Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3351 to 3375 of 4935 results

3351. Sermon In A Word

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

Drama

Jerry Eckert

Comment: "The Disciples' Tenebrae" was a perfect set-up for the sunrise service. As people entered the church Easter Sunday, the worship room was bare of decorations. The rough cross made of old Christmas tree trunks still stood at the front of the church, draped with the black cloth from the Maundy Thursday service three nights before. There were no lights on in the church. All was very quiet as the people gathered. To begin the service, the liturgist went up to the cross, pulled the black cloth off of it ...

3352. Epiphany 4

Psalm 71:1-24, 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Jeremiah 1:1-19, Luke 4:14-30

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The birth story, with the visit of the magi, and the baptism of our Lord, at the beginning of the season, and the Transfiguration story, at the conclusion of Epiphany in many lectionaries, combine to enclose the other Sundays of Epiphany in a period of time when the manifestation/ministry of Jesus are celebrated in worship and preaching. Each Sunday, some aspect of Jesus' Epiphany in his teaching and/or his miraculous works/signs is put before the people of God to confirm the faith of ...

3353. Soul Food

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

We have become, for the most part, very visual people. We watch body language, study facial expressions, look at moving pictures and stare at live-action shots in order to absorb what is happening. We would rather see a motion picture than read the book, watch the news than pick up the paper, and turn on television than turn to one another for quality communication. Everywhere you go, it seems that people are trying to take advantage of and make the most of this visual society. Many dentists’ offices are ...

3354. The Two Washings

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Dean Lueking

On this Maundy Thursday let us ponder again the Cross of Christ our Savior and its consequences for us all. One way to approach such a task as this is to direct our thinking to two washings that take place in connection with the passion of Christ. The first one is described by the Evangelist Matthew: So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man ‘s blood, see to it yourselves." ( ...

3355. Seeing as the Lord Sees

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

In the story of David’s selection to be the second king of Israel, we see an important distinction between the ways we look at ourselves and others, and the way that God sees us. The Lord said to Samuel, "The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks in the heart." That is an important distinction, and an encouraging word for us who are on the journey of faith. Samuel had been called of God to anoint the first two kings of Israel. The first king was Saul, a man who had ...

3356. Epiphany 4

Lk 4:21-30 · 1 Cor 13:1-13 · Jer 1:4-10

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 (RC) Even before his birth Jeremiah was appointed a prophet. Jeremiah tells us of his call to preach. It came at the time Josiah was king of Judah (ca. 627 BC). It came as a dialogue with Yahweh who even before his birth was destined to be a prophet. In this dialogue he heard the voice of Yahweh and felt his hand on his lips. There was no human initiative in the call. The words he was to speak were totally the Lord's words. The message he was to proclaim was one of judgment ...

3357. Magic Mountain

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

For six days, Jesus had been engaged in an inner struggle, attempting to settle, once and for all, his decision to go to Jerusalem where, he knew, he would die. In a move not unique to the Jews when there was any religious critical question to be settled, Jesus took Peter, James, and John apart from the rest of the disciples and went to a "high mountain" for a retreat. He needed their company, comfort, and support as he was about to lay his life on the line. Was he doing the right thing? Had he interpreted ...

3358. The Holy Trinity

Psalm 150:1-6, Psalm 33:1-22, Psalm 29:1-11, Matthew 28:16-20, John 3:1-21, 2 Corinthians 13:1-10, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Genesis 1:1-2:3, Exodus 34:1-28

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The Holy Trinity is a "liturgical late-comer" among the feasts and festivals of the church; officially, it has been an established feast of the church for 555 years, since Pope John XX approved of it in 1334. Its history began with the dedication of churches to the Holy Trinity in the ninth century, at least one liturgy in the tenth century, and an actual feast celebrated in the eleventh century. This festival was retained in the revised church year and the liturgy of the church by the ...

3359. Let Yes Be Yes!

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

A popular folk song among Christian youth in the 60s went like this: And God said Yes! Yes! Yes! Said Yes to the world once more! Said Yes with a cosmic roar! Said, Open that Other Door! Said Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! In one word, that’s God’s message for this planet. It’s the gospel. It’s the hope we need, the doorway to the future. Each of us has asked ourselves and one another and the silent stars at night: "Must there not be a better world than this? Must our lives not have been meant to be put right, ...

