Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2901 to 2925 of 4508 results

Children's Sermon

Shirley Jennings

Object: A picture of a shepherd with sheep. Lesson: Children sometimes are separated from the adults who take them shopping. One time Jesus told a story about a lost sheep. A shepherd takes care of sheep. The shepherd in Jesus’ story had exactly one hundred sheep. At the end of the day, the shepherd counted his sheep and there were only 99 sheep instead of one hundred. That meant he had lost one...

2902. Imagine a World

Sermon

Mark Trotter

I have just returned from my vacation, part of which was spent in Canada fishing for salmon. I notice there always seems to be a curiosity when I come back from a fishing trip to know if I caught anything, and if so, how big was it? I can usually exercise the necessary latitude to describe my catch appropriately, but this time I was with several members of this congregation. They happen to be in ...

2903. Surviving the Big One

Sermon

James Merritt

Men, when it comes to women, there is one thing that is absolutely true. Women, when it comes to men, there is one thing that is absolutely true. You’ve heard it before, “You can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.” There is some truth in that old saying and here is why. Relationships are messy. Relationships are just like newborn babies. Every once in a while they mess on themselve...

2904. Lost Baggage: Empty Your Suitcase

Sermon

James Merritt

If I have ever done a series of messages in my life that struck home, hit a nerve, scratched an itch or met a real felt need it is the series that we are concluding today that we have called “Lost Baggage.” As we have said repeatedly, everybody has baggage. Even if you grew up in what you would consider a perfect environment, that environment itself may have loaded you with baggage. What kind of ...

2905. Straight Talk, Due Process and Grace

Sermon

William J. Carl

It never ceases to amaze me how periodically someone joins the church thinking with great naivete that he or she has now left the imperfect, money-grubbing, power-hungry secular world and entered some holy, monastic community where everyone is good and kind and loving and no one ever gossips or spreads rumors or disagrees on any subject. When this happens, I usually watch to see how long it takes ...

2906. Sin is an Ugly Matter

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Sin marks us. Props-Suggested: Water soluble black felt pen and a damp rag. Lesson: Using the felt pen make a big mark on your forehead before the children come forward. Good morning. I have a question for you this morning. How many of you know what sin is? (response) Sin is when we do things that are wrong -things that hurt God and other people. Can anyone give me an example of a ...

2907. A Cubed Community

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

One of actor/comedian/educator Bill Cosby's greatest old comedy routines is "Noah." Cosby replays the conversation between God and Noah as the Divine tells the clueless human about his watery plans and the need for an ark. True to Genesis 6:15-16, God tells Noah to build this boat with specific instructions: "the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty...

2908. Celebrate Your Critical Mass

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Where two or three are gathered together, there is no need for a standing committee. Before AIDS, one of the most terrifying diseases people lived in fear of was polio. It was the cruelest of diseases. Overwhelmingly targeting children, it would break out primarily in the warm, golden summer months, killing or permanently crippling its victims within days, or even hours. When, at last, Dr. J...

2909. Matthew 18:15-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Matthew's conspicuous concern for ecclesiastical good health and the growth of true discipleship faith is evident throughout chapter 18. While in Mark's gospel, issues of inter-disciple relations are pared down to the argument over "Who is the greatest?" (9:33-37), Matthew crafts an entire chapter around how disciples of Christ should live together in a faith community and how the church should co...

2910. A Brother Who Sins Against You

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The theme of restoration initiated in the parable finds further emphasis and clarity in 18:15–20, where the restoration of a sinning community member is paramount. The goal of the process described in 18:15–20 is to win over one’s brother or sister (18:15). The restorative process involves (1) bringing the purported sin to the person privately; (2) if the first action does not result in restoratio...

2911. A Brother Who Sins Against You

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Humility and Forgiveness: We come now to the fourth major discourse of Matthew. It ends with the usual formula in 19:1–2 (cf. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 26:1). Chapter 18 reads very much like an early church manual and deals with subjects such as humility (vv. 1–4), responsibility (vv. 5–7), self-renunciation (vv. 8–10), individual care (vv. 11–14), discipline (vv. 15–20), fellowship (vv. 19–20), and forg...

2912. Reconciliation Day

Sermon

King Duncan

Some of you may be fans of “Click and Clack, the Tappet brothers,” the mechanics on NPR’s Car Talk. Click and Clack are the radio names for the hosts of Car Talk, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. Someone wrote Tom and Ray a letter sometime back. Dear Tom and Ray: Today I was involved in an accident. I was happily cruising along at the speed limit . . . in the right lane, when someone came up behind me. He...

