Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 326 to 350 of 928 results

326. The Confessions of a Younger Brother

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

... unfolds, some of the members of this family begin to reach out for help. You don’t have to be economically poor and living on the "wrong side of the tracks" to have critical needs. Some of the most needy people in our society wear furs, drive big cars, vacation in the Carribean, send their children to private schools and maintain at least two homes. True, the picture given to us in the biblical parable is one of a person who is poor and in need of food for his table, but he is only one illustration of a ...

327. The Ladder of Success

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

Paul Hegele

... no one thought of accomplishments and improvements. Cartoonist Charles Schultz allows us to glimpse such a world in the words of Lucy, one of his characters in Peanuts. Lucy tells Charlie Brown she doesn't yet know what to do with herself during summer vacation. Charlie Brown's advice? "Start a new hobby. The people who get the most out of life are those who really try to accomplish something." "Accomplish something," says Lucy, "I thought we were just supposed to keep busy." The desire to be successful can ...

328. God Is No Respecter Of Persons

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

... forms, the mimeoed Christmas letter telling what we've done the past twelve months - there's a kind of sameness to the statements we make on each. What promotion and/or raise in salary did we get; which great projects did we tackle; where did we vacation; any gain or loss in number of dependents; any major purchases? Such are the categories by which society rates success, but that's not how Christ rates us. Last week I was filling out, in triplicate, a survey for the church - answering such questions as ...

329. Parable of Easter and the Planting Season

John 4:27-38

Illustration

... love the Easter Season. It sure was fun with all the candy and things we got too," said Carolyn. "I like the Christmas Season better," said Joan, "the music, the decorations, and the presents, too." "Yes, but now that Easter is over, all we can look forward to is vacation," said Polly. "I used to live in the country and as soon as Easter was over, we did a lot of planting of our seeds for the garden. We all had fun thinking what we were going to raise and watching it grow," said Martha. Many Christians act ...

330. Happy Birthday!

John 15:18--16:4

Children's Sermon

Object: A birthday card [or cards for each child]. Some days are very important to all of us, like the day that school lets out every year, or the day that the family begins its vacation, or even the fourth of July. Sometimes the day is so important that we give it a very special name, like Easter or Christmas. How many of you remember what happened on Easter that makes it such an important day? That's right, it is the day that Jesus came ...

331. Advent 4

Lk 1:39-55 · Heb 10:5-10 · Mic 5:1-4

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... ? How many are leaping for joy that Christ is coming in a few days at Christmas? Elizabeth's unborn child leaped for joy when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, comes to visit. Christmas is a joyous celebration, but will we be happy because of gifts, of family reunions, of vacation from school or because Christ is born? Would we leap for joy at Christmas if no loved ones came to visit or if there were no gifts to open? Outline: Why at Christmas we will leap for joy - A. Who is being born: Christ the Lord. B. What ...

332. The Nativity of Our Lord

Luke 2:1-20 · Isa 9:2-7 · Tit 2:11-14

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 11-14 1. Why Jesus Was Born. 2:11-14. Need: Christmas was all God's doing. In the hustle-bustle of Christmas preparations and festivities, we overlook the divine purpose in Christmas. For many, Christmas is only a major holiday for vacationing and fun. There is very little spirituality. God is almost forgotten. The text tells us why Jesus was born. Unless we know this, our Christmas celebration is simply humanism, leaving us after Christmas with empty purses and physically and emotionally exhausted. Outline ...

333. A Manger is Christ’s Cradle

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

... room for them in the inn." Some years ago, my wife and I and our two children were driving from Spain through southern France on our way to Italy. We had made no reservations for this part of our journey, despite the fact that we were traveling in the European vacation month of August. We decided we should stay in Nice and, after we got into the city, we parked our car and my wife and I set out to find two rooms for the night. Every room in Nice seemed to have been booked in advance; no one could even ...

334. Where Does One Go When Darkness Floods One’s Life?

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

James Cobb

... and he is all-powerful. We need to be constantly reminded of the greatness of God, and, even though we are small insignificant individuals among billions of people who inhabit the earth, we are within the love and mercy of God. Several years ago while vacationing at the beach with our family, I began my early morning walk long before the others had awakened. Each morning walk along the expansive ocean afforded time for lengthy meditation and gratitude for the glory and grace of God. Far too often we forget ...

335. The Promise of Emmanuel

Isaiah 7:1-25

Sermon

... dolls, race car sets, bikes, books, computers, televisions, and a thousand other wants. There is a heightened sense of anticipation present in our lives. We are eagerly looking forward in our Advent hope for Christmas. People with whom I have visited talk of vacations in the next week. Students have been excited about their break from school. Many of us, I suspect, have looked forward to parties, the family gatherings, the break in the routine of our lives. There is anticipation abroad for us just now. But ...

336. The Promise of Light

Isaiah 60:1-22

Sermon

During the 1960-61 academic year I was a first-year seminarian at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut. It snowed that winter the week before Christmas vacation. When we left in mid-March for spring break we had not seen the ground clear of snow since early December. There was a period of two weeks in January-February when the temperature never got above zero. The winter was cold, dark, dreary, and depressing for me. Being from ...

337. Communion Is Rejoicing In Christ's Return

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

... such as the glorious return of Christ. Think of how hard it is to wait for that new family car you ordered or the new bike you've been promised. Think of how difficult it is for students at this time of year to wait patiently for the Christmas Vacation. Notice during the next few weeks how hard it is for children to see all the signs of the season and still wait patiently for Christmas Morning. The same struggle is experienced by us Christians who try to wait patiently for the return of Christ our Lord. We ...

