Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 326 to 350 of 656 results

326. Engage Mind before Putting Mouth in Gear

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... mistakes; this we know for certain, but it must be a great consolation to hear James say it. Thus, while we know, all too well at times, of our own failures and inadequacies, we must realize that God understands. After all, God made us incomplete and imperfect. All God asks of us is our best effort. Still, James reminds us that God has called us to a higher standard, a Christian life. Our road will encounter some detours, potholes, and roadblocks, but then God never promised us a smooth path to eternal life ...

327. What Good Is That?

Acts 4:5-12

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... spiritually gave birth to Christian disciples. We pray as well that you will dwell in our midst and guide those who are now engaged in this vital task of giving life and nurturing lives. Bless us as we seek to mirror your perfect loves in our imperfect lives. These things we pray in your mighty name. Amen. Prayer Of Confession God of history, we know that to reject the world is to be rejected by the world. But that which the world rejects becomes the cornerstone of your kingdom. Break us, shape us, mold ...

328. Weaving the Spirit’s Trail

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Navajo artists intended in the “Spirit trail” is the positive version of a tradition found among such diverse artisans as the Amish and the Islamic. You’ve probably heard that when you buy anything made by the Amish, there are three imperfections placed there before you buy it. Islamic metal artisans and Amish furniture makers both intentionally “build in” some “flaw” in their creations. For these traditions, the “flaw” is placed there in order to demonstrate that only God is perfect, that ...

329. The Parable of the Choices

Matthew 21:28-31

Sermon

Shirley Gupton Lynn

... to do, he did it. He obeyed his father. He let go of confusion, chose CONVICTIONS. Aren't we glad for Christian convictions? Through no merit of our own, but the sacrifice of others, we've come to believe in Christ as Lord. We are imperfect, struggling disciples, but aren't we grateful for the privilege of faith and the eternal life that is already ours? Christian convictions tell us who God is. Is God, "the force" "a psychological phenomenon"? Fate? No, said Jesus, God is our Heavenly Parent, who accepts ...

330. Advisory Role

Matthew 23:1-12

Illustration

Richard Dake

... at her, "If you're so interested in winning, why didn't you try to catch the ball?" To which a defiant Lucy replies, "My role is strictly advisory." The saints of faith for us saw their role not only as advisory. They shared the faith with us, at times imperfectly like the rest of us, but still able to let God's mercy and grace shine through.

331. John the Stall Cleaner

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... got pregnant. Joseph married her anyway. Tiberius decided to call for a census when Mary was in her final weeks of pregnancy. A very pregnant Mary and a very worried Joseph traveled to Bethlehem. And God was there, even in the midst of the most imperfect birthing conditions. Can you imagine Mary saying to Joseph: “I’m not having my baby except under the most perfect of conditions?” God is with us. God doesn’t need vacuumed out “space bags” in order to let us accommodate more “stuff” in our ...

332. You've Got That Healin' Touch

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... was intended to operate harmonically, with all creation intimately and intricately coordinated into a cohesive whole. But something went amiss. The biblical narrative is an attempt to explain that "something," and to record God's creative response to a now imperfect, unbalanced world. For humans an out-of-balance existence is most commonly experienced as a state of illness. Both our physical and our spiritual natures deteriorate when they fail to resonate with God's harmonics. Health and wholeness remain ...

333. The Dawn's Early Light

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... pitch his tent among these people for all time. Daring to love and serve both God and country with integrity was a risk lawyer/poet Francis Scott Key was willing to take. The author of the words to our difficult-to-sing and imperfectly-memorized national anthem took seriously his responsibilities as both a Christian and an American. Key was a strong Episcopalian who seriously considered joining the clergy on two different occasions. But he ultimately declined the offer to serve as an assistant rector at the ...

334. Doorkeepers, Lampkeepers and Wisdomkeepers

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... mark of a wisdomkeeper is that of hypotasso, an attitude of submission and humility, first towards God and then towards others. A wisdomkeeper lays aside defenses and risks vulnerability for the sake of others (Southard, 225-226). It is so easy to recognize the imperfections in others, but it takes painful honesty to admit one's own brokenness, to humble oneself to the limitations placed on all of life. The lampkeeper is caught up in the rays of the light raised to guide others, thus making the lampkeeper ...

335. Freedom in Bondedness

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Independence Day, to flaunt their freedom before the whole world. Thomas Jefferson's bold assertion that each individual has an "inalienable right" to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" still sounds sweet to our freedom-loving ears. Despite the imperfections and foibles of our political system, we still enjoy tremendous economic freedom, political freedom, religious freedom, personal freedom and communal freedom. But we must be careful that we don't define the freedoms we enjoy so much solely as ...

336. Mark 6:7-13

Mark 6:7-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... They have evidenced no great new insight into Jesus and his mission. They are still gamboling along, bumbling about two steps behind each punch line in his parables, about three steps behind in recognizing the meaning of his miracles. Yet, despite their imperfect comprehensions, Jesus sends them out, trusting them to spread his work. Before they leave Jesus specially prepares the disciples for their journey. This preparation is not secret knowledge. It is not a strategic plan. Nor is it a promise of divine ...

337. 2 Samuel 12:1-14

2 Samuel 12:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... man from Nathan's parable. But while the death sentence is lifted from David's shoulders, it shifts and falls on the progeny of his sin. David's confession has put him back into relationship with the Lord. But the horrible consequences of his actions continue to reflect the broken, imperfect, painful world in which humans live.

