Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2826 to 2850 of 4933 results

2826. The Look Of Eagles

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Peter Goodwin was a lover of horses. Uncle Peter, as he was called by his friends, was once given the opportunity to select a colt from a herd of twoyearolds. Uncle Peter chose a somewhat ordinary looking colt named Bluegrass. No one else saw the potential in this young horse that Uncle Peter saw. "He will never run in the Kentucky Derby," his friends laughingly told Uncle Peter. But they were wrong. "Bluegrass" not only ran in the Kentucky Derby, but won! When Uncle Peter was asked why he chose that ...

2827. Power!

Mark 1:4-11

Sermon

David E. Leininger

In a former congregation of mine, a Sunday school teacher told me of an incident that happened there some years ago. Two of the young girls in her class — both about nine years old — came to her and said they wanted to be baptized. She was understandably pleased at their desire and told them to go home and talk to their parents about it, then appropriate arrangements could be made. A week later, the girls came back with the sad news that the parents thought they should wait until they were older and could ...

2828. Gifts For The Christ Child

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

David E. Leininger

The three wise men. "They opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense (or frankincense, from the King James Version) and of myrrh" (Luke 2:11b). Simple words, but if we analyze them carefully (as an email that my wife forwarded to me attests), we discover an important, yet often-overlooked, theological fact: There is no mention of wrapping paper. If there had been wrapping paper, Matthew would have said so: "And lo, the gifts were inside 600 square cubits of paper. And the ...

2829. Mission and Rejection in Galilee

Mark 6:14-29, Mark 6:7-13

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: All followers of Jesus are called to mission. Yet when the kingdom news of the gospel is presented, there is both authority from God and inevitable opposition to it when people reject the good news, sometimes even costing the lives of those sent to speak for God. Understanding the Text This begins the fourth section of the Galilean ministry in Mark (after 1:16–3:6; 3:7–35; 4:1–6:30) and constitutes the third sandwiching episode thus far (after 3:20–35; 5:21–43). The sending of the Twelve (6:7–13 ...

2830. The Priority of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Unless Christ’s loving character becomes evident in the use and application of any and all of the Spirit’s gifts, their practice becomes worthless for God’s kingdom and mere demonstration of Christian immaturity. Understanding the Text Although God grants his gifts as an act of grace and not on the basis of merit, there is a dynamic relationship between the effectiveness of the gift and the life of the Christian.1Paul treats this connection between spiritual gifts and the quality of the believer’ ...

2831. The Problem with "Fawneys"

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Sermon

King Duncan

Webb Garrison tells us about a common ruse among con artists in Ireland many years ago. These con artists would place a ring which looked expensive, but was in effect virtually worthless, in a public place where someone was sure to find it. This ring in the Irish dialect was called a “fawney.” Sure enough, sooner or later someone would come along and discover the ring thinking they had found something quite valuable. Invariably this person would look around fearing that the real owner might see their find ...

2832. True Colors

John 14:15-31, Psalm 66:1-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Anyone ever have a chameleon as a pet? The chameleon (the word means “ground lion”) is an unusual “old world” creature with independently movable eyes, a helmet head, and fused toes. It is known primarily though for its ability to change color on the rotation of a dime, according to its mood. The chameleon uses this ability to blend into its surroundings, to hide from predators, or to silently approach prey. We use the word chameleon in the English language also to indicate a person who is prone to change ...

2833. True Worship

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

Will Willimon

"For this reason..." begins today's text from Ephesians. For what reason? What is the reason why Paul bows his "knees before the father?" What is the reason for him to fall stupefied, dumbfounded to his knees (in the words of the hymn) "lost in wonder, love, and praise?" What reason has moved Paul to worship? What reason thrusts you to your knees in praise and adoration? Here in the chapel, with the great organ sounding forth, great choir and congregation, that will move many to worship. What reason ...

