Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 251 to 275 of 1795 results

251. Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle

Numbers 7:1-89

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... referring back to what comes before and repeating some of it while presenting additional material is another example of the literary style of Numbers. The style aids in memory and is well suited for oral recitation. Chapter 4 detailed the work of the Levitical clans. The ... of a faith community is hollow and expendable. Without vibrant worship, “church” is a misnomer. In classic Priestly style, these emphases are not abstract or propositional but pragmatic and material. The details of the Priestly version ...

252. Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

1 Samuel 11:1-11

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Saul's Demonstrates His Leadership: 11:1–11 The first opportunity for Saul to exercise his new calling and confirm his role as military leader was provided by the Ammonites, a tribal group who lived on the eastern side of the Jordan and who were involved in skirmishes with Israel over many years, particularly in the eastern section. These Ammonites were so confident of their ability to defeat the citizens of Jabesh Gilead that they placed unacceptable and cruel conditions even on a negotiated surrender. ...

253. Saul Confirmed as King

1 Samuel 11:12-15

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

254. Solomon's Splendor

1 Kings 10:14-29

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Queen of Sheba and the Use of Wealth: 10:1–13 The supply of gold pouring into Solomon’s coffers continues (9:28), with the assistance of hapless Hiram, as his ships sail to Ophir in Arabia (Gen. 10:29; cf. Ps. 45:9; Isa. 13:12 for its fame). It is not merely gold that arrives at Solomon’s court from that region, however. A queen now travels from Sheba (cf. Gen. 10:28) to see him and to test him with hard questions (“riddles,” 1 Kgs. 10:1; cf. Judg. 14:12–19). Here again a theme is picked up from ...

255. David Defeats the Philistines

1 Chronicles 14:8-17

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

David's House and Family: 14:1–17 Before the Chronicler comes to the renewed attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem (starting in 1 Chron. 15:1), there is a detour in the narrative. I have already discussed the difficulty involved in fitting 1 Chronicles 14 into the narrative logic of the Chronicler’s broader construction. Although there might be good (compositional-historical) reasons to transpose this chapter to another position, the effect of the present form of the text is twofold. It provides an ...

256. Marketplace Christianity

John 2:13-22

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Do you employ a “market mentality” or a “relational mentality”? What does this mean? Put simply, a market mentality sees things in terms of transactions and commodities, resources, and dispensability. A relational mentality however sees things in terms of developing partnerships, relationships, long-term collaborations that benefit both parties and share a vision. The former can easily fluctuate. The latter, however, requires time and effort to develop and cultivates trust, loyalty, and commitment over ...

257. Israel The Chosen

Isaiah 44:6-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Regardless of Israel’s past, she is still the servant of Yahweh (44:1–5). Her future lies in her election. Israel is transformed by God’s grace into a new creation, the nature of which is described in a threefold way. First, the Spirit of the Lord is poured on the people (44:3). The presence of the Spirit is an expression of God’s intent to use the people as his servants and to equip them for his service. Second, the blessing of God will rest more markedly on the people’s offspring (44:3–5). The very ...

258. God's Response

Isaiah 65:17-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Lord is ready to respond in a most self-giving way (65:1–7). But the people are still too engrossed in sin. They show themselves to be idolaters and have little concern for spiritual purity, as they keep vigils among the graves and eat pork—against God’s explicit commandment. They are like Gentiles. They respond with a self-made holiness. The Lord in turn will respond in judgment. Even as the Lord has promised not to be silent until he has accomplished the redemption of his people, so he will not be ...

259. The Case of the Hardened Heart

John 6:1-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Cognitive confirmation bias, the core concept of my upcoming book, Slant, on how we understand Jesus, scriptures, and our theology, has also become a current “buzz word” in the confusion of our society today. No matter what “side” of the political spectrum we are on, we want to know “how” others cannot see the “truth” or “facts” that are right in front of them. Interestingly, this inquiry comes from both ends of that divide. That should tell us something. The answer is simpler and yet more complex than we ...

