Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 3051 to 3075 of 5000 results

3051. Proper 22

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13, Amos 5:1-17, Habakkuk 1:12--2:1, Habakkuk 1:1-4, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 37:1-40, Luke 17:1-10

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE In many parts of the Christian church, this Sunday will be remembered and, in some places, celebrated as Reformation Sunday, depending on the lectionary followed and the calendar year. Observation of Reformation Day, October 31, is basically limited to schools and seminaries, mostly Lutheran, at that. But the festival itself is undergoing a kind of transformation, emphasizing what God is doing in the present rather than stressing what God did in the past. The whole church is caught up in ...

3052. Proper 26

Psalm 65:1-13, Psalm 145:1-21, Psalm 32:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, Haggai 2:1-9, Exodus 34:1-28, Isaiah 1:1-31, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The "count" of the Sundays in this period of the year tells those initiated in the mysteries of the church year that it is approaching its conclusion. This, the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost, is the last of the Sundays of Pentecost to be used with any frequency over the years; Easter has to occur in March in order for the number of Sundays in Pentecost to surpass 25, including Christ the King Sunday. One might begin Tennyson's In Memoriam on this Sunday - for the church, not the ...

3053. The Unfairness of God

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

William J. Carl

Have you ever noticed how sometimes life just isn’t fair? It’s one of the hard realities we learn early on. No one has to wait for adolescence or old age to find it out. You can learn it in nursery school. Sometimes life just isn’t fair. Little brothers and sisters seem to get such special privileges. The things my little brother and sister got away with! There were times when I really felt like the prodigal son story was some kind of Jungian archetype for familial systems down through the centuries. Well ...

3054. Says Who?

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

Freedom and Democracy Sunday • Freedom Sunday Of all God’s creatures, only humans can make free judgments. Only we can change our basic natures; only we can rebel against ourselves; only we can choose. Herein lies both our greatness and our misery. Thus, only we can question and choose our authorities. Only we can ask, “Says who?” Where did that idea come from -- that the consciences of human beings should be free? I suppose that the first time the words, “Says who?” were spoken was millions of years ago ...

3055. Doors to God

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

Sunday • Christian Education Sunday • Christian One door in the church school class room opens to God. That door, the most important, is the teacher. Whatever else they teach, church school teachers should teach the central message of the Christian faith. What is that message? Albert Schweitzer, after making a life study of the message of Jesus, has concluded that: The essential element in Christianity as it was preached by Jesus, and as it is comprehended by thought, is this, that it is only through love ...

3056. The High Cost of Christian Living

Matthew 16:24-28

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

Youth Sunday • Youth Sunday • Youth On a cliff overlooking a river in India stood a woman with two children. As the missionary doctor canoed down the river to the trading post, he noticed that the child who stood by her side was strong and healthy, while in her arms she held a tiny lad with twisted limbs that he would never use. When the missionary returned from the trading post again he saw the woman, but this time she had only one child. He knew immediately what had happened. He left his boat at the edge ...

3057. Trumpets on the Other Side

John 11:17-37

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

Easter Sunday • Easter Sunday • Easter Whatever one’s view of death, death will come to each person. Shakespeare was right when he wrote: Golden lads and girls all must,As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.6 Many people face death with some misgivings, as they face any new experience. Some do not want the subject mentioned. However, to refuse to face death realistically is as ridiculous as it is to refuse to face life realistically. Two views of death are common. The first view asserts that death is the end. ...

3058. Breakfast on the Beach

John 21:1-14

Sermon

Steven Burt

There is a handful of narratives about Jesus’ appearance after the empty tomb. Several center around the empty tomb itself, like the one in which the angels say Jesus is risen, or the one where Jesus himself appears and says to Mary Magdalene, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” And there’s an appearance to the disciples when he says to doubting Thomas, “Go ahead, stick your hand in my wound and be sure it’s really me.” Another time Jesus walks along the road to Emmaus with two ...

