Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2701 to 2725 of 4957 results

2701. Proper 18 & Pentecost 16

Ezekiel 33:1-20, Psalm 119:1-176, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 115:1-18, Exodus 19:1-25, Romans 13:1-7, Romans 13:8-14, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 18:15-20

Bulletin Aid

... spell out the civic responsibilities of Christians, are joined by the Roman Lectionary at verse 8. The theme of the reading changes, at that point, from emphasis upon obedience to the law of the land to the attitudes and actions of people who claim to be Christians. Paul declares that all of the commandments of God - against adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting - are summed up in a single commandment: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18) He says, "Love is the one thing that ...

2702. Christ The King

Ezekiel 34:1-31, Matthew 25:31-46, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon Aid

... in the name of God the Father. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (E, L, C); 15:20-26, 28 (R) Paul gives a neat summary of the gospel in the earlier verses of this chapter, insisting that Christ has been raised from the dead and questioning those who claim that there is no resurrection of the dead. Without Jesus' resurrection, there is no life after death, nor is there any hope or comfort. But, Paul declares, Jesus has been raised from the dead, the "first fruits of all who believe." He also knows that the resurrection ...

2703. Reformation Sunday

Jeremiah 32:1-44, Romans 3:21-31, John 8:31-41

Sermon Aid

... , it builds on the Romans reading and informs people that by "continuing in my (Jesus') word" they, first, become disciples of Jesus, and, second, will be set free from sin and death by God's own truth. Salvation and redemption cannot come to people simply by their claim to be children of God; only those who are set free by Jesus Christ can know complete freedom from the forces of evil and darkness - from sin; without the truth of God in Jesus and his word, human beings really have no hope of heaven. SERMON ...

2704. A Dynasty of Destiny

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

... is the world." The Son of David’s parish is the world. He is a Son who shall never experience an eclipse. He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He is a father who dies for his children on a cross. Come home to him today and claim your dynatic birthright as a child of God. He has given you the gift of eternal life in a kingdom whose glory shall never be tarnished, and whose promise gives us hope for the future. Sing with James Montgomery as we hail in faith great David’s greater Son, Jesus ...

2705. The One Who Made His Cross

Drama

... put a stop to the trouble, and said that there had been enough violence. Barnabas What did they arrest him for? Anna There was some talk that he said he would destroy the temple ... Barnabas That’s a serious charge. Anna But the worst charge is that he claims to be the Messiah. That has really upset the religious leaders. Barnabas Pontius Pilate had better not hear about it. (3-4 DIM: CROWD BEGINS) Anna He already has. They have even taken him before Herod. Barnabas Surely they won’t be able to make the ...

2706. The Secret Story of Gabriel

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

... if Jesus were born in a palace? Why, the whole thing would be turned into an inaugural ball, with black tie, evening gowns, and chauffeured limousines. They'd keep the common people locked outside the palace gate, far away from the face of Jesus. "No one can claim this Child for himself, Gabriel. He is not sent just to mingle with the rich and famous. He is coming for all the people - even for the forgotten and despised, the sorrowful and lonely - even for the dust of the earth. He is coming for those who ...

2707. Christmas 1

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Bulletin Aid

... with a thanksgiving that recapitulates God's past saving acts. In this case the reference is to the Exodus and to God's "loving kindness" (or "steadfast love") and the "great goodness" that has come to Israel as a result. Notable here is the claim that they have been saved by "the angel of God's presence" (literally "face"), which is probably a reverential circumlocution for the immediate presence of Jahweh. Call to Worship Leader: Give thanks to God with all your hearts! People: GREAT ARE GOD'S WORKS ...

2708. Epiphany 2

Psalm 40:1-17, Isaiah 49:1-7

Bulletin Aid

... : LET US DECLARE GOD'S STEADFAST LOVE! (Based on Psalm 40) Collect Almighty God, your call to service is to particular individuals as well as to all humankind. Open our ears to your summoning voice: that, like the prophets of old before us, we may realize and claim in all humility the vocation that you have for us, both as individuals and as your earthly family. In the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession All-merciful God, we confess with shame the many excuses we use to ignore your ...

