Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3026 to 3050 of 4943 results

3026. Bound for Glory

Hebrews 13:1-25

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

Exegetical Aim: We are bound together by our faith. Props: A ball of yarn, and a couple of adult or youth helpers. Lesson: [Stand the children in a tight circle.] Today we are going to play a little game, but you have to play it quickly, and you have to do just as I say. Give the ball of yarn to one of the children. I want you to hold on to the end of the yarn and throw the ball to someone across from you. Now, you hold on to the yarn and pass it to someone else. Then that person will hold on to the yarn ...

3027. Hard Times May Drop In For A Visit

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Sermon

Joann Hary

I don't know how many of you have seen the movie Sister Act, but if you haven't, you probably should. It is filled with good humor, but it also makes a marvelous point. In the movie a casino singer witnesses a gangster execution and then agrees to testify. In order to protect this "wild woman of the world," the police hustle her off to an inner-city convent in San Francisco to pose as a nun so they can keep her hidden and safe until the trial. In the first place, she doesn't want to be there and keeps ...

3028. The Children

Drama

William Grimbol

SETTING: Seven children gathered in a courtyard garden for conversation TIME: Christ's ministry JOHN: Who is he? KEITH: Who is who? JOHN: Him ... the one you are talking about? PETER: Just be quiet. JULIE: As you know, my father is a Pharisee. JENA: As is my father. KEITH: How could we not know? CHRIS: You tell us every time. JOHN: What is a MESS-I-A? PETER: Quiet. Go play. We know they are Pharisees. JULIE: My father believes he is just nothing more than another crazy cause leader. JENA: Indeed. You know ...

3029. Conversation or Monologue?

1 Samuel 3:1--4:1

Sermon

Johnny Dean

Professional athletes, as a group, are not noted for their oratory skills – off the playing field, that is. From what I understand, several of them are highly efficient when it comes to getting under the skin of their opponents by the use of verbal punches. I think it’s called "trash-talking" – or at least, it used to be called that. But the ability to stand in front of a group of people and talk about something other than the sport they play is uncommon. Maybe that’s the reason why one interview, ...

3030. The Sound of Weeping

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Have you ever conducted a private survey of the human ear? It is a fascinating experience. It's an interesting way to pass the time while waiting for your appointment in a doctor's office, or for your mate to finish some shopping, or for a plane to arrive at the terminal, or if you are sitting in a meeting that begins to drag. This exercise is more a comparison than a survey. It involves looking carefully at human ears to see their differences in size and shape, and in the ways they are attached to the ...

3031. Vacillation - Pontius Pilate

Sermon

Ron Lavin

"... Suffered under Pontius Pilate ..." you say in your creed each Sunday. Millions of Christians speak my name every Sabbath and connect it with the suffering of Jesus Christ. They point their finger at me and speak my name along with Judas and Herod. Let me tell you my side of the story. Let me tell you about my suffering at the hands of Jesus of Nazareth. We Romans were the conquerors of Judea, but she refused to be conquered. I was the governor, but she refused to be governed. My appointment as ...

3032. A House Or A Home?

Joshua 24:1-27

Sermon

R. E. Lybrand

"Now then," Joshua continued, "honor the Lord and serve him sincerely and faithfully. Get rid of the gods which your ancestors used to worship in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord. If you are not willing to serve him, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living. As for my family and me, we will serve the Lord." A family moved to a new city where the father's company had transferred him. This ...

3033. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Bulletin Aid

Robert G. McCreight

The Order Of Worship We approach the worship of God this evening with a hushed awareness of Christ's presence in our midst. God again breaks through the calm and darkness to reveal himself to us in the stillness of our hearts. Let the praises of your heart and the songs of your voice be "joyful yet restrained" that we might be sensitive to the quiet indwelling of his Spirit. Organ And Piano Prelude: "And He Shall Feed His Flock"Handel Introit: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"The Chancel Choir The Call ...

