Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3276 to 3300 of 4972 results

3276. Cats, And Mice, And Mercy

Matthew 5:7

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... said, 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' " I turn my attention back to the little girl who is angry with her grandmother. "Brittany, I think a kindness your grandmother doesn't expect is that you would tell her, 'Grandmother, I know you didn't mean to leave my blanket at home, and I love you.' If you can let go of your anger and tell her that, you will be showing mercy. "You know, that's how God is," I continue to the group as a whole. "When we mess up, when we do something that's ...

3277. World Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... , sharing." As I continue talking with the children, I begin to uncover the bread and small ceramic glass I have brought, wrapped together in a white linen towel. "You all know that Jesus shared many things with the disciples. And when it came time for him to leave them, he wanted them to remember him. So he thought of a very simple way to get that to happen. "Jesus and the disciples, his very closest friends, were eating a meal together. It was very common to have bread with their meals; this night was no ...

3278. Freedom

Acts 22:27-28

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... not good. They may seem good, but when they end up making us angry with one another or hurting one another, they cause separation from one another -- and from God too. And that is what we call sin. "But God cares about us so much that God didn't just leave us to our mistakes. Instead, God sent us Jesus to show us how to live and to save us from our enslavement to sin. Jesus set us free from the power of sin for life and the freedom to choose to return God's incredible, steadfast, eternal love. Tomorrow, on ...

3279. Children Of God

1 John 3:1

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... asked all of you to come up here for the children's sermon -- so I guess all of you are children, right?" The youngsters readily agree. "Am I a child?" I continue. "No!" comes the immediate response. "Well, then, perhaps I don't belong up here. Maybe I'd better leave ..." As I begin to get up, I get a thoughtful expression, and stop in mid-motion. "No, wait a minute," I say to the children, "I'd like to talk about this first. I think I AM somebody's child. My mom and my dad will always be my mom ...

3280. God And Groundhogs

Psalm 56:1-13

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... you will let him. "Sometimes when we are afraid, we feel like we just want to run away from everything and everyone. Then it's especially important to remember that God is our friend. We can tell God all about what is bothering us. God always understands and never, ever leaves us to face our fears by ourselves, if we only have the courage to say, 'God, I need your help.' "

3281. The Pure In Heart

Psalm 42:1-11

Sermon

John A. Terry

... and yet you do not know me! No one sees the Father, yet each act and word that expresses His will makes God known. Philip, can't you understand you have been seeing the Father all along as you lived with me? When you understand this, remember that when I leave you, people hungry for God will come to you with the same request, 'Show us the father.' Philip, do the works that I do and thus reveal God to others as I have revealed Him to you." What a great blessing to be able to look and see the wonderful ...

3282. The Peacemakers

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

John A. Terry

... in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward all." Instructions about peace are woven through this Sermon on the Mount: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). Peace was the bequest of Jesus in his last days. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you" (John 14:27). It is declared in the great music of the church that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Central to the church's ministry of reconciliation is peacemaking. We have inherited the Biblical vision of a peaceable ...

3283. The Persecuted

John 15:18-27

Sermon

John A. Terry

... you will, and we shall continue to love you ... throw us in jail, and we shall still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children, and we shall still love you. Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our communities at the midnight hour and beat us and leave us half dead, and we shall still love you ... one day we shall win freedom, but not only for ourselves. We shall so appeal to your hearts and conscience that we shall win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory.' "4 The ...

3284. The Adventure Of The Empty Tomb

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

... touch," Holmes said as he retrieved the cane and cloak belonging to his guest. "Much obliged," the reverend said, "and God bless you, Mr. Holmes." They bowed respectfully toward one another and the clergyman was gone. "All the credible are not possible, thus leaving only the incredible remaining to be true. Watson, it appears there is to be a most peculiar journey ahead." There was indeed. We had some difficulty working our way to the laboratory of Dr. Wells because there were only a few carriages available ...

3285. Called To Freedom

Galatians 5:1-15

Drama

Jerry Eckert

... a chance to follow His will, then God is God and is worth our trust. Trust, that's a key word, too. If God is trustable, then we can put our sins behind us like He does, and go back to the business of living. Barnabas: But doesn't that leave God open to the accusation that He doesn't care what we do? Paul: If you trust someone, you aren't going to intentionally mess up that relationship, are you? Barnabas: Not if I can help it. But that doesn't put a vengeful God hovering over me ... it puts ...

3286. Paul, The Great Missionary

Philippians 1:1-11

Drama

Jerry Eckert

... , whether I live or die. For what is life? To me it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. But if by living on I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am caught from both sides. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but it is much more important, for your sake, that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress ...

3287. Signs of the End of the Age

Mark 13:1-31, Mark 13:32-37

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... see a doctrine of vocation here. In the light of the coming of the Son we are not supposed to do some kind of supraworldly religious things. We are to busy ourselves instead "each with his/her work." Life in the spirit of Jesus does not call upon us to leave this world but to love God and our neighbor "each with his/her work." The telling of this story will end with a strong accent on the Son's call that we keep awake. We might note that this is an appropriate Advent theme! Story Two would go to the ...

