Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2976 to 3000 of 4681 results

2976. Secret Revealed

Romans 16:25-27

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... the lordship of Christ are therapeutic and can be delightfully helpful. The weaknesses and, I dare say, the sins of all humanity allow us to stand just so much in the ongoing and colossal conflicts of the world. If God gave us more than we could bear, he would be untrue to his word to us. Therefore, his refusal to make manifest to us people, places, and things that will strongly influence our destiny is necessary to his providential care. This is truly a safeguard for all his children — past, present, and ...

2977. Training for a Purpose

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... , how else can we justify our existence as those professing the name of Jesus the Christ? Funny how we keep evading and avoiding that which is of the essence of our being in Christ, as Saint Paul put it. Loving others in a sincere and wholesome way, bears fruit in ways people can view. The Spirit will seek to guide them to accept and understand that this is why Jesus was born among us. Are we able to enter the "pearly gates" without taking others with us? That question has been posed numerous times. Frankly ...

2978. Precious and Privileged Children

Galatians 4:4-7

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... Wesley are not placed ahead of Christ. They are not the source but merely offer commentaries in print and behavior. We are to remember who the priority is. Perhaps the greatest teaching devotional is the Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. The centuries of readers bear witness to the profundity of this book. In my own experience, I find it second only to the Holy Scriptures. Page after page, in dialogue form, the author drives home the truth that we are to be like Jesus and we do so by being childlike ...

2979. Looking Out for Others

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... attempted to improve ourselves individually but in doing so we likewise — at least at an idealistic level — wanted the same opportunities for others. We have always been a melting pot and continue to be. While at first this may not seem to have a direct bearing on Paul's teaching; it shows the influence of a definite belief in human rights. Truly, our nation has been a beacon to millions! Our Puritan fathers and mothers may not have understood this at first but there were forces that made them bend. Isn ...

2980. A Man for All Seasons

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... fail to do so! In a sense he is God's "secret weapon" in that he is able to stand with an unfulfilled Judaism and a promising religion evolving from it called Christianity. Perhaps no one in the ancient church was as well qualified and equipped. History bears this out in a remarkable fashion. Focus We are to be resilient for the sake of Christ. Body 1. There are good politics and bad politics. Politics — in the general sense — is inescapable in this life. To relate to other human beings, sooner or later ...

2981. Making Disciples

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... two generations, have been remarkable. After all, God is the God of both! The warmth and contentment of the Father's boys and girls — regardless of their ages — has no real substitute. We can at times see salvation in the faces of others. Our spirit bears witness to their spirit. There is a sense of both peace and vibrancy that involves heart and mind — in particular, the heart. Some would label this subjectivity and even worse. Yet, we know in the Christian religion this is paramount and gives us the ...

2982. Parades and Crosses — The Challenge of Ministry

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... bit quaint and irrelevant, and a little bit off to the side of life. Preaching and worship and religious processions may seem a little glamorous, but I think the deeper truth is that people do not respect it in our day. And that's a cross you would have to bear if you went into the ministry." The son sat back in his chair and thought a bit. He looked at his mother who, by the gentle expression and radiant glow in her eyes, encouraged him to go on. "The trouble is, Dad, I think you may be right. I know ...

2983. The Acceptable Time

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... in business and investments know the importance of timing. How many of us have regretted we did not invest in a certain piece of real estate a few years ago? Or how many of us bought at the top of a bull market and sold at the bottom of a bear market? Hindsight, as we all know, is 20/20 vision. Think of opportunities missed. Here is a young man just out of college. He passes up a good career opportunity holding out for something just a little bit better. Here is a woman, who in her eighties, confided she ...

2984. Are You a Taker or a Giver?

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... was also the Philippi where, due to the efforts of Paul, Christianity first started in Europe; Philippi where Christianity was born in the home of Paul's jailor; Philippi, the mustard seed beginning of the faith that was to sprout and bear fruit in cathedrals, churches, universities, hospitals, missionaries, musicians, scholars, literature, and millions upon millions of lives made new. This was Philippi, a city church with a generous heart from the beginning, one of the few churches from which Paul received ...

2985. God’s Wisdom or the World?

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... and wisely. Thus we might ask, why does the world suffer? Why do pain, problems, and suffering exist in such abundance? We all believe that God is all-good, all-love, full of compassion, and all-powerful. This is how we define God. Thus, the question bears repeating, why does our world suffer? Why do wars exist and people die in innocence? Why do people in positions of public trust commit acts that cause others not only to lose faith in the individual, but in the system as well? Why do people fight ...

2986. In Solidarity with Jesus

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-18

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... and becoming one like us in all things but sin. God becomes one with us; we must, in turn, have the courage to become one with Christ by being one with each other. Our solidarity with Christ is our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who bear his name. Salvation history relates how Jesus came to be in solidarity with us. This story begins in the Hebrew Scriptures with the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. The scriptures present two contrasting images of the Messiah, one that speaks of a great ...

2987. Dots on a Screen

Hebrews 9:24-28

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... 's forgiveness and continued presence and favor. Scripture does not say if any high priest ever actually died during the ceremony, only that a cord was attached to retrieve his corpse should God's wrath go unappeased. The yearly ritual bears some resemblance to the dramatic reenactments of the cosmic myths performed in the temples of the pagan gods of Israel's Canaanite, Egyptian, and Greek neighbors. Acknowledge the breach between God's holiness and rebellious humanity, offer the appropriate sacrifices ...

