Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2601 to 2625 of 5000 results

2601. A Living Memorial

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

Maundy Thursday can and should be one of the most meaningful days on the Christian calendar. It brings us face-to-face with the heart of the matter -- our sin, the estrangement from God it causes, and the cost of reconciliation. For much of the year, even faithful and good Christians can avoid facing the painful reality of sin in our lives and our need for a dramatic remedy for that sin. On this special day, we see clearly the pain and agony of what Christ faced. The suffering of Christ was essential ...

2602. Suffering And Service

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

Helen Keller once said, "Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."1 Ironically, it is in our overcoming of the suffering of life that we learn to be true servants. Without the difficult experiences of life, we remain shallow and lacking in sensitivity to others. The scriptures teach us to become servants. This is the example Christ gave us. Our call is to serve God by serving others. Yet the concept of servanthood is lost on most of us. Our culture conditions us to ...

2603. God's Vision For The Church

Acts 11:1-18

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

At a family gathering, a grandmother was coaxed into doing something she had never done before. After much friendly badgering, she climbed slowly up on an exercise bike. She took her time getting in just the right position. She waited a few moments. Then, nervously, she said, "All right, you can turn it on now." If only work in the church could be handled like that. If we could magically flip a switch, and then watch as the work is done for us. But work in the church requires a delicate blend of divine ...

2604. A Call To Community

Acts 16:6-10

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

Years ago, this advertisement appeared in the classifieds of a local newspaper: "Husband says either he or puppies must go. Puppies are playful and cute. Husband is grouchy and unsympathetic. Your choice free." It just may be that our biggest challenge in life is relationships. At home and in the community, we struggle to make positive contributions to our relationship with others. Even within the community of faith, relationships require effort. In today's passage of scripture we see three states in our ...

2605. "No Contest"

1 Kings 18:16-46

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

When my husband and I play tennis it is a "no-contest" contest. He is a far better player than I. In fact, we have a deal that anytime I can beat him a whole set, he will take me out for a lobster dinner. He is perfectly safe from having to pay. This contest has been running for as long as we've been married, and in 21 years I've had lobster once! The match is a "no-contest" contest. He always wins! In this text we have another kind of competition. The contest takes place on Mount Carmel. There is a sharp ...

2606. Naaman Is My Name!

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

Some of the most profound precepts we ever know come clothed in very basic and elemental forms. A "Peanuts" cartoon strip shows Charlie Brown visiting Lucy who is at her stand offering psychiatric help for a nickel. Charlie says, "I need help! Tell me a great truth. Tell me something about living that will help me." Lucy responds by asking, "Do you ever wake up at night and want a drink of water?" "Sure," Charlie responds, "quite often." Lucy then offers her advice, "When you're getting a drink of water in ...

2607. Then There Was One

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

Does not Jesus say to the ten lepers, "Go and show yourselves to the priests"? He does not say anything about coming back to tell him what the priests said or did; he does not mention that he expects the lepers to return and thank him for their healing. Yet when one does come back to thank him, he asks, "The other nine, where are they?" The one who returns gives no answer to that question. But he could have said, "They are following your instructions. They are on their way to show themselves to the priests ...

2608. The Beginning And The Ending

Luke 1:1-4; 24:44-53

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

Some people, when they pick up a new book, look first at the beginning and read a few lines, then they turn to the end to see how it turns out. This gives them a preliminary feel for the book and helps them decide whether they want to read it or not. We are faced with something of the same situation by the lectionary passages chosen for today. They are the first four verses from the Gospel of Luke and the last ten verses of the last chapter. We are asked to consider the beginning and the ending of Luke's ...

2609. The King On A Cross

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

Have you ever looked into the face of a real king? You may have seen phony kings, such as the king of the homecoming parade or the king of the Mardi Gras. Doubtless these make-believe kings were dressed in elaborate, elegant robes and wore gilded crowns on their heads. If we ever think of kings we picture them sitting on golden thrones, dressed in ermine and velvet and jewel-encrusted crowns. They are surrounded by high-ranking courtiers and cheered by an adoring people. Therefore, it can come as something ...

