Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 301 to 325 of 1967 results

301. Some Greeks

John 12:20-33

Sermon

John Jamison

Jesus was back in Jerusalem for another Passover. According to John’s gospel, this was the third time Jesus and the disciples attended the Passover festival and each time they were there they got in trouble. The first two times they somehow got out of town and made it back up north to Galilee to continue their ministry. It would be much more difficult to accomplish that this time. Everywhere Jesus went he drew a big crowd. People had heard about this teacher from Galilee, and the things he was saying. More ...

302. Meet the Rose Family

Mark 3:20-35

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

We begin this morning with a brief review of something most of us learned in ninth grade biology and then promptly forgot as soon as the test was over, and that is how science organizes and classifies living things. Maybe these layers of classification will ring a bell: Kingdom Phylum Class Series Family Genus Species Remember? No? Okay, well, now you know. This is how science organizes all living things so we can see they are related to each other, when they are related, and how they are separated from ...

303. Building a World

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

Geoff Burch is a sales trainer in England. He tells about a man named Fred he met in the course of his research into sales methods. Back in the 1950s Fred had been a traveling salesman hawking washing machines. This job was on commission only, but included a valuable and unusual perk: the then almost unheard of luxury of a vehicle. At the beginning of each week Fred was sent off in his van with five washing machines; so long as all five were sold each week, Fred could keep the van. This he succeeded in ...

304. Rock Bottom

1 Peter 3:13-22

Sermon

David O. Bales

Peter begins a new paragraph here by asking, "Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?" The answer is: lots of people everywhere. Everyone who's attended a school with other than one's own family, or who's read the newspaper, let alone if they've read even a smidgen of history, everyone knows that people who are zealous to do good are abused. An example is Ignaz Semmelweis, not exactly a household name, but important to your health. He was the Hungarian-Austrian medical doctor who ...

305. Consecration of the Priests

Exodus 29:1-46

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Instructions: Aaron’s Consecration, the Altar Consecration, and Daily Sacrifices: “After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests” (28:41). Exodus 29 contains specific instructions for the priestly consecration and ordination ceremony, including three sacrifices and the consecration of the bronze altar. It also includes instructions for the ongoing daily sacrifice of two lambs. Verses 1–9 describe methods for the ...

306. “In Your Heart You Devise Injustice”

Psalm 58:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: As one thinks in one’s heart, so one does, and that explains many of the tragedies of history. Understanding the Text Psalm 58 is usually identified as a community lament, although Gerstenberger is probably more accurate when he says it is “neither complaint nor thanksgiving nor hymn” but closer to the prophetic invective against the ruling classes.1 Except for the historical note in the title of Psalm 57, the terms of the title of Psalm 58 are the same. Further, the two psalms share the metaphor ...

307. You Have a Story to Tell

John 9:1-41

Sermon

King Duncan

Here’s a story from the headlines that all of you will remember. In March 2019, the FBI announced the completion of “Operation Varsity Blues,” a nationwide scam in which wealthy parents paid outrageous bribes to get their children into prestigious colleges like Yale and Stanford. Fifty people were charged in the scandal, including parents, test administrators for the ACT and SAT, and college coaches who all collaborated in getting unqualified students admitted to big-name schools. In addition to the bribes ...

308. Generic Christians Or Disciples?

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

As Maxie Dunnam was driving one day on Poplar Avenue, in Memphis, Tennessee, he noticed a bumper sticker on the car in front of him. He inched closer and saw that the bumper sticker read in big letters, "I am a Generic Christian." That got his attention. He tried to get closer. Some smaller letters were written beneath the larger ones. He got dangerously close to the back of the car to read the words, "Ask me what I mean." He was intrigued even more. What was the person with this bumper sticker trying to ...