260. Misisng the Point

John 6:35, 41-51

Illustration

Michael J. Heggen

The German theologian Helmut Thielicke told of a hungry man passing a store with a sign in the window, "We Sell Bread." He entered the store, put some money on the counter, and said, "I would like to buy some bread." The women behind the counter replied, "We don’t sell bread." "The sign in the window says that you do," the hungry man said. The woman explained, "We make signs here like the one in the window that says ‘We Sell Bread.’" But, as Thielicke concludes, a hungry man can’t eat signs. Life sometimes ...

261. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Matthew 6:25-34

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

THE COMMUNITY GATHERS TO CELEBRATE Pastoral and Congregational Invitation (Pastor and Ministers) In the name of the Christ who says, "Do not worry," did we come today bringing any worries? (Pause.) Will anyone take the risk of sharing those worries at the beginning of worship? (Pause.) I invite us to learn some new ways to deal with those worries during this thanksgiving worship. We begin by focusing on the one who has given us the message not to worry. (R.S. - Right Side; L.S. - Left Side) Pastor: ...

262. The Season Of The Nativity

Matthew 25:31-46

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

CELEBRATING THE PRESENCE OF GOD Pastoral Invitation For the second time, in the name of the newborn one, welcome to the ____ day of Christmas, when my true love gave to me __________. Now that we are well past the culture's celebration of Christmas day, we can celebrate the biblical version of the event. Someone (author unknown) has said, "In despair we cry, 'Look at what the world has come to!' In joy we shout, 'Look at what has come to the world!' " Ask the people to stand and reverently shout, "Look at ...

263. Clear Channel Voice

Proverbs 1:20-33

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... for two minutes without stopping. The only catch was that all three had to talk at the same time. The teacher, looking at her watch, told the students to begin talking. The first girl began predictably talking about the latest fashions, including what was "hot" and in style and what was not. The second student began a play-by-play account of the baseball game he had watched the evening before. The third student told of coming to church that morning with his family and seeing a car broken down on the side of ...

264. Mission Ready!

Mark 6:7-13

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

... , and shake the dust off your feet.” Again, what is Jesus saying? Don’t get hung up on intellectual and moral arguments. Tell your story and go on. Don’t waste your energy reacting to people. Don’t be defensive about your doctrines and worship style. Don’t get burn-out over a situation you can’t change. Instead, look for another direction to go. That’s responding, not reacting. I heard a sad story on a late night talk show. The caller sounded lonely, having been divorced after twenty-one years ...

265. It's Hell, I Say: Herod Speaks

Matthew 2:1-12

Drama

Dr. Raymond Bailey

... His coming, and ask what our response to Him ought to be. For this reason, I have chosen Herod as one who has had much time to look back and contemplate how he responded, and how that response might have been different. Oral Style Sentences That May Need Clarification 1. "The bowing, scraping, smiling, obsequious people ..." is rambling, yet gets across what otherwise might require several sentences to communicate. The following sentence on a "different point of view" is saying in shorthand that my (Herod's ...

266. The TV Revolution

Sermon

Michael Rogness

... to monasteries, churches and wealthy homes. Families could have the wisdom and learning of centuries at their fingertips on living room shelves. Communication through reading changed the oral world to a predominantly print world. The printed page changed the style of communication drastically from that of the oral storyteller. The language of poetry and color gave way to prose and logic, because the printed page was suited to detailed, sequential, logical development of thought. Figures of speech designed ...

267. Christ the King A King Worth Having

John 12:12-19

Sermon

... symbolism and show what kind of king he was and what kind of allegiance he sought. There was a prophecy by Zechariah that forecast his style: Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass’s colt! So he framed his appeal in visual form, ... of peace - as on a donkey. He came not to mow people down but to woo them by love. The Revelation to John shows the same style in the form of another picture: Behold,I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I ...