2610. How The Mighty Have Fallen!

Luke 9:18-27

Illustration

Richard A. Jensen

"How the mighty have fallen." King David of old once spoke those words concerning the death of King Saul. "How the mighty have fallen." These words have transcended the Bible and become the language of popular culture. A newspaper report a few years ago on some pastors who had fallen from grace used this biblical passage as its headline. The article was about two well-known television preachers -- Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker -- whose sins had been publicly exposed. "How the mighty have fallen" the ...

2611. A Man Who Would Be God

Luke 4:14-30, Luke 9:28-36, Luke 3:21-38

Illustration

Richard A. Jensen

It was to be his first trip back to China. He was born in China to missionary parents in the 1930s. When his parents had to flee China and return to the States because of the Second World War, however, Tom Stone came with them. And he had never been back; never seen the land of his birth -- until his journey in the 1990s. As the plane landed in Beijing his heart began to pound. What would it be like? Would he remember anything? What would he discover about himself in this land of his birth? Tom Stone took ...

2612. The Lost Is Found

Luke 15:11-32

Illustration

Richard A. Jensen

It was the biggest tragedy in Pastor Dave's life. Kathy, his daughter, had always been a problem child. There were medical problems. There were behavioral problems. Life was not easy with this daughter. And then one day -- when she was 23 years old -- Kathy simply disappeared. She was gone and no one could find her. Weeks went by. Pastor Dave was racked with worry. Months went by. Pastor Dave was sure that she must be dead by now. What chance did she have in the world all alone? She needed her medicine. ...

2613. God Is Faithful To Godself

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Sermon

Richard A. Jensen

His hands were surely trembling as he lifted his hammer to nail his theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The year was 1517. The man was Martin Luther. Luther had lived through many a crisis in his personal relationship to God. Out of his struggles he came to believe that much of what his church had taught him was simply wrong. It was wrong teaching that had caused his faith crisis. Luther decided to go on the offensive. The topic for his offensive was the matter of "indulgences ...

2614. Temptation

Luke 4:1-13

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: The evil one always is ready to tempt the Christian just as Jesus was tempted. Summary: A modern retelling of the temptation of Christ. Playing Time: 4 minutes Setting: A lonely place Props: A knapsack with bread and wine Costumes: Hiking clothes Time: The present Cast: Guy Angela ANGELA: (Carrying a knapsack, sees Guy) Hi there. This is kind of a lonely place, isn't it? GUY: It suits me. I'm kind of a lonely guy. ANGELA: Oh, that sounds disturbing. GUY: Well, it shouldn't. I mean, I didn't mean it ...

2615. Doubters All, Part I

John 10:22-42

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: Believe in Jesus. Summary: Two professors, friends and roommates, walk to their classes together and discuss religion. One is a believer and one is not. They both have good arguments on their side. How will it turn out? The congregation will have to wait four Sundays to find out. This is the first of a four-part series. Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: A college campus Props: Gerrie -- books and a rose Tommie -- books and a recent newspaper Costumes Dress appropriate for professors Time: The present ...

2616. The Widow Of Nain

Luke 7:11-17

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: Death is conquered by Jesus. Summary: The widow of Nain has lost her only son, and as the funeral passes by Jesus stops the procession and resurrects the son. Flute accompaniment with dancers. Playing Time: 6 minutes Setting: The Holy Land Props: A board on which to carry "dead" son Costumes Peasant, of the time of Jesus, with lots of black Time: The time of Jesus Cast: Widow Son Jesus Mourners -- dancers (MUSIC -- FUNERAL MUSIC UNDER POETRY AND DANCING. DANCE -- PROCESSION AND MOURNING UNDER POETRY ...

