Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 251 to 275 of 1285 results

Genesis 6:1-8:22

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... to ten times higher than in Western Europe. Is it any wonder that so many imprison themselves behind the locked doors of their own homes? Contrary to popular opinion, we cannot blame it all on a lenient judicial system. During the 1980s we more than doubled the number of people behind bars. Presently we convict and imprison a higher proportion of our population than even South Africa or the former USSR!3 God intends us to live in peace with one another, but we are a terribly violent people. A man abuses ...

252. Meeting Our Needs, Not Our Greeds

Exodus 16:1-36

Sermon

Steve Burt

... man who kept building bigger barns for his more and more crops: "You fool, this very night your soul will be required of you." As with the hungry Hebrews and the manna dew, God will give us what we need. In those times when we need more, as with the double helping of manna to cover the weekend's two days, God will provide. But not if we want two days' worth simply to meet our greed. There is another side to this manna story, one we must read between the lines to get. What if the people spent all their ...

253. A Law We Can Live With

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

Many of you, I'm sure, have seen those public service announcements on television promoting the use of safety belts which close with the tag line: "A law we can live with." It's intended, of course, to be something of a double entendre -- the phrase "can live with" meaning both able to accept and able to survive. Whether it will actually prove an effective campaign, I suppose only time will tell. However, at the risk of appearing irreverent, it seems to me that the same could be claimed of the Ten ...

254. Expecting the Unexpected

Judges 4:1-24

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... already come across a first-class sucker -- born just a minute earlier -- by the name of Esau.2 And when Jacob gets tired of hustling him, he moves on to pull the wool over the nearly-blind eyes of his old man Isaac. In fact, he even cons his double-crossing father-in-law Laban, by swindling him out of most of the best livestock and eventually sneaking away with both of his daughters. Now I ask you: Is this the kind of person one would expect the Almighty to choose? Hardly. And yet, according to the story ...

255. To All Those Who Have, More Will Be Given

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Phyllis Faaborg Wolk

The parable told in our gospel lesson this morning is one that Jesus uses to illustrate the kingdom of heaven. It is a story about a shrewd businessman who rewards the slaves that double his money and punishes the worker who faithfully returns what the master had entrusted to him. This image of the kingdom of God may be quite different from what we would expect to read in the scriptures. When Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God we don't expect him ...

256. The King's Wedding Feast

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... with weeping and gnashing of teeth? Jesus seems to have presented both a loving, gracious, and forgiving God and an angry, wrathful God. How do you harmonize the two understandings of God's nature? Question 4: Is Christianity exclusive or inclusive? The conclusion of the double parable is "For many are called, but few are chosen" (v. 14). The invitation seems to be wide open and inclusive. Both the good and the bad are brought into the feast (v. 10). The one who is improperly attired is cast out to darkness ...

257. Let It Go!

Mark 8:31-38

Sermon

Elaine M. Ward

... sword in her heart, and gave it to the blind woman who, using it, exclaimed, "This is a good staff!" For the first time the woman understood the meaning of the sword and her suffering. In the last twenty years there has been a doubling in the suicide rate. A sense of hopelessness, meaninglessness, boredom, or the desire for intense excitement has led to an increased use of drugs and alcohol. Affluency and lack of acceptance of "delayed gratification" are other reasons for suicide. When you have lost your ...

258. Fulfilled, Or Just Full?

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... us, of course, but many of us), when we feel sad, when we feel blue, when we feel overwhelmed, when we don't think we can cope much longer, seek solace in the refrigerator or the snack cupboard. Some of us try to fill up the emptiness inside with a double-fudge chocolate nut brownie or a Hostess Ho-Ho. Or maybe a case of Hostess Ho-Hos! In order to feel fulfilled, some of us sometimes try to get full. But does it work for us? Does it? Often not. Oh, in the short run, perhaps, we get a sugar ...

259. Prayers for Epiphany

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... ourselves to you and you would say, "How good that you turned yourself around." It isn't working out that way. We now know that we are powerless to overcome our brokenness and evil. So here we are. We present ourselves to you, no explanations, no excuses, no double-talk, no lies. We confess our false pride and our misleading and error-ridden knowledge. Secretly, we have always wanted to be you and now we own up to it and seek your pardon. How grateful we are, how ecstatic, that you received us then and that ...