2834. The Potter's Secret

Luke 14:25-33

Sermon

Lori Wagner

How many of you have had a time in your life when you made a terrible mistake that you grew to regret? How many of you have undergone some kind of trauma or upheaval that caused you excruciating pain? How many of you wished at one time or another that you could go back in time and erase that one pesky “thing” that haunts you, make it right, so that your mind can be at peace? I have good news for you! Your life is not set in stone. Your past does not have to dictate your life, your success, or your ...

2835. 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 ...

2836. Kneeling And Redirection

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

Three wise men come from the east bringing gifts to the infant Jesus, and in the process receive a gift worth the distance and effort they spent. After depositing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they in turn receive a gift: They are redirected. That is what we all get after kneeling before Jesus: we are redirected. That different direction after kneeling before Jesus means that your joy in life will not be in seeking happiness and fulfillment directly, but in intentionally walking the way of ...

2837. The Return Of The Lost

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Gracious and eternal Father, today we come seeking to understand your purpose and your will for our lives. Help us to know that although we seek you, you have sought us first in love. Lord, grant us wisdom in these moments. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. One of the most common complaints that I hear about the medical profession is that many doctors are too detached from their patients. People tell me that doctors don't have time to listen to them because they are so anxious to get on to the ...

2838. Easter 5

John 13:31-38, Revelation 21:1-27, Revelation 19:1-10, Acts 14:8-20, Leviticus 19:1-37, Acts 14:21-28, Psalm 145:1-21

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The Fourth Sunday after Easter, in the classic lectionary, carried the title of Cantate Sunday, from the introit, which began "O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things, alleluia (Psalm 98)." In parts of the church, it became known as Church Music Sunday, an occasion for special musical presentations, choir concerts, and the general promotion of the church music. This was not all bad, except that the singing of the "new Easter song" sometimes got lost in the ...

2839. How Does One Follow Jesus During The Threat Of War?

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

George Johnson

It has been difficult for me to decide what sermon I should preach today. I had planned to preach on the lectionary text in Acts which is assigned for this Sunday. That story of Peter and Cornelius has been occupying my thoughts for several days, and I had a pretty good idea of how the sermon would be developed. But the present historical crisis has been capturing the attention of us all. My sense of call as a pastor has urged me to set aside the sermon on Peter and Cornelius and speak about following ...

2840. Easter Sunrise

Sermon

William Luoma

There is one morning in the year when churches can get away with scheduling worship at a very early hour. That is Easter morning, of course! Some people will be there because they want to make the resurrection of Christ a reality in their lives. Others will come because their teenagers are in the youth group that is serving breakfast after the service. But whatever the motivation, it is a unique opportunity for a meaningful worship experience. A sunrise service can be scheduled at one of the usual times, 6 ...

2841. Magic Mountain

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

For six days, Jesus had been engaged in an inner struggle, attempting to settle, once and for all, his decision to go to Jerusalem where, he knew, he would die. In a move not unique to the Jews when there was any religious critical question to be settled, Jesus took Peter, James, and John apart from the rest of the disciples and went to a "high mountain" for a retreat. He needed their company, comfort, and support as he was about to lay his life on the line. Was he doing the right thing? Had he interpreted ...

2842. EPISODE 8: GOOD FRIDAY

Drama

Robert Clausen

EPISODE 8: GOOD FRIDAY GOVERNOR GOVERNOR’S WIFE CAPTAIN JESUS BISHOP MAN (Non-Speaking: SOLDIER) [The GOVERNOR is alone. His WIFE enters.] GOVERNOR’S WIFE: Husband! GOVERNOR: Wife! You shouldn’t be here. WIFE: I had to come. I want to know what’s happening. GOVERNOR: To the prisoner? WIFE: Yes. GOVERNOR: The examination isn’t over. WIFE: Have you decided...? GOVERNOR: I thought I had. Now I don’t know. WIFE: What will you do? GOVERNOR: Why do you care? WIFE: I fear him. GOVERNOR: Why? WIFE: I keep having a ...