3034. How to Settle an Argument

Acts 15:22

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: None Have you ever had an argument with someone and you knew that you were right and he was wrong? The big problem is that the people you are arguing with believe that they are right and you are wrong. That's trouble. What do you do when things like that happen? Do you get angry and fight, or do you just leave the person and never see him again? Some people do it one way and some people do it another way. I even know some who do it both ways. St. Paul had a problem like this. He knew that he had to ...

3035. Talk! Talk! Talk!

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

Text: Jeremiah 1:6 - Then, I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak ..." Jeremiah was expressing a common need of most of us. One of the miraculous abilities of the human being is his ability to speak to another human being and be understood, that the mind can communicate its thought to another mind or minds by way of speech. But how tragic it is that we misuse and waste this God-given ability. It was in the early years of my ministry that I was one Sunday preaching my sermon, and I had ...

3036. Counsel for Discouraged Disciples

Habakkuk 1:1-4

Sermon

John Bunyan had a remarkable ability to represent everyday truth in impressive allegory. One of the most vivid representations in his story, Pilgrim ‘s Progress, has to do with what happened in the Valley of Humiliation. No sooner had Pilgrim entered this valley than he saw the foul fiend Apollyon bearing down upon him, breathing fire and smoke. Pilgrim’s first impulse was to turn and flee for his life. As he was about to do so, however, he remembered that the only armor he wore was on his front side. ...

3037. Killing A King

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

"I was treated like a king!" is a common saying when one received the best possible treatment. This is to say that a king deserves and gets the very best. A red carpet is laid out for the king to walk on, lest he dirty his feet. Only the best food is served. His clothes are made of the finest material with top class and style. A king wears genuine jewels, no artificial diamonds or costume jewelry, for a king deserves only the best. A king is given honor, respect, loyalty, obedience, and love. All of this ...

3038. If Only We Would Do The Obvious ...

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Ann, a new member of our church, gave the outward appearance of having her life all together. Tall and good-looking, she dressed well, was extremely neat, and seemed secure in pursuing an advanced degree after some years of teaching. She immediately became active in the life of the church and was especially gifted in creating excitement in some of the programs. The staff was concerned about overloading her with responsibilities, but her graciousness in accepting them and the efficient manner in which she ...

3039. If Only We Would Confess ...

Ezekiel 18:1-32

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Someone had slipped a church bulletin under the study door. When I spotted it after the morning worship service and saw some notations on it, I assumed that the writer had jotted down an announcement or a date to be included in the newsletter that was to go to press Monday morning. Reading the note scrawled across the ritual, I knew it was meant, not for the newsletter, but for me. "Garbage!" the note read. "This is garbage and we will not tolerate any more of it." That note of judgment was not aimed at ...

3040. The Golden Gift

Drama

A Christmas play based on a scene from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo Program Notes Our play is based on an incident which comes early in one of Victor Hugo's greatest novels, Les Misérables - ("The Wretched Ones"). This book was published while Hugo was in exile in England in 1862. It was written as a social novel in which he made society itself the heavy in the piece. The novel was received with mixed reactions. One reviewer called it "his pernicious book." Another more charitably wrote: "It is ... the ...

3041. Why I Can’t Sleep in Church

Ezekiel 33:1-20

Sermon

"If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life." (v. 5) Prayer: You are here with us, O Lord, and we sense your presence. Speak a helpful word to us today, and give us something to take home, to think about, and to put into action. Amen There are many reasons why people sleep in church. Some are better reasons than others, but here are some. You be the judge. People sleep in church because: a. They are tired after working all week. b. They stayed up too late the night before. c. They know more than ...

3042. A Moment of Brightness

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

Dean Lueking

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun and his garments became white as light. (Matthew 17:1-2) In these words the evangelist Matthew tells us of a transcendent moment in the ministry of our Lord. Where It Occurred It is noteworthy that Jesus went to a quiet place of welcome remoteness, and that he took with him the three disciples closest to him. The ...

