Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3301 to 3325 of 4963 results

3301. Faces of the Nation

2 Samuel 19:9-43

Sermon

... Israel was a headless horseman. She had no captain to guide her ship of state through the stormy seas. Like sheep gone astray, she bleated a fearful cry. Vainly she looked for a shepherd to guide her through the dark valleys of death into the sun-speckled highlands of hope. Absalom’s pied piper’s promise of gold had led the nation to the black abyss of death. She had said "yes" to Absalom’s gold and "no" to David’s God. In the agony of defeat she longed for the thrill of victory. David and his merry ...

3302. Violet, The Color of Royalty

Luke 1:31-35, Luke 23:33-38

Sermon

... Jesus came. The angel called him King. The Wise Men recognized him in the same way: "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?" But in reality, Jesus was just the opposite of the great king and military leader the people were hoping for. The Jews expected power, authority, military victories and revolt. Instead, Jesus came filled with (in the words of Isaiah this morning) "the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of council and justice, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord!" And ...

3303. Blue, The Color of Eternity

Romans 6:1-14

Sermon

... weren’t thinking of having you set up an office ... you’ll be going steerage this trip." "Steerage! No office ... Bethlehem! I had hoped for something a little better than Bethlehem. Well, I might as well start packing." At this point, the angel put his hand on ... boy, dressed in blue as a color of Christmas, is the same victorious Christ of Easter. And the victory, the glory, the hope and promise of eternity is ours, through the blue water of baptism! My little "dream" about Jesus descending to earth as ...

3304. Advent 3

James 5:7-12

Bulletin Aid

... is in God! People: HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO FIND HELP IN GOD! Leader: For God created all and is faithful to the end! People: AND GOD BRINGS JUSTICE TO THE OPPRESSED AND FOOD TO THE HUNGRY! Collect Magnificent God, you have set before us the hope that one will come to establish your holy Rule over a troubled world. Remind us that he brings more than just "sweetness and light": that, made aware that the Christ event means not only justification for the righteous but judgment for the unjust, we may consciously ...

3305. Advent 4

Isaiah 7:10-16

Bulletin Aid

... a time when you will bring redemption and peace once and for all to this troubled world. Amen Prayer of Confession God of heavenly presence, it shames us to admit how difficult we find it to look beyond the defects of the present age and to generate hope even in your power to redeem and restore. Forgive us our skepticism and cynicism, and move us with the image of Jesus, who came, comes, and will certainly come again as Immanuel, "God with us," bringing the unity, wholeness love, and peace that only you and ...

3306. Christmas, Proper 2

Isaiah 62:1-12

Bulletin Aid

... and moved to love in the name of him whose nativity we celebrate today. Amen Prayer of Confession Redeeming God, we confess that we often succumb to feelings of Godforsakenness, with respect to ourselves and our world; and that we lose both faith in you and hope in your promises. Forgive us, we pray, and let the words of your holy scriptures and the workings of your Holy Spirit revive and restore in us the conviction that our salvation does indeed come, in the person of the One who is born this day. In his ...

3307. Christmas, Proper 3

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

Bulletin Aid

... PEOPLE SING SONGS OF JOY! Leader: For our God has not forgotten us! People: OUR GOD HAS DONE A MARVELOUS THING! (Based on Psalm 98) Collect God of majesty, you have always brought good tidings of redemption to people in every sort of captivity. Let your message of hope resound among us and within us: that, in the birth of the Christ, we may see the first light of the dawning of your blessed Reign and hear the marvelous news that will free us indeed. In his holy name we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of ...

3308. Epiphany 5

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Bulletin Aid

... (based on Psalm 112) Leader: Praise God, who is gracious! People: PRAISE GOD, WHO IS RIGHTEOUS! Leader: Praise God, who is merciful! People: PRAISE GOD, WHO BRINGS LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS FOR THE UPRIGHT! Collect Eternal God, you have taught us repeatedly that our hope is not in the spiritual knowledge that we achieve for ourselves, or the insights that we accept from pious professionals, but in the wisdom we receive from you in Christ Jesus. Remind us again of that great truth: that, trusting at last in the ...