2617. Priorities

Luke 9:51-56

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: What are the things that keep people from following Jesus? Why don't people give themselves freely to the Son of God? Summary: The three stooges want to follow Jesus but do not know how. Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: A church Props: Three Bibles Three hymnals Costumes: Double-breasted suits for stooges Bathrobes for stooges Curly -- Bowler hat Jesus -- Hebrew, first century Time: Now Cast: Jesus Moe Larry Curly (THREE STOOGES THEME PLAYS. LARRY, CURLY AND MOE SING "HELLO" IN THREE-PART HARMONY ...

2618. Discipleship

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme\n What is the price of discipleship?\nSummary\n A father and mother question their son as to what he \nlearned in Sunday school. "Hate your father and mother," he \nreplies, and this unnerves them until they find out the real \nmeaning is -- love Jesus more than others. \nPlaying Time 3 1/2 minutes\nSetting A home\nProps Bible\nCostumes Contemporary, casual\nTime The present\nCast ROBBY -- a child\n WILMA -- his mother\n BURT -- his father\nROBBY: (WILMA AND BURT ARE STANDING CENTER STAGE. ROBBY ...

2619. Prayer Power

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme\n Prayers have more power than we realize.\nSummary\n Two senior angels are discussing a third angel who is a real \nfighter, but doesn't seem to fit too well in the prayer answering \ndivision. He wants to fight evil in the world but is limited by \nwhat the believers are praying. \nPlaying Time 3 minutes\nSetting The heavenlies\nProps Sword, scroll\nCostumes White, casual clothes\nTime The present\nCast LOQUE -- the captain of the angels\n HOM -- a friend\n RINNAHEL -- a warrior angel\n(A COUPLE OF ...

2620. Take Up Your Cross

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

Glenn Tinder, Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, has written a book titled, The Political Meaning of Christianity. While the author acknowledges that what he offers is an interpretation, he also believes that he represents a view that could be common to many Christians. He unabashedly confesses that he is beholden to a unique point of view. What he sees as different is that his stance is less optimistic than some Christian perspectives. This is not to say that the ...

2621. The Spice of Death

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

Good Friday draws us to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ that we might concentrate and meditate on our Lord's suffering. We dwell on each of those words that we hear from out of the darkness that we might wring the fullest meaning we can from that awe-filled scene where heaven and hell, judgment and salvation, God and man meet. What cannot be overlooked is the manner in which our Lord was buried. We do take note with considerable concern and care the manner in which friends and dear ones are buried. It ...

2622. You Are My Witnesses

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

The inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president of the Republic of South Africa goes down in the annals of history as a most memorable moment. Imagine historians a hundred years from now trying to recreate the excitement and the significance of what took place in Pretoria and Capetown in 1994. Three centuries of bitter and harsh white rule were brought to a close as Mandela was elected the first black president by its first all-race parliament. What dramatized that election was the fact that Mr. Mandela ...

2623. The Compassionate Healings

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Ron Lavin

We have before us two stories, the story of a sick woman with a twelve-year-old hemorrhage and the story of a twelve-year-old girl who has died. The stories are integrated by one theme -- the compassionate healing of Jesus. The Sick Woman Our stories start out with Jairus, a synagogue leader, approaching Jesus with a request to come and heal his sick daughter. On his way to the home of Jairus, Jesus was met by a woman who had been sick with bleeding for twelve years. In terms of modern medicine, she ...

2624. The Sign For Home

John 6:1-15

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

The crowd gathered because they saw the signs Jesus was doing for the sick. Another sign was the meal for the thousands. But among the thousands there were different interpretations of that sign. Some said it showed that Jesus was the long-awaited prophet God had promised Israel. Others said it showed that in any election Jesus would be a shoe-in for king. Outdated political bumper stickers are, of all signs, surely the most irrelevant. "Thomas E. Dewey for President" is as meaningful as "Tippecanoe and ...

2625. Last But Yet First

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

In order to be last, you must give others a place in front of you. This is important to realize if you are interested in reaching first place. For Jesus here says, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Realize also that, given the kind of world we are part of, the people whom you must permit to go before you will be a mixed bag, indeed. You can't pick and choose, because that would mean the discards would be behind you. They would become last. They would really be taking the ...

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