2709. Epiphany 2

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Bulletin Aid

... , not just to ourselves, but to our world. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of humankind, we confess that we are extremely selfish in all things, and even in the ways in which we interpret your salvation. We gladly claim it for ourselves and bask in its promises, but then act as though we were a Christ-clique. Forgive us, we pray. Overcome our self-centeredness with Christ-centeredness, so that his love and concern, compassion and care for all the world's people may become ...

2710. Epiphany 4

Matthew 5:1-12

Bulletin Aid

... become the very rich against whom Jesus pronounced "woes," and have ignored and even increased the sufferings of the lowly and oppressed whom Jesus called "blessed." Forgive us our ungodly values, we pray, and give us the grace to forsake the images of success that inspire the world, and to claim as our status symbol your Suffering Servant. In his name we pray. Amen

2711. Good Friday

John 18:1-11

Bulletin Aid

... cross: that, seeing there a victory rather than a defeat, we may be moved again by his tragedy and inspired by his triumph. In his redemptive name we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of all mercy, we confess how hard it is, despite all of our pious claims, for us to feel deeply the death of one person so many centuries ago, or to take seriously the impact that it is supposed to have on our lives. Forgive our scepticism, O God, and touch our thoughts and feelings with the great drama of Jesus' crucifixion ...

2712. Easter 4

1 Peter 2:13-25

Bulletin Aid

... us the assurance of your presence and compassion: that, comforted by the knowledge that you understand, we may find strength and courage for the journey ahead. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of all intimacy, we admit that, despite our claim to Christian faith and hope, we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed and to fall into despair whenever the seeming injustices and inconsistencies of life confront us; and that we allow such things to draw us away from you rather than closer to you ...

2713. Proper 6

Matthew 9:35-38

Bulletin Aid

... of Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession Gracious God, it humiliates us to admit that, if we are your children, we are mostly problems and prodigals, delinquents and derelicts, and wholly unworthy of being a part of your holy family. We claim your name and that of the Christ, but more often than not we bring shame upon it by our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Forgive us, O God, and extend to us once again the nurturing warmth of your motherly care, which loves the unlovely ...

2714. The Steadfast Power of Love

Matthew 14:13-21

Bulletin Aid

... terms; and to recognize how little we avail ourselves of your heavenly power of love, which can move the mightiest of mountains and the heaviest of hearts. Forgive us, we pray, and teach us to abandon the empty promises and short-term gains of the merely human for the trustworthy claims and eternal rewards that are truly divine. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

2715. Proper 18

Exodus 19:1-25

Bulletin Aid

... Confession God of boundless grace, we confess that we often allow our lack of direct and dramatic experiences of you to lead us to doubt your very existence and to succumb to the skepticism of our modern age, and that we let the outlandish claims of self-proclaimed prophets compound our uncertainties. Forgive us, O God; convince us again that, precisely because you are Ultimate, your being and nature are unfathomable; and help us to trust in the testimony of those who have witnessed you directly, and in our ...

2716. Proper 18

Romans 13:1-7

Bulletin Aid

... : GOD WILL BLESS ALL WHO FEAR GOD, BOTH THE GREAT AND THE SMALL! Collect Most just God, you have placed upon us the expectation of responsible citizenship in our earthly societies. Give us the wisdom to carry out this task: that, when demands of the state and claims of our faith seem to conflict, we may be guided to proper action by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of all righteousness, we confess that we sometimes let our patriotism get out of hand, as well as our ...

2717. Proper 21

Exodus 33:12-23, Psalm 99:1-9

Bulletin Aid

Theme: God's unbearable majesty Exegetical Note Face imagery permeates this selection. The preceding verse (11) has claimed that God spoke to Moses "face to face," and verse 14 has God promising that his "face" (presence) would go with Moses. But the following verses make it clear that no one, not even Moses, can look upon God's face and live. The majesty of God is simply more ...