309. Surprised Sheep And Graceless Goats

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

Stan Meade

Before we begin this morning, I believe we need a little background on sheep and goats. Sheep are the most profitable animals man has ever domesticated. Catgut comes from sheep, not cats. I'm sure all you cat lovers will find that a blessing. Sheep are good for meat, fur and milk. They outnumber humans in most countries. Then there are goats. More people world-wide drink goat's milk than cow's milk. Moroccan leather, Angola and cashmere sweaters come from goats. And ladies, do you remember those old mohair ...

310. The Golden Gate

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Mike Ripski

Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” I. What is this life that Jesus gives abundantly? Have you received it? What difference has it made in you and is making in you? A. The Psalmist calls the Lord “my Shepherd, who gives me all I need.” This is what he does: “He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” In that day and culture, to eat with someone was to enter into a covenant with them. It was to promise to stand with them “come hell or high water.” It was ...

311. The Thing about Laws

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

Steven Molin

Our nation has a lot of stupid laws! For example, in North Dakota, "Beer and pretzels cannot be served at the same time in any bar or restaurant." In Alaska, "It is illegal to push a live moose out of a moving airplane." In Florida, "If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would if it was a vehicle." And if not the most bizarre, then certainly the most obvious; In Alabama, "It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while driving a vehicle." But did you ...

312. Seeking Joy

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

King Duncan

Some technical writers who provide product descriptions and instructions on labels for us to follow, obviously get bored with their jobs. Why else would they add catchy little instructions on the labels that have no practicality except to add a little pizzazz to their work? For example, there is an anonymous manufacturer of cotton T-shirts who added these wash instructions to the inside tag: “For Best Results: Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Never iron [the design on the shirt].” He could have stopped ...

313. Jesus, The Servant

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Elaine M. Ward

When a brother visited the hermits in the desert and saw them working, he asked, "Why do you work for the bread that perishes? Mary has chosen the best part, to sit at the feet of the Lord without working." The Abbot told his disciple to give the brother a book and a cell and there he left him all day to read. At the ninth hour he looked out to see if the Abbot was going to call him to dinner and at last set out to find him. "Did the brethren not eat today, Father?" "Oh, yes, we have just eaten," the Abbot ...

314. A Taste Of Life

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

William G. Carter

The workshop was winding up. About 25 pleasant church people had gathered in central Pennsylvania to take part in a workshop on worship. The better part of a Saturday morning had dealt with a variety of topics, such as the order of worship, the role of music, the place of preaching, and whether or not children should come to the Lord's table. A few stomachs were growling for lunch when I asked, "Does anybody have any questions?" Most people smiled and sat in that circle of metal folding chairs. One woman, ...

315. The S & L That Didn't Fail!

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

A Peanuts cartoon strip shows Charlie Brown and Linus as they summarize their team's baseball season. They report that in 12 games they almost scored a run. In right field Lucy almost caught three balls, and once she almost made the right play. They decided between them that they led the league in "almosts." We Christians do not have an "almost" Savior. We have a Lord who saves to the uttermost. He did not and he cannot fail. At this writing, according to the experts, losses from savings and loans (S & Ls ...

316. When Drudgery Becomes Joy

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

Joann Hary

Note: We have a young boy named Kevin in our congregation who has suffered from cancer, and with all the treatments leading up to stopping the cancer, the family had spent not just days or months in the hospital, but years. Thursday as Debbie was waiting for a call from the doctor at Mayo Clinic as to what to do (since Kevin was again running a high fever) she called me to tell me that they were probably headed for Rochester. As she talked she said, "You know, we have all these doctors all over the place, ...

317. Hands On

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Our five-year-old Soren was looking at an over-sized art book. It has lots of glossy full-page reproductions of artwork that made it a fascinating "read" for a five-year old. But on a two-page layout in a series of Renaissance paintings depicting Jesus' life, Soren found a mystifying addition. "Daddy," she asked, "why does Jesus always have a plate on his head?" Her stubby purple-painted fingernail was pointing at the perfectly round golden halo that surrounded Jesus' head in all the paintings. Before I ...

