Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3251 to 3275 of 5000 results

Mark 6:30-44

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note In these verses, in which Mark concludes one pericope and begins another, we see a very human picture of the disciples, as they are sorely in need of rest, relaxation and renewal. Yet, though Christ himself recognizes that need and tries to provide for it, the crowds prevent it, showing just how urgently needed Christian ministry ...

3252. Proclaiming The Incredible

Mark 7:31-37, Mark 7:24-30

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The point of the story for Mark appears not to be to signal Messiahship or an inbreaking Kingdom, but to underscore the astonishment of the disciples, who still do not understand their master's person or powers, yet cannot help proclaiming him. Liturgical Color Green Suggested Hymns O Son Of God, In Galilee Look From Your Sphere ...

3253. Proper 20

Mark 9:30-37

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note This particular passage is apparently directed toward certain false Christologies that turned Jesus into a docetic divine messenger and granted his followers an exalted status. Contrary to that view, Mark asserts not only that suffering and death were the destiny of Jesus, but also that discipleship is not a matter of the greatness of priority and prestige; that true "greatness" resides in the humble assumption of such despised roles as servant and child. Liturgical Color Green Suggested Hymns ...

3254. Proper 6

Mark 4:30-34, Mark 4:26-29

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Mark probably connected these two originally independent "seed parables" because of the similarity of subject and metaphor. Each speaks to the nature of the Kingdom, but with a particular nuance: the secretly growing seed suggests that the Kingdom's growth on earth is beyond human comprehension or control; while the mustard ...

3255. Proper 7

Mark 4:35-41

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Theme The puzzling identity of Jesus Gospel Note Mark constructs his narrative of this storm-stilling incident so as to climax in the disciples' perplexed questioning of Jesus' identity. The passage gives no direct answer. The present action recalls God's authority over the unformed waters of creation in Genesis. Jesus is the very power of God. Liturgical Color ...

3256. Proper 8

Mark 5:21-43

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Mark tells of a healing and a resurrection. The stories are rich in meaning, and afford many thematic possibilities, including the kerygmatic intent of the evangelist, which was probably to reinforce Jesus' secret Messiahship. Strongly evident here is Jesus' compassion for the human physical needs of the woman and girl, for ...

3257. Proper 9

Mark 4:35-41

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Mark places the rejection of Jesus by people in "his own country" later in the ministry than does Luke, but the effect is still the same: to underscore that the very ones most familiar with an agent of God, neighbors, relatives and household, may well be those least likely to recognize ...

3258. The Resurrection of Our Lord

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

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note A comparison of these narratives yields many discrepancies of detail, but both attest the unexpectedness of the event and the astonishment of the witnesses; indeed, the "short ending" of Mark's Gospel leaves them utterly speechless and shaken. Though Mary is not left at a complete loss for words in John's longer and more moving account, her utterances bespeak amazement. Liturgical Color White or gold Suggested Hymns Christians, To The Paschal Victim Good Christian Friends, Rejoice And Sing ...

3259. Prayer for Transfiguration

Mark 9:2-13

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Mark's description of the transfiguration of Jesus, though probably to the evangelist an eschatological sign of the Messiahship of Jesus, points to a classic theophany, i.e., a breakthrough of the mysterious sacred into the everyday profane, and a typically human, irrelevant reaction: "This is wonderful! Let's build something!" ...

3260. Prayers for Advent 4

Luke 1:46-56, Psalm 89:1-52, 2 Samuel 7:1-17, Luke 1:57-66, Luke 1:67-80, Luke 1:26-38

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... generations. You declare your true love in covenants made with humble nations. You reassure the lowly person of your gracious favor. You call young and old alike to serve your purposes and complete your loving designs. We celebrate the motherhood of young Mary and old Elizabeth. We mark again with great joy the birth of the Son of God, the son of David, the son of Mary, Jesus of Nazareth, known as Joseph's son. We worship you, God the sender. We worship you, Jesus, the sent One, Son of the most high and son ...

3261. Proper 14

2 Samuel 18:1-18, 2 Samuel 18:19--19:8, Psalm 130:1-8, Ephesians 4:17--5:21, John 6:25-59

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... what we give of ourselves and of our name in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. PSALM 130:1-8 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,more than those who watch ...

3262. Proper 8

Mark 5:21-43

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... what we possess and from the talents that we have may we give without stint. Amen. PSALM 130:1-8 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch ...

3263. Proper 9

Mark 6:1-6

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... upon you. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Sovereign of sovereigns, our ambitions do not always coincide with your priorities. We may be too concerned about the beauty of our place of worship and too little about the beauty of our lives and relationships with others. We need the mark of your grace upon us, your people, as well as a visible sanctuary for your worship. Forgive us if we are more jealous of the dignity of our name rather than yours. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS Hear ...

3264. Tears And Ointment

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Larry Powell

... until the conclusion of other contests. There seemed to be no question among the runners about who would win the prize. It is alleged that the stranger was offered money not to run. Someone else attempted to bribe him with property. Refusing the offers, he toed the mark and awaited the signal to run. When the signal was given, he was the first away. At the finish line, he was the first to cross, well ahead of the rest. When it was all done, someone asked the young man if he thought the flowers were worth ...

