Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3001 to 3025 of 4914 results

3001. Forgiven

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

April Yamasaki

Instead of making new year’s resolutions, each year I like to choose a key word to help set my direction for the coming year. One year I chose “wonder,” which for me meant being curious, exploring new things, and asking questions. It meant being filled with wonder at God’s creation and work in the world and in my own life. That year it seemed as if the word had chosen me, for as soon as I settled on “wonder” as my word for the year, I started seeing wonder everywhere. This year I chose “blossom,” and when ...

3002. The Debt of Love

Romans 13:8-14

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

Let me ask you what for some of us might be a painful question. How genuine is your commitment to Christ? Is it primarily a Sunday morning exercise or does it encompass your whole life? I’m not asking this to make you feel guilty. My goal is to help each of us discover the full joy of our commitment to Christ. Our lesson today from St. Paul’s letter to the church at Rome gets right at the heart of our Christian faith. Listen closely to his words: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt ...

3003. Yada, Yada, Yada!

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Sermon

Lori Wagner

July 23rd is annual “Yada, yada, yada” day according to sources online.[1] It’s the day to celebrate the 153rd episode of Seinfeld (the 19th episode of the 8th season of 1997, for which writers Peter Mehlman and Jill Franklyn won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series)! The phrase was already popular through the comedian Lenny Bruce but caught the winds of culture in the 1990s with Seinfeld’s episode entitled, as you might imagine, “The Yada, Yada.”“Yada, yada, yada” is a kind of evasion tactic ...

3004. Easter Understanding

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

Edward Schillebeeckx, an outstanding Roman Catholic New Testament Scholar, some twenty years ago published in Holland his work titled The Understanding of Faith. Schillebeeckx made a most incisive effort to explain how Christians can understand their faith in the modern world. In doing so, he also had to carefully delineate the function of language in general. There are definite rules for the use of language. There are rules for the interpretation of language. Not only must Christians ask how the ...

3005. A Tale Of Two Cities

Micah 5:1-4

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

Our story today is a tale of two cities. The first is named in our text: "But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah ..."(v. 2a). If Bethlehem is little, with what is it to be contrasted? With Jerusalem, of course, the great holy city. Jerusalem was the capital of Judah, the home of the king. It was more than a royal center, however, since it was also the site of the temple, the dwelling place of God on earth. That made it the sacred center, the place where the people were ...

3006. Proper 25

Psalm 65:1-13, Luke 18:9-14, Joel 2:28-32, 2 Timothy 4:9-18, 2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

TWO MEN PRAYING The parable about two men praying would have shocked the people to whom Jesus told it. He drew upon two well-known and widely accepted stereotypes. First is the Pharisee, who was generally regarded as the epitome of the religious person. Most Jewish families would have been proud to have their son grow up to be a Pharisee. The second was a publican. He was the epitome of the sinner. He was regarded as a traitor because he worked for the Roman occupying government. Most tax collectors were ...

3007. Lighting A Fire In A Cold Room

Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon

Harold Warlick

His name was Father Dominic. He spoke English fluently and he was on a sabbatical leave from his post in France to study in America. He was old beyond his years, a man whose physical resemblance was that of an eighty-year-old instead of his rightful age of 58. At once you knew something was not quite right about him. Father Dominic's teeth ground together when he talked. His eyes were like a monkey's eyes, much too large for the small face that housed them. He appeared to stare right through things and ...

3008. Open Grave, Open Hearts

Acts 4:32-37

Sermon

Paul W. Kummer

As the Cadillac owner walked to his car, he saw a boy about ten years old staring intently through the windows. Wondering what he was up to, the man put his hands on the youngster's shoulders, pulled gently and asked him what he was doing. The boy said he was interested in cars and had read a lot about different models. The owner talked with the boy for a while explaining to him details about this particular model and style. After a little while, the boy asked, "Mister, how much did you pay for this car?" ...