2913. Building Relationships

Sermon

King Duncan

In 1997 the following letter appeared in newspapers throughout our land: Dear Ann Landers: You recently printed a sweet “how‑we‑met” story. The woman said at the end of World War II, she sat behind a soldier in church. He knew all the lyrics to the songs so she figured he couldn’t be all bad. Later, she learned he was a doctor. Three months later, she slipped on an icy walk and injured her arm. T...

2914. The Lord's People Together

Sermon

"... if two of you agree ... about anything ..." - Matthew 18:19 The inimitable Will Rogers was once asked, "What's wrong with the world?" And he replied, "People!" Of course, the famous humorist was being humorous. Others have been seriously cynical concerning the human race. One said, "The world would be a pretty good place to live if it weren't for the people in it." But when all the cynics h...

2915. The Authority of The Church

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Let us come together in the loving Spirit of the Lord! People: Let us set aside all that might draw our hearts away from Christ. Leader: Let nothing this day keep us from lifting our hearts to the Lord! People: For in Christ we are one Church; let our witness of love be true. Leader: Then let us lift our voices in song and praise for God's grace. All: Blessed be the name of...

2916. Prayer

Bulletin Aid

"If two agree and ask, God will give it to them!""Whatever you ask in My name will be given to you!" I'm sorry, But I don't believe that! (I don't care if it is in the Bible It hasn't worked that way for me!) Oh, I could play with it - Make it come out - Rationalize - "It takes really singleminded agreement - And that's hard to achieve!" "You have to really understand what you're asking for And ...

2917. Where Two or Three Are Gathered ...

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship (Unison) Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your...

2918. Proper 18

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 149:1-9 First Lesson - The passover is planned and prepared in readiness for the exodus of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Exodus 12:1-14 Second Lesson - Paul's moral admonitions are a bridge from the Old Testament to the New. Romans 13:8-14 Gospel - Jesus outlines ways to reconcile differences between members of the church. Matthew 18:15-20 CALL TO WORSHIP L...

2919. Proper 18

Bulletin Aid

Call to Worship Pastor: We are persons with human nature. And therefore we sin against each other from time to time. People: It is difficult to relate to persons when they offend or abuse us. Pastor: But our Christian duty is to go to them in love, showing how they have hurt us. People: May God help us to be that honest with one another, giving strength to our Christian fellowship. Collect Father...

2920. The Christian Life Differences

Bulletin Aid

Leader: If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. Congregation: Father, help us to listen to him as well; after all we may be the one who is wrong and then we will be glad we kept the matter private. Leader: If he will not listen, take one or two others along so that every matter may be establis...

2921. Proper 18

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Handling conflict in a holy community Exegetical note The first few verses of this passage should serve as a reminder that, at least within the Christian fellowship, the inevitable conflicts that arise should be dealt with circumspectly. Rather than creating a cause celebre from the outset, a "wronged" party should attempt to resolve a grievance one-on-one with the perpetrator, and only th...

2922. Proper 18

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: A word of warning. The Ezekiel 33 text is a word of admonition by God to Ezekiel that he must warn the people of their sins or else he will be held accountable. The Gospel Lesson contains the procedure for dealing with sin in the church. A three-step procedure is outlined for warning the wrongdoer and bringing him back in communion with the church. In the Second Lesson, Paul warns Christian...

2923. Proper 18

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes The first few verses of this passage should serve as a reminder that, at least within the Christian fellowship, the inevitable conflicts that arise should be dealt with circumspectly. Rather than creating a cause celebre from the outset, a "wronged" party should attempt to resolve a grievance one-on-one with the perpetrator, and only then if not satisfied, and only gradually, attempt ...

2924. Proper 18

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20 Theme: Duty toward offenders - Christ's presence. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One pastor began this way: "In the Name of God, the loving one, the holy one, welcome to the celebration of the Good News, which, until God reveals it to us, appears as bad news. You may want to use this response between pastor and ministers: Pastor: We are ...

2925. Proper 18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 12:1-14 The Passover feast is inaugurated. In preparation for leaving Egypt, Yahweh instituted the Passover. Each family was to roast a sheep or goat and eat unleavened bread. The blood of the animal was to be placed on the doorposts to keep the angel of death from entering their homes. This is to be an annual feast to remind the people of God's deliverance. Old ...

Showing 2901 to 2925 of 4508 results