3309. Lent 2

Romans 4:1-25

Bulletin Aid

... in v. 16, in which the patriarch is called "the father of us all," precisely because the promise that rests on grace is guaranteed to everyone who shares his faith. Call to Worship (based on Psalm 33) Leader: Behold, the eye of God is upon all who hope in God's steadfast love! People: AND GOD DELIVERS US FROM DEATH TO LIFE! Leader: Our souls wait upon God! People: AND WE TRUST IN GOD'S HOLY NAME! Collect God of wondrous love, you graciously called Abraham to an unconditional faith and an unbelievable future ...

3310. Proper 22

Mt 21:33-46 · Php 3:4b-14 · Ex 20:1-20

Bulletin Aid

... pursued, glory given Exegetical Note Paul is apparently countering the contention of some among the Philippians who are claiming to have attained perfection and who, ironically, are living libertine lives as a result. Against them, Paul admits his own lack of, but hope for, perfection and his determination to press on toward it, knowing full well that his future glory lies not in his own effort, but the eschatological action of Christ Jesus. Call to Worship (based on Psalm 81) Leader: May God lift our ...

3311. Proper 23

Mt 22:1-14 · Php 4:1-9 · Ex 32:1-14 · Ps 106

Bulletin Aid

... , our attention turned to future glories, our present worries about ourselves and our world will be dispelled and dissolved into hope. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession Most merciful God, we confess that we are ... promises of a bright and glorious Reign that awaits us in the future. Forgive us our short-sightedness, O God, and fill us again with hope. Refocus our eyes, hearts, minds, and spirits away from all that troubles us and upon the peace and joy that await us in the Christ. ...

3312. Proper 27

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

Bulletin Aid

... sun, God shines forth! People: GOD SPEAKS AND SUMMONS THE WORLD! Leader: Our God does not come quietly, but in tempest and fire! People: GOD CALLS TO THE HEAVENS, AND THEY DECLARE GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS! Collect Almighty God, you have given us a tremendous source of hope in the promise of the second coming of your Christ. Make us now aware of our ongoing oneness with him: that, realizing our present unity with him, we may be active in our continuing mission until he comes. In his precious name we pray. Amen ...

3313. Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12

Bulletin Aid

... and went, but he stayed to study. Suddenly the master shouted, "It's a lie! The king and the knight have another move." The king and the knight do have another move. That's God's promise this Advent Season; and in that promise is our hope. Planning for Your Congregation Other Scriptures: Psalm 72:1-14 (15-29) Isaiah 11:1-10 Romans 15:4-13 Hymn Possibilities "Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus" "God of Our Life, Through All the Circling Years" Music for Preparation "From Heaven Above" Response to the Children ...

3314. Advent 4

Matthew 1:18-25

Bulletin Aid

... the manger and stable scene, at least the scene that we usually see in the department stores and church plays. It wasn't as sweet and pretty as we make it. The people wanted a 'Rambo' and they were surprised when they got a baby. Think about what your parents hoped for you when you came along. Maybe they wanted their plans fulfilled in you. Compare their wishes with God's plan." Proclamation of the Word Consider this: We have heard, "It's too good to be true." The reality is, "It's too good not to be true ...

3315. The Epiphany of Our Lord

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

... to take this risk. Then, for the act of pardon, point out, again, that the Gospel is for all, and no matter what the content of a person's sin, God is always ready to forgive more than we are. If, in our thinking, we lose hope on anyone, we never had hope in the first place. Proclamation of the Word Consider this: Point out how difficult it was for the people of Jesus' day to believe that his life, death, and resurrection opened the gospel to the world. Even to the end, the Jewish people had difficulty ...

3316. Lent 1

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon Aid

... invite the people to share their insights in light of these pictures. Act of Recognizing our Humanness and Receiving New Life Consider this: Remind the people of the traditional purpose for Lent, a time for reflection and renewal in God's Spirit. Ask them where they hope to be in their relationship with the crucified one at the end of Lent? Relate their responses to the pictures. You may want to print this prayer: Holy God of love, it's the knowledge of our potential, not just our problems, which brings us ...

