Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 3451 to 3475 of 4944 results

3451. Getting Ready

Luke 3:4-5

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A broom. Lesson: Advent; waiting; preparation; making room for Jesus. Having invited the children to come to the front of the sanctuary, I turn to the steps leading into the chancel area and begin to sweep, using the broom I have brought for this purpose. As the children arrive, I move to one side so they can take their places on the steps. "What was I doing as you walked up here?" I begin. "Sweeping," they answer. "Why was I doing that?" I continue. "To get the floors clean," comes their response ...

3452. The Poor In Spirit

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

John A. Terry

When Jesus spoke these words, he had sat down with his disciples. These are not generic "words to live by" that get published in the Sunday magazine section. These are words Jesus spoke particularly to the disciples. That is why they went up the mountain to be alone. The word translated as "blessed" is commonly translated today as "happy." Robert Schuller wrote a book titled The Be Happy Attitudes. There is a joy the word implies. The problem with the word "happy" is that it is rooted in the old English ...

3453. The Righteous

Psalm 107:1-43

Sermon

John A. Terry

I have never been to the Holy Land, but I have heard the land described. The "desert" in Palestine is not made up of sand dunes, but of parched, rock-filled crusty soil. It quickly turns to dust in the long dry seasons. This is an arid land where water was used only for the most essential needs. When the rain falls, the thirsty land is satisfied and in a few days the land rejoices with blossoms shooting up everywhere in beautiful array. Soon again the dry season returns, the harvest ends, and the problems ...

3454. We Come to Jesus for Rest

Mark 6:30-44

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

In the first days, people came to Jesus for rest, to hear his teaching, and to be healed. We still do this today, because Jesus is still the greatest of all teachers and healers. Greeting Leader: Jesus said to his disciples, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile." People: Jesus, we also need your rest. Leader: Jesus saw the crowds were like sheep without a shepherd, so he began to teach them many things. People: Jesus, be our shepherd and teach us. Leader: Wherever Jesus went ...

3455. AUGUST 14-20

John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Theme: John is very plain. Unless we eat and drink Jesus Christ, we will not live forever. GREETING The Choir sings the chorus, "Eat This Bread," that comes out of the Taize Community. Choir: (Sings the chorus.) People: You, Lord, are our living bread, giving your own flesh for the life of the world. Choir: (Sings the chorus.) People: You are our true food, our true drink. Abide in us, and let us abide in you. Choir: (Sings the chorus.) People: Feast of life, feast from heaven, feed us till we want no more ...

3456. What Must We Do?

Mark 10:17-31

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting Leader: A man asked Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus answered him, "You know the commandments." Left: You shall have no other gods. Right: You shall not make for yourself an idol. Left: You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God. Right: Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. Left: Honor your father and your mother. Right: You shall not murder. Left: You shall not commit adultery. Right: You shall not steal. Left: You shall not bear false witness ...

3457. Made New By Getting Lost

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

For those of you who have come here feeling lost, I have good news for you. For those of you who have come here willing to get lost, I have even better news. The good news is "fear not." The God we worship specializes in finding lost people. The God we worship gives life the moment we lose ours for the sake of heavenly causes. Our text has two words that become backdrops for the entire season of Advent. Those words are "wilderness" and "about face." John comes out of the wilderness, the necessary passage ...

3458. The Son Makes Us Free

John 8:31-41

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

On a television movie about a family of Virginia plantation owners during the Civil War, one of the sons married a woman whom his family despised because she was not of their class. She was the daughter of a poor "dirt farmer," without the privileged education, carefully cultivated social graces, or the wealth of the family who lived in the big house on the plantation. She became pregnant with their first child shortly before her husband went off to war with Jeb Stuart's calvary, and reluctantly, the ...

