Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3176 to 3200 of 5000 results

3176. Encounters With Christ I: Jesus & the Man Born Blind

John 9:1-12

Sermon

James W. Moore

Recently, I ran across a “fascinating list” that carried this intriguing title: “Great Truths About Life That Little Children Have Learned.” Let me share a few of these “great truths” with you. (1) “ No matter how hard you try you cannot baptize a cat.” (2) “When your mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair.” (3) “Never ask your 3-year-old brother to hold a tomato… or an egg.” (4) “You can’t trust dogs to watch your food for you.” (5) “Don’t sneeze when somebody is cutting your hair.” (6) “ ...

3177. Friends

Mark 2:1-12

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To convey the importance of Friendship to our Christian Life. Props: Baseball or any kind of pitching ball (two balls would be best) , Football, and a Jump Rope. Lesson: Good Morning! (response) How was your week? (response) Did you do anything fun? (response) What did you do? I want to do something fun right now. I brought a Baseball with me and I want to play some pitch. Does everyone know how to play pitch? (response) Good! Well, I am going to play right now. Here we go . . Throw the ...

3178. A Pilgrim Recounts

Psalm 107:1-43

Drama

Edward G. Hunter

A Dramatic Monologue My name is Silas. I am one of the original 103 pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower from England to America, in the year of our Lord, 1620. I have now been in the new world for ten years, and each year since we first arrived we have celebrated three days of Thanksgiving in November. It is on that first day of thanksgiving, November 29, 1630, that I wish to recount some of the trials and tribulations we underwent in our journey to this new land. I need to tell you why we made the 10- ...

3179. Pruning Season

Luke 13:1-9

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: Landowner Head Gardener Tree (The Head Gardener, representing Jesus, should be male. The others can be of either gender.) Length: 9 minutes [The TREE is seated on the middle of three stools, wearing some sort of "tree costume, "perhaps leaves or branches in the hair. The TREE is staring placidly into space. The LANDOWNER and the HEAD GARDENER enter and walk slowly around the TREE staring at it thoughtfully. The HEAD GARDENER is carrying pruning shears. After a moment, they take their stools.] OWNER: ...

3180. Foreshadowing

John 12:1-11

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: JESUS, MARY, LAZARUS, JUDAS Length: 7 minutes JESUS, LAZARUS and JUDAS are seated on stools. They mime eating. JESUS: This is a great dinner, Lazarus. Thanks for inviting us. LAZARUS: You should thank my sisters. They did most of the work. JESUS: I certainly will. LAZARUS: You spent way too much on the food, Lazarus. We should eat more frugally and give what is left over to the poor. Don't you agree, Lord? JESUS: Another time we will, Judas. But this is a special occasion. JUDAS: Special occasion? ...

3181. The Darkest Hour

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: NARRATOR (the only speaking part), JESUS, two SOLDIERS, PILATE, a PRIEST, three WOMEN, and a MAN Length: 8 minutes NOTE: Due to the scope of the Passion Readings and the fact that the readings are the same for all cycles, the Good Friday skits have been arranged as a series. Cycle "A" covers John 18:1-12, Cycle "B" covers John 18:13-40, and Cycle "C" covers John 19:1-30. Each skit is complete in itself, but the three may be strung together to cover the entire Passion in one presentation. Or they may ...

3182. He Has Done Great Things

Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: Two women, MARY and ELIZABETH Length: 7 minutes There are two stools on stage. ELIZABETH is standing by her stool, looking toward the entrance. After a moment MARY enters and runs toward her. They embrace. ELIZABETH: Mary! It's so wonderful to see you! MARY: Oh, Elizabeth! It's been so long. I've missed you! ELIZABETH: Here, sit down beside me. MARY and ELIZABETH sit. ELIZABETH: (Surprised, holding her stomach) Oh! Mary! (With a look of comprehension) Now I understand! MARY: What? What do you ...

