Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3301 to 3325 of 5000 results

Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 110:1-7, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53, 2 Kings 2:1-18

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... , the beginning of Lent. Ascension Day was also known as Holy Thursday, in some ancient calendars. (There is no evidence of a post-Easter sexagesima or septuagesima in the liturgical scheme of things.) The theological significance of the ascension is that it marks the completion of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; until he makes no more appearances, and until he leaves the earth, the resurrection is unfinished business; Jesus said, "I go to the Father" and that return to the heavenly Father completes the ...

3302. Easter 7

John 17:20-26, Psalm 47:1-9, Acts 7:54--8:1a, Acts 16:6-10, Acts 16:16-40, 1 Samuel 12:1-25, Revelation 22:7-21

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... had to do in Macedonia. 5. Christians, who hold on to the vision given them by the Word, will discover that God is with them always and in all things, helping them to fulfill their ministry. (For more on this type of narrative sermon, see Mark Ellingsen's The Integrity Of Biblical Narrative [Story in Theology and Proclamation], Augsburg Fortress, 1990.) 1 Samuel 12:19-34 (E) - "Remember God's Goodness." 1. One of the astounding things about God is that he has mercy on his people, regardless of what they ...

3303. The Pentecost Cycle

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... of God right now. God's call to discipleship and obedience is always a proper subject in the light of his saving grace in Jesus Christ. Above all, the gospel must not be forgotten, and the Pentecost cycle/season is "dotted" with kerygmatic "accent marks" - the various saints' days - that help to maintain the proper relationship between God's grace in Jesus Christ and the faithful response of his people. Preachers are reminded that the Gospel for the Year is read in a semi-continuous manner, serial-fashion ...

3304. Proper 7

1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 63:1-11, Zechariah 12:1-9, Luke 8:26-39, Galatians 3:23-29

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The preacher, who hopes to make the most of the lectionary and the church year during the long season of Pentecost, has to be cognizant of the kerygmatic accent marks that are built into the church year. Sunday is always the "little Easter," a celebration - if muted, at that - of the death and resurrection of our Lord; it is also the Ogdoad, the eighth day, or the day of new creation. Thus, the church is reminded that it and the ...

3305. Proper 8

Luke 9:57-62, Galatians 5:16-26, 1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 16:1-11, Luke 9:51-56

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... -18) in the Gospel for Easter Sunday, Cycle/Year A, and the alternate gospel for the other two years/cycles), to see the risen Lord. To remember her this way reinforces the kerygmatic content - remember that I call saints' and martyrs' days "kerygmatic accent marks" in the calendar of the church - of Pentecost. Whatever is selected to be read and preached in the worship of Pentecost is colored by the reality of the resurrection of our Lord. While this Sunday has no particular theological content of its own ...

3306. Proper 10

Colossians 1:15-23, Colossians 1:1-14, 2 Kings 2:1-18, Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Psalm 69:1-36, Psalm 25:1-22, Luke 10:25-37

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... who created the world, and people who claim to love Jesus Christ as Lord must surely love the world that God made and, today, learn how to take care of the earth and all life in this world. Luke 10:25-37 (RC, E, L, C) In Mark and Matthew, the commandment to love God and human beings - our neighbors - is given in a different form than it is in Luke. Evidence would suggest that the Markan/Matthean versions, in which Jesus combined commands from Deuteronomy and Leviticus, is probably the way it happened. The ...

3307. Proper 14

Hebrews 11:1-40, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Genesis 15:1-18, Luke 12:35-48

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... my wife and me an unusual Christmas card last year. On the front of it were eight candles painted in a modern style, not unlike the "lights" of Jewish worship; they were all burning brightly. In a way, they were "double" Advent candles marking the countdown to Christmas, but they were also candles that were lighted for a vigil, the continuing and constant watch of the church for Jesus' glorious return to the earth. The text read: "Venient Dominus et non tardabit, ut illuminet abscondita tenebrarum." The ...