3288. Jesus Heals A Paralytic

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... in their heads that blasphemy is that activity which crosses the line between Creator and creation." We could go on speculating on their thoughts. The point is simply that we can get said what blasphemy is all about without interrupting the flow of the story or leaving the story behind for a few minutes. This is an important task to master in the storytelling art. Forgiveness of sins strikes very close to the heart and soul of the Christian proclamation. This is the only passage in Mark (and one of the few ...

3289. Feeding the 5000

Mark 6:30-44

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... with the disciples. He grills them about the numbers. Their hearts continue to be hardened. The sermon can conclude with speculation about our response to the bread stories. Today it's our turn to be fed at the Shepherd's table. How shall we leave this table? Will our hearts be good soil or rocky ground? Flesh out this challenge to the members of your congregation in a manner that is appropriate to the understanding of faith in your theological tradition. 1. Mary Ann Tolbert, Sowing the Gospel (Minneapolis ...

3290. Calming the Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... today: "I am going before you to Galilee. I have more seeds to sow upon your 'rocky ground' hearts. I have more seeds to sow that your ears might hear and your eyes might see. I have more seeds to sow to turn your fear to faith. I refuse to leave you in your hard-hearted condition. Come on along to Galilee. I have more seeds to sow. Amen." 1. Mary Ann Tolbert, Sowing The Gospel (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989), pp. 163-164.

3291. Epiphany Day

Matthew 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... our own lives and sometimes even control over the lives of others. Yet, we surrender this control to the one who is born king of kings. Then let the worshipers come forward and lay their crowns at the base of the altar table or a manger. They may want to leave their offerings (gifts) with their crowns too. Use three floral arrangements on or around the altar table. Make them three different colors to represent the three gifts of the magi to the Christ child.

3292. Hearing the Difficult News

Mark 9:30-37

Bulletin Aid

Robert D. Ingram

... with children (usually these can be found in children's Sunday school rooms) in conspicuous places in the sanctuary. This would be a good time to have the children color the worship bulletin covers. Run the bulletins on the church copying machine. Leave the front blank. Give the children crayons and let them decorate the covers as they choose. Let them draw children with Jesus, pictures of their church building, pictures of people worshiping at the church, or whatever they please. (Remember, though, that ...

3293. What Must We Do?

Mark 10:17-31

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... alpha and the omega, the first and the last, may make you first in the life to come. Amen. Commissioning and Blessing (Lead into this by singing the hymn "Jesus Calls Us.") Leader: Jesus calls us, saying, "Christian, follow me." Congregation: Lord, we are willing to leave everything behind to follow you. Leader: Jesus tells us, "Truly, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a ...

3294. Only the Birth Pangs

Mark 13:1-31

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... during times of difficulty, invite the worshipers to sing some of the great hymns of faith as a response to the Word. Such hymns could include: "Am I a Soldier of the Cross"; "Stand By Me"; "By Gracious Powers"; "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me"; "Leave It There"; "How Firm a Foundation"; "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"; or "Be Still, My Soul." Drama and Movement The vivid and dramatic content of Mark's thirteenth chapter deserves to be heard in its entirety. Assemble a group of dancers, a strong reader, and ...

3295. Christmas 2

Matthew 25:31-46

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... And you draw us closer to you as we grow in our faith. Ldr: Then you sent Jesus out in obedient ministry. Cng: In the same way, Father, send us to minister, obeying your inspiration and instruction. Ldr: In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, leave this sabbath place, and return to serving God in the workplace; and may God's favor be upon you, today and every day. Cng: Amen. Hymns and Choruses (The asterisk [*] indicates hymns or choruses that are addressed to God and can be used as prayers.) *"Blessed ...

3296. A Solitary Witness

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

The raw skin on Marcus' ankle was still bleeding as he began work in Herod's palace. Never mind that the chains had rubbed raw the young skin. Never mind that the healing would take time, and would leave a life-long scar. Never mind that the cut, extending clear around his ankle, hurt with each step. Marcus was a slave. One did not have such concerns about slaves. They were expendable, like the clay tablets that the money counters used. And, even if someone did care about the ...

3297. I Do

Ephesians 5:31

Children's Sermon

... love each other forever; in good times and bad times. It takes a lot of work to make a marriage last. It takes lots of love and patience. Our verse today is about weddings. you've probably heard it before at weddings. It says, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife." Have you heard that at weddings? (Let them respond.) But our verse isn't just about weddings. It's also about a different kind of wedding. It's a special kind of a wedding. The bride is the church and ...

3298. Holy Friendship

John 6:60-71

Sermon

Donald Macleod

... , that there is no one they've found who can give them the kind of life he offers to those who believe. David H. C. Read once said: "I have heard, as a pastor, hundreds of reasons for quitting the church, but never has anyone said to me, I'm leaving the church because I've found someone better than Christ.' "

3299. How Do You Remain Religious?

Mark 7:1-23

Sermon

Donald Macleod

... but eat with hands defiled?" And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips,but their heart is far from me;in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men." And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which ...

3300. What Does Jesus Expect of Us?

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Donald Macleod

... same investment of "time, talents, all," as among the analysts, inventors, and researchers of the secular realm? Jesus constrains us to gain that sense of purpose which comes through commitment to what God wants for his world. We can learn it from Jesus as we see him leave Caesarea Philippi and carry his mission to Calvary. T. R. Glover said, "God could do no better than to be like Christ." From him we get a clear notion of the purpose for which we were born and, with it, we receive the vision and resources ...

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