260. God Knows!

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... , encouraging its adherents to love God privately and publicly through confession (talk), conduct (walk), and countenance (appearance) as taught in the Bible and exemplified in Jesus. That's what it means to be known as completely Christian. I was playing in a tennis doubles tournament many years ago in Kansas City. At a crucial moment in a closely contested match, I hit an ace right down the middle. It was perfect -- right on the line with out-of-sight-out-of-reach pace. Immediately, the guy closest ...

261. Life Beside The Falls

Ezekiel 47:1-12

Sermon

David O. Bales

... an unexpected adventure between the generations, because Millie moved into Robbie's room and he had to take the smaller room that had been his father's office. Jessica got to keep her room. A month later Robbie, a freshman in high school, began the daily doubles of football practice. To Robbie, Millie came into the home famous for her resistance to football. So Robbie and Millie didn't say much to one another. Phil and I waited and watched. Robbie made the Varsity, and the night arrived for his first home ...

262. Servant and Two Masters

Matthew 6:25-34

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... him with virtues manifold. ADONATINO: Nickolo, come to me and you will be blest, I wish to share my wealth with the rest. (NICKOLO RUSHES TO ADONATINO AND RECEIVES A BAG OF GOLD TO GIVE TO OTHERS) NICKOLO: So, here is the problem that lays in my lap, I have double duty but therein lies a trap. For my good master on the South side resides, and he with greed on the North abides. So, as I'm bid, I run and scurry, hither and back always with a hurry. And neither to the other am I known, so that in ...

263. The Future Of The Church!

Matthew 11:25-30

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... don't improve those grades, Barnabas, I'll have to take some drastic steps to help you. (PAUSE) Barnabas, are you listening to me? Well, why don't you say something? (PAUSE) Barnabas, do you realize I'm the pastor of a twelve hundred member church? I doubled the membership of that church in ten years. And as their spiritual father I can talk to any one of them about their religious life. They all respect me. Why? Because they realize that I have the training and the background that can demand respect. The ...

264. Showdown

Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 13:24-30

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... taught me plenty. I can take care of myself and protect this town, too. BILLY: The Badlanders! They're here! (EVERYONE COWERS BEHIND CHRIS AS THE BADLANDERS ENTER) CARNEY: We're tired and thirsty. Get us a drink! Mondo, you thirsty? MONDO: Sure am. A double for me. DIABLO: A whole bottle for me. MAYBELLE: They'll kill us all. MONDO: Lookee there, Carney. There's that dame. 'Member the last time? (LAUGHS) CARNEY: Yeah. I 'member. (TO MAYBELLE) Hey, you, Missy. Yeah, you. C'mere. MAYBELLE: Chris! CHRIS: Now ...

265. The Parable Of Big Business

Matthew 25:14-30

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... deals. How about here? How'd it go? BANNON: I had to sell Sinco, but I bought Northco Inc. and the Wintime Camera. BOSS: And how are they doing? BANNON: Wintime had a twenty percent increase so far this year. Here's the rest of the statistics. We doubled our holdings. BOSS: Well done. Good. Very good. How would you like to oversee the entire operation here? BANNON: I'd like the opportunity. BOSS: Why don't you get started. There's a bonus in it, too. You've been faithful. BANNON: Thanks a lot. (HE EXITS ...

266. The Glory Of The Lord

Matthew 25:31-46

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: SECOND MAN: Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. I am ...

267. A Light Verse

Matthew 17:1-13

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... kindness from the one they have hurt. Playing Time: 5 minutes Place: A work place Props: Two coffee cups Costumes: Contemporary, casual Time: The present Cast: Greg Mark -- Greg's friend Ollie GREG: (ENTERING WITH TWO COFFEE CUPS) Well, here's your coffee, just the way you like it, double cream and no sugar. Are you ready for this week's verse? I don't mean to lose again. MARK: Well, I'm going to win again. GREG: Here comes Ollie. C'mon, Ollie. MARK: That guy is so slow. Why do we have to have him along? We ...