3308. Proper 21

Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 146:1-10, Amos 6:1-7, Joel 2:18-27, 1 Timothy 6:11-21

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... into old age; a witness to Christ, but not a literal martyr. Tradition also claims him to be an artist (at least one painting in a Roman church is attributed to him), as well as an author/historian/theologian. He tells the same story as Mark and Matthew, but relates it more as Jesus' "journey to Jerusalem," showing how the death, resurrection, and promised return of Jesus are theologically relevant to conditions in the world of his day and ours. To remember and to celebrate St. Luke is to remember and ...

3309. Proper 24

Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 121:1-8, Exodus 17:8-16, Genesis 32:22-32, Habakkuk 1:1-4, Habakkuk 2:2-20, 2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... If one can't pray with confidence in such situations, and if God doesn't respond to such prayers, does prayer have an efficacy today? 3. Jesus believed that it did, although he seems almost to have wavered a bit when he cried out on the cross, according to Mark and Matthew, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Because God does not forsake his people, but will answer their prayers, he was able to die with a prayer on his lips, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit," fully believing that God would ...

3310. Epiphany 3

Mark 1:14-20

Bulletin Aid

Wayne B. Keller

... call to repentance, using the method of the Old Testament prophets. You may want to read, The Prophets on Main Street, by J. Elliott Corbett, published by John Knox Press, Richmond, Virginia. You may want to conclude with the words ascribed to Jesus by Mark in chapter 1 , verse 15. Then, continue with the following, or a similar, litany: Pastor: We have heard the call to repentance. Do you know what it means? People: We're not sure. We deny our humanity often, both its positives and negatives. We ...

3311. Easter Sunday

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

Sermon Aid

Wayne B. Keller

... for our lives, that we may not hurt others in our decisions, that God may work through our mistakes. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration Consider this: Use the statement, "Keep alive the rumor that God is not dead!" Read the resurrection gospel from Mark, after which have the choir sing a version of "Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!" Then, with instruments playing in the background, have a good reader read, with much feeling, a poem which is printed on page fifty of a book titled, Celebration, by Clarence ...

3312. The Season of the Holy Spirit

John 18:28-40

Bulletin Aid

Wayne B. Keller

... : Begin, are you here? I mean, really here this morning? Are you here to hear the truth as God's Spirit reveals the truth? If not, wake up. (Use an alarm clock, or some kind of sound to wake the people up.) (pause) Now, are you awake? On your mark, get set, let's get going. Continue with this litany between pastor and ministers: Pastor: Fellow adventurers in the new life in Christ the King, I have exciting news for you! Christ died for us that we might know how much God loves us and forgives us and receives ...

3313. Who’s Keeping Score?

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

William J. Carl

... Rorem spells it out this way. “Few people think that God is an old man with a white beard on a throne; but some think he acts that way. As if God is up in heaven, looking down for unforgiving attitudes. ‘Aha! There’s another. Mark that one down, Gabriel, no forgiveness for John down there.’ (Paul Rorem, Augsburg Sermons 2, Minneapolis, Augsburg Publishing House, 1983, p. 228).” That’s not the way it works anymore than the way the universe works. Look at gravity. If you do something stupid like ...

3314. When Will The Pain Go Away?

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon

George Johnson

... Native Americans have taught us an important dimension to spirituality by the value they place on a close relationship to the earth and the environment. We would do well to reconnect with nature in order to sustain hope. Those who live where the seasons are more marked and evident may have an advantage. But everywhere there are signs in creation of life coming out of death. Seeds are sown. They die before they spring forth to bear fruit. Babies are born from such a small beginning when a tiny little egg is ...

3315. The Highway to Peace

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

... perpetual warfare? Some have given the answer that the cure for war is a more intense war; the cure for hate is a more bitter hate. Far different is the answer of the One about whom the angels sang: “You shall love your neighbors as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) Love is stronger than hate. But in the final analysis this is a matter of faith. Those who believe in God believe that good is stronger than evil, that truth is stronger than falsehood, that love is stronger than hate. History witnesses to the truth ...

3316. Trumpets on the Other Side

John 11:17-37

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

... unveiling, affirmThat the play is the tragedy, “Man,”And its hero, the Conqueror Worm.7 The second view asserts with Bunyan in Pilgrim’s Progress: My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and my scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder. When the death that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the riverside, into which as he went he said, “Death ...