3183. Monologue: Mary Magdalene - Liberated Woman

John 20:1-9, John 20:10-18

Drama

Robert F. Scott

John 20:1-2, 10-18 Medieval legends confused three women: the sinful "woman of the city" in Luke 7, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene. In time, "Magdalene" became a synonym for a prostitute. The plain text of the Bible treats each of these three women separately. Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name 12 times in the Gospels, but not once is there a whisper to connect her with the harlot of Luke 7. In recent decades there has been fanciful speculation that Mary was Jesus' wife or mistress. Again, there is ...

3184. Monologue: A Slave, A Jailer, A Child Of God

Acts 16:16-40

Drama

Robert F. Scott

We have only a bare-bones mention of the Philippian jailer. He received Paul and Silas, beaten and bleeding; he fastened them in the painful stocks; after his conversion, he personally dressed their wounds and then fed them at his own table. What other changes grew from the jailer's new Christian faith? Let us attempt to stretch some living flesh over those bare bones. Call me Quintus, but my name doesn't matter. Most people just see me as a slave, a piece of the house furniture, nothing more. My master is ...

3185. The Peoples' King

Mark 11:1-11

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: All that is gold does not glitter. Prop: A gold ring or something made of gold. Opening: Good morning! (response) What do I have in my hand? (a ring) Yes, it is a ring. Can you tell me what it is made of? (gold) What is so special about gold? (worth a lot) That's right. It is worth a lot, but why is it worth a lot of money? (beautiful) What's another reason it is worth so much? (response) Do you see a lot of it around? (no) So it's rare. Rare things usually cost a lot of money. Can you name ...

3186. Six Nails of the Cross IV: The Nail of Indecision

Matthew 27:11-26

Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Pilate was caught: he wanted to make the best of two worlds. Should he sentence Jesus to death? That's hard to do to a man who has impressed you so favorably ... with his innocence, with his strength, with his wisdom. But what should he do with the overwhelming opposition to Jesus? Should he, Pilate, take a stand against the majority who opposed him? Releasing Jesus would mean an encounter with the Sanhedrin in the Jewish court, and Pilate did not want that. Sentencing Jesus would mean putting to death a ...

3187. Six Nails of the Cross VI: The Nail of Cruelty

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

I don't know of any time in my life when I have sought more anxiously a relief from the intensity of the drama of the Lenten season. I know that it is not time yet, that the suffering and agony of the crucifixion must precede the joyous proclamation of the resurrection. Yet my heart and my mind revolt against this continual confession of personal inadequacy, of personal pride and guilt. Never before have I longed so for the peace and comfort which my church can give me; for the contented and comfortable ...

3188. As We Take Our Rest

Matthew 26:17-30

Drama

Joe Barone

[Note: This week we walk with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane, and as we do, we look through the point of view of James, one of the sons of Zebedee.] Dramatic Monologue: James I don't suppose you can ever understand what it is that really touches me when I think about the Garden of Gethsemane. When you think about it, you might think I would feel a sense of my own sinfulness. That's what so many people seem to feel when they hear the story. After all, we fell asleep. Not just once, but three times, we ...

3189. Do You Love Me?

John 21:15-25

Sermon

Robert Allen

There is a very tender and moving scene in the play, Fiddler On The Roof. Tevyev and his wife Golda are being forced to move from their home in Russia. One day Tevyev comes into the house and asks his wife, "Golda, do you love me?" "Do I what?" "Do you love me?" Golda looks at him and then responds: "Do I love you? With our daughters getting married and this trouble in the town, you're upset, you're worn out, go inside, go lie down, maybe it's indigestion." Tevyev interrupts and asks the question, "Golda, ...

3190. One More Thing

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Robert Allen

When I was a kid growing up, I don't think I ever went anywhere without my mother saying, "Robert, there is one more thing I want to tell you." It didn't make any difference where I was going. I could have been going to camp, I could have been going to spend the night with a friend or I could have been going to a party. I don't care what it was, before I got out of the car, my mother would say, "There's one more thing I want to tell you." It was never really one more thing -- but several things. And they ...