3059. He Preached Good News

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

James Garrett

Last Sunday we examined the beginning of John’s sermon where he said the King is coming, prepare! Today we continue with that sermon. Hear the words of John, the son of Zachariah, recorded in Luke 3:7-18. John, austere preacher, calls for the multitudes to prepare the way for Christ’s coming with severe earnestness. His message is a call to repentance with actions that demonstrate an altered life. “Bear fruits that benefit repentance,” he says. “We have Abraham as our father,” is not a valid claim or an ...

3060. Jesus’ First Sign

John 2:1-11

Sermon

James Garrett

A bonus in being a minister is that I get to share in a lot of weddings. Weddings are joyous and happy times. In the service of marriage are these words:… we are gathered together in the sight of God,… to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony;… which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence in Cana of Galilee. It was a wedding in Cana of Galilee that Jesus does his first “sign.” The story is told in John 2:1-11. Weddings then, as now, were great and grand occasions. Friends and ...

3061. A Farewell Gift

John 14:15-31

Sermon

John M. Braaten

I have never liked saying "goodbye," it always elicits feelings of finality. So I say other things like, "See you!" or "Hope to see you sometime." Most of the time I like quick goodbyes. However, when a loved one leaves there are no formalities. We embrace, sometimes through tears. It is not uncommon to cast out cliches, often with a bit of humor, to lighten the atmosphere. But in the end the word "goodbye" is bound to be spoken. It's a comforting thought really, because it is a shortened form of "God be ...

3062. Beyond Togetherness

John 17:20-26

Sermon

John M. Braaten

There's a story which many of you have heard and it is a fitting introduction for our text. A group of new arrivals in heaven met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. He began to show them around, pointing out areas of interest and filling them in on the rules of the kingdom. There were many "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd, and they were obviously enjoying themselves immensely. Suddenly Saint Peter stopped a short distance from a massive building which was miles-wide, long and high, and without doors or ...

3063. Our Christian I.D.

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

John M. Braaten

Given that you and I are reasonably good people, it probably does not amaze you to read that Jesus was able to overcome temptation. After all, like me, you've probably been able to do it yourself, many times. Admittedly, we have also caved in to temptation innumerable times, but for a person with Jesus' devotion and strength, eluding the tempter's entrapment must have been a piece of cake. That assumption is based on that belief that temptation is merely the urge to do something wrong. It is the desire to ...

3064. That's Our God For You!

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

John M. Braaten

Palm Sunday is an event in Christ's life that many people, particularly young people, enjoy. It is action packed, filled with lots of commotion and noise - especially noise. It centers around a grand parade with all the excitement and frenzied emotion of a political convention. The "Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem," as it is sometimes called, includes people lining the streets craning their necks to see, waving palms, and lots of shouting. For many people who like lots of activity, Palm Sunday is their ...

3065. God's Everlasting Love

Romans 8:28-39

Sermon

Stephen Youngdahl

A General Funeral Sermon Each one of us must face the realities of life everyday. Today, however, in a special way, we face the reality of death. Death is truly a strong power. It can separate us from loved ones, it can bring moments of loneliness for those who survive, it can make us call into question all that we believe. Today we are faced with the death of one whom we loved. I'm sure many of you have already thought ahead to moments of loneliness you will face. Yes, death is real, death is powerful. ...

3066. The Blessed Hope of Everlasting Life

Philippians 3:1-11

Eulogy

James G. Cobb

Preached Just Prior to Pentecost/Confirmation About the person: She was a life-long member of the parish, mid-fifties, with children and grandchildren in the congregation. Diagnosis had been sudden and death had come quickly to a vigorous woman. The sermon was given just prior to Pentecost and Confirmation. When _______ was confirmed at Trinity church, a prayer was spoken for her and to her that we still retain in this season when we confirm other youth. The words said, "the Father in heaven for Jesus' ...