338. 2 Samuel 12:1-14

2 Samuel 12:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

339. Jeremiah 18:1-11

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... potter was not dismissed by the prophet as just a man throwing a pot. While Jeremiah waits to hear a word from the Lord, he observes the intimate relationship between the potter and his creations. When the clay "was spoiled" by some impurity or imperfection within it, the potter swiftly changes his original intention for the clay and "reworks" the stubborn lump into some other project. To be sure, the potter and the clay together determine the shape of the finished product. But it is the potter's judgment ...

340. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... they might accomplish their mission. Jesus' words to his followers now take on the hue of an ominous warning reminding the disciples that with access to tremendous power comes tremendous responsibility. The "little ones" those whose faith is small and fragile, imperfect and unformed must be their first and foremost concern. If pride or selfishness or envy impedes the progress of faith budding in another, Jesus declares it would be better for that misrepresenter to hang a millstone around his neck and be ...

341. The Big E

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... , I discovered that half of Stan’s pallbearers were his black neighbors. Stan had come to see what the untruth of his prejudice had kept him from seeing. V. Seeing is believing. Brennan Manning (from Messy Spiritually: God’s Annoying Love for Imperfect People by Michael Yaconeli, quoted in Pulpit Resource, Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 44) tells the story of a man recently converted to Jesus and how an unbelieving friend sought to “see” why? “So you have been converted to Christ?” “Yes.” “Then ...

342. The Darkness We Create

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... and everyone who disagrees with them is wrong. They judge themselves and others by impossible standards. They are more prone to condemn than to forgive. They are so caught up in being perfect, dutiful, super-responsible, that they have trouble empathizing with those who are imperfect. They believe that fun is for lazy bums, that if it feels good it must be sinful. They believe that play should wait until all work is finished. Of course, an Elder Son always sees more work to do. They believe that the world ...

343. Why We Do What We Do

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... for us the price of forgiveness. Why are we so prone to believe ourselves a failure? We fail. We mess up. As I did last Monday night as I was heading home on Highway 100. I plowed into a car that had stopped, totaling her car and mine. We are imperfect. We are not God. God is able to see beyond our failure. God wants us to see beyond it too. God wants us free from all bondage, including guilt. And so, after we confess our sins and hear words of forgiveness and assurance, we stand and declare the gospel ...

344. Proper 22

Job 1:1-5, Job 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-14, Hebrews 2:5-18, Mark 10:1-12, Mark 10:13-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... suffering." The word, "perfect," should not be understood as moral perfection but rather as the reaching of a goal. Jesus was perfect in completing his mission of saving the world. He reached his objective through suffering on the cross. In this sense, each of us imperfect sinners can be perfect to reach the goal of our calling, to find self-fulfillment in Christ. Outline: You, too, can be perfect – a. You can reach the goal of your calling through Christ. b. You can attain the goal of being truly human ...

345. Proper 4

2 Corinthians 4:1-18, 1 Samuel 3:1--4:1, Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... earthen vessel. This means that Paul considers himself a reincarnation of the Word. The gospel became a personal possession; it was a part of him as a "little Christ." It also means that the bearers of the cross are human earthly, frail, finite, limited and imperfect. Pew-sitters often forgot this. Preachers can be put on a pedestal as paragons of virtue and adored. The mystery of grace is that Christ uses earthen vessels to preserve and share this treasure. 3. Manifested (10, 11). The Christ that is in us ...

346. Mark 4: 26-34

Mark 4:26-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and obedience are both parts of one action. Failing to “hear” properly is the recurring reason for failing to be a full disciple (Mark 4:12; 7:18; 8:18). In v.33 the many parables Jesus speaks to the gathered crowds are imperfectly perceived because they heard only “as they were able to.” Yet Jesus’ own disciples apparently had no better hearing than the general population. They simply got a second chance to “hear” when Jesus “explained everything in private to his disciples” (v.34). Even ...

347. The Wounded Healers

Mark 5: 21-43

Illustration

Ron Lavin

With all its imperfections, sins, blemishes, and warts, the Church of Jesus Christ is the intended healer of the world's wounds. Christians are called to be compassionate, wounded healers. Perhaps, Henri Nouwen, the Roman Catholic theologian, has said this better than anyone else. The author of many books, Nouwen speaks of Christians as " ...

348. Easter 5

Psalm 22:1-31, John 15:1-8, Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... all parents, help both parents and children to find ways of communicating openly and honestly, both hearing and being heard, so that there may be agreement that will give to each the maximum of both freedom and responsibility. Creator of the perfect and Healer of the imperfect, grant a continuance in health to those who are well and healing and recovery to those who are sick. Hear us as we name in our hearts those whose illness and injury are on our minds. Continue to provide gifts of healing to your church ...

349. First Sunday of Advent

Psalm 80:1-19, Isaiah 64:1-9, Mark 13:24-37, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... remember you in your ways. You are concerned not only about us in our own neighborhood but all the nations of the world and every locale. Though you are the Creator who may destroy what you have made like a potter with a pot that is imperfect, you reshape human societies in expectation of a more perfect vessel. Continue to speak to the nations through the scriptures and the church that there may be a new heaven and new earth redeemed from rebellion and violence. As we approach another Christmas and listen ...

350. Proper 19

Psalm 14:1-7, Jeremiah 4:5-31, Luke 15:1-10, 1 Timothy 1:12-20

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... humble spirit, for God will not reject a humble and repentant heart. INVOCATION In humility and penitence we bow before you, O God, to bring honor to you, turning from behavior that is shameful in your sight. Remember our human frailty and receive our imperfect worship for the sake of your worshipful Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Creator God, you have every right to destroy what you have made. We have disappointed you with the decisions we have made to worship things of less value even than ...

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