3317. Breakfast on the Beach

John 21:1-14

Sermon

Steven Burt

... one or two people. And just then the others arrive from the boat, six more mouths to feed besides Jesus and Peter. What to do! But think for a moment. Where else did we see bread and fish, but not enough to go around -- at least, at first glance? In Mark 6:30 we read about a crowd that was hungry, and the disciples, having only enough food for themselves, wanted Jesus to send the people away to search for their own food. But Jesus had made five loaves and two fish feed a multitude. But what of the other ...

3318. The Proof Is In The Fruit

Luke 6:39-49

Sermon

James Garrett

... and moral superiority can come easily. The judgmental approach costs nothing and is worth as much. To hunt for ways to praise others can do far more good. It has been said, “A compliment is verbal sunshine.” Praise awakens hope and the desire to be. Mark Twain once remarked: “I can live for two months on one compliment.” “Each tree is known by its own fruit,” said Jesus. Behavior is the natural expression of the basic self. A person’s life cannot be evaluated in any other way than by his ...

3319. Beyond Togetherness

John 17:20-26

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... and instead begin standing with one another and working together to bring people to Christ and to become an answer to prayer for those who cry out to God for help. However, if your family is like my family, your day-today operation is not marked with constant good will and cooperation. Parents can disagree with each other, or the children, or the youngsters with each other. There are so many possibilities for dissension - goals will vary, opinions often differ and wills may clash. I think the reason for the ...

3320. Two R-Rated Stories

John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... untrue! From our story we see that Jesus was obviously pleased at Mary’s lavish gift, not because he was impressed with its value, but because it reflected the sacrificial quality of her faith. One’s giving, whether time, energy or money, is always a mark of faith. It is true, the church, like all other organizations, needs money to exist and carry out the mission, but our primary goal is the restoration of people to Jesus Christ and not financial security. It can take some time for us to understand ...

3321. The King Who Came To Die

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... was room for everyone, and humankind was given the freedom to become a part of this glorious realm simply by developing a friendship with God which would develop into a relationship so close that eventually we, like Jesus, would even call the Almighty God, "Daddy (Mark 14:36)." It was a wonderful kingdom - the rules were few and the privileges many. It began with God, Adam and Eve. At first there was harmony of wills, respect, affection and concern for each other. That blueprint of God's kingdom has not ...

3322. Through the Valley of the Shadow

Psalm 23:1-6

Eulogy

Carl B. Rife

... by the knowledge that she indeed is in God's loving care. But the difficult thing is that Aunt _______ not only passed through the Valley of Death, for which we feel a loss and seek assurance, she also passed through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, marked by suffering, pain, and the fear of unknown aspects of death. The last few weeks were a difficult time for her. And it was difficult for her family and friends as they watched her struggle and suffer and could do so little to help. Those of us who ...

3323. Not Defeated But Victorious

2 Timothy 4:9-18

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

... a spirit of honesty and loyalty in personal relations, a basic respect for every person, and the kind of conduct towards others which acknowledges the work of God in every human being. But I think especially this afternoon of the courage and cheerfulness which marked his life during his many long months of illness. Who of us could have walked in his footsteps with greater courage and more cheerfulness? We can only express the words of the disciple when he saw the victory of his Lord over the afflictions ...

3324. For of Such is the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 19:13-15

Sermon

Charles L. Koester

... on me because I care for you.You will never die,You will have eternal life. Ours is to trust, to trust the promises of our Savior and our brother in human suffering and pain and sorrow. God may not answer our questions, but he does fill our question marks with his presence, his living presence. We may not see the "whys" but one day we will as St. Paul said, "Be face to face." And to you people of God at worship tonight who are relatives, friends, neighbors. May God lead you to help and comfort this family ...

3325. Kim's Wish Come True

John 14:1-4

Eulogy

Ron Lavin

... context, namely that Kim would like to see us all later before the throne of God. It would be for her a wish come true: "I'll see you all later," she said. One of the rooms which God surely has reserved for those who believe in him will be marked, "Reunion Banquet ... Kim, Hostess."

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