268. Hoofs, Paws, And Christmas Pause

Titus 2:1-15

Sermon

Frank Luchsinger

... legend reports that there is a gargantuan and sinister Christmas cat who is ready to wreck havoc on lazy humans. In Icelandic villages work on the autumn wool is an imperative and consuming endeavor. If you didn't do your part, you received the double disappointment -- missing out on the reward of a new article of clothing and becoming a tasty treat for the Christmas cat. In this season, also come those things which "eat up" our thought, our attention, our energy, our calm, our pause. They come from ...

269. The Prophetic Word-- And The Living Word

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... legend reports that there is a gargantuan and sinister Christmas cat who is ready to wreck havoc on lazy humans. In Icelandic villages, work on the autumn wool is an imperative and consuming endeavor. If you didn't do your part, you received the double disappointment -- missing out on the reward of a new article of clothing and becoming a tasty treat for the Christmas cat. In this season, also come those things which "eat up" our thought, our attention, our energy, our calm, our pause. They come from ...

270. Epiphany 7

1 Corinthians 15:35-58, 1 Samuel 26:1-25, Genesis 45:1-28, Luke 6:27-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... of all human emotions. We need desperately to get this impulse under control, and to see how and why Jesus, in the "Sermon on the Plain" (see today's gospel), stressed the opposite: forgive your enemies. Outline: a. We can do our worst 1. All of us are double-minded: good and evil tug for control inside. 2. Our best instincts don't always rule when opportunity arises. 3. David had reason to hate Saul, who had persecuted him; he had a chance to kill him quickly and cleanly. 4. Sooner or later someone else's ...

271. Proper 16

Hebrews 12:14-29, Jeremiah 1:1-19, Luke 13:10-17

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Christ as Lord." Hymn Of The Day: "A Multitude Comes From East And West" THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: Luke 13:10-17 1. Spirit (v. 11). The unnamed woman in the synagogue where Jesus was teaching had a spirit. But, it was the wrong spirit, the spirit that doubled her up physically for 18 years. Every person has a spirit, either good or bad. An evil spirit can cause physical disability. This evil spirit is the spirit of Satan (v. 16). The spirit we all need for spiritual as well as physical health is the ...

272. Proper 23

Luke 17:11-19, Jeremiah 29:1-23, 2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... one who is grateful. a. Recognize your blessings v. 15: "When he saw that he was healed." b. Return to thank Jesus vv. 15, 16: "Turned back ... giving him thanks." c. Realize your unworthiness v. 16: "He fell on his face at Jesus' feet." 2. A double miracle (17:19) "Rise and go your way: your faith has made you well." Need: This miracle of cleansing leprosy may not touch many people today, because the disease is just about eradicated. Yet, people with terminal diseases long for a miraculous cure. Few people ...

273. Proper 26

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, Habakkuk 2:2-20, Habakkuk 1:1-4, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... is to allow Christ to enter your life. On the other hand, "salvation" means human response in terms of repentance. This was demonstrated when Zacchaeus promised to give half of his wealth to the poor to restore fourfold any money he took from people. He offered to give double the amount required by Law. Old Testament: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 1. Why? (v. 3). In times of trouble and persecution, humans cry to God, "Why?" It does not seem fair nor right for innocents to suffer. If God is God, if God is good ...

274. Low In The Grave He Lay

Isaiah 25:1-12

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

... in Lent, our liturgy, the Burial Office, is not a Lenten service. It is an unmistakable Easter service. We put away the purple and black altar hangings and vestments and replace them with Easter white. We once again say our prayers with alleluias, double alleluias, and triple alleluias -- Easter acclamations of triumph and resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, death is not the final word for him, or for us. Jesus Christ destroyed death on Easter day, and brought life and immortality. And we ...

275. Proper 25

Joel 2:28-32, Joel 2:18-27, Psalm 65:1-13, 2 Timothy 4:9-18, Luke 18:9-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... the goodness of this house of prayer. Prayer of Confession Great God, mighty and awesome, you are above all pettiness and unmoved by cheap bargaining. Forgive our stubborn narrowness. Our preference for people just like us, our suspicions about those alien to us, our double standards of caring for those of our own kind and those of our customs or races. Excuse our neglect of justice for those who need advocated because they are not in a position to speak for themselves. We have forgotten your outgoing grace ...

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