2843. What Fragrance Are You Leaving?

Mark 14:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

In the city of Boston is a memorial to the Holocaust. On one of the clear plastic walls of the memorial, built in a corridor that runs for about a city block, is a moving story attributed to Gerda Weissman Klein. Gerda experienced first-hand the horror of the German concentration camps in World War II. It is hard for us to imagine the stark conditions in those camps. However, in the midst of the hate and violence of the Nazi regime Gerda tells a lovely story of beauty and grace. Gerda is befriended by a ...

2844. A Question We All Ask

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

King Duncan

An eminent psychologist was called to testify in court. A severe no-nonsense professional, she sat down in the witness chair unaware that its rear legs were set precariously on the back of the raised platform. "Will you please state your name?" asked the district attorney. Tilting back in her chair, the psychologist opened her mouth to answer, but instead catapulted head-over-heels backward and landed in a stack of exhibits and recording equipment. Everyone watched in stunned silence as she extricated ...

2845. Above All--god

Revelation 21:1-27

Sermon

King Duncan

In a recent story in The Washington Times, First Lady Laura Bush recalled a visit with her husband to the home of his parents, the former president and Mrs. Bush. According to Laura Bush, on this visit her husband, the most powerful man on earth, woke up at 6:00 a.m. as usual and went downstairs to get a cup of coffee. As he sat down on the sofa, he put his feet up on the coffee table. All of a sudden, his mother yelled out, "Put your feet down!" His father said, "For goodness' sake, Barbara, he's the ...

2846. Listen to Him

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

There aren’t very many heroes nowadays, are there? Even in sports. Steroids. Drugs. Violence. Many of today’s best-known athletes reflect some of the worst values in our culture. There was a time, however, when sports stars were a steady source of positive inspiration. Take Lou Gehrig, for example. Even today, the name stirs positive emotions among baseball fans in spite of the fact that it has been 68 years since Gehrig last played the game, long before many of us were born. For those who don’t know his ...

2847. A High FLOSS Church

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

It's one of those dreaded moments. One that exposes all our inadequacies and inconsistencies. The dentist, poking around your molars and bicuspids, simultaneously scrapes plaque and your conscience with the pointed question, "And have you been flossing everyday?" Despite all the flavored, waxed, stringless improvements, despite all the high-tech, low-tech gadgets and gizmos, flossing is still an unloved and unlovely chore. Nobody likes to do it. Nobody likes to see it being done. And--dentists will look ...

2848. If We Do It, It Will Work

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

Characters God (offstage voice) Gabriel Michael Mary Messenger Joseph Innkeeper Innkeeper’s Wife Lead Shepherd Gabriel Shepherd 1 Shepherd 2 Shepherd 3 Shepherd 4 Angel 1 Angel 2 Angel 3 Angel 4 Angel 5 Props Paper (decree) Arrow sign saying “To Bethlehem” Notes No one really knows much about the personality of the angels Gabriel and Michael. “If We Do It, It Will Work” takes some dramatic license in assigning personalities for these characters, portraying them as something of an “odd couple.” It views ...

2849. Sycamore Blues

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) There are no secret sins. But oh, we LOVE our secrets, don’t we? We have secret rendezvous, secret accounts, secret passwords, secret societies, secret meetings, secret diaries, secret pasts, and secret habits. Some of us even have secret desires and secret aspirations that we never share with anyone but our closest and trusted friends. All to ...

2850. God’s Love and Ours

1 John 4:7-21, 1 John 5:1-12

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

God’s Love and Our Love There is little agreement among those who have made a serious study of 1 John as to how to divide 1 John 4:7–5:4, but most have understood 4:7–12 to center around God’s love for us and, in response, our love for one another. It is likely that the opponents of the Elder had stressed their love for God (cf. 4:10, 20), their devotion, piety, and mystical spirituality (cf. 1:6, 8, 10; 2:4, 6, 9; 3:18; 4:1). But the Elder thinks that it is God’s love for human beings which is ...

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