3459. Happy Fear - A Wedding Homily

Psalm 128:1-6

Sermon

John V. Carrier

Today's psalm, which __________ and __________ chose, is both a blessing and an admonition. That is appropriate to a wedding. Everyone present needs to remember what is going on here, as well as wish __________ and __________ well. Why are we here today? For one thing, we gather to witness their marriage. We come to hear their promises. Maybe someday, as friends and family, we may want to remind them of these vows. And then, maybe we need to rehearse those vows ourselves. For those of us who are married, ...

3460. Wedding Sermon - You Are What You Wear

SOS 8:6-7; Col 3:12-17

Sermon

Erskine White

From the announcement of their engagement to the day of their wedding, a young couple can be put through an incredible amount of stress. A cynic might say that society intends this period as a kind of torture test to see if the couple is really ready for the rigors of marriage. With the countless decisions to be made and the numerous other people whose interests and wishes must be accommodated, a young couple needs the tact of a diplomat, the patience of a saint and the endurance of a marathon runner when ...

3461. Structure And Clarity

Sermon

Michael Rogness

I understand the stories the pastor told and thought they were interesting, but I couldn't see how the sermon fit together. -- A 15-year-old's comment during the writing of this book Many sermons with good material fall flat simply because the audience doesn't follow the flow of the message. With today's audience listening superficially with a short attention span, there are some basic principles one can use so that the sermon will be (a) heard, (b) understood and (c) remembered. Our View And Their View ...

3462. Hoe Jesus' Row

Luke 9:62

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A garden hoe. Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to learn something about farming or having a garden, and while we are doing this, we hope to learn something about the kingdom of God. Let's see if we can do this. I brought a hoe with me this morning. How many of you have ever used a hoe? (Let them answer.) If you have used one, then tell me how to use it. (Let someone explain or demonstrate the way that he or she uses it.) You must be a very good farmer. If you use a hoe like this, ...

3463. Let Us Pray!

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

In James Baldwin's Blues For Mister Charlie, there is an arresting scene in which a young boy announces before his grandmother and the world that he no longer believes in God. The wise and unperturbed woman replies, "Ain't no way you can't believe in God, boy. You just try holding your breath long enough to die." No less than breathing or the sucking of a newborn infant, prayer is instinctive human behavior. The disciples' plea, "Lord, teach us to pray," arises from a primal urge deep within the human ...

3464. Death Of A Dream - Birth Of A Church

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

Genesis 11:1-9 This Old Testament lesson is a story of failure, but there is a great truth for all of us in it. I had a dear friend who used to say, "Every man is my teacher. I either learn what to do from him, or what not to do." It reminds me of a cartoon, which showed a bum sitting on a park bench; his clothes were tattered and torn, his toes were coming out of his shoes - the stereotypical hobo. Beneath the picture was the caption, "No man is completely worthless - he can always serve as a horrible ...

3465. Proper 18

Luke 14:25-35, Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Proverbs 9:1-18, Ezekiel 33:1-20, Philemon 1:8-25

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The eschatological/kerygmatic motif of the gospel, which is injected into the liturgy of the church by its year, may become almost indistinguishable by this part of Pentecost, but once more the proximity of a minor festival renews the kerygmatic accent of Sunday worship. Depending on the lectionary followed and the calendar year, the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost will be near St. Michael and All Angels Day. St. Michael and All Angels is September 28; Saint Michael gets the preeminent ...

3466. The Season of the Resurrection

John 20:24-31, John 20:19-23

Sermon Aid

Wayne B. Keller

Liturgical Color: White Theme: The risen Christ confronts a doubting Thomas Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration Suggestion: Begin, when we worship, we celebrate our personal relationship with God, our affirmations and our doubts, and our worldwide relationship with each other - as fellow humans, both friends and enemies, as fellow Christians, both known and unknown, both living and dead. Continue with this litany between pastor and ministers: Pastor: Be alert! Be aware! Be expectant! Ministers: Make us ...