3043. Proper 12

Lk 11:1-13 · Col 2:6-15 · Gen 18:20-32 · 2 Ki 5:1-15

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY 2 Kings 5:1-15 General Naaman of Syria is healed of leprosy by obeying Elisha's order to bathe in the Jordan. The confession of faith by an unknown Jewish slave girl in the home of Syria's chief of staff results in the cure of leprosy for her master, Naaman. On the basis of the confession Naaman goes to Israel. When Elisha the prophet orders him to wash in the Jordan seven times, he goes off in a rage feeling insulted. But his aides convince him to stay. Naaman then dips himself in the Jordan ...

3044. Exodus Crossings

Exodus 13:17--14:31

Sermon

James G. Cobb

There is a story in which Moses is complaining to his public relations director that there is a lack of coverage in local Egyptian news media. Nothing seems to be getting the attention it should. And so, in conversation, the public relations director replies, "you are not getting the newspaper coverage you want, Moses, because you are not doing anything exciting." Moses answers, "Very well. I shall go down to the Red Sea, wave my right hand, the waters will part, and the Hebrews will pass through safely. ...

3045. Promise or Threat?

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon

"Wars and rumors of wars," Jesus said. Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, earthquakes, tribulation, even death sentences for the faithful, wickedness multiplied, and all the while the Gospel is preached around the world - these are some of the signs of Christ’s second coming and the end of the age. Tell me, would you consider his words a promise or a threat? My first recollection of any mention of Christ’s second coming goes back to when I was six or seven years old. My grandfather ...

3046. Lent 2

Genesis 12:1-8, Psalm 105:1-45, Matthew 17:1-13, John 3:1-21; 4:5-42, Romans 4:1-25

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE Lent is structured so that those who keep it will go through devotional exercises designed to bring about conversion of the penitent to the life in Christ. Lent is really the altar (font) call of the church, at which the believers will find forgiveness of their sins and renewal of the gifts God gives in baptism to those who will have him as their God in Jesus Christ. Sunday is seen in the Roman Church, as always, from a sacramental perspective; some pastors in other churches approach Lent ...

3047. Proper 15 & Pentecost 13

Isaiah 56:1-8, Psalm 67:1-7, Psalm 78:1-72, Exodus 16:1-36, Romans 11:11-24, Romans 11:25-32, Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The phrase used in the title for the day, "after Pentecost," reminds the church and its preachers that the journey to Christ the King Sunday is roughly half-completed. The Holy Spirit is still at work in the church, bringing people to the Lord, undergirding the faith of the believers, and inspiring the people of God to devote themselves to good works and loving service in the name of Jesus Christ. Of itself, the church year "theological framework" has little direct influence upon the ...

3048. Proper 27 & Pentecost 25

Psalm 50:1-23, Psalm 43:1-5, Psalm 63:1-11, Amos 5:18-27, Hosea 11:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11, Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE It is in the gospels and the other readings assigned to this Sunday that one hears the message that the "end times" are coming and the Lord will return to usher in the fullness of the kingdom of God. This note culminates in Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of Pentecost and of the Church year, too; it spills over into the first Sundays of Advent and the new church year. There is a kind of call to spiritual perception and understanding at the end of Pentecost that becomes a call to ...

3049. Bound for Glory

1 Samuel 25:1-44

Sermon

Beauty and the Beast. The beastly brute is Nabal. A grumpy geezer. A gentleman farmer whose grasp for gold was only exceeded by his grasp for Mogen David. His eyes gazed over the greenly robed spring fields as he saw his herds of sheep gently grazing. His ears heard the bleat of sheep as nine pounds of wool was removed from their fat lamb shoulders. His nose caught the fragrant smell of rich foods placed on his teeming table by servants forced to work for a Simon Legree whip-cracking master. A few miles ...

3050. The First Council

Acts 15:1-21

Sermon Aid

CSS

The elation among the Christians at Antioch lasted "no little time." We can only guess how long. But in the early church the storms and sunshine, the happy days and the dark days of controversy, the good times and the bad seemed to alternate in rapid succession. How quickly the ecstasy of the people at Lystra, in their zeal to make Paul and Barnabas into gods, changed into violence and threats! Now the same sudden storm comes to Antioch. Some men came down from Judea - from Jerusalem itself, in all ...

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