3067. God Commands Abraham To Offer Isaac

Genesis 22:1-19

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

Suggestions: Use as an anthem. 4 readers - a woman as storyteller, a boy, a young man, an older man Key: 1 = storyteller, 2 = God, 3 = Abraham, 4 = Isaac (Read the "he saids" quietly in a smooth rhythm with speakers to avoid monotony.) 1: After [Abraham's agreement with Abimelech] God tested Abraham. He said to him, 2: "Abraham!" 1: And he said, 3: "Here I am." 1: He said, 2: "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of ...

3068. Carrying The Ark Of The Covenant Across The Jordan

Joshua 3:1-4:24

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

Suggestions: Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading. 4 readers - 2 men, 2 women Key: 1 = first storyteller, 2 = Lord, 3 = Joshua, 4 = second storyteller 1: The Lord said to Joshua, 2: "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.' " 1: ...

3069. God Moves In Mysterious Ways

1 Kings 17:7-24

Sermon

Robert Allen

There is a small Catholic chapel in the heart of Santa Fe, New Mexico, called Chapel of Our Lady of Light. It has a fascinating story attached to the early days when there was a convent school run by the Sisters of Loretto. Apparently, the only way for the sisters to get into the loft where they slept was to climb up a ladder. This was not a major problem for the younger nuns, but it was difficult and dangerous for the older nuns to be climbing up and down the shaky ladder. They were unable to install a ...

3070. Selling One’s Soul

1 Kings 21:1-29

Sermon

Robert Allen

Universities in the Northeast take great delight in staging Elizabethan dramas. This is one of the cultural aspects which universities in the Northeast emphasize. It is a way of giving aspiring young actors and actresses some practical experience on the stage and it is a way of taking classical literature out of the boredom of the classroom and making it come alive in the minds of students as they watch it performed on the stage. Perhaps, one of the greatest of the Elizabethan dramas is Christopher Marlowe ...

3071. Black Preaching: A Four-Cornered Universe

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

The four elements of black preaching might also be called the four corners of the art. As stated earlier, our aim is to shed light on the uniqueness of black preaching as a celebrated art form. While traditional categories are helpful in grasping the structure of black sermons and their functional value, the way sermons move and empower black audiences and reach their desired objectives is more important. Thus the description of black preaching as a four-cornered universe is designed to identify the ...

3072. Advent's "Invisible" Man

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

The idea of-the invisibility in our culture is no new thing. The great H.G. Wells wrote a book called The Invisible Man. In it he imaginatively explores the development of a professor's ingenious use of science to effect his own invisibility. Invisibility becomes a metaphor for invincibility. His becoming invisible is by his own choosing. He literally disappears with the ingestion of a certain chemical solution, which eventually drives him insane. The point here is this man, Griffin, chooses to become ...

3073. Hang Time: A Good Friday Sermon

Matthew 27:45-56

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

Lent is a season for recalling the suffering and triumph of our Lord, Savior and Liberator, Jesus Christ. It is a time where all Christians should take spiritual inventory in their lives; a time of discarding those things which hurt us and holding on to those things which help us. Lent is a time of remembering the passion, suffering, and resurrection of Christ. As heirs of his kingdom, we become co-participants in the struggle for love, justice, and truth as we are crucified and resurrected in the daily ...

3074. Fatal Subtraction

Acts 5:1-11

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

Today I want to revisit a sermon preached some years ago titled "Fatal Subtractibn." Based on the Acts 4 and 5 scriptures of Ananias and Sapphira, it centers on the story of a husband and wife who took away things from their lives and ended up dead. Theirs was a fatal subtraction because they subtracted where they were supposed to add and added where they were supposed to subtract. It is clear they had not mastered the basic principles of Christian arithmetic and died because they held back a vital portion ...

3075. Shake It Off!

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

Adrenaline pulsed through our bodies as we nervously took our positions in the field. It was an important playoff game, and everyone was feeling the pressure. The second baseman dropped a routine fly in the bottom of the seventh, allowing three runs to score which tied the game. In the third inning the right fielder had uncharacteristically overrun a pop-up after losing it in the sun, permitting the first run. Now it was the bottom of the eight inning, the score tied, runners on first and third with two ...

Showing results