3360. The Strength of Poverty

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Hubert Beck

"If poverty is strength, may the good Lord make me weak!" I can hear the idea running around in your head from the time you read the title of today’s sermon. This sermon title sounds every bit as upside down as the Beatitudes that we read as today’s Gospel or as the Second Lesson for today. "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things ...

3361. When Yes Means No and No Means Yes

Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

What’s your opinion? If you have two sons, and you tell one of them to do a job, and his answer is no, then afterwards he does it, and you tell the second one to do the same job and his answer is, "Sure, I’ll go," and he doesn’t do it, which one is doing what you told him and following your will? That’s the story Jesus told the crowd, and that’s the question he posed to the religious leaders of his day. The crowd answered Jesus by saying the son who said, "No," and then changed his mind and did the work ...

3362. God’s Chosen Country

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Susan Hedahl

You may have heard the words, "You have been promoted," or "You have been elected president." You may recall opening a letter for which you had waited and reading the words, "We would like to offer you the position...." Anyone chosen for a special honor learns quickly that it has both its delightful and burdensome aspects. Just ask someone who has taken on a new and more responsible position, and you will hear more than rejoicing about higher salaries or benefits. Sleepless nights and new decisions await ...

3363. The Marvelous Style Of Jesus: Truth And Love

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

Joseph M. Freeman

Jesus' use of parables is his way of communicating a striking truth with significant love. In my own journey as a Christian person, the most amazing quality of God which has been so instructive to me, is that He approaches us with equal doses of love and truth. How different He is than us. When I see someone in error and that error has personally hurt me, I go for that person's jugular, to deliver the truth, but little or no love accompanies it. Hence, the person becomes defensive and flatly refuses the ...

3364. I Affirm

Acts 27:13-26

Sermon

TEXT: "Wherefore, sirs, be of good courage, for I believe in God." Acts 27:25 There are two ways to interpret the extraordinary story of adventure at sea which is described in chapter 27 of Acts. We can look at the courage and the faith of Paul. He had been arrested after preaching for several years as a Christian evangel. When he was threatened with death he appealed as a Roman citizen for his trial to be held in the city of Rome which was his right as a citizen. Escorted by heavy guard, he was taken from ...

3365. The Passing of the Peace

John 20:24-31

Sermon

George Bass

It was the evening of the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Mary Magdalene had told them that she had actually seen the Lord not far from the tomb where he was buried just three days earlier. "At first," she said, "I thought it was the gardener, but Jesus spoke to me and called me by name, and then I knew that it really was Jesus. He’s alive!" But the disciples hadn’t seen him, and now it was evening. They had to be discussing Mary’s report, as well as those other terrible and terrifying events of the ...

3366. What Do You Mean 'Born Again?'

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Ron Lavin

"Unless one is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." John 3:3, RSV Saul the persecutor of Christians became Paul the great witness for Christianity through his Damascus Road experience. Consider this poem as you consider Paul’s life and your own. Only one life 'Twill soon be past Only what’s done for Christ Will last. Recently as I looked over the list of deaths in our parish for the year, I remembered this little poem as the favorite saying of one of our members who died recently Vicki Tannous ...

3367. A Time For Hope

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

Advent is a time of hope and anticipation. It speaks not only of the blessed event of the birth of the Christ child but also of that day when the triumphant Christ shall establish his reign over every heart ”when "nations shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." as Isaiah describes that eternal hope. Paul describes that glorious day this way, "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians. 2: ...

3368. Preparing For A Royal Visit

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

[Note: While King Duncan is enjoying a well deserved retirement we are going back to his earliest sermons and renewing them. The newly modernized sermon is shown first and below, for reference sake, is the old sermon. We will continue this updating throughout the year bringing fresh takes on King's best sermons.] Original Name: Preparing for a Royal Visit New Name: Getting Ready A little boy attended his first symphony concert. He was excited by the splendid hall, the beautiful people in all their formal ...