3191. Teaching Trust

Acts 16:28

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: None Did you ever hope that someone would trust you no matter what happened? I think that this is the best kind of friendship. When people trust each other they are the best kind of people. There is a great story about trust in the Bible concerning Paul and some of his friends. It all started when a woman who was a slave to some evil men followed Paul around a town called Philippi making fun of Paul's preaching. As you might guess, Paul was very serious about teaching others to love and follow ...

3192. Save Us From the World-Savers

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Carl Jech

Now his elder son ... was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father. "Lo, these many years I have served you ..." (Luke 15:25a, 28-29a) Garrison Keillor likes to describe his fictional town of Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, as having been founded by "Unitarian missionaries who came to convert the Indians through the use of interpretive dance." To appreciate the subtle humor of this remark we need to be aware that Unitarian Universalists generally don't believe ...

3193. The Real Jesus is Channeling Grace

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Carl Jech

I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26) Over the last couple decades we have heard critics decry what has been variously described as "civil religion," "religion in general," or "the religion of the American way of life." Recently, Dr. Robert Jenson, a professor at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, restated the criticism this way: "The God proclaimed in American Protestantism is ...

3194. A Sword and a Sacrament

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

It is Passion Sunday. It is Palm Sunday. Which is it? According to our church calendar, it is both. At first, it may sound that these two Sundays just do not belong together. Passion Sunday has to do with the cries of the crucified one hanging on a rough and splintery cross. Palm Sunday has to do with joyous "Alleluias" and palm branches raised in a salute to a king and to his victory. Suffering and salutes seem out of harmony with each other. Are we to cry out in terror; or, are we to shout out for joy? ...

3195. No Grey Area

Acts 15:1-21

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

Our text this morning is about one of the greatest spiritual and theological events in the history of the Christian church. Interestingly enough, it was not a dramatic martyrdom, nor a mass miracle, or even a crusade. It was not a worship service, a great sermon preached, or a crowd conversion. It was a church convention - a convention held about fifty years after the death of our Lord. For those of you who have ever attended a convention of the church, it may sound unbelievable that it could be a ...

3196. The Centrality of Love in Christian Service

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: We are gifted people because of God's gracious design with which he has created us. People: Some are gifted in teaching, some in administration; and still others in benevolent service. Pastor: The greatest gift of all is love. It is that gift that makes all the others effective. People: We cannot carry out the task God has assigned to us as his church, gifted as we are, without the gift of love. We desire that gift most of all. Collect Gracious Father, whose nature is love, and who ...

3197. With God's Help We Can!

Joshua 5:1-12

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Let us gather together this day and celebrate the blessings of God! People: With God's help we can face the problems and dangers of tomorrow. Leader: Who indeed can stand against the power and might of the Lord our God? People: No force in all creation can endure against God or without God's help. Leader: Praise be to God who has sustained us all the days of our lives. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, even in the days of Moses Your mercy and grace sustained us ...

3198. Resurrection

John 20:1-18

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Christ the Lord is risen from the dead! Hallelujah! People: Sing for joy all ye peoples; the Glory of God has come. Leader: God's Light truly does shine upon us this day with mercy and love. People: Unworthy as we are, we are now in the family of God through Christ. Leader: Give praise to the Lord! God's loving kindness endures forever! All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, in the cross and the resurrection You have paid the price for our eternal redemption. We praise ...

3199. Priesthood of Christians

Revelation 1:4-8

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Let each one enter the house of the Lord this day for worship and praise! People: Christ has called us to believe and to bear witness to all the world. Leader: Let our voices be joined in praise and song for God's mercy and grace. People: And let our hearts be dedicated to telling all we meet about our Lord. Leader: Let us celebrate our salvation and let us always give God the praise. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, in Your most loving way You have given us the ...

3200. No Temple Built by Hands

Revelation 21:1-27

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Come, let us gather together to worship the Lord our God! People: This is the house of the Lord and it is good that we should be in it. Leader: But the true temple of God is in the hearts of those who truly believe. People: In prison camps or in mansions, in poverty or in wealth, we do believe. Leader: Let our hearts be filled with praise and our voices proclaim God's love! All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, You have called us Your children and to us belongs ...

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