3265. A Seeking Savior

Luke 10:1-24

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

... of pulling rank. He took off his clerical collar and risked getting decked in the brawl. He risked taking his lumps with the rest of us and in so doing tore down the temple curtain which separated the Holy of Holies from the courts of the profane (cf. Mark 15:38). Once when flying down to see Grandma, my little daughter asked, as the plane climbed above the cloud castles and broke into radiant sunlight, "Is God up here?" It is a child's question born of a child's understanding of God. Yet many adults never ...

3266. Let Us Pray!

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

... God an escape clause. Certainly, there is a time and place for turning things over to God's superior wisdom - "... nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" - but the words do not appear in the model of prayer Jesus gave his disciples. We add them as a mark of our humility, but I suspect more often than not, "If it be your will ..." are weasel words born of a failure of nerve rather than humility. The pious phrase gives God an out. It takes the Almighty off the hook as if the Lion of Judah needed ...

3267. Target Practice

Romans 3:21-31

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... promised if you hit the ceiling so that you will remember that even when we fail to be perfect, God still loves us enough to share his world with everyone who loves and trusts in him. The next time you try to shoot a rubber band and you miss the mark, think about how much God loves you. When you think about that, you will remember how he forgives you when you ask for it and how he shares his world with all that believe in him.

3268. Easter - Fact And Fiction!

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... . If I believed in Jesus' resurrection, I would be baptized tomorrow!" Oh, yes, Easter's fact is the glorious resurrection of our Lord! Martin Luther said there was nothing better than this truth. He stated, "The words, 'Christ is risen from the dead' should be well-marked and written in great letters. Each letter should be as large as a town, yea, even as high as heaven and broad as the earth, so that we see nothing, hear nothing, think nothing, know nothing beyond it." The Fact Feeds Our Faith So, the ...

3269. The Conversion of Saul

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... be distinguished by it. It's true that often today we are recognized by our creed - Arian, Athanasian, or Pelagian, or by our ceremonies and how we perform them - baptism by sprinkling or immersion, or by our divisions liberal or conservative, but tragic that we rarely are marked by our way of living, acting, talking, and thinking. Far too seldom do we hear it said, "Now that person is a Christian!" So how did Saul become a true follower of the Way? How did his conversion come about? We need to know how his ...

3270. A Word Of Encouragement!

Acts 13:13-52

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... that message tonight was the best of all your sermons so far!" Let me tell you, that was an encouraging word. He will never know, until I get to heaven, how much I needed and appreciated his encouragement. It was just the "right" thing to say. Mark Twain once remarked, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." We all need an encouraging word! And so, in response to the request in the synagogue, Paul stood up and said, "Listen ...

3271. Death Of A Dream - Birth Of A Church

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... might well ask, "Don't you have any place else to go?" "Peter, couldn't you at least go back to fishing for awhile?" "Matthew, couldn't you return to collecting taxes?" Or, "Have you thought that you could build a great memorial there on Mount Olivet, marking the exact spot where Jesus stood when he left to go to the Father?" "Have any of you thought of starting your own religion? Surely you've learned a lot from your former leader, so maybe now you could choose someone more acceptable to the majority of ...

3272. The S & L That Didn't Fail!

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... cog-wheels to jam the machinery. The boy was saved, but the father later died of infection from his severed arm. All the rest of his life the young man wore a red band around his arm. When people inquired as to the reason, he would answer, "That is the mark of my father upon me. It reminds me that I have been died for." Each time we see a cross, we recollect the red-blood of Christ that was shed for us. We have been died for! We have hanging in our home a marvelously hand-carved cross which was ...

3273. Electric Drlls and Self-Control

1 Corinthians 9:25

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... end up doing and thinking things that will only get us into trouble. We have to work every day at keeping control of ourselves just like we have to keep control of the drill. If we don't keep our bodies and our minds under control, we will miss the mark with our lives, just as I miss the hole with the drill when I don't keep it under control. So remember what St. Paul taught us about the care of our bodies and our minds. The next time someone asks you if you have everything under control you will ...

3274. Lent 5

John 11:1-16, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44, John 11:45-57

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... pericope stops at verse 45. It should continue through verse 53 in order to fit the miracle into the Lenten season. Related Passages 1 Kings 17:17-24 - Elijah brings back to life a widow's son. 2 Kings 4:18-37 - Elisha revives the son of a Shunammite woman. Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 - Jesus raises Jairus' daughter. Luke: 7:11-17 - Jesus raises a young man at Nain. Luke 10:38-42 - Jesus is at the home of Mary and Martha. Luke 16:19-31 - The parable of Lazarus and Dives. John 12:1-6 - Mary, Lazarus' sister ...

3275. It's A Small World After All

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

... in his sixth decade of life, and more easily tired, his time was given to the remembering. This warm summer day he thought of the last times they had all been together. It was in Jerusalem and in the home of - what was his name? - ah, yes, John Mark's home. It was the meal and the Lord had ended that fellowship time with words that then sounded strange: "Do this in remembrance of me!" Jude could see the room now: the candlelamps that cast moving shadows upon everything, the heat of the evening hour and of ...

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