318. From Selfishness to Servanthood

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

I never thought I would say this but, apart from news and sports, the best things on TV might be the commercials. Whoever invented this charming little green lizard to sell insurance is an absolute genius. Let me test your memory regarding another commercial. The flight attendant on this airplane speaks to the pilot through the intercom. “Captain, we are out of Colombian coffee.” Immediately this large aircraft, with its white vapor trail, makes a U-turn and flies back in the opposite direction. Now I ...

319. Were You There?

John 19:17-27

Sermon

King Duncan

There is an old spiritual that asks this very familiar question: “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” It’s a question that has been asked through the ages. And every generation has provided its own answer. You and I must answer it as well. Were we there? Were we there when they crucified our Lord? We know the cast of the original Good Friday drama. They are listed in John’s telling of the passion narrative. Judas Iscariot was there. He definitely was instrumental in crucifying Jesus. John tells us ...

320. The Celebration of the Great Multitude in Heaven

Revelation 7:9-17

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: God and the Lamb receive praise for saving the people of God through the great tribulation and for comforting and protecting them afterward. Understanding the Text The Revelation 7 interlude features a single vision showing the situation of the people of God, but from two different perspectives. First, in 7:1–8 we see God’s people sealed or protected and prepared for spiritual battle. Second, in 7:9–17 we see God’s people celebrating in heaven following their victorious endurance through the ...

321. Naaman Is My Name!

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

Some of the most profound precepts we ever know come clothed in very basic and elemental forms. A "Peanuts" cartoon strip shows Charlie Brown visiting Lucy who is at her stand offering psychiatric help for a nickel. Charlie says, "I need help! Tell me a great truth. Tell me something about living that will help me." Lucy responds by asking, "Do you ever wake up at night and want a drink of water?" "Sure," Charlie responds, "quite often." Lucy then offers her advice, "When you're getting a drink of water in ...

322. Living Water

John 4:1-26

Children's Sermon

Object: Some water scooped after dishwashing and some clear water from the faucet Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some water with me this morning. Actually, I have two kinds of water I want to show you. Then I want you to tell me which one you would like to drink. The first one comes in this jar. (Show them the dishwater.) I got this out of my sink after I washed some dishes. It looks about the same as the water looked after I took my bath. I have also seen this kind of water after washing clothes ...

323. Enduring the Trials of Faith

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Richard Gribble

"In the seventh year of his reign, two days before his 65th birthday, in the presence of a full consistory of cardinals, Jean Marie Barette, Pope Gregory XVII, signed an instrument of abdication, took off the Fisherman's ring, handed his seal to the Cardinal Camerlengo and made a curt speech of farewell." So begins the power novel, The Clowns of God, the second volume of a trilogy of tales about popes and faith written by Morris West, the Australian-born novelist. In the story, the pope has seen a vision ...

324. Get Down and Dirty for Lent

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

[For this sermon, you will need aprons. Invite the matriarchs and patriarchs of your church to let you use their well-used aprons as props. Or better yet, conduct a fashion show of the aprons used by people in your church.] Unless you have lived in a rural area, you might not know the joys of keeping that most unruly, unpredictable, but absolutely crucial-to-life “pet” known as . . . a septic tank. There are some unbendable rules for septic tanks. 1) They will always back up the day your daughter’s wedding ...

325. Jesus as Lord and as Archcriminal

Mark 2:23-3:6, Mark 2:18-22

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: In Jesus the new age has come, and this new reality cannot be immersed into the old ways. Jesus the Son of Man has authority over the Torah and is Lord over the Sabbath. Understanding the Text The opposition to Jesus intensifies with each of the episodes in this section. The central story among the five in 2:1–3:6 tells why the conflict is occurring (2:18–22): in Jesus a new era has arrived, one in which he must challenge the old traditions. Those who cling to the old (symbolized by the issue of ...

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