2718. It's Not All That Bad

Luke 18:9-14, Mark 4:1-20

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

... (in their view) a nice, well-behaved God wouldn't let anybody go to hell. After you lose hell, you lose a sense of sin. Nobody is guilty of anything. Everybody is just a victim. The call to repent has no meaning. Dr. Calvin Miller of the Beeson Divinity School claims that instead of repenting we play a nice little game entitled, "It's not all that bad." It sounds like this---"Yes, I did have a brief affair, but my wife was not meeting my needs. I didn't divorce her, so don't call it adultery; it's not ...

2719. A Glory Revealed in Liberty

John 8:31-41

Sermon

... . Such words have to do with power and authority, conflict and liberation. So Jesus’ words in John 8 have to do with the liberty Jesus has won for us at Golgotha. Jesus came to deliver us from the tyranny of darkness, sin, and death. He came to claim us as his rightful spoils of war in order to usher us into his kingdom. Under his Lordship, we are really free. Jesus said, "All who practice sin are its slaves." To this verbal slap in the face his hearers reacted strongly: "We are the descendants of ...

2720. A Glory Revealed by Abiding

John 8:31-41

Sermon

... power; see me as your only foundation and build your life on me alone." This was a sharp slap in the face to one steeped in the Law of Moses. Everything Jesus told them was a direct attack on their hope as Jews. In fact, everything Jesus claimed about himself was what the rabbis taught about the Torah, that is, the Old Testament with its rabbinic interpretations. The rabbis taught that the Torah gave light; but Jesus said, "I am light." The rabbis taught that the Torah was the Truth; but Jesus said, "I am ...

2721. Dry Bones And Live Hope

John 11:17-37

Sermon

Charles Curley

... they thought he would do. "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God," and he went about his business. Yet Lazarus’ illness was to the death. Jesus was late and when he finally arrived, Lazarus was dead, and Jesus wept. There are those who claim that Jesus purposely allowed Lazarus to die so that he might work a great miracle. I don’t believe that at all, for Jesus wept. He broke down and cried because he had lost a friend, and it hurt. He mourned the death of his friend. Mary didn’t ...

2722. The Precepts of the Lord

Exodus 20:1-21, Psalm 19:7-14

Sermon

... , expressed in an external, objective code, is always there, always the same. No matter what goes on in the human family, the Law remains, there, over all of us. It is not swayed by our excuses and justifications, nor is it sympathetic to what we claim are "mitigating circumstances." God’s Law has a convicting purpose. It helps us positively to identify sin. It teaches us the sure knowledge of right and wrong. The Laws of God (just like the laws of nature) remain operative, in effect for everyone, all the ...

2723. THE FINAL TRIUMPH

Drama

... were comical. CAIAPHAS: (Turning away from Annas and crossing down right) Yes! I know what I said! But that was last night. This morning is a different thing all together! (He turns back to face Annas.) These people are everywhere, shouting and singing and claiming that the old prophecy has been fulfilled! ANNAS: (Sitting back down) What prophecy is that? CAIAPHAS: (Crossing to Annas) The one that says that the Messiah will rise from the dead three days after his death. ANNAS: (After a short pause) But isn ...

2724. Death: Commonality Explored

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sermon

... , I am confident there are not different mirrors for each denominational label. There is a brief word of caution. It seems much of our society is caught up in a myriad of self-fulfillment programs. Too many of them are pervaded by narcissistic themes. Even those which claim to be Christian are often no more than schemes to put a generous supply of money in someone’s pocket. To accept oneself is not to deify oneself. We dare not confuse the Creator and the created! The bottom line is, we do not belong to ...

2725. Loyalty: Imperative Ingredient

Ruth 1:1-22

Sermon

... maintains: "The Spirit guided each stage of the development of the early church. In every age, as the Paraclete, he reminds us of all that Jesus said, guides us into all truth, and enables us to bear witness to salvation in Christ." Our blessed Lord, in Matthew 10:37-38, claims us on his terms: "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Our first loyalty is to him; all else is secondary. If we both believe and ...

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