268. Thanksgiving

2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19, Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 8:7-18 Theme: Give thanks for a fertile land Call to Worship Pastor: God has blessed us once again with a rich harvest. People: We are always amazed at the way our land produces. Even when crops fail, we still have plenty to eat. Pastor: God is the reason for our blessings. To him we lift our prayers fo thanksgiving, and offerings of praise. People: Thanks be to God for another rich harvest that assures us of food, strength, and health! Collect Almighty God, you have blessed our ...

269. January 1

Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 21:1-27, Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 8:1-10 Theme: God's promise of providence Call to Worship Pastor: The future is exciting because it comes to us from God! People: That's true. Fear of the unknown must give way to faith in God. Pastor: God has promised to provide for our needs. Let us enter this new year with the assurance that God will take care of us. People: We believe that for sure. We thank God for the new adventure we are ready to begin. Collect Benevolent God, you have called us to follow you with the ...

270. Epiphany 8

1 Corinthians 4:1-21, Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 5:38-42, Leviticus 19:1-37

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Theme: Love your neighbor as yourself Call to Worship Pastor: We are the children of God; and as his children we are to love one another. People: We deny God as our Father when we are unkind or unfair to each other. Pastor: Therefore we are commanded by God to love our neighbors as ourselves. People: May our attitude in society prove we are children of God. Collect Gracious Father, whose nature to love is a basic requirement for those who would be your children: Empty ...

271. First Sunday in Lent

Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-21, Genesis 3:1-24, Genesis 2:4-25

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17, 25--3:7 Theme: We are sinners by our own choice Call to Worship Pastor: We have each been to the garden, and have eaten freely of the forbidden tree in spite of God's commands. People: We seem unable to help ourselves when it comes to resisting temptation. Pastor: That is because we share the human nature of Adam. We know God's laws, but we choose sin. People: We come guilty of sin, asking God to reclaim us as his children. Collect Almighty God, whose wondrous creation ...

272. Lent 4

1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 4:17--5:21, John 9:1-12, John 9:13-34, John 9:35-41

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Theme: David is anointed King Call to Worship Pastor: When God chooses people to serve him, he looks not at our outward appearance, but in our heart. People: Hearts that are responsive to God are more important than the physical appearance of greatness. Pastor: David was responsive to God in his heart. And God chose him to be king of Israel. People: May our hearts be in tune with our Lord, that he may use us in his service. Collect Almighty God, who looks on the heart of ...

273. Thursday in Holy Week

Exodus 12:1-30

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Exodus 12:1-14 Theme: Institution of the Passover Call to Worship Pastor: We share in this sacred feast to celebrate our Lord's redeeming love. People: We rejoice in our deliverance from sin granted by the blood of the Lamb. Pastor: We celebrate as Christians, because our Lord delivers us from sin, just as God delivered the Israelites from Egypt. People: God's deliverance finally brought them to the promised land. God is delivering us, too, to the promised life of redemption in Christ. Praise ...

274. A Call for a Change in Lifestyle

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

... life every day. Repentance is really changing one’s lifestyle, so the concerns and the commands of Christ come above everything else we do or think. Repentance is really living for Christ, living out the life Christ has given us rather than living for ourselves. Our life-styles should declare, "He’s worth it!" instead of "I’m worth it!" or "I deserve it (the good life)." Christ gives us a life to live; he does not threaten to take it away from us. One of my students, now the Rev. Zane Wilson, told an ...

275. Easter Day

Matthew 28:1-10, John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Acts 10:34-43 Theme: Christ's resurrection is for all people Call to Worship Pastor: For nearly two thousand years, Christians of each generation have thrilled with the celebration of Easter. People: What God has done in Christ benefits all persons who believe in him. Pastor: God raised Jesus from the dead. And we are privileged to proclaim his gospel to our generation. People: Jesus is Lord! May the whole world know of his power to forgive sins, and be raised to new life! Collect Eternal God ...

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