3369. How Have We Made It This Far?

Acts 1:6-14

Sermon

King Duncan

Charles Killian, a Professor at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky has described a mythical modern worship service like this: Pastor: “Praise the Lord!” Congregation: “Hallelujah!” Pastor: “Will everyone please turn on their tablet, PC, iPad, smart phone, and Kindle Bibles to First Corinthians 13:13. And please switch on your Bluetooth to download the sermon.” [There is a pause.] “Now, let us pray committing this week into God’s hands. Open your Apps, BBM, Twitter and Facebook, and chat with ...

3370. A Mystifying Question

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Sermon

King Duncan

When Bill Fuqua was fourteen-years old, he decided to stand utterly motionless for a long period of time in a public place-just to see what type of reactions he’d get. His curiosity definitely paid off. One lady, for example, walked by him, stared, then touched him. When her action brought no response, she actually remarked, "Oh, I thought it was a real person!" Since then, Bill has advanced to the point where he now holds the world’s record for doing nothing. On one occasion, he stood motionless for ten ...

3371. Why Jesus Likes Sinners

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

King Duncan

Jesus continually shocks us. No wonder the people of his own day crucified him. He wouldn't be too popular in our community. At least not among the better people in town. It is almost as if he preferred to associate with the disreputable, the rejects, the rubble of humanity. "Two men went up to pray," he said on one occasion, "a Pharisee and a tax collector." Now the audience was suppose to hiss and boo when the tax collector's title was given. The IRS is not too popular with us, but at least most of the ...

3372. It's Not Nice To Call Someone A Dog

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

One of the appealing characteristics of the historical Jesus is how open he was to people ” all kinds of people. Will Rogers once said he never met a man he didn’t like. Jesus never met a person he didn’t love. People from all kinds of situations found themselves comfortable in his presence. He didn’t come across as stuffy or pretentious. It reminds me of the story of a priest in the mountains of Kentucky who had come home with a family of new converts for dinner. He was received cordially by all but the ...

3373. The King Of Ifs

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Richard Andersen

His throne room was the top of a small hill named Golgatha. His throne was not gilded and set with precious stones; it was a cross of rough-hewn timbers. Though He wore a crown, it was of thorns. Albeit He had been cloaked in a robe of royal color, it was but a discarded rag and even that was taken from Him. Once He held a scepter, but it was only a reed from a creek bed, stuffed derisively in His hand by jeering guards. Yet Jesus, upon Calvary's cross, was more a King than any other sovereign; certainly ...

3374. Where Is Your Citizenship?

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

King Duncan

Mark Twain once categorized people into three groups: commonplace, remarkable, and lunatics. I don't know about you, but I can think of people who belong in all three groups. St. Paul, though, says there are only two kinds of people ” citizens of the world and citizens of heaven. And the contrasts between the two are stark. Here is how St. Paul describes citizens of the world. FIRST OF ALL, HE SAYS THEIR DESTINY IS DESTRUCTION. Recent wire reports carried the story of a motorist who stole $9 worth of ...

3375. Putting A Face On Jesus

Colossians 1:15-23, Colossians 1:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a new book out called THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ELVIS. I understand this book is full of little known facts about the superstar. For example, did you know Elvis was disappointed when he received a guitar on his eleventh birthday? He would have preferred a bicycle. You couldn't have learned that if you had stayed in bed this morning. Did you know that all three of Elvis' Grammy Awards were for religious songs? Do you care? I was interested in one fact: When Elvis died, he was reading a book on the ...

Showing results

Showing 3351 to 3375 of 4935 results

3351. Sermon In A Word

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

Drama

Jerry Eckert

3352. Epiphany 4

Psalm 71:1-24, 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Jeremiah 1:1-19, Luke 4:14-30

Sermon Aid

George Bass

3353. Soul Food

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

3354. The Two Washings

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Dean Lueking

3355. Seeing as the Lord Sees

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

3356. Epiphany 4

Lk 4:21-30 · 1 Cor 13:1-13 · Jer 1:4-10

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

3357. Magic Mountain

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

3358. The Holy Trinity

Psalm 150:1-6, Psalm 33:1-22, Psalm 29:1-11, Matthew 28:16-20, John 3:1-21, 2 Corinthians 13:1-10, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Genesis 1:1-2:3, Exodus 34:1-28

Sermon Aid

3359. Let Yes Be Yes!

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

3360. The Strength of Poverty

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Hubert Beck

3361. When Yes Means No and No Means Yes

Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger