary highways of America. His journeys took him into crossroad villages and almost forgotten towns where he met all kinds of interesting people, including a few hitchhikers whom he befriended. Among the hitchhikers was a Bible-toting self styled evangelist, who passed out religious tracts and confronted everyone he met with questions about their salvation ...

239. How to Rub People the Right Way

Acts 4:36-37

Sermon

James Merritt

Many years ago during the Colonial era of this country, wealthy ladies were proud of their wide-board oak floors. At least once a week servants would wet-rub and then dry-rub these floors to make them shiny. It was a very simple task involving running a wet mop along the grain of the wood and then a dry mop. But sometimes a careless worker would mop across the grain and it would produce streaks on the floor. When that happened the lady of the house would scold the servant for "rubbing the floor the wrong ...

240. Beneath The Shadow Of The Cross

Mark 15:16-37

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

A. It was weird. It was really weird. The sky that afternoon had taken on a ghastly, ghostly, almost haunted hue. Ever since the midday bells had rung it had been like the edge of night. The darkness of the day seemed to reflect the way the apostle felt. It seemed to reflect the darkness of his soul and the darkness of the event taking place. John; one of the chosen twelve; one of the inner circle of leadership; the one who always seemed closest to Jesus, stood shrouded in his own sorrow. The lump in his ...

241. The Day of Atonement: Preparation

Leviticus 16:1-34

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: The high priest must be purified before conducting the Day of Atonement sacrifices. Understanding the Text Leviticus 16, on the Day of Atonement, is a transitional chapter, giving a general remedy for the problem of uncleanness described in Leviticus 11–15. It also prepares the way for the laws of holiness that follow (Lev. 17–27). Leviticus 16 is arguably the most important chapter in Leviticus, introducing the Day of Atonement, the highest and most sacred day in the Israelite calendar. Its ...

242. Born of the Spirit

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Prop: Baptismal Font Name a villain. Whatever villain you name, it’s likely that villain will be living in some way in the dark. Dracula –fears the light and lives in the darkness of his coffin and castle The Joker (of Batman lore) --hides his scar-ridden face in the darkness and behind a mask The Phantom of the Opera –hides his deformed face in the darkness beneath the opera house Voldemort (of Harry Potter fame) –lurks in the darkness and hides behind other forms he takes Gollum (of JJR Tolkien’s ...

243. Beneath The Shadow Of The Cross

Mark 14:1--15:47

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

It was weird. It was really weird. The sky that afternoon had taken on a ghastly, ghostly, almost haunted hue. Ever since the mid-day bells had rung it had been like the edge of night. The darkness of the day seemed to reflect the way the apostle felt. It seemed to reflect the darkness of his soul and the darkness of the event taking place. John; one of the chosen twelve; one of the inner circle of leadership; the one who always seemed closest to Jesus, stood shrouded in his own sorrow. The lump in his ...

244. The Keys To Happiness -- Purity Of Heart

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Alex Gondola

Most Americans are increasingly interested in issues of purity, aren't we? We want to drink pure water. And there is a legitimate, growing concern about the quality of our groundwater. We want to breathe clean air. So Congress has passed (on our behalf) stringent Clean Air Acts. We want to consume pure foods. "Natural" foods are big sellers right now, aren't they? So much so that one supermarket, probably selling foods with preservatives and additives, still calls itself "Purity Supreme." We would like our ...

245. Jesus' No-Nonsense Guide to Success

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

April Yamasaki

What does success look like to you? Winning the championship over all the other teams in your sports league? Checking off every item on your to-do list? Getting that new job or promotion you were hoping for? Putting the kitchen in order after making a homemade meal from scratch? To James and John, success looked like sitting next to Jesus, each on one side of their Lord, basking in his reflected glory. Perhaps they imagined him as a king seated on a great throne with themselves as his trusted advisors on ...

246. God's House Is Special

John 2:13-22

Children's Sermon

Various Authors

Objects: A bag filled with a washcloth, towel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and comb. Good morning, boys and girls. It seems like a special day to me today. Does it seem special to you? (let them answer) I guess every time I come to church, the day seems special. I really look forward to seeing you every Sunday, you make it special for me. I wonder if any of you brought with you today the things I brought with me. (Open your bag and take out the items one by one.) Did anyone here bring their soap, ...

247. Table For Talkers

Luke 22:7-38

Sermon

The success of a dinner depends as much on fellowship as on food. This fellowship takes place through conversation. A banquet of friends buzzes like a beehive. Did you notice it or maybe you were too busy talking to have heard it? A dinner is a miserable occasion when two or more people sit down and eat their meal in a cold, bitter silence, because there is nothing for them to communicate. This dinner conversation need not be pleasantries or chit-chat, but it can be talk of substance. This was the case ...

248. The Catch

John 21:1-14, John 21:15-25, Acts 10:1-8, Acts 10:9-23a, Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Props and visuals: fishing boat / fishing net / tablecloth and stick / backpack / diaper bag / purse or satchel You know how some dreams won’t let go of you? Sometimes God has a message for you, and speaks in this “forgotten language” of dreams. Sometimes God needs to prepare you for something that’s hard for you to hear. In our scripture story today as told in the Acts of the Apostles, God was preparing Peter for his visit with Cornelius. And for something even greater! But as everything goes with Peter, ...

249. What's In a Name?

Mark 10:2-16 · Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 · Psalm 8

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

What do you think when you hear the name “Jesus?” What thoughts, images, metaphors come to your mind when you hear that name? We know a lot about Jesus’ life; we have stories about what happened before he was born, when he was born, one in Luke’s gospel about Jesus at age twelve, when he was a man, starting with his baptism and ending with how he died. We even have four stories about what happened after his death. Scripture gives us a lot of information and a lot of details about his life. The hymns we ...

250. Put It In A Sack, Swing it Over Your Head and Scream Like A Chicken

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

My favorite old TV show is the Dick Van Dyke Show. I have all five seasons on DVD and no matter how many times I watch them, they still make me laugh. In one particular episode titled "The Impractical Joke" one of Rob Petrie's co-workers, Buddy, pulls a practical joke. Rob gets mad and at first wants to get even but then decides that the best way to get even with Buddy is to do absolutely nothing. It will (and does) drive Buddy nuts waiting for Rob to do something to get even. And in the end, Buddy is so ...

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