338. In Defense of the One-Talent Servant

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

... well and can vouch for his honesty and integrity. First Witness: Many’s the time, your Honor, that I’ve loaned tools to this neighbor of mine. (The witness points to the defendant.) Not once has he failed to return them. Why, last summer while I was on vacation, the defendant deposited my weekly paycheck in the bank for me. I trust this man, your Honor; he’s as honest as the day is long. Second Witness: Your Honor, let me be candid. It’s true that Brother One-Talent has not been the most active ...

339. Forty Long Days

Mark 1:9-13

Children's Sermon

... as a year? Is it longer than a week? Is it longer than a month? Forty days is a long time. Now, it depends on where you are during those forty days and what you are doing that makes the time go fast or go slow. If you are on vacation and swimming and playing every day, the time goes fast. But if you are doing a hard job or waiting for something important to happen to you, then the days seem to go by very slowly. The forty days that I am talking about this morning, the ones that I ...

340. Traveling Light

Mark 1:29-34

Children's Sermon

... , etc.). Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever taken a trip for just one night and then come back home the next day? (Let them answer.) Do you take along a lot of suitcases and groceries and things like you do when you take a long vacation? (Let them answer.) Of course not. A lot of men have to make trips like that because of the work they do. They don't take a lot of clothes and other things. Many of them only take what I have here in my hand. (Show them the travel kit ...

341. The Master Has Come - And Calls Disciples

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

... Africa, or South America, places where the need is. Would you go where he leads you, and serve where he needs you? Leslie Newbigin was a student at Cambridge University in England, preparing to go into his father’s business. He decided to spend part of a vacation working with the miners in South Wales who he said, had been rotting in misery for years. He had no success, and felt defeated. But one night, overwhelmed by defeat, he had a vison of the Cross. And he realized it was the only thing which could ...

342. Getting Back To Work

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Brett Blair

Rabbi Harold Kushner tells a wonderful story about a bright young man, who was a sophomore Stanford pre-med student To reward him for having done so well in school, his parents gave him a trip to the Far East for the summer vacation before the start of his junior year. While there he met a guru who said to him, "Don't you see how you are poisoning your soul with this success oriented way of life? Your idea of happiness is to stay up all night studying for an exam so you ...

343. Getting Back to Work

Luke 17:1-10

Illustration

Brett Blair

344. Palm · Passion Sunday

Isaiah 50:1-11, Psalm 31:1-24, Matthew 27:11-26, Matthew 27:32-44, Matthew 27:45-56, Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon Aid

... City. The prophet spoke words which could never come forth from the very mouth of Jesus as he went to his terrible death on the cross. Philippians 2:5-11 - "Jesus Christ is Lord." 1. In his birth and life, Jesus emptied himself of the godhead - vacated his place with God - and became the Suffering Servant of whom Isaiah wrote. 2. In his life, Jesus obeyed God perfectly, even in the face of death. His obedience brought him death instead of the benefits and the blessings that God promises to those who fulfill ...

345. Invitation to the Dance

2 Samuel 6:1-23

Sermon

... , hazy, crazy days of summer." Summer is a time for fun and travel. A time for family barbecues and trips to the golf course and the pool. Summer is a happy time. All of our activities this summer are to be enjoyed to the full. Yet in all of our vacationing joy, let us not forget that while fun is great, it can only serve as a dessert, and not the main course of life’s banquet. Let us find time to worship the Lord. Not in glum-faced, duty-bound obedience to some Puritan God, but in happy praise of ...

346. The One Who Made His Cross

Drama

... pressed when they arrived ... (Pause) I could have had a nice income from the groves. But I got restless, I suppose. I wanted to do more with my life. Anna I think it would do us both a world of good to take a trip. We’ve not had a vacation in a long time. Silas I wanted to make things. I knew I had a gift ... a talent for working with my hands. So I came here. I came here hoping, if I were lucky, to be part of the Temple’s construction or, at least, to work on some ...

347. Pentecost

John 20:19-23

Sermon Aid

... really trust God until we trust God with our money. Charge to the Congregation Suggestion: Through the Spirit of God, infiltrate, inflame, inspire each other, and this world. How will we do so this week? How will we respond to the Spirit, with friends, on vacation, in vocation, in neighborhood? Because, "The heart of Christianity is not concern for the soul, but concern for the world." (John 3:11) (author unknown) Planning for Your Congregation I. Other Scriptures Psalm 104:1, 24-34 Isaiah 44:1-8 Joel 2:28 ...

348. Proper 9

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon Aid

... sure the children understand how God shows self to us - partly through nature, partly through other people, and mostly through Jesus and the church. Proclamation of the Word Suggestion: Point out how people "desperately" try to rest/relax with sports, vacations, tranquilizers, and sleep. In and of themselves, these diversions don't satisfy. You may want to include this statement by William Law: "... Sleep is the poorest, dullest refreshment of the body ... Sleep is such a dull, stupid state of existence ...

349. Proper 16

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon Aid

... that I am?' (Matthew 15:16, R.S.V.) Jesus asks us that same question. If someone asked you to respond right now, what would you say, and what difference does that response make in your life, as you related to your mate, children, vocation, vacation, politics, economics, education? We explore that question today." You may want to continue with this response between pastor and people: Pastor: The Good News is, "God is not hidden to those who want to receive him/her." Ministers: Show us the Parent and we shall ...

350. A Brass Cross and a Barometer

Luke 6:1-11

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... Sabbath law. If he did, they were ready to pounce on him. Talk about coming to church with the wrong attitude! Oh, but I've done something similar and I'm ashamed of it. I have come to worship services with a critical spirit. Have you? Sometimes on vacation I will visit a church of another denomination. If it's Presbyterian I am on guard lest the preacher talk about predestination. If it's Baptist, I'm a bit defensive lest the preacher say a negative word about my baptism. Have you ever brought a critical ...

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