Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2976 to 3000 of 4508 results

Sermon

Johnny Dean

A couple of years ago, The Mattel Corporation marketed a new version of their immensely popular (and now somewhat controversial) Barbie Doll. This particular model could "talk." And one of the phrases in her vocabulary was, "Math is hard." I can’t argue with that. Anything beyond simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division has always given me difficulty. I can balance my checkbook, b...

2977. Forgiveness Unlimited

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times can my brother sin against me and I have to forgive him? Seven times?’ "" ‘No, not seven times,’ answered Jesus, ‘but seventy times seven’ " (Matthew 13:21-22). Big blundering Peter was always blurting out something! Every time he opens his mouth, according to the New Testament, he puts his foot in it. Yet, we can be thankful that Peter wa...

2978. Community Discourse: Lavish Forgiveness in the Kingdom

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Jesus stresses that the kingdom community is characterized by unlimited forgiveness based on God’s prior and lavish forgiveness, warning those who are not persistent in offering forgiveness that they will not receive it in the end. Understanding the Text In the second half of the Community Discourse (chap. 18) Jesus highlights the necessity of forgiving others in the Christian communit...

2979. The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The second half of Matthew 18 is introduced by Peter’s question regarding the appropriate number of times that forgiveness is warranted (18:21). Although generous in his suggestion, Peter’s sevenfold forgiveness contrasts with Jesus’s answer of “seventy-seven times” (18:22). His answer alludes to Genesis 4:24, where Cain’s son Lamech claims that God will avenge him seventy-seven times (cf. Gen. 4:...

2980. The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

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...

2981. A Few Remaining Tremors

Sermon

James Merritt

I will call him “Ray.” I met Ray back when I was a student pastor, in another church, here in Atlanta. He and his wife kind of took me in and we became the best of friends. As a matter of fact, he was instrumental in helping me and Teresa finally get together. I never dreamed I would tell you this story about Ray. It had been almost 25 years since I had seen or heard from Ray and out of the blue ...

2982. To Forgive Is Divine

Sermon

King Duncan

One of the hardest tasks any of us has is to forgive someone who has hurt us. Leo Buscalgia tells about one of his students who was jilted by her boyfriend. The young woman felt both hurt and rejected. At the time she felt she would never get over it. In her confusion she didn't understand her intense feelings to cause him harm in some way. It is a natural to want to hurt someone who has hurt us. ...

2983. For Freedom!

Sermon

Picture this: The radio alarm awakens you at 6:00 a.m. A friendly voice says, "Good morning! Another lovely day is being brought to you by your Great Uncle Max. Enjoy it!" Climbing out of bed, you get into the shower. As you finish waking up, you remember that your Great Uncle Max provides the water that flows through the pipes and the electricity that lights the bathroom and the bedroom and drive...

2984. The Quality of Mercy

Sermon

"... Forgive your brother from your heart ..." - Matthew 18:35 A very long time ago a ruler of many people, a king, decided to settle accounts with all who were in his realm. As they came one by one before him, one of those who came was found to owe the astronomical sum of 10,000 talents. Now that was a lot of money, literally an imponderable amount - something like the "national debt," I suppose...

2985. Forgiveness Forever

Sermon

Peter's question touches life where we live it, too: "How much forgiving can we be expected to do?" Peter wondered if there was not some cap, which could be imposed in advance, a limit beyond which no reasonable person could be expected to go. In his liberal human generosity, he suggested seven times. Now, if you have been hurt once and again and yet again by another, I think you will understand t...

2986. How Many Times?

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: There is no limit to forgiveness Props-Suggested: A portable marker board (or writing pad), a marker, and eraser. Lesson: Good morning. Hold up the board. I want to do a little math this morning but first let me ask you a question. What does “I forgive you” mean? (response) What does it mean when I say, “I forgive you?” (response) I’ve been wondering this week how many times I am...

2987. Forgiveness

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Let us come together all who know God's mercy and grace! People: For we were lost and the Lord did not give up until we were found. Leader: Each of us in our own way has gone astray before the ways of the Lord. People: Our spirits were soiled and had no joy, yet the Lord washed us clean. Leader: God's mercy and grace are real! Let our hearts lift praise to God. All: Blessed...

2988. The Unforgiving Servant

Bulletin Aid

Call to Worship Pastor: God's forgiveness is so very great when we consider how sinful we are. People: We would be doomed for eternity if it were not for God's forgiveness. Pastor: Jesus tells us God's forgiveness is not ours if we do not forgive those who sin against us. People: May God help us forgive others as he forgives us. Collect Almighty God, who requires that we forgive those who wrong u...

2989. Limitless Forgiveness

Bulletin Aid

Exegetical note The saying of Jesus about forgiveness and the loosely connected parable of the unforgiving, forgiven servant work together in this setting to suggest that forgiveness should be both limitless and contagious. Not only should one forgive without ceasing, but one who is forgiven should multiply the mercy by forgiving as well. Call to Worship Leader: Let us bless the God of mercy! Peo...

2990. A Gazillion Dollars

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: The Lord is calling. All: After all we have sinned, he still calls us? One: The Lord has forgiven us. All: After all we have been forgiven, he has more grace to share? One: The Lord is healing us. All: Let us come together to become God's people in prayer and praise this day. Collect Patient and loving God, you astound us with the depth of your forgiveness. May we demonstrate...

2991. Proper 19

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 14:19-31 After the Egyptians suffered the loss of their firstborn sons, they permitted the Hebrews to leave the country. Upon second thought, they decided they needed them back to do their slave work. The Egyptian army pursued them to the Red Sea. By God's miracle the waters parted for the Israelites to cross over. However, when the Egyptians were crossing over th...

2992. Proper 19

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35 Theme: Forgiveness and seventy times seven - You've got to be kidding! Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One pastor began this way: "In the name of the Hidden One who reveals self through worship, study, prayer, fellowship, welcome to this celebration of the body of Christ. You may want to follow with this litany between pastor/ministers: P...

2993. Proper 19

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 14:19-31 The presence of the Lord in the pillar of fire, that normally went ahead of the people to lead them, moved to the rear of the community as an obscuring cloud, a kind of buffer between them and the army of the Pharaoh. The Lord caused a strong wind to dry up a pathway through the sea so that the Hebrews passed to the other side. The pursuing Egyptians beca...

2994. Limitless Forgiveness

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes The saying of Jesus about forgiveness and the loosely connected parable of the unforgiving, forgiven servant work together in this setting to suggest that forgiveness should be both limitless and contagious. Not only should one forgive without ceasing, but one who is forgiven should multiply the mercy by forgiving as well. Liturgical Color Green Suggested Hymns Let Me Be Yours Forev...

2995. Pentecost 7

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE September 29th marks the celebration of another minor festival, St. Michael and All Angels. The last line of the second reading, Revelation 12: 12, supports the eschatological perspective of Pentecost, because it announces that he (Satan) "knows that his time is short." Without the theological input of the readings for St. Michael and All Angels Day to supplement the readings of ...

2996. The Unforgiving Servant

Drama

Robert A. Lehmann

Theme: A parable of forgiveness Characters: Narrator Jesus Four solo voices who double as Peter, the Lord, Servant 1, and Servant 2 Narrator: Many times we forget how terrific God is to us. We go around accepting what he gives us without giving anything in return to him, or if we remember him, we forget to give to people around us. Christ was speaking with his disciples one day when Peter asked ...

2997. The King Forgives Sometimes

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: Forgive others as God through Jesus has forgiven you. Summary: In this modern parable a man owes the King (Elvis) a lot of money and Elvis forgives him until he finds out the man is unforgiving to another who owes him money. Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: Graceland Props: None Costumes: Elvis -- white sequins with cape Others -- casual Time: When Elvis was King Cast: Elvis Willard ...

2998. In The Carpenter's Workshop

Drama

Jerry Eckert

[Author's Note: This particular drama was influenced by a story I vaguely remember from Sunday School told nearly a half century ago. I like situations which cross age lines, so I was glad when I had a chance to tell a story about Jesus as a boy. I think it would lend itself to having a young boy take part.] Characters: Commentator Joseph Jesus Stranger Commentator: It has been a hot day, as one...

2999. Nails, Nails -- More Nails!

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A bag of many nails. Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever wondered how many nails it takes to build a house? (Let them answer.) How many nails do you think it took to build your house? (Let them answer.) Let's say you ordered ten thousand nails to build your house. Do you think that ten thousand would be enough? (Let them answer.) That is a lot of nails. But suppose you needed more...

3000. Living In Spite House

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: A Doctor Seuss book Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like Dr. Seuss? I understand that one of the most prominent characters in Dr. Seuss books is the "Grinch." Can anyone tell me about the Grinch? (Let someone describe the Grinch.) I understand that the Grinch is a creature who cannot stand the sight of anyone enjoying himself. In fact if the Grinch sees someone enjoying hims...

Showing 2976 to 3000 of 4508 results