3317. Easter 2

John 20:19-23

Sermon Aid

... to Christ and his kingdom as will liberate us to be perpetual intercessors, living for and with other people in the name of the Lord. (silence) 7. Finally, pray for ourselves, that in the name and power of Christ, we may bring healing to the sick, hope to the defeated, and confidence to the disheartened. (silence) Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen and amen. (author unknown, revised) For the act of forgiveness, point out that all of us, at one time or another, are those who cause the pain expressed in the ...

3318. Proper 11

Matthew 13:24-30

Sermon Aid

... and ministers: Pastor: Who are you to have come here? Ministers: We are Christians, sometimes convinced, sometimes not. Pastor: What is it to be a Christian? Ministers: It is to believe in God, the Father-Mother, and in God's unique Son, Our Lord, who is the hope of the world, and in the Holy Spirit, God's energy. Pastor: Why have you come? Ministers: We have come to celebrate the Presence and Power of God, in order that we will better serve God in God's world. Pastor: How have you come? Ministers: (supply ...

3319. Proper 18

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon Aid

... version of 1 Corinthians 13. The Ecumenical Institute of Chicago developed a version around the tune "Five Hundred Miles." If you have it, ask the choir to sing the stan-zas and the congregation to sing the chorus. "Faith and hope and love abide; Love is greatest of the three. Faith and hope and love abide, but love the greatest is." (repeat) Message with the Children of All Ages Suggestion: Develop the message around the idea "Do you ever think of God and Jesus when you're at school, especially when you're ...

3320. A Glory Revealed by Abiding

John 8:31-41

Sermon

... sharp slap in the face to one steeped in the Law of Moses. Everything Jesus told them was a direct attack on their hope as Jews. In fact, everything Jesus claimed about himself was what the rabbis taught about the Torah, that is, the Old Testament with ... without him, as if Christian freedom were like driving a car to a gasoline pump. We fill up once on Jesus, but move ahead on our own, hoping to somehow make it to the end of the road before we run out of gas. No, even for we who believe, the powers of sin, ...

3321. Death: Commonality Explored

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sermon

... the World Council of Churches. Members of the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches have found a deep richness in the service. Like many of my friends, I appreciate the phrase good grief. For one thing, it is a means of pointing to pain with purpose, hope encased in travail. It is right, necessary, and therapeutic to grieve. As the early Christians knew so well, death is not the end. Their Lord proved it wasn’t. The divisions in Christ’s church are not the end of the story. Grief will bring ...

3322. Sovereignty: God’s Domain

Zephaniah 1:4-13

Sermon

... that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all." (4:4-6) Christian unity does not forsake this message of hopeful truth. In fact, it builds upon it and recognizes its destiny as being bound to it. The lessons are there for us to learn. Sovereignty is God’s domain. He is active, will not allow apostasy to go unchecked, wants us to know material goods cannot save us, and we ...

3323. Success: Ultimate and Unlimited

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

... focus upon our uniqueness, in speaking of our place and work, he elevates Christ and says, "... and that he alone be our reward." Such is heaven - to be with Christ and all the glories it entails. That - my dear friends in Christ - is arriving! HOPE AND PURPOSE ARE FOUND in indelible ink as we bring to conclusion our visit, based upon this moving passage in the Book of Revelation. Christian unity finds its own consummation as well. Those who have labored long and hard await the honor - some having already ...

3324. A DRAMA OF LOST WORDS

Drama

... string or something? Woman 2: Okay, baby, you can cut the sarcasm. I don’t need it right now. Man 2: Oh, well, I’m sorry! I hope I didn’t hurt your tender feelings! So you don’t need it right now, huh? Do you figure I need all the garbage you’ve ... to find out. Woman 2: So, you’re about to give up trying, are you? And I’m just supposed to go on ... Man 2: I sure hope not! Woman 2: Six years of this. A few simple requests ... Man 2: A few simple requests? My god! If I were that computer you talk ...

3325. The Yestermorrow Eclipse

John 10:1-21

Sermon

... find one, we begin to see that Christ was by no means haphazard when he selected lilies of the field and birds of the air. Each of them has a simple beauty. And each makes the countryside more pleasant and more appealing. It’s almost as though Christ is hoping that we can in some small measure be like the lilies and the birds ... bringing simple beauty and life to the day, that others may discover it, share it, and find their own day more meaningful. Few of us ever forget an encounter we’ve had with a ...

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