2988. Looking in All the Wrong Places

Romans 3:19-28

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... a thousand things a woman ain't s'posed to see." Yet for all her adventures and exciting travel she feels unfulfilled, even a bit envious of those with a man to fight with, and sleep with every night. She grieves for the children she will not bear and reflects, "I've been to Paradise, but I've never been to me." The song was released amidst the turmoil of the women's liberation movement and the aftermath sexual revolution of the 1970s; and even then not everyone agreed with its sentiment (or even understood ...

2989. Our Ultimate Destination

Revelation 21:1-6a

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... conflict; rather the holy city comes to us, a gift of divine grace, coming from heaven rather than arising from earth. John does not give details about just how he got there to see that new heaven, for even that transport was divine gift, but he does bear witness to what was seen. It is a vision we need to grasp — a traveler's tale we need to hear and understand. This world is not our ultimate destination. Like the believers of John's day, faithful travelers on today's Christian journey even yet find ...

2990. Our Prayers Are Our Thanksgiving

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... faithfully live out our "dual citizenship" as Christian Americans? During times of national crisis, governmental leaders exhibit little hesitation at invoking God's presence and power. The congressional "God Bless America" performance on the steps of the Capitol bears witness to this. Yet our courts have been equally willing to banish prayer and other religious expressions (like Nativity scenes and crosses) from our public arenas. American Christians themselves are not unanimous in their opinions on church ...

2991. Sounds Great, But We’re Busy

Psalm 126:1-6, Isaiah 40:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... great things for them." One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. All: Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. One: May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. All: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. (Psalm 126) Collect One: God's people returned to Judea from exile in Babylon, but years passed and while they paneled their own houses, the temple remained in ruins. They had ...

2992. I Had No Idea

Acts 3:12-19

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... glorified his servant Jesus. Collect Who is that? Lord of life, is that you? The misshapen stone, beaten and battered, holding up your church from your cornerstone place. That's a lot of weight, Lord. Can I help you, can I carry the cross, can I bear the weight of your precious body, which is visible in your gathered people? All those who the world has rejected are welcome here in this place. Now the church looks whole! Amen. Prayer Of Confession Repent! Repent! Jesus forgave us from the cross because we ...

2993. Just The Way It Is

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... Praise the Lord! (based on Psalm 147:1-11, 20c) Collect Let us wait upon the Lord. (Pause for thirty seconds.) Amen. Prayer Of Confession We proclaim one gospel, one truth, one Lord Jesus Christ, one death, one resurrection, one salvation, and in your name we will bear in mind both the weaknesses of your servants and the language of those still lost, using whatever tools are at hand in order to speak one truth in many tongues. Amen. Hymns Oh, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing Jesus Shall Reign 'Tis So Sweet To ...

2994. A New Name, The Right Name

Psalm 103:8-12, Hosea 2:14-20

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... We claim that covenant you made for us with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground. We renounce the bow, the sword, and war in our land, as you have willed, so that all might lie down in safety. May we bear fruit for the kingdom, that your glory should be known now, in us, through us, despite us. Amen. (Based on Hosea 2:18) Prayer Of Confession (Unison) The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will ...

2995. Sympathy — With Pathos

Psalm 22:23-31, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship We come before you now, our crosses bearing, Our lives in disarray, but sins foreswearing. We praise you for our weakness you have borne, and now are sharing, Son, priest, and king, who walked before us, filled with caring. Collect One: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe ...

2996. “No’s” That Mean “Yes”!

Exodus 20:1-21, Psalm 19:1-14, Mark 10:17-31

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... anticipation of our destiny of joy. Accept our fears and hopes, and our prayers for others, as we gather to worship you this day. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, we already know the commandments. We have kept them since our youth. We don't murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, defraud, and we honor our parents. Please don't tell us we lack one thing. We're not ready to sell what we own and give the money to the poor. We have many possessions. Don't send us away grieving. Let us off easy. Amen ...

2997. Pass Around Passover

Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... is right. God is here. Have no fear. Leave your past. This will last. Make no waste. Eat in haste. Collect God's people stand at the edge of true freedom. All God's people want to be free. Once we wore ashes, the symbol of our sins. Now we bear a different mark, the mark of God's chosen, the mark of the saved. Lord, we are not worthy that you should enter under our roof. Only say the word, and we servants will be healed. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Saved by blood? Blood splattered over the door of our ...

2998. We’re Talking Paul Here, Right?

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... weakness your power to change lives! Thank you, Lord. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Enduring Lord, we have been blessed beyond measure as your people, and ought to appreciate more than others what we are striving for. We should embrace with glad endurance the opportunity to bear the cross in our flesh to demonstrate to an unbelieving world the glory of our salvation. Yet we balk and bellow, bray and bicker. Lord, set our hearts and minds on the cross, that we may walk beneath its shadow and be made whole. Amen ...

2999. Adoption Papers

Ephesians 1:3-14

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... evident all around us, in the green of the hill, in the rushing of the rivers, and in the life that surrounds us. The birds who eat the seeds we leave out, and the birds who plunder the fruit we thought we would save for ourselves, are both yours. The bears who forage in the woods and who rummage through our trash are yours, also. Lord, this is your world and not ours, and surely your presence is in this place, whether or not it suits our purposes. We praise you, Lord, for who you are, and not what we would ...

3000. One Body And One Spirit

Psalm 68:1-35, Ephesians 4:1-16

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship You ascended the high mount, leading captives in your train and receiving gifts from people, even from those who rebel against the Lord God's abiding there. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah. Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belongs escape from death. (Psalm 68:18-20) Collect Lord of life, grant us gifts, grant us grace, according to your measure and not our own. Amen. Prayer Of Confession (Unison) ...

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