3467. Where Does That Leave Us?

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

Sermon

Thomas Peterson

Where does this Scripture leave us? Jesus compares the fig tree with the Day of Judgment. The fig tree’s leaves, sun s darkening, the moon giving no light, and the stars falling -- all are signs of the final day of the Lord. Then it is that the Son of man comes in clouds with great power and glory, and he sends out angels to gather in the elect. Many denominations spend a great deal of energy trying to figure out, “Is it the time yet?” Intense diligence goes into collating Scripture with wars and natural ...

3468. An Our Good Works And Generosity

Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Jesus was giving his famous Sermon on the Mount. In the middle of it he looked at the disciples from his sitting position (as was customary for Jewish rabbis of the first century when they were teaching). And Jesus said: "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 6:1)." To whom was Jesus referring with these words? He was probably talking here and at other points in the sermon about the Pharisees. ...

3469. Deaths, Our Teacher

Psalm 90:1-17

Eulogy

Allen Puffenberger

Part 1. Peaceful Death For an Eighty-four-year-old Woman The outline of this meditation has enabled me to address a number of the vital issues that are raised by death. The message is wide enough that it can be comforting to the bereaved, regardless of the circumstances of their loved one's death. The four points are greatly strengthened by references to the deceased's life - here, that of "Eve, " who was one of my parishioners. Even if the pastor has not known the deceased, an interview with his or her ...

3470. Time and Timing

Habakkuk 1:12--2:1, Habakkuk 1:1-4

Sermon

Paul W. F. Harms

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" is the way we say it today. "Why art thou silent when the wicked swallow up the man more righteous than he is?" It is not only "Why do bad things happen to good people?" but why does a holy and a righteous God permit the unrighteous to swallow the righteous, the wicked to devour the innocent? It may happen, but why does God permit it, seemingly doing nothing about it? It is bad enough if some outsider is the villain. It is intolerable when the villain is home- ...

3471. Sign of the Times

Luke 12:54-59

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Winter and cold as symbols and signs of the world's darkness and the need for God's intervention. (This Children's Sermon is a bit more symbolic than usual, but so is the scriptural text.) Props: A branch with enough green leaves for each child to tear one off. Lesson: As you were coming to church this morning perhaps you noticed the weather. What was the weather like? (response) What kind of things did you see? What kind of sky was there? (response) What was the temperature like? Was it ...

3472. Use It or Lose It

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Johnny Dean

In the window of a restaurant in a small West Texas town there was a sign that read: "Wanted: man to wash dishes and two waitresses." Now, the longer the men of that town thought about that sign, the more they thought, "That just might be an interesting job! The advancement opportunities might be limited, and the pay is probably not much, but..." Then there was an ad in a local newspaper that read: "Bargain Basement Sale on shirts for men with flaws." The department store that ran the ad couldn’t ...

3473. Pure Hearts

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate how Christians are to live holy lives and love one another. Props: A cup of water with two or three tiny pieces of clean rocks or debris that can be filtered out, a coffee filter, an empty cup. Lesson: How many of you ever get thirsty? (response) What do you like to drink when you get thirsty? (response) Well, when I get thirsty, I like to just drink a cup of water. But I've got a problem today. I wanted to show you a good cup of water that I could drink, but when I brought ...

3474. When a Member of the Family Dies

John 11:17-37

Sermon

R. E. Lybrand

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been buried four days before. Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Judeans had come to see Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother's death. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "If you had been here, Lord, my brother would not have died! But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask him for." "Your brother will rise to life," Jesus ...

3475. Peace as Shalom

Sermon

Alan Bacon Bond

Scripture: Psalm 72:1-71 Peter 3:8-18Isaiah 9:2-7Luke 10:1-12 Text: "Peace be to this house." (Luke 10:5) Our bus pulled off the highway onto an overpass, where it stopped. The road up from Lod airport, near Tel Aviv, had displayed to us the remnants of the wars of Israel. Shelled-out tanks and armored personnel carriers were preserved where they had fallen, as memorials to the men who had fought and died there. Now our eyes were turned eastward, where we could see our first view of Jerusalem. The tour ...

Showing results