3009. Choosing Sides

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

Do you remember those old cartoons (especially Tom and Jerry) that showed the characters considering a plan of action, being counseled by a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other? Sometimes the little conscience and the little demon would actually come to blows, vying for Jerry to behave selfishly or kindly, remember? Those cartoons said, in effect, that our lives are a battleground, with the angels and the demons fighting it out, trying to get us to choose sides. Every choice we make is a victory ...

3010. Service And Reward

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

Social status may be determined by many factors. Some of these may be given by birth, genetics, or for reasons other than the achievement of the person. These include such things as color of skin and eyes, kind of hair, height, body build, gender, national origin, family's social position, inherited wealth, and age. Other factors may be determined by achievements through a person's efforts. These include such factors as level of education, employment, development of skills, hard work, wise investment, or ...

3011. A Faith I Could No Longer Count On

Psalm 73:1-7, 13-18

Sermon

Robert G. McCreight

Introduction The seventy-third psalm mirrors the life of faith for everyone who is honest enough to allow his or her faith to be pushed to the limit. It begins with a simple, Sunday School outlook which lifts up the clear virtue of a good God who is good to good people. We all like that sort of thing, and quickly say "Amen" to that. It doesn't take long at all for the psalmist to "grow up" and realize that the simple theology of a good God smiling on good people doesn't hold much water. Just because that's ...

3012. Behold The Man Who Turned Toward Jerusalem

Mark 10:32-34

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

Some time ago I was reading Harold Kushner's book, Who Needs God. I was struck by a story he told in that book. He said he was talking with a nurse once who related a conversation she had with a young lady. This young lady's boyfriend was dying of cancer. The nurse asked her if she could do anything for her. The young lady answered, "Yeah, remind me never to love anybody this much again."1 Now we come to that part of Christ's story where Jesus begins to look toward the cross. There is a difference now in ...

3013. Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-21

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting ... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Let us come expectantly as we worship God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ...

3014. Hope Against Hope

Jeremiah 33:1-26

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

Chaim Potok begins his novel In the Beginning, with these words: All beginnings are hard. I can remember my mother murmuring those words while I lay in bed with a fever. "Children are often sick, darling. That's the way it is with children. All beginnings are hard. You'll be all right soon."1 Whether it is the beginning of life, with all its fragility, the beginning of marriage with all its risk, or the beginning of a new job, with all its challenge, all beginnings are hard. This is true also of a new ...

3015. When Life Seems Out Of Control

2 Samuel 18:1-18

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

During the week he was always dressed in a dark suit, a white shirt, and an expensive tie. On Saturday mornings he wore blue jeans and a flannel shirt. He was a vice president of a large corporation. He was a very successful corporate executive, but on Saturdays he was just another guy. At least that's what his neighbors thought. As he pushed his two-year-old lawn mower out into the sun one Saturday morning, he cheerfully greeted his neighbor as she was pulling out of her driveway next door. Then he bent ...

3016. Christ the King

Colossians 1:1-14, Jeremiah 23:1-8, Luke 23:26-43

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:1-6 The Messianic King. This, scholars say, is the most important messianic passage in Jeremiah. The leaders of Judah are blamed for scattering Judah into bondage. But, Yahweh promises to raise up faithful shepherds who will serve the people. He will gather the exiles back to their homeland. Above all, Yahweh will give as king a son of David who will save his people. Epistle: Colossians 1:11-20 We belong to the kingdom of Christ who, as the image of God, is preeminent ...

3017. Deadly Sins - A Matter Of Sutton's Law

Romans 7:14-25

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

You have said it before and I have, too, to a friend, your husband or wife: "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I'm just not myself today." And then maybe you have heard it said: "He's not really a bad boy; he's just trying to find himself." Or perhaps you have used this expression: "He's not human, he's an animal." Perhaps also you have said this about your boss: "He thinks he's God Almighty."1 All these expressions describe the contradiction that plagues all of us -- that I am not, you are not, what ...

3018. Prayer And Compassion Fatigue

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

They were tired and they needed a day off. The crowds kept getting larger. More and more sick people were being brought to Jesus and his disciples were getting burned out dealing with all that human misery. So Jesus declared a holiday. "Let's go camping," he said. At least that is what I think he said. Matthew makes it sound like he said, "Let's go off alone to a deserted place." My guess is he got no arguments from his disciples. They took off their beepers, unplugged the phones and put up the "Closed for ...

3019. God Sends Us Ahead

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

This is it. The moment we've all been waiting for. The moment when all the people who thought you'd never amount to anything watch you come out on the stage. The spotlight hits you. The audience stands and the entire hall reverberates with their applause. This is that moment when a man dressed in the finery of the Egyptian court makes himself known to his impoverished brothers. "It's me, Joseph! It's me! Remember me? The brother you threw into a pit? Don't you remember me, Judah? You suggested that you ...

3020. Repentance: A New Relationship

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

There's a story about a convention of psychiatrists who had gathered in a large auditorium near Grand Central Station in New York City. Somehow, a pigeon got in the room and was swooping back and forth above the gathered men and women. However, no one mentioned the bird. It seemed no one wanted to be the first to ask if anyone else saw a pigeon. I mention this to remind us that we each have an inward life of thoughts and perceptions about which no one else knows. It's a private world where we pretend, ...

3021. Signs of the End of the Age

Mark 13:1-31, Mark 13:32-37

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

This week's Markan text comes near the end of Mark's Gospel, but it comes first in the Church Year. As such, this might well be the first chapter of this book that you read for sermon preparation. There are two Markan pericopes appointed from Mark 13. Mark 13:1-8 is discussed in the previous chapter, chapter 32. Please read this prior chapter before you work further on this week's Advent text assignment. We pointed out in chapter 32 that Mark 13 might function in somewhat the same way that the Parable of ...

3022. Peter's Confession, Christ's Prediction

Mark 8:27-30

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

We will treat these texts as one. In examining them we have entered what many commentators believe is the central section of Mark's story: 8:22--10:52. The immediate context for this central section of material is the climax of the section that precedes it: Mark 6:35--8:21. We need to say a few words about 8:1-21, as it is omitted from the lectionary. Mark 8:1-9 is the story of the Gentile feeding of the multitude with bread which we have discussed in an earlier chapter. The response to Jesus' feeding of ...

3023. Stilling The Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

WHAT'S HAPPENING? First Point Of Action: In the evening, Jesus wants to leave the crowds and cross to the other side of the lake. The disciples take Jesus in the boat. Several boats accompany them. Second Point Of Action: A storm rises and swamps the boat. Jesus sleeps through it all until the frightened disciples wake him. Third Point Of Action: Jesus speaks to the wind and to the sea. The storm stops. Jesus speaks to the disciples. Fourth Point Of Action: The disciples respond with awe and wonder. ...

3024. Epiphany

Ephesians 3:1-13, Isaiah 60:1-22, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6, 9 The light of God's glory has been shed on the chosen nation and all the people who live in darkness will be drawn to the light, together with Israel's scattered citizens. Their neighboring realms will pour their wealth into Israel gold and frankincense. Epistle: Ephesians 3:1-12 The mystery of the gospel, withheld from former generations, has now been revealed in Christ to all people, including the Gentiles. All believers are members of the Household of Faith and ...

3025. Beware! Caution! Danger!

Acts 14:8-20

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

We may not always heed warning signs, but we still like to feel we have been told of approaching danger. We see signs everywhere that read: "Beware of the Dog," "Watch Your Step," "Danger! Thin Ice," "No Smoking. Oxygen in Use," "Watch for Wet Paint," "Dangerous Crossing," "Caution! No Lifeguard on Duty," and on and on they go. One cannot help but recall the story of the preacher who stood and announced his text. He began to read with increasing fervor, "Behold, I come